"Quitters never Win and Winners never Quit!" - Vince Lombardi
"Once you quit... you will quit again...and again, it will become part of your character"- unknown
“There's only one thing that can guarantee our failure, and that's if we quit.” -unknown
"Once you learn to quit...it becomes a habit"- Vince Lombardi
"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." Conrad Hilton
Now this may go against the grain of modern popular thinking, but I still believe that you can never quit. As stated in the quotes above, quitting is directly related to success and failure. In life, I believe that failure is not an option. Because failing means that you gave up.. you quit.
You can make mistakes, you can get knocked down... but you must get back up to be a success in life.
Winning is everything! Yes it is... that does not mean you score more or make more money, or have a bigger house. Winning in life is achieving your goals and accomplishing tasks. That is winning. And you will never win if you give up or quit.
As we are in the mode of making resolutions for the new year, many people say.. I need to quit this or that in the new year. Lets take eating right as an example.
Do you need to quit eating junk... or do you need to start eating good food?
You may need to loose weight, do you do this by quiting the junk food, or eating right?
You see it may give you the same result, but coming at it from a successful mindset rather than a quitters mindset may make a bigger difference. If I want to be successful at eating better foods, then it will cause me to plan better meals, watch what I eat when dining out, maybe throw in some exercise, and start sharping my mind.
On the other hand if I am just going to quit eating junk..then that is all I will do.
I agree with Vince Lombardi... "Once you learn to quit..it becomes a habit". Once you get used to quitting it becomes easier and easier to quit. You quit on something small, and then the next time the situation gets to tough.. you quit again.. and again...and again.
This will lead you to failure in the long run.
Boy Scouts do not quit. They try and try again. You may have set backs and stumble, but the test of your character is measured by the amount of times you get back up and try again.
This is success.
"Many of life's failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."- Thomas Edison
The Scout Law tells us to be Brave, it takes a certain amount of bravery not to give up.
I will leave you with one final quote from a man that has inspired many. Jimmy Valvano, in a speech given at the 1993 ESPY awards gave an inspirational speech about never giving up.
Toward the end of the speech he said "DON'T GIVE UP..DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" That is the motto of the Jimmy V foundation. It is centered on finding a cure for Cancer, but the theme resonates in our daily lives of achieving success!
Happy Scouting!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Quitters and Success
Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
2008 is just around the corner
And in a flash its done... The presents are all given and gotten, unwrapped and the trash is full. Bellies are aching from too much food and the thought of Christmas leftovers make the stomach turn.
Now it is time to start over. 2008 is literally around the corner. It is time to make resolutions, but first we need to look back at 2007 and realize what we need to make the coming year better.
Yes it is time to look at what we need to Start, Stop, and Continue to make 2008 a great year, not just in Scouting, but in our lives away from tan shirts and red tabs.
But there is the good rub, we don't, nor should we separate the two. Scouting has given us the tools for a great 2008 (I'm sure you didn't see this coming).
Yes, that's right... THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW!
We had an interesting week leading up to Christmas. Our house was broken into and burglarized. Luckily no one was home and nothing of significance was taken.. it was all just stuff. But the fact that a person entered my house and violated my "Free space" really got me thinking about why?
We can assume many things, but the short answer is the person that came into my house and took our things had no respect, no values.
The person did not respect the fact that we work hard for the things we have. And if we need more, we work harder. We don't steal to increase our wealth, we earn it.
The person does not understand values. Values found in the Scout Law. Values like being Trustworthy, Kind, Loyal, Obedient, Thrifty, Brave, Reverent, and so on. No this person does not understand those values and surely does not live them. Boy, did this person need Scouting.
So I started to think about 2008... What do I want to make better? How do I want to feel as I write preparing for 2009? What do I need to Start, Stop, and Continue?
And the short answer is live the Scout Law better... Daily. If I do that... EVERYTHING else will fall into place... Everything.
Think about that as you prepare this week to enter into 2008.
I think that if we all lived the Oath and Law, it will be a terrific 2008, not just for us, but for those around us.
Monday, December 24, 2007
This Christmas the youngt men of Troop 664 put together a gift box to send to the soldiers serving in Iraq. They sent candy, magazines, handy wipes, Christmas Cards, and other stuff the Troops like. They also put together this video and decided to share it on YouTube. A disk of the video went in the box to Iraq.
Merry Christmas to all our Soldiers serving at home and abroad.
And Merry Christmas to you!
Happy Scouting!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Its hard to find a wise man
Once the Nativity was set up we noticed a Wise man was missing. We have not seen him since last year, so we had to go on a search for a wise man. Immediately thoughts went to where to find a wise man. They of course turned to the Scoutmaster.
Nope, he was not the wise man they sought, Assistant Scoutmasters on the scene couldn't help either.
Where to find a wise man?
Well he finally was found, right were we put him. And after some repairs to a broken hand and a paint touch up. The wise man joined his two companions on the journey to the Christ child.
