Short Hills Scout Troop 19 Completes First Ever Virtual Campout

Scouting is synonymous with outing. So when social distancing and isolation cancels a troop campout, a group of rising Scouts use their ingenuity to adapt to the situation.

This past weekend, six of the newest and youngest Scouts from Scouts BSA Troop 19’s Bubble Duckies Patrol (ages 10-12) planned and executed their first virtual style campout. Using their handy Scout handbooks and modern conferencing technology, the Scouts helped each-other setup their tents and prepare their campsites (in their backyards) for their first ever virtual overnight campout adventure. In addition, the Scouts worked on advancement requirements, and prepared two meals.

"The Scouts met several times via video conference to tour their campsites, eat dinner together, and have a group campfire. The Scouts rated their first virtual camping ‘trip’ a 5 out of 5 and plan to hold another one in the near future.", said Committee Chairman James McKenna.

"Often it is thought that experience is the key to survival, but it is the ability to adapt to change that these Scouts displayed is the most important survival skill of all.", said Scoutmaster Daniel Cannon.

Congratulations Patrol Leader Lea McKenna, Ava Legasto, Caroline Desoe, Juliette Dominguez, Kelsey Quane and Penny Williams!

Scouts BSA Troop 19 is chartered at St. Rose of Lima Church in Short Hills. The Troop serves girls from the ages of 10(5th grade) to 18. Those interested in a longterm, all year round program focused on leadership, scouting, camping and making new friends, even virtually in the interim, should email Scoutmaster Cannon at scoutmastercannon@gmail.com.