The Boy Scouts of America Troop 731 has been chartered at CMIS from long before the school was called CMIS. The Troop began at CMIS (then called Chiangmai Coeducational Center) in the late 1960s and has continued here at the the school over these many decades. There are currently only two Boy Scouts of America Troops in Thailand – ours and the one in Bangkok that meets at International School of Bangkok (ISB). Currently, there is a small group of BSA Scouts in Chiang Rai that we are hoping will be able to incorporate and become another Troop in the near future.
From October 23rd to the 26th, all three groups met on the border between Thailand and Myanmar near Mae Sai at Doi Nong Nawn in the Than Luang National Park. It was a little rainy on the ride up, but when we arrived, it was only partly cloudy. We were able to set up tents and get settled in before the rain began again.
On either side of our camp site, there were beautiful caves that have very colorful histories that go back hundreds of years.
The Scouts learned lots – and some got to build their own shelters and sleep out over night – it did NOT rain that night, much to everyone’s relief!
One of the real highlights and great surprises of the trip was when one of the leaders from Troop 701 in Bangkok mentioned that he got his start in Scouting with our own Troop 731 when he lived in Chiang Mai! It was Gene “Bones” Chen, a graduate of the CCC Class of 1974!
L to R: Gene “Bones” Chen (CCC Class of 1974), Aran McRady, Andrew McRady (Director of Alumni and Development), Clarke Chen
It was a wonderful trip with enough rain to make us grateful it didn’t rain more than it did, a great learning and caving experience for the Scouts, and a fantastic opportunity to catch up with Gene.
If you are a young man between 11 and 17 years old who loves camping and the outdoors, please come join us in Troop 731! We have a great time and have incredible adventures!
