Director’s Reports

Achievement 101

July 9, 2026

Achievement 101

July 9, 2026

Our main interest in the achievement department is NOT that a guy earns a patch or gets initiated into some special club. “The fun is in the doing,” we argue, and the boys seem to appreciate our low-key efforts to get them to join in. This works, by the way.

The lone exception is the Kingswood Varsity Club which honors our hikers. No skill is required, you see, and boys are urged simply to go on the treks. In my latest photo album, you can see the Varsity Club wheel, its wire and the big banner with wood plaques containing all the names.

So, hiking too, and maybe even “especially” falls into the category of “do it because it is there.”

Some of our older hikers earned the reward of overnighting in an Appalachian Mountain Club hut on Tuesday evening. Not only were they able to pack lighter, but at Madison Spring Hut they were treated to fine meals and things like blankets in the bunk room. Check the album of 7/7 to get some idea of what they did.

The boys love the large yellow signs at the heads of trails with those “worst weather in America” warnings. Even with knowing that a hot meal and dry bed were ahead of them, they packed as if Mount Everest conditions might suddenly crop up. Strick Kingswood protocol!

These were grizzled Kingswood trampers who ended up having it so easy that they woke yesterday morning at the hut, and, seeing that it was a gorgeous morning, decided to add significantly to the blueprint and tramped on over to Mt Jefferson and Mt Adams — the second and third highest peaks next to Mt. Washington.

“What provisions did you have for lunch,” I inquired. “Not much” said one of them, “but we went to MacDonalds afterwards.”

Now check on Sunset Cliffs of 7/7. This one is the other side of the coin from Presidential range treks. Just down the road from camp, this short sprint leads to a commanding view of the Connecticut River valley. You might recall my prediction two days ago that these boys would build a fie and cook s’mores!

Mount Moosilauke, of which we get a commanding view from our shoreline, is not named for a moose, even though there are pictures of moose on the summit. It means “high flat place” in native language. Check out the 7/6 series of pix and you will not only receive some verification of the name but also get to see what lake Tarleton looks like from that lofty perch.

Then there was the Black Mountain day hike yesterday. Black is a pre-requisite for Varsity Club. It, too, is a shorter hike but has enough steep sections to make it worthwhile. Tipping Rock , a lone boulder perched on the summit moved a tad 70 years ago when I first climbed the mountain, My guess is that our boys pushing it yesterday witnessed a similar motion. Identical, likely!

“ I cannot believe I just hiked that moutain” said one beginner while peering back up the mountain at the end. Exactly!