Every year the Pathfinder TLTs (Teen Leaders
in Training) spend a weekend at Cohutta Springs for a weekend of training. This
year something a little different was planned for them. They participated in a
challenging weekend called Amazing Race – TLT edition. It included some
learning, team work and a lot of challenges. The learning involved learning to
use a GPSr (Global Positioning System receiver). Each TLT was assigned to a team
of between 5 and 6 teens. The teams learned to work together to complete a
variety of challenges.
The challenges started out with each team
having to find the location of their first challenge by using the coordinates
that they were given and using a GPSr and a map. The challenges included
starting a fire with a metal match (made all the more difficult because of the
rain) then boiling water for 3 minutes, putting up and taking down a tent,
starting a stove and cooking a one pot meal for their team, and animal proofing
their food. All together the teams and their adult observers ended up hiking
about 5 miles all over the camp to complete their challenges.
Saturday evening there were several
additional challenges. The teams were given 15 minutes to come up with a one
minute marching program then present it. Another one included eating a bunch of
chocolate. The last but not least challenge was an unusual indoor tug-o-war.