Woodbadge for the 21st Century

The next Wood Badge class is quickly approaching. This program is a leadership course that is open to all registered Scout leaders. This includes committee members. Wood Badge is the premiere adult leadership training program of the BSA and is recognized by Scouting organizations around the world. Daniel Boone Council only offers Wood Badge every other year and this year it will be offered at Camp Daniel Boone.

As Scoutmaster, I would like to encourage all adult leaders including committee members to consider taking this training. It will help you to better understand the BSA program as well as help you develop new skills that will benefit you in your Scouting position. What I like about the program is that you are placed into patrols and function as a patrol throughout the program. I believe it will help everyone understand how troop dynamics should work.

The only prerequisite is that you be trained for YOUR scouting position. If you need to know if you meet these requirements I will be glad to help you find out. The cost of the program is $210. You can receive a $25 discount however if you apply and pay in full by December 31st. The fee includes all your meals, course materials and your recognition items. There are a few scholarships available. If you need to apply for one of these I can put you in contact with Chris Morgan, course director.

To register, you need to fill our a registration form that I can provide for you or you can register on-line by going to the council website at www.danielboonecouncil.org, select Training, and go to the Wood Badge option.

 I hope you will consider this exciting training opportunity!

POPCORN ORDERS HAVE ARRIVED

If you sold popcorn, please be at scouts Monday night, November 19th to pick up your order for distribution.  Ms. Shirley will give you specific dates on when the money is due to be turned in, but please be sure to pick up your order no later than tomorrow evening at scouts.  Thank you!

Upcoming November Campout

This month's campout will be at Camp Daniel Boone from Nov. 9th to Nov. 11th.  We will be meeting at Pinnacle Church at 5pm on Friday to go out to camp.  Saturday morning in Ledbetter Lodge we will be participating in an Eagle Ceremony for Joe Grasty. Full Class A uniform is REQUIRED for all Scouts and Scouters attending.





Click on this link to find out about the Boy Scout 10 Essentials:
http://scoutingmagazine.org/2004/03/the-10-essentials/

Wilderness Survival Merit Badge

The focus for the month of November is Wilderness Survival. For anyone who needs to build a shelter to satisfy requirement 8, we will be building shelters on Saturday and staying in them Saturday night. If you already have this requirement and want to go anyways then please feel free to build another shelter and come along with the rest us just for the fun of it.



Requirements:

1. Show that you know first aid for, and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur in backcountry settings, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebites.
2. From memory, list the seven priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location. Explain the importance of each one with your councelor.
3. Discuss ways to avoid panic and maintain a high level of morale when lost, and explain why this is important.
4. Describe the steps you would take to survive in the following conditions:

   a. Cold and snowy

   b. Wet (forest)

   c. Hot and dry (desert)

   d. Windy (mountains or plains)

   e. Water (ocean, lake, or river)

5. Put together a personal survival kit and explain how each item in it could be useful
6. Using three different methods (other than matches), build and light three fires.
7. Do the following:

   a. Show five different ways to attract attention when lost.

   b. Demonstrate how to use a signal mirror.

   c. Describe from memory five ground-to-air signals and tell what they mean.

8. Improvise a natural shelter. For the purpose of this demonstration, use techniques that have little negative impact on the environment. Spend a night in your shelter.
9. Explain how to protect yourself from insects, reptiles, and bears.
10. Demonstrate three ways to treat water found in the outdoors to prepare it for drinking.
11. Show that you know the proper clothing to wear in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and in extremely cold weather.
12. Explain why it usually not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.

October Campout & Apple Fest

 

This month we camped at Pinnacle Church down by thr river.  Each of our patrols stayed in their own campsites and made great progress on clearing out the brush and making it their own. On Saturday everybody went up to the Apple Festival in Waynesville and helped out by bagging apples, handing out samples, and answering questions.