AMOG Sponsors US Trip for local Scouts

AMOG has assisted with some sponsorship for a group of Australian Scouts, including the son of one of our staff, who are on an adventure of a life time. The contingent of Scouts and Leaders departed Australia on the 23rd of June for the USA for a month long adventure which includes visiting LA, Alaska, El Paso Texas and the lower Rockies in New Mexico.

The Scouts are being initially hosted by the LA Scout Troop 128 in Palos Verdes Estates for 3 days and 2 nights. The Scouts and leaders are being billeted out with scout families and will get an opportunity to explore the sites in LA - including a visit to Universal Studios.

They are then flying to Alaska to meet up with the El Paso Scout Troop 4 for a 20 day Alaska adventure including a the six-day 50 mile walk along the Resurrection Pass trail (going south) through the Chugach NP/Chugach forest to Cooper’s Landing, followed by a canoe through the Swan Lake system for six days.

Interspersed with the walk and canoe the Scouts have been invited to participate in the 4th of July American Independence Day celebrations in Kenai, as well as having a few days to explore Anchorage.

The Australian and El Paso Scouts depart Alaska on 15 July and fly to El Paso Texas where the Australian Scouts will be billeted with local Scout families and enjoy some Texas hospitality. The El Paso Troop 4 have planned further trips in Texas/New Mexico including a visit to the Carlsbad Caves/Guadalupe Mountains and to the Alamogordo White Sands, as well as a couple of dinners in El Paso (including the Steak Ranch; at which they can sample the 8oz, 12oz or 16oz steaks!).

The Trip finally ends on 21 July when they depart El Paso for the return journey to Australia. The trip has come about through a long standing relationship between the El Paso Scout Troop 4 in Texas and the Mount Dandenong Scout Region in Melbourne Australia. There is a plan for a the Aussies to Host the Texans in mid 2013.