New River District Activities

The annual High Knoll Trailmaster weekend is scheduled for April 9-11, 2010 at Camp Ottari. Units from across the council will trek the backcountry to build and maintain some of the Reservation’s trail network. Trail participants will learn and practice soil and water conservation, land and recreation management, Leave No Trace, and wood tool skills while earning the coveted Trailblazer patch.

Campsites are available on Friday and Saturday nights and many troops use the weekend to bring their new scouts out for skills training while older scouts participate in the Trailblazer. Please remember to bring gear appropriate for camping. Trailblazer crews should report to the dining hall between 8:00 and 9:00 on Saturday morning. Maps, tools, and instruction will be provided. Units may also bring their own tools.

Contact Dan Brown (danbrown2506@comcast.net) if you are interested in participating. Please ask your scouts to bring a day pack with water, lunch, work gloves, and rain gear for Saturday.

The Blue Ridge Scout Reservation has nearly 100 miles of trail in the backcountry beyond Ottari and Powhatan ranging from the easy and scenic to some very challenging and remote places. Although primarily used for the High Knoll Trail Camp program during the camp season, the trails are open to units looking for backpacking and hiking experience year-round. The reservation’s trail network allows numerous opportunities for loop hikes that are difficult to match in southwestern Virginia. Units interested in scheduling a backcountry adventure should contact the scout office.