We find wise men in our daily lives. The search for our wise man, while funny, took us to the back of our church where he is currently standing.
A Scout is Reverent. Reverence to our God and the things he created.
It is Christmas time. A time of rebirth in many ways, a time to start over, a time to reflect on the past and look to the future. A time when we take stock in our lives and see what we can do to emulate our Saviour.
God gave Jesus to us as a gift. A gift that ultimately took away the sins of the world. A gift that keeps on giving.
So for just a minute, forget about the malls, the parties, and the over commitment of shopping and dressing up in fancy clothes. Think about why we celebrate Christmas. Give thanks for the birth of Jesus Christ.
Weather you are a believer or not, Jesus Christ, the man, changed our world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, changed everything! A part of the continued gift.
Merry Christmas and Happy Scouting!
Even without a cessation of war for Christmas, family and friends of the soldiers wanted to make their loved ones' Christmas special. They sent packages filled with letters, warm clothing, food, cigarettes, and medications. Yet what especially made Christmas at the front seem like Christmas were the troves of small Christmas trees.
On Christmas Eve, many German soldiers put up their Christmas trees, decorated with candles, on the parapets of their trenches. Hundreds of Christmas trees lighted the German trenches. The British soldiers could see the lights but it took them a few minutes to figure out what they were from. British lookouts reported the anomalies to their superiors. Could this be a trick? British soldiers were ordered not to fire but to watch them closely. Instead of trickery, the British soldiers heard many of the Germans celebrating.
Time and again during the course of that day, the Eve of Christmas, there were wafted towards us from the trenches opposite the sounds of singing and merry-making, and occasionally the guttural tones of a German were to be heard shouting out lustily, 'A happy Christmas to you Englishmen!' Only too glad to show that the sentiments were reciprocated, back would go the response from a thick-set Clydesider, 'Same to you, Fritz, but dinna o'er eat yourself wi' they sausages!
In other areas, the two sides exchanged Christmas carols.
"They finished their carol and we thought that we ought to retaliate in some way, so we sang 'The first Noël', and when we finished that they all began clapping; and then they struck up another favourite of theirs, 'O Tannenbaum'. And so it went on. First the Germans would sing one of their carols and then we would sing one of ours, until when we started up 'O Come All Ye Faithful' the Germans immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the Latin words 'Adeste Fidéles'. And I thought, well, this was really a most extraordinary thing - two nations both singing the same carol in the middle of a war"
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
2007 Year in Review
Reflecting back on the Scouting year that was 2007 I came to conclusion that we are a pretty busy Troop.
So let me take just a minute or two and share with you the 2007 year in review.
The boys from the Order of the Arrow kicked the year off by participating in an inter tribal Pow Wow up on Scouters Mountain. The following weekend the Troop learned the valuable skill of selective listening as we watched as Nick and Ely debuted their new smash hit “We are all gonna Die” Lucky for us they became one hit wonders that weekend and discovered that they in fact survived to enjoy egg Mcmuffins with the rest of us.
As is our annual custom we had a great turn out for Junior leader Training and a lock in to end January, a much need fun time to put the Cold Camp behind us.
February we celebrated Scout Sunday and held a Luau to celebrate the BSA’s birthday. The Assistant Scoutmasters showed off their new Campaign hats that night… now we are Scouting!February took us to Camp Meriwether where we were introduced to a new part of clothing.. Sally’s (the section of your pants from the cuff to just below the knee) were discovered and from then on we tried to keep them dry. It was a cold and wet weekend on the coast, but the humor at the campfire was dry and warm. Rob got his first taste on the Scouting Lampoon and took it well.. he’s a keeper.
Finally in February we started on a Journey to Wallowa. The saying that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step was etched into us in February.
March found us paddling our Canoes on a windy Cullaby lake. We learned that you need the bigger guys up front in the wind…. We also learned that Joel and Cameron on a windy lake makes for cookies in a canoe. Another great weekend at Royce Finel.. That’s why we keep going back. This was our Third trip to Royce Finel and the first time we need two trailers of Canoes.. We are starting to get big.
April lifted us up onto the backs of horses. We spent another wet weekend at Butte Creek for what was the best and worst day of riding. I’m not sure who led us up onto that windy ridge, but it was not me.. My horse was so cold it asked me for my rain gear. The following weekend, once we dried out all the young Scouts went to the Pioneering Merit Badge weekend. Our Scouts did exceptionally well.
May we tested our skills at the District Camporee at Martha Creek field. Eric and Kyle were tapped out by the Order of the Arrow. I don’t remember much about Camporee this year.. Onion Smothered Pork chops keep passing through my mind though! Camporee went well. Kyle entertained the entire district with his galloping on a Patrol flag and as usual a good time was had by all.
