CLINTON — Weldon Springs State Park became the place to be for area Scouts with nearly 150 Boy Scouts and leaders from 11 different area troops making the trek to the Spring Camporee over this past weekend.

The attendance was higher than expected as last minute troops from Bloomington, Normal and other Central Illinois cites arrived on Friday night. The camporee was the highest attendance for the WD Boyce BSA (Boy Scouts of America) Council Crossroad’s District in many years.

Nearly 200 hours of community service projects were worked on at the Black Locust campground and the overall park, helping clear trails, clean-up roadsides and clear away brush to improve the state-run park.

The community service was just a part of the many activities during the two-night campout — with games, races, skits, lessons and other special events occurring. Scouts also shared the experience of cooking for other troops as a Dutch-oven dinner potluck highlighted dinner time. Adult leaders had a chance to show off their skills in preparing deserts using no pots or pans or normal cooking utensils.

Saturday night also brought back a long-time tradition of a special crossover ceremony for former Cub Scouts who crossed over to Boy Scouting this spring along with new boys entering Boy Scouting.

The campout wrapped up with an interfaith service on Sunday morning followed by a meticulous clean-up action by the boys in following their no trace left behind standards.