Ohio_Scouter

Our state requires filing a petition with 1,000 signatures for the BMV to develop a specialty license plate for a particular organization. To continue offering the plate each year, the state requires that at least 1,000 plates be sold annually. IMO, Ohio's Eagle Scout plates look pretty nice:

https://www.oplates.com/NameLookup/PlateLookupWizard1.asp?ID=EWQQSBFSJBKTDCJHWZZKJCXNTDXOSTQRLNHGPZWAIIQRPABPOU

kahits,

Sorry to hear about your nephew's Philmont dilemma. I agree with jblake47's advice. Find another troop ASAP. We had a similar situation occur last year where one of my son's buddies troop was failing, and we invited him to come check out our troop. Best think he ever did because we got him a spot on one of our 2 Philmont crews, and he'll be doing his Eagle project with our guys in 3 weeks.

Another idea: advertise your dilemma on the unofficial Philmont webpage at www.philmont.com. There are a lot of great Philmont scouters there who may be able to help, too.

Don't give up on your nephew. IMHO, no scout should ever miss a chance to go to Philmont for any reason, especially stupid reasons.

This thread may not be about whether or not we know coffee, but it certainly isn't about cheese.

Our Troop tries to operate under the Patrol method. Our adults don't have a separate adult patrol. Most of them are Assistant Scoutmasters or Committee Members who help the scout patrols only if needed. Our adults are usually rigging climbing ropes and acting as belayers for rapellers. Or, they are hiking, camping, climbing, canoeing, white-water rafting, shooting, etc., with the rest of the Troop. Mostly, the adults insure that safety is being observed at all times.

The patrols do all of the cooking. The SPL develops a duty roster for the patrols, but when it comes to clean-up, everybody washes their own personal gear. Whoever cooks, also acts as clean-up for Troop gear. When the patrols are cleaning up, the adults are usually helping prepare for the remaining activities of the day. If no other activities, they are usually relaxing by the campfire and practicing their skits, if appropriate.

The SPL notifies the patrols when it's time to cook or clean. And, yes, the SPL normally has to stay on top of the boys assigned to the cooking/cleaning duty because many of them, especially the younger scouts, are slackers and haven't been properly "trained".

This modus operandi seems to work well for us.

Yeah, but do they know coffee, which is what this thread is all about?

BTW, Tim Horton's was closing down on account of snow/blizzard conditions this morning, so I had to drink McDonald's coffee. Wasn't too hateful!

Hello, CarlaB,

Welcome to the forums, and thank you and your Eagle husband for helping our Nevada scouts. It's a great organization because of folks like yourselves and the rest of the gang here on Scouter.com!

Allow me, Gunny...

The Ten Essentials comprise the basic equipment that many consider essential in the backcountry. These items are recommended as the very minimum materials necessary to increase the likelihood of survival when in the field. The Ten Essentials are normally carried in a small, separate waterproof container or pack so that they can always be carried on person, and are thus less likely to be lost. In the event that a hiker loses the bulk of his equipment, these ten essentials ensure that the individual will have the fundamental materials needed to have or improvise the human needs for food, shelter, and fire, and in some instances, the ability to navigate out of dangerous circumstances. Although they are referred to as the "Ten Essentials," the list is generally supplemented by a several additions, such as a plastic tarp, duct tape, sewing kit, etc.

The Ten Essentials were first described in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a hiking and mountain climbing club. Many hikers, backpackers, and climbers rigorously ensure they have the ten essentials with them.

According to the standard textbook Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, the ten essentials are:

Map

Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver)

Sunglasses and sunscreen

Extra food and water

Extra clothes

Headlamp/flashlight

First aid kit

Fire starter

Matches

Knife

The textbook recommends supplementing the ten essentials with:

Water treatment device (water filter or chemicals) and water bottles

Ice axe for glacier or snowfield travel (if necessary)

Repair kit, including duct tape and a basic sewing materials.

Insect repellent (or clothing designed for this purpose)

Signaling devices, such as a whistle, cell phone, two-way radio, unbreakable signal mirror or flare.

Plastic tarp and rope for expedient field shelter.

Not every expedition will require the use of an essential item. However, carrying these basics makes sure that one is prepared for unexpected emergencies in the outdoors. For instance, if a hiker experiences a sudden snow storm, it is imperative that he have fresh clothes and fire starter to keep himself warm; otherwise it is likely that he will suffer hypothermia, and perhaps death. In most circumstances, the Ten Essentials will transform a potentially life threatening experience into a mere discomfort.

