An extensive search for a lost 12-year-old boy from Powell is underway in the Big Horn Mountains. Sheridan County Search and Rescue is conducting the search with the aid of the U.S. Forest Service, dog teams, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Benjamin Kellett of Powell was on a hiking and camping outing near Black Mountain Lookout with his Boy Scout unit Saturday when he wandered away from the group, according to Robert Quintana of Gillette, council president of the Greater Wyoming Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

That happened around 10 a.m. Saturday, a Sheridan Police dispatch officer told the Powell Tribune Sunday afternoon.

Search teams began looking for Benjamin Saturday afternoon and continued Sunday, with no sighting of the boy as of about 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

“They have had several teams on the ground,” Quintana said Sunday evening. “I’m not sure of the exact numbers.”

Quintana said three dog teams are helping with the search. Helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft also were utilized Saturday and Sunday.

“About an hour and a half or so ago, they were requesting and receiving a Blackhawk helicopter from Cheyenne to aid in the search,” Quintana said around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. He said he didn’t know whether the helicopter had arrived yet.

A representative of Sheridan County Search and Rescue referred calls to the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies couldn’t be reached for more information, and Sheriff Dave Hofmeier also was unavailable.

Quintana said he wasn’t on the scene of the search. He and other Boy Scout leaders were “strictly supporting whatever they (searchers and family members) need.”

“Unfortunately, it’s a very stressful and very concerning situation for the kid, for the family, for the unit and the leaders in Scouting,” he said. "We’re very concerned. We’re doing everything for everyone involved as much as we can.

“We’re worried about this young man and his family and hope he is found safe and well.”

An extensive search for a lost 12-year-old boy from Powell is underway in the Big Horn Mountains. Sheridan County Search and Rescue is conducting the search with the aid of the U.S. Forest Service, dog teams, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Benjamin Kellett of Powell was on a hiking and camping outing near Black Mountain Lookout with his Boy Scout unit Saturday when he wandered away from the group, according to Robert Quintana of Gillette, council president of the Greater Wyoming Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

That happened around 10 a.m. Saturday, a Sheridan Police dispatch officer told the Powell Tribune Sunday afternoon.

Search teams began looking for Benjamin Saturday afternoon and continued Sunday, with no sighting of the boy as of about 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

“They have had several teams on the ground,” Quintana said Sunday evening. “I’m not sure of the exact numbers.”

Quintana said three dog teams are helping with the search. Helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft also were utilized Saturday and Sunday.

“About an hour and a half or so ago, they were requesting and receiving a Blackhawk helicopter from Cheyenne to aid in the search,” Quintana said around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. He said he didn’t know whether the helicopter had arrived yet.

A representative of Sheridan County Search and Rescue referred calls to the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies couldn’t be reached for more information, and Sheriff Dave Hofmeier also was unavailable.

Quintana said he wasn’t on the scene of the search. He and other Boy Scout leaders were “strictly supporting whatever they (searchers and family members) need.”

“Unfortunately, it’s a very stressful and very concerning situation for the kid, for the family, for the unit and the leaders in Scouting,” he said. "We’re very concerned. We’re doing everything for everyone involved as much as we can.

“We’re worried about this young man and his family and hope he is found safe and well.”