February 29th

Today we get an extra day. So what are you going to do with it. Wouldn't it be great if we took this extra day and made it special, For someone else.

Today would be a great day to try to demonstrate the Scout Law to someone. Be Helpful and Kind, Be Courteous and Brave, Be Friendly and Loyal. Today is the leap year day.. an extra day to do a good turn...Daily!

Make today count!

Happy Scouting!

Poodling

An interesting observation of our Scouts these days, first let me say that they are all great kids, but they have a tendency to stray. Now I can't recall exactly how I acted as a 13-14 year old, but I know for a fact that it was probably not like these guys today.
You see, our guys do what the ASMs and I call "Poodling". It is hard to describe, it is a random unfocused, babbling followed usually by some sort of dance or incoherent wandering. At times it is funny to observe, but for the most part it annoys even the most patient adult.

"Poodling" was taken to another level this year as some of the Scouts got older. Yes another level. The older Scouts dropped the random dance/wander from the action, now they do what we refer to as "Verbal Poodling". Completely random nonsense that they seem to understand. They can do this for hours on end, with no purpose or result. At first I thought, my goodness, we have an entire Troop with ADHD. But then I observed it in other Troops as well. And a visit to a local Cub Scout Pack taught me that "Poodling" starts at a young age, and in a few weeks 8 more "Poodlers" will be introduced to our Troops ranks.

While "Poodling" is harmless and funny at times, it is something that must be kept in check. A simple 15 minute Patrol meeting can last an hour due to "Poodling". A sharp look out for "Poodling" activity is now a part of the Scoutmasters job description. Be ever vigilant in quailing the "Verbal Poodle" or you will loose track of an event or meeting.

"Poodling" may be harmless, but it can be destructive at times. I suppose that it does not fall into any categories on the don't list in the guide to safe Scouting, but it can drive an ASM up the wall.

Be on the look out for "Poodling" activity in your unit. I am sure it is there, it may come with a different name, but its "Poodling" just the same.

Happy Scouting!

A small fish tale

Summer camp of 2006 took Troop 664 into the Jefferson Wilderness area and Camp Pioneer owned and operated by a great staff of the Cascade Pacific Council. The weather for the week was fantastic and we loaded up and headed to to Camp.
When we arrived at camp, we went through the usual tour of camp, swim test, and set up routine. The afternoon of the first day is always laid back and full of information meetings and getting to know ya's.

After lunch the Scouts had free time until dinner. Most of the Scouts of 664 decided it was high time to get their lines in the water and see about pulling in some nice brown trout that the lake at Pioneer is famous for.
The Scoutmasters had to report to the Chapel at camp, the absolute best chapel in all of Scouting. The view is second to none, carved into the side of a slope with the lake at its feet and the best view of Mt. Jefferson in all of Oregon. The Chapel puts you right in Gods palm.
As the Scoutmaster's gathered Red hats dotted the banks of the lake and fishing had begun. It looked like the whole Troop was out there seeing who could get the first fish.
As the lecture on Camp policies and procedures began, we noticed a young Scout on the bank, he looked to be fighting a whale. Immediately the lecture stopped as we all took in the sight of Summer camp memories being made. The pride that a group of Scoutmasters had for this young anonymous Scout could be seen in the smiles of the group as we all rose to our feet. Suddenly the fish was out of the water. And joyful Scout shouted to his buddies that he had a big one. Then as if looking for a nod of acceptance the Scout turned toward the Chapel found my red hat and made eye contact with me. I gave him a big thumbs up and yelled across the lake "WELL DONE CHAD!" His reply sent the group of Scoutmasters in to hysterical laughter. "WHAT DO I DO NOW? Chad yelled back.

Now concern for this poor fish took over as I excused myself from the meeting and ran to the other side of the lake. "I think its dead" one Scout said. "Give it CPR" said another. "Does this mean we have to Eat it?" came a voice from behind a bush. Amazingly the fish was still alive and it did in fact swim away after we removed the hook and held it in the water for a minute.