GW,

I'll bet he was a Scout in an earlier life!

Our Pack distributes the written rules for qualification or disqualification long before race day. Then prior to the race, we get an impartial non-Scouter judge who inspects each car and decides whether the car qualifies or not.

Bill,

I'm supposed to travel to Cleveland to visit relatives this weekend, but given that the weatherfolk are predicting about 10" - 12" of snow betweeen Dayton and Cleveland beginning tomorrow morning at 6:00 A.M., I may have to reconsider.

My plan is to see what the weather forecast looks like on Friday and then decide. I suggest you guys do the same.

Let us know how it goes, John. I went to Philmont with my son last year, and it was the most memorable activity of our scouting careers. I'd hate to see a guy miss a trip to Philmont with his son for any reason.

Personally, I've switched to Tim Horton's. They tell me aboot fifteen million Canadians can't be wrong, eh?

Yeah, but in a pinch, those coffee bags aren't too bad. Have you tried them?

So, Kudu, how does trivializing Jesus show reverence?

Twin brothers, one named Emal and the other Juan, grew up and moved out of the country. A year later, their mother receives from Juan a letter and picture of himself. His mother sighs and mentions she wishes she had a picture from Emal as well. 'Why,' replies her husband, 'if you've seen Juan, you've seen Emal.'

Eastern Mysticism...

A buddhist asks a hot dog vendor for his change, and the vendor replies 'change comes from within'.

Eastern Mysticism...

What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor? Make me one with everything.

...or Milton's cousin, Chatsworth Osborne, Jr.

Yeah, I remember Maynard G. Krebs in the Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, 1959-1963. As I recall, the "G." stood for Walter, and "work" was the ultimate 4-letter word. Personally, I think Zelda Gilroy was the funniest.

Dear Chris, Andrea, Corinne, and Audrey,

On behalf of our troop and all scouts in the great state of Ohio, please accept our heartfelt condolences, and thank you for sharing Dominic with us. If there is anything we can ever do to help, please don't hesitate to ask. Scout salute.

SSScout,

I remember reciting that as part of the Cub Scout Oath or something like that. Can't say I really understood what it meant to be square? Squared away, perhaps?

So what do you think, if anything, can be done about this?

-------------------

For Immediate Release:

February 26, 2008

Contact(s): David Barna, 202-208-6843

Colleen Flanagan, 303-969-2011

Airborne Contaminants Study Released Measurable Levels Detected in Twenty Western U.S. and Alaska National Parks

WASHINGTON, DC According to a study released by the Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project (WACAP), numerous airborne contaminants, including heavy metals and both current-use and North American historic-use pesticides, have been detected at measurable levels in ecosystems at twenty western U.S. and Alaska national parks from the Arctic to the Mexican border. The eight core national park areas studied were Glacier, Mount Rainier, Olympic, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Denali, Gates of the Arctic, and Noatak. The study was funded primarily by the National Park Service (NPS) to evaluate the potential threats to park ecosystems and likely sources of these contaminants.

While the extent of the effects on wildlife depending upon fish for survival is unknown, the risk to people is considered low and varies given location, frequency and type of fish consumption. How scientific data are used to make recommendations for peoples diets varies between states, as health risks associated with exposure to contaminants in select fish may be outweighed by the benefits of continued consumption of traditional foods. Most people are not likely to eat enough of the contaminated fish to be at risk.

Key findings from the six-year, multi-agency study, which can be accessed at: http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/Studies/air_toxics/wacap.cfm indicate that out of over 100 organic contaminants tested, 70 were found at detectable levels in snow, water, vegetation, lake sediment, and fish. While concentrations of most of these contaminants were below levels of concern, others appear to be accumulating in sensitive resources such as fish. For some contaminants, high concentrations in fish have exceeded fish-eating wildlife and/or human health consumption thresholds in many of the eight core parks studied.

Results from this project add considerably to the state of the science concerning contaminant transport and subsequent biological and ecological effects in remote ecosystems in the western U.S. These well-documented and carefully analyzed data will provide a basis for evaluating future changes in the status of these ecosystems, said Dr. Dixon Landers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the projects Science Lead.

