We’re off …
January 16, 2015, 4:30 PM: A contingent of 13 boys of Troop 344 heads to Kentucky with a handful of adults. Everyone was excited. This winter camping trip, albeit in the comfort of cabins, was an extra day long and we were going to do something new … go inside caves, on foot, on hands and knees and in kayaks.
On Saturday, our first stop was the Lost River Caves, located not too far from downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky. A small cave system once home to a grist mill, refuge to soldiers in the Civil War and an evening getaway for couples as a popular night club in the 1930s. Today, it is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the caverns, its flora and fauna, and the surrounding, multi-acre property filled with trails and sites.
The troop was split in two. One half would explore the lake inside the cave while the other would focus on clearing out an area overrun by invasive plants. The boys were armed with shovels, rakes, loppers, saws, gloves, water bottles and, most importantly, a can do attitude. After roughly two hours of work it was time for an early lunch after which the two groups would switch. By 2:00 PM our assigned area was clear. A huge pile of vines and unwanted shrubs lay next to the trail, testimony to our work. Our host, Chad, was blown away.
Kayaking on a Lake Inside a Cave
The adults climbed on board a pontoon boat and followed the boys in. The entry way was so low that the boys could use their hands to push themselves along until they reach the cavern.
In the pontoon you had to crouch down and then still be careful you didn’t leave behind any skin from your forehead.
The cave system is pretty extensive, but only a small portion is safe to explore with the kayaks. A small cascade was conveniently blocked by our pontoon, allowing the scouts to see it, but not get any ideas. We did not need to worry, the kayak race inside the cave was more enticing.
At 2:30 ten scouts, accompanied by Dave Gruenbacher and Shannon Whitaker, were led back into the caves by two guides. They wore clothes moms were willing to throw out, donned helmets, knee- and elbow guards and were off for the highly anticipated cave crawl.
They would return after three hours … a full hour beyond the scheduled time; getting mesmerized by writing and artifacts left behind by visitors over a century ago. And, just having too much plain old fun. Even our guides had lost track of the time.
The image at the top of this post depicts the boys with our host, Chad (second from left). The group blends in with the environment quite well.
During clean up we had time to review the day with Chad and make sure he was happy with our work that morning. Actually, “happy” was not the word. “Thrilled” would be more appropriate. He had not ever seen a boy scout troop not only behave so well, but also work as hard. We “restored his faith in scouting.”
On Sunday we visited Mammoth Caves and were treated to a 250 foot descent into a sink hole using steep and narrow stairs. It was quite impressive, but the boys agreed they had more fun the prior day. We ended the excursion with a splendid 5-mile hike through the back country woods in the Mammoth Caves National Park.
Reflections
Before departing for St. Louis on Monday we looked back at our week-end. The boys ran their own show … preparing meals, organizing their day (Saturday started at 5:30 AM) and even loading the van on Sunday evening by 8:20 PM so we could leave on time. The adults did not need to intervene. Our scouts also took on their responsibilities during the service project without any complaints. There was no goofing off, yet they had tons of fun.
Would the learning environment commensurate with being part of a boy led troop have something to do with this? Would the fact that the adults kept a low profile and let the boys show how well they could manage their trip have contributed to their positive attitude? Would the principles and values of scouting have rubbed off enough on our scouts that their responsibilities were as important to them as having fun on this trip?
This Scoutmaster thinks so. It is a blast, an honor and a privilege to see the scouts of Troop 344 in action. Perhaps on our next trip you can join us and witness it for yourself. It is worth it.
Yours in Scouting,
Filip Everaert
Troop 344 