RememberSchiff

@ProductOtheProgram welcome to scouter.com

An example of transparency from Lasalle Council : a public announcement of new members and their backgrounds as well as public listing of all board members on their website. I wish National would follow this and other LC's example of leadership transparency. June 24, 2022 The Boy Scouts of America LaSalle Council elected and approved seven new business and community leaders to serve on its Board of Directors during its 2022 annual council meeting. The newly appointed members each join the council with unique backgrounds that will strengthen the programming offered by the Boy Scouts throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Also, several of the new board members are deeply familiar with the organization’s philosophies. For example, three of the new members have previously attained Eagle Scout status, and another is a parent of two Eagle Scouts... more at source: https://buildingindiana.com/experienced-leaders-eagle-scouts-appointed-to-boy-scouts-lasalle-council-board/ https://www.lasallecouncilbsa.org/leadership

Here's an interview with one of the hospitalized scout leaders, Jonathan Awe who is an Appleton school teacher. He was still hospitalized Thursday morning, June 30 Awe, who suffered three fractured vertebrae, must have had a phrase from the Boy Scout Oath in mind immediately after the crash, “to help other people at all times.” Re-assuming his role as the Boy Scout troop’s activities adviser during the trip, he began sending texts to a group of parents letting them know they had been in a train wreck. “I kind of drug myself to the back of the train to get out of the way,” said Awe, adding that a fellow troop leader, Dr. Sanjay Chopra, an ER physician back in Wisconsin, was screaming on the floor. “He has broken ribs, bruised lungs and possibly a broken wrist. And a woman, I think her name was Aurora, wound up completely in the overhead luggage bin. Another woman — I don’t know her name — was in her 70s; she was moaning. She was hurt pretty bad. There were lots of people who were a lot worse off,” said Awe. Awe said after he was carried out of the caboose on a backboard, he was laid across the rails, and he could see more of the Boy Scout troops helping other people. Again, to ensure the parents back in Wisconsin knew their sons were okay, he asked each boy to come to him so he could text their parent or have them call home. ... Luckily, according to Marshall physician Jack Uhrig, M.D., Awe is not expected to experience any paralysis and will likely not require surgery for his injuries. Awe is planning to see a spine specialist upon his return home and was expected to be discharged in a specially fitted back brace. Dr. Uhrig developed a special “Boy Scout bond” with Awe as he was evaluating him after his admission to Fitzgibbon. “I was trying to obtain some information and get a feel for what had happened. Knowing he had been to Philmont and hiking in the mountains just days before, and now he was in such pain. He’s got something really wrong,” said Uhrig. “Having been a scoutmaster myself, even for a very brief time, and having been to Philmont with my own dad, I can relate.” After the initial evaluation on Monday night, Uhrig brought some of his own old Boy Scout badges to Awe the next morning and asked him to share them with troop members as recognition of their courage through the ordeal. After suggesting that it appeared Awe seemed to always be helping others — even in the midst of the chaos of the disaster — he again fought back tears. “I just know what it was like … even for those few minutes … when I didn’t know that my kids were OK. And I just wanted to let all the other parents know,” he said. More at source: https://www.marshallnews.com/2022/06/30/boy-scout-activities-adviser-recounts-personal-account-of-train-derailment/ @Eagledad

Scout's mother credits ...years of swim lessons, water safety, and his experience as an Eagle Scout...he's had some training...what to do in an emergency... a life saved.

@ScouterPediatrian welcome to scouter.com

Helping the scouts after the trauma... "All of those boys that were there, to the extent that they were allowed to, really impressed a lot of folks. As their scout master, I'm incredibly proud. They all stayed calm, and were part of the solution rather than adding to the chaos," Skyrpczak said. "Our prayers and thoughts are, of course, with the families of the now four confirmed victims." Counselors from the Appleton Area School District will be available for all of the Scouts after their return home, Skrypczak said. Passenger Larry Brown commended the scouts for helping others get out of the train. “Very mature for their age,” Brown told Kansas City TV station KCTV Monday. “Whatever they are teaching them in the Scouts, it paid off today.” All 15 kids and seven adults were evaluated Monday at four different hospitals. Three adults and one Scout were admitted to hospitals overnight, Skrypczak said. The Boy Scout and one of the troop leaders were discharged Tuesday. The Boy Scouts spent Monday night at a hotel in Columbia. Local families involved with the Great Rivers Council of Boy Scouts located in Columbia, Missouri, stepped up to help the Appleton troops after Sarah Berken, whose son Isaac was on the trip, connected with parents over Facebook. The local Scout families provided food and water Monday night, breakfast and lunch Tuesday, and supplies like clothing and toiletries, since many bags and supplies remained on the derailed train. "More and more stories are coming out about how well these kids did under duress — (we're) just really proud of everything they were able to accomplish on the scene," Armstrong said. "I've always thought, if the going gets tough, having a Scout troop or two around makes things a lot easier, and they certainly proved it yesterday." and more at source: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2022/06/28/appleton-boy-scouts-return-planned-two-adults-remain-hospital/7757797001/

