Family enjoys hike under sunny skies at Indian Point Park

July 31 was a beautiful day in Lake County, with temperatures in the low 80s, clear skies and mellow winds out of the west, the National Weather Service reported.

One Painesville family took advantage of the day’s hiker-friendly weather by doing just that as they pursued their Mentor Cub Scout Pack’s hiking program.

“We’re Cub Scout leaders,” Rob Boehm said of himself and wife, Adrienne, who were crossing Paine Creek near the lower entrance of Indian Point Park in Leroy Township around 1 p.m. Monday with their 8-year-old son, Jacob, and 6-yearold daughter, Chloe. “We actually started a hiking program with our group: Pack 75 out of Mentor.”

Later that afternoon, Boehm emailed some more details about the program, which encourages families to get outdoors together, put away their smartphones, game consoles and other electronic distractions and enjoy nature together.

“The program is optional and there are some pretty cool awards you can receive for participating,” Boehm typed in his email, adding that the purpose is “to get outdoors, more than we already do,

“We actually started a hiking program with our group: Pack 75 out of Mentor.” —Rob Boehm

and hike the local trails, parks, etc.”

He said the pack gets out and hikes together three times as part of the program for a total of three miles. The other 27 miles are accomplished individually by the scouts and their families, he said.

“The idea is to log 30plus miles of hiking over the scouting season,” he typed. “The pack will incorporate three hikes into its program over the scouting season. And individual scouts/parents/ leaders will need to hike additional miles monthly to reach the awards.”

He said Level 1 achievers will have hiked one mile with the pack during its Fall Family Campout in addition to six miles individually to earn a hiking stick. Reaching Level 2 involves hiking another mile with the pack during its Winter Family Campout, along with nine additional miles individually, to earn a water bottle. And Level 3 calls for another mile hiked with the pack during its May Pack Meeting, in addition to 12 individually hiked miles, to earn a hiking backpack.

“Today, we were out there starting our first hike individually for the program,” Boehm writes. “All said, we hiked 1.5 miles and enjoyed the Point Overlook Loop Trail and the Lookout Ridge Scenic Trail. Jacob and Chloe enjoyed the historical portion of the trail, as they learned about the Whittlesey People and much more about the land we were hiking.”

Although Jacob and Chloe weren’t too keen on answering this pesky reporter’s questions, they each gave a smile and an enthusiastic “yes!” when asked if they were having a good time at the park.

Their dad summed it up pretty well, however.

“Probably the most enjoyable part of the hike was the opportunity to spend time as a family and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Its nice for the kids (and us adults) to put down the electronics and enjoy the history in our own back yard!”

He said he and Adrienne have been involved with Cub Scout Pack 75 since 2008, when their oldest son joined.

JONATHAN TRESSLER — THE NEWS-HERALD Eight-year-old Jacob Boehm, far right, leads the way as his family — from right, 6-yearold sister Chloe, his mom, Adrienne, and his dad, Rob — across Paine Creek at Indian Point Park in Leroy Township July 31.