The Connection

Fairfax — Troop 1548, led by Scoutmaster Phil Quinn, is known as the All Weather Troop. They concluded this year’s activities with a splash in the mud during the Marine Corps Marathon’ Run A-Muck. Held each year at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Scouts braved the four miles of mud and obstacles dressed as super heroes, while the adults came out as super villains.

The year started off with younger scouts attending Tuckahoe Summer Camp as the Venture Patrol departed for England to begin their 85-mile coast-to-coast hike of Hadrian’s Wall. Based out of Dilston Scout Camp, the Venture Patrol made daily treks along the 1900-year-old wall. Local British Scouts created nightly opportunities for fellowship around the campfire and lasting friendship. Besides witnessing ancient artifacts being uncovered, the Patrol made the historical journey of Lord Baden Powell to the first official Scout Camp, Camp Look Wide, reaffirming their Scout Oath at the cairn marking the spot where Powell finalized the creation of the Boy Scouts.

After returning from these experiences, the Scouts gathered for their Annual Planning Meeting in August. Some events in their plan for the year included the Troop’s 12th annual Iron Chef Competition (Cooking Merit Badge), Paul Bunyan Days (Wilderness Survival, Rifle, Shotgun, and Archery Merit Badges), and the Annual Naval (American Heritage, Radio and Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge) weekend. This year’s trip included cake with Benjamin Franklin on his birthday. The Troop’s Scouts also affirmed their annual trek to New York to retrieve the Light of Peace and participate as Messengers of Peace by bringing this eternal flame to Virginia, sharing it with Troops in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, and arranging to relay it on to other Troops across the United States. This year’s cold weather did not hold the Scout’s back as they planned and prepared for a winter backpack in a blanket of snow and the weather did not fail to deliver. The term All Weather Troop symbolizes the Scout Motto to always be prepared, for any kind of weather, providing Scouts with challenging growth experiences balanced with prudence and planning to assure success in their adventures — the Scouts backpacked through 8 to 12 inches of snow and learned the difficulties and fine art of trekking through a foot of snow.

Spring Break is generally the Troop’s Triathlon of Backpacking, Canoeing and Cycling over six days and 100 miles. This year the Scout chose to ride the entire length of the C&O Canal — a distance of 184 miles. With snow, wind, rain and sunshine, the older Scouts were joined on the last two days by the two new joining Patrols. The Troop finished in front of the Lincoln Memorial.