AK-Eagle

Eagle90

1I'm just hoping you did not make your travel arrangements through Central Region as well

Have a great time, Stay safe

AK-Eagle

Hello and welcome to the scouter forums. Could you tell us of some of the scouting adventures you have had in Italy?

AK-Eagle

If the youth have voted them in why not let them lead, isnt that what youth lead is all about?

AK-Eagle

Paging Mr. Flint and Mr. Steele you are needed at the campfire ring

AK-Eagle

I first took CPR in 1977 after convincing the instructor a 13 year old could absorb the information since then I have used that training twice one time it made the difference. N

On the first aid side as camp staff I made more than a couple of trips to the hospital with scouts with ailments ranging from severe dehydration, anaphylaxis from a bee sting, to lacerations needing stitching.

In the last ten years as scoutmaster I've only made three trips to the emergency room from a camp out once for a scout and twice for me.

Getting the training enabled me to train the scouts, who happened to impress the ER doctor with the splinting they did on my really broken leg the splint stayed on through the x-ray process and was only removed for the actual casting.

As for the queasiness don't sweat it in advance, there is plenty of time to pump bilges after everything is done.

AK-Eagle

Funny I should see this thread, I just spent two evenings plus all day Saturday attending a 16 hour Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Course. The basic difference is in basic first aid professional help is 30 minutes or less away. Wilderness First Aid covers treatment of 30 minutes to days if necessary.

If you have not been to certified first aid training in a while I recommend doing this one.

To the Professional Scouter's, Camp Directors and Program directors lurking out there please give some serious thought to working with your units and local Red Cross to offer a WFA course at summer camp for leaders and older scouts sure you may "only" get 4-6 people sitting in per week but at successful completion is that many more trained people are out in the woods.

Be careful out there.

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

The idea of responsible off trailing or route finding as not NLT compliant is strange to me. Has the population in the lower 48 exploded that much? Or perhaps I'm too ingrained into the Alaskan lifestyle now.

We've done a fair share of "off trailing" or route finding in the national forest the most the ranger has said when I checked on what the rules said was "Leave a route plan and tell us how it worked out when you come back" going as far as suggesting routes to try as possible future trails.

One excursion we "found" an abandoned mine that was marked on historical gold claim maps but wasn't shown on the current topo maps. The mine was within a known area so we used a collapsing square search pattern. Our results were shared with the USFS and no we did not go into any shafts or audits.

Back to Wilderness Student's questions in the first place what to take, do etc

First contact the authority of the area you want to explore NPS, USFS, State. etc. find out if its okay with them first and if they have any suggested routes or destinations.

As to what to take along mostly its gear you are already have just a couple suggestions

CURRENT TOPO MAP Up to date declination,hand written in legend

If the map has a 5 year or older printing date the

declination can be as much as a full degree off and each

year it can change even more!

Try to get as large a scale as possible 25k is the best we

can do in our neck of the woods but some areas we have to

make do with a 100k.

HAND COMPASS old fashioned magnetic needle not a digital. I have a Silva Ranger and set the current declination on the dial it comes with a mirror to take bearings and clinometer to judge grade.

GPS With spare batteries turn it on at the trail head first to mark the trail head second to ensure the GPS is set up for your area.

WATERPROOF GRAPH PAPER For note taking, mapping and future reference in case you want to return and to share with the ranger(s) back home

PENCIL(s) Blood makes poor ink and isn't all that waterproof

For camping gear even for a day hike carry food and supplies as if planning a 48 hour camp. Yes even a tent/tarp sleeping bag extra weigh yes but worth every ounce if you get "confused" overnight

At home or with a responsible person leave your route plan:

Who is with you

If leaving a car, truck, suv at a trail head description and plate number

The gear you are packing tents, sleeping bags

Any known medical issues in group

Any signaling devices you have

Intended route, destination, time/date/place of return

A copy of the map you are using

What is the alternate destination aka "Plan B"

Lastly what time to call the authorities if you fail to return/call as scheduled. "We plan to be back home by 3pm but don't panic unless we miss dinner"

When you get back do not forget to call your route plan holder!

With glaciers receding faster than the NPS or the USFS can build official trails getting to or even getting a good view of a backwoods glacier becomes more of a challenge every year. The skills of route finding come into play and yes we can truthfully say we have walked where no one has walked before on the Terminal Moraine of Herbert Glacier and all we left was footprints.

Its waaaaaay past my bedtime

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

When we see forecasts like the one you mentioned i task the SPL/PLC with coming up with 'Plan B' perhaps some time at a commercial climbing gym, or an afternoon at the indoor pool, can you do a lock-in at your meeting place?

If all else fails we have canceled campouts as well.

-Phil

Have to echo the sediments on the French Press.

I have the java kit for the Jet Boil and its worth the weight for that fast first cup of morning coffee.

Got banned from making coffee in my former office, folks claimed I stood a few too many Coast Guard Mid-watches. No complaints from the current office yet.

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

Excerpt from the Brown Sea Scout Craft File. From the pictures I'm guessing the era to be late 60's to early 70's.

Fuzz Stick Relay

Equipment: For each patrol one sharp knife and one stick of dry, soft wood about 1/2" x 1" x 9".

Action: Each patrol lines up in relay formation opposite equipment. On signal Scout No. 1 runs up and cuts one sliver on stick, lays knife down and runs back to touch off No. 2 Scout, who runs up - and so on. Slivers should be at least 3" long 20 slivers, all attached complete the fuzz stick.

