Boy Scout Troop 211 recently completed their summer adventures with a weekend campout on a private island at Smith Mountain Lake.  After being shuttled to the island with their gear via personal boats the troop set up camp.  Some of the scouts decided to sleep on the beach under the stars.  While the boys enjoyed the freedom of the nine acre private island with swimming, fishing, snorkeling, cooking, and camping they were able to complete a large number of requirements for rank advancements and merit badges. After preparing dinner each evening the scouts engaged in a friendly game of “capture the flag” along with campfire stories and tales.

Scouting prepares boys and young men for leadership by teaching them the importance of service to others.  The scouts of Troop 211 and their leaders built and erected a new outhouse for the land owner on the island after the old one was destroyed by a fallen tree.  They also performed a “leave-no-trace” sweep of the island, collecting multiple bags of trash and cleaning up fallen debris from the March and June storms.

After waking up to pouring rain and being ferried back to the mainland to the private residence of one of the scout leaders, the scouts and adults were treated to a pizza party after which they spent some time working on life-saving and other water safety skills.  The troop is grateful for the leaders, the boat owners and the Christmas Tree Island owner for a great weekend of wonderful memories.  For more information about the troop you may contact Julie Gladu, Committee Chairman, at 992-4222 or Scoutmaster Steve Pappas at 992-3318.

Submitted by Steve Pappas