FSG Competes, Connects, and Conquers at the Toughest Scout Challenge

Marines! Navy! FSG! What Do They Have in Common?

Dedication to service—and a shared love for adventure! This October, all three groups joined forces for the Toughest Scout Challenge at Camp Karankawa, an event that brings teams together in support of the South Texas Council’s mission to uplift youth in the region.

On October 11th, teams from across Texas gathered on the shores of Lake Corpus Christi to participate. The Toughest Scout Challenge isn’t just a competition; it’s an immersive camp experience where teams tackle mental and physical challenges, bond as a unit, and raise funds to support South Texas Scouts. Organizations squared off against Scouts, Marines, and each other in a spirited race for top honors.

Throughout the day, participants tested their skills in shooting sports (archery, rifle, and shotgun), scrambled to build fires from scratch, showed off creative teamwork with flag designs, and threw tomahawks with gusto. Among the competitors were four proud teams from FSG—representing San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Dallas, and PreFab—ready to prove their grit across 14 events.

The ended with a grand finale event: the canoe relay. As tradition demands, each team was paired with a pumpkin for the paddle. Shout out to pumpkins Bob, Wilson, Dale, and Bernard—you made it across the lake (more or less) intact! With Clint Sutherland at the helm, Team FSG Dallas paddled into the finals, making an impressive dash for the finish. Ultimately, they were narrowly outpaced by a team with some gazelle-like speed, finishing in second place.

The entire experience was full of excitement, team-building, and a spirit of camaraderie. Reflecting on the day, Clint Sutherland shared, “The group really enjoyed the event. Even though we work in the office together, we still do not spend that much time together. So this was a great way to get to know each other better and work as a team.”

HR Generalist Annette Mendoza, the driving force behind FSG’s participation, is eager to see even more FSG teams in the mix next year. “It’s so much fun. It brings people together, and next year, we can really take over. It’s such a special event,” she said.

Not one to shy away from competition, FSG San Antonio’s Chris “If You’re Not First, You’re Last” Baker sees an even bigger opportunity: “The event was a great team event that covered everything from the brain to physical strength. I would recommend sending a different group every year or… FSG holds its own team-building event.”

For more information about this event and would like to look into fielding a team for next year, please reach out to Annette Mendoza.