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Bentonville Troop 525 Takes on Northern Tier -- AGAIN

Below is an excerpt from Dennis Lowe's Troop 525 trip journal to Northern Tier this past summer. Many of you may have seen the wonderful article in the newspaper about this trip. (Of you may have seen an article from another summer -- Dennis has an "in" with the paper and has published parts of their high adventure trip journal for several years running.) I have also linked the 2010 Northern Tier Journal in its entirety (58 pages!). It is interesting reading and really gives a glimpse into not only the hearts of the boys, but also of that of their Scoutmaster, Dennis Lowe, and other adult leaders.

Prelude 07/16/10

"Exert from my journal Northern Tier Trek E061299E   June 21, 1999
Last day we took our time this morning getting ready making sure to have everything ready to check in when we got back. We passed a few crews going out and I heard some people say as they passed by “ Look at those guys boy do they look rough, I hope we don’t look that bad coming back.” I looked around to each of my crew mates and thought to myself. Only if you are as lucky as us, for each one us where wearing a week’s worth of scrapes burses and dirt like it was a shiny suit of armor. We had memories burned deep inside that will last a life time.  We pushed our selves refusing to take easy way out choosing to do it on our own. Not with the help of a tour guide or fancy equipment. But most of all when our defining moment came, crossing Silver Falls, or the bear attack, our true character came out and the words we recite from memory like a scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Revenant. Came out as traits of who we where. So I hope those people do come back looking as rugged as we did. But the secrete is that it was always been inside each of us just hidden by the ease of modern day to day world we live in.

As we start this trek, I looked back on the first trek some 11 years ago, and appreciate how far we have come. This crew has nothing to prove to me they are ready and yet they have everything to prove to themselves. I know in my heart that they will do well. But the collective goal for this crew is 100 miles for the 100 anniversary of Boy Scouts of America. But my personal goal as Scoutmaster is to go 1 foot from their head to their heart. Because what they find in their heart is the true measure of who they will become and who they really are. The thing is now we have learned to prepare so well for these adventure treks we have to push our selves farther and farther where we can get to the point when the character in each of us rises to the top and our character says I am Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, thrifty, brave, clean and revenant not just our mouth. I know no better place to go and test ourselves then the boundary waters of upper Minnesota and Canada. I do not know what challenges we will face externally and truthfully I am not even worried about it, because this crew is ready and we will face them head on."

The Journal in its entirety HERE

Troop 450 Participates in Military Appreciation Day at Bentonville's Public Library

Bentonville Troop 450 conducted the community flag ceremony at the Bentonville Public Library to kick off City of Bentonville's First Annual Military Appreciation Day on May 8th, 2010.  Pictured are Grant F., Zac G., Pepito E., Lt. Colonel  Troy Galloway, Commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 142nd Fires Brigade,  Dylan B., Luke S., Matt C., and JB D.