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  1. Why have Scouts? 1 2 3 4 6

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    • District camporee.   We have a fair sized, suburban District. Maybe 20 Troops in attendance. OA is in charge of arrangements,  In my walking around, I come to the "CAMPFIRE ARENA", a nice  natural hillside, flat area at the bottom, and... two (2!) 9 or 10 feet tall piles of cargo pallets! Ummm,,, what is that familiar smell.... kerosene !  I go and get the Camporee Scoutmaster and bring him over to the Campfire area.  AND... Where are the water buckets? The shovels ?  He nods.... The OA has given in to their teen ager pyromaniacal tendency. He brings over the OA Chief, and they agree, the arrangements are a bit much. We do not want the front row to suffer second degree burns.  It is not necessary for the ISS to see our campfire.   They take down and haul away all of one of the two piles . The remaining pile is taken down to about four feet tall.  AND....   They arrange for EACH participating Troop to bring one of their five gallon water coolers, which are lined up behind the fire pile.... After, everyone agreed , the skits were corny and fun, the serious stuff was thought provoking.... The fire was  worthy.  .
    • The Five Things Needed For A Camp Fire     In school , one is taught three things are needed for a fire:  Oxygen, Fuel, and Heat.   For a Scout, there are FIVE things needed.  How do they compare with the three from your science class?   Play the “What If” game.    Number one, before anything else:  1)  The Means To Extinguish The Fire.   Before anything else, how will you put it out?  Water, shovel, rake, sand/dirt.  Have sufficient means and tools collected.  Is it out?  Test firebed with the BACK of your hand… Douse, stir and douse again. AND Remember: NEVER leave a fire unattended !  2)  A Safe Atmosphere: No overhanging branches to catch a spark ?   Land owners’ permission?  Park Ranger’s permission?  Is there a Drought?  No Fire Ban?  Make it as SMALL as necessary, not as BIG as you can! 3) A Safe Area.   Remember that 10’  diameter cleared area.  Use an established fire pit.  If a “new” fire, remember your Leave No Trace guidelines:  Fold back the sod, save the  sod to cover the burned on bare soil area.   Use an above ground fire holder:  old wheelbarrow, oil drum, charcoal grill bed, etc.     4)  Collect Fuel Before Lighting :  Tinder, kindling, fire wood.  It is hard to stop cooking to collect more wood if you run low.  Set things up carefully before attempting to light.    5)  The Means To Ignite The Fire:  Be Prepared!   Practice in your back yard before you are on the trail. Ceremonial fire?   Practice it first before the big night!  “No, I thought YOU had the flint and steel!”.   
    • https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/11-21-2025-Council-Service-Territories-Map-with-HQs.pdf
    • Council Service Territory maps were updated last night. It's not clear which councils merged but it looks like at least 1 council in California is merged out and 1 council in Pennsylvania or New Jersey is merged out as well. 
    • @brennan52  welcome to scouter.com.  I cannot wait to hear our scouter advice to you on surveys. 
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