AK-Eagle

What can you do on a snow camp? Nearly everything you can do on a camp in summer! Follow animal tracks in fresh snow, have a patrol grab a canoe and drag, carry, or pull it up a slope and ride it like a toboggan with the entire patrol onboard, well up to six if they are small , go for a night/sunrise hike with snowshoes or cross country skis keep the flashlights, torches to you, off as much as possible, if you have never been in snow country at night with just natural light you are going to be surprised just how light it can be. Dont forget your camera and extra film.

A quinzee is also called a snow cave they are best made in well-packed snow. Correctly made they can reach a comfortable 40f/4c with just a few candles for heat, like Acco40 said much warmer than a tent. Talk to the ski patrol at one of the ski areas down your way they should be able to link you up with someone that can make them well they also can come up with activities to do in the snow.

Bear in mind camping in snow is a challenge compared to the rest of the camping season budget more time to complete even simple tasks. The buddy system important anyhow becomes paramount in winter/snow. Start training the scouts for this campout months ahead of time especially in recognizing cold weather injuries and treatment.

This summer or autumn get a 5-gallon/18 liter pickle bucket fill it with a mixture of ice and water now add a couple dozen sets of nuts, bolts, and washers disassembled. Have the scouts put both hands in the water and start assembling the hardware underwater. Set a time limit very soon their hands will get cold and theyll find their coordination slipping away.. There is nothing like a good chill to get your attention.

Any questions feel free to email me

YIS

Phillip Martin

aka AK-Eagle

pmartin@gci(dot)net

Well this isnt a knife story but it might qualify as a stupid scouter story...

After a great campout at the Dan Moller Cabin near Juneau, Alaska we prepared to make the 3.5 mile hike back down to town. I warned the scouts about horseplay on the boardwalk sections of trail because the recent rains had made them slippery. All had gone well until into the last mile when I slipped and fell on a section of boardwalk landing sitting on my left foot. Knowing I was hurt but figuring (hoping) it was only a sprain I had the scouts wrap it with duct tape it tightly over the boot and pant leg. Borrowing a scouts hiking stick I hobbled slowly down to the trail head.

Convinced by one of the moms we went to the emergency room where the nurse in charge who saw me hobble in and said "Its only a sprain you sure you want to wait for the doctor? Well by this time I could feel extra movement in the leg that shouldn't be there so I asked to see the doc.

The doctor came in, took a look at the field brace the scouts made and said "I'm impressed they did a good job". He too thought it was only a sprain because of the "ease" I could walk but humored me with an x-ray. When the x-rays came back he said "Now I am impressed! You walked around on that." A few inches above the ankle joint I had a closed, compound spiral fracture of the tibia and similar stress but no break to the fibula. Two days later surgery put my leg back together and I spent three months in a wheel chair. Two days after the cast finally came off I was on another hike (different trail)

I still carry a plate and 5 screws in the leg and yes I do feel them on cold mornings.

What I learned from this... While I should of stayed off the leg after the fall I dont see the scouts carrying me out of the woods on a improvised stretcher. A better plan would be to send a couple of runners to the trailhead to get help and/or carry a cell phone or vhf radio to call for help sending the runners to meet the rescue team and guide them in.

Just when you start to wonder if the scouts are paying attention, a story like this comes along.

http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/080104/new_080104new001001.shtml

Phil

AK-Eagle

Trail's End is in no way related to the BSA. National BSA does not receive a dime nor does it endorse the sale. It is not a national sale. Trail's End is the upper echelon of the Weaver popcorn company. They make most of the Crackerjacks sold. Trails End is sold only by the BSA.

Councils are free to chose whatever vendor they want. The profits are split between the unit and the council. That benefits both.

Popcorn is a good product because it is consumed and will renew buyers. First Aid kits will sit and sit. Why buy one when you haven't used the first.

Normally our unit's sales just cover the costs of rechartering which just seems to happen in the same frame.

Porpane lanterns not allowed at Jambo? Can anyone confirm that and if so the logic behind it?

AK-Eagle

Seen over a first aid kit in a machine shop I worked at once....

"Dumb questions can prevent dumb mistakes"

I think it's placement was the strongest part of the message

Phil

The best seasoning trick I've found after the scrubbing down and light oiling is to a couple of batches of fried chicken. After all that work you gotta eat something.

