For teens who like to grab their boots and climb mountains, or paddle a raft through whitewater, a new scouting troop, Venture Crew 157, for youth ages 14 through 20, will soon be starting. In addition, other scouting activities have been reactivated.

Sponsored through Boy Scout Troop 157, the group will meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 24th and Washington. The group would like to schedule canoeing trips, hike and paddle combination events, whitewater rafting, caving, hiking in Colorado and trips to amusement parks. Those who would like to get involved should contact Eric Giesing, educator at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. KWEC is acting as a resource for the group.

"The KWEC has been very involved with Scouting recently," said Giesing. "I have been trying to get the Scouts much more involved here. KWEC Manager Curtis Wolf has been very supportive in encouraging their involvement at the center and have provided necessary materials and support to make the program begin to flourish.

"I was recently hired as the new district aquatics director for the Boy Scouts," he said. "It was a great opportunity for me to get more involved with scouting and I thank Barton Community College and the Aldrich Trust for the opportunity. Every troop and pack in Barton County is given a certain day of the month where the boys can come swim, work on requirements for their ranks and aquatic related merit badges."

Also, the boys can have a great time building friendships and having fun, he said. "It (BCC) is a great resource for the Scouts in Barton County, and I am glad that I have the privilege of working with the

local scouts. Every month will feature a different fun activity, in addition to working on rank requirements and merit badges."

The activities will involve kayak races, a cardboard boat regatta, relays and underwater scavenger hunts.

Giesing is certified for the following merit badges: Fish and Wildlife Management, Environmental Science, Mammal Study, Bird Study, Soil and Water Conservation, Reptile and Amphibian Study and Aquatics.

Scouting is helping to promote KWEC and Barton County. KWEC recently had a scout troop from Illinois come down and take a guided tour of Cheyenne Bottoms, and Quiviria National Wildlife Refuge, take a night hike and camp at Camp Aldrich, earn four merit badges, go minnow seining, participate in habitat projects on the nature trail, visit the Ellinwood Underground Tunnels and take a behind the scenes tour of the Great Bend Zoo.

Giesing also plans to work with the youngest Scouts. "We also work with Cub Scout packs on their requirements as well," he said.

"Ultimately, I want the boys to have as positive of an experience in Scouting as I did and want to be a resource for troops, packs and dens," he said. "I was involved in scouting and got the rank of Eagle Scout and seven Eagle Palms. Scouting played a large role in getting me to where I am today and definitely set up my background and excitement in Scouting."

Scout programming is really starting to pick up and we hope to have a cub scout day camp and work with Camp Aldrich to host camp outs and events, he said.

Call Giesing at KWEC at 786-7456 for more information.