What is Laughs For Lunch? It is an annual show the Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 perform for the community that supports them throughout the year. Audience members bring an item of food for the local food shelf as admission to the show. Thus, the Scouts provide the laughs while the audience provides the lunch for the needy.
     This is the seventh show the troop has held. The show is based on songs and skits seen at some of the campfire programs at summer camps and camporees. In addition to well know campfire songs and skits the troop has developed a few original bits that also have become a part of the show. Some of the bits even included audience members who were brought on stage to have a little fun.

A lone Scout gets beat up in the Motorcycle Gang Skit.	"What kind of lumber would you like?" is asked during the Hardware Store skit.	The Firing Squad gets distracted and lets another criminal get away.
There is a lot of confusion on the submarine during this well liked skit.	Is it time yet? No, not yet.  A long skit, for a silly punch line.	The Movie Skit is one of the troop's all time favorites to perform.
Even the audience got to participate in several of the skits.	Several people contemplate jumping off a cliff during this skit.	The nearly two hour long show ended the the troop singing Scout Vespers.

Six troop members partook in the fun the day had to offer.

It was a bit cool outside, so the Scouts dressed quite warmly.

Not ever tube came down the hill with its rider still sitting in it.

The troop stayed in this building which was heated by a wood burning stove.	Some of the Scouts spend some time Saturday morning working on advancement requirements.	Scrabble and other board games were played during slow times of the weekend.
A couple of the guys worked hard building a snow dome during Saturday morning and afternoon.	After the snow dome sat for half the day, the Scouts began to dig it out to use as a shelter.	The dome was meant to house two Scouts, but they soon discovered that three could stay in it.
After an hour long broomball game, everyone was exhausted and ready to rest.	The Camp Stearns sledding hill was great fun, especially if you hit the jump.	Of course, sometimes you got a little more air then you really wanted when you hit the jump.

Brad received a lot of donations for the school children of Bosnia. These two table were just a portion of the supplies sent overseas.

All the supplies had to be boxed and packed very carefully. After all, they were going to be shipped to the other side of the world.

Brad had a nice turnout for help on the day everything was packaged. The crew worked hard, yet they also had fun.

Several Scouts helped out with the FOS campaign during the meeting.	Three Scouts received the Climbing Merit badge.	Two Scouts received two merit badges each.
These two guys did a good job of performing for our entertainment.	This Scout received his Life Rank and the troop's Progressive Scout Award.	The Wolves Patrol won the troop's Progressive Patrol Award for this quarter.

The Scouts take a break during a slow time during the breakfast.

Parents worked in the kitchen while scouts cleaned tables and washed dishes.

It seems the dads (and moms) always enjoy making the pancakes and visiting with folks.

The newest troop members crossed over from Webelos and met Akela.	Log cutting was one of the many events during the day.	Troop 68's Cwazy Rabbit Patrol's yell was enjoyed by all the staff members.
Shoot the water balloon and see if you can hit the target way down there!	One station had the Scouts practicing their various first aid carries.	Another station tested the Scouts on their basic first aid knowledge and skills.
Many Scouts found that it is quite challenging to walk on stilts.	Another popular station was the one were the Scouts made their own piece of rope.	The Cwazy Rabbit Patrol posed with the council executive as they receive their ribbons.

Officer Okenstrom brought his drug sniffing canine to the campsite.	The officer and dog put on a demonstration about how the dog finds the drugs.	The officer also showed the Scouts what various drugs look like.
The Hawk Patrol carries a new "King Chair" to their patrol camp site.	The troop paired up for the egg drop competition. This was the first round.	This team checks their "package" to see if their egg has survived the drop.
A Scout is reverent. A service was conducted Saturday night.	The troop gathered for an evening campfire program at the council ring.	All three patrols and the troop leadership did a great job of putting on a campfire program.

Come on batter, batter! We need a hit!

The Scouts team.

The parent/adult team.

On the way to Philmont, the crews stopped at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

Another stop on the way was the Garden of the Gods in Colorado.

The cantina at Ponil was the only chance the two crews would meet in the back country of Philmont.

Only four Scouts from Troop 68 went to summer camp this year.

The group posed for a picture before going to the top of the lookout tower.

As they climbed the stairs to the lookout tower the boys were probably wondering what the view would be like.

The first station the group went to was one the involved climbing a tree.	Of course, starting fires was one of the events during the competition.	The Avon Scouts and Melrose Scouts combined to form a patrol during the day's events.
The guys from Melrose had a lot of fun at the wall climbing area.	The rifle range was one of the popular areas that was visited by many of the campers.	The guys get to relax a moment back at their camp after the activities ended for the day.

Two members of the Wolves Patrol received awards during the September Court of Honor.	Two members of the Invaders Patrol received merit badges earned at summer camp.	Two older members of the troop also received merit badges during the ceremony.
It was the Scouts vs the parents during the trivia game held during the court of honor.	Two members of the Wolves Patrol hosted the trivia game which everyone enjoyed.	Three members of the Invaders Patrol received their Tenderfoot Rank as their proud parents stood by them.

There is a lot to view of our area's history at the Melrose Area Historical Museum.	Roger gave a brief explanation of a piece of military history that was on display.	One room in the museum was set up as a home's living room and showcased housewares.
Roger told the Scouts about Charles Lindbergh's fly over of Melrose after his historic plane flight.	In the "chapel" of the museum, the Scouts learned about over 100 years of the local churches.	There was even a small display of Scouting memorabilia from over 30 years of Scouting in Melrose.

Hey! Look at me! I can skate with out using my hands!

Even some trick skating was attempted during the activity.

They group is now ready to begin playing a few games of laser tag.

The stand is ready. All we need are some trees to display in it.

The Scouts placed the trees in the stand and marked each with a price tag.

The trees shipping strings were cut so the trees could be seen in all their glory.

There was plenty of pizza and snacks for everyone to much on during the party.	The gift exchange was held using two dice. First of all, all the presents were put in the center...	...then gifts were chosen as each person rolled doubles with the dice as they were passed around the circle...
...finally a ten minute time limit was watched as we continued rolling dice and exchanging gifts as doubles were rolled.	Most of the troop attended the party and posed for the last group picture of 2004.	A couple of the guys were thinking hard as they played a chess game won during the gift exchange.