May was perhaps the best Service project of the year also. Placing flags on the head stones up at the Willamette National Cemetery. Even though they ran out of flags in our section, I think the Scouts got a better appreciation for the sacrifice of the many men and women that are eternally at rest in the field of honor. We showed our colors again assisting the Gresham hero’s memorial committee with a color guard. The boys really did a great job. I am extremely proud of them.
May took us out to a snowy Wallowa to check out the camp. We learned a lot out there. And I still have those wheat pancakes and little smokies in my stomach.
In June we strapped on our headlamps and took a hike in the Ape caves. June was the only “Perfect weather” month of the year. Camping at the Cougar Campsite right on the lake was a Rockwell moment for us. A perfect camp out. In June we also helped out the Gresham Hero’s memorial again with their Ride for hero’s rally. The community surly knows Troop 664.
In July we began our first real High adventure program. A hand full of Scouts from all the Patrols started the Backpacking Merit badge. A Trip to Eagle Creek and Bonneville dam took us under the Columbia River and a great look at the power it has. July we took some real big steps.. Not only on the trail for the merit badge, but in our Journey to Wallowa. The plan was coming together, resourcing and staffing and selecting merit badges. Summer Camp was right around the corner and the 11th hour jitters were starting to set in. Range masters were trained, CPR Training was conducted, shopping lists changed 25 times, merit badge lists were chopped and edited, and the great debate on how we were going to get 900 pounds of stuff across the state started.
August finally got here. On the 2nd of August the Advanced party arrived and a call from the ranch announced that it was “Show time”. We moved the Troop to the other side of the state for 10 days of the best summer camp ever. We won’t go into that again, but let’s just say it was the high light of the year. I think we can all agree.
So how do you top that? In September you Back pack 25 miles on the historic Barlow Road trail.. I was surprised when the majority of the Troop signed up to spend the Labor Day weekend with me hiking through some of the most beautiful country in America. Kent amused us by eating spaghetti from a strainer with a big spoon. John and Kyle provided a gut splitting laugh when they produced coconuts from their backpacks and gave us a sampling of Monty Pythons Holy Grail. I am thankful no one fell off of the bridge we stopped at for lunch.. That was just plain funny.
October we broke out the rain gear for another cold and wet weekend at Butte Creek. The Scouts were to participate in a Pioneering Challenge which ended up being canceled, but at least we showed up with two teams. The OA tribe set their sights on teaching first aid to Webelos Scouts that weekend, and even managed to get one of them to pass out. I of course had to test my skill at Chubby bunny. I believe the bar has been set at 13. Guys you can explain that one to your parents later.
November has to be one of my all time favorite camp outs in the Troop. We ventured off to Camp Cooper for a no holds barred Cook off. Back packing style, camp stove preparation, and Dutch ovens. The Scouts did a fantastic job with preparation, planning, and throwing down some of the best camp food I have seen in awhile. The Food network would have been impressed. We woke to snow on Sunday, but the taste of Falcon Pork Roast still lingered.. mmmmm.
As you can see it has been another great year. We accomplished a lot this year and had a great time doing it. Let me share some numbers with you as we wrap up the year in review.
In total there were 22 camping opportunities this year. That includes Troop Camp outs, Order of the Arrow events, and Adult training camp outs. Given the 21 active Scouts and 14 active adults that is a total of 866 nights of camping..
We held 55 meetings of one type or another.
We did 8 service projects totaling 345.5 hours of service.
We earned 103 merit badges.
We awarded 29 badges of rank.
8 Scouts earned more than one rank over the year. 5 earned their First Class this year.
Troop 664 is active and progressing well. Wrapping up our 4th year we can say that we have set a course of success for the future.
HAPPY SCOUTING!
Monday, December 17, 2007
BE PREPARED... not JUST SURVIVE
I had an interesting talk with a coworker today. He asked what kind of "Survival Training" we did in Scouting. I told him beyond the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge, we don't teach our Scouts to Survive, we teach them skills to live in the outdoors.
Surviving suggests that you were not prepared for, as Baden Powell said "Everything".
Surviving is something that you do when a plane crashes or a you fall off a train in the middle of nowhere.
Skills that allow you to live in the outdoors are more beneficial. Navigation, fire building, cooking, hiking, packing a backpack properly, gathering water, and first aid. These are all living skills not surviving.
As we prepare for our January Camp out we will not be getting ready to survive the cold. We will be preparing to live in the cold. Everything is planned and prepared according to the plan. Menus, snow shoe rentals, packing lists, shake downs and inspections, and of course the camp out itself. To have fun in the wilderness you need to be prepared... not just survive.
Happy Scouting!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
OK... so now a few food tips
Like the article stated; there are a few key points to remember.
1. You need more Carbs. Pasta dishes allow for tasty carbs uploads. That and most pasta dishes are easy to prepare in a One Pot.
Shell noodles and a package of chicken chunks, or rice and chicken or tuna make for easy yummy alternatives to ramen noodles and jerky.
Carbs in morning are important too. breakfast bars, oatmeal, and eggs are good options. Try to eat a warm meal in the morning. This gets your day off to a great start.