More details are coming out. I look forward to interviews with other scouts and adults (particularly the farmer) in the coming weeks. IMHO, Washington Post's Jonathan Edwards wrote the most researched piece yet, with touches of a scout perspective. Each of the Scouts was whiling away the train ride in his own way, Skrypczak told The Washington Post late Tuesday. A few had used an app on their phone to determine the train was going about 90 mph, which impressed them. Some ate in the dining car. Others took in the scenery from an observation car retrofitted with floor-to-ceiling windows. One happened to be in the bathroom. ... Each of the Scouts was whiling away the train ride in his own way, Skrypczak told The Washington Post late Tuesday. A few had used an app on their phone to determine the train was going about 90 mph, which impressed them. Some ate in the dining car. Others took in the scenery from an observation car retrofitted with floor-to-ceiling windows. One happened to be in the bathroom. But Eli was just one of the Scouts helping, he added. Some performed first aid on their own scoutmasters who had been seriously injured. Others hauled passengers on backboards from the crash site to ambulances. When paramedics stopped them from doing that for the more seriously injured patients, the Scouts stripped out parts of the train car that might block rescue workers from getting people out of the wreckage. “I teach emergency preparedness and first aid, and I don't know that I would have thought of that,” Skrypczak said. “They had the demeanor to think of that. [I’m] so very proud of them. “They certainly lived the Scout oath.” More, including photos at source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/29/boy-scout-amtrak-train-derailment/

Sorry been busy guarding the wall. I will remove the off-topic stuff mentioned. This serious topic seems to have wandered more than usual due to the wait, seems every week there is someone asking Are we there yet? Maybe the topic should be locked until the wait is over? RS

Videos of note: The first is an interview of a scout leader dad who was in Appleton waiting for his son to arrive. The second is an interview with a scout leader who was aboard during the derailment.

Reminds me of Eagle Scout Daniel Konzelman. I hope he reaches out to scouts and scouters in these Wisconsin troops. As I understand, after the 2017 Amtrak crash in Washington state , Eagle Daniel Konzelman left accounting and became a fireman in the Seattle area.

Boy Scout comforted dying truck driver after Amtrak derailment, father says https://nypost.com/2022/06/28/boy-scout-eli-skrypczak-comforted-dying-truck-driver-after-missouri-train-derailment/

Boy Scouts played major rescue role after Amtrak train derailed Scott Armstrong, director of national media relations with the Boy Scouts of America, said there were 16 youth, who are 13 to 17 years old, and 8 adults on the train. They were members of troops 73 and 12, which are chartered with First English Lutheran Church in Appleton, according to a Boy Scouts source. Armstrong said everyone else was put on a school bus and taken to a hospital to be checked out as a precaution. They all had cuts and bruises but nothing serious, he said. Parents said one scout could be kept in the hospital overnight, but his injuries aren’t life-threatening. Scout leaders said the Scouts who weren’t injured were among the first people on the train to help render aid. Armstrong told us the Scouts on the train assisted people and provided aid to people who needed it. One Scout from Appleton provided comfort to the driver of the dump truck, who was ejected in the crash, until the driver passed away. “I’m proud of them. One Scout wrapped his hand, took his shirt off, wrapped his hand to break some windows to get people out. Another Scout went and comforted the driver of the truck that was hit and tried to stabilize him,” said Dan Skrypczak, scout master of Troop 73. “They were tandem working on that gentleman when he expired, so that Scout is pretty shook up.” The response of the Scouts has now put the troop in the national spotlight, especially with the organization. “These Scouts are highly trained. They would have received advanced first aid training prior to going, including their adult leaders would have had people with wilderness first aid certification, which is a pretty advanced course,” Armstrong said. “Luckily they had that training because I’m sure they put it to use today.” Tierney said she is “very proud. Very proud of how some of our boys helped with some of the injured passengers and how they were willing to put themselves aside. That’s just what Boy Scouts do. We just can’t wait to get them home.” https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/28/boy-scouts-played-major-rescue-role-after-amtrak-train-derailed/

