Overnight in Kentucky

An Adventure to Pine Mountain State Park

Ask the girls of Cadette Troop 4025 about their recent trip to Pine Mountain State Park, and they'll tell you it was a trip they will remember forever. The trip was planned by a Scout and her mom, who is also a troop volunteer. They wanted to share the beautiful Pine Mountain area, a family favorite, with the rest of the troop. They were also hoping to be there while the leaves were changing, which is not easy to plan. It was a trip about facing anxiety, building friendships, and making memories.

The trip started with a four-hour road trip, which meant a stop at the famous (infamous?) Buc-ee's. Most of the Scouts and volunteers had never been. They spent some time buying snacks and drinks as well as doing a little gift window-shopping before getting back on the road. A few songs sung, pages read, or games played later, they arrived at the Pine Mountain State Park lodge. While the chaperones got everyone checked in, the girls spent time in the lodge parlor playing ping-pong, foosball, piano, or just checking in about the drive.

Once everyone had chosen a bed in the cabin, the troop went for a short hike on a trail starting at the lodge. The favorite part of the first day was going to a lookout to watch the sun set over the autumn foliage. While the clouds muted the sky, the Scouts discovered a boulder they could climb. They had a blast climbing up and down the boulders and looking out at the valley. The night ended with a fun game of Halloween-themed, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf.

Conquering Chain Rock Trail

The next morning was the trip's biggest challenge: a hike to a place called "Chain Rock." For some of the girls, the hike felt a bit daunting because they would be walking to an overlook atop a cliff. Chain Rock is a special spot that overlooks the surrounding valleys and a town. A massive chain was strung between two boulders over a gap.

Chain Rock was chained to the cliff in 1933. The story goes that it was done to keep the giant rock from rolling down into the town of Pineville! From the top, there is an amazing view of the town and the mountains - and no guard rails. On a clear day, you can see Cumberland Mountain 12 miles away. You can read more about it on the official Kentucky Parks page for Chain Rock Trail.

The Cadettes supported each other, and every single girl made it to the top. Their concern melted away to joy by the beautiful view and accomplishment of the hike. One girl, who wasn't sure about the hike at first, declared that her family should hike every national park. Another girl said that she'd faced her fear of heights and doesn't think they are so bad anymore.

These are the moments that Girl Scouting is all about.

After hanging out on the mountain, the troop hiked back, ready for lunch. On the way, they stopped at a natural spring to fill up water jugs, a free and simple souvenir from their trip. It was also an opportunity to talk about how bottled water at the store is not much different from tap water.

One Last Journey

Even on the way home, the adventure wasn't over. The girls had more energy to burn, so the troop decided over lunch to make one last stop at the amazing Cumberland Falls. They explored the trails and played on the rocks. While there, they learned about the famous "moonbow." Cumberland Falls is one of the few places in the world where you can regularly see a moonbow, which is a rainbow made from the light of the moon instead of the sun. It appears on clear nights around the full moon. You can learn more on the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park website. It was the perfect end to an overnight trip full of the outdoors.

The girls of Troop 4025 didn't just have a fun weekend. They became more confident, spent time with friends, and found a new love for being outside. This trip, focused on being active and having fun outdoors, is a great example of how Loveland Girl Scout troops choose their own adventures and make changes on the fly when the weather disagrees or they discover they have more energy. These experiences are only possible because of our wonderful volunteers, who help create lasting memories.