Category — News

Troop 591 has just returned from Blue Ridge Scout Reservation in Virginia where the Troop completed the New River Adventure program.

The New River Adventure is one of several high adventure programs sponsored by the Reservation.  In the New River Adventure program Scouts complete a variety of challenging, team oriented activities.  Scouts in the program completed Low COPE, High COPE, Climbing Tower, Caving, White Water Canoeing and White Water Rafting.  The river portions or the adventure took place on the New River in West Virginia and included a guided rafting trip through the New River Gorge.

Some of our younger Scouts, who weren’t old enough to participate in the high adventure activities, enjoyed a full summer camp program at one of the east coast’s premier Scouting facilities.

The long drive back to Westford was broken up with a drive through Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive, a day trip to Washington, D.C., a tour of the Harley-Davidson factory in York, PA and a Coal Mine tour in Scranton, PA.

This trip marks the second time the Troop has traveled to Blue Ridge for summer camp and is part of the Troop’s effort to provide our Scouts the opportunity to travel outside our region and expand their horizons. Troop 591’s long term program includes out-of-area camping opportunities every other summer.

Scout Troop 591 has just returned from Florida where the Scouts participated in the Coral Reef Adventure at Florida Sea Base – one of BSA’s National High Adventure Camps. Troop 591 sent two “crews” aboard the 40′ sailing boats “Spindrift” and “Silent Harmony” for a week of sailing, snorkeling and fishing in the Florida Keys. Highlights of the trip included snorkeling among the reefs, catching fresh fish for dinner and learning to man and sail a large sailing vessel. The Scouts slept aboard the vessels for the week often anchored off one of the Keys. During the day the Scouts learned to rig the sails, man the helm and trim the boat. In addition to sailing, the vessels anchored near some of the best snorkeling sites in the Caribbean affording the Scouts the opportunity to get “up close and personal” with the marine life in the Keys. It was an amazing trip that will be the highlite of the year for most of the boys involved.

First Class Scout Alex C….., a member of Troop 591 of Westford, MA, was awarded the J. Harold Williams Award for Brotherhood by the Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rockville, RI. This award is presented each week during summer camp to one Scout from each of Yawgoog’s three camps who best exemplifies the qualities of the good Scout. The late J. Harold Williams was a former Scout Executive of the Narragansett Council and Camp Chief at Yawgoog Scout Reservation for many years. He led a life of service to God and country through Scouting. The award that bears his name is one of the highest honors bestowed on a Scout by the Yawgoog Scout Reservation.

Troop 591 of Westford, MA was recognized as this past week’s winner of “Edwin’s Troop of the Week” by the Sandy Beach Camp staff at Yawgoog Scout Reservation. The Troop of the Week award is given to that Troop that exemplifies the Scout spirit at camp and contributes to a positive camp experience for all campers.

Although it was Troop 591’s first year camping at Yawgoog, the Scouts were soon singing the camp songs and shouting the cheers. Hundreds of “pickle pins” were handed out by Troop 591 Scouts as a way to introduce themselves and make new friends. The Troop hosted a Root Beer Float Night in camp attended by campers from the neighboring sites as well as some of the staff.

It sometimes seems like we do some crazy stuff, but at the end of the week we had met a lot of new friends and had a fabulous week at camp.