Appleton Boy Scouts played major rescue role after Amtrak train derailed We’re also learning the Boy Scouts played a major role in the rescue -- breaking windows, helping people off the train, and attempting to save the life of the dump truck driver who died. “It was a phone call that no parent should ever have to receive. It was probably way up there on the scariest moments of my life,” Nicole Tierney, whose son, Owen, was on the train, said. “Until I heard from my son an hour later, that he was okay, I couldn’t stop shaking or crying,” said Sarah Berken, whose son, Isaac, was also onboard. ... Scout leaders said the scouts who weren’t injured were among the first people on the train to help render aid. Armstrong told us the scouts on the train assisted people and provided aid to people who needed it. One scout from Appleton provided comfort to the driver of the dump truck, who was ejected in the crash, until the driver passed away. “I’m proud of them. One scout wrapped his hand, took his shirt off, wrapped his hand to break some windows to get people out. Another scout went and comforted the driver of the truck that was hit and tried to stabilize him,” Dan Skrypczak, scout master of Troop 73, said. “They were tandem working on that gentleman when he expired, so that scout is pretty shook up,” he added. The response of the scouts has now put the troop in the national spotlight, especially with the organization. “These scouts are highly trained. They would have received advanced first aid training prior to going, including their adult leaders would have had people with wilderness first aid certification, which is a pretty advanced course,” Armstrong said. “Luckily they had that training because I’m sure they put it to use today.” Tierney said she is “very proud. Very proud of how some of our boys helped with some of the injured passengers and how they were willing to put themselves aside. That’s just what Boy Scouts do.” “We just can’t wait to get them home,” she added. More at source, https://www.nbc15.com/2022/06/27/appleton-boy-scout-troops-amtrak-train-that-derailed-2-adults-hurt/

NBC Nightly News reported two scout troops aboard Amtrak train that struck dump truck in rural Missouri. Passengers on the train included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, after a backcountry excursion at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, but no one in the group was seriously injured, said Scott Armstrong, director of national media relations for the Boy Scouts of America. The Scouts administered first aid to several injured passengers, including the driver of the dump truck, Armstrong said. https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2022/06/27/appleton-boy-scouts-adults-amtrak-train-derailed-missouri/7751666001/ https://www.twincities.com/2022/06/27/3-killed-when-amtrak-train-hits-truck-derails-in-missouri/ From Amtrak: On June 27 at 12:42 p.m. CT, Southwest Chief Train 4, traveling eastbound on BNSF track from Los Angeles to Chicago, derailed 8 cars and 2 locomotives after striking a truck that was obstructing a public crossing near Mendon, Missouri. There were approximately 243 passengers and 12 crew members onboard with early reports of injuries. Local authorities are currently assisting customers. Our Incident Response Team has been activated, and we are deploying emergency personnel to the scene to help support our passengers, our employees and their families with their needs. Individuals with questions about their friends and family who were traveling aboard this train should call 800-523-9101. Additional details will be provided as available. https://media.amtrak.com/2022/06/amtrak-statement-on-train-4-derailment-near-mendon-mo/

The North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church has agreed to pay $448,216 (within a year) to help pay sexual abuse claims against the Boy Scouts of America as part of the scouting organization’s federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy settlement. Starting June 30, new agreements will be in place with the Boy Scouts, she said. Churches will have affiliation agreements with Boy Scout troops instead of charters with local councils, to “decrease risk of legal exposure,” Lynn Hare, chancellor for the North Alabama Conference, said. Through the end of October, new agreements will be signed, with equipment such as tents and trailers to be owned by the Boy Scouts, not by individual churches that had sponsored them. “We are making a separation between the church and the Boy Scout unit,” Hare said. The agreement provides for safe sanctuary and youth protection plans. More at source: https://www.al.com/news/2022/06/north-alabama-methodists-agree-to-pay-448216-in-boy-scout-abuse-settlement.html

