The first ever Discovery Training Camp (DTC) held in North Texas District was a success. The DTC was organized and ran by the Waco Section and was held September 29-30, at First Assembly of God in Waco. We had 30 boys representing 11 churches and seven sections at this DTC. Also present were 14 commanders that came with their boys. These men and boys went through the DTC and successfully graduated from DTC. These boys arrived ready to learn basic leadership skills and to learn how the patrol method can work effectively.
The boys were split up into 4 patrols: the eagles, the buffalos, the bobcats, and the antelopes. The commanders were also placed in the bear patrol. Each patrol was to take their animal and come up with a patrol name. We saw patrols such as the Soaring Eagles and the Terrifying Teddy Bears. The boys learned about patrol positions getting an indepth look at the position of patrol guide, assistant patrol guide, outpost quartermaster, outpost chaplain’s assistant, outpost scribe. The got to experience how these positions act and work by actually serving in these positions throughout the weekend.
They also attended classes dealing with patrol formations, marching, punctuality, advancement trail, friendship, decisions & consequences, flag making, songs & yells, and much more. During all this they had to function and work together as a patrol and put together a patrol flag, patrol bolos, patrol song, and patrol yell. Throughout the weekend they were encouraged to work on developing and making these items better as they strived to become a gold level patrol.
At DTC, and other training camps, the patrols have to achieve certain criteria to become a bronze level patrol. Then they have to work harder and do more to become a silver level patrol. Then they have to work more and do more to become a gold level patrol. Each patrol is encouraged by the staff and their patrol advisor to work and aim towards being a gold. Each patrol at this DTC became a gold level patrol of excellence.
The boys at DTC also learned seven spiritual promises during the course of the weekend. Promise number four included a memory verse that everyone in the patrol had to memorize and quote by the end of the weekend for the patrol to be able to become a gold level patrol.
The weekend was filled with a time of excellent food, prepared by cooks from First Assembly of God in Waco. Meals included hamburgers, breakfast burritos, spaghetti, and BBQ brisket. We also enjoyed homemade desserts such as cake and your choice of peach or cherry cobbler served a la mode.
We would like to express thanks to the entire DTC staff that made this weekend a success. The staff of DTC consisted of:
Jonathan Trower – DTC camp commander and instructor
David Trower – registration, coordinator, instructor, and advisor
Del Follis – coordinator, instructor, and advisor
Daniel Page – chaplain, instructor, and advisor
Tom Schlipp – health and safety officer, instructor, and advisor
Chris Trower – DTC junior commander
Caleb Follis – DTC senior guide
Congratulations to all the boys that attended for successfully completed DTC.
Plans are already underway to hold another DTC in 2007. Be watching for more details early next year.