Scouts Pivot their Plan to a Day of Snowshoeing in the Fells

Middlesex Fells - Stoneham, MA Due to the recent winter conditions, our originally planned camping trip was impossible. Our Scouts quickly pivoted to a day of snowshoeing in the Middlesex Fells Reservation. This past Saturday, scouts Bobby, Dominic, Lexie, Martin, Ola, and Zach - with the support of 6 adult leaders - decided to capitalize on the snow to earn the Snow Sports Merit Badge in our very own backyard. 

Thanks to the continued support of our charter organization, First Congregational Church, the group was able to gather in its usual meeting space for instruction on winter hiking and preparation for the day’s trip. Beginning with pack inspections for sufficient cold-weather gear and choosing among gourmet freeze-dried meals, the group then settled in for donuts and a roundtable discussion of the various hazards they might encounter while engaging in snow sports. Scouts shared their knowledge about their other snow sport passions, such as downhill skiing, and how to prevent (or purposely create!) avalanches. Finally, they learned about snowshoes, trail etiquette, and used topographical maps to choose their day trip adventure. 

Next, the group caravaned over to Sheepfold in the Fells for the actual adventure. After fitting everyone into their snowshoes, lent from Mr. Romanowski and rented from Stoneham's Ski and Sport Shack, the group donned their new Troop 513 beanies made by local All City T Stop and set off! Hiking along the Skyline Trail, Mr. Warren taught the scouts the important skills of trail breaking and proper maneuvering on both flat and sloped surfaces. Scouts also deepened their understanding of the buddy system. After approximately an hour, the group turned south and took a lunch break utilizing some backpacking stoves to boil water and reheat delicacies like chicken and dumplings, chicken fried rice, and chili mac n’ cheese. Continuing south and eventually connecting with the Railroad Trail, the scouts circled back to our starting point- rounding out just over 2 miles of afternoon fun. 

Several scouts even ended the day by mentioning they are looking forward to their next chance to snowshoe! 

If you are interested in Scouting, we offer programs for boys and girls from grades K-12. To learn more about Scouting in Stoneham, go to StonehamScouting.org.