May 2026

High Gear: The Final Stretch of the Scouting Year

By Scoutmaster · May 2026

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May always feels like the month when the troop shifts fully into high gear. School calendars become crowded, the weather finally cooperates, and suddenly every weekend seems to involve backpacks, campfires, wet boots, and scouts figuring out they are capable of more than they realized.

This past month has been filled with momentum across the troop. From backpacking preparation to leadership development and aquatic adventure, it has been exciting to watch our scouts continue to grow in both confidence and responsibility.

Rafting Trip

Our rafting trip was another reminder of how much scouting experiences depend on teamwork and trust. Whether paddling through rough water, setting up camp, cooking meals, or helping younger scouts stay organized, the older scouts continued to lead by example. One of the strengths of Troop 5 has always been that leadership is learned outdoors — often one muddy campsite at a time.

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Building Toward Philmont

The backpacking skills many of our scouts are developing now are also helping prepare them for future high-adventure opportunities like Philmont. While our next Philmont trek is still a year or two away, it is exciting to watch younger scouts begin building the confidence, conditioning, and outdoor habits that will eventually prepare them for that kind of challenge.

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Summer Camp at Massawepie

Summer camp preparation is underway as we return once again to Massawepie Scout Camps. This year marks a remarkable set of milestones — the 74th anniversary of Camp Massawepie, the 106th anniversary of Troop 5, and our 27th year attending camp there as a troop. Few things connect generations of Troop 5 scouts more than Massawepie. Many of our adult advisors once stood on those same parade fields as scouts themselves.

For many younger scouts, summer camp will be their first extended time away from home. For older scouts, it becomes a chance to mentor, teach, and help shape the experience for the next generation. That cycle of leadership and tradition is one of the things that makes scouting special.

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As always, thank you to all of the parents and adult advisors who help make these experiences possible. Behind every successful campout is an enormous amount of unseen planning, transportation, logistics, gear organization, and support.

The final stretch of the scouting year is now in front of us — and there is still plenty of adventure left before summer officially arrives.