BSA Swim Test

This past week Elliot and 19 other Scouts from the Troop went to the local swimming pool and worked on the BSA Swim Test.  All the Scouts passed the BSA Swim Test.  7 Scouts also worked off their 1st Class Swim Requirements.

It was good to note that these requirement that Elliot and others passes/demonstrated also worked for the 2nd Class Requirements.

Scouts were asked if they wanted to play victim for parts of the training.  This is after Elliot learned how to throw the rope and pull in a fellow Scout.

The BSA Swim Test is incredibly similar to the Webelos Aquanaut Activity Pin.  I wrote a post about Elliot and how he earned it as a Webelos I.
Swimming is a huge activity, one that many youth do.  It is also very important that the Youth and Adults know and understand Water Safety.  If you have not reviewed Water Safety for a while, please log into Myscouting.org and re-take or take all the online training.    The Guide to Safe Scouting has a large Aquatics section for your review.

The great thing is that Elliot and others can use this to start the Swimming Merit Badge at Summer Camp.

The photo is of Elliot getting saved during the Troop Swim. 

Circle of Friends

  With the passage of the vote that was held to allow the LBGT Youth to officially be in the Boyscouts of America, there are a lot of hurt feelings of my fellow Scouts and Scouters.  This is hard for them.  Their belief of what Scouting is and should be isn’t what it is and should be in their eyes.

Some of them are leaving Scouting all together.  Others are staying the course because they believe in the program.

To those who are leaving, you are always welcome back since you were not asked to leave.

The friendship circle is something that I have done many times within Den and Pack Meetings.  You can do it as pictured, cross arms or use a section of rope with the joining knot.  I usually leave an opening for those who cannot be with us, those who have left and those you might just show up.

This is for those who are leaving…you are always welcomed back.

The Membership Vote

A vote will be held today about the future of the Boyscouts of America.  It centers around if the BSA should allow the LBGT Youth in as members.   I wrote a blog post in July 2012 about my feelings then.  My feelings are still the same.  I have watched, seen and talked to many people about this issue.  I have been asked what I am going to do once the vote is known.  I am going to keep Scouting.

I understand that people of faith and other views have their reasons.  I also understand that some followers of Organized Religions do not fully follow their church’s teachings.  I also understand that their view and belief is what they believe is right.  I cannot and will not fault them.

I ask those within Scouting and who are not in Scouting to follow the Golden Rule, Do unto others as you do unto them or just be nice no matter how the vote turns out.   Both sides can twist words and meaning to their benefit.

I will be staying within Scouting as I stated earlier.  I do this because outside of the issue, Scouts helps prepared the Youth to make judgement calls.  Scouting helps them in building character.  Scouting helps in learning skills for use later in life.  Scouting is there for those who do not have people that they can count on.  I am not worried about the Scouts who come from wealthy families, nor ones who model the Leave it to Beaver upbringing.

From the World organization of The Scouting Movement:

“In 1920, just two years after the most terrible war the world had ever known, 8,000 Scouts from 34 countries came together for the first world jamboree. At the closing ceremony, Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell called on participants to carry the spirit of the jamboree home “so that we may help to develop peace and happiness in the world and goodwill among all Scouts.””

It was Baden-Powells firm belief that if young people could gather in peace and understand each other, that in the years to come they would help the world become peaceful as Adults.  The youth from years gone by are now Adults.  I hope that they remember the real reason Scouting was started.

If you act in this way, then you are truly a Messenger of Peace.

A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent

A Fishing Conversation

Today was a good day.  Debora and Rachel were off at Girl Scout Camp for an overnight.  That left Elliot and I to ourselves.  Saturday was about Baseball and Iron Man 3.  Though Baseball got canceled due to rain, we adjusted and had breakfast at Fat City.   I told Elliot that we were going for a hike on Sunday, because we were.

There was a Troop hike out in the Tillamook Forest, but that was 10 miles going UP.  It’s the normal monthly hike for those who are working on the Hiking Merit Badge.  I knew that Elliot would not be up for 10 miles.  So, I looked for a better hike.

I found the Mosier Twin Tunnels in the Columbia Gorge just past Hood River, OR.    This hike is about 70 miles from Portland.   Check the link for more information.  Next time I think we will bring the bikes since the trail keeps going on and on and on and a lot of bikers on it.
During this whole hike, Elliot and I talked about Hiking.  He stated that he will only hike if he can fish at the end of it.  Which really surprised me.  He is not a hiker and somewhat does not like camping for multiple days at a time.   I told him that we can fish anytime he wants.  We can go on the weekends.  I reminded him that we are going to East Rosebud Lake and that the best fishing is up the trail.   I would tell you more about the fishing at East Rosebud Lake, but that’s a secret! I explained that up around Broadwater, is what I consider very good.  We would have to camp overnight at Elk Lake or above Broadwater due to all the rocks. But that would allow us to fish all day, into the evening and the next day.  He was happy about that.

Elliot also told me that if he only had to do one sport that it would be fishing.  Ok, got the message.  Fishing!  To which, I pointed out that there are two merit badges that are based on fishing.   They are: Fishing and Fly Fishing.  They are both very similar, so doing both would be a good idea.  He read the requirements and thought he would.  Though, he wants to get some practice in before starting them.

On our way back to the trailhead, we spotted what turned out to be three hawks.  I could not tell what type though.  They kept running the ridge of the upward wind while we watched.  At one time they circled by us so fast we thought there were eight of them.  It was a great sight.  Something that I reminded Elliot about, if we didn’t hike today, we would not have seen it.

