Mesquite: Boy Scouts escape Texas heat in Minnesota

Twenty Mesquite Boy Scouts and eight leaders escaped the Texas heat by visiting Minnesota for 12 days from July 7 to 18.

The Scouts and their leaders immediately felt the change.

“It was interesting to realize how different the climate is, and we had one night where I am pretty certain it was below 40 degrees,” adult leader Kerry Whitley said. “On the overcast, windy, rainy days it was pretty chilly, very different for us Texans to imagine in mid-July.”

Over a year and a half in the planning, Boy Scouts in Mesquite teamed up to experience the Northern Tier High Adventure Program canoe trip in Ely, Minn. The boys and their adult leaders paddled their canoes for eight days across lakes and rivers in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, including crossing the border in Canadian waters.

Scout leaders from Boy Scout Troop 67 and Troop 90, Matt Curtis and Eric Kidder, joined the groups for the canoe adventure. Kidder, who has been on this trip 10 times before, knew the boys would have a memorable experience.

“This turned into a great example of team work between the two troops,” Kidder said. “With so many details to coordinate such as airline reservations, dates for Northern Tier trek, coordinating informational and training meetings between the two troops, it was great to have everyone working cooperatively together to make a successful event.”

In preparation for the trip, all participants had to complete a health and medical record form and pass the Boy Scouts of America swim test. Leaders had to be certified in CPR, Youth Protection, Safety Afloat/Safe Swim Defense and trained in first aid. They had to purchase sturdy boots and nylon shirts and pants, which were worn the entire time. The boys also spent several weekends carrying canoes and practicing water survival skills in case canoes capsized.

Troop 90 scouts canoed 100 miles over the eight day period, while boys from Troop 67 chose to travel up to 156 miles. Regardless of the trek, each of the crews paddled at least 10 miles a day or more in windy conditions and may have carried as much as 85 pounds across a portage and around any obstacles such as rapids and beaver dams.

Kidder said the best thing about the trip was watching the boys have a great time discovering their limits and working to do more. Boys found muscles they didn’t know they had, as they used their arms and upper bodies for paddling and their backs and legs for portaging. Injuries were fortunately minor, with boys and leaders suffering some blisters, a bruised toe, a turned ankle and sunburns but nothing major.

For Andy Whitley, Life Scout from Troop 90, his first high adventure trip was much harder than what he expected. He said that the best thing about the trip was the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction that he got from completing the whole trek.

Troop 67 Scoutmaster Matthew Curtis summarized the trip.

“This trip was not always an easy one, but the boys tightened their belts when needed and got it done every time, and all with a smile on their face,” he said. “I can say without a doubt that this was the greatest high adventure I have ever been on and I would do it all again tomorrow with the Scouts if I could.”

For information about how to get involved in all the scouting programs, contact Jeff Molepske, Scout Executive at 214-902-6728 or JMolepsk@BSAmail.org.

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