We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

adventure

Canoeing Trip Turns Into Heroic Mission as Scouts Rescue Hope

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 What began as a summer wilderness adventure for Troop 648 became an unforgettable rescue mission. In July, during a self-organized canoe trek (planned and led by young Scout, Paul M.) through the Adirondacks, the Scouts encountered an unexpected visitor—a lost dog named Hope. Her owner had nearly given up hope of finding her, but thanks to quick thinking and teamwork, the troop made a difference.
Hope in the canoe with Liam and Ben on their way to reuniting her with her family.

When Hope wandered into the Scouts’ campsite and stayed overnight, the troop sprang into action. Using a satellite phone, they contacted her relieved owner. Two Scouts, Liam and Ben, volunteered to paddle several miles with Hope to meet a park ranger and ensure her safe return home.

United by their commitment to help others and do a good turn daily, the entire crew rallied behind the effort, demonstrating that even in the wilderness, kindness and determination can make all the difference

And if the rescue wasn’t heartwarming enough, just wait until you read the thank-you letter that followed. Way to go Troop 648!

 

From the thank you letter from Hope’s owners, Fred & Danielle:

“On Sunday, July 20th, 2025 while hiking in Robin Wood Park in Sabattis, NY our pets for vet rescue hound Hope decided to chase wildlife through the forest.
After seven fruitless days we had all but given up hope for finding Hope in the Adirondack wilderness.
Luckily for Hope the Scouts of Troop 648 were camped on the shores of Lowes Lake and Hope was hungry. Your troop didn’t hesitate to care for her. One eagle eyed scout found the contact tag on her collar and hope was saved.
On the Northern shores of Lowes Lake is the Sabattis Scout reservation. The Sabattis Scout camp raised me from a cub to an eagle. In October, Sabattis Scout camp closed for the final time, its mountain and lakes returned to the wilderness. It’s comforting to know that nothing lasts forever with the exception of the values and ideals that embody the scouting tradition.
The members of Troop 648 embody the scouting ideals to always be prepared to do a good turn. We wish to thank the rescue rangers of troop 648 for their selfless service in this rescue and recovery of our lost blue tick hound.”

 

Troop 648 and Hope, the lost blue tick hound.

Troop 1094 Conducts Cold Weather Training in Minnesota

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By Holden Pierce, Historian, Troop 1094

An image of the sunset at Northern Tier
[An image of the sunset taken by Ryan D., Life Scout of Troop 1094]
This past winter, Troop 1094 of Darnestown sent two full crews to Scouting America’s Northern Tier High Adventure Base in Ely, Minnesota to participate in a rugged cold weather high adventure experience. Scouting America has four national level high adventure bases in the United States where Scouts can excel in their outdoor skills while having a bunch of fun. In summer, the Northern Tier High Adventure Base allows Scouts the opportunity to conduct amazing canoeing treks in the boundary waters of Canada and upper Minnesota. In winter, the Northern Tier High Adventure Base allows Scouts the opportunity to participate in amazing cold weather activities during their “Okpik” (means Snowy Owl in the Inuit language) program in which Scouts learn how to thrive in subzero temperatures, travel across frozen wilderness lakes, and construct their own sleeping structures out of snow.

After flying into Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport, the Troop 1094’s two crews then had a 5-hour bus ride north to Ely, which is right next to the Canadian border. Once we arrived at the Northern Tier High Adventure Base, we were busy from the very start. First, we were broken into two separate crews of 8 Scouts and three adults each and then introduced to our “Interpreters” (crew guides). We then conducted detailed planning for our cold-weather activities for the week and then got issued all of our cold weather gear before staying in cabins for the night. The next morning, our cold weather adventures began.

An image of our crew hiking across Flash Lake.
[An image of our crew hiking across Flash Lake taken by Matthew M., Life Scout of Troop 1094]
During our time in the wilderness, our two crews had an amazing time. Some of our awesome activities included snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, ice fishing, playing broom ball, and curling. Everywhere we went, each crew member had to pull their own sled with all their own gear along with some crew gear. Each night, our crews usually slept in established campsites right next to the edge of the lake, but one night, our crews actually slept out on the ice in the middle of the lake. That was really cool. None of us had ever done that before. During the trek, we never used tents. Instead, we built windbreak structures while sleeping under the stars. A windbreak structure is made out of snow and has four walls about three feet tall on all sides where the scouts sleep in the middle to keep the wind from hitting them.

While we were there, we all earned several cool awards. One of the awards was the Duty to God Patch. To earn that patch, we had to say the Northern Tier grace before every meal and hold a brief daily devotion. Another award that we earned was the Okpik Winter Trek Patch. To earn that patch, we had to camp out in the wilderness for at least two nights and hike at least seven miles.

I interviewed one of our Star Scouts, Ryan H., about his experience at Northern Tier, and he said: “The experience was a 10 out of 10 and many memories were made!” Overall, the Scouts and adults that went to the Northern Tier High Adventure Base this past winter had a great time and made many memories along the way.

During 2025, Troop 1094 will be participating in two more awesome high adventure trips. In June, our Troop is sending one crew back to Northern Tier in Minnesota to participate in a 10-day canoeing trek in the Canadian boundary waters. And in December, our Troop is sending a crew to Sea Base in Florida to participate in a 7-day Coral Reef sailing adventure. We love high adventure trips!

