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.)

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JOTA 2011

Image via Wikipedia

I am a Ham Radio Operator (K7RUB) and have used Ham Radio to help with a Tiger Go-See-It during my second year as Tiger Den Leader.

The boys needed fullfill the Communication part, but I just could not get them to a Radio or TV Station and even a Newspaper.  So, I had to bring it to them.  I used my hand-held radio to connect with another friend across town.  After about 15 minutes of explaining what Ham Radio is, we made contact and the boys got to talk over the radio.

So, ever since then I have been working to bring Ham Radio to the Pack.   I wrote about it March of 2010.  I also had a plan about helping the Pack or members of the Pack the International Activity Badge. However, now it is getting close again to JOTA/JOTI and I am again working several angles to make it happen for those in the Pack to take part of.  My hope is to find out before our calendar goes out for the year at Join Night.

What I will say about Ham Radio and Scouts, is it’s a great skill to have to compliment the “Be Prepared” philosophy.  There is a Merit Badge (ARRL site)for it (BSA site), and even the Signaling MB was brought back.  While a Scout might know First Aid, Emergency Preparedness and other skills, one major one is Communication during Emergencies.  To me, having this skill and then taking and passing the FCC Technician License.  It is a $10 test and the “Old Hams” love to see kids test through.  I studied for about 3-4 weeks before I took my first test.  I passed.  Yes, I bought the books, but I did the online exam quizzes a lot.  (This is one site, but I cannot find the one I used all the time….)  I originally got my Ham License because of James Kim.

I figure that if your in an area that your hiking/camping and can at lest program in all the repeater stations that you might be able to hit, your closer to help than if you did not have one.  The basic license of Technician allows this level of transmitting.  You do not need a license to own a radio and listen.  Just to transmit.  However, in any emergency that threatens life, you can by FCC Rules & Law use any radio to transmit for help.  You do not need to be licensed.  The FCC allows this because, it’s an emergency.

Once I move over to Boy Scouts, I will become a Radio Merit Badge Counselor.  If there is not a Radio MBC within your Troop or District, I would highly look into it.  It would be a good skill and tool to have.  The radios can be very inexpensive.  I would also check with your local Ham Radio Club to see what they can offer as well.

In Scouting, we end emails and posts with “Yours in Scouting”.  In Ham Radio we end it with 73.  It’s Morse Code for “Best Reguards”.

Yours in Scouting, 73

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Jamboree on the Trail LII of C of #100DaysofScouting

I missed this outing last year by mistake.   I already know that Elliot and many of the boys have AA Baseball.  I will be on the 2nd weekend of Wood Badge, so hopefully I can get the boys out on the trail while I am on course!  The one thing that I realized is that this counts as a JAMBOREE for the International Award Patch that can be earned by anyone.  Do not confuse that with the International Knot that a Adult Leader can earn. It’s not the same.

The date is Saturday May 14th.  Go here for more information!

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JAPAN XXXIV of C of #100daysofscouting

I follow several Scouting Unit on Facebook.  When I this Pack in Japan posting updates I sent an email to them asking how they are doing and what myself and the Pack could do.  It took a few days for them to respond, which is understandable.  However, below is their response.

They also posted to their Facebook page with the suggestion to read this link, which will tell people how to help.

On Mar 18, 2011, at 8:26 AM, Adam R. Cox wrote:

Thank you for your response. I am glad to hear that your doing your best.  Our Council is looking into what we can do as well.  National has also stated what you have IE: Red Cross.
You have my email so, do not hesitate to reachout.

Yours in Scouting
————————————
Adam Cox
Cubmaster Pack 221 Portland, OR

On Mar 18, 2011, at 3:58 AM, Cub Scout Pack 18-Misawa wrote:

Scouter Adam:

Thank you for your e-mail and concern for our Scouts here in Misawa.  Fortunately none of our Scouts or there families were directly impacted by this disaster, however many of our Japanese neighbors were not so fortunate.  We have tried to make contact with the Japanese Scouting organizations here in Northern Japan but have not been able to find out what if any assistance they need.  Our Scouts have been eager to get involved to help with the relief efforts but due to the grim nature of the aftermath they are unable to assist with clean-up efforts.

We have been contacted by several packs throughout the United States and asked what they can do to help but unfortunately due to severe restrictions on our military mail system we are not allowed to accept donated items.  If you are looking for ways that you can help might I suggest that you consider giving to one of the many International relief organizations such as the American Red Cross.  These organizations have people on the ground in these communities and know best what the Japanese people need, and are best equipped to get supplies to those who need it.
Again, thank you for your concern and support of our Scouts and Scouting here in Japan.