2. Timing is everything. The article talked about when you eat. Breakfast about an hour before you start your activity, lunch is great, because you can have many lunches. Little snacks throughout the day, a good cup of soup, and more snacks later. Keeping your body energized by adding fuel is important during activity. Dinner should be a biggy. Even a good one pot meal should fill up the stomach and get you ready for the night ahead.
A little snack before hitting the rack is a good idea too, just to stoke the fire in the belly for a warm sleep.
3. Protein. A variety of protein items are a must. Tuna, and Chicken offer good protein meals while protein bars and drinks are a good idea too.
4. Variety is the spice of life. Get out of the same ole food ruts.. try something new. If you don't like it... at least you tried it once, you don't have to do it again. Having a variety will make your camp outs interesting and add to fun of testing skills and trying new things.
Simple rules that will get you or at least your taste buds through the next camp out!
Happy Scouting!
'I'm Still Hungry!'
This is a real good article that appeared in the May-June 2007 issue of Scouting Magazine.
I thought I would share it with you in its entirety.
Happy Scouting!
I'm Still Hungry!
By Karen Berger
Careful menu planning examines the rigors of high adventure activities and makes sure that calorie and nutrition levels not only meet energy requirements but also leave diners feeling satisfied.
Few things are more frustrating at the end of a long day on the trail than to still feel hungry when all that day’s meals have been consumed. Menu planning for long-distance hiking is especially important because hard exercise increases the appetites and nutrition requirements of Boy Scouts and Venturers.
“You work harder moving over slippery surfaces or uneven ground, traveling uphill versus flat ground, and carrying large loads (like backpacks),” says Suzanne Girard Eberle, a Portland, Ore.-based sports dietitian, speaker, and author of Endurance Sports Nutrition, second edition (Human Kinetics, March 2007).
How much more energy are we talking about? According to Eberle: “Walking your dog around the neighborhood for an hour requires three times the energy, or calories, needed to sit quietly for an hour. Backpacking requires seven times more energy per hour than sitting quietly. And if you’re carrying a heavy load of more than 40 pounds, you are using nine times as much energy as you would be sitting still!
“In cold weather, the clothes and boots that keep you warm are heavy and require more energy to carry. Exercising at altitude also increases the rate at which the body burns fuel,” she adds.
Teens need more caloriesIf you are leading groups of Boy Scouts or Venturers, the issue of menu planning becomes even more important.
“Teens already have high-energy needs,” says Eberle. Those in the midst of a growth spurt, particularly boys who are growing taller and adding muscle, can have a hard time keeping up with their daily energy needs on extended backpacking trips and other adventures.
Teens who are not physically fit or who are newcomers to an outdoor activity may also require more food. “They will be less efficient,” Eberle warns, “and that translates into working harder and burning more calories.”
Eberle stresses the importance of both the quality and timing of meeting caloric needs. “The exact source of the calories isn’t nearly as important as getting in the fuel,” she says regarding the quantity.
“We need carbohydrates for energy, protein to sustain us, and some fat to feel satisfied and help us meet our higher caloric needs.”
When and what to eat But quantity isn’t the only consideration: The time of day you eat also plays a role in keeping your body working at maximum efficiency.
Eberle recommends eating a full breakfast whenever possible, preferably an hour before beginning each day’s hike or other high adventure activity.
“Half of your liver glycogen is used up overnight, and it is liver glycogen that converts back into blood sugar and fuels the brain. It also serves as backup fuel for exercising muscles,” she explains.
Practical breakfast foods include cereals with dried milk and honey, nutrition bars, freeze-dried eggs, pancake mixes, crackers, and packable breads such as pita, bagels, or tortillas.
On the trail Eberle recommends eating several times throughout the day, versus one or two large meals.
“Large amounts of food at one time divert blood to the digestive tract and away from your brain and muscles.”
Nutrition bars and electrolyte-replacement drinks are two outdoor standards that can be consumed throughout the day to keep up energy and electrolytes.
Nutrition bars travel well, come in a variety of flavors, and are intended for use during exercise. Sample a few different kinds before your trip, however, because flavors and textures vary.
Sports drinks are a good idea because people tend to drink more when the beverage is flavored. Eberle recommends you check a drinks nutrition label for 14 to 17 grams of carbohydrates per cup, and electrolytes, especially sodium (at least 70 milligrams per 8 ounces or cup).
Getting enough protein The longer or more intense the outdoor adventure, the more important it is to choose a varied selection of foods, Eberle says.
“Finding enough carbs isn’t usually a problem thanks to sports drinks, energy bars and gels, candy, cookies and breakfast bars, bagels or bread, rice and pasta, fruits, and juices. Fat is available from nuts, chocolate, and other treats. A bigger challenge with longer trips is getting enough quality protein.”
Eberle recommends eggs (which can be powdered, or hard-boiled in advance), canned meats, peanut butter, tuna in foil packets, precooked or no-cook beans, cheese, and dried milk powder.
