(From the Beltsville News issue of April 2017)
Scouts Go Climbing
By Gary Bauchan, Assistant Scoutmaster
The Boy Scouts of Troop 1033 traveled to Columbia, MD to Earth Trek, which is an indoor climbing facility. The Scouts learned from the Earth Trek instructors and the watchful eyes of Scoutmaster Rick Deery, Assistant Scoutmasters Budhan Pukazenthi and Kevin Deutachio and the Den Leader and Cubmaster from Pack 202 in Greenbelt, MD the correct way to put on a harness and helmet, tie themselves in with a proper figure eight knot and relay commands for belaying. The Scouts practiced their skills in the one-story instructional area before they applied them to the three-story climbing walls. Boy Scouts Mike, Kyle, James, Surya, Jay, Edward, Sam, Abel, Joel, Vlad, Brian and Ryan, along with Cub Scout Webelos from Pack 202 in Greenbelt joined in the climb. All achieved new heights in learning climbing skills and enjoyed the thrill of reaching the top of the building.
