New Scouts Travel North For Trip of a Lifetime

August 29, 2016

Story by Christine Rasure, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Greater St. Louis Area Council

Scouting gives youth the freedom to explore a world of experiences beyond the boundaries of their everyday life. For a handful of Boy Scouts in the Greater St. Louis Area Council, that couldn’t be more true. This week, four young men from north St. Louis County are canoeing the pristine waters of Northern Tier High-Adventure Base in northern Minnesota as part of a week-long canoe and portage trip.

But before they could go, the Scouts (Mark B., Korrie S., Thevun W., and Jaydon P.) had a lot of learning to do. As new members of Troop 240 chartered to the St. Louis County Police Academy Alumni Association, the young men had never been camping or canoeing until a couple of weeks ago.

Troop 240 recently developed out of the council’s Restoring the Village initiative. The initiative focuses on growing and strengthening Scouting’s presence in North County to serve more youth through the proven methods of the Boy Scouts of America.

Despite their limited camping experience, Troop 240 Scouts were eager to head north for their trip.

“I’m excited about being in the water and seeing different things,” said a grinning Mark B. prior to leaving town, his fellow Scouts huddled nearby nodding in agreement. “And making new friends and just having fun. I’ve never been to that area of the country.”

To prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime trip, the Scouts spent a week at S-F Scout Ranch in early July acquiring the skills and know-how necessary for their time at Northern Tier. They learned how to canoe, set up a tent, cook over a small camp stove, start a fire, and even astronomy.

Helping out at camp were eight experienced Boy Scouts from southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. They too headed for Northern Tier with Troop 240.

“This trip gives these young men an opportunity to see a world outside of their own neighborhoods,” said Ronald Green, Scout Executive/CEO of the Greater St. Louis Area Council. “It will help them develop new skills and give them a profound sense of achievement which builds confidence, leadership, self-reliance and independence.

“An activity like this becomes an unforgettable lifetime achievement from which they can continue to build on. It will give these young men a positive view of their own potential and help them realize they can accomplish things they didn’t know they could.”