A one-pot meal that includes a combination of different foods can pack a lot of punch. Try a backcountry tuna casserole, with pasta, cheese (grated Parmesan is fine, but a hunk of cheddar can also be melted in), and foil-packed tuna.
Variety improves appeal Eberle cautions that the stress of outdoor activities, which can include fatigue, cold, and altitude sickness, can make some foods seem unappealing, so a variety is essential. A greater choice of foods on the menu provides a better chance that something will seem appealing—or at least edible—to every member of your group.
Freeze-dried foods can be helpful. While an all-freeze-dried diet can be monotonous (not to mention expensive), having a few on hand offers an array of flavors and the chances for your youth to choose their own favorites. Similarly, just-add-water cups of soups and heat-and-eat noodle dishes offer convenient variety.
Finally, there are practical issues: Does anyone in the group have a food allergy? Can foods be carried without crushing or spoiling? Are they reasonably lightweight? Are they easy to prepare, even when you’re tired and the weather is bad? Will you have enough fuel and water to prepare the foods you bring? Remember, at higher elevations, foods take more time (and hence require more fuel) to cook.
If you’ve spent some time thinking about food choices, you can be certain that dinnertime will be eagerly awaited and enthusiastically enjoyed.
Karen Berger is the author of Backpacking and Hiking (DK Publishing Inc., 2005).
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Part 1 - Trustworthy and Loyal
The first two parts of the Scout Law... yeah we all know that right...
But lets talk about it in terms that mean something.
Do you Trust me? Why? Is it because I have earned your trust or because I have a patch on my sleeve that says "Scoutmaster".
Well, I suppose the answer should be "Both". But I hope it is the former.
Trust is earned. It is an essential component of any relationship and in the context of Scouting it is the foundation of the Patrol. You have got to trust one another. This breeds respect and friendships. It tells the other members of the patrol that I can be counted on. That I will always be there.
This brings us to Loyalty... Loyalty starts with the leaders and works its way down to the Patrol members. Loyalty means that you will be true to your family, your Patrol and Troop, your School and your Nation. Loyalty is non negotiable. You are either Loyal or you are not.
In a patrol the members count on loyalty to get things done. Coupled with Trust, Loyalty tells the members that you can be counted on and you will never give up. That you will put the team before yourself and that your buddies can depend on you to pull your share of the task.
Loyalty runs deep. That is why I say you either are or you are not. It is not something you can turn on and off.
In terms of the winter cam pout. Trustworthy and Loyal play a big part. You need to count on your patrol mates to watch out for you and keep a vigilant eye out for signs of cold weather injuries. You also should be able to count on the members of your patrol to should their share of the task. If everyone viewed it that way then no one would want to let the other down.
Trust and Loyalty are both earned, and the way in which they are earned are by being Trustworthy and Loyal.
Happy Scouting!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
An appreciation for the Outdoors
So much is being said these days about the over all health and physical nature of our youth. National statistics tell us that 15% of Americas youth are obese. The problem is that this 15% will become obese adults. This is a serious health concern. Obesity is the number two cause of preventable death in America.
The Boy Scouts of America have an answer. In its Aims, the Boy Scouts want to attack this with physical fitness.
Which brings me to developing an appreciation for the outdoors. It is through the outdoor program that we really encourage physical fitness. This encompasses the bulk of the BSA program and flows into the daily lives of our Scouts.
We encourage our boys to be active in sports in school and other sport outlets (the YMCA, Pop Warner, Little league etc).
But it is through Scouting that we can tackle multiple issues.
I developed a love for the outdoors when I was a Scout. Now I am sure that Scouting or not, I would have strong love for the woods and being out, that's just how our family was, but for many the Discovery channel is their gateway to adventure.
Scouting gave me opportunities to get out and see the wonders of the woods. I remember my very first camp out as Boy Scout. We were camped at Manassas Virginia. It was a chilly fall weekend and we were camped in a wood stand next to a big meadow. I woke up in the early hours of the morning and watched the sun rise over the meadow. The dew and fog made for a quiet, soft feeling. I thought this is awesome.
Flash forward 30 years, last month we camped at Camp Cooper. We woke up to a fine dusting of the white stuff. A chilly November morning in Oregon. Looking westward into a beautiful draw filled with Old growth forest, I thought to myself... This is awesome!
My appreciation for the outdoors was sparked. fed, and encouraged to grow through Scouting... and it still is today.
Throwing a Backpack on and trekking into the wilderness, trying to find the path with least amount of footprints is the classroom for this development.
Challenging yourself and being with your friends when you reach an incredible vista can be life changing and the most memorable of experiences.
All of this and it allows the opportunity to breath clean fresh air, eat hearty meals without the guilt of laying around afterwards, exercising not only your body, but your mind as you challenge yourself and each other.
