Nature and magic collide at Scouts’ Frogwarts event

May 12, 2024 Last Updated: May 14, 2024 10:28 AM Local News

Cadence Beard, 7, watches her "potion" get made during during a class on potions at Frogwarts, a Harry Potter-themed Boy Scout event at Camp Bucoco in Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Wizarding games and enchanting crafts drew hundreds of Cub Scouts to Camp Bucoco on Saturday, May 11, for its first Frogwarts event inspired by the Harry Potter book and movie series.

Boy Scouts of America Moraine Trail Council’s event was open to Cub Scouts in Butler and surrounding counties. Children age 5 to 10 made potions, played games of Quidditch, and were sorted into four houses: the Lazy Lions, Regal Ravens, Sly Snakes and Batty Badgers.

Older Cub Scouts, age 11 and older, helped guide younger participants throughout the day. At Frogwarts, parents got to witness some magic as well.

“The adults with the kids who are here now all grew up with Harry Potter,” said Amy Kamis, district executive of Moraine Trail Council.

“I think it’s just one of those rites of passage,” said Kamis, a self-described fan.

In a nod to Harry Potter’s wizarding school, Hogwarts, students at Camp Bucoco’s Frogwarts also received magic wands, quills, robes and carrier owls. Diagon Alley, a shopping area for wizards in J.K. Rowling’s books, was turned into Zig-Zag Alley in a field.

Scouts also drank butterbeer, the famous beverage in the Harry Potter universe, which was recreated using butterscotch, cream soda and butter extract.

Novalee Robb, 9, of Allegheny County, said she is reading the “Harry Potter” books at home. Her favorite part of attending Frogwarts, she said, was getting a toy owl, whom she named Peter.

Ben Iseman, 6, of Armstrong County, named his carrier owl Waffles. He enjoys watching the “Harry Potter“ movies, he said.

Ben’s father, Rob Iseman, who has read the entire series, said he has passed on his love for Harry Potter to his son.

“It gets them imagining,” Kamis said of the event. “It’s kind of like taking that inspired world and making it something that would be magical for them. And then, of course, the kids who camped last night got to see aurora borealis, and it was super bright here. They were like, ‘You brought magic last night.’”

Brad Kirkwood, assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 670, teaches a class about potions at Frogwarts, a Harry Potter-themed Boy Scout event at Camp Bucoco in Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Cadence Beard, 7, watches her "potion" get prepared during a class on potions at Frogwarts, a Harry Potter-themed Boy Scout event at Camp Bucoco in Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jax Harris, 8, enjoys a cup of tea during a class on the "Art of Divination" at Frogwarts, a Harry Potter-themed Boy Scout event at Camp Bucoco in Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jax Harris, 8, enjoys a cup of tea during a class on the "Art of Divination" at Frogwarts, a “Harry Potter”-themed Boy Scout event at Camp Bucoco in Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Cadence Beard, 7, watches her "potion" get made during during a class on "potions" at Frogwarts, a “Harry Potter”-themed Boy Scout event at Camp Bucoco in Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Henley Troup, 5, plays a balloon game with his wizard wand during a "defense against the dark arts" class at Frogwarts, a “Harry Potter”-themed Boy Scout event at Camp Bucoco in Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle