Coral Reef Sailing Adventure 2020

6 Scouts and 2 leaders spent the week aboard the Adventurer a 41 foot Morgan Out Island sloop in the Florida Keys.  Our time was spent sailing, snorkeling coral reefs, and fishing.  In the process, our Scouts got to experience the only coral reefs in North America before they go extinct.  Over the last 20 years, the reefs in Florida have shrunk by 50% with no end in sight.

We got to fish a lot and the Scouts caught hundreds of fish (no fish story) including a massive 30+ inch Grouper.  Sadly the Grouper was out of season and we had to release it instead of making it feed the crew for the week.

We learned about navigation and sailing and put up and hauled in the sails numerous times to power ourselves around the  Keys.

We lived on board the boat for the week anchoring off the coast along the way with a mid-week mooring at John Pennycamp State Park to use the showers, empty the garbage, and use flush toilets.  Most nights we spent sleeping on deck under the stars.

For a full accounting of our week please check out our photo album from the trip:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ooPXfXJG2FgZNqvY8

First AT Segment on the Appalachian Trail

This past weekend we extended our coverage of the Appalachian Trail into CT covering the section from the NY/CT border to the Bulls Covered Bridge in in Kent, CT.

On the hike we had Eagle, Puppy Dog, and Worm (AT trail names) along with dads Joe C. and Peter D.  First day we covered 5 miles (3 with packs to the lean-to) then 2 more miles of after lunch hiking, then on Sunday we slogged 1 more mile through the rain to pack out.  Its been a while since we faced any serious weather and I am happy to report it didn't phase the new Scouts who embraced the Troop 4 way of "uphill both ways in the rain" as the ideal outing.

The CT AT facilities are the best we have ever encountered.  The Lean-To was immaculate and well maintained.

They provided an onsite Bear Box for food and garbage storage overnight,

and the Outhouse was a thing of beauty.  Bigger than the bathroom in my 1st apartment and way cleaner too.  Check out the door, it has a knocker.

For a complete photo record of the weekend please check out the Troop album at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZzWkwuVBEvst2We29

Hoyt

Back to Hoyt with our new Scouts to start on learning basic camping and outdoor skills.

We worked on firebuilding,

Knots and lashings,

And cooking amongst other skills to help everyone come up to speed for the May Camporee Challenge where these skills will prove helpful in the competitions.

For a full photographic review of our weekend please check out the Troop photo page for this event here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gdw8BW9jaw99Tfd77