YIS

Michael Hermann
Awards & Advancement Chair
Pack 18, Misawa Japan

On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM, Adam R. Cox <hueymungus@me.com> wrote:
Hi there:

I follow your Pack on Facebook as Scouter Adam.  I noticed that your right in the middle of it.
I am the Cubmaster in Portland, OR of Pack 221.  While I am reaching out to see what I can do, I am not sure what I can do.

Are you all ok?  What do you need?  How could we get something to you if we were to try. (Not sure how it would happen due to what’s going on)

Yours in Scouting….
————————————
Adam Cox
Cubmaster Pack 221 Portland, OR

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Part Deux of XXVI of C #100daysofscouting

Today was a great day of Scouting for the boys.  We put the OUT in SCOUTING.
While not everyone who signed up came, we still had a great time.

Snow was wet and I sunk up past my knees a few times.
Helped the boys build tunnels.
Had great conversations with the Wolf, Bear & Webelos Den Leaders that were there.  Which helped me plan for next year and what I want to impliment for next year.

I forwarded on info about the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.
They have programs for cubscouts that they can sleep under the Spruce Goose or a ICBM along with a Tour.
They also have a Jamboree on the Air program.  Which got me even more excited.  I am going to follow-up on that and make it happen!  It might even help me with my International Activity plan….

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The realization of planning ahead….

The weekend of Oct 15-17th was the Jamboree on the Air/Jamboree on the Internet (JOTA/JOTI) .  In an earlier post I had talked about having our Pack participate.  I had contacted several people within the Council to help pull this off.  However, due to people going to the National Jamboree and their schedules I could not get that support.  I looked into several other options and none really panned out.   As the date got closer and closer, I realized that cramming all the things the Pack was doing it was getting less and less realistic.  Mainly it was Popcorn selling time.

I will be putting this back onto the docket for next year and see about getting support again either from the Council or the local Ham Radio Club that I found that actually meets where we used to have our Pack Committee meetings.

What I also realized from this is that, I cannot drive everything.  This is a holdover from my planning session for the Pack.  We as a unit were not completely firing on all cylinders on this subject.   With the start of the August Committee meetings, things got tighter and duties assigned to other people.  We still have a long way to go, meaning getting through this year and planning 2011-2012.

There are still a few events that I want to do and so far people want to do them as well.   I know now that I cannot cram everything together.  It would burn out the parents just getting the boys there.

So, next year, we will have more of a shot at doing JOTA/JOTI.  Maybe I can get the Webelos Woods & JOTA/JOTI thing together?  We also have a Fall Harvest Festival for Cub Scouts at a resident camp the same weekend.  Who knows.

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Farragut State Park 2010

On a previous visit to the Coeur D’Alene, ID I passed by Farragut State Park.  I knew that it was up in Idaho, but I had not a clue about exactly.  Who knew that I passed it several times while working.  In an earlier post, when I was in Great Falls Montana, I found some great photos of the 12th World Jamboree on display.  Being new to Scouting I had not realized at all what went on and what Scouts did.  I also had no clue that there was a Mrs Baden-Powell.  So, I read up and learned a lot about Scouting.
So, when I realized that Farragut State Park was so very close and the history contained with it and Boy Scouts, I had to go.

[slideshow]

After spending about an hour looking around, seeing some of the sites and realizing that Farragut State Park was first a Naval Training Center in World War II.  This training center was created after the Pearl Harbor attack, and trained over 290,000 troops.   With this history and Boy Scouts (even Girl Scouts), it would seem that there should be more going on here than what already is.  If I were a Boy Scout in this area, I would think that using the BSA Merit Badge of Scouting Heritage would be a great for several of the parts of the badge.  I would also think that maybe holding Scout Jams, Camporees, Webelos Woods or other Scouting activities.  I would also think that maybe using this within a Ticket item for Wood Badge might be fun.

I highly suspect that at some point my family and I will camp here.  It is actually on our way to where I grew up in Montana and where I return just about every summer. So, I will be back to enjoy this more.  Overall, there is Scouting History right in my back yard.

(Note on first Video: I had the dates wrong…..)

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August Summertime Pack Event

Today was the day of our final Summertime Pack Event.  It was great!  Even with the fact that apparently I was supposed to register with the people who put it on.  I explained that I kept going to the business association website looking for info.  That was then when I was told that the site was hacked months ago.  She let us in anyway towards the end.  I gave her my info for next year to get us on the list.  Our Charter Org is SW Kiwanis, the ones doing the Pancake feed….. Guess we had some pull.

Our Summertime Pack events were a Rain Gutter Regatta and Water Bottle Rockets.  If the boys attended two, they get the Summertime Pack Pin of the year they just completed.  Rain Gutter Regatta everyone attended.  So, boys only needed one more.  All boys who attend get the Summertime Pack Segment.  As an added kick, for attending this Parade, they are going to get the Parade Segment that the Council just came out with.  It’s my intention that the pack do as many parades as possible.

