While many of us were nestled up at home this past weekend, all warm and cosy by the fire — not even thinking about venturing outdoors due to the bitter temperatures here — consider for a minute this recent high adventure trip taken by the Lyme-Old Lyme Troop 26 Boys Scouts to Northern Minnesota.
Two life Scouts, John Miller and Ted Wayland, along with Scoutmaster Miller and Assistant Scoutmaster Wayland and an Eagle Scout from Texas, ventured out to the boundary waters of Northern Minnesota to participate through the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Northern Okpik program in a dog-sledding winter adventure.
The Troop selected the lengthier three night/ four day adventure. When planning the adventure last July, they did not anticipate arriving on one of the coldest weekends of the year in Minnesota with temperatures averaging between -18 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit and only three hours of daytime temperatures above zero.
The boys learned to run their own dog sled team, traveling up to 25 miles a day, while setting up their “snow” kitchen on the ice and learning the value of keeping busy to keep warm. They never complained but truly embraced the depth of the challenge. Testing body and mind to a challenge like this allows one not only to face daily adversity but also to do it successfully.
Troop 26 embraces the BSA philosophy behind the importance of these high adventure trips, allowing young boys to become adults who appreciate their community and give back to their community.
If readers know of any young boys seeking such adventure, the boys of Troop 26 meet weekly Wednesday nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lyme Fire Company and welcome new members age 11 or entering 6th grade.