For the rest of the week we think we saw that fish a few more times, but not another fish was caught, not for a lack of trying, those lines stayed in the water all week long, every day before breakfast and after dinner the Scouts of 664 made an presents on the banks of the lake.

Chad got the first and only fish of the week, and in the process became a story for the Troop to last a life time.

Happy Scouting!

Tips for a good Scoutmaster Conference

There are two different Scoutmaster Conferences. The First is when a Scout needs to fulfill a requirement to advance, the other is when a Scout needs your undivided attention.

The advancement conferences are pretty straight forward, but allot can be learned in a few minutes sitting with a Scout. A review of his book to ensure all is in order, some questions that test the practical application of those skills or lessons learned, and then listen.
Sometimes silence is a flag waving begging the Scoutmaster to keep asking questions. In some of the conferences I have held, a long pause and stare to the ground meant, "Ask me about School" or "I need to talk about girls". While I am not their parent, with two exceptions, the boys often times like that outside set of eyes and ears. It is the job of the Scoutmaster to be a good mentor, teacher, listener, friend. Baden Powell once said "To get a hold on boys you must be their friend.” You may just be that person they are comfortable to talk to that will get them over the hump in School, or with their other friends, or yeah... with a girl.

Most of those topics come up at the other Scoutmaster conferences and not advancement, but I always leave that door open in the event that Monday night is the night they need to talk.
Regarding conferences other than advancement.. you call it what you want... but I made a promise to my Troop that if they need a "Conference" that was a signal that they needed to talk and I would stop the world for them and give them my attention.
Make yourself accessible. There is always time. You may have to juggle some things around, but the Scout needs to know that you are there and will in fact give them time.
The Scouts of my Troop have my phone number, email, and know that if need by I can pick up Morse code when it comes to giving them an ear.

The Scoutmaster conference is more than a requirement for advancement. It is a communication tool that develops the youth as he interacts with adults. It is a friendly ear to listen, it is a place to come for advice and comfort. To the Scout it is a promise that we care about them.
Take advantage of the Scoutmaster conference to get to know your Scouts, you will not regret it. You can learn allot about them and your Troop during a 5 minute chat.

Happy Scouting!

Governed by "DO" not "DON'T"

Baden Powell understood young men, he had a connection with the way they learned, developed and reacted to teaching styles and learning environments. In the following excerpt from the Lessons from the Varsity life by Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell he discusses the Scout law.

"The Scout Law.
So the Scout Law was not framed as a list Of DON'T'S. Prohibition generally invites evasion since it challenges the- spirit inherent in every red-blooded boy (or man).: The boy is not governed by DON'T, but is led on by DO. The Scout Law, therefore, was devised as a guide to his actions rather than as repressive of his faults. It merely states what is good form and expected of a Scout.

1. A SCOUT'S HONOUR IS TO BE TRUSTED.
2. A SCOUT IS LOYAL.
3. A SCOUT's DUTY IS TO BE USEFUL.
4. A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ALL.
5. A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS.
6. A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ANIMALS.
7. A SCOUT OBEYS ORDERS.
8. A SCOUT SMILES AND WHISTLES UNDER ALL DIFFICULTIES.
9. A SCOUT IS THRIFTY.
10. A SCOUT IS CLEAN IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED."

Scouting across the world adopted the law and modified it to meet the needs of the national programs in which they applied. But the rule of DO and not Don't carried throughout. We learn through our Scout Law what we should Do and Be, not what we should not do or be. Unlike the 10 commandments that teach us what not to do and be, the Scout Law encourages a life of Service and ethical attitudes. It gives us a starting point from which we test our decisions and actions that follow.
I found it interesting that the other day I over heard a man talking about the "Say it out loud test". This tested whether or not one should engage in something that may not be sound. The way it works is that before you do something, say it out loud. For example, if you are going to rob a bank. Say it out loud. It just sounds wrong... then don't do it.
Another example; "Hey lets all put a knife in the wall socket"... say it out loud... it does not even sound right, does it? Then don't do it.

