Learning to appreciate and respect the natural wonders of the great outdoors has always been a goal of the Boy Scouts of America.

As part of that mission, the Mesa Verde Chapter has purchased 40 acres of wilderness atop Haycamp Mesa for a unique high-altitude base camp that will accommodate visiting scout troops from across the nation.

Under clear blue skies against a backdrop of the towering La Plata Mountain range, dignitaries from Cortez and Durango gathered Saturday with a gaggle of local scouts to make the official announcement.

"Finding a camp such as this that we can call our own has been our passion and now it is a reality," announced Wayne Bogue, district director for the Mesa Verde Chapter, to cheers and applause.

Cortez mayor Joe Keck and Durango mayor Joe Colgan participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the entrance to the camp.

The pristine tract of rolling pine-covered hills borders state lands and the San Juan National Forest and was purchased by the Boy Scouts Great Southwest Council for $175,000 this month. It will remain primitive, officials said, although some minor improvements will be made such as adding composting toilets, a storage building and a mess hall.

"The No. 1 trip that troops on the East Coast and in Texas save their money for is Mesa Verde National Park. Now they can conveniently camp here without the hassle of booking campsites and always wondering if it will work out or not," Bogue said.

For the 22 scout troops scattered throughout the Four Corners, the site is ideal for launching forays into nearby wilderness. Possibilities within close proximity include backpacking in the San Juan Mountains, canoeing McPhee Reservoir, rafting on the Dolores River, or hiking in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park.

Throughout the weekend members of 13 area scout troops and their parents camped out at the new site and participated in various events that focused on winter survival skills and backcountry ethics. Youngsters learned about emergency first aid and rescue, the dangers of hypothermia, fire-building without matches, and various outdoor-camping techniques.

"We learned about first aid and how to tie different knots," said Warren Henderson, 15, of Troop 522 in Cortez. "The best was a 25-foot ice-rescue exercise."

A chili cook-off added spice to the big event and for good humor the sled races were not canceled, despite minuscule snow cover.

"We’re making them carry the sleds instead," laughed Scott Richard, scoutmaster for Troop 538.

Scouts are being asked to come up with suggestions for what to call the new wilderness base camp. Entries must be turned in by March 1.