By Jessica Gestwicki—
MUNCIE, IN – Boy Scout Troop 22 is back from their Philmont high adventure and ready to serve up heaping helpings of BBQ and fixings. Join them for their 31st Annual Hog Roast fundraiser at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, Saturday, September 14, from 11a.m. to 6p.m. Bring your worn, tattered, or faded flags for the Scouts’ “Retire Your Flag” Drive.
Meal includes pork BBQ sandwich, scout-made applesauce, baked beans, baked potato, dessert and drink. Soda available for $1.
Tickets at the door are $12/adults and $6/kids aged 5-10. Proceeds ensure scouting opportunities like summer camp and high adventure remain available to all.
The scouts are excited to share their experiences at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, this summer. The troop fielded two crews – 16 scouts and seven adult leaders – who each hiked more than 65 miles during their 12-day trek.
“The thing I love about high adventure trips is watching scouts use their scouting skills and rely on teamwork,” said Scoutmaster Josh Sprague. “We could encounter bad weather or equipment failure, without any help nearby. How are the scouts, as a crew, going to handle adversity?”
Wild turkeys and rattlesnakes and bears, oh my! Each night, the scouts had to raise a bear bag of “smellables” outside camp and out of reach to deter the latter – successfully. However, the campsites were not free of wildlife: a band of wild turkeys, three adults and 21 babies, visited Crew 1, and a rattlesnake graciously shared his campsite with Crew 2 one night.
Known as “the pinnacle of Scouting,” a Philmont trek is physically demanding, entertaining, and personally rewarding.
Each participant had to carry a 40-pound pack of gear, food, and water over rugged terrain and, on many days, through rugged weather – including hail, presenting daily team-building opportunities.
Boy Scouts of America programming celebrates the old west with horseback riding, burro packing, gold panning, chuckwagon dinners, and interpretive history and offers more contemporary challenges, such as mountain biking and sport shooting.
Each scout leaves with incredible memories and a sense of pride at their accomplishments.
Boy Scout Troop 22 has been exceeding standards in camping, training, and troop advancement since 1951. Scouts plan monthly outings to practice outdoor and leadership skills, earning the troop the nickname, “The Outdoors Troop”. Any interested boys between the ages of 11 and 17 are welcome to attend a Monday meeting, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian, 2700 West Moore Rd, Muncie. Visit theoutdoorstroop.org for more information.
