Climb On! Climbing and COPE are often highlights of a scout's time at camp, especially for older scouts looking to expand their experiences. The origins of these activities at camps are fairly modern, with climbing only becoming more widespread in the 1970s, and Scouting America’s national COPE program launching in 1980. Climbing at Skymont was started by Bruno Roberts in 1978 with the one-year only “Scoutcraft Area.” They learned rope skills and took trips off-site to Stone Door for the first year of the Cumberland Adventure, which continues to the present day. The “High Adventure Area” began in 1979, located near where the Admin Building now is. This began as rope obstacles, learning climbing knots, and practicing rappelling, and later expanded to include Climbing, COPE, Emergency Preparedness and more. The US Army Corps of Engineers built the first climbing tower in the early 1980s. This 70ft tower was primarily for rappelling at the beginning, wooden blocks were soon added for more climbing. In 1984 a 35ft tall second tower was installed for the addition of a two-cable traverse challenge. A zip line was later added also. A popular yet short-lived feature was the addition of military cargo nets below the 35ft tower in 1985. The early 1980s also saw Skymont’s first COPE Course built. Located near the overlook with cables and platforms installed directly in the trees and a cable-crossing over a ravine, it was said to have the best incorporation of natural elements of any course in the southeast. The trees growing caused upkeep to be difficult over the years and it was closed. Around 2005 the current 40ft climbing tower was built, this time only 40ft because the top portion of the old 70ft tower wasn’t used. With the rise of high adventure activities in the Venture Program in the 2000’s, Tim Hendrix and TJ Rogers spearheaded the construction of a new COPE course in 2007. We still use these now thanks to expert upkeep from Will Council. Special thanks to Jordan Broadwell for composing this article!

Congratulations Eva and Troop 1070!

Signal Mountain Middle/High School PTSA

Read the article here 👉 https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/4/30/518177/Local-Boy-Scouts-Feed-1000s.aspx

CHATTANOOGA, TN – The Cherokee Area Council of Scouting America is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Troop 2, chartered to St. Elmo Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Congratulations to Scoutmaster Ed Sunder and Troop 2, as five outstanding young people have earned the rank of Eagle Scout: Caden Gildernew, Phinehas Doe, Nathan Sunder, James Tracy, and Lyle Vaughn. The Eagle Scout rank places service at its core, and these new Eagle Scouts exemplify that ideal through impactful projects benefiting the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Dade County Schools, Lookout Mountain Trails, the Town of Flintstone, Georgia, and Chattanooga Valley Middle School. Collectively, these projects contributed more than 600 hours of community service, engaging a multitude of volunteers and supporters. Since its founding in 2007, 26 young people have earned the rank of Eagle Scout through Troop 2. Among their many shared experiences, these Scouts fondly recall attending—and serving on staff at—Camp Sidney Dew in Armuchee, Georgia, as well as Skymont Scout Reservation in Altamont, Tennessee. They also attended Seven Ranges Scout Reservation in Kensington, Ohio, over several years. All five have now graduated from high school and are pursuing further education and careers in the Chattanooga region. Adding to this milestone celebration, the Sunder family of Flintstone, Georgia, marked an extraordinary achievement as Nathan Sunder became their sixth Eagle Scout. The youngest of six, Nathan joins his older brothers—Isaac, Samuel, John, Bennett, and Eddie—in attaining Scouting’s highest rank. The Sunder brothers completed Eagle Scout service projects that contributed nearly 800 total service hours. Project beneficiaries included Cloudland Canyon State Park, Audubon Acres, Chickamauga City Parks, and Chattanooga Valley Middle School. Looking back, their parents, Ed and Betsy Sunder, reflect, “It was a joy to watch the Scouts work together and see the boys become young men. Our boys have learned valuable skills, life lessons, and made lifelong friendships through Scouting.” Betsy grew up in a Scouting family and attended both Philmont and Sea Base as a youth member. Ed has served as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for the past 22 years.  Looking ahead, Troop 2 is partnering with Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center alongside Cub Scout Pack 4 to welcome boys and girls ages kindergarten through 12th grade into the adventure of Scouting. Key volunteer leaders include Scoutmaster Brian Purvis, Cubmaster Joy Smith, and Assistant Cubmaster Jim Daughdrill..

23rd Annual Friends Of Scouting Luncheon Held Feb. 24

Aiden Castellanet - Student Body President from Signal Mountain Middle High School Interview from CityScope Magazine

The Adventure Begins!

100 years ago in 1925, the Chattanooga Council built their second scout camp, Camp Tsatanugi, the namesake of Boy Scout Road in Hixson. It served as the summer camp for 25 years, and was used for other activities for even longer. Two of the buildings from this camp still stand, now owned by the Highland Sportsman Club, which has done a great job of preserving them. The largest building is Patten Hall, which was given by the sons of John A. Patten in his honor. It served as the dining hall for the camp.