Acton Den 2 Scouts LbNA #57821

Located in Nara Park.
Acton Scouts
Pack 70
Den 2
Park in the upper parking lot near the soccer fields. Turn right onto Quarry st and continue down to the first iron gate. Enter the public trail at the map and info sign. You will find maps located here for the Town Forest Conservation Land. You will begin you search for 9 letterboxes with a hiking and scouting theme.
The letterboxes are:
#1 Oak leaf
#2 Eagle
#3 Cardinal
#4 Wolf
#5 Pine tree
#6 Fern
#7 Maple leaf
#8 Aspen leaf
#9 Fleur de Lis

#1 Take a right at the information sign and head North on the yellow (Main Loop) trail. Continue North on this trail until you come across a huge boulder that the trail goes around. 130° (SE) of the large rock are two dead trees leaning against a large oak tree. The first letterbox is hidden behind the oak tree.

(The oak tree is the National tree of the United States, it is used for furniture, building materials, firewood and is the source of acorns that feed chipmunks and squirrels)

#2 Continue North on the yellow trail. Go across the pedestrian walkway and stay on the main loop. Continue until you see a large arched tree to the East. The eagle is in a dead log behind a boulder. (May be missing box)

(The eagle is the national bird of the United States. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle".)

#3 Continue on the main loop trail North. Go across the blue trail and head over a hill and cross over some water using the new bridge. You will see some water on your left and continue onward until the trail is covered with stones. Look NNE (20°) and you will see a group of dead trees about 30 steps off the trail. The cardinal is a shy bird and will be hiding under the dead branches.
(The cardinal is the state bird of North Carolina.)

#4 Continue on the main loop trail NW. Walk past the parking lot at Nagog Park Dr. and continue on the yellow main loop trail. When you get to the first bench look SE (140°). You will see a triple tree about 40 steps down the hill. The wolf is perched in the tree and looking for food.

(Wolf scouts are cub scouts in 2nd grade and are generally 7-8 years old)

#5 Continue west on the trail and pass the 2nd bench and a large group of pine saplings. Look east and you will see 3 giant pine trees. The pine tree letterbox can be found behind one of the pines. (This box is missing, please skip)

(Pine trees are largely used for building materials and are evergreen trees. Don't forget pinewood derby cars)

#6 Continue on the yellow trail, walk through a rock wall and pass the Wills Hole Bog. You will see a giant pine tree that looks like a cactus on your left. Behind the giant pine tree is a broken boulder. The fern leaf letterbox can be found within the rock.

(Ferns are hundreds of millions of years old and were around during the time of the dinosaurs. They can grow in shady woodlands and in harsh conditions.)

#7 Continue along the main loop for a while. Pass a rock wall on the right and go around a large left turning bend. Where the red and yellow trails merge, you will see a large dead maple tree leaning across the trail. The next letter box is hidden at its base.

(The maple tree is the State tree of New York and Vermont. It is the source of Maple syrup and is used in furniture.)

#8 Continue along the main loop (yellow trail). You will pass some baby pine saplings, the path will turn to pavement and then you will pass a home on your right. Continue onward and walk past the quarry on your left. When you see a small dead tree on the right side of the trail there will also be 4 large boulders that are almost in a line. The aspen letterbox will be hidden behind the fourth rock. Caution: lots of snakes around here.

(The aspen tree is found in many cooler climates such as New England and Canada. The wood is used for cabinets, lightweight furniture, plywood and paper. The leaves are also considered a delicacy for caterpillers.)

#9 Continue on the main loop. Go over a concrete bridge and across the quarry entry road. Continue on the yellow trail and turn North at the intersection. You will see a hill that looks like a pile of rocks North of the trail. At the top of the hill stands a large pine tree. The last letterbox can be found behind the tree. This box has a stamp of a Fleur-de-lis. Please stamp your book with this stamp and then stamp our book with your stamp and date it.

The fleur-de-lis is the main element in the logo of most Scouting organizations, representing a major theme in Scouting: the outdoors and wilderness.[1] The three petals or leaves represent the threefold Scout Promise (Duty to God and Country, Duty to Self, Duty to Others) in much the same way as the three leaves of the trefoil represent the threefold promise for the Guides. Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, explained[2] that the Scouts adopted the fleur-de-lis symbol from its use in the compass rose because it "points in the right direction (and upwards) turning neither to the right nor left, since these lead backward again." The two small five-point stars stand for truth and knowledge. Together their ten points represent the ten original Scout laws. The reef knot or square knot represents the strength of World Scouting. The rope is for the unity of Scouts throughout the world. The ring holding the petals together represents the bond of brotherhood

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