Monday’s call for Red Beans & Rice! On the very first evening of trek, participants gather around a steaming pot of Red Beans and Rice; what might look like a quick and easy trail dinner, is a classic Louisiana dish that carries far more meaning than just a meal. On Sundays, family dinners typically consisted of ham. The leftover ham bone was still usable on Monday and thrown into the pot with dried red kidney beans. Since Monday was traditionally wash day, the red beans and

Happy Mardi Gras y’all!! Photo by Natalie Maynor: Mardi Gras in Cajun Country, Tee Mamou, Louisiana If you’re not from South Louisiana, Mardi Gras might seem like a foreign concept. But here in the South, it's many people’s favorite holiday! It literally translates to ‘Fat Tuesday’ because it is the last day before lent begins- a time where Catholics are expected to fast for 40 days until Easter. It’s a time for celebration, feasting, community, and fun! Mardi Gras originat

The Swamp Base Trek Award patch was created to recognize the achievements of Scouts and adult leaders that participate on a high adventure trek and "conquered the swamp" by completing a trek. The patch is designed to represent the Swamp Base experience. It cannot be bought, sold, or traded... only earned. The main dark gray portion of the patch is a cypress tree silhouette, the state tree of Louisiana and prominent tree of the swamp. The silhouette implies the mystery associa