Michael Freeman

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Articles

Troop 280 Straps on Snowshoes for a Mountain Adventure

Dec 16, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

A 3.8-mile hike doesn’t seem like much. You could probably walk one of those miles in less than a half hour. But if you’re gaining more than 2,000 feet in elevation up a mountain and powering over snowy trails while pulling a sled full of gear, then it would take you a little longer. It took Troop 280 of Parker, Colorado, nearly six hours to make such a demanding hike last winter. It was a challenge, but the Scouts didn’t give up.
Scouts Vie for the Golden Spatula in Outdoor Cooking Competition

Nov 13, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

French toast topped with fresh strawberries and raspberries. Tacos with a side of fruit salad and a refreshing glass of lemonade. Dutch-oven chili seasoned with green chiles, onion and garlic, paired with scrumptious cornbread. And the best. Burger. Ever. It would be an understatement to say the Scouts in troops 509 of La Cañada Flintridge, California, ate well during their 2023 Iron Chef challenge campout. Indeed, they ate really well.
Outdoor Climbing Is a New Adventure for California Scouts

Oct 2, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

Staring up at a giant rock wall, the Scouts of troops 175 and 4175 pondered how they might make it to the top. This would be different from their regular outings to indoor climbing gyms. But the more they studied the textured volcanic breccia rock, the more places they spotted to grab and step. “In outdoor climbing, there are a lot more little ledges for your fingers and feet,” says Adam Woo, 15, a Star Scout. “It’s a lot easier to grip. With indoor climbing, there are a lot more bigger holds.
Scouts Tackle 'Via Ferrata' Climbing Route in West Virginia

Oct 2, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

When climbing on natural rock, you seek small ledges to cling onto. In a gym, you grip artificial handholds. On a via ferrata route, you grab iron rungs embedded into the rock. It’s like climbing a ladder — and Troops 55 of Great Falls, Virginia, climbed this way to spectacular views. “Via ferrata” is Italian for “by way of iron.” At NROCKS, an outdoor climbing center in eastern West Virginia, the Scouts latched onto a belay cable and climbed a series of paths up vertical rock faces.
These 4 Supercars Show Off Power and Style!

Sep 11, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

A sports car is an exciting, fast car that offers more speed and performance than a regular car. So what’s a supercar? Think higher performance: more horsepower often exceeding 500 hp, higher top speeds usually reaching more than 200 mph and faster acceleration times. When carmakers push supercars to their limits, that’s when they earn the label of “hypercar.” Hypercars usually are reserved for the racetrack.
Troop 8 Canoes the Enchanting and Challenging Congaree

Sep 10, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

As Wyatt Pockl and Jackson McMichael paddled along a creek in Congaree National Park, they ducked under low-hanging tree branches. They could lift some branches out of the way, but that presented a risk. After moving one, a footlong snake dropped out of the tree and landed on Wyatt’s knee. “I thought he was going to jump out of the canoe,” Jackson recalls. “I wasn’t — there were more snakes in the water!” Wyatt says.
Scouts Learn About Texas History as They Bike the Mission Trails

Aug 14, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

Inside the entrance to the Mission Espada sits a large wooden weaving loom covered in strands of wool that are intertwined to create a colorful blanket. It’s an example of how mission residents used to make their clothes about 300 years ago in Texas’ first mission. “We learned about the process for weaving wool for clothes and the tools they used,” says Camden Redden, 15, a Star Scout with Troop 848.
Troop 413 Braved the Elements to Explore the California Mountains

Aug 12, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

Tristan Sword and his father sat by an alpine lake enjoying a picnic lunch. After a challenging up-and-down hike the previous day, chilling by the pristine water felt nice. But as they relaxed, dark clouds began blanketing the sky — a hailstorm was approaching. “The clouds got really bad,” the 15-year-old Life Scout says. “Then, wham! A piece of ice hit me in the face. There was an entire wall of ice coming down.
Scouts Re-Create a Border-to-Border Trek Across North Carolina

Jul 10, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

Crossing a state line can be a big moment, like when you leave your home state for the first time. Or maybe it serves as a milestone during a cross-country road trip. For a group of 21 Scouts, reaching the South Carolina state line marked the end of an impressive 170-mile trek, during which they hiked, biked and paddled across North Carolina. “It was breathtaking,” says Kayla Oxendine, 17, a Life Scout from Troop 1447 of Laurinburg, N.C. “Crossing the line seemed so unreal.
California Troops Catch Some Waves at Annual Surfing Campout

Jul 10, 2024 | scoutlife.org | Michael Freeman

Patrick Kozak watched the waves. They weren’t as tall as they had been early that morning, but some still reached a couple feet high before breaking into frothy whitewash. He could definitely ride them. This was his second time at Surf Camp, a yearly tradition for linked Troops 506 of La Jolla, California. It’s the most relaxing campout of the year — hanging out with friends, playing games and splashing around in the ocean.