‘Tis the season for El Cajon Boy Scout Troop 363 Christmas trees

Ask any good outdoorsman, and he’ll tell you that the best takings from the wild are the freshest and most sustainable. Young men from El Cajon’s Boy Scout Troop 363 echo that message about the Christmas trees the Scouts are selling outside Elks Lodge 1812, at 1400 E. Washington Avenue.

“We have the freshest trees,” Quinn Williams declared.

“Fresh trees are the best,” said Camrien Hunt.

Ask any good outdoorsman, and he’ll tell you that the best takings from the wild are the freshest and most sustainable. Young men from El Cajon’s Boy Scout Troop 363 echo that message about the Christmas trees the Scouts are selling outside Elks Lodge 1812, at 1400 E. Washington Avenue.

“We have the freshest trees,” Quinn Williams declared.

“Fresh trees are the best,” said Camrien Hunt.

And these boys would know. They were among the crew of Scouts who took delivery of a tent full of recently cut trees on Nov. 27.

The Christmas tree sales have been a part of this El Cajon troop’s programs for at least 25 years, through generations of young men in East County. According to Scoutmaster Randy Nielson, the endeavor is the group’s major yearly project for raising money to pay the troop’s operational costs.

The trees arrived from a Washington state grower, and then they were in the Boy Scouts’ care. Chris Clounts, 14, said that he is in his third year of assisting with the Christmas tree lot sales, and, “We have the freshest trees, they arrive the day after Thanksgiving, and we take care of them.” He noted that their trees will last longer than trees purchased from most other area lots.

Nielson added, “We have a new tent this year.” He pointed out the tent’s attached sprinkler system that maintains moisture levels for the trees, keeping them in good condition. Nielson said that the Scouts last year used hoses to water down the Christmas trees, which caused “a little” runoff. The tent sprinkler system conserves water and eliminates runoff drainage across the Elks Lodge parking area. Nielson continued, explaining that recycling and sustainability have been portions of a new Scouting program for the past three years, and that the upgraded tent watering system is a good lesson in wise use of resources.

Camrien Hunt is 11, and he wants potential Christmas tree buyers to know that he is very strong and will carry trees and tie them onto cars. After the tree lot’s official opening at noon, Hunt said that within the lot’s first couple of hours he had already helped six people find a perfect Christmas tree to take home.

Tree varieties available at the El Cajon Boy Scout Troop 363 site are Douglas firs, Noble firs and Nordmann firs. The Scouts on hand seemed to like the Nordmann firs best of those on their lot. Prices range from $33-$112. Tree stands, bags and preservative solution can be purchased at extra cost. Delivery will add $15-20 to the total. The Scouts lot accepts credit cards and checks. The lot is open weekdays 4 – 9 p.m., and from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.