End of Centennial Merit badge program

Well, it's December 19th and the year is quickly coming to an end. Did you know that until 1952, scout leaders could earn their Eagle scout award, after that you had to earn it before your 18th birthday. Man, I wish they would have held off a little longer, now that I'm beginning to see the beauty of the scout program, I think I could get my Eagle without my parents pushing (that I didn't get). Now to the point:

We've been working on the Carpentry and Pathfinding merit badges for the last couple months. Most of the boys have paid for their birdhouse parts and supplies. Most parents have printed the merit badge books from the 1920's for their sons to read. All we have to do now is have your sons really learn the things they have been 'introduced' to and show they are deserving of the merit badge. To accomplish this, they need to schedule an appointment with me to pass off the requirements. I will be setting aside personal time to meet with them so they can 'show' me their stuff. I would suggest fathers (or mothers), work with their sons on the requirements and make sure they are able to explain, do, show, or whatever the requirements are for these merit badges, and have them give me a call to set up a time. I will meet with them anytime during the next 10 days if my schedule works out. I will schedule Wednesday, December 29th, for the last night that they can earn these merit badges. If they come that night unprepared, they will not have an opportunity to pass them off before the end of the year. So, please work with your son to prepare and pass off these two merit badges. Don't let him not get these easy merit badges.

* Learn the skills as shown in the merit badge books - minimum is to read the book.
* Do the things in the requirements and demonstrate you know and did these things.
* Pay for your birdhouse supplies.
* Make appointment with me to show your stuff.

We'll be working on new merit badges the first of January. Some required merit badges like First Aid and Communications are on the list.

On another note, did you know that the Eagle rank wasn't created until one year after the scout program started in 1910 and that all you had to be was a 1st Class scout and earn 21 merit badges. That year they created the Life, Star and Eagle ranks and the first 12 Eagle scouts didn't have to earn the Life and Star ranks, just the 1st class. Life was so much easier back then.

Happy scouting

December 8th, 2010 Troop meeting

Wow, we had 100% boys in uniforms tonight and a couple were wearing scout pants as well. That really helps us play the game the right way. We worked on the Pathfinding merit badge and discussed the various roads around the area, like Mountain Road, Highway 193, 89, Hillfield Road, I-84, South Weber Drive, 475, etc. The boys didn't know these roads had names or they didn't really know where they were. This is good stuff for the boys and they really are learning something.

Just a reminder, I would stronger encourage the boys to get a copy of the Carpentry and Pathfinding merit badge books. I sent this PDF link to everyone this past Sunday. If you want your son to really be prepared to pass this badge off in the next couple weeks, then having this book and having read it, would be an A+ type adventure. We're trying to create an opportunity for the boys to excel in something that is a little foreign to them. Help them along with these two merit badges. This will set a foundation for future achievements in your son's life.

Plan - next week we'll be covering the history of South Weber for Pathfinding, as well as nailing boards together with nails. If your son missed a meeting, then they may have missed something we discussed on these merit badges. He will have to figure it out on his own and using the merit badge books will certainly help. We can only do so much, but when it comes time to 'passing off' the merit badge, the scout will have to do exactly what the requirements say. Rather than pass the boys off on the merit badges as a group, our goal is for the boys to pass the requirements off at the counselors house prior to the end of the year. I would challenge each boy to quickly gain the knowledge and skills and take the initiative to set up that appointment with myself.

Thanks Sister Williams for showing up before our meeting with treats. What a life-saver. It would have been a real disappointment to not have treats for the boys on the night that we had 100% in uniform.

Also, we were missing a number of scouts tonight. Seven scouts was great, but we welcome every young man in the Deacon's quorum to our activity night. They are making great memories and doing it in a positive environment.

100th Anniversary Trapper Trails Year End Extravaganza

The scoutmaster volunteered to display his collection of scout books at this last event for the 100th anniversary. Many people were found viewing the books. A couple weeks before, the scoutmaster made another trek to the top of Mt. Ogden with his son, a former scout, who had hiked as a youth to the top when he was 12/13.

