Oct. 23-25, 2026
RSVP by Oct. 15 RSVP HERE
Grayson Highlands Backpacking Trip
Oct. 23-25, 2026
Who: Scouts and leaders who have registered Cost is $25 per person.
What: Backpacking in Grayson Highlands State Park/Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. We will have a short trek and long trek. The short trek will be roughly 6 miles round trip. The long trek will be roughly 13 miles round trip. Both treks will be challenging, BUT there are views and possibly WILD PONIES!
When: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. Return Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026
Where: 829 Grayson Highland Lane, Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363
Details: Please arrive at the church by 5:30 pm on Friday. (Wheels up at 6:00.) Eat dinner before you come or bring it with you. Dress in Class A. We will camp at Hickory Ridge Campground in Grayson Highlands State Park on Friday night. On Saturday morning we will park in the backpacker’s parking lot at Massie Gap and hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) to the AT/Pine Mountain Trail junction. The short trekkers will hike to their primitive campsite. The long trekkers will continue on Pine Mountain Trail and the AT before reaching our primitive campsite for the night at an area known as The Scales. Everyone will hike back to the backpacker’s parking lot on Sunday morning, and we will return to the church between 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
Short Trek - The short trekkers will hike 5 miles. Sat they will hike to the campsite & set camp. If they decide to take a side hike to Mt. Rogers, they will only take a day pack with water & trekking poles. If they complete the side hike, their total mileage will be 8.75 miles. Map with optional Mt. Rogers hike HERE.
Long Trek map HERE - The long trekkers will hike a total of 12 miles. Sat they will hike along the AT to the backcountry campsite, Scales. Sun morning they will be on trail early so they can reach the parking lot by noon.
Important changes:
All scouts have a mandatory shakedown. We must ensure that you have the gear you need and nothing extra. If at all possible, bring your fully loaded backpack to the meeting on Thursday. A leader will inspect your pack. If you are not able to bring your backpack to the meeting, you will have a leader inspection before we leave on Friday.
Make sure you use the Backpacking List.
Food: you are in charge of bringing your own meals on all backpacking trips. You will need the following:
Friday dinner (eat on the way while on the bus)
Saturday breakfast: freeze-dried meals are great! Walmart and Academy have freeze dried food. (If you have a stove, great! If you don’t, we’ll share.)
Saturday lunch: we will eat while hiking on the trail.
Ideas: jerky, chicken/tuna pouches, nuts, crackers, individual peanut butter
Saturday dinner: freeze-dried meals are great!
Sunday breakfast: protein bar, breakfast bar (something fast) We will get up and go Sunday morning so think “trail breakfast”.
Sunday lunch: we will stop at Wendy’s on the way home so bring money.
Backpacking food illustration for inspiration HERE & HERE
Scouts are encouraged to coordinate with each other to share tents/stoves/water filters in order to minimize the weight carried (and to prevent some parents from having to buy gear that their Scouts may not have yet). We will devote some time Thursday night to working on this. Additionally, if your Scout is bringing their own tent, they need to bring it Thursday night so that they can get some practice setting it up prior to the trip. No hammocks for sleeping. If you do not have all the gear needed, talk to us. We have some items available to borrow.
Backpacking information about Grayson Highlands:
We will be backpacking a section of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Oct. and thought it would be helpful to give everyone the inside scoop! First, check out this site and educate yourself on all things A.T.
Grayson Highlands is a very popular section of the A.T. and is absolutely breathtaking! We will be leading both a short hike and a long hike. Both hikes will include a lot of uphill hiking and by uphill we mean over rocks. What’s the payoff for so much physical exertion you ask? Wild ponies! Yes, that’s right! Grayson Highlands is home to beautiful ponies. They graze the highlands and live peaceful, happy lives.
It’s a 2-hour drive to Grayson Highlands. When we arrive, we’ll set up camp at Hickory Ridge Campground. On Saturday morning, we’ll pack up and head out on our adventure on the A.T. The short trek and long trek groups will part ways and once they each reach their campsites, they’ll set up camp again. Sunday morning we’ll break down camp and hike back. It’s going to be amazing!
Here are a few suggestions from a brand new backpacker:
1. Trekking poles are a lifesaver. We recommend each scout take at least one pole.
2. Rain gear is a must! You just never know when a shower will pop up.
3. The weather at Grayson Highlands is often colder and windier than the weather apps indicate. Keep this in mind when choosing your clothing. Dressing in layers is key.
4. Water! Water! Water! Water is heavy but it’s necessary. There are water sources so scouts can refill their bottles or camelbacks. By water source, we mean a stream running down the mountain. If you have a water filter, bring it, if not, we can share filters.
5. Hiking shoes! We will be hiking over rocks and boulders. Scouts need good fitting hiking shoes with solid soles.
6. P-Style... Ladies, if you’d rather stand than squat and not have to bare it all, then this item is for you! ;). Check it out on Amazon. The carrying case was a great accessory, too.
7. Scouts are responsible for all of their food on backpacking trips. Freeze-dried food is the way to go. It is light and easy to pack. You can buy it in store at Walmart or order it from Amazon. If you don’t have a camping stove, don’t worry. We can share.