Girl Scouts and Jamboree on the Trail 2013

Today was the 16th Annual Jamboree on the Trail.  It is a World Jamboree for all those in Scouting.  I have written about JOTT before.
This year, due to my retirement from Pack 221 I had a few hour or two.  The Girl Scout Troop Leader asked if I would be able to put on a Hike.  I said YES!

I had wanted to do something with the Girl Scouts since my daughter has been in the Troop since Daisy’s in Kindergarten.

I selected the Portland Audubon Society because it’s a great place for a hike.  It is an easy walk with a lot of signs along the way to help teach people about nature.  Plus, there is a pond with a creek that flows into the Willamette River.  Which flows into the Columbia River then the Pacific Ocean.

I used this creek to teach about Leave No Trace.  I explained the basic’s of Leave No Trace and why it’s a good thing.  Many of the girls already knew the basic’s, but showing them from the source to where they play at the beach, was good.

Before we left the parking lot, we talked about hiking safely, basic supplies and First Aid.   I needed to keep it simple for the Brownies, since this was just their first time on a hike that I led.  The Troop Leader had band aids, wipes, gloves, gauze and a baggie.  As we put them all together, we looked at my First Aid kit and talked about how to help someone.  We also talked about what to do in case of an emergency.

WHO, WHAT, WHERE.  Is what they needed to know. Who is injured, What is wrong and Where they are.  We also talked about always hiking and being with a buddy!

We were all set at this time, so off we went.  The hike itself was pretty easy.  We stopped along the way to listen to the forest and to look at the surroundings.  It is important to have people just stop and be very very quite.  It is amazing what you can hear.  We did that several times. At the pond, the girls were very interested in the salamanders that we saw.  There were about 5-7 of them.  They pointed out plants, algea, trees and water skippers.

As we continued to a hut with benches, we again stopped for a few minutes.  It was there, that I went through a reflection of what we did and learned that day.  We still had the Bird Hospital/Sanctuary to go through.   I wanted to let them know that on this day for the part 16 years that Jamboree on the Trail was happening.  I explained what JOTT is and what it’s for.  I told them that their fellow Scouts (both boys and girls) were out hiking like they were.  I reminded them of their Scout Oath and Law and what it means.

We ended up the hike at the Bird Sanctuary.  It was a good day and a good hike.  It got everyone out into a place that they had not been to and we learned.  Several of the parents thought that the hike was good had fun. I am glad that the Girl Scout Troop got out, saw nature and learned a bit.

As I left the Portland Audubon location, after buying a membership, I was glad that I read the book The Nature-Deficit Disorder.  It helped me create The Cubmaster’s Hike and ultimately get people outdoors and into nature.

(A note about the photo.  Since I do not have permission from the Girl Scout Troop, I smudged out all the girl’s faces except my daughter’s.  Online Youth Protection is an issue as well.)

A Scout is Kind

This weekend was the Pioneer District Camporee.  It was Elliot’s first Campout with T432 in Boyscouts.

For several reasons overnight, Elliot did not have a good morning.  I had to teach ITOLS and the Troop assigned a Scout to be with him.  One of the great things about Scouting is that people do take the time to be with and help others.  I saw it in action.  Several Scouts and Scouters did check in with him and helped as needed. Yes, this is his first time at a Camporee, but it wasn’t his first time at Scout Camp.

At the suggestion of a fellow Scouter, we were pointed to the pond area where fishing was being set-up.  The gentleman, whom I know, graciously spent 15-20 minutes with Elliot to help teach him how to cast.  Ellliot already knows how to fish, but really likes it.  The Scouter spent his time to help Elliot feel better and improve his casting.

It was later in the day that Elliot buzzed by asking me for my chair and saying he was going to go fishing again.  Someone had caught a big fish and he was going to try.  It ended up that he went whittling by the pond.

This photo is of that moment. A Scout is Kind.

Three Years Later

Several years ago while I was going through Wood Badge, the BSA had the 100 Year Celebration Patch that could be earned.  It became a ticket item for me.   I knew it would be a good thing for the Scouts to do.  It covered many areas and did get the Pack out doing something.

One of the requirements for the Adults under Character, was to perform a Good Deed Daily for seven days.  I decided to kick off the seven days with donating whole blood.  I had not done that for many many years.

After I donated and basically completed all the requirements for the 100 Year patch, I was done.  Or so I thought.

The Red Cross called and advised me that I was A- and a really good candidate for Apheresis.  I had no clue about what that was.  I quickly googled it and realized that it helps so many people.  Kids and Adults who are going through Cancer, Lymphoma and a lot more.

I said yes.  It is now about three years later and I am still going.  Yes, it’s been awhile since my last donation.  The Red Cross and even the local NPR station and other news outlets have talked about how incredibly short they are in Platelets.  Not just BLOOD, but what I give.

Even through the Hurricane Sandy, Newtown Shootings I thought about donating.  Hearing about the Boston Marathon Runners who kept running to the Hospital/Red Cross to donate made me think that I need to get in.

I am not sure what really put me over the edge to do it.  But, I got a call again from the Red Cross late last week.  They explained the issue and I made my appointment.  I let my boss know, who lives in Boston that I was doing this.  I also told her about my father who went through Chemo for Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma.  She gave me time off because of “Goodwill”.  I had already set it up through our vacation program to take the afternoon off.

So, I went because of my Dad.  I also went because I found out recently that a good friend of mine is now fighting Cancer.

Three years ago, I started donating because I wanted a silly patch and to help complete a ticket item for Wood Badge.  Wood Badge changed my life.  It also got me to the Red Cross and helped to save lives.

I ended up the donation yesterday with two full units of Platelets and one full unit of Plasma.  The last time I found out I almost donated 3 full Units of Platelets.

What do you do the directly affects a life?