Baden Powell encouraged us to DO the right thing. He did not want to burden us with a list of DON'Ts... DO be Trustworthy, DO be Loyal, DO be Helpful, DO be Friendly, DO be Courteous, DO be Kind, DO be Obedient, DO be Cheerful, DO be Thrifty, DO be Brave, DO be Clean, and DO be Reverent. Putting this positive attitude in our rules to live by makes it easier. We all enjoy it when we are given opportunity and latitude. When I am told that I can do something, I feel a lot better than when someone tells me I can't.

As Scouts and future leaders of America, we encourage you to BE, KNOW, and DO. You know what right looks like.. you have the power to DO it!

Happy Scouting!

excerpts are borrowed from http://pinetreeweb.com/bp-varsity10-1.htm

Why Leave no Trace is important

The Outdoor Code of the BSA should be enough.... Right? Well that is if we all lived it. The Leave No Trace principles lead us down a trail to being good stewards of the our wilderness. As Boy Scouts we should just be all of those things, but we all know that the wrong way is always the easiest.. and easy creates the path of least resistance. We get lazy and as a result we leave a trace.

Using the leave no trace principles from start to finish on every outing will ensure that we maintain the land we have and keep it in the best shape for those that come after us. Now I am not running out to join Green Peace, and I believe that "Global Warming" is a natural process will happen with or without man. But I also believe that we don't have to push it. We can do this to minimize our footprint while enjoying the wilderness. There are those out there that would not allow anyone to step foot in the wilderness areas. This is extreme, especially when we can do things to reduce the impact. But it takes everyone, especially Scouts to practice it. Leave no Trace gives us that foundation to work from. It sets us up through the principles of planning and preparing, traveling on durable surfaces, setting camp on hard stands, looking at ways to reduce and dispose of waste, leaving what we find, minimizing campfire impact, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors.

So why is Leave no Trace important? It all comes down to whether or not you enjoy the out doors. It comes down to an appreciation for what we have and wanting to keep it that way. I boils down to leaving it for the future. Unfortunately when God created man, in some he left out the common sense gene, in some he did not place the appreciation gene, and in some he gave it all. We Scouts know what right looks like, we have an appreciation for our wilderness areas and understand that we need to protect them for total selfish reasons... so we can enjoy them.
Practicing Leave No Trace is good stewardship and we must learn and do the principles to ensure our wilderness areas are there forever... or until the next ice age or what ever the next cycle of earth produces.

Happy Scouting

Baden Powell documentary

Hey all... this is floating around the net. Thought I'd drop it into the blog to share with you.
Baden Powell was a visionary. Take 4 minutes and learn a bit more about the man that started this thing we call Scouting!

Happy Scouting!

Citizenship in our Nation

Today I was listening to a local talk show, the show focuses on issues that are of interest to conservatives in the Northwest. Some times the host is dead on, while at other times he can get out there, I think mainly to get a reaction or to cause one to think.
On today's show he said something that I thought to be a little disturbing. He said (paraphrasing) that he will not vote rather than to vote for any of the candidates currently in the race for our Presidency. So here is were I have the problem.

You see, one of the most cherished rights we have in America is that we can freely elect our Representatives and ultimately our President. Without coercion or threat, we can pick and choose who leads our country. We have the right of the Vote. And that vote is precious. Now some folks think that their vote does not count, and while mathematically that may be true, every vote counts, because every vote is a voice. A voice that says to the world "I choose".

To not vote is to silence that voice. Now I understand that he is saying that there is no one worth voting for, but still a choice must be made. To throw away your right to choose the leader is not the right thing to do. The minute you give up that right, you open the door for more rights to be taken. We all make choices that we do not like or choices for things that may not be our favorite, but we make the choice none the less. We are involved in the process, that is the obligation of a citizen.

