Finally after 6 long months of planning, negotiations, meetings, mapping, course setting, procurement and lots of other busy movements, a joint effort by the CT Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America and NEOC got off the ground.

This first effort that attracted over 250 Scouts and leaders from CT and MA was modeled after the very successful long running program in MA. Saturday featured field instruction by NEOC guides followed by practice on any of five different courses and an evening Clue O. A Clue O is a Score O competition modeled after the Clue board game. Course setter, Kevin Burnham set up this interesting version of orienteering by having participants determine the who, what & where that constituted the solution by eliminating possible solutions that were found at the different control locations. Just the right slant for this youthful field of participants! Sunday's main activity was a very spirited Scout O where the enthusiasm of competition was on display all over the camp.

The list of people who need to be thanked is long but a few should be singled out for special recognition. First of all, Clint Morse for providing a top notch map in a very condensed spring mapping season and then showing our young students what competitive spirit is all about by running all over the map at warp speed. Next, Kevin Burnham spent about twice the amount of time normal setting the eight courses needed for the weekend on a map that was a work in progress. Paul Pearson for guiding me through the entire process of getting this program up and off the ground. Bill Aldrich, Camp Director, the Friends of Webster, and all the staff at the June Norcross Webster Camp. Bill and Company stepped up to the plate and made the difference on numerous occasions over the weekend. Joanne Sankus for being there to help out from Friday afternoon thru Sunday. Peter Lane and staff for being a reference guide every time we needed one. And the following for helping out either Saturday, Sunday or both. Dave Boone, Mike Brown, Virginia DeLima, Elaine Dill, Vicky and Craig Embree, Verna Feist, Diane Foell, Dan Goddard, Ray Hardy, Lynanne Madgic, Paul Maidment, Charlie Nickelson, Sue Pearson, Elyse Petzold, Stu Sharack, Art Sikes, Roman Solecki, Don Sprowl, Sandy Tosi, Trisha and Roger Underwood, and Julie Weatherby. I apologize if anyone has been over looked, but you can see the scope of effort that was put forward by a lot of volunteers. Thank you all!

And one final thing I want to point out is that even the weather cooperated and provided a dry weekend with plenty of sunshine. Perfect for Orienteering!