Troop Activities

Troop 160 is committed to making outdoor activities, community service, and education of our scouts a priority.  We schedule monthly activities to allow flexibility for those scouts who may have other activities which conflict with Scouting, but encourage as much participation as possible to further their scouting skills.  A portion of the meetings prior to an activity is used for training, organization, and guest speakers.  Activities include the following:

·        Camping Trips

These are usually 2-3 day trips within a 1-6 hour car ride.  It is typically car camping, with the scouts learning to plan and cook meals on propane stoves, campsite preparation with tents and shelter tarps, and fire building.  Trips in the past have included Hagan-Stone Park, Rocky Knob, Hyco Lake, and Virginia Creeper Trail camping.

·        Backpacking Trips

These trips are felt to be essential to the Scouting experience.  They require Scouts to independently carry all gear to be self-sufficient in wilderness camping, and provide special challenges and opportunities for learning.  A great deal of planning and preparation is required during meetings to ensure safety and enjoyment for the Scouts.  Equipment is available at the Scout Hut from the quartermaster in order to provide every Scout the opportunity to attend.  Trips in the past have included Mount Rogers, Roan Mountain, Uwharrie National Forest, Birkhead Mountains, and Rocky Knob.

·        One Day Trips

These include an annual skiing trip, train trip with visit to Discovery Place, and Hyco Lake.  These are family activities and all family members are invited.

·        Specialty Trips

These are trips that provide the scout with special challenges and are considered the favorites and most attended.  Extra time must be devoted at weekly meetings in order to provide the Scouts with the proper training to be successful and safe on these activities.  Trips in the past have included cave exploration, rock climbing, multi-day canoeing on the New River, kayaking at Bear Island, biking on the Virginia Creeper Trail, and camping at Shackleford Island.

·        High Adventure Trips

These are trips sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, and are organized for older scouts (typically 14 and older).  They consist of 1-2 week experiences in hiking, sailing, and canoeing, and usually require at least a year of planning and preparation to attend.  Families will be contacted well in advance for interested Scouts.

·        Community Service

The goal of the troop is to have 2-3 activities a year that involve giving back to our community.  Activities in the past have included Scouting for Food, serving meals at Urban Ministry, environmental improvement, and stuffing stockings for underprivileged children at Christmas.  We are always open for ideas from members of the extended Scouting family.

Each Scout is responsible for his portion of the food cost for the trip, as well as any related fees for the trip (ski rental, camping fees, etc.).  Any Scout cancelling an activity after the Tuesday meeting before the activity forfeits his portion of the food costs and unrecoverable expenses.  The troop helps subsidize the costs for the more expensive trips, thus keeping them more affordable for all Scouts.