Phil

Around here most of the cubs already know the basic rules of football. Try to go with as few rules as possible.

Some rule ideas

Four downs to make a touchdown, especially good on a smaller than regulation field.

After a score the ball is drop kicked or thrown from goal line and played from where it is recovered again small field idea

Four Mississippi before the rush (one man rush?)

Thats all I got for now

Phil

Congrats on the aquatics director job

I'm speaking on my experience as an aquatics director and as a current scoutmaster.

On your question on requirements make sure the scouts know what the requirement is, have one of your staff demonstrate the requirement and give the scouts all the time possible to meet it. Nothing says they have to get it right the first time if they are showing signs of frustration skip it and go to another and come back to it later, even next day if possible. I was known to have scouts in the water up to the time the parents were arriving Saturday to pick them up. Talk about incentive Still there are going to be scouts who wont or cant meet the requirement. Be gentle but firm tell them where they are coming up short. There is always next summer.

Swimming instruction, dont take swimming instruction lightly; this can be a really big deal to an 11-12 year old to go from non-swimmer or beginner to swimmer. Once you get them into the water and comfortable look at the first class swimming requirements and work backwards. Start with floating, progress to resting backstroke, forward strokes and lastly jumping into deep water. Get as much one on one between your staff and the scouts as possible. Put those lifeguard BSA candidates to work. I had one scout that took three summers just to pass the swimmer requirements. It wasnt for lack of effort rather a lack of body mass and strength youd be hard pressed to find a scout that was happier than that one that day. I can take a boat out now! Oh yeah and I can get First class!!

Now a couple of strange ideas

The clothes inflation requirement I demonstrated by wearing a full long sleeved uniform shirt, uniform pants, hiking boots, cowboy hat (sorry bobwhite) and a backpack with about 20 lbs of dead weight. Mind you we practiced this during staff week with an empty pack at first. While under water I would ditch the pack and my boots. To say the least it impressed the scouts to see me pop back up to the surface and complete the clothes inflation. No I didnt make them wear a pack when they did it.

Free swims, Offer the troop not just a hour of getting wet and being loud but perhaps a few minutes of skill instruction or learn a game other than Marco-polo or sharks and minnows. Sometime since the great flood there was a requirement in the Swimming MB to enter the water swim a distance (forgotten) and exit without making noise. Challenge the scouts to do that by sneaking up on a guard on the far side of the pool or pier.

Well thats enough for tonight.

YIS

Phil

AK-Eagle

I normally carry a weather proof butane lighter in my pocket. But I keep waterproof matches in a sealed container in my survival kit.. They wont run out of fuel.

YIS

Phil

Here in the temperate rain forest of southeast Alaska we go with the infamous cheap blue tarps but not just for a dining fly. we cover sections of our car camping campsite kitchen, dining area, and if the weather is looking really wet over the tents and the campfire.

Yes over the fire, we use a older tarp for that. We haven't flambed one yet but have added spark holes when a scout got a little carried away adding wood. The trick is the tarp usually 20'x40' is 15-20 feet overhead. Use light nylon twine that is strung over tree limbs and secured to ground and bright surverors tape to mark the lines! Everything comes down when it is time to go home.

For those with LNT concerns as long as you don't reef hard on the lines they won't dig deep into the bark of the trees.

YIS

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 21

Juneau Alaska

I have a couple of ideas most work well in the boy led method

1. Ask the PLC to hold a special election for summer SPL.

2. Ask the SPL to appoint his summer replacement.

This last one works against boy led somewhat but the results can be worth it.

3. "Select and direct" preferably a scout that is in need of a POR for advancement or that shy scout that seems to hover around the fringe but never really steps into the fray of leadership.

Just my .02

Phil

Just a quick note,

Running away is the last thing you want to do with a bear stand your ground fight if it is a black bear or curl into a ball and wait it out if it is a grizzly.

In some areas of Canada you are required by law to carry a high power rifle for bear protection.

So far this spring here in southeast Alaska we've had two bear attacks on people one was a wounded brown (grizzly) bear going after the hunting guide. The guide was seriously injured. The other was a black bear going into a occupied tent the camper was chased out of the tent's new back door around a tree a few times when cornered he punched the bear! then used a compressed air horn to alert (wake up) the other campers that noise managed to scare the bear off the camper suffered only minor injuries.