Self esteem and confidence and physical fitness are born out of the outdoor program. There is no better feeling than that of success. Success that you did your best, your met the challenge and completed it, you were part of a team, you were able to see something that most folks may never.
There is a waterfall on Camp Cooper. It is one of the most spectacular things you will ever see. To get to it you have to hike two miles down a switchback laden trail. At the bottom is a small bridge were you are cooled by the mist of the waterfall. To get back you have to climb the two mile trail up. It is a demanding hike, but for those that rise to the challenge the day is one that leaves an indelible mark in your memory. 95% of Oregonians will never see this waterfall. And for most of them it is only 2 hours away from home. Scouting will bring you to it and allow you to appreciate this wonderful part of our land.
Camping, hiking, and being in the outdoors opens those doors to new worlds. This is what sparks explorers and adventurers.
I was talking with my sons the other day while we were watching a show about Mt. Everest. I told them I have no desire to climb Mt. Everest, but I would love to climb to the base camp and hang out there for a week or two. I think the experience would be amazing. Those that have no appreciation for the outdoors would not understand.
Those of us that love the outdoors and consider ourselves outdoors men, campers, Scouts have that appreciation. The appreciation of being in pristine areas surrounded by trees and majestic peaks. Clean air and stillness. Quiet mornings and undisturbed meadows leaves a peaceful healthy calm. Blood pressure goes down, you can think better, your lungs clear and you can enjoy all that God has given us.
A help in the fight of obesity in youth, a way to see the majestic beauty of our world, and a way to stay healthy and fit. The outdoor program of the BSA. It makes us better all around. I can not imagine my life without Scouting and the deep appreciation it developed in me for the outdoors.
Happy Scouting!
Be clean in my outdoor manners.
I will treat the outdoors as a heritage. I will take care of it for myself and others I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways.
Be careful with fire.
I will prevent wildfire. I will build my fires only where they are appropriate. When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out. I will leave a clean fire ring, or remove all evidence of my fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors.
I will treat public and private property with respect. I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.
and
Be conservation minded.
I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy. I will urge others to do the same.
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Scoutmaster Conference
The Scoutmaster conference is a critical part of the advancement process. But it is much more than that. The conference is used to evaluate the Scout, it is used to get to know the Scout, and it is a way of communicating the Scouts needs and the needs of the unit to the Scout.
First, it is used to evaluate. Yes evaluate. This is the Scoutmasters opportunity to see the Scout in action, to get an understanding that the Scout knows the skills required. That the Scout has met the requirements for advancements and that he can prove that he has achieved the necessary skills and knowledge. It is also when the Scoutmaster "Signs off" on "Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life."
To me this is very important. This is the opportunity for us to discuss the meaning of the Scout Oath and law. I ask very pointed questions like, "What did you do yesterday to live the Scout Law?" What I have found is that Scouts do not understand the values expressed in the Scout law, having this discussion educates them, and as a result the better understand the concepts of being "Trustworthy and Loyal" rather than just a definition and a bunch of words said on Monday nights. Once they gain the understanding they can actually live the Law and Oath. This all comes out in the conference.
Second, the conference is a super way to get to know the Scout. Find out what motivates him and makes him tick. His likes and dislikes and his expectations of not only Scouting, but School, home etc. This is a great opportunity for the Scoutmaster to develop the relationship of trust and confidence in the Scout. This part of the Scoutmaster conference does not necessarily need to have anything to do with rank or advancement. I find myself having these discussions on camp outs, after Troop meetings, and on hikes. This is also a great way to demonstrate mentoring and coaching.
Finally, the conference is an effective communication tool. It is a great way to talk one on one with a Scout about his needs and those needs the unit may have of him. As a leader or follower it can be effective in asking for help or communicating expectations.
The important part about the Scoutmaster conference is that it can be held anywhere, anytime, and does not always have to be connected with the next rank. It is of the utmost importance that the Scouts have a feeling of trust and confidence. They need to know that the Scoutmaster is there for them and is willing to listen and act.
A friendly ear, some good advice, and time dedicated one on one to every Scout.
Personally I think the Scoutmaster conference is one of the greatest parts of my job. It is an opportunity for me to learn and a time for the Scouts to develop.
Happy Scouting!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Preventing the Yard Sale
Keeping your gear organized is important. Important for many 
reasons, but namely to prevent the "Yard Sale".
Keeping your gear all together helps you in all camping situations. In the cold, knowing where all your gear is can save you from frostbite and having a miserable time.
Keeping your gear packed and together keeps your gear dry and clean. And in a Cold weather environment this is critical to staying warm.
So here are some tips to Prevent the Yard sale.
1. Organize your Pack. Use ditty bags, zip lock bags, or garbage bags, but keep your gear compartmentalized as much as possible. Keep your extra clothing in a separate "Dry" bag, keep your cooking gear together, keep your wet weather gear in bags. The use of ditty bags keeps your part compartmentalized. Everything has a bag and every bag has a place. This make finding gear real easy too.
