Walamootkin Lodge hosts an annual Forest Service WorkParty Weekend the first weekend in October. We keep the date consistent from year to year so Troops know when to expect it.
We coordinate with the Forest Service to offer a group service camp trip in the fall. This trip is open to all Blue Mountain Council units.
The schedule is: Arrive Friday night and set up camp (in the dark). Saturday, Scouts are formed into crews based on experience and endurance. Order of the Arrow members and other experienced Scouts serve as crew leaders. Tasks are assigned by USFS Rangers who will work hand in hand with us. Trail maintenance is mostly lopping bushes and branches away from the trails. Occasionally there are heavier tasks of sawing heavier limbs or trees that are down across the trail. Lunch is eaten on the trail. After a full days work, we return to camp for a tasty dinner provided by the OA. And then there is the big multi-unit campfire and campfire program!! Always a big hit with smores and hot chocolate. Sunday morning we make sure to take a group photo before heading out.
To be clear, Troops will travel, camp and cook as separate units. The OA only provides dinner Saturday night. All other food/snacks are on you.
FAQ for trip:
Do volunteers go there by troop, or meet somewhere and go up together?- Travel will be organized by unit. Some local transportation (1-3 miles) is likely to be required to get crews to their location or trailhead in the morning.
- We will have service opportunities for all ages. Older scouts will work in areas that require significant hikes and heavier clearing activities. Younger scouts will be assigned closer to camp. Very young scouts can focus on cleaning and prepping the campgrounds along the valley.
- Yes, loppers and hand saws will be needed. Work gloves and boots, of course. We’ll also try and coordinate 2-way radios for crews, so let me know if you have them.
- We will have access to one of the campgrounds. Scouts don’t need to camp, but we would like people to be available at 8:30am on Saturday to join the main work crew.
- Dinner (street tacos!) will be provided Saturday night and we will have a dessert (dutch oven?) potluck.
- All other meals (especially trail lunch) are the responsibility of each unit.
- It is frequently uncertain whether the water will be on that time of year. Each unit should plan on bringing enough water for use and we can adjust if the water is still on.
- Latrines are available at all camps, but none have showers.
- Depends on the crew. We try to have a variety of locations for all ages and abilities.
- Yes. It would be best if each crew had at least two adults.
- Adults at camp to help with dinner prep is also appreciated.
- Some trucks might be handy, but certainly not a huge number. A couple of vans might be very nice to transport crews to trail positions.
Past Trips:
2024 – Wenatchee National Forest District, upper Icicle Creek2023 – Wenatchee National Forest District, Grouse Creek
2022 – Umatilla National Forest District, upper Tucannon River
2021 – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Jungle Creek and Way Creek