A reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) asks; My son recently joined a Scout troop who, to my horror, burns almost all their trash in the campfire. Most leaders that do this either don’t think it’s a problem, or have just learned to be indifferent. As a cub leader we didn’t let the youth put anything other than paper in the campfire and taught them what Styrofoam or plastic can do to the environment or their bodies when burned at low temperatures....
In August fifteen of our Scouts and leaders are off to visit Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland. We started planning and raising money last spring. Lots of research has gone into constructing a budget, planning the trip and making reservations. There is very little reliable information to be found about group air travel and the rules seem to change pretty regularly. In the hopes that I may be able to save anyone planning group air travel some time and trouble I’ll tell you the story of our quest to fly to Switzerland....
PROGRAM OVERVIEWBackpacking, Climbing, Kayaking, Cycling At Goshen Scout Reservation crews backpack from outpost to outpost on mountain trails on a schedule they choose. Program outposts include forge, caving, rock climbing, mountain biking, mountain man, civil war, and lumber jack. Crews arrive on Sunday and leave on Saturday. Crews visit 3-4 outposts and do one night of ‘primitive’ camping. In addition there is a week long canoe trek program. Food is provided for crews....
Here’s a game to help Scouts with requirements that have a number of things to remember or identify For example First Class rank requirement 6: Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of native plants found in your community. For this particular requirement you’ll need to know how to identify ten native plants. Not a very daunting task with the internet at your disposal. Try Googling ‘native plants’ and your state and county....
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Some people have called our High Adventure Program at Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch a “Little Philmont”. We think our program has as much to offer in a smaller, more secluded setting. One of the big differences is that you won’t be hiking on trails that are more than knee-deep or running into many crowds in the wilderness. Because of our much smaller size, we can plan a custom trip for your group that will be a unique experience....
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Climbing and Rappelling from several heights ranging from 50 feet to 110 feet Mountain Biking on a 10.2 mile trail with elevation changes of over 600 feet Shooting Sports with rifle, pistol and shotgun Whitewater Rafting on the Oocee River Sailing and canoeing on our 21 acre lake Backpacking All Treks at Latimer High Adventure Reservation are led by qualified staff members, who are trained in a specific area of expertise and certified in Wilderness First Aid....
PROGRAM OVERVIEWThe trek or “quest” is a 5-day and 4-night excursion that will follow the North Country National Scenic Trail with optional rendezvous with the Muskegon, Pere Marquette, Pine, or Manistee Rivers for day or overnight float trips. All treks will be accompanied by a trained Owasippe trail guide. Two of the above-mentioned rivers are “white-water” routes and should be traversed by experienced canoeists only. There are three types of Treks to choose from:...
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Hanna Venture Base offers week-long treks catered to what your group wants to accomplish. From kayaking in the Apostle Islands to backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains, Hanna Venture Base welcomes all that strive for the ultimate challenge of experiencing the outdoors. No trip is impossible if your Scouts have the imagination and courage to attempt it. Wisconsin River – Canoeing Adventure Canoe for six days on the lower Wisconsin River and earn your 50 Miler!...
Conversations of high adventure trips usually center on the B.S.A’s popular and heavily promoted big three – Philmont, Seabase and Northern Tier. Council high adventure programs usua;;y focus on putting crews together for trips to these three destinations but there are hundreds (if not thousands) of other places for Scouts to experience a high adventure trip. With a little ingenuity, planning and vision every Scout can participate in a high adventure trip....
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Sail School Bahamas runs a superb range of sailing adventures for Scouts that offer excellent value for money. Your group can learn how to sail while traveling from island to island in the Sea of Abaco in the beautiful northern Bahamas. Our main focus is ensuring you have FUN, so each morning you can discuss your options with your Captain and the pace of the trip is decided by you....
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Canoeing Sailing Backpacking Climbing Waterskiing Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation is a high adventure base located in Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks. It is owned by the Northern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America. Floodwood specializes in hiking and canoeing treks. Floodwood itself is a base camp from which canoeing and hiking treks leave. While at base camp, crews can partake in waterskiing, water tubing, climbing, repelling, archery, day hikes, or advancement....
PROGRAM OVERVIEW * Canoeing * Sailing * Backpacking * Climbing * Kayaking * Cycling * Mountain boarding * Trimaran sailing * War canoes The trekking program at Sabattis Adventure Camp is unmatched by any Scout Camp in the region, all crews get Kevlar canoes, the latest in cooking equipment (both jet boils and/or whisper lites) along with comfortable PFD’s and properly sized paddles. All needed food is supplied and each crew gets a trained Voyageur to accompany them and to help navigate the Adirondack park....
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Canoeing Backpacking Kayaking Treks are open to individuals, troops or crews who can choose between a canoe/kayak trek on the Hood Canal, a large arm of the Puget Sound spending times at various locations OR hike in the Olympic Peninsula, an untouched parcel of forest located in Washington State. LOCATION DESCRIPTION Camp Parsons is located in the Olympic Forest and Park’s “untouched” wilderness. There are not any roads that venture into the peninsula itself, only trails....
Green Tunnel from Kevin Gallagher on Vimeo. Here’s a through hike of the Appalachian trail condensed into a few minutes of video. Watch the seasons and terrain change over 2000 miles of hiking.
Roger Edison has collected a lot of lore and useful information about Chuckwagons and Cowboy Cooking. Here’s a plan for building a cowboy fire box. Admittedly not for leave no trace camping or backpacking the fire box is intended for serious grub! Take a look around Roger’s website and you’ll find things like this recipe; Chuck Wagon Beans Beans have been a hearty food that can be cooked in a variety of ways....
Mike Malone asks; … we’ve been informed that, for safety reasons, Scouts are now not allowed to be on any handmade structure more than 3-4 feet off the ground. Is that the current rule? I checked the Guide to Safe Scouting and found two statements that may be applicable: An approved climbing helmet must be worn during all BSA climbing/rappelling activities when the participant’s feet are more than shoulder height above ground level....
Kevin Callan on bear bags from the Paddler’s Guide to Happy Camping Keeping your food safe from bears (and other critters) is an important element of any camping trip. Not only do you want to reduce the chance of having an unwanted close encounter with bear, raccoon or field mouse – but you also don’t want to loose your food. Your food is an important part of your trip. There’s a number of ways to store your food....
Scoutmaster Podcast 11 Listen in as my senior patrol leader and I discuss a Scout program idea we have used several times now – the “magical mystery tour”. In This Podcast Magical Mystery Tour [5:20] One Night at Camp [13:03] Avoiding Eagle Scout Drama 1 [19:53] Podcast Notes Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
From As the Crow Flies I usually use the no wash method of cleaning up but sometimes I end up with a frying pan or dishes to wash. I never use soap because it takes a lot of water to rinse the soap off. Instead I use baking soda. One time I ran out of baking soda for awhile so I used wood ash instead–it worked. To make soap you need grease and lye....
The better part of valor is discretion. Bravery (valor) is important but it may be that it is more important to avoid some situations rather than brave them. If, for some unlikely reason, I should find myself in the middle of the road I will not panic but bravely manage the situation as best I can. I will not, however, step into the middle of the road simply to prove my bravado....