Another Expo Done

I've finally have gotten a chance to let you all know.

May 10-12, 1996 was the LaCroix District Scout Expo. Again this year, I was
chair. It was a really good show. This time, we did not have the 1.5 inch
of rain.

Our Scout expo is a complete district gathering of all Cub Scout Packs,
Webelos Dens, Boy Scout Troops, and Explorer Posts. This is a Spring
Camporee, Webelos Woods, and Cub day event all rolled up into one big event.

The event theme was -Skills To Rendezvous-.

For the Cub Scouts, the sub-theme was -Cub Scout Rendezvous of Ships-. Dens
and packs build ships for the Ship Parade. Myself and the Facilities
Management Event Chair pulled the Admiral (Cub Scout Event Chair) in here
ship (wagon looking like a canoe) and the Cub Scouts, through the Boy Scout,
Explorer, and Webelos sub-camps. Great fun with pack games and Rain gutter
Regatta. Than all the Cubs had games and lunch. Smiles all over the place.

For the 4th Grade Webelos (soon to be 5th Garde Webelos), the was the
-Webelos Encampment Rendezvous-. This was a Webelos Woods type event with a
Boy Scout Troop run and demoing basic Scout Skills. As part of the Webelos
Dens/Patrols requirement for a drawer of patrol equipment, their groups had
to go visit three Boy Scout sites. The Webelos had their own campfire
Saturday Night.

For the Boy Scouts and Explorers, the sub-theme was -Gateways To The Skills
OF The Rendezvous-. Here, troops were to build a gateway into their site
using only natural materials. At their sites, each troop put on a scout
skill demo of their choice. We had some great demos and gateways. Had to
put a stoppers on one gateway. It was a Monkey Bridge. Great idea, but
they had Scouts crossing the bridge that was 9 feet in the air. The -Guild
To Safe Scouting- states that a max height of 5 ft is allowed. Within the
C.O.P.E. materials I read, anything higher than that, you need to have
safety equipment. While the scouts were upset, the adults understood
(thanks to training).

As a special feature, we had local Ham Radio Operators demos, a local
Whitewater Canoeing group, local Rescue group and the county Forest
Management folks on hand.

The highlight of the weekend came Saturday afternoon with first the Webelos
Push Car Races. This was the first time we had done this at the district
level. The Cub Scouts stayed and watch all the fun the older Webelos were
having. I heard from a number of Cub Scout Leaders that their scouts can't
wait to become Webelos so they can do it too.

After the Webelos races came the Boy Scout Chariot Races and even more fun.
It was because the Webelos wanted to run chariots that we added the Push
Cars. A great time was had in two divisions. Class A for only First Year
Scouts and Class AA for all other Scouts. Both divisions were won by my old
troop.

We had a great showing from all units in the district (70%). The only time
we really had problems was when the scouts had open free time before supper
and before the Campfire (something to work on for next year).

Now that Expo is over, it's time to move to my new position, Chair of the
District Activities and Civic Service Committee. With that starting on May
21, I'm off to Philmont for more training. I'm looking forward to
continuing the strong tradition of some of the best district events in
Indianhead Council. Yes, it is the truth, other district's leaders come to
LaCroix Events to get ideas and buy out patches, again, some of the best.

That was my weekend, time to breath again.

YiS,

Todd Tingblad -- tingbltn@uwec.edu

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