Members of Boy Scout Troop 64 of Eudora spent the week of June 19-25 at Camp Naish near Bonner Springs. They enjoyed camping activities and worked on merit badges. Scouts attending were Dakota Coble, Dylan Hopson, Nathan Gentleman and Andrew Wright. They were accompanied by Scoutmaster Glenn Jackson and assistant Scoutmasters Jerry Criqui and Jim Morrison. Troop 64, chartered to the Eudora Lions Club, meets on Mondays at the West Building. Youth ages 11-18 are invited to visit.

Eudora Troop 64 and Cub Scout Pack 3064 Scouts, families and friends participated in a swimming party on July 9 at the Eudora Swimming Pool. Prior to swimming, several families and Scouts picnicked at the Kaegi Park shelter house. Later everyone returned to the adjacent shelter house for cookies, Kool-Aid and friendship.

Boy Scout Troop 59 and its affiliated Venture Crew 2059, chartered to First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence, sent four crews of Scouts and Ventures to high adventure bases in June.

Under the auspices of Venture Crew 2059, 14 Scouts and five adult advisers arrived at Philmont Scout Ranch on June 20. Philmont focuses on 10 days of backpacking in the Sangre DeCristo mountains, at elevations from 6,400 feet to more than 12,000 feet. Crews visit backcountry camps, which present various programs related to the history of the area such as mining, fur trapping, Native American culture, timbering and modern events like rock climbing and shooting sports.

Crew 1, led by crew chief Frank Depenbusch, did Trek 24, covering about 75 miles, which included hiking with a pack burro for a couple of days. The crew’s route from north to south included a side hike to the top of 12,441-foot Mount Baldy, and a swing into the central part of the ranch to camps like Cypher’s Mine, where they learned about gold mining, and Clark’s Fork, which emphasized the western cowboy tradition. They ended their trek with a hike out over the Tooth of Time. Other members of the crew were George Depenbusch, Jack Powell, Evan Williams, Justin Lewis, Taylor Smith, Tanner Smith, Sean McCoy and Ty Hartman. Advisers were Dennis Depenbusch and Brian Powell.

Crew 2, under the leadership of Chase Low, took Trek 27, which covered about 80 miles. This crew performed the rare feat of climbing over Mt. Baldy with full packs. For program, they raced burros and practiced shotgun shooting at Harlan Camp, climbed rocks and rappelled at Dean Cow camp, and also learned about cowboy culture at Clark’s Fork. They finished their trek with a 12-mile hike out over the Tooth of Time. Other members of the crew were James Windholz, Jacob Divilbiss, Sam Dowell and Levi Sedlock. Advisors were Tim Windholz, Steve Dowell and Keith Wood.

Both crews met Philmont staff members from Lawrence during their hikes. At Miranda camp where the program focuses on mountain men and the fur trade, Crew 1 met Bruce Wagner who has been involved with both Troop 59 and Troop 52. Crew 2 met Bruce’s son Tristan, an Eagle Scout, who leads challenge course programs at the Head of Dean Camp.

Prior to their arrival at Philmont, the group visited Colorado Springs, Colo., where they took horseback rides in the Garden of the Gods, toured the Air Force Academy and attended Sunday services at the Academy’s famed Cadet Chapel. They also visited the Koshare Kiva in La Junta, Colo., which provides a program of Native American dances performed by the local Boy Scout troop.

Two crews also attended The Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base in the Boundary Waters area along the Minnesota-Canadian border, arriving on June 18. Both crews spent a week canoeing on the pristine lakes of the area where no motorized craft are allowed. Both crews paddled more than 50 miles, often with several portages between lakes each day. En route to the Canoe Base, they were hosted for a cook-out supper by a Boy Scout troop in Askov, Minn. They also visited the Maritime Museum at Duluth and Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior’s North Shore.

Members of Crew 1 were Luke Oberrieder, Kiefer Stellwagon, Matthew Day, Liam Inbody and Kieran Inbody with advisors Mike Oberrieder and Jennifer Stellwagon. Members of Crew 2 were Kane Eggers, Josh Seybert, Reid Williams, Phillip Gabler and Ben Soukup with advisors Bruce Eggers, Russ Seybert and Jeanne Williams.