Troop 32 raising funds for Philmont Scout Ranch trip

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Boy Scout Troop 32 is sponsoring an Indian taco dinner to raise funds for an upcoming trek to the Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico.

Serving is from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Dickinson Elks Lodge, 501 Elks Drive. Silent auction items will be included.

“We’re taking 11 boys on the trek with us,” said Jim Fahy, Troop 32 assistant scoutmaster. “We’re going to be doing 12 days on the trail.”

Troop 32 will leave Dickinson July 25 for Philmont. Seven adults will accompany the Scouts.

The ranch covers 137,000 acres of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains.

The Philmont trek is one of four high-adventure camping experiences provided by the Boy Scouts of America. It has 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps scattered throughout the high country, according to a website.

“We’re doing lots of day hikes and overnight hikes to prepare us,” said Fahy.

To participate on the trek, a Scout must be age 14 and earned the First Class Scout ranking.

Les Praus, Boy Scout committee member, has participated on a Philmont trek when he was in high school.

“You can expect a fair amount of trail hiking, but in the evening there’s all kinds of activities like rock climbing, repelling, fly fishing, gold panning and blacksmithing,” he said. “Every night they will have an activity for them to do.”

Troop 32 decided the time was right for the boys to participate on the trek.

“It’s a very active group — we wanted to give them an opportunity to go before the fumes hit them — perfumes and gas fumes,” he joked.

The cost will be approximately $950 per boy. To help finance the trip, the Scouts are holding other fundraisers as well — sale of popcorn, coffee and holiday wreaths, for example.

“We are having a good time with these boys,” said Fahy. “Overall, the group has been very dedicated to Scouting and they’re looking forward go going.”

To support the fundraiser, contact Fahy at 701-483-6548.

Tags: lifestyle, youth