Simsbury Boy Scout Adventure Race Wrap-up

80 Scouts from the three Boy Scout Troops of Simsbury held their Adventure Race on Sunday June 15 for the benefit of Michael Bubnash, an Eagle scout hurt in a auto accident. Racing in three man teams, the scouts began their Journey at Pennwood State Park on mountain bikes. Greg Bubnash, Mike’s father started the race with the three scoutmasters of Troops 76,174,175 , Mary Glassman, the First Selectman, and Father Metzler of St. Mary's Church who blessed the event.

The first leg of the race was to mountain bike the four mile length of Talcott Ridge down to the Curtiss Soccer Fields. At the fields the scout teams had to scale a ten foot wall, orienteer a compass course, and rappel on ropes across a branch of the Farmington River.

The teams then ran five miles to Pettibone’s Tavern and around to the canoe landing, jump in canoes and row downriver back to Curtiss Fields about 5 miles, picking up firemaking materials along the way. Returning to Curtis Fields, they had to build a fire to burn through a rope two feet above the ground to stop their time and complete the event.

The winning scout team on straight time was Grant Osborn(18), Ryan Mead(17),Jeffrey Mead(17), all Eagle Scouts of Troop 175, in 3 hours and 17 minutes - a new course record.

Each team received time allowance according to their ages and as a result the overall race winning team on corrected Time was Eric Barch(11) Greg Bombara(11) and Nicholas Carabillo(11) of Troop 175  who arrived at the final fire building station only 15 minutes behind the lead team and built their fire with flint and steel in under 90 seconds. They won the race on corrected time by over an hour.

The second Place team on corrected Time was the Scully brother team of Brendan 17,Will 15 and Kirk 12 from Troop 174 followed in third place by Mike Vallen(16), Cortland Carter(17) and Keegan Rice(12) from Troop 175.

Nick Civitillo the Scoutmaster of Troop 174, Michaels' Troop said "The scouts went all out for Michael and we are all very proud of them."

The Race was held to benefit Michael Bubnash an Eagle Scout from Troop 174 who was in a car accident last year that left him struggling to recover from both physical and brain injuries. Michael was at the race cheering the teams on and enjoying the friendship of many who had come to help the cause. "We raised almost $25,000 from the Scout teams who has gone around town raising money from merchants and friends said Scoutmaster Brad Mead of Troop 175, the organizer of the race. The team of Cortland Carter, Mike Vallen and Keegan Rice raised over $5,000 themselves in the month before the Race. Many other teams raised well over a $1,000. The Community really came together for Mike. Due to the extensive press coverage which included stories about the Adventure race in the Simsbury Post, Hartford Courant, on the local radio stations and even the Chicago Tribune, I have been receiving checks in the mail every day from all over the country."

Todd Bailey Scoutmaster of Troop 76 was equally effusive, "The Adventure Race had two goals - to raise much needed money for Michael Bubnash and to raise the level of Scouting awareness in Simsbury - both goals were accomplished"

Mike’s Dad, Greg Bubnash summed it all "Thank you Scouts for all that you have done".

Donations to the Bubnash Family Fund may be sent to Scoutmaster Brad Mead, 73 East Weatogue St, Simsbury Ct. 06070.