BSA Troop 514 set off in the rain this past Friday afternoon and headed to Hells Canyon in the Snake River country of NE Oregon. We camped at the end of the road, setting up our tents in a light drizzle just before dark. The next day, after breakfast and a flag ceremony, we headed downriver, into verdant green hillsides, carpeted with yellow balsam root, pink phlox, and purple lupine. Five new scouts enjoyed their first outing, enthusiastically learning new skills of cooking and fire building, identifying plants and animals, pitching tents, packing backpacks, as well as playing games, all under the excellent, caring leadership of the older Scouts.
I have enjoyed my return to the troop. Without this outing, I would have stayed indoors, at home, in the rain, not creating anything memorable. Instead, memories of youthful enthusiasm and brilliant colors resonate in my mind!
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| Balsam root, Hells Canyon |
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| Troop 514 fire starting |
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| Troop 514 flag ceremony, Snake River |
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| Snake River, Hells Canyon |
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| phlox, Hells Canyon, Snake River |
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| Troop 514 |
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| Troop 514, Hells Canyon, Snake River |
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| Troop 514 |
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| Troop 514, Snake river |
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| Troop 514, crossing McGraw creek |