The Boy Scouts Visit Big Cypress

By Jaime Restrepo

BIG CYPRESS — Two large groups from Southwest Florida Boy Scouts Council paid a visit to Big Cypress for a weeks worth of camping and other activities.

According to Chris Lombardo, adult advisor to the scouts, approximately 670 Boy Scouts attended the camping events held during the week of January 23. The troops came from Estero, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples.

Given the large number of participants, all found plenty of room across from the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum . The parking lot and adjoining grounds provided ample space for their equipment, and their activities, which included stick tossing, Seminole patchwork, Seminole stick ball, archery, and other events.

The campers, with ages ranging from 11–18 years old, are members of two groups, Alligator and Panther. Both groups comprise part of the Southwest Florida Boy Scouts Council. The Alligator group covers Collier County , while the Panther group covers Lee and Hendry Counties .

For this event, the Alligators hosted the Panthers for one big get-together. There were some Cub Scouts camping as well who were guests of the Alligator group. Cub Scouts range in age from 7–11.

There are two other groups within the Southwest Florida Boy Scouts Council, Manatee, covering Manatee County , and Two Rivers , which covers Sarasota , Charlotte and DeSoto Counties . However, they were not present for this event.

Although adults were present, the kids run the show. Zack Johnson, from the Alligator group was the chairman of the event. He hails from Naples , Fla.

“We get elected to the position by our fellow members,” Johnson said. “My duties are to make sure all the programs are correct and that everything runs smoothly, that everyone’s having fun.”

It was a tall order for this young man, but is one of the things that teaches leadership and organizational skills. Judging by the looks of the event, it appeared he was doing his job just fine.

Lombardo said he wishes to thank the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum for its graciousness and hospitality for inviting the Boy Scouts.

“This is a one of the best places we have camped at,” said Lombardo. “It could not have been more perfect.”