On March 25, 2023, Troop 542 set out on its annual weekend bus trip. This year’s excursion took the Scouts to the Shenandoah Valley and neighboring destinations in Northern Virginia and the edge of West Virginia.
Troop 542 departed from Supplee Presbyterian Church in Maple Glen, PA, at 6 p.m. on Friday in a rented tour bus, and settled in for a four-hour drive from Maple Glen to Winchester, VA. At 10 p.m., Scouts unloaded their luggage from the bus and checked into the hotel.
At 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, the Scouts boarded the bus for the drive to their first destination of the day, Luray Caverns. The Troop divided into patrols and spent two hours exploring the fascinating cave systems of Luray, as well as an above-ground antique car museum. At 11 a.m., the Troop boarded the bus once again, driving along the scenic, winding roads of Skyline Drive. Due to the weather conditions and the height of the road, most of the scenery was blocked by low-hanging clouds that enveloped the bus in a thick, white haze. Once the bus reached Pinnacle Picnic Area, Scouts were given time to relax and eat lunch. Unfortunately, the fluctuation of the fog that covered the mountain proved frustrating as the humidity and temperature fluctuated as well.
After lunch, Troop 542 Scouts split into two hiking groups. Most of the Scouts decided to take a steep hike along the waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park, while a small group of Scouts opted for a longer, but flatter, trek along the Appalachian Trail. At 3:30 p.m., the Troop reunited on the tour bus. While leaving Shenandoah National Park, the Scouts were treated to a second opportunity to admire the view from the mountains, and they were enchanted by the majestic sight of clouds climbing up the side of the hills below. By 4:30 p.m., the Troop returned to the hotel for an opportunity to decompress and prepare for dinner at the Golden Coral restaurant across the street. Here, hungry Scouts filled their plates with a wide variety of food, including pizza, tacos, slices of prime rib, fried chicken, and the widely popular soft serve ice cream. After each patrol finished eating, the Scouts returned to the hotel and relaxed until lights out.
At 7 a.m. on Sunday, March 26, the Scouts woke and began packing personal gear and cleaning their hotel rooms. At 8:45 a.m., Troop 542 checked out of the hotel and boarded the bus for a visit to nearby Winchester Memorial Park. There, Reid Dorsey and Mr. Zwicker hosted a moving inter-faith service discussing the difficulties that come with making important decisions, and how following the Scout Oath and Law can steer Scouts toward making correct choices. Once the service concluded, Troop 542 Scouts boarded the bus once again, traveling from Warren County to Harpers Ferry National Park in West Virginia. Once there, the Troop split into patrols to explore the old buildings, admire the scenery, and enjoy the treats of local shops. At 12:30 p.m., the Troop reconvened at a field above the town for a picnic, complemented by the unusually warm and clear weather. At 1 p.m., the Scouts boarded the bus one final time, and left Harpers Ferry to return home. After driving through four states, Troop 542 returned to Supplee Presbyterian Church at 5 p.m.