Tecumseh Boy Scout Troop 632 attends another high adventure

TECUMSEH — Boy Scout Troop 632 is at it again. After hiking through the treacherous Rockies at the Philmont camp in New Mexico last year, they have attended yet another high adventure trip.

Two adult leaders, each an Eagle Scout from Troop 632, Marc Magos and Matt Peach, joined six Scouts, ages 14 to 18, from the troop as they traveled during spring break to Boy Scouts of America’s National High Adventure Sea Base in Islamorada, Florida.

The two Scout leaders and six Scouts flew to Fort Lauderdale and then drove to the Florida Keys where they participated with the BSA’s Florida National High Adventure — Coral Reef Sailing — at Sea Base.

The six Scouts from Troop 632, Ryan Rhoades, Clayton Johnson, Joey Magos, Cameron Brehmer, Andrew Rowe and Haeden Poore, participated in the high adventure.

Three of the Scouts, Eagle Scout Brehmer, Eagle Scout Rowe and Poore, have now completed the BSA’s highly coveted Triple Crown of National High Adventure by attending three high adventure trips.

The three Scouts accomplished canoeing at Northern Tier in Ely, Minnesota, in July 2019, hiking at Philmont in July 2021 and sailing at Sea Base in April 2022. The Triple Crown of National High Adventure Award was created in 1995 to “promote the BSA’s national high adventure programs and help identify those Scouts with a thirst for high adventure.” Very few Scouts accomplish all three as a youth. One is able to earn the award as a youth and adult.

They accomplished all this even as trips were delayed, first by wildfires in New Mexico and then by the pandemic.

"It was an eventful journey to get the patch,” Rowe, 17, said.

In addition to being an Eagle Scout, Rowe works at Danley’s Country House restaurant, participates in three sports and attends classes at the Lenawee Intermediate School District Tech Center. Next year, he will be a senior. After graduation he plans on going to Michigan Tech to study civil engineering.

“Sea Base was certainly more relaxed than Philmont and Northern Tier as at Sea Base we were operating on island time,” Haeden said.

Brehmer, 18, a senior this year, who is enlisted in the Army to be a helicopter pilot, agreed.

“It honestly was like a 180 compared to the last trip. The last trip was very strenuous. You’re walking all the time, you’re hiking, you have to manage your resources a lot better. On this trip it was very relaxed,” Brehmer said.

Brehmer said his role on the trip amounted to mainly making sure everyone had a good time. With the exception of a little seasickness at first, the younger Scouts managed their tasks well, he said.

The Scouts spent six days and five nights on a 40-foot vessel and, while at sea, spent time snorkeling and swimming, completed a conservation project, and learned the basics of sailing the 40-foot vessel in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

During the trip the troop visited Indian Key Historic State Park, which is an active archaeological site. It is an 11-acre, deserted island, which the troop had to themselves. The Scouts saw aspects of the settlement from the early 1800s. At that time, individuals made their living salvaging shipwrecked vessels that were among the coral reefs.

Scout leader Matt Peach’s favorite aspect of the trip was having dolphins swim next to the boat as they sailed.

The Scouts also enjoyed the time hanging out with the other Scouts, seeing a variety of fish and participating in the sailing adventure.

The crew was able to participate in an environmental conservation project during the trip providing an opportunity for them to earn the Scout Centres of Excellence for Nature and Environment Award, a world brotherhood of Scouting award, only offered through Sea Base.

Troop 632 remains active with local campouts, out-of-state summer camps and through BSA’s high adventure opportunities. Over 30 members of the troop have registered to travel to Camp Liberty near Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, this July. In addition, the troop participates in several community service projects and volunteer activities throughout the year.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Tecumseh Boy Scout Troop 632 attends yet another high adventure