Becareful out there.

Phil

sang to the tune It ain't going to rain no more.....

Oh _____________ is our bugler....

He bugles very well

but when he bugles reveille

We wish he were in ... bed.

Phil

Scoutman_73

Tell us his first name and troop number and I'll place a log on our campfire this weekend in his memory. Pass on to your troop Condolences from the Scouts and Leaders of Troop 21, Juneau Alaska.

YIS

Phil

I bought a Guidelite last summer and I'm very happy with it. works well in temps down to 15f.

YIS

AK-Eagle

Add another geezer to the list

Been playing the scouting game since 1971 when I joined Cub Scouts, continued on to boy scouts in Troop 5 Corning, CA where I received Eagle Scout in 1978 and was bestowed with a Vigil Honor sash by the Tehama Lodge #485 in 1985. I was asked to take on the reins as scoutmaster of Troop 21 here in Juneau in the year 1999 and been trying to get that right ever since I'll be sure to let you know if I ever do

YIS

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 21

Juneau Alaska

Add another geezer to the list

Been playing the scouting game since 1971 when I joined Cub Scouts, continued on to boy scouts in Troop 5 Corning, CA where I received Eagle Scout in 1978 and was bestowed with a Vigil Honor sash by the Tehama Lodge #485 in 1985. I was asked to take on the reins as scoutmaster of Troop 21 here in Juneau in the year 1999 and been trying to get that right ever since I'll be sure to let you know if I ever do

YIS

Phillip Martin

Scoutmaster Troop 21

Juneau Alaska

Gday Y'all,

I was at the 2001 Australian Jamboree when the "new and improved" inform were first introduced. People there were told the uniforms were the ones selected by a panel of scout aged youth from various areas of Australia not scouts themselves but youth of scout age as well as scouts and scouter's although no one seemed to know of anyone who was asked and scouting HQ wasn't saying.

The reaction by scouts and venture was universal, to put it politely "YUCK" Leaders thought it made a decent looking activity uniform but as a formal uniform to be presented a Queen's Scout award it came up short. The reaction by those at scouting HQ was "This is the new uniform get used to it"

If the uniform folks at BSA are watching this thread please, please, pleeeeease Don't do this at home!

AK-Eagle

Checking in from the state of Alaska

Canyon289,

Bob has some great ideas here is my two cents worth.

Make up a itemized list of what you are going to need to complete the project consumable; nails, wood, paint, etc. nonconsumable; hammers, shovels, safety gear, etc. and services; dump trucks, backhoe, etc.

The nonconsumable stuff you should be able to get on loan or have the volunteers provide it when they show up

Present the lists to your troop committee hopefully they should be able to give you leads on who can provide what or start asking around at the local hardware stores service clubs etc.

Hope that helps and doesn't sound too scary

YIS

AK-Eagle

Baumholder West Germany 1982-1983

Next time you are wondering why the policy says no liquid fuels to start fires think of the following from the KINY radio website. BTW this was not a scouting activity I just thought it would make good reading material.

Haines area man dies of injuries sustained in fire

The man severely burned when a wood stove exploded at his Chilkat Lake cabin near Haines Tuesday night had died at a Seattle hospital.

Gene Stuart, who was 62, passed away at 7:30 Thursday morning due to complications from his injuries, according to State Troopers.

State Troopers have determined that Stuart was re-lighting a wood fire in the stove by tossing some

diesel fuel on the wood. Troopers think there must have an ember in the stove that caused the fuel to explode and spray Stuart.

The fire quickly spread and totally consumed the cabin.

Friends at the cabin were instrumental in getting Stuart to drop and roll, putting the fire out on his clothes, and then getting him out of the cabin before it burned down.

Burn injuries to his lungs resulted in his death. The investigation is continuing.

Stuart was transported to Juneau Tuesday night from Haines by a Coast Guard helicopter.

He was later transported via commercial air service to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.

(This message has been edited by AK-Eagle)

I have a patrol that uses patrol emblems from the Australian scouts Spider patrol

YIS

Phil

I use a headnet when the bugs get bad and DEET on the cuffs of pants and shirts.

In and around camp I use the bug coils.

Couple of years ago I heard rumors of bears being attracted to citonella scent Don't know myself if that is true or not. will keep a eye open for more news on that.

Phil