Citizenship in our Nation requires us to live by the laws set forth by the people. It asks us to be a part of the process. We live in a Republic, which is a country that is represented by the people. In short, the people are the government. We get to make the decisions that effect us, sometimes indirectly through our elected representative, but we get to make the choice.

I am not happy with the choices we are being given with this next election either. I will keep my political views out of this, but needless to say as a conservative my choices have been limited this time. But I assure you that I will look at who will be best for the Country, and vote. I will have a voice to help decide the men and the measures. To not vote will not make a point, it will just take away the voice. To be a good citizen in America I must demonstrate my willingness to choose, like our fore fathers and founders that stood up and said.. Hear my voice! They shaped our nation and established the process that I am a part of today.

Remember that citizenship is ours to maintain. If we do not take our part seriously, we will loose the right to take part at all.

Happy Scouting!

LNT- Minimize Campfire Impacts

Campfires have always been a part of Scouting. There is nothing like sitting around the campfire with the guys, laughing, telling stories, or just being mesmerized by the embers as they glow. And just because we practice leave no trace, does not mean that we need not have that experience. We do however need to be aware of the impact that the fire leaves and do all we can to minimize the impact.

Here are some ways we can do this:
First, where available use established fire rings. If rings are not available, pack in a fire pan or build a fire mound.
Second, keep the fires small. I know that Boy Scouts like to have fires that can be seen from the space station, but a small fire produces the same embers and glow and creates a more peaceful setting.
Third, burn only sticks that can be picked off the ground and broken by hand.
and finally, burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter the cold ashes.

Some wilderness area do not allow fires at all. Observe this rule. The rule is in place die to fire danger and to lessen the impact or reduce the damage that has been done.

Minimizing the impact of campfires is not only a principle of Leave no trace, but a great idea for helping preserve our wilderness and protecting it against uncontrolled burns. Burning the sticks that lay on the ground helps the Eco system as it cleans up some unneeded fuels on the ground and it does not take away from the scenic beauty of the wilderness.

Happy Scouting!

Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

This should be required for all students in America... in fact, we all should pay attention to this explination. Enjoy!

Happy Scouting!

Time for Scouting

When you break it down the 2010 National Jamboree is right around the corner. And like most Councils, the Cascade Pacific Council is in the process of selecting its Adult leaders and applications for youth positions are now available.

As I worked on the online applications for my two sons, I found it interesting that, one, the application was rather lengthy and two, it asked about information outside of Scouting.
I suppose neither one of those are surprising, but it struck me as odd that an event two years away would need that kind of information now.

But here is why, I think. There is always a great debate about Scouting and the time it consumes. We constantly hear about the struggles of parents trying to get from Soccer to Scouts, from Football practice to meetings on Mondays, from School work to Camp outs.
I had this discussion a couple nights ago with my own sons. While we all lead busy lives and our children have Palm Pilots and planners, Moms and Dads need to have Sync meetings on Sundays nights to coordinate the week, it seems that there is always time for Scouting.

There is time after School before a meeting to do homework and study. There is time to work on advancement and merit badges, the Scout has till he is 18. I think what is missing in most peoples lives is perspective. Putting all of the daily routine in perspective will give a clear picture of what you are really doing. Are busy to be busy? Are you active to be seen? Are you really getting the most out of your life?
I think, and of course I have a biased opinion, that Scouting is that activity that rounds it all out. Scouting is the activity that is values based that focuses on the good things in life and preparing young men to be their best and do their best. Their best in the class room, in Church, at home, and in life.

So as I filled out the applications and got to the questions about out of Scouting activities, we answered that we are busy with Football, Band, School, Church, Family and Friends like most families. But in my planner I wrote, "there is always time for Scouting". In fact there is never a time that Scouting should not be a part of our lives. It is not always when we wear our uniforms, we are Scouts and Scouters daily. Living the motto and practicing the Slogan. Taking the Oath and Law to heart and keeping it a part of our daily lives.

The 2010 National Jamboree is going to be spectacular. It is our 100th Anniversary and sure to be a once in a life time experience. What a blessing it is to live in this time.

