Whether it’s hard work or hard play, the Scouts got the most out of each day they spent at SummitCorps. The Order of the Arrow has the recipe for a great experience — service and adventure are the two main ingredients.
“I think that the combination of work and service is quite good,” explains Connor, an Eagle Scout and a member of the InstructorCorps. “Scouts get to help out the community and, in return, get to experience the best that the area has to offer.”
The Order of the Arrow has been combining service with adventure for years. Remember the ArrowCorps5 project in 2008?
Thousands of Scouts across the country took part in 5 projects in Missouri, Utah, Virginia, California and Wyoming. All of the projects were opportunities for brotherhood and personal growth that can only come from the combination of service work and adventure activities.
Here’s a recap of ArrowCorps5:
Missouri: Mark Twain National Forest
Work: Removing invasive cedar trees from the glade areas to help restore natural forest communities
Play: Fly-fishing, horseback riding, canoeing and visiting a theme park and water park
Utah: Manti-La Sal National Forest
Work: Scouts removed tamarisk, an invasive species also known as salt cedar, in hopes of slowing its invasion into the area.
Play: Rafting the Red River, mountain biking, touring the College of Eastern Utah’s Prehistoric Museum, fishing, golfing and swimming
Virginia: George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
[pullquote]“The work is hard but the fellowship that is built is priceless.” — Connor, InstructorCorps member [/pullquote]
Work: Scouts in the James River District constructed a horseback trail while Scouts in the Warm Springs District constructed a small trail, refurbished minor trails and cleared campsites of invasive plant species.
Play: Whitewater rafting in the New River Gorge, fly-fishing, hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking and various lake activities
California: Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Work: Scouts maintained trails throughout the area and constructed a new trail in the Mount Shasta Wilderness.
Play: Mount Lassen volcano excursion, caving, golfing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing
Wyoming: Bridger-Teton National Forest
Work: Scouts constructed new trails in Teton Pass and removed old fencing.
Play: Touring Yellowstone National Park, hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and floating on the Snake River
“Both ArrowCorps5 and SummitCorps have been amazing,” said Connor, who was involved in both projects. “The work is hard but the fellowship that is built is priceless. Giving back to the community is an awesome opportunity as are the projects themselves.”
Did you volunteer at ArrowCorps5? SummitCorps? What were your best memories?