Local scouts take on Florida for annual winter trip
We donned wetsuits the next chilly morning and walked to the boat that would take us to snorkel with the manatees. The ground was cold on our bare feet but once in the water, the wetsuits did their magic and with snorkels and masks, we swam with many, many manatees.
By Greg Sazonov, Scoutmaster
Fifteen scouts and five leaders from Scouting America Troop 19 in Floyd recently traveled to Florida for their fifth winter trip to explore, learn, and grow.
We had an initial rearranging of our scheduled activities when our first flight was canceled, but we made it to Tampa the next day. Our hotel had a park next door with over a million LED lights! We made it to the Gulf Coast in time to see the sun set that evening.
On our second day we drove to Homosasa State Park where we saw our first manatees in the wild, saw lots of rescued Florida animals, explored their underwater fishbowl, and talked to a ranger about career and volunteer choices in the natural sciences. After Homosasa State Park we found our hotel in Crystal River. The rest of the day was spent walking around the lodge grounds, swimming in the pool, and getting dinner-ready.
Your Best Move
Craig Chancellor
126 North Locust St.
Floyd, VA, 24091
(540) 523-1300
Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.
We donned wetsuits the next chilly morning and walked to the boat that would take us to snorkel with the manatees. The ground was cold on our bare feet but once in the water, the wetsuits did their magic and with snorkels and masks, we swam with many, many manatees. We even saw at least two mothers with their babies. Snooks and sheepshead fish also were prominent. Our two female guides were incredible and really worked well with the scouts.
We warmed up with hot cocoa and showers back on shore, and then took our picnic lunches to the Crystal River Archeological State Park to learn about the First Peoples in the area. That evening we did two escape rooms, which have become our trusted team-building activities we look to do on every winter trip.
The old school building converted into three floors of almost all types of fabrics available, and craft supplies! Plus - an extra building of upholstery fabrics and supplies!
220 N. Locust St., Floyd VA
(540) 745-4561
sfabrics@swva.net
Our last day in Florida had us drive to Clearwater Aquarium, where we used a net to haul in life from the bay and then make counts with the researchers of the different species that were brought up. They took us to a small island to go shelling, and we found an injured seagull that was captured and given to their staff once we were back at the aquarium. That afternoon, we learned about the biology of the invasive Lionfish with a dissection and walked around St. Pete Pier, which was a really unique experience.
Our scouts and troop leaders woke up at 3:30 a.m. on the final morning of the trip to catch our flight and arrived back home in Roanoke safely at 8 a.m. Sunday morning. Your scouts represented Floyd, Radford, and Christiansburg very well.
We are already thinking of what we’ll do next January!
Young ladies ages 10-18 and interested in Scouting America Troop 19 should contact Greg Sazonov at scoutingtroop19@gmail.com. Find more pictures of our adventures on our Facebook page, “Scout Troop 19, Floyd, Virginia.” We meet on Sunday afternoons at June Bug Center.
Our checking accounts are designed for how you bank every day, with convenient access and personal service from people you know right here in Floyd.