With an eye toward service and fun, this year’s SR-7A Conclave set the bar for promoting OA High Adventure for all other sections in the nation.
“Staff selection was key,” remarked Tim Riedl, 2014 OA Trail Crew Director and adviser for the conclave program area. “We assembled a staff from across the country that travelled to Camp Shenandoah in Stonewall Jackson Area Council to show the 1,000+ participants what outdoor adventure is all about.” Veteran staff members included three from Northern Tier (Sean Ferrier, Brendan Miles and Ian Counts) and five from Philmont (Robert Clemmer, Tim Riedl, Mark Wray, Olivia Sanders and Laura Heinen). Combined, the staff held 23 seasons of experience, including summers as OA Wilderness Voyage Foremen, Philmont Rangers, Double-H Wilderness Guides, Conservationists and OA Trail Crew Foremen.
Modeled after the popular NOAC High Adventure promos, SR-7A brought the experience of Philmont Scout Ranch, Northern Tier, the Florida Sea Base and the Summit Bechtel Reserve to conclave through nearly a dozen interactive activities and experiences. Saturday morning kicked off with a polar bear plunge where 16 participants plunged into the frigid Shenandoah waters of Lake Hope, cheered on by dozens of spectators.
The morning hours afforded the opportunity to preview the high adventure area, learn how to build trail from experienced trail builders and participate in two conclave training sessions devoted to OA High Adventure discussion. In the afternoon, the OAHA area was filled with the sounds of a live bluegrass band, complete with guitar, banjo, upright bass and washboard melodies. Those drawn in by the music also got their fill of authentic jambalaya and 2014 Philmont trail meals cooked in a Dutch oven over an open wood fire. While they relaxed, participants could get their boots, wallets, belts or hats branded with the Philmont cattle brand or brands from camps throughout Virginia.
Arrowmen challenged themselves mentally and physically in knot-tying competitions, a canoe obstacle course and foreman olympic events. Bragging rights were at stake for the Arrowman who could do more full-pack push-ups or pull-ups than an OA Trail Crew Foreman or hoist a canoe onto his shoulders and traverse the obstacle course faster than an OA Wilderness Voyage Foreman. The area was all about promotion, and plenty of literature and discussion was available on various programs including Ocean Adventure, the OA Summit Experience, Rayado, STEM Treks, OA Trail Crew, Roving Outdoor Conservation School, Ranch Hands, Forest Corps, OA Wilderness Voyage and OA Canadian Odyssey. Youth and adults stopped to talk and ask questions about their upcoming treks or spend time reminiscing with the current and former staff members.
The marquee program of the OA High Adventure area consisted of giving service back to Camp Shenandoah by repairing and building a much-needed trail on the council property. For four hours, Arrowmen were fully trained and equipped to build a trail just like they would in New Mexico, Minnesota, Canada or West Virginia. Scouts learned the art of trail building and safe use of tools from foremen, conservation staffers and U.S. Forestry Service employees. Trail builders received handkerchiefs embroidered with “SR-7A High Adventure.” Ultimately, the program completed 120 feet of full-bench trail including four water-diverging structures.
SR-7A has set the bar for other sections to promote life-changing opportunities for the members of our Order. What can you do to bring the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and sweat of OA High Adventure to your conclave, camporees and other gatherings? For ideas or suggestions on similar promotion strategies, send a message to @email.