Scouting troop’s mission teaches life lessons of resilience.
By Sasha Manley
As thunderstorms loudly rumbled, the Boy scouts of Troop 63 climbed over 900 feet to their campsite in northern New Mexico. With the threat of lightning, survival skills kicked in, and the team got down in a lightning safety crouch position to protect themselves from being struck by Mother Nature.
Hypothermia became a concern as the rain had no plans of letting up. The Lead Ranger quickly guided the crew to change into dry gear. The evening simmered down, and the group remained safe from the elements.
It was the inaugural day for the Charlotte Scouting of America Troop 63, chartered at Friendship Missionary Baptist Mission in New Mexico. Several members recently visited for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Troop history
Formally known as Boy Scouts of America, Troop 63 is now a part of Scouting America, which prides itself on challenging the youth on their moral compass and lays the foundation of the Scout Oath and Law.
Troop 63 also takes pride in community collaborations and ministries, such as working with Friendship Community Garden, a community-focused initiative that provides healthy food options, and the DeiVision of Children and Youth.
The original Troop was founded nearly 100 years ago by Charlotte Native, Frederick Alexander, on March 31, 1993. He is known to be the First Scoutmaster of Troop 63. The group is open to males in 6ththrough12th grades and meets weekly through May 2026.
Troop 63 Key Leaders are:
- Aaron Johnson, Scoutmaster of Troop 63
- Sherri Johnson, the Troop Committee Chair
- Tommy Lee Hayes-Brown, the Charter Organization Representative
- Carnell Hampton, Assistant Scoutmaster and Philmont Crew Advisor
The mission
Last June, a selected team (Philmont Crew) from Troop 63 (6 scouts and four adults) completed the trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. According to philmontscoutranch.org, Philmont Scout Ranch is the “Scouting America’s largest National High-Adventure Base” established in 1938.
“The goal of our crew was to challenge ourselves physically and mentally by completing a 7-day, 32+ mile backpacking trip on rugged backcountry trails,” said Carnell Hampton, Assistant Scoutmaster and Philmont Crew Advisor.
Philmont Scout Ranch Quick Facts
- Over 1 million scouts and explorers have visited Philmont
- Elevation ranges from 6,500 to 12,441 feet
- The terrain covers 140,177 square miles of mountains and nature
Hampton went on to provide some insight on what backpacking really meant for the scouts: “Backpackers carry everything they need for the trip with them on their backs — things like personal shelter (tent), their sleeping bag and sleeping pad, clothing, food (1.5 to 2.5 lbs. of food per person, per day of backpacking).”
Hampton added, “The youth lead the way with leadership stepping in when needed. Hampton further explained this: “creates a ‘safe place to fail’ as scouts contend with the pressure of planning, execution, team dynamics, and how to lead with influence.”
The mission was 2 years in the making. In October 2023, the Troop began their extensive readiness that involved fundraising and training. Hampton explained how they prepared mentally and physically.
“Not only did we need to be physically ready to hike 6-10 miles per day over 7 days, but we also needed to sharpen our outdoor skills. Four members of our crew attended a multi-day training in Wilderness First Aid. Our crew did several prep hikes designed to test our skills,” he said.
They also had two hiking training sessions with 30-40 pound backpacks in Tennessee on the Appalachian Trail.
Learning lessons
Besides accomplishing their daily missions. The team also walked away with growth in several ways. “We experienced the terrain, the history, and the culture of New Mexico, which was unfamiliar to any member of our crew,” Hampton said.
Acknowledging the world around them was priceless, he added. “There was natural beauty, but also an appreciation of the responsibility of maintaining the land so that others could experience unspoiled areas set aside for scouts.”
The future is now
Looking ahead, Troop 63 plans to continue their efforts to help the community. They also plan to take local backpack trips to keep their skills sharp. The other three national treks are also on the goal list for successful accomplishment. Hampton mentions
“The opportunity for black scouts, “An African-American crew is rare at Philmont. Many don’t know about the long tradition of Blacks in Scouting. It is a tradition that inspired us, even when the days on the trail were long, the packs were heavy, and we felt every mile in our aching muscles. We kept going because we couldn’t quit knowing that historically, Black scouts may not have had this opportunity.”
There are many ways to help the Troop with their efforts and success. Some key items, like gear and camp supplies, go a long way to help families.
Contact Scoutmaster Johnson or Assistant Scoutmaster Carnell Hampton at dontwasteurlife7@gmail.com for more information.