San Juan Diego Catholic High School's Venturing Crew just returned from a week-long adventure that included camping, swimming, mountain biking and sightseeing in Texas' State and National Parks. The Venturing Crew is a co-ed scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America.
Thirteen students and five advisers left Austin on June 6 and headed first to Davis Mountains State Park, where they mountain biked and camped for three days. The crew visited McDonald Observatory, where they were treated to a private tour and were given the opportunity to see one of the largest telescopes in the world. They also toured historic Ft. Davis and swam in the natural springs at Balmoreah State Park before visiting Big Bend National Park.
At Big Bend, the crew went on a 14-mile hike of the South Rim, where they saw a black bear, snakes, lizards and other wildlife. The scouts also toured the Rio Grande and were given a special presentation by a park ranger about the many birds that inhabit the area.
The Venturing Crew returned Saturday, June 12, exhausted but enriched by the many memories made on their summer trip.