boy scouts of america

Let's talk about water filtration. At all overnight locations you have the opportunity to fill your 4–32-ounce water bottles before and after your day. In some cases, drinking water is brought to your location by staff, in others its already filtered for you or provided through modern plumbing. However, we do require that your crew bring at least one Sawyer Squeeze water filter to ensure that, in an emergency, you and your crew mates can stay hydrated. Sawyer is a product that has been with Swamp Base from the start. We have trusted their “Squeeze” when drinking water is otherwise unavailable.

The Sawyer squeeze can easily be purchased on Amazon, REI, or other outdoor retailers for around $30.

From Sawyer's website: “The Squeeze Filter removes 99.99999% of bacteria such as salmonella, cholera, leptospirosis, and e. Coli, and removes 99. 9999% of protozoa such as giardia and cryptosporidium (independent testing laboratory Hydration, LLC.; microbiological report S05-03). The Squeeze Filter also filters out 100% of microplastics.” 

This week’s PREAUX TIP is from a former-three-time Trek Advisor! (That’s right, 3x in the Swamp for a total of 184.8 miles!!) He has a handful of great considerations for any high adventure trek. They are things that we don’t often think of and categorized them into physical, intellectual, and emotional wellness.

One of the reasons high adventure is so unique is because it safely forces us out of our comfort zone. In that space we find growth, unforgettable memories, new traits about ourselves and our Scouts, and a ton of fun. It’s an incredible experience. However, there can and will be moments of stress, fatigue, and discomfort. It’s when we overcome the “tough stuff” that we can look back at all that has been accomplished. It is important to be aware that Scouts and other adults on the trek need to possess some degree of physical, intellectual, and emotional wellness or when we can step in to help them. Check out the tips below!

•   Physical Wellness
  
  •  I am rarely concerned about my scouts being able to paddle for 61.6 miles. 
  •  Adults on the other hand often overestimate their abilities and should participate in a practice/training trip before attending.
•   Intellectual Wellness
  
  •  Do they make good decision when camping?
  •  Can the follow directions?
•   Emotional Wellness
  
  •  On the trail there will be moments of… growth and learning. Everyone needs to get along with one another when it is not always easy to.
  •  Scouts who outburst in anger or traditionally push back against leadership may struggle.

This week’s Preaux Tip is another tool that makes a Trek Advisor’s life easier! So kick your feet up and enjoy the fact that you don’t have to sweat the small stuff. The Pre-Trek Checklist was created to ensure you know what you need and when you need it. Each of the 15 points cover items required to participate in your Swamp Base trek. They range from health checks to swim tests and trainings to payments!

Happy Fall, Y’all!

This week’s Preaux Tip is from former Trek Guide, Brooke Smith! Her insight is a theme we often overlook in our daily own daily lives but is a GREAT thing to remember during your time in Swamp. 

“Be present in the moment. With all the distractions going on in today’s world, it can be hard to present while on your trek. The swamp is a beautiful place to fully immerse yourself into and learn from, so take in all the cypress trees, birds, alligators, smells, and sounds. Don’t be afraid to try something new and jump out of your comfort zone. A trek like this provides countless opportunities for once in a lifetime experiences. You’d be surprised how far that will take you.”- Brooke Smith, Trek Guide 2017

What could possibly be more fun than seeing the Atchafalaya Swamp on an airboat?!
For those who may not know, an airboat is a flat bottom boat powered by an automotive engine. This engine then spins an aircraft propeller, which pushes the boat forward. These boats are often used in swamp and marsh areas where water is too shallow for other boats. On day two of your trek, a true Cajun by the name of Mitch Mequet, will lead you on an adrenaline filled ride on his airboat with over 600 horsepower! As you twist and turn between cypress and tupelo trees you will see the swamp’s nature and wildlife in fun and exciting ways you never imagined.

The American alligator is the largest reptile in North America. The largest alligator ever recorded was measured at 19 feet, 2 inches and weighed 2,000 pounds! Today gators average between 8 and 12 feet in length. A mature alligator has 80 teeth at a time but can go through as many as 3,000 in its lifetime. Their powerful jaws can shut with up to 2,000 pounds per square inch! These captivating creatures have roamed the earth for nearly 200 million years and there are nearly 2 million wild alligators in Louisiana. Unfortunately, this wasn’t always the case. Alligators were put on the endangered species list in 1973 and were not removed until 1987. Thankfully, gators have made an incredible rebound and can be seen almost anywhere along our trek.

We are both excited and honored to announce that Swamp Base has a feature article in Scouting magazine, in addition to, having an article and being on the cover of Boys’ Life magazine. Scouting magazine’s article titled, “Big in the Bayou”, tells of Swamp Base’s storied success and how the Atchafalaya will have lasting impressions on each of the participants. Similarly, Boys’ Life’s article, “Swamp Kings”, does an excellent job showcasing our mission and our unique approach on high adventure. Thanks again to Scouting and Boys’ Life magazines and keep an eye out for Swamp Base in your mailbox!

Welcome to Swamp Base’s “Gator Tales!” Gator Tales is a great place for you to find weekly stories and quick bits of information that will aid you in your future success and conquering of Swamp Base. Here we will discuss topics from A to Z, or better yet, alligators to zydeco music. Gator Tales will also provide you with tips for things like: what to pack, how to prepare yourself, and when important deadlines are approaching. As always, Facebook is your first stop for immediate Swamp Base news, but incase you are looking for a little lagniappe, Gator Tales has you covered. So like us on Facebook and don’t forget to come back and see us! www.facebook.com/bsaswampbase