When Boy Scout Troop 44 of Pennington planted the first shoots of dune grass in Surf City in October 2012, the National Hurricane Center had not yet forecast Superstorm Sandy.
“Sandy hit two weeks later,” Bob Long, whose son was part of the inaugural troop 14 years ago, said ahead of this year’s dune planting on 18th Street in Surf City. Since then, he and his family have acted as hosts six times, he said.
(Photo by Jack Reynolds)
Troop 44 arrived early Saturday, Oct. 24 to plant 5,000 shoots of dune grass, Long said. Against blue skies and the Island’s perfect fall weather conditions, the scouts worked for about four hours to stabilize the dunes, which form a natural barrier, helping shield the Island from waves, storms and erosion.
After the scouts completed its work in the late afternoon, they pitched tents to camp overnight on the beach, Long said.
Up at dawn on Sunday, the troop leaves no trace – other than the shoots of dune grass – that they were ever on the beach, he said.
“Surf City has been wonderful,” he said of working with borough officials over the years. “They provide the barriers (to keep the troop enclosed while camping overnight), give us dune grass.”
Long said the borough’s department of public works is an invaluable partner in making the annual event memorable and meaningful for the troop.
“When my son was in Scouts, this was his favorite camping trip,” Long said.
