OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A Boy Scout troop responsible for vandalism to rocks near centuries-old Makah petroglyphs will conduct several days of community service later this month and hear how their actions affected the Neah Bay community.
The vandalism, which included scratching pictures into rocks in the Wedding Rocks area, happened April 25 as eight members of Boy Scout Troop 598 from Puyallup camped in the Ozette area, said park spokeswoman Barb Maynes.
The vandalism was created by Scouts using rocks to scratch new markings.
The markings were made within the Wedding Rocks cluster, but no damage to the actual petroglyphs occurred.
Only a couple of the unidentified boys, between ages 12 and 16, were responsible for the vandalism.
“We have been working to come up with a plan to educate the troop,” Maynes said.
Debris collecting
She said by the end of June the troop will stay in the Ozette campground and hike out to the coast to collect large caches of debris collected during May’s Olympic Coast Cleanup.
The cleanup efforts will last at least two days.
In addition, National Park Service officials are working with the Makah tribe so the troop can meet with a Makah elder who will tell the boys about the history and importance of the 500-year-old petroglyphs to the tribe.
Maynes said Olympic National Park will also send representatives to the fall meeting of Boy Scout leaders to talk about “leaving no trace” when scouts visit national parks.