The boys were able to throw candy to everyone down the whole route.  We changed up the idea of displaying the American Flag and Pack Flag since not a lot of boys came.  However, we used the new banner that I had made from Vistaprint.  It was only $42 for a 6ft x 2.5ft.  It worked out great since once we were next to the grandstand area the announcer said some great words about us including JOINING CUBSCOUTS!

During the whole parade I kept hearing about Senator Ron Wyden was behind us.  I instantly knew that all political types love SCOUTS!  After he got done talking, I asked if we could have our picture with him.  He was incredibly generous and took time to talk to the boys.  I made it a point that he is our Senator in Washington DC.  He even invited us to DC for a tour.

This is our conclusion of events for the Summer.  Our join night is Sept 14th with the regular pack meeting on the 20th.  One other event we did which was not really on the schedule as an Event is the PGE Baseball Sleepover.  That was on August 14th.  The boys were able to walk around the diamond before the start.  After the game, the boys were able to talk to the players and ask good questions.  They always seem to ask if they were scouts.   After the talk everyone setup camp and got ready for the movie.  This years movie was UP.    While most of us have seen the movie, it was still a great one to see.  In the morning PGE fed us eggs, sausage, potatoes along with juice and coffee.

Overall, another successful Summertime Pack Event line-up.  Next year we will do the Parade, but I am also hoping to do something related to the 2011 World Jamboree in Sweden.  It is along the lines of doing an event that will allow the Pack to earn the International Activity Badge.  Maybe a sleepover at IKEA and eat SWEDISH MEATBALLS?

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Memorial Day

During our Blue & Gold this year, I had the boys write letters on BSA letterhead that I downloaded from scouting.org to the military.  One of my High School friends, who is an Eagle and serves in the Air Force as a pilot was recently deployed overseas.  I had asked him if we could write him and others.  He replied that would be great, but not to send certain items. Posters and letters were the best since they could be shared with everyone.

I made it a point during the Blue & Gold, to explain who we were writing to and why.  I explained how I knew Jesse and how our common friend affected us. He is one reason I became a Cubmaster.

It took awhile, but it finally made it to the final where he was on the other side of the world.

Jesse is just recently back from deployment safe and sound.  Before he left he sent a few photos of him holding the poster with a note of thanks.  I was very happy to see it and him.  (he is second from left.)

Today, I got home and found a large package in the mail.  It was from Jesse while he was stationed overseas.

It contained an American Flag and this:

Needless to say, I was speechless but very happy!  A letter that came with it expressed his gratitude to what they boys had done.  Jesse said to fly it on national holidays and at Scout events.

Our last pack meeting for the year is June 14th.  This flag will be taking the place of our current one and will be with the Pack 221 for many many years.  The old flag will be retired at some point next year.

So, on this Memorial Day weekend, say thank you to those who have served, are serving and who have given their life for us.  Memorial Day is not a weekend for buying TVs, Cars or having sales, it’s a day to remember.

Thank you Jesse and Dewey.

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Woodbadge Part Two (International Activity)

So, I have finished and have been beaded for Woodbadge.  I wore my beads to a Den Meeting and then the Scarf, Woggle and Beads to Roundtable. Is that it?  What do I do now? All my ticket items are complete…..

I need new goals, a new ticket if you will.  I remembered something that I remind a few boys about becoming an Eagle. Even though I am not one.  You have attained Eagle.  All your projects are over that got you to this point.  Now, you have to live as an Eagle.  Keep proving why you got it.

So, now it is time for me to keep proving that I am Woodbadge Worthy.  It is the real for Woodbadge.

So, what I am going to do.  I am going to work on the International Scouter’s Award.

So, why do it? Why do it for me?  Have I not said it’s for the boys?  Yup.  This knot will most likely take years to complete.  Which is fine.

However, there are two blogs that got me started down this line and a question from a Wolf’s Grandfather who was the first Eagle in Nebraska. What is that funny purple patch on every scout’s uniform. Read  Scoutmaster Jerry and Mike Walton pages for the answer and what it symbolizes.

I now have the answer for the Wolf’s Eagle Grandfather.  I had not a clue.

How can I get the pack and myself to go International and get this experince?


Jamboree on the Air, Jamboree on the Internet and Scouting.org link. My local council, Cascade Pacific has a JOTA operation every year.  I have already been in contact with the main person.

This and other activities will allows the members of our Pack to earn the International Activity Patch.

Using what I have learned within Woodbadge, I will setup this International Scouter’s Award that will really benefit the Scouts within the Pack and those around me.  This program will also allow everyone to better understand that funny little purple patch.

*note: I am still working on a lot of this information so the Pack can go to JOTA/JOTI as well as many requirements.

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