Leading up to the trip we will be having backpack “shakedowns”. For any scout who is new to backpacking, this is mandatory. Scouts need to load up their pack with everything they plan on taking and bring their pack to the scout meeting. During the meeting, their pack will be checked. It will be a good time to find out exactly what items each scout needs to obtain prior to the trip. If something is in need, don’t fret. We will band together and help acquire anything that is needed.
This backpacking list provides the items needed.
Scout meeting backpack shakedowns: Oct. 1, 8, 15
Nov. 13-15, 2026
When: November 13–15, 2026
Where: Camp Raven Knob – Crazy Horse Campsite
Registration Deadline: Thursday, November 5
For our November campout, Scouts will have the opportunity to choose between two merit badge tracks: Rifle Shooting or Wilderness Survival. Scouts will select their track when they RSVP for the trip.
Please arrive at the Scout Hut at 5:30 p.m. Friday for a 6:00 p.m. departure.
There will be no troop meal Friday evening, so Scouts should eat dinner before arriving or bring their own dinner.
We expect to return to the Scout Hut between approximately 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday. (NO WENDYS)
Scouts choosing Rifle Shooting will spend Saturday completing the Rifle Shooting Merit Badge, including instruction and plenty of time on Camp Raven Knob’s rifle range.
All rifles, ammunition, targets, and required safety equipment will be provided. Scouts do not need to bring firearms or ammunition. All instruction and shooting activities will be supervised by properly trained and certified adult leaders.
A signed shooting sports permission form is required HERE for Scouts participating in Rifle Shooting. The form will be linked with the RSVP information so parents can print, sign, and return it before the trip.
Pre-trip preparation: Scouts choosing Rifle Shooting should review the current North Carolina hunting regulations before the trip and be prepared to discuss basic hunting laws and identify game species that may legally be hunted in North Carolina.
No other pre-requisite merit badge work is required.
Scouts choosing Wilderness Survival will spend Saturday learning and practicing wilderness survival skills while completing the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge.
Saturday evening, Scouts will construct an improvised survival shelter and sleep in their shelter overnight.
Scouts choosing this track should bring their personal wilderness survival kit, including:
A tarp
Enough rope or paracord to rig the tarp and construct a shelter
Scouts should also review the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge requirements before the trip so they understand what they will be working on.
We will car camp Friday and Saturday nights at the Crazy Horse campsite, located near the climbing tower at Camp Raven Knob.
All Scouts will tent camp Friday night. On Saturday night, Rifle Shooting Scouts will continue to tent camp, while Wilderness Survival Scouts will sleep in the improvised shelters they build.
Meals will be prepared by patrol beginning with Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast. Patrols will receive meal-planning instructions before the trip.
Scouts must register by the end of the day on Thursday, November 5 using the troop RSVP link, which can be found on the troop website and in the weekly announcements email.
When registering, Scouts must select either:
Rifle Shooting Merit Badge – $55
or
Wilderness Survival Merit Badge – $35
As always, don’t forget about the Dr. Mac Scholarship Fund. Financial assistance is available to make sure trip cost doesn’t prevent a Scout from participating.
Additional packing information and final trip details will be provided before departure.
Dec. 4-5, 2026
Carolina Ziplines 2026
Friday December 4th – Saturday December 5th (One Night Only)
RSVP DEADLINE Thursday, Nov. 26 th (Thanksgiving Day)
RSVP HERE
Who: Troop 964 Scouts and Registered Adult Leaders
What: ONE night of car camping at Carolina Zipline Canopy Tours
Address: 1085 Nickell Farm Rd, Westfield, NC 27053, Website: HERE
When: Friday December 4 th – Saturday December 5 th (One Night Only)
Arrive at New Philadelphia at 5:30 for a 6:00 departure - sharp
Expect a mid- to late-afternoon return on Saturday 5 th December. NO Wendy’s.
Cost: $75.00/person. This includes two meals -- Saturday breakfast (patrol) and Saturday lunch (troop).
Meals: Bring a bag dinner for Friday night.
Saturday breakfast will be by patrol (cooking a warm breakfast is required).
Saturday lunch (sandwich board) will be provided by the troop.
Car Camping: This is car camping. Backpacks are not needed / pack in a large duffle.
The campsite will have a picnic shelter, water and flushable toilets.
Hammock camping is allowed if you have the proper equipment
A folding chair to sit by the fire is a good idea.
Don’t forget rain gear. As it’s December it’s likely to be cold. Come prepared.
Troop 964 Packing list HERE
Carolina Zipline Waiver - REQUIRED
You will not be allowed on the bus without a signed waiver. Print at home and bring with you!
WAIVER HERE
Other Zipline Gear
Raincoats – we will absolutely zipline if there is a light rign a (light) rain.
Shoes that are secure and will not fly off. Yes, shoes come off in the air!
Helmets are provided and are required.
Leather work gloves are not provided but are a good idea.
Hair ties for long hair are recommended.