Articles
Games
Visitors

Outdoors

Outdoor Program



The Outdoor Program of camping and hiking is the heart of Scouting and is one of Scouting's eight methods. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. Here the skills and activities practiced at Troop Meetings come alive with purpose. It is the laboratory in which Scouts learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources. Being close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world that God has given us.

In the outdoors, boys have opportunities to acquire skills that make them more self-reliant. They can explore canoe and hiking trails and complete challenges they first thought were beyond their ability. Attributes of good character become part of a boy as he learns to cooperate to meet outdoor challenges that may include extreme weather, difficult trails and portages, and dealing with nature's unexpected circumstances.

Scouts plan and carry out activities with guidance from our Scoutmaster and other Adult Leaders. Good youth leadership, communication, and teamwork enable them to achieve goals they have set for themselves, their Patrol, and their Troop.

Learning by doing is a hallmark of outdoor education. Troop Meetings offer information and knowledge used on outdoor adventures each month throughout the year. A leader may describe and demonstrate a Scouting skill at a meeting, but the way Scouts truly learn outdoor skills is to do it themselves on a Troop campout.

Exercise and fitness is part of the outdoor experience. As Scouts hike, paddle, climb, bike, or ride, their muscles become toned and their aerobic capacity increases. When they work as a patrol to plan menus for their outings, they learn to purchase cost-effective ingredients to prepare flavorful and nutritious meals.

Service to others and good citizenship is learned through such outdoor activities as conservation projects, collecting food, building trails and shelters, and conducting community service projects that promote healthy living. Through helping other people, Scouts learn to appreciate how they can share themselves and their blessings to those in need. By giving service to benefit others, Scouts gain a sense of personal satisfaction.

Our Troop provides opportunities for the Scouts to participate in a variety of outdoor experiences, including:

  • Day Hikes: Reasonably short hikes (3 to 10 miles) in terrain without a lot of elevation gain or loss.

  • Campouts: Troop weekend camping experiences have included trips to Yosemite.

  • High Adventure: The Troop has recently gone on short rock climbing excursions and a weeklong white water rafting trip.

  • Camporees: Our district holds this gathering each year to give Scouts an opportunity to test their knowledge and skills in competitive events with other Troops and Patrols.

  • Summer Camp: Summer Camp is what many Scouts enjoy most. Week-long camp programs provide numerous opportunities for Scouts to earn merit badges along their Advancement Trail. Resident Scout camping includes at least five nights and six days of fun outdoor activities.

  • Jamborees: Every four or five years, the Boy Scouts of America hosts a national Scout Jamboree. More than 40,000 Scouts and Leaders from across the country participate in this 10-day event filled with the most popular and highest quality outdoor activities Scouts enjoy. To participate, a Scout must be at least 12 years of age by July 1 of the Jamboree year and be a First Class Scout.

The cost for each Troop activity is determined in advance and the Scout’s portion is communicated to him and his parents.


See Also
"It's A Boy's Life" by Joseph Csatari



  
[ Back to OUTDOORS | Sections index ]