26 scouts from Troop 512B and 512G travelled to Kerrville for a canoeing focused campout from 14-16 Oct 22.  We got an early start on Saturday and all scouts completed a 5 mile canoeing trip which counts for camping merit badge.  We also worked on canoeing merit badge throughout the day to finish the training started at meetings earlier in the month.  Everyone learned something and were able to demonstrate many of the difficult skills.  In the end, 10 scouts completed the final solo canoeing test with the rest getting a good start on the merit badge.  Those who just started the merit badge  will probably be skilled enough to finish the solo test the next time we go canoeing!  The weather was sunny and warm enough for some swimming in the afternoon.   Later in the evening we had a combined campfire and skits.   Many thanks to the 7 adults that pitched in on the water, at the campsite, and on the shore to make this a quality campout for our scouts.  Everyone played a part.   Overall, a great, warm, fall weekend enjoying the Hill Country.  

The Troop did conservation service at the camp, completed an orienteering course, and had the pool for an afternoon of swimming.  Our service project was removing rocks from campsite six and making trail borders.

Seven Scouts from Troop 512 joined the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's national honor society upon completing camp conservation service and their ordeal ceremony.

Always a Troop favorite in August is getting out on the water at Canyon Lake.  At the beachfront Scouts trained and practiced water rescues for their Second Class and First Class rank requirements.

Troop 512-B had an 8-person crew hike Philmont Scout ranch this summer to continue a troop tradition that dates to 2006.  The well trained crew carried their clothes, camping gear, food, and water on a 67 mile trek throughout the Philmont North Country.  They hiked fast - normally in the correct direction - and their cooking skills on our backpack stoves each nights provided the best meals I’ve eaten in 5 trips.  On the 4th of July, they summited Baldy Mountain at 12441 ft.  Overall, it was a rainy Philmont trek, but our crew made the best of it and we were able to work in almost all of the planned activities.  Will led our intrepid group through a bunch of high adventure activities: spar pole climbing, civil war rifles, tomahawk throwing, T-Rex track, Indian petroglyphs, railroad track building, homesteading, gold panning, blacksmithing, campfires, and of course a lot of spirited backpacking around the mountains of New Mexico.    The road trip getting there and back was also “high adventure.”  After we left Schertz, we saw the Texas Show in Amarillo and climbed around Capulin Volcano.  We spent several days acclimating to the high altitude while whitewater rafting and mountain biking in Taos, and finished our prep climbing Wheeler Peak, the highest peak in New Mexico at 13,161ft.  After Philmont on our way home, we stop at the National Scout Museum, Kit Carson’s Rayado home and had dinner at Big Tex Steakhouse in Amarillo!   Overall, a great Philmont trip and unforgettable experience for our 5 scouts who all earned their Philmont Arrowhead patch which you can see hanging on their uniform packet.  Thanks to Mr McNamara, Mr Napolitano and Mr Winstead whose adult participation returning to Philmont once again made the trip possible for our scouts.   The troop hopes to go again in 2025! 

Thirty-Six Scouts attended Summer Camp at Trevor-Rees Jones Scout Camp in Athens, TX (Circle Ten Council).  Some highlights included horse trail rides and the horsemanship merit badge, the welding merit badge, wood turning, and some outstanding cooking from our resident chef, Mr. Garcia.  After their merit badge work and evening programs, the Scouts managed to fit in gaming some Dungeons & Dragons. Click "read more" for additional images.