STORY AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT LEISTRA / THE STAR PRESS
Last weekend, 149 youths and 70 adults turned out for the Golden Eagle District Fall Camporee at Camp Red Wing. The theme for the two-day campout was “Take Only Memories and Leave No Trace.”“Leave no trace is something that gets pushed to the background,” said Dave Largent, camporee chairman.
Largent said that usually, by the end of the weekend, the Dumpster will be full of garbage, which is why he emphasized that everything used by the Scouts be taken back with them and nothing be thrown in the Dumpster.
“It (leave no trace) resonates with me, so I thought I’d force the issue,” said Largent.
The activities instructed Scouts in how they can perform all the normal camping duties, such as building a campfire, without leaving their mark on the environment.
“It makes it more enjoyable to camp and it’s respecting the people who come after us,” said Boy Scout Taylor Davis of Troop 77.
An introductory membership to the Leave No Trace national organization was awarded to a Boy Scout elected from each troop at the end of the camporee.
The camporee began with registration Friday evening and concluded Sunday afternoon.
