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High Adventure Base: Taos, New Mexico

What sets Troop 147 apart? Actually, we believe it is our devotion to Bible-infused outdoor adventure; however, one may argue that a close second is our exclusive High Adventure trip to Taos, New Mexico (early-Summer).

As a troop we’ve completed five treks to date: Summer 2018, 2019, 2021 (OK), 2022, and 2023. You can view photo galleries from some of our treks at the links below:

Summer 2018 Taos Photo Gallery

Summer 2019 Taos Photo Gallery

<Summer 2023 Taos Photo Gallery link here>

  • Where: Taos, New Mexico (Carson National Forest)
  • When: June 21 – 28, 2024
  • Who: Full Troop (Dual Treks: 4 Mile & 20-40 Mile options)
    • Woodlands Trail (Grades K-5) & Nav/Adv (Grades 6-12)

A mountain adventure for the whole troop, focusing on character building, connecting with God’s creation and the ultimate in outdoor skills. Leave as a boy, come back as a man!

  • Day 1: Drive from Dallas to Taos, NM (caravan), the full group stays overnight at a provided home in Taos, NM.
  • Day 2: Hit the trail as a troop. Trek Group A (WT or younger Navs, plus accompanying adults) sets up camp a few miles down the trail.
  • Day 2-5: Trek Group B (Older WT, Navs and Advs) and their accompanying adults continue on a longer 20-mile trek deeper into the mountains. (For 5 days, 4 nights)
  • Day 6: Group B returns down the trail to pick up the Woodlands group at basecamp, then all together back down to the trail head and then to home base in Taos for showers.
  • Day 7 (Optional): Enjoy the sights and sounds of the city of Taos, NM.

More Details, Requirements and Guidelines here: 2024 Fifth Annual Taos High Adventure Trip (Google Doc)

To join us on the 5th Annual Taos Backpacking Trip please do the following:

  1. RSVP in TLC: You and your son(s) please RSVP here in TLC as “Going”: https://www.TrailLifeConnect.com/event/etr3orhbyon…
  2. Registration Form: Complete this form and pay for the food costs ($20 + 3% transaction fees): https://troopdallas.com/taos-trip-payment/
    1. Note: This $20 is only for the price of trail-food that will be distributed to the hikers going on the treks. This does not cover any gas station stops, meals before and after the trek, or other desired trail snacks or gear that you may need.

Note: We have the option for the boys to spend an extra day in Taos, NM to experience the New Mexico culture and other possible adventure activities, before heading back to Dallas. Length of trip can also be flexed to fit the schedules of those who RSVP.

The trip is book-ended with a furnished home for the Trailmen to prep or unwind together; however, the boys and adults spend the majority of the adventure properly ‘roughing it’ in Carson National Forest. This is a time for the troop to bond as patrols, and come away with a very memorable and lasting experience they will take with them the rest of their lives. Primitive camping, hiking, fishing, filtering water from the rivers, devotional time in nature…it’s exactly how God intended.

As with all Troop 147 trips, most electronics stay home, so we can truly connect with God’s wonderful creation and each other. Exceptions made of course for adults and older Trailmen to use cell phones and radios as necessary or for emergency contact.

Woodlands Trail

WOODLANDS TRAIL (K-5TH)WoodlandsTrail-2

The Woodlands Trail is for Kindergarten through 5th Grade:

  • Foxes – Kindergarten to 1st grade
  • Hawks – 2nd to 3rd grade
  • Mountain Lions – 4th to 5th grade

More Information: http://www.traillifeusa.com/who-we-are/for-youth/

“Six F’s” to Each Meeting

  • Focus – Program theme
  • Fingers – Hands on activity
  • Fun – Enjoyable Activity
  • Family – Extending the lesson to the home
  • Forest Badge – Skill leaves completed during meeting towards advancement program
  • Faith – Exploring biblical themes related to meeting theme

Advancement:

  • Earn leaves based on attendance, participation in activities/projects (individual or group), mastering skills
  • Leaves fill each of seven branches of interest
  • Upon completing all seven branches over the course of (roughly) two years, earn the Forest Award for that level (Fox, Hawk, Mountain Lion)

Seven branches of interest – collect leaves on each branch to earn branch award:

  1. Heritage
  2. Hobbies
  3. Life Skills
  4. Outdoor Activities
  5. Pioneering Skills
  6. Science and Technology
  7. Values (faith)

Annual Program Calendar delineates:

  • Number of meetings planned for that month,
  • Monthly Theme
  • Program Emphasis (Wisdom, Teamwork, Heritage, Faith, Character, Leadership, etc.)
  • Branch award emphasis (Life Skills, Hobbies, etc.)

Additional Award beyond Mountain Lion

  • Timekeepers Award – learning about principles of biblical manhood
    • To live boldly and avoid being passive
    • To live responsibly
    • To lead courageously
    • To live for greater rewards of God
  • Based on book by Robert Lewis “Raising a Modern Day Knight” (used with permission by Focus on the Family)

Fort Griffin State Historic Site

The essentials: Hiking,  hunting and hotdogs!

“Holding command over the Southern Plains, Fort Griffin served as one in a line of western defensive forts from 1867 to 1881. Remnants of the fort remain today at Fort Griffin State Historic Site, which is also home to the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd and offers camping, fishing, hiking, stargazing and living history.” – (Source: visitfortgriffin.com)

2014 FUNDING (tentative): $55 per non-hunting scout* (add hunting license/costs if applicable)

2014 3-DAY ITINERARY (October):

  • DAY 1 (Friday): Departure – Travel from Dallas, TX to Albany, TX + Setup Camp
  • DAY 2: Morning – Dove Hunt, Afternoon – Fishing, Evening – Campfire Bible Study
  • DAY 3 (Sunday): Activities TBD + Return – Travel from Albany, TX to Dallas, TX.

*All scouts/leaders are also welcome to participate as non-hunters.  Any non-hunter will not be allowed to wield or fire a shotgun while on the dove hunt, but he can still attend under the supervision of adult leadership.

As with all Troop 147 trips, electronics stay home, other than the troop’s emergency cell phone that will be kept handy by an adult leader. This is a time for the troop to get away from the distractions that separate us from nature. We will bond with one another through daily activities and then recenter with a nightly campfire bible study.

 

Why Troop 147?

FEATURES of TROOP 147:

Listed above are just some of the characteristics of Troop 147, and are in addition to the weekly meetings, monthly campouts and other activities that we have in store. To get in touch with a troop representative you can email us directly at [email protected] or send us a message via our Contact Us page.

WEEKLY MEETINGS:

  • Tuesday nights from 7-8pm on the first three Tuesdays of the month (see the JOIN page for more details)

Video: Trail Life Program Overview

If you are new to Trail Life and interested in knowing the details of the program, then this video is for you. Trail Life USA released this video to explain how their scouting program works, as well as where and how it differs from other organizations.  This video has not been modified from its original form, so while you will see any Troop 147-specific information, it does lay out the general framework we are following as our guideline.

Who is Trail Life USA?

Trail Life USA is a Christian adventure, character, and leadership program for young men. The K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills and allow him to grow on a personal level and as a role model and leader for his peers. Living the Trail Life is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.

VISION

Our vision is to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces Godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens.

MISSION

Our mission is simple and clear: to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.

MOTTO

“Walk Worthy”

Colossians 1:10  “… that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;…”

OATH

On my honor, I will do my best
To serve God and my country;
To respect authority;
To be a good steward of creation;
And to treat others as I want to be treated.

Learn more about Trail Life USA’s Membership Standards and Statement of Faith & Values

For more information about us, Troop 147, you can use the navigation menu to browse the site. For information about the Trail Life USA organization, click here to watch their Program Overview Video or click here to view their Official Website.