Fourth Boy Scout high-adventure base set to open in 2013

You’ve hiked through Philmont, set sail at Florida Sea Base, and paddled around Northern Tier. You’ve done it all, right?

Not anymore. Coming in 2013 is the BSA’s fourth high-adventure base, called The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. The 10,600-acre property will host rappelling, mountain biking, and—a first for a BSA high-adventure base—whitewater rafting.

The Summit is made possible in part by a $50 million contribution from the Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation. That’s the largest single donation in BSA history.

The Summit will host future national jamborees and represents an attractive possible location for future world jamborees, as well.

You can read all about the exciting new Scouting venue in the January-February issue of Scouting magazine. But if you’re itching to know more now, check out these links:

• The BSA’s official release about the announcement.
• A local take from a West Virginia news station.
• Another local story from a West Virginia newspaper.

Construction will start in spring 2010, and then the countdown begins.

via: halfeagle

In Boy Scouts character is built, so maybe we need bright yellow caution signs with Character Under Construction in big bold letters on them. Character is built by guiding the boys to live by the scout oath and scout law. One word missing from both that is equally important is respect. If we have no respect for ourselves, family, friends or our community, then the words in the scout oath and law are meaningless. As scout leaders we help build character by teaching scouts to not just memorize the oath and law, but to learn and live by them. I’m always asking scouts during a scoutmaster conference to explain how they live by the scout oath and law. I usually get the standard answers like, “I’m clean, I take showers every day, and I’m trustworthy, my dog trust that I’ll feed him”, so we discuss it a little more.

As leaders we need to post our yellow under construction signs and let our communities know we have

Character Under Construction.

We’ll be headed to Enchanted Rock this weekend for some climbing and rappelling. Mother Nature looks like she’ll be providing the perfect weekend, middle 70’s during the day and middle 50″s at night. I’ll have my favorite troop leaders there with me and a couple others that are unable to join will be missed. We’ll also have about a dozen boys along with two of our crew members helping with the climb. Their reward? Eating with the adults and having our 5 star dutch oven cooking!

Climb On!

Thank a Veteran today, give them a hug, shake their hand, buy them a drink. Show your appreciation for their sacrifice to our country.

Political correctness has been killing truth, and common sence. It now looks like it has killed soldiers. As of today I am declaring war on Policital Correctness! I encourage all my friends to join me in this war. When you hear or see anyone with PC speech, stop them, and demand plain truth.

Our prayers go out to the families of the 13 who died at Ft. Hood this week. We hope for a speedy recovery for all that were wounded and the brave woman police officer that shot down the shooter. Thank you to all of you who have and are defending our Great country.

 What exactly do Webelos base their decision on when deciding which Boy Scout troop to join. I guess it depends. If the young scout lives in an area where there is only one troop, well I guess the decision is easy. What if they live in an urban area where there is a Scout troop on almost every corner. Do they decide on the activities the troop likes to do, is their decision based on where siblings or relatives are at, follow their friends to the troop of their choice, or do some parents make the decision for them?                      All of the above. I have watched this happen year after year.

 I believe that decision should be left up to the scout. When I hear parents and leaders tell me the boys will go to a troop as a group because they believe they should stay together, it makes me cringe. Thats great, but that troop may not be THE right troop for all of the boys. Ok, look at it this way, when they graduate high school, are they all going to go to the same college? After college, are they all going into the same careers and work for the same company’s? Or better yet will they all join the same branch of the service and stay in the same patrol to fight for our country? If thats the case lets change their scout uniforms to sheep costumes, retire the scoutmaster and get a sheep dog to heard them instead of leading them.

What is important is that they make their own choice to which troop they join and be encouraged by their parents to be in scouting. By letting them make an independent choice we will end up with stronger leaders and better citizens in the future. You never know, they just might one day become an Eagle Scout and do some incredible things in their life.

I’m always looking out for new way’s to go lighter when backpacking, camping, or just hiking.  I have found something new. Colgate Wisp. A very small lightweight toothbrush with toothpaste built in with a toothpick at the other end.  I take 3 to 6 these in my pack now depending on how long I’ll be gone. Six together weigh and take up less room in my pack as opposed to a traditional tooth brush and toothpaste. After eating  just brush, no water, no mess, then pack out and dispose of later.

It’s only a lump on a length of line,

A snarl in a place of string.

But properly tied, by a practised hand,

It becomes such a beautiful thing.

It is square. It is round. It can slip or hold fast.

That depends on the job that’s required.

But when it’s complete, all tucked in and neat,

It is really a sight to admire.

We splice it or hitch it.  Make becket or bend,

Tie a gromet, an eye or chain,

Make a sling or a sinnet, a noose or a net, And none of them looks quite the same.

Be it useful or fancy, for work or display,

If it’s used once or twice or a lot. There’s nothing quite like it to make you feel proud,

Than knowing that you tied a knot.

The knots that I learned under canvis and pine,

At Scout camps in days long ago,

Are as handy today as they were in my youth,

But back then I just didn’t know …

That those lumps on a line and those snarls in a string,

Would linger and not be forgot,

And foster a love for more knowledge and skill,

As I struggle to learn one more knot.

Let the climbing begin! Tonight, our three climbing instructors (self included) started our course to re-certify for another two years as climbing instructors. Sadly, what was to become our fourth won’t be able to join us. We’ll miss him!