Ranger’s Challenge

“Once you get the dust of Horseshoe in your moccasins, you can never get it out.”

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Ranger’s Challenge

———— EXHIBIT ————

< Winter Camping

“Wilderness is a necessity… there must be places for human beings to satisfy their souls.”
–John Muir

Exhibit Details

Scouts in patrols went all over Horseshoe Scout Reservation to compete in a multitude of events, which change from year to year.

Displays in this Exhibit:

Tour Stop

2013

2014

Memorabilia

2013

Display Details

The inaugural year of the Ranger’s Challenge took place on April 19-21, 2013 at Camp Horseshoe and Camp Ware. Scouts in patrols went all over Horseshoe Scout Reservation to compete in a multitude of events including shotgun shooting, rifle shooting, paintball, totin chit, fire n’ chit, archery and many others to find out who was the Best of the Best.

Staff for the 2013 Ranger’s Challenge gather in the Kindness Center at Camp Horseshoe to go over assignments.

Frank Keegan addresses his staff to go over assignments and logistics during a very rainy Friday night.

The judges were very hungry for some quality barbeque! There were 10 units who entered but only 1 could ultimately win the tasty competition.

One of the most fun events of the entire Ranger’s Challenge was the Tomahawk Throwing station.

Everyone had a great time trying out the Tomahawk Throwing exhibit.

This presenter shows the Scouts how to properly sharpen an axe blade.

Here we see the staff of the Paintball Range – headed by Ian Malloy – during the Ranger’s Challenge.

These Scouts wandered around the Athletic Field with a canoe while using GPS to go the proper route.

Troop 52 chose a unique place to camp – down by the pool! Actually, the Ranger’s Challenge was so popular, this was one of the few spots left open for a troop to camp during the weekend.

Scouts here practice their aim on targets before getting to the next round for the qualifying shots.

Despite the Ranger’s Challenge being billed as a “Fun” activity, Scouts actually learned a thing or two along the way! Here we see them practices their fire-making skills in a responsible manner.

Staff look at the patrol matrix of 51 patrols and figure out who will be where at the start of the 2013 Ranger’s Challenge.

The winner of the Barbeque competition ended up getting this nifty prize – a home barbeque set!

Here we see one of the fine entries into the BBQ competition.

Paul Munscher, Patti Pfeiffer, Tom Iavari and other judges grade the BBQ entries.

Amy Dalesandro judges some of the fine entries of the BBQ competition.

Don Schultz from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) stops by with Smokey Bear.

Ranger’s Challenge Lead Frank Keegan takes a much needed rest.

Octoraro 22 Lodge Adviser Andrew Coe talks about the history of the camp and its spooky inhabitants down at the White House during the Ranger’s Challenge. Lodge Chief Alex Hughes also spoke of the White House Ghosts.

Here we see the Scoutmasters take part in the Horseshoes competition.

A favorite of the Scoutmasters, the Horseshoe Competition, keeps them busy while the patrols compete in the Ranger’s Challenge.

Someone actually got one of the Tomahawks to stick!

This Scout prepares to throw a tomahawk during the Ranger’s Challenge.

Here is the Ranger’s Challenge Trading Post staff smiling for the camera.

Strong and steady wins the race.

Lots of power and patience are required to excel in this competition.

The Ranger’s Challenge Medical Staff – Jim Reagan and Jim Trainor – didn’t have much to do as it was an incident-free event.

Participants of the 2013 Ranger’s Challenge eagerly await the results of the campwide competition.

The winning patrol, the Scorpion Patrol from Troop 23, had their name emblazoned on a plaque to hang in the Camp Horseshoe Dining Hall.

Some Scouts try their skill at two-man sawing at one of the many stations throughout camp during The Ranger’s Challenge.

Trainer Chris Gilbert instructs adults on the principles of Leave No Trace so that they are prepared for Backcountry camping.

Though the troops and crews cooked in their campsites, someone had to feed the staff! Here is the cooking crew in the kitchen whipping up Saturday lunch.