Happy Scouting!

LNT- Leave what you find

The fourth principle of the Leave No Trace outdoor ethic is "Leave what you find".

Said best... "Leave only footprints.. take only pictures". We have heard that one for years.
This allows others a sense of discovery. By leaving rocks, plants, and artifacts were they are, others can have the same experience as you.

Leave areas as you found them. Minimizing your impact in camp leaves the area just as nice as when you arrived. Do not dig trenches or leave pioneering projects up. If you clear an area to put you tent up, replace the pine cones and twigs that you clear. Consider the idea that "Good Campsites are found and not made."

Avoid damaging trees and plants. Never hammer nails or screws into trees to hang things on them. Never hack at trees or carve into them. Cutting boughs for use a sleeping pad is a great idea if you are on Man Vs. Wild.. but a good sleeping pad works better and does not make the impact as hacked boughs.

Leave Natural objects and Cultural artifacts.
Natural objects of beauty or interest, such as antlers, petrified wood, or colored rocks, add to the mood of the back country and should be left so others can experience the sense of discovery also.

Happy Scouting!

Life in a Cup of Hot Chocolate

A good friend of mine shared this with me. I am unsure of the original author, so I am giving credit to anonymous.

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.

Happy Scouting!

Zero Tolerance...

That is what the Boy Scouts of America feels about Bullies and Harassment... and so do I.
There is no room for bullies or harassment of any kind within the BSA. There simply is no place for it. A simple review of the Scout Oath and Law will not allow for it.

The 2008 requirements now discuss this issue. And I for one and glad. I know this is old news for those of you that keep up with the changes annually, but, like youth protection this needs to be discussed each year.
The new Tenderfoot requirement states:

9b. Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Describe what a bully is and how you should respond to one.

The first thing a Scout should know is that he can trust his leaders. He needs to Report any violation of safety or harassment by a bully. As leaders we can not be everywhere, nor should we, but we need to be out in front of these issues and get on top of them as soon as it is reported.
The Second Class requirement that address's this issue is:

8b. Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection.

The "three R's" of Youth Protection convey a simple message that the BSA wants its youth members to learn:
Recognize situations that place him at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone could be a molester.
Resist unwanted and inappropriate attention. Resistance will stop most attempts at molestation.
Report attempted or actual molestation to a parent or other trusted adult. This prevents further abuse of himself and helps to protect other children. Let the Scout know he will not be blamed for what occurred.

And the First Class requirement that discusses bullies and harassment is:

12. Describe the three things you should avoid doing related to the use of the Internet. Describe a cyberbully and how you should respond to one.

With the Internet, email, text messaging, and other electronic media out there, all of which make our lives better, we need to understand that with everything there are precautions that we need to take. Again we need to be out in front of the situations and prepare for the worst.

With the new requirements, the BSA has stepped up its ZERO Tolerance of harassment and bullies. There just is no room for it in our Troops and the in the BSA.
Getting on top of a bad situation and defusing it, discussing it, and taking appropriate actions are key in providing a safe harassment free environment for the Scouts to enjoy their experience in Scouting.

Happy Scouting!

Some thoughts on Advancement

Advancement seems to be a great method in teaching and achieving the Aims of Scouting (Character development, Citizenship, and Physical and Mental fitness). We can find parts of all of the goals in the advancement method.

Character is built throughout the process. The Scout demonstrates good Character by showing his honesty during the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of review, he demonstrates Integrity when working on skills, seeking counsel for Merit Badges, and returning a completed "Blue Card" to the Advancement Chair or Scoutmaster. He again shows good character as he completes the requirements by not gloating or putting those in his peer group down.

Good Citizenship is found in the process also. As the Scout progresses through the Early ranks and then on through Star, Life, and Eagle, he is placed in positions of responsibility. He needs to understand the concept of Selfless service, making decisions for the good of the Patrol and Troop and not himself. He participates in elections and group decision making to move his patrol forward. This tests the scouts ability to work with others and challenges him to think not only of what is best for him, but what is best for all. Often times he discovers that majorities are not always right, but decisions must be seen through to get the most out of the learning experience.

