It is going to be a great summer for the Montana Council!
Coming this next month is the Montana International Scout Expo. With almost 1,100 signed up to participate, The Expo is the largest gathering of Scouts and Scouters in Montana in nearly 50 years. This is fantastic!
We have Scouts coming from all over the country, as far away as Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Alberta, Canada. We expect a fulfilling weekend with exciting events, including a grand parade through downtown Great Falls, a welcome party at the water park, tours of famous historical events and our council pinewood derby and Scouts BSA. We will have canoeing, kayaking, shooting sports and mountain biking, just to name a few in our lineup of activities for ages Cub Scout to Scouts BSA.
Saturday will conclude with an evening concert featuring three bands and an unforgettable fireworks display.
Best of all, you do not have to cook! All the food is provided for the full-time participants. I encourage everyone to come and celebrate with us.
Next, there is some important and outstanding training happening this summer, including both our adult leader training, Wood Badge, at K-M Scout Ranch and our National Youth Leader Training (NYLT) at Grizz Base. We have a few spots left if you or someone you know would like to attend our elite Wood Badget training course.
Both Montana High Adventure Base (MOHAB) and summer camp on Melita Island is full. But we do have room at K-M Scout Ranch’s summer resident camp – one of the most beautiful camps in the country.
If you have not been to K-M, you must. It has a beautiful lake that is great for swimming, canoeing, and fishing, there are miles of trails for both ATV and mountain biking, and a state-of-the-art lodge and dining hall. Want to see more? You can find a video from camp last year on our K-M Scout Ranch webpage (and a register button). If you have a Cub Scout in your life looking for a summer resident camp, K-M is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for your Cub.
Lastly, thank you for all each of you do during this time of year to take our youth outside. We see service projects being completed and outdoor adventures taking shape across our communities. It is a great time of year to be a Scout in Montana.
Let’s have a wonderful, safe and fun summer!
Dirk Smith
Scout Executive
