Scouts who took the scuba diving merit badge went to Lake Pleasant and Canyon Lake many times for their scuba certification. Due to cold weather in the winter, it took some scouts almost 1 year to earn their scuba certification. Scouts practiced their scuba diving skills in a pool to then test their abilities in a lake. The scouts had lots of fun while facing many challenges; fear and temperature.
The scouts visited Flagstaff Extreme, a difficult rope course located in Flagstaff. Some scouts challenged themselves by doing the black course, the hardest course at Flagstaff Extreme. Not only did the scouts have lots of fun but so did the adult leaders. The scouts cooked wonderful nutritional meals and had loads of fun.
Written by: Cole
Slide Rock is a place where plentiful amounts of waterfalls and natural waterslides are carved among the rock. It is just north of Sedona and in the depths of Oak Creek Canyon, with red, iron-rich rocks galore. We camped out at the same campground as we do for FlagX, another camp that is due in August. We had to wake up at around 5 in the morning to get up and leave at 6:30 to avoid the vast lines. Luckily, we got there safely and everyone, including the adults, had a splendid time together in the park. We eventually headed back early due to thunder and light rain, but everyone was in bright spirits all around. For dinner, Ammon’s patrol won the Golden Spoon for their scrumptious Shrimp Boil( I didn’t try it but I assumed the best!). We had a nice night, with rain deluging down and providing nice sleeping weather listening to the “pitter-patter” on the fellow tents. The next day, we woke up and packed our belongings up, but not without thorns(most of them being the music late at night, which is why we will move campsites for FlagX) roses, and a nice sermon from our beloved scouts Joey and Hudson. Other than the two colossal traffic jams by Anthem and the 202/101 merger, we had a safe drive back, no one got left behind, and everyone, and I mean everyone, got a meaningful good night of sleep in their cozy beds.
Camp Geronimo is a 200-acre Boy Scout camp that allows scouts to partake in outdoor events, such as hiking, merit badges, campfires, and so much more. The scouts stay at Camp Geronimo for 1 week. Scout troops can decide to go on one of the 6 different weeks. Younger scouts typically attend Brownsea Island. This isn’t a literal island, it is a program for younger scouts to complete requirements for scout ranks including tenderfoot, 2nd class, and some of 1st class.
The scouts embarked on many adventures throughout the week at Camp Geronimo. The scouts worked towards earning merit badges. On Wednesday the scouts hiked to a cave and then to a natural spring. Some of the scouts participated in swimming in the spring and collecting a rock from the bottom of the spring. On Thursday the scouts attended the Mogollon story. This event was the story of the Mogollon Monster. The Mogollon story explains how the Mogollon monster came to be and what it is. The scouts left on Sunday with more knowledge, more merit badges, and a wonderful experience
Philmont is a massive scouting camp with over 140,000 acres of land, offering scouts the opportunity to plan their trips into the backcountry. Depending on your choice, you can spend 7, 9, or even 12 days on the trail, backpacking through mountains and navigating to your destination. Our troop chose our trek and embarked on our adventure with the help of a ranger who taught us skills like setting up bear bags. Our journey covered 28 miles. On the first day, we camped near a meadow and practiced our knots. The second day involved a steep hike to a staffed camp called Urakka, where we played a team-building game.
On the third day, we spotted a bear near our camp as we departed. The trail we planned to take wasn’t where it was marked on the map, so we found an alternate route to Miners Park, where we enjoyed rock climbing. The next day, we completed a service project, clearing a new trail. Following that, we hiked to the Tooth of Time, a challenging but rewarding trek with stunning views of the entire camp from the peak. Our final stop was Clarks Fork, where we had a delicious dinner prepared by the staff and rode horses before heading home. Philmont was an incredible experience, and everyone returned with cherished memories.
Check out all the photos here https://troop653.com/photos/
The Boy Scouts recently went on an exciting fishing trip to Black River. Many people last year didn’t get to catch a fish on a fly rod but this year they were able to. After a successful day of fishing, we gathered around the campfire and enjoyed a delicious meal of freshly fried fish. It was so much fun and the scouts were able to learn how to clean fish and cook them
The Boy Scout troop visited a bustling fish hatchery, where they learned about the fascinating process of breeding and raising fish to support local ecosystems. This hands-on experience opened the scout’s eyes to how the rivers are stocked.
The scouts had an amazing time at Feed My Starving Children. Feed my starving children is a non-profit organization where people can volunteer to help package food. This food is then shipped to other countries where it is needed. A quote from one of our adult leaders, “It was a great opportunity for the youth to participate and share in a labor of love!”
The scouts had an opportunity to prepare Camp Geronimo for summer and give it some much-needed attention. Projects includes improving our normal campsite by painting the Adirondack shelter, addressing water drainage issues, and generally improving the campsite grounds. The Philmont trekkers also used this as a shakedown opportunity to test their backpacking equipment and go another another hike.
On this special day, scouts from around the world came together to read their own scriptures simultaneously, fostering a sense of global unity and spiritual reflection. On May 2nd, coinciding with the United States National Day of Prayer, troop members began their readings at 5:30 PM. Each participating scout read for 15 minutes, earning a unique and meaningful patch to commemorate their involvement. This shared experience not only deepened their individual faiths but also strengthened the bonds within the global scouting community.
