Scouting for survival

August 22, 2012

The Boy Scouts of Troop 39 Summit traveled 372 miles to Moosehead Lake in Maine recently to canoe the area's ponds and Kennebec River, and camp out on the shore. Jessica Boisclair. Kent County Daily Times.

COVENTRY — Boy Scouts from Troop 39 of Summit were given the opportunity to travel 372 miles to embark on a week-long adventure.

Dan Clavette, coordinator of the trip, explained that 12 boy scouts and seven adults traveled to Maine to partake in canoeing, hiking and white-water rafting.

“It was a long ride but we’ve done longer. We had to get up at 4:30 a.m. but this one was pretty simple,” Derek Clavette, 16.

The troop, ranging from ages 12 to 16, was able to train for their adventure numerous times throughout July on Johnson’s Pond.

He said the boy scouts canoed around the pond to learn survival techniques and safety procedures while on the water.

They were able to learn the basics of river paddling-reading the river, trying to understand where rocks were and methods of moving on the river.

Clavette said the scouts were also taught how to leave no trace. He said because many of the campsites they stayed at had no facilities, they had to make sure they had a low impact on the surrounding area.

“For the most part we were prepared but we got caught up with white caps, which are strong waves,” said Eric Sheler, 15. “It was different than preparing on Johnson’s Pond.

During the trip that lasted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 14, each of the scouts was responsible for bringing their own gear with dry bags, water proof plastic bags, cook gear and meals.

He said the troops were broken down into four teams and each team was given a different chore to complete every day, such as cooking, filtering water and setting up an outhouse.

Clavette said all the outdoor adventures were based around Moosehead Lake, the largest lake in Maine.

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