And physical and mental fitness is borne out of the method of advancement. He is tested physically as a Tenderfoot. Then through the required merit badges of Cycling, Hiking, Personal Fitness, and Swimming. Many other merit badges will test him both physically and mentally. This all develops the young man while peaking his learning and growing an appreciation for skills, careers, and the out doors.

These are all reasons that Advancement is important.
Goal setting is a big reason for the Advancement method. We know that the Scout is solely responsible for his progress along the way. This test the scouts ability to set short term and long term goals, stick to it, and complete the goals. A Scout that does this experiences responsibility unlike anything his class mates will ever experience. A Scout that truly progresses through the advancement process, setting his goals and achieving them should be satisfied that he has accomplished great things. Those Scouts that race through the process or rely on others to walk them by the hand through it will never understand the feeling of success and accomplishment.

I have seen Troops that are for a lack of better terms, "Merit Badge mills". They turn out merit badges at a rate that keeps the Scout Shop inventory system on edge. And at the end of the day the Scouts have a great amount of merit badges and no skill. They have a sash full of cloth, but no interest in the subject areas, they have an advanced rank, but no understanding of Character, leadership, or being a member of a high performance team.

The advancement method is there to assist the Scout and the unit in achieving the three Aims of Scouting. It is the Leaders function to provide a program in which the Scout can achieve success. To provide those opportunities that foster growth and development, to test the Scouts individual abilities and skills and to teach, coach, train and mentor the Scout along the way. It is the Scouts responsibility to advance at his own pace and to learn, set goals, know the requirements, have fun, and achieve the feeling of success.

Advancement is but one of eight methods in Scouting. We should not loose sight of the goal to get more patches. We need to ensure that Scouts achieve, not just receive. They need to earn the ranks and the merit badges. By earning them they will be successful in finding Character, Citizenship and Fitness.

Happy Scouting!

Boy Scout Commercial - Helpful

This has got to be one of the best commercials ever. Wouldn't it be great if the NFL would put Boy Scout Commercials on during the Super Bowl!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA!! 98 GREAT YEARS OF SCOUTING!

Happy Scouting!

Leadership- The Critical Eye

A trait that all good leaders have in common is that they develop a "Critical Eye".

The Critical eye helps the leader recognize situations, see were improvements can be made, and of course see when things are going well.

The first step in the development of the Critical eye is understanding two things. The definition of leadership, principally the components that define leadership and that is providing Purpose, Direction, and Motivation. The second is knowing what "Right" looks like.
Once a leader understands those two things, the leader can observe and determine if things are going well, needs improvement, or can be sustained.
Knowing what "Right" looks like the leader can stand in the center of activity and know right away if the task is being completed to meet the purpose.

It is like trash on the ground. Most people will walk right by it, the leader understands that it does not belong there and picks it up.
Setting up camp, the leader knows the tasks that must be completed and will ensure his team does it. This "Critical Eye" does not eliminate fun, it keeps the team focused so when the time comes they can have more time having fun.

In the National Youth Leader Training (NYLT), we discuss what a leader must BE, KNOW, and DO. Developing a critical eye encompasses all three. The leader must BE an example, he must turn the critical eye to himself and ask serious questions about how he is conducting himself.
He must KNOW what Right looks like. And he must DO, leading from the Front and the middle, pulling his team along or pushing them along, the leader must provide a clear Task and Purpose, give the Patrol or Troop a Direction and Motivate them to want to complete the task.
The critical eye allows the leader the opportunity for a deep look at the progress of the unit and gives him the know how to react or better yet be proactive in leading. It allows the leader to employ the LEADING EDGE.

The Critical eye is an important element in leadership, without it finding direction becomes cloudy and the compass seems to be off. In order to be a better leader, the led need to see the leader as someone that knows what he is doing, understands the goal, and is confident in executing the task. The critical eye allows the leader to clearly see it all.

