NAT-E-CON, an acronym for Nature, Environment, and Conservation is the Occoneechee Council Camporee for 2009 in the Raleigh, North Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Being held October 9-10-11 in the two council camps in Carthage, Camp Durant and Camp Reeves, promises to be a fantastic event for all level of Scout, or Scouter (an adult leader in the Scouting program).

The camps are seperated by less than a mile and both camps, Durant for Cub Scouts and Reeves for Boy Scouts, have very full agenda's regardless of the level, age, or grade of the youth. With an attendance just shy of 4000 this year, and a staff of more than 100, this major event promises to be packed with fun activities for all age levels.

Some of the presenters are professionals and experts in their field, who will also serve as the Merit Badge councilor for the Boy Scouts or the presenter for the Cub Scouts. Some of the presenters are:

For the Cub Scout Program, there are several Belt Loops, Pins, and Webelos Badges that can be earned. Astronomy, Fishing, Geography, Geology, Map and Compass, Weather, and Wildlife Conservation.

The Outdoor Adventure Day for all Cub Scouts promises to be fun. Some of the FUN Activities on Saturday are: Astronomy, BB Gun Shooting, Beekeeper Demonstration, Mobile Aquarium, Forest Rangers, Fishing at the lake, Geography, Map & Compass, Geology (Rocks & Volcano), Nature Hikes, Storyteller, Fire Safety, Wildlife, Conservation, Wildlife Animal Rescue Exhibit, Indian Village and Dancers, Fun Group Games, Service Projects, Lots more Fun and Surprises.

There will also be crafts, such as Tin Punch Ornament, Necktie Snake, Neckerchief Slide, Tree Cookie, Nature Art. Special guests include Smokey Bear, Sparky the Firedog, and the Recycle Can Guy

For the Boy Scout Program, there will be 21 Merit Badges offered and each Scout can choose 4 they would like to participate in, knowing that they will need to complete the Merit Badge later, when they return to their homes and in the troops.

The Merit Badges are Astronomy, Bird Study, Energy, Environmental Science (required for Eagle Scout Rank), Fishing, Fly Fishing, Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, Gardening, Geology, Insect Study, Landscape Architecture, Mammal Study, Nature, Nuclear Science, Oceanography, Plant Science, Public Health, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Soil and Water Conservation, and Weather.

The idea behind the Merit Badge program of the BSA is not simply to give the youth something do, but to offer them the opportunity to both learn and experience a wide variety of hobbies, professions, trades, skills, and activities which will and does lead to a career or a hobby later in life, and possibly a major once they begin to attend a college or university. There are a total of 121 Merit Badges available at this time, and very few Scouts are awarded all of them.

For the Rank of Eagle Scout a youth is required to earn 21 Merit Badges, several of them are required such as Personal Finance, Swimming, Camping, Emergency Preparedness, Personal Fittness, and several others. These are designed to give the Scout a well rounded level of experiences to help them in the future in making decisions.

As with any Camporee in Scouting, the culmanation of the weekend events, the pinnacle of excitement is the campfire. The campfire on Saturday evening will bring together all of the ideas and ideals stressed over the few days and will give the Scouts, and the adults, something to take home with them to think about.