In 1968 (1967?), 11 Scouts from an area troop floated 80 miles down the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. Their council leaders thought it was such an epic trek that they offered a patch to troops that also tried the “Chinklacamoose Wilderness Canoe Trip.” Chinklacamoose is the Native American name for Clearfield. The Bucktail Council BSA (Boy Scouts of America) sponsors the special patch “Chinklacamoose Wilderness Canoe Trip BSA” for those who complete the trek. (see below) In June 2022, Troop 26 of DuBois completed the five-day journey, earning the Bucktail Council patch and the BSA 50-Miler Award. The Scouts and leaders launched from Clearfield on June 1 and made it to North Bend on June 6. Scouts saw beavers, deer and many birds, including several bald eagles along the scenic waterway. Water levels were low so the paddlers encountered many rocks but experienced excellent weather for camping along the way. ...but they also tackled Class II whitewater rapids at Moshannon Falls. All paddlers safely negotiated the fast water. More about Troop 26's recent 2022 canoe journey at news source: https://www.thecourierexpress.com/news/area-boy-scouts-complete-five-day-journey-on-susquehanna-river/article_3fb11424-f318-11ec-b509-63e3ad4ff205.html 2020 trip: https://www.thecourierexpress.com/lifestyle/area-scouts-conquer-chinklacamoose/article_e9fd92ad-b61e-5465-abeb-8cb74c331598.html Other sources: 80 Miles of Wilderness Adventure: Chinklacamoose Canoe Trip – Clearfield, Pa. to North Bend, Pa. by O. Lynn Frank. Link to 28 page planning reference (good stuff!) https://www.personal.psu.edu/~gal4/Chinklacamoose.pdf https://www.susquehannagreenway.org/80-miles-wilderness

You may or may not have seen the official crest for the USS Gerald R. Ford, but do you know the meaning of the symbols, text, and emblems on it? Well, first off, the compass. If you look at the point for north, you'll notice a Fleur-de-Lis symbol. Although used on the compass rose since antiquity, its use here stands for the Boy Scouts of America — Ford was the only Eagle Scout ever to become U.S. president. The presence of the compass itself is meant to symbolize "The moral compass," a reference to President Ford's legacy of honesty and integrity. USS Gerald R. Ford's global presence and linkages to the chief of naval operations' guiding philosophy of operating forward are shown by the world map. The 38 stars around the logo commemorate Ford's legacy as the United States' 38th President. Twenty-six of the 38 stars have been colored in to depict his WWII battleship, the USS Monterey (CVL 26). Ford's undergraduate university, the University of Michigan, is represented by the color scheme of azure (blue) and maize (yellow). To honor his graduate school, the crest also includes Yale blue and white. The words "Integrity at the Helm" as they are the motto of the Ford Foundation and connect the ship not only to the Foundation but also serve to stress the Navy's key values. More about our newest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford at source https://interestingengineering.com/uss-gerald-r-ford-advanced-carrier-us

Sad story. According to wildlife officials, it appears the bear got inside the car using its teeth or paws to open the unlocked door and got trapped after the door shut behind it. Once inside, the bear likely died in the heat as outdoor temperatures surged past 95 degrees, meaning the temperature inside the car could have “possibly reached over 140 degrees,” officials said. The bear could have been lured into the car by the smell of food. “Notice the empty soda can and food package on the floorboard," the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said, sharing a photo of inside the car. "Bears have noses 7 times better than a bloodhound and can smell even the faintest odor of food inside a vehicle." https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/black-bear-dies-getting-trapped-car-sweltering-95-degree-weather-tenne-rcna35148 https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/mammals/large/black-bears.html

Sadly agree. Journalism here started its decline about the same time, though for different reasons, well except money. My $0.03 (inflation)

Oh I see my confusion, Ohio EPA is a department of the Ohio state government as opposed to the US EPA.

@BPUMC welcome to scouter.com

Agree everyone deserves safe drinking water, but what is safe "adequate", what is being tested, and where - campsite, camp kitchen,... The EPA does not regulate private wells, so I would be surprised if the EPA fined camps over drinking water quality. Regulation and enforcement is left to state and local authorities or self-policing camp associations. Nothing to stop a scouter from drawing a water sample and having it tested by a private lab. Testing for bacteria and E.coli might be less than $100, radon and arsenic a little more, and testing for PFAS would likely be $400. https://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/unregulated-drinking-water-systems.aspx

@Eagle390 welcome to scouter.com

Update 6/17/22: Camp Cachalot, in Carver, Massachusetts, sold to Commonwealth of Massachusetts for $1.4M “Water is crystal clear, there’s not a better place to go swimming, but it’s the group of people,” Camp Cachalot Alumni Association Chairman Brian Bastarache said. “I don’t know why, but there’s a unique group of people here who are dedicated to the facility and that sort of dedicates them to each other.” https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/popular-boy-scouts-camp-in-mass-forced-to-close/

@GMarshMo welcome to scouter.com