This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SPOT. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've told you a few times about the SPOT Satellite GPS messenger that our troop uses on our backpacking adventures.  It's a great little gadget that gives you access to rescue help in an emergency, but more commonly lets folks back home track your progress through the wilds.  And, when you get home, you can tie your photos to your trek route for an interactive view.
I've got an old Philmont Trek shown in Google Earth HERE.
And, a week backpacking in Wyoming using the SPOT Adventures website HERE.

If you missed past deals from the folks at SPOT, here's another one that sounds pretty good.  When you buy the new SPOT Messenger, you get a $50 bonus adventure kit that includes 15% off Basic Service, a flotation case, LED flashlight, safety whistle, bandana, lanyard, and keychain.  Maybe your troop should put one of these in its budget for the coming year and get it for Christmas.

I like that SPOT is one-way communication.  It doesn't beep or chirp or ring with incoming messages, but it keeps everyone at home in touch with our location. 

If you only use it for a single Philmont trek, the annual service with tracking would just be around an extra $10/person.  But, you'll surely use it for many other outings.  It costs our scouts about $2.50/year for the troop to have one.  We've used it for backpacking, canoeing, and biking.  I've even taken it on 10-mile practice hikes so parents could see when we were approaching the pick-up location so they'd be there on time.  It's cheap insurance and a good use of technology in the scouting world.