The analysis of fish tissue provided a window into the contaminant situation in various parks, regardless of what fish species were sampled, said Landers. Given that the knowledge of contaminant concentrations in particular species may aid members of the public when making personal health decisions, the list of fish species sampled in lakes at the eight core parks follows: lake trout from Noatak, Gates of the Arctic, and Wonder Lake at Denali; burbot and whitefish from McLeod Lake at Denali; cutthroat trout from Glacier; brook trout from Olympic, Mount Rainier, Sequoia, and Lone Pine Lake at Rocky Mountain; and rainbow trout from Mills Lake at Rocky Mountain. Nevertheless, any one fish species, or lake, excluded from the above list is not necessarily exempt from contaminant concentrations of concern.

Evidence suggests that the contaminants found in this study are carried in air masses from sources as far away as Europe and Asia, and as near as the local county. According to Landers, the presence of contaminants in snow is well-correlated with the proximity of each park to agricultural areas, pointing to these areas as probable major sources of these contaminants. In Alaska parks, with little nearby agriculture in the region, there are very low concentrations of most current-use compounds. However, concentrations of historic-use chemicals in Alaska systems are similar to those in the other parks sampled, suggesting greater influence from global atmospheric transport.

The three contaminants of highest concern for human and wildlife health included: 1) Mercury a heavy metal emitted through processes such as burning coal for electricity that causes neurological and reproductive impairment; 2) Dieldrin an acutely toxic insecticide banned from use in the U.S. since 1987 that decreases the effectiveness of the immune system; and 3) DDT an insecticide banned in the U.S. since 1972 that reduces reproductive success.

Average mercury concentrations in fish from Alaskas Noatak National Preserve were above the EPA human health threshold for consumption (i.e., adults eating 2.3 meals of these fish per month), while mercury concentrations in some fish exceeded the threshold at Gates of the Arctic, Olympic, Mount Rainier, and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Dieldrin concentrations in fish from Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, and Glacier National Parks exceeded the health threshold for recreational fishermen (i.e., adults eating 2.3 meals of these fish per month). Dieldrin concentrations also exceeded health thresholds for subsistence fish consumption (i.e., adults eating 19 meals of these fish per month) at all national parks, except Olympic. Average DDT concentrations in fish exceeded the human risk threshold for subsistence fishers at Sequoia & Kings Canyon and in Oldman Lake at Glacier National Park.

Concentrations of contaminants in fish were also compared to health thresholds for fish-eating wildlife. Mercury concentrations in fish at all eight parks exceeded health thresholds suggested for birds, and were above mammal health thresholds at some parks. DDT concentrations in fish exceeded the fish-eating bird health threshold in Glacier and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.

In Rocky Mountain and Glacier National Parks, some individual trout were intersex (i.e., male and female reproductive structures in the same fish). This condition is commonly associated with exposure to certain contaminants (e.g., dieldrin and DDT) that mimic the hormone estrogen. Because the sample size was small, however, the extent of the problem and correlation between fish reproductive effects and contaminant concentrations has not been established for parks in the study.

Concentrations of current-use pesticides and other compounds, such as the commonly used flame-retardant, PBDE, were detected at Rocky Mountain and Mount Rainier National Parks, but concentrations in fish did not exceed human or wildlife health consumption thresholds. Exposure to PBDEs affects liver, thyroid and neurobehavioral development. Other participating institutions included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State University and the University of Washington. National park resource managers worked with scientists from the collaborating agencies to plan and conduct the WACAP study.

For additional information on WACAP findings and implications, contact Dr. Dixon Landers at 541-754-4427 or e-mail Landers.Dixon@epamail.epa.gov (USEPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, Corvallis, OR).

-NPS-

Welcome, fastbow. A lot of odd questions have already been asked on this forum, and a lot of odd answers have also been given, so you should feel right at home !

Beaumont Scout Reservation, Rock Creek, Ohio, which is owned by the Greater Cleveland Council:

http://www.gccbsa.org/Pages/Beaumont.html

Pixiewife,

Sounds like your guys had a wonderful winter camping Klondike, and everyone has an even greater appreciation for Scouting, too . Another warmth layer for hubby and it might have been perfect! I hope the Scouts delivered a trip report at the COH. Amazing what a weekend outdoors can do for a group of boys--even up North in the dead of winter. I think you'll agree that it doesn't get much better than that.