Another Saturday with NYLT
On April 1, I returned to Durland Scout Reservation in Putnam Valley, N.Y., to celebrate the liturgy of Palm Sunday with some of the Scouts taking part in the National Youth Leadership Training program, their 2d weekend of the course. The course trains Scouts for leadership in their troops.
As noted last week, 48 young men and women were taking the course. (2 of the 8 patrols were made up of young ladies.) I was further informed this weekend that the youth training team numbers about 30, altho all of them aren’t present the whole time. The youths are all guided by an adult team numbering about 8. I also learned this weekend that some of the Scouts taking part were from Pennsylvania. Most of course are from our own Greater Hudson Valley Council.
The weather was a little bit more cooperative this weekend than last. But there was still a lot of rain, and severe thunderstorms and high winds were expected on Saturday nite, so much that the Scouts were moved from their tents into the cabins.
But the sun came out gloriously for a few hours on Saturday afternoon, and we were able to begin the Palm Sunday rites outside (on the porch of Hemlock Cabin). I was disappointed that fewer youths and no adults showed up this week, compared with last week. But the dozen who were there were more than ready to participate, and most were happy that I’d brought palms with me. Some of them learned how to fold their palms into crosses before we began.
After the blessing of the palms and the accompanying Gospel reading, we processed into the cabin and celebrated the Eucharist, complete with the long form of the Passion—the boys and girls taking a full part therein, and responding during the homily too.
Earlier in the day, while it was still foggy and soggy, I hiked for about 3 hours, doing up Candlewood Hill and back down, then out Sunken Mine Road past roaring Canopus Creek (quite scenic, even under all the clouds) as far as the Appalachian Trail crossing.
I heard voices up the trail but didn’t see anyone. I suppose whoever it was, was making a lunch stop a little ways above the road.
The last dinner of the NYLT weekends is always a big feast, lovingly prepared by the adults and the quartermaster corps of the young team: beef, chicken, veggies of various kinds, rice, corn bread, rolls, dessert.
(As usual, I was asked to offer a blessing before dinner.) Unfortunately, the weather began to turn wild again, and we had to eat indoors—quite a crowd, not only of the weekend participants but also including now the Scoutmasters from many of the various troops that sent the 48 course-takers.
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