Scouts complete canoe journey

If you've frequented Spring Canyon over the years, you may have witnessed scouts training for canoe trekking and safety. Six of them put that training to use last week.

Grand Coulee Troop 6024 scouts and three adult leaders set out from Orroville, Washington, Wednesday, on a 50-mile trip, the scout leaders reported this week.

The voyage's adventures included encountering level-2 rapids, small waterfalls, sleeping on islands, and the most dangerous of all - smooth grass where a scout lost his footing and fell backward, connecting with a concrete post (no major injuries!).

The spills and chills of three canoes and a larger kayak included the loss of a shoe and one butane stove. A few snacks escaped during one capsizing incident, but being prepared meant that the food supplies scouts had planned for were more than adequate for the excursion, they said. 

Troop leaders guided the scouts in at the Okanogan public boat launch on June 28.

Those interested in similar adventures and youth who have completed fifth grade through age 17 wanting to join the Coulee Dam troop of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) are encouraged to contact Kim Stout at (509) 631-1759 or kim4scouting@gmail.com.