In+New+Mexico%2c+there+is+a+limited+quantity+of+one+of+life%27s+most+precious+resources%2c+water%21+++But+if+you+drive+to+the+southeastern+corner+of+the+state+you+will+come+across+an+oasis%2e+Carlsbad+is+the+only+town+in+the+state+that+is+located+directly+on+top+of+the+Pecos+River%2e+Spanning+100+meters+across+and+going+several+miles+in+length+through+downtown+Carlsbad%2c+the+Pecos+offers+almost+unlimited+fun+for+water+activities%2e+Tourists+and+residents+alike+spend+much+of+their+time+playing+in+the+water%2e+So+do+the+Boy+Scouts+of+America%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aDowling+Aquatic+Base+is+located+on+the+lower+half+of+the+Pecos+River+in+Carlsbad%2c+and+is+a+wonderful+site+for+water+activities%2e+Dowling+is+the+only+camp+in+New+Mexico+that+is+dedicated+to+the+sole+purpose+of+educating+America%27s+youth+on+the+fun+and+excitement+that+activities+on+the+water+can+provide%2e+With+instructional+merit+badges+such+as+Canoeing%2c+Rowing%2c+Small+Boat+Sailing%2c+occurring+each+day+on+the+river+and+Swimming+and+Lifesaving+being+instructed+at+the+Carlsbad+High+School+Olympic+pool%2c+there+is+an+experience+for+every+age+and+skill+level%2e+The+camp+also+offers+several+special+interest+awards+as+well%2c+such+as+Mile+Swim%2c+Snorkeling%2c+Fishing+Merit+Badge%2c+and+for+those+willing+to+take+the+challenge%2c+BSA+Lifeguard%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+Aquatic+Base+is+a+facility+organized+with+two+dormitories+and+a+galley%2c+which+acts+in+much+the+same+way+as+a+ship%2e+When+the+Scouts+start+showing+up%2c+the+Sea+Explorer+post+takes+shape%2e+This+provisional+camp+is+organized+into+Port+%28left%29+and+Starboard+%28right%29+crews+and+then+into+morning+and+evening+watches%2c+always+instilling+the+patrol+method%2e+The+camp+operates+with+four+very+active+patrols%2c+bringing+Post+1928+to+life%2e+Taking+charge+of+the+Post+is+Camp+Director+John+Merchant+%28Skipper%29%2c+with+the+rest+of+the+staff+providing+the+adult+and+youth+leadership%2e+From+that+point+on%2c+the+Base+operates+as+its+own+Scout+Troop+for+that+week+of+camp%2e+The+Base+has+had+several+names+other+than+Dowling+in+its+history+as+an+aquatic+camp%2e+Names+like+The+Titanic+II%2c+Aquatraz%2c+The+Minnow+2%2c+and+the+Party+Barge+have+all+graced+the+bow+of+this+ship%2e+The+Scouts+who+attend+come+together+as+a+team+and+create+a+personalized+experience+in+which+they+will+live+during+that+week%2e+They+design+and+paint+canoe+paddles+which+they+hang+on+the+walls+of+the+Galley+as+tokens+of+all+of+the+memories+they+portray%2e+Dowling+Aquatic+Camp%2c+being+the+ship+that+it+is%2c+falls+under+the+guidelines+of+a+Provisional+Camp+with+the+Boy+Scouts+of+America%2e+Scouts+from+all+over+the+southwest+are+invited+to+come+and+learn+while+under+the+supervision+of+a+very+well+trained+and+dedicated+staff%2e+Scoutmasters+and+adult+leaders+are+not+required+to+be+present+in+order+for+the+camp+to+run+at+peak+efficiency%2e+But+they+are+invited+for+meals+and+outdoor+camping+and+a+chance+to+earn+their+BSA+Lifeguard%2c+so+that+they+may+better+facilitate+future+aquatic+activities+with+their+troop+back+home%2e+Everyone+who+attends+will+be+kept+busy+most+of+the+day+and+evening%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aOur+location+in+Carlsbad+gives+us+the+opportunity+to+take+advantage+of+several+native+attractions%2e+On+Wednesday+and+Thursday+of+every+week+of+camp%2c+the+entire+ship+takes+a+shore+leave+for+half+the+day+and+visits+two+of+the+most+interesting+sites+in+the+southwest%2c+if+not+the+world%2e+Wednesday+morning%2c+while+the+sun+is+still+fairly+low%2c+the+scouts+will+hop+in+the+local+transportation+and+head+to+the+Living+Desert+State+Park+and+Zoo+on+top+of+C%2dHill%2c+which+gives+a+breathtaking+view+of+the+Pecos+River+Valley%2e+There+they+will+have+the+opportunity+to+see+the+wildlife+and+plant+life+native+to+this+part+of+the+country%2e+They+will+be+able+to+visit+the+gift+shop+and+purchase+a+souvenir+for+themselves+or+their+loved+ones%2e+The+cost+of+admission+is+%240%2e50+per+person%2c+which+is+not+included+in+the+camp+fee%2e+On+Thursday%2c+with+a+sack+lunch+in+hand%2c+the+entire+crew+ships+out+again+by+land+transportation+to+visit+on+of+the+greatest+spectacles+on+Earth%2e+Driving+south+of+Carlsbad+24+miles+puts+all+of+the+Scouts+on+top+of+the+Guadalupe+Ridge+and+the+opening+of+Carlsbad+Cavern%27s+big+cave%2e+The+Scouts+might+want+to+bring+cool+weather+clothing+since+the+constant+temperature+of+the+Caverns+is+only+56+degrees%2e+This+cool+drop+750%27+below+the+surface+of+the+earth+is+full+of+delightful+and+wondrous+sights%2e+On+the+three+and+a+half%2dmile+hike+through+the+Caverns+the+Scouts+will+see+an+example+of+almost+every+type+of+natural+cave+formation%2e+They+will+also+have+the+chance+to+gaze+upon+some+of+the+most+famous+formations+in+the+world+like%2c+the+Rock+of+Ages%2c+the+Bottomless+Pit%2c+and+the+Totem+Pole%2e+They+also+walk+through+the+largest+single+limestone+cave+chamber+in+the+Western+Hemisphere%2c+The+Big+Room%2e++After+all+the+walking+is+over%2c+the+Scouts+will+have+the+opportunity+to+shop+for+souvenirs+750+feet+underground+in+the+only+underground+lunchroom+and+on+the+surface+in+the+Cavern%27s+beautiful+Visitor%27s+Center%2e+This+excursion+also+costs+the+Scouts+%243%2e00%2c+%244%2e00+for+those+over+the+age+of+15%2c+which+is+included+in+the+Camp+Fees%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aPlease+keep+in+mind+that+the+primary+focus+of+Dowling+Aquatic+Camp+is+the+water%2e+A+full+schedule+designed+to+keep+you+wet%2e+Scouts+need+to+be+sure+to+bring+plenty+of+clothes%2c+shoes+that+can+get+submerged+in+the+Pecos+River%2c+swim+suits%2c+towels+and+sunglasses+and+sunscreen%2e+The+average+temperature+of+Carlsbad+during+the+summer+is+around+105+degrees+and+is+typically+the+hottest+spot+in+New+Mexico+and+quite+often%2c+the+Nation%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aA+good+Aquatic+experience+is+one+of+the+most+fun+and+rewarding+experiences+that+Scouts+can+have%2e+As+well+as+primary+skills+for+scouts+to+achieve+rank+advancement%2c+the+aquatic+skills+taught+at+Dowling+Aquatic+Camp+are+drownproofing+and+lifesaving+skills%2e+The+camp+is+set+up+in+a+three+year+program+in+order+to+be+the+most+effective+in+teaching+safety+and+fun+on+the+water%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a

Our+new+Troop+visited+Dowling+in+2001+and+it+is+still+considered+a+favorite%21++Lots+of+boat+time%2c+time+off+to+visit+the+cave%2c+good+food%2e%0d%0a

2008+Dowling+Aquatic+Base+%2d%2d+good+program%2c+a+few+additions+for+%22leisure+time%22+program%2e++Council+will+begin+construction+on+new+dormitory+facility+that+may+be+open+in+2009%2c+and+has+plans+for+landscaping+improvement+as+well%2e++Great+staff%2d+great+fun%2d+great+learning%2d%2d+great+Scouting%2e%0d%0a