Court of Honor - September 2010

The Cedar Bench Ward scout groups had a combined court of honor, hosted by the Boy Scout Troop. Awards were given out after a slide show of the activities for the 100th year of BSA was shown. We had 3 displays of scout books, songs and a couple dutch ovens.

Fall Encampment 2010 - 100th Anniversary Event

This weekend our troop took the opportunity to participate with the Trapper Trails Council as one of hundreds of troops celebrating the 100th annivesary year of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America by camping at North Fork. What a beautiful time of year and the temperature was very comfortable for this time of year. We arrived about 4:30 and was the first troop to arrive, so we had our pick of the campgrounds. We had a great spot with a couple tables for eating, water and a restroom. Six scouts made it to the campout; Eric McEntire SPL, Michael Williams ASPL, Ethan Willden, Nate Mitchel, Harrison Tanner and Stetson Sweatfield and his dad Cory. The scouts brought up their evening meals. Some hoping to cook potatoes in the fire (45 minutes in the over, 5 minutes in a microwave, forever in a campfire!), bacon/tomatoe sandwiches, as well as ravioli, fried zuchinni and packaged soup. Each person did their own thing. Our scout master did a fantastic cobbler that was emptied by the scouts - a combo of cherry, peach and apple pie fillings, 1 1/2 boxes of yellow cake mix, 1 can sprite and sprinkled heavily with cinnamon. It was topped by whip cream in a can. Our troop did a skit, with Michael Williams the star of the night, bringing large laughs and claps from all. The Walmart shovel skit was a natural for Michael. Saturday morning brought scrambled eggs and sausage mixed together, along with pancakes and hot chocolate. Flag ceremony and 7 stations of games and events rounded out the morning. Scouts participate in orienteering, fire building, Order of the Arrow introductions and hatchet throwing. We ended the day with sub sandwiches, all of which was coordinated by Eric McEntire, who was working on his First Class rank.

Beus Canyon Hike - July 10th

The troop met at 6:30 for a hike up Beus Canyon. Six scouts plus a friend came - not sure where the other eight scouts are this trip. We had some scouts who didn't make the Malen's peak hike, so this was a challenging hike. We had two dads come with us, Bret Olsen and Bentley McEntyre, along with Dave Tyler, our scouting representative. We started hiking at 7:10 and brother Tyler and McEntyre, along with Erik were out ahead heading for the top. The other six scouts made it about 2 - 2 1/2 miles up and then headed back. I was ahead of the middle group, trying to motivate them to come ahead, but they couldn't do it. They saw the leaders way up above on the trail and it was just too hard looking, so they turned around. I decided to hike on and go to the summit. I arrived at the summit just as the first group was heading down. We spoke for a moment and they were off. I struggled up the last few hundred feet to get to the top, almost fainting as I climbed. I reached the top and took in the view. I visited with another hiker, who was the son of Mr. Allred, who usedto teach at South Weber Elementary. Off the top, I found a shady place on the cut road and made my submarine sandwich, with chips and drink. Then I headed down about 1:30. I ran out of water near the headwaters of Birch Creek, so I filled up my Camelback and had enough for the hike down. It was hot and I would have struggled without the water. I should have had my water pump or some fresh pills for disinfecting. We'll see if I got my water from a pure source or not. I arrived home around 5 pm. I suspect all the others made it home, in that none of them were waiting for this old scoutmaster. No rattlesnakes on the trail, just wildflowers. The breeze was blowing and it kept things a little cool but it was a hot hike down. Later I found out the Mike Woolsey would have loved to have hiked to the summit. I should have stayed with the scouts and let him go ahead. We need to discuss who wants to absolutely go and who doesn't mind hanging back. Lessons learned. Also, two camelbacks is not too much on this long hike in July. Earlier in the year may be easier on the water usage. A pump would solve a lot of problems.

Malen's Peak Hike

We had a great group of scouts head to Malen's Peak on a beautiful Spring day. We passed a Mr. Peterson on the way up - the man who hikes Malen's every day. He's hiked to the peak 3-4 thousand times in his life. He lives in Pleasant View, so it is a drive everyday to the foot of the hill. Our boys did great. Some had no problem getting to the top while others had to be pushed and pulled. But we made it and many experienced something that many in the valley never will.