This year, for the first time, Troop 380 started out its camping season with a a trip for the whole family.  We all camped together at Parker Dam State Park in northwestern Pennsylvania. This is Elk country--in fact, it is the site of the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi. Just the place for ecology-oriented merit-badge work. The scouts also performed a volunteer conservation project at the park, clearing and cleaning a long-neglected park trail.

Parker Dam Naturalist helping Tim, Greg and AJ with Mammal Study Merit Badge
 
 
 

Greg, Russ, Johnny, AJ, Tim and Brian working on Elk and Beaver reports

Scouts hard at work on the trail-clearing project
 

The work crew.  (No, they didn't let us use the Cat).