2. Pack your backpack for the experience. Pack those things you don't need right away in the bottom and back... pack that which you need right away close to the top and the outside pockets.
Trail mix and water on the outside, extra long johns in the bottom.
Pack your backpack, don't just shove things in it. If you organize the pack at the start, it will stay that way throughout the cam pout.
3. Take out only what you need. Leave everything else in the pack. When you are in your tent, you do not need the entire contents of your pack with you. Your sleeping bag, your pad, and the clothing for tomorrow.. everything else should be stored away in your pack.
4. Use your zippers. Every zipper on your pack should be zipped. Put stuff away and zip it closed. This way if you have to move your pack, your gear will not fall out.
5. Use a pack cover. A pack cover keeps your gear dry and contained. Critters won't get into your pack, neither will snow, rain, or dirt. A pack that is covered also presents a neat and tiddy package. It shows that you have packed and kept your gear together.
Finally, keep your gear to a minimum. If you don't need it, or you have never used, don't take it. Pack for the occasion. You won't need sandals on a winter camp out.. so don't pack them, that is one less thing you have to worry about.
Preventing the "Yard sale" is key. If your gear is scattered all over the place, you are not being a good camper. Your gear is getting lost, dirty, and wet. If you fail to take care of your gear it will fail to take care of you.
These little tips can make your camping experience better, no matter what the weather. Keep your gear organized and your gear will last longer, stay clean and dry and help you have a great Scouting experience.
Happy Scouting!
Tribute to Steve Fossett
Check out this great tribute to a great Scout and Scouter that made the Scouting adventure his life.
TRIBUTE TO STEVE FOSSETT
There are some real nice videos here also, watch and listen to a person that has made the absolute best from his Scouting experience.
Happy Scouting!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Staying Dry
How do I keep the contents of my pack from getting wet?
Throw on a pack cover. A simple waterproof cover keeps the inside and outside of your pack dry, and minimizes the added weight of a wet pack. It's also a good idea to put your sleeping bag and clothes into a heavy duty, plastic garbage bag. Zipper storage bags also keep smaller items dry and organized. Finally, store your pack in the tent vestibule, or cover it with an extra-large garbage bag or pack cover at night.
This is one of 6 questions answered in a good article from Backpacker.com.
Read the entire article here
Changing the Delivery
"The most important object in Boy Scout training is to educate, not instruct.”
-Sir Robert Baden Powell
One of the joys of being a Scoutmaster is that I get to learn something daily too. In the Junior Leader Training we discuss Communication, a vital component to leadership.
Part of the communication discussion is the parts of communicating, principally- the Sender, the Message, and the Receiver. In a constant feedback loop.
So what does that have to do with the quote at the top?
We have reached a point in our Troop where the message is clouded. Much like a radio station coming in fuzzy or the frequency is off by just a smidge. Our station seems to be caught up in the same commercials too. Have you ever noticed that you stop listening to commercials that are familiar? Especially the dull ones.
Our message is being sent and received, but not heard in some cases.
For example; Basic skills and discipline. The Assistant Scoutmasters and I seem to always say the same thing over and over again regarding basic skills and discipline. At first I thought it was the boys and then I thought about communication and what was missing in our attempt at Effective communication. That led me to the BP Quote above.... maybe we are not educating.. maybe we are instructing. And maybe that is not effective beyond the initial skills instruction. After a while it starts to become a fuzzy commercial.
So what is the fix? Change the delivery of the message? Change the message? Well I think it may be a little bit of both, especially the delivery.
You see Education encompasses teaching and learning specific skills, and also something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of knowledge, positive judgment and well-developed wisdom. Education means 'to draw out', facilitating realization of self-potential and latent talents of an individual.
While Instruction is a form of communicated information that is both command and explanation for how an action, behavior, method, or task is to be begun, completed, conducted, or executed.
This takes away the autonomy of the boy led troop to a certain degree. It also takes away the Scouts ability to develop at his own pace and participate at the level he desires. This also affects the way the Scouts process the information. If they are told to do something, they may be resistant, if they are given educated choices, they may tend to come up with solutions on their own. "I am not going to zip up my coat because he keeps harping on me" now becomes, "I'll zip up my coat because I am getting wet".
Instructions command, Education leads to guided discovery and that is what we are trying to achieve.
So changing the approach of the message from instruction to education can lead to clearer communication that the Scouts will respond to in a more positive light.
Hmmm... Old Baden Powell had it right!
Happy Scouting!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Gearing up for the Winter Camp out
It is that time again to start getting prepared for winter Camping.
We have discussed it, but now is the time to get out your pack and look at it.
Take a solid inventory and shake yourself down.
Take out some of your summer gear and replace it with your cold weather gear.
Some things to look at:
1. Zippers. Are all your zippers working properly? On your sleeping bag? On your jackets?
How about adding some simple zipper pulls... you may need it on both your clothing and your backpack when you have gloves on. Sure makes getting gear easier.