Scoring: First patrol to finish scores 10 points. Best fuzz stick scores 30 points, the next best 15 points.

Variation 1 - Instead of having each player cut one sliver, players cut three or four slivers.

Variation 2 - To very scoring, take off 5 points for each sliver that is cut off the fuzz stick and see how many patrols end up in the "red".

I'm glad I scanned those pages again refreshed some ideas to plug into the PLC's collective heads

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

As a rule I make a strong attempt to not to use profranity around the scouts and will call the scouts if I hear them using them freely.

That being said last summer when I "found" a tree root with soft shoe covered middle toe late at night (Broken in two places) the scouts knew without any doubt that it wasnt just another first aid drill.

To paraphrase one of the younger scouts "I didnt think you knew how use "those words" so well!"

AK-Eagle

We have a yearly winter survival campout "Frostbite Challenge" in March, an adjustment we made is to have crossover in April, this has two good points. First it eliminates the possible bad feelings about not making the cut for Frostbite, Second even in Juneau the weather in April is a bit more moderate than March which could still pass for winter in many parts of the lower 48

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

Our district extends about 400 miles as the raven flies from Sitka, Alaska to Cordova Alaska the catch? Most of the communities are not connected to each other by road the only way to travel between them is by air or sea.

Round table meetings are held in Juneau with a phone conference connecting the outlaying cities.

District wide camporees with multiple communities do happen but not on a regular basis mostly we see each other at summer camp that is when our main O.A. ordeal happens as well

Business with the council office is mostly done by phone, email, or snail mail as it is 600 air miles away unless someone just happens to be headed that way on other business.

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster

Troop 700

Juneau AK

Just a few here..

Dungeness crab Just pulled out of the water and into a pot of boiling water sometimes while still in the boat.

King Crab Ditto

Dolly Varden Fresh out of the water gutted and gilled then roasted over a open fire or coated in spices and wrapped in foil and set into the coals.

Cutthroat Trout Ditto

Salmon You got it just read the above instructions for open fire or foil..

My smoking methods are trade secrets

AK-Eagle

I agree the yearly need to train and remind on poisonous plants especially the make you dead or make you miserable plants

One example of the deadly found here and the lower 48; False Hellebore, aka Green False Hellebore, aka False Hellborne, aka Indian Poke, aka Bear Corn, aka Corn Lily, Etc.

Wild Parsnip has a cousin in name here in Alaska, Cow Parsnip, aka Indian Celery, aka Poochski, yep its spelled that way.

I looked up wild parsnip and cow parsnip and from the photos they appeared to be different plants but they have very similar effects on skin, I have experience in the Alaskan variety's that have resulted in pus filled blisters, deep wounds that healed slowly local first aid lore says to get the effected area out of direct sun, rinsed well with COLD water, then allow to dry.

Thus ends my contribution to poisonous plant ID thread

AK-Eagle

aka Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau AK

Another good book to have in your inventory

Beating the Odds on Northern Waters

by Susan Clark Jensen and Jerry Dzugan

Targeted towards the commercial fishing industry but has good information for anyone who plays outside.

It can be purchased through the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) by calling 907-747-3287 the cost is $15 including parcel post mailing anywhere in the U.S.

They also have a website that has more books and course materials including a K-12 curriculum for teaching cold water safety and survival.

http://www.amsea.org/products.html

AK-Eagle

aka Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

Something we tried last year is having the crossover on a friday evening and then going on a campout that night with lots of run up to the event it worked well enough we are doing it again this year

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

Just in case you missed it our own Hops a moderator here turned 18 I'm sure you'll join me in welcoming him to the roles of adult leadership.

AK-Eagle

aka

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

Heres some information

http://eng.scouting2007.org/activities/

Here's where to get the centenary badge since BSA seems to be ignoring it the actual badge is waaaay down the list

http://www.scouting.outdoors.ltd.uk/acatalog/centenary_of_scout_1907_2007.htm

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

Well Gonzo has got the Southeast corner of the nation covered I'll volunteer for my area of the last frontier. If you are taking an Alaska Cruise or have business that takes you to Juneau, Alaska fire me a PM and I'll get in contact perhaps get you into places that normal tourists only see from a distance.

YIS

Phillip Martin

aka AK-Eagle

Scoutmaster

Troop 700

Juneau Alaska(This message has been edited by AK-Eagle)

I'm there now

Phil

aka

AK-Eagle

Around here we find the Lenni Lenape Costume to be a bit lacking in the warmth department we go with a local theme the current custumes were hand made sometime during the early 60's

Phillip Martin

aka

AK-Eagle

I'll add to the chaos

1. A Patrol Leader saying "I learned this in NYLT..."

2. A Commissioner saying "I was just thinking.."

3. A Professional saying "Trust me..."

4. A Eagle Scout chuckling "Watch this..."

5. A Scoutmaster saying "Where's the duct tape?"

YIS

Phillip Martin

aka

AK-Eagle

Scoutmaster Troop 700

Juneau Alaska

Unless I misunderstood the professional scouter that told me last month that new pant is the new field uniform (Class A, sorry uniform police) pant not an activity pant.

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster

Troop 700

Juneau Alaska(This message has been edited by AK-Eagle)

I like a good mix of planned activities and fun time loosely planned stuff that the scouts can get into. "Who out there thinks their patrol/troop can lash together a trebuchet that can toss a waterballoon further than anyone else? A target? how about the camp director's cabin". ;-)

Free time is good too keep it simple and safe.

AK-Eagle