2014

Display Details

The 2014 Ranger’s Challenge took place at Camp Horseshoe on October 17-19, 2014. Activities included C.O.P.E Course challenges, team-building games, Leave No Trace training, Kite Designing and Flying competitions, Stargazing, and a Scoutmaster Cook-off competition.

Pictures

Videos

Documents

Pictures

Scouts test their crawling abilities in this C.O.P.E. course event held during the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

Scouts had the chance to do some rock climbing at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge event.

Patrol members had to work together to get everyone on without falling off at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

The Scouts tried to hoist themselves (and each other) over the giant thread spool at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

Even during a time of high excitement and activity, the trading post is still open for business.

Ranger’s Challenge participants try their best to pull the other team to their side.

In the late afternoon, with everyone nearly exhausted, the Scouts still tried their best to be the victors of the Tug-of-War contest at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge. In this scene, the adults even get in on the action.

Scouts try their luck at getting each member of their patrol through the sisal web on their way to score points for the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

Camp Ware Camp Director Bill Hohl instructs some Scouts on the finer points of making your presence as minimal as possible in the Great Outdoors during the “Leave No Trace” session at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

Part of the fun of the Ranger’s Challenge is that groups are organized by and act as a patrol, and the Eagle Patrol obviously had great spirit in making their patrol flag.

Along with all the physical and skill stuff, the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge had some stuff for the brain and memory too: a history scavenger hunt kept most everyone busy throughout the day.

Every patrol took part in this fun event of the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge: each patrol was given material and asked to design their own kite, which they used to compete in the Kite Flying Competition on Saturday.

The kites came in all different shapes and sizes, and the aerodynamics for each were quite unique when flown on the Camp Horseshoe Athletic Field.

The parade of kites was impressive, and the kites were flown in 4 groups across the Athletic Field at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

A few staff and guests were lucky enough to sample the great culinary prowess of the Scoutmasters at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

The Ranger’s Challenge Staff enjoy salad, rolls, and chicken pot pie after a long day of running and judging events.

Scouts try to solve some sort of puzzle involving common plumber’s tools.

Sharon Jordan explains the rules of the History Challenge that had Scouts scouring the camp for answers.

Judges sample the cookoff entries to determine which was best at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

Frank Keegan (left) and Evan Ellwanger discuss logistics at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.

Videos

Bridge Builders
Scouts try to build a bridge with pioneering skills and creativity at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Teamwork
Scouts try to get their entire patrol on a stump up at the Camp Horseshoe C.O.P.E. course during the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Spiderweb
The Scouts here are trying to get their peers through holes in the spiderweb as part of a teambuilding event at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge event.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Squeezing Through
Scouts test their flexibility to get through the Challenge Box up at the C.O.P.E. Course during the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Wheely Thingy
Scouts try to get their fellow patrol members over the giant thread spool up at the C.O.P.E. Course during the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Tug of War
Adults and youth participate in a Tug of War contest on the lawn of the Kindness Center during the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Gallery of Kites
Here are all the kite contestants that took part in the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge at Camp Horseshoe.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Kite Heat 1
The first wave of participants fly their kites at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge at Camp Horseshoe.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Kite Heat 2
The second wave of participants fly their kites at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge at Camp Horseshoe.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Kite Heat 3
The third wave of participants fly their kites at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge at Camp Horseshoe.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Kite Heat 4
The fourth wave of participants fly their kites at the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge at Camp Horseshoe.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Cookoff Competition
Judges take a look at the food items they will be judging during the 2014 Ranger’s Challenge Scoutmaster Cook-off Competition.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Documents

2014 Ranger’s Challenge Schedule

Here is the schedule for the 3-day Ranger’s Challenge event held October 17-19, 2014.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Memorabilia

Display Details

Here is a display of the Ranger’s Challenge memorabilia items.

Tour Stops

Action Tour

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Last updated December 12, 2025