MARROWSTONE ISLAND — They followed a compass course, lashed a flag pole, learned about the fur trade and were quizzed on the Constitution.
They even folded the flag blindfolded.
On Friday afternoon, 140 Boy Scouts from Clallam and Jefferson counties descended on Fort Flagler State Park, where they were tested on outdoor skills and United States history.
“It’s a Freedom Camporee, because we’re having it at a fort,” Lonnie Reynolds, Mount Olympus District chairman, said.
The Camporee, which lasted through Saturday evening, drew Scout troops from Forks to Brinnon, Reynolds said. They competed for points in a variety of contests, including fire-starting, knot-tying, flag etiquette, fish identification and casting.
The Scouts also spent Saturday afternoon doing a service project in honor of Earth Day.
“We did a beach clean-up, with two hours of clean-up per person,” Reynolds said.
As part of the theme, Fort Nisqually re-enactor Steve Ricketts of Quilcene set up a tent and campsite, where he showed Scouts how Hudson Bay men trapped beaver, known as “soft gold,” for the price hat makers paid for pelts.
The Camporee ended with a campfire and awards presentation Saturday night. Here’s how they finished:
1st Place: Troop 1480 Slug Patrol, Port Hadlock
2nd Place: Troop 1460 Pirate Patrol, Port Angeles
3rd Place: Troop 1861 Eagle Patrol, Brinnon