Happy Scouting!

Leave No Trace- Pack it in, Pack it out

Disposing of Waste Properly is a key element in Leaving No Trace.
Trash and litter in the back country ranks high as a problem in the minds of many back country visitors. Trash and litter are human impacts that can greatly detract from the naturalness of an area.

Planning can reduce the impact that you make. Reduce litter at the source. Most trash and litter comes from meals or food items. By planning and preparing your meals prior to the start of your trek, you can reduce the litter you need to pack out. Removing packaging materials, cans, and bulky trash is the answer. Repackaging into zip lock backs, pre mixing items, and preparing portions will reduce your trash in and trash out.

Along with prepackaging or repacking, keeping your menus simple will also help. Do not count on fires to rid yourself of trash. Some areas do not allow fires and some trash will not completely consume in fires.

Here are some estimated life expectancies for different types of litter:
It takes 2 to 4 weeks for Newspaper dissolve.

It take 3 to 5 weeks for a banana peel.

1 year for a wool cap.
2 to 5 years for a cigarette butt.
10 to 20 years for a disposable diaper.
20 to 30 years for a hard plastic container (milk jug).
50 to 80 years for the rubber sole of a boot.
80 to 100 years for a tin can.
200 to 400 years for an aluminum can.
and it takes thousands of years for glass bottles to recycle on its own.

Think of the lasting impact of litter and trash. Packing it out with you can reduce this and leave the wilderness clean and pristine for the next group.

Happy Scouting!

Lets Watch it for Scouting!!!!

A friend of mine that has a great Blog has a great idea....
Lets see if we can help!

CLICK HERE for more details!

Essentially all we have to do is watch Scouting Videos on You Tube!

We can take this a step further too... Lets make some videos! Show what Scouts are all about!

Happy Scouting!

Pro's and Con's

Another great camp out at Camp Meriwether this weekend!.. Lots of liquid sunshine with a few cloud breaks, but a good time was had by all. The rifle range was fun, the beach hike was a blast and the food was terrific.
It was nice to get some new guys out there and introduce them to camping.. BSA Style.

Which is the topic this time.

We have transitioned pretty much into a backpacking troop, if not taking our show on trails near and far, we at least have moved to the style of backpacking (gear, cooking etc). This camp out we went back to the old pull it out of the truck "Car camping" style. And here is what we found.

The Scouts have taken a liking to backpacking, you can see this in the lack of enthusiasm for setting the "Big camp". Cooking up meals with big pots and pan and the clean up were laborious .
The amount of trash produced was outrageous. When we backpacked the Barlow Road for 4 days we pulled out 8 to 10 gallon sized zip lock backs worth the trash. This weekend we hauled out 3 hefty XL bags of trash (at that was just the patrols).
Gear. It seemed as though there was a lack of attention payed to the gear this weekend. Using the backpacking model, everything is in your backpack, and stays in the pack till needed. This weekend gear was everywhere. The yard sale was reintroduced. This resulted is an extremely slow wrap up on Sunday.

Now having said all that. It was a great camp out. We had a lot of fun. We accomplished all of our goals for the weekend and there were no unhappy Scouts and Scouters running around. I am just suggesting, and it was confirmed by going through an informal session of Start, Stop, and Continue, that backpacking is what the Troops likes better. It was even suggested (by the youth leaders) that next time we go to Meriwether, we park in the parking lot and hike the quarter mile to the camp site taking away the temptation of "Car Camping".

There are pro's and con's to each type of camping. We enjoy the dutch oven cooking, and can work it into a backpacking plan. But beyond that, we like the simplicity of Backpacking. We like the ease of cooking, cleaning, and managing gear. We like the easy load out and departure at both ends, coming and going. We like challenge, and we like fun. It is always good to reevaluate and learn. What we learned this weekend is to stick to what we like and do well.

Doing what we do well makes it fun for everyone and an enjoyable experience.

Happy Scouting!

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