Rugged "E", standing for Rugged "Explorer", has been an older scouts adventure program at Camp Emerald Bay since 1961
or earlier. The program, originally open to all scouts over the age of 14 whether or not they were Explorer scouts, appears to be the continuation of another older scout program at Emerald Bay called Adventure Patrol. Adventure Patrol started in 1936 and is known to have awarded patches which most likely were worn on neckerchiefs. Very little information exits describing how Adventure Patrol worked but it appears to have been a physically demanding schedule that originally was by "invitation only" to  top scouts in a special session of camp. It evolved into a regular program at every camp session, geared towards keeping athletic older scouts engaged while the rest of their unit participated in the typical Emerald Bay camping program. Circumnavigating Catalina Island by war canoe was core to the "big adventure".
          The exact time that Adventure Patrol ended at Emerald Bay and Rugged "E" began is unclear but appears to be sometime in the  1950's. Today, Rugged "E" (with the "E" now standing for "Emerald") is the cornerstone of Camp Emerald Bay's Rugged Adventures program and distinguishes the Camp as having one of the most physically challenging, if not the coolest, scout adventure programs of any camp in the United States. Rugged scouts are challenged to experience a little bit of everything including leading their crew up Silver Peak, one of the highest peaks on Catalina Island, soar down hills on a unique mountain biking endeavor, cruise through crystal waters in a canoe, and spend many starlit nights on beaches around the island.