One journey was a family drive from Denver to Philmont Scout Ranch with 12-year-old twin daughters. The other: A troop trip with 13 Scouts and nine adults, heading 700 miles to Camp Alexander in Colorado.
Their trips looked nothing alike, but the strategies that got them there can work for just about any group hitting the road.
Turn the drive into its own adventure
If a destination is more than a few hours away, don’t try to do it in one shot. Vincent Polakowski, field director of Minsi Trails Council in Pennsylvania, who flew to Denver then drove with his family to Philmont, says building extra time into the schedule takes the pressure off and gives everyone a reason to look forward to the road instead of dreading it.
That’s why — instead of powering through a four-and-a-half hour drive after a long flight — the Polakowski family took three days to reach Cimarron, New Mexico, from Denver. “We stopped several times along the way and made a whole vacation out of the drive,” he says.
Neither traveling group stuck to the interstate. Polakowski’s family stopped at the Denver Area Council office to meet Scouting colleagues and trade patches, then again at the Pikes Peak Council office in Colorado Springs. Scouting America design director Eric Ottinger, who helped take Troop 380 of Plano, Texas, to Camp Alexander, says adults used downtime at stops along the way to catch up with each other, adding that this was one of the best parts of the trip.
“Earning merit badges and achievements at camp are important, but the best part of the trip can be spending time together traveling, eating and having fun,” Ottinger says. “Those shared experiences build connections that last long after camp is over.”
The Polakoswki family stopped to see the Capulin volcano shortly after leaving Philmont. Photo: Vincent Polakowski.
Loosen your grip on the itinerary
Detailed, hour-by-hour itineraries sound organized, but they rarely work. Both travelers say the overnight stop is crucial, but what happens outside of that stay is a moving target. Polakowski agrees.
“I found that itineraries never worked out for my family,” he says. “Now we pick our hotels, and in between, we find different things that interest us. Every town has something interesting to see.”
Give kids something to look for, not just look at
A scavenger hunt or a state-counting game keeps young travelers engaged without requiring a screen. Polakowski’s daughters, who aren’t allowed to have devices during drives, have turned finding new states into an ongoing goal; their dad also challenges them to notice something new or ask questions about the places they’re passing.
That said, screen usage shouldn’t be an all-or-nothing rule. Ottinger’s Troop 380 allows Scouts to use devices on the drive, but the week at camp is device-free.
Devices are allowed during while riding to camp, but Troop 380 puts them away once they get to Philmont. Photo: Eric Ottinger.
Pick lodging that doubles as entertainment
An overnight stop can be more than a place to sleep. Ottinger’s Troop 380 booked a large Amarillo Airbnb with a garage full of arcade games and video games. On the way home, they slept at a Native American museum that lets Scouts sleep overnight and shower for about $10 a person. Troop 1905 from Colleyville, Texas, another group traveling to and from Camp Alexandar, stayed for free at a fire station in Dalhart, Texas. Firefighters set up cots kept at the station in case of natural disasters.
An Airbnb property in Amarillo, Texas, featured a garage filled with games for Troop380. Photo: Eric Ottinger.
Cover Image: Scouting America archives.
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