Troop 288

Great job yesterday, Troop 288! 🥾⛰️ Birkhead by the Numbers: 🥾 About 10 miles — including a couple of bonus miles courtesy of a few wrong turns 😄 ⛰️ ~2,600 ft of elevation gain ⏱️ Over 5 hours on the trail We headed into Birkhead planning to spend the night, but the trail had other plans for us! Several of the creeks and water sources we expected to use were completely dry. With the heat and no dependable source to replenish everyone's water, we made the decision to adjust our plans and hike out rather than camp overnight. Along the way, we dropped our full packs for about 1.5 miles to hike up to Cooler’s Knob , the highest  point in Uwharrie, which was a welcome break. We also made a couple of wrong turns that pushed the Scouts' total mileage closer to 10 miles — a good reminder of the importance of navigation and checking the map at trail intersections. Then Birkhead gave us one final challenge: the last 1.7 miles were through a thunderstorm and heavy downpour. ⛈️🌧️ By...

Troop 288 enjoyed a memorable weekend of service, leadership, and fellowship at the 2026 Catholic Camporee at Camp Grimes. With approximately 400 Scouts and adult leaders attending from across the area, our troop took on the important responsibility of helping operate the dining hall. Troop 288 Scouts and adults assisted with Friday dinner, all three meals on Saturday, and Sunday breakfast—helping ensure that hundreds of campers were fed throughout the weekend. Our Scouts worked together, served others, and represented Troop 288 exceptionally well. Their willingness to step up and help demonstrated the values of the Scout Oath and Law in action. Thank you to our Scouts and adult volunteers for their hard work and positive attitudes throughout the weekend. Troop 288 was proud to play such an important role in making the Catholic Camporee a success! Scouts attending: Omar Campbell, Jackson Kochan, Amir Matar, Wynn Miller, Web Miller, Guillermo Salazar, Mateo Sintes, Lucien Bouchet, Keeg...

In July 2023, seven Scouts and four adult leaders from Troop 288 traveled west for an unforgettable adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. After flying to Denver, the crew spent a night in Colorado Springs and completed a four-mile acclimation hike at Garden of the Gods before continuing to Philmont. Crew 713-7D spent eight nights at Philmont, including five nights in the backcountry, hiking approximately 50 miles through the mountains of northern New Mexico. Along the way, the Scouts carried their own gear and food, worked together through the challenges of hiking at elevation, and strengthened their outdoor, leadership, and teamwork skills. After months of preparation and training hikes, completing the trek was a tremendous accomplishment and an experience the crew will always remember. Link to All Photos: HERE