Special to The Bedford Citizen
Cub Scouts from Bedford Pack 194 spent a night aboard the USS Constitution (aka Old Ironsides) this past weekend. This was a unique opportunity for scouts ranging in ages from 5 to 10 to experience life aboard the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat, docked right in the Charlestown Navy Yard.
The Constitution was first launched in 1797 and garnered fame during the War of 1812, which the scouts got to learn all about during two visits to the USS Constitution Museum. In addition to the educational opportunities available at the museum, the scouts were instructed first hand aboard the ship by active US Navy Sailors who shared detailed accounts of the ship’s history, construction, and armaments.
Bedford scouts had full run of the top deck, explored the first lower deck where canons abound, and slept two decks down in close quarters with 50 of their fellow scouts and parents — once games of tag and hide & seek subsided.
Coupled with learning all the fantastic facts about this amazing and historical national landmark were opportunities to share their meals in the Naval base’s mess hall, fire two of the ship’s 54 guns (weighing in at 6500 pounds each), march in cadence around the upper deck, experience the confines of the crew’s hanging hammocks in the sleeping quarters, and of course clean the decks.
This will be an experience and adventure that many of these scouts will remember for years to come. Pack 194 extends sincere thanks for this privilege to the members of the US Navy serving aboard the Constitution.
About Cub Scout Pack 194
If you’re interested in having your young boys and girls share life lasting experiences like these, and want to know more about the skill development and adventures available to them through scouting, you can contact Bedford Cub Scout Pack 194 by email at [email protected] or on our Facebook page “Cub Scout Pack 194, Bedford MA”. A typical Cub Scouting year includes marching in the parade at Bedford Day, a rocket launch in the fall, a swim outing, hockey and baseball outings, campfires and campouts, sleepovers in various fun locations and much more.
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