As a troop in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, we have many options for outdoor adventure within an hour or so of home, and the Crooked Lakes Trail to Penner Lake is a good first-time backpack for new scouts. It's an easy 3 miles from the Carr-Feeley trailhead to Penner, with a quick 250 feet …
Backpack lighter, and have more fun!
Backpacking is a fantastic sport, and a wonderful lifestyle that many youth are introduced to through Scouting. I've learned over the years that the quality of their first experience will determine whether a scout (or their parent) comes back for a second trip. While many youth and adults have the physical strength and endurance to carry a …
The Voice of the Eagle
This is the voice of the Eagle - the Eagle whose heights you have struggled to reach. I remember when you came to the base of the cliff, and how you looked up with ambition and determination. Look back at the experiences you have encountered in your ascent. These experiences should not be forgotten. You …
Cycling Merit Badge, 2015
"Since 1911, hundreds of thousands of Scouts have made the most of their two-wheel adventures by earning the Cycling merit badge. Whether you just got your first bicycle or have been cycling for years, you will learn more about your bike and what it can do by working on the requirements for this badge." The …
Troop 115 Trained Leaders!
Discovery District recently held a combined Scoutmaster Position Specific and Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills training, taking advantage of the new syllabus timeframe to pack a weekend full of valuable learning content. Scoutmaster Jon Kantola and Assistants David Burns and Eric Gillies were on hand for the training. The goal of Position Specific is to teach …
Cronan Ranch Day Hike
Troop 115 Scouts enjoyed a warm Spring day, hiking at Cronan Ranch Trails Park near Coloma, and learning the local biology from Mrs. Gillies...a Biologist with the State of California. The "vegetation of the park is very representative of the landscape of the Sierra Foothills," and provided numerous examples for the Scouts to learn the plant life in the area. The …