At Camp

On Day 2 of Troop 601 B’s trek with Lenhok’sin High Adventure, Scouts and their leaders got to explore Crossroads Cave!

The cave, which has over 4 miles of surveyed passage, is regarded as one that is great for beginning spelunkers while still being engaging.

After a short drive out to Bath County from Baird Base Camp, the crew geared up with durable clothes, helmets, gloves, and headlamps, and began their descent. They prepared beforehand and learned the importance of maintaining three points of contact at all times and to call out loose rocks or other possible hazards, and most importantly, they reviewed both inside and outside the cave the importance of leaving no trace in the cave.

As Dan Leichtling, the Lenhok’sin Camp Director and the guide for the adventure, noted to the crew, the cave itself is a very static environment, and not much can change down there without human involvement. Once the crew had gotten their fill of the spacious first room, the crew moved to “The Crossroads,” a smaller room that branches off into other rooms in the cave, but the route they followed was one that looped back into the first room!

After a small break in the main room where the Scouts got to explore a small passage, the crew made their way deeper into the cave, getting to a slightly smaller but still spacious room where the crew took a seat and got to experience total cave darkness. After a fun demonstration showing how breaking mints in your mouth can lead to some visible sparks in the darkness, once the lights came back on the Scouts and some leaders successfully crawled through the “Mole Hole,” a rather narrow passage that they had to lay flat on the ground and maneuver through. The crew also took some time to see the Fossil Room, a small room with a wall covered in old fossils from when the cave was underwater. Below the room is a visible drop into “The Maze,” a large system of passages in the cave that wasn’t explored by the crew this time around.

Once that was explored, the crew decided to head back to the main area to wrap up, but not before stopping by the Five Foot Ledge, the only way in and out of The Maze.

After another crawl through of a small passageway, the crew found itself back in the main room, where they began our ascent back to the surface! The Scouts and leaders had a choice of entering the way they came in or going up a similar but slightly more challenging way back up. Once they got back to the surface and were hit by the strong temperature difference (it was about 50 degrees in the cave and almost 90 outside it!), the crew headed back to Baird Base Camp to clean up and prepare for dinner.

While still challenging for everyone, the cave proved to be an amazing time, and added another level of adventure and challenge for the Scouts as they work on their trek this week!

The Importance of Summer Resident Camp in the Scouting Experience, as told by an Assistant Scoutmaster.

Summer resident camp is more than just a fun escape into the outdoors—it’s a vital part of the Scouting experience that tests the skills, values, and character traits developed over a year of meetings and weekend adventures. It pushes Scouts beyond their comfort zones and gives them opportunities to lead, serve, and grow in ways that aren’t always possible in shorter or more structured settings.

This summer, I had the privilege of attending three different camps: Camp Snyder with my Wolf Cub, Pipsico with my Scouts BSA son, and Camp Ross at Goshen with my Webelos. Each offered its own unique challenges and rewards, and together they reminded me why resident camp is such a powerful part of the Scouting journey.

At Camp Snyder, my youngest learned the importance of being part of a den outside the familiar structure of our regular Thursday meetings. He got his first taste of independence—making choices, following schedules, and participating in his favorite activities like BB shooting, archery, and building. Most importantly, he learned to encourage his fellow Cub Scouts and show Scout spirit, even when he was tired or frustrated.

Camp Ross was a major step up for my Webelos. There, the Scouts were encouraged to take more ownership of their experience—navigating to activities on their own, helping lead flag ceremonies, and completing service projects. Severe weather rolled through camp one night, and I watched as Scouts calmly executed the emergency protocols they had learned. They stayed calm under pressure, made smart decisions, and looked out for one another. It was a clear example of how camp puts Scouting values into action. Even more personally, I saw growth when my picky eater decided to try unfamiliar camp meals. Outside of his comfort zone, he learned that adventure sometimes starts at the dinner table.

At Pipsico, my older Scout dove into the high adventure atmosphere. He earned merit badges, worked with Scouts from other troops, and took on leadership roles within his patrol. The week challenged him physically and mentally, and he came home with a renewed sense of purpose—and a whole lot of stories.

Across all three camps, the same core values shone through: service, resilience, leadership, and Scout spirit. Resident camp gives Scouts a full immersion into the Scout Oath and Law—not just reciting them, but living them every day. Whether cleaning a campsite, helping a nervous camper, or adapting to sudden weather changes, Scouts grow through experience.

In the end, summer camp is not just a tradition or a reward—it’s an essential, transformative experience that helps shape our Scouts into capable, confident, and compassionate leaders. It’s where the lessons of Scouting come to life.