(excerpt from Program Guide)

Summer camp is not a merit badge factory, but about fostering a love of scouting. The Trail Blazers program is not about earning rank, instead it will display what Scouting has to offer and thus foster a love of Scouting! Throughout the week, your first year campers will blaze their own path on the trail to Eagle while having the time of their life! The Trail Blazers program will combine both rank requirements and instill in the young scouts a desire to achieve, while at the same time inspire them to look deeper into Scouting and the experience it can bring.

Trail Blazers is a first-year camper program designed for the brand new Scout, the Scout that has just moved up from Webelos or joined the troop for the first time right before camp. It is more of an orientation to the out-of-doors and to the facilities at Camp T. Brady Saunders. Its purpose is to help the new Scout get comfortable with Scouting’s methods, understanding that Boy Scouting outdoor skills are learned to be earned and not just checkedoff.

Unlike other first-year camper programs, the Scout remains with his home troop and is not camped in a first-year camper provisional troop. Scouts function as a member of his home troop and participate in all troop activities.

Trail Blazers will be held each day from 9:00 AM until 3:10 PM. A Scout attends for the entire day. They will complete the Leatherwork and Swimming merit badges. One night during the week, all Trail Blazer Scouts will be away from the home troop for a special camp-out; They will be leaving following retreat and will return after breakfast on the following day. They will also be putting on their own campfire. We ask every scoutmaster that has a Scout in the Trail Blazers program attend that campfire to see the hard work they have done throughout the week.

Recognition
Scouts that have participated in Trail Blazers will be recognized at their own Graduation ceremony on Friday afternoon.

Special Equipment Needed
Each Scout in Trail Blazers will need, besides his regular camp gear, two items that will be used in the Trail Blazers program:
• A pocketknife which he will learn to use properly.
• A backpack that is suitable for an overnight trip.
• Tent – (some loaner tents are available)

Sign-up For Trail Blazers!