2. How about your tent? Did it leak last campout? You might want to get some seam sealer and tighten up those seams. Adding zipper pulls to your tent can be real helpful also.
Check your rain fly and add guy lines. Also think about your footprint. Does it match the size and shape of your tent. An odd fitting footprint could lead to water pools.
An extra tarp folded under your tent will provide an additional layer of insulation too.
3. Clothing. There is so much to be said about clothing, so I will give you a general shake down.
First... NO COTTON.. Cotton kills! It acts like a sponge and does not dry fast. Keeping that cold wet on your body will throw into Hypothermia.
Second... Wear your clothing in layers.. Remember, LOOSE IN LAYERS!
A good base layer of long underwear; Polypropylene and other Hydrophobic fabrics - polypropylene is a synthetic, plastic fiber which offers dead air space and a fiber which cannot absorb water. The fiber is hydrophobic so it moves the water vapor away from the source (the body). Polypropylene layers are extremely effective worn directly against the skin as a way of keeping the skin from being wet and reducing evaporative heat loss. As the water moves away from the body it will evaporate, but each additional millimeter of distance between your skin and the point of evaporation decreases the amount of body heat lost in the evaporative process. DO NOT WEAR a T-Shirt under your Base layer.. it defeats the purpose.
After your base layer, add a shirt and pants. Jeans are not good in the winter. Wool pants or dry wicking pants are what you want to stay dry and warm. A good pair of snow pants over the base layer will do also.
Add a Fleece or Pile layer next. Polar Fleece keeps water off of you and retains warmth.
Then add your outer layer. A good wind resistant and water proof or resistant jacket.
Do not forget to cover your head. Most the body heat escapes from your head. - because the head has a very high surface to volume ratio and the head is heavily vascularized, you can lose a great deal of heat (up to 70%) from the head. Therefore, hats are essential in winter camping. The adage - if your toes are cold, put on a hat - is true. A balaclava is particularly effective and versatile. A face mask may be required if there are high wind conditions due to the susceptibility of the face to frostbite.
Keep your hands covered too- mittens are warmer that gloves because the fingers tend to keep each other warm, rather than being isolated as in gloves. It is useful to have an inner mitten with an outer shell to give you layering capabilities. Also "idiot strings" are important to keep you from losing mittens in the snow. However, gloves are always essential as well in winter because of the need for dexterity in various operations.
Keep your Feet warm- finding the right foot gear depends a great deal on the activity you are involved in as well as temperature and environment. In areas with only a few inches of snow you can hike in just boots.
Socks - one of the best systems for keeping feet warm is using multiple layers. Start with a thin polypropylene liner sock next to the skin to wick moisture away followed by 1 - 2 pairs of wool or wool/nylon blend socks. Make sure the outer socks are big enough that they can fit comfortably over the inner layers. If they are too tight, they will constrict circulation and increase the chances of frostbite. Keeping your feet dry is essential to keeping your feet warm you may need to change your socks during the day. Foot powder with aluminum hydroxide can help.
High Gaiters - are essential for winter activity. They keep snow from getting into your boots and keep your socks and pants legs free from snow.
We have discussed this before, but perhaps the most important item is your sleeping bag.
You need to stay warm at night or your entire trip will be miserable.
Take a look at your rating and then see what you can do to increase it, or rather decrease it.
If you have a 15 degree bag.. you want to go down to at least 5 degrees. You can do this by adding a liner or a bivy cover. This adds about 10 degrees of warmth to your bag.
Double bagging also works, by taking a thin summer weight bag and inserting into your mummy bag, you can add warmth, be careful when doing this though. Make sure the bag is not to tight on you and that you can zip up both bags.
Sleep with a hat on. This retains the escaping heat. Make sure you stay on your sleeping pad also.
Finally, if all else fails, a fleece blanket inserted into your sleeping bag will add warmth.
Stay tuned, we will post more on winter gear!
Get your head ready for snow camping! Its an adventure you do not want to miss.
Happy Scouting!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Scouting for Food
Today was the annual Scouting for food drive. 15 dedicated Scouts and 5 Adult leaders braved the snow and helped out not only with bringing food, but collecting it from units dropping, weighing it, sorting it, and putting it all away... all 7204 lbs of the food collected for the St. Vincent de Paul Food bank.
Only 14 units dropped at our location, but the seven thousand plus pounds of food will go a long way this winter in helping those less fortunate in our community.
Scouting for Food is a wonderful program that we do each year. It really brings out a sense of service, especially to the boys of Troop 664. As the food is being collected, sorted etc. The food bank doors are open and the Scouts get to see the direct result of their labor. Those folks that need a helping hand are served.
If it were not for the Boy Scouts there would many people not having basic needs like a meal tonight.
Great Job Boys! That is what Helpful and Friendly are all about. You made us all proud!
Happy Scouting!
PICTURE OF THE DAY!
The last of the 7204 lbs to weigh, sort, and put away
