By Joe Donahue
When disaster strikes, Scouts leap into action.
Such was the case with Tahosa Lodge and the Denver Area Council. The lodge led an effort to help the neighboring Santa Fe Trail Council rebuild Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch, which was severely damaged by wildfires in the summer of 2013.
Tahosa Lodge Chief James Williamson said that the lodge spearheaded the efforts of bringing down a council contingent. "The Denver Area Council was asked to send a contingent down to the project," he said. "It was open to everyone, not just OA members."
The event was coined "Project Phoenix." Williamson explained the significance behind the name. "A phoenix is a mythological bird that dies by burning in flames," he said, "but is reborn from the ashes."
The event revolved around rebuilding the damaged camp. After a safety meeting, participants worked at Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch from 8:30 AM until 5:30 PM.
Tahosa Lodge Vice Chief Josh Fields, who led the project on-site during the weekend, explained that much of the work revolved around installing water bars for the camp. "The soil could not hold as much water as it was being exposed to," said Fields. "There were concerns that, ultimately, the water would wash away all the topsoil, which would not be good for the environment the camp was in."
A water bar, when properly inserted into the ground, is designed to slow or prevent the effects of erosion on a particular area. In total, the roughly 120 Scouts and Scouters that attended installed over 200 water bars during the eight hours that they were working.
After the work, the lodge leadership provided fellowship opportunities for those in attendance. Food was also provided courtesy of Tahosa Lodge's Arrow Bistro, the cooking staff at all Tahosa Lodge events.
All in all, people seemed enthusiastic about living out the third point of the Scout Law, helpful, and Santa Fe Trail Council was appreciative of the work.