SEAL Adventure

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S.E.A.L., Sea scout Experience Advanced Leadership training is the Sea Scouts BSA highest leadership training for youth, which is now open for Scouts BSA as well. It is a demanding hands-on leadership experience that takes a lot of preparation. The course is designed to develop leadership skills in young adults in an “at sea” experience, but seamanship and nautical skills are merely the means, not the end. Sea Scouts need to have the rank of Ordinary (the second rank in Sea Scouts BSA, after the rank of Apprentice) or be a Venturing Pathfinder or a Scouts BSA First Class Scout by June 1st of the year of the SEAL training.


Furthermore, both Sea Scout, Venturer, and Scout need to study Chapter 4 of the most current edition of the Sea Scout Manual, have to be able to perform basic coastal navigation, and be able to tie all knots required for Apprentice and Ordinary rank (15 knots) within 3 minutes. They also need to know most basic names of all sailing vessel parts, helm commands and relative bearings, which can be found in the Sea Scout Manual. All participants must also have their State’s Boater License in order to pilot a boat or ship.

Troop 447 Life Scout and SPL Austin was accepted to attend the NY/NJ SEAL training off of Long Island NY on the 65’ motorized vessel Sea Dart II, out of Linden NJ the last week of June. Austin had only 6 weeks after he was accepted to this course to be fully prepared for this adventure. Fortunately was offered help for this by the new National Service Territory Boatswain William Kennedy, who gave Austin a crash course in Coastal Navigation, and in the use of Austin’s newly acquired Boatswain pipe, the high pitched device with which commands are given on a ship.

Austin also studied the required Chapter 4 of the Sea Scout Manual and earned his MD Boater License, all while earning his PADI open water certification (not required, but scheduled 2 weeks before the SEAL course). He also got a full Sea Scout uniform, which was a requirement for this course. Fortunately, the uniform can be found at any local Walmart, the dark navy shirt, and shorts or cargo pants from Dickies (a higher end, but more expensive option can be found at any 5.11 store).

We dropped Austin off on the dock in Linden New Jersey on Saturday, June 25 and received sporadic messages during the week, as cell phone use is restricted on board during most of the day, so the candidates can focus on the rigorous training. Fortunately we were able to follow the vessel in real time through on online maritime locator system. From Linden, they visited Port Jefferson on Long Island NY, through the Long Island Sound to New London CT for the U.S.C.G. Academy, to Bridgeport CT, to Throgs Neck NY for the State University of NY Maritime College and back to home port of Linden NJ. During the trip Austin and his fellow candidates practiced and performed the twelve areas of leadership management of the SEAL course and experienced life on board of a vessel, including cooking, cleaning and preparing for the journey of the next day.

When we picked Austin up a week later, he was exhausted, but he was happy to report that he had successfully completed the SEAL training, and that he was now the proud owner of the coveted SEAL Award pin, the Silver Dolphin pin and SEAL certificate! In the 5 hour journey home it was a non-stop waterfall of stories from his adventure. In the end he shared with us that it was an exhausting trip, but more than worth it.

Troop 58’s Spring Break St. Thomas Sailing Adventure

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An adventurous crew of nine scouts and three adults from Troop 58 in Ashburn, VA spent a year eagerly anticipating a spring break Sea Base sailing adventure in the Bahamas. Due to the uncertainties surrounding international travel because of the ongoing pandemic, the crew changed course in January and chose a St. Thomas sailing adventure in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In April, the crew donned their matching Hawaiian shirts, met Captain Matias at Sapphire Beach Marina and boarded the deck of the 50 ft. yacht, Antillean, and set sail.

The first night sleeping on deck was quite an adventure with gusting high winds, torrential downpours, flapping side panels, squealing pulleys, squawking seagulls, and even crowing roosters! The weather improved and the crew enjoyed navigating from the shaded cockpit and at times relaxing in the on-deck hammock. Some of the highlights of the week included snorkeling, night fishing at Honeymoon Beach, hiking to Fort Segarra, and a beach BBQ. Late in the week, the crew swam ashore in their bathing suits to Water Island for a well-deserved hamburger dinner at a local waterfront restaurant.

During the course of the five-day adventure the crew completed the requirements to earn the Snorkeling BSA patch and the Duty to God award. Several scouts also earned their Fishing, Citizenship in Society, and Communications merit badges. Captain Matias kept a close eye on the crew throughout the week to evaluate their success on the water in the areas of snorkeling, sailing & crewing, fishing, cooking, cleaning, personal care, and behavior and awarded them with the Captains Club patch.

Troop 58’s next high adventure will be dog-sledding, snowshoeing, ice-fishing and more at Okpik Cold Weather Camping at Northern Tier in January 2023!

Big and Little Schloss Mountains

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Troop 58 went “Big” and actually “Little” by taking on a 3 day 2 night 18-mile backpacking trip in the George Washington National Forest and summiting Big and Little Schloss Mountains. The adventure started with a 2-mile night trek by headlight to a beautiful high meadow campsite just short of Little Schloss Mt.

The scouts were up early to watch the amazing fall sunrise over the Shenandoah Valley from the summit. The next day they backpacked to a beautiful campsite along Little Passage Creek with a big campfire, fun and much earned rest.

On the final morning, they summited Big Schloss and enjoyed lunch with 360-degree views on Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. For most of the scouts, this was their first time backpacking but surely not their last! Additionally, The trip also served as a training opportunity for a crew of scouts preparing for Philmont planned for next summer. The scouts provided a lot of great feedback via roses, buds and thorns and the troop is already thinking about backpacking adventures in 2021!