Troop 1 Blog

A little over a year ago, I wrote a blog entry about excellence in Scouting. Since that time the national office has launched a nationwide initiative titled “Journey to Excellence” in recognition of the critical importance of moving our Scouting programs to a level of excellence.  In my original blog, I wrote about the two Troop 1 groups that achieved, in my estimation,  a level of greatness.

The first group was in the period of the mid 1970′s until the early 1980′s. The second group would occur a few years later, around 1987.  The group came together much like the earlier group. A group of very energetic and talented sixth graders formed the nucelus. Friends tend to attract friends with like interests, which can be good or bad. In this case, we soon found this core group was joined by several incoming Webelos from Pack 1. The troop was in a good position to grow. These Scouts brought interested parents with them who were willing to step up to take key leadership positions.

Soon, the troop program began to grow in response to this new energy. The troop embarked on backpacking trips to tge Red River Gorge, the National Air Force Museum and rode on the Amtrak Cardinal for a week long tour of Washington D.C. More than that, this was a group that embraced Scouting and sparkled with creativity.  Our troop videos of the period record a very playful, spirited group that had no hesitation in displaying its quick wit in front of the camera. The troop meetings reflected this enthusiasm and included a variety of new activities. In one meeting, a crime was carefully staged in front of the Scouts witnesses. The scouts helped the police volunteers to find the suspect who was later brought to a mock trial. 

Success tends to breed success and this was indeed the case. As news of the program spread, it attracted other new Scouts to replace those who were aging out. The troop saw a surge in advancement and several Scouts would earn the rank of Eagle Scout during this period. The troop was recognized at the annual banquet of the area Chamber of Commerce for its service to the community.  The troop would begin to stretch its wings even further as it took its first wilderness canoe trip into the pristine boundary waters area between the United States and Canada.

As the troop continued to grow, there was a real desire by the older youth to lauch an Explorer Post that would focus on their interests and needs. Post 1 would be reborn by the late 1980′s.

We are down to the last few hours of 2010 as this blog is being typed. A time for reflection.

This has been one of the best years that the troop has experienced in more than 15 years. This troop has been steadily growing and improving with this group of Scouts. This group reminds me in many ways of the great troops of 1976 – 1982 and 1987 through 1995.  Many of our Scouts have now reached the ranks of Eagle and Life and are providing a lot of strength to the troop.  In addition, the troop has picked up several great new additions this year.

Our activities have been exceptionally strong with over 100 different meetings and events this year. The troop has spread its wings and travelled to the National Jamboree, Williamsburg and the Air Force Museum.  There has been a lot of adventure with white water rafting, kyacking, caving, winter orienteering and flying among the activities.

History has played a major role as the Boy Scouts of America has celebrated its 100th anniversary and the troop prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday next year. The troop has led local community celebrations with its hosting of a community display, and being featured at the multi-council fall jamboree. The troop has been also featured in several newspaper articles as well as at Rotary meetings, the district recognition dinner, the council newsletter, the city council meeting, the annual Fourth of July parade and other events.

Our advancement has been solid with many Scouts positioning for the rank of Eagle. Most of our spring additions have reached the rank of First Class Scout.  Several Scouts earned many of the four historic merit badges.

Perhaps the thing that stands out the most is that this is a really good group that works well together and has a good chemistry. Our attendance has been solid and the accomplishments great this past year. A special thanks to all of the Scouts and adults who have made this year possible.  Is the best yet to come with this group. It remains to be seen but with this level of talent and committment, great things are possible.

Actually the term is Venturing – this is among the newest programs in this century old organization. Actually, it is a refinement of several senior Scouting programs that have existed for decades including Rover Scouts, Sea scouts and Explorer Scouts. Indeed, our sponsor has sponsored several of these in the past including, most recently, the regional award winning and acclaimed Explorer Post 1 in the 1990′s.

Venturing is a program aimed at high school and older youth. Is it a program whose time has arrived for us? I don’t know, but I want to begin the discussion in this blog through a question and answer format.

Why consider the formation of a Venturing unit at this time? A Venture unit, or crew as the unit is called, is designed to meet the changing needs of older youth.  High school age are ready for a more challenging program that they own in terms of planning and direction. Venturing not only broadens the opportunities but also is adapted to the skill level and more pressing time demands.

We have a large group of high school freshmen and sophomores who have been in Scouting for a number of years. They have been the very talented core of what has grown into  a very good troop.  Many have achieved or will soon (hopefully) reach the rank of Eagle Scout. However, both national experience and personal experience tells us that we will begin to lose the interest of this group to other competing opportunities. The fumes (perfume and gasoline) as well academic demands and jobs almost always leads to a lessening of time and interest in Scouting for most boys. Unless you can offer them a program that meets their need for new challenges and can hold their interest. Venturing offers the possibility of doing this. It is more than just a repeat of the traditional cycle of meetings, camping trips and summer camp.

What are the differences between a troop and a crew? There are significant differences and a lot of common elements. The crew uses an officers’ structure led by an elected president. Commonly, the post meets every other week in recognition of the growing demands on the time of the high school age student.  In addition, the unit sponsor, committee and members can decide to open the unit to female membership.

Is Coed Membership A Good Idea? As an Explorer Post adviser, I will admit that I had reservations about a coed program.  However, experience quickly taught me that the addition of female members had several beneficial aspects. First, the female members added a richness of talent and enthusiasm. Some of our best leadership came from our female leaders. Girls tend to offer a maturity and seriousness that is a little ahead of the guys at their age (sorry guys, but the good news is that most of us will eventually catch up – with a little bit of luck). The unit leadership can make the determination when and if the time is right to make the decision. The reality is that the other environments that the boys operate in such as school and church youth groups are already coed. This is probably more natural for them than most of us as parents whose sons have been active in all boy sports teams and Scouting. My experience is that many of our female members came into the program with previous extensive experience in Girl Scouting. They could more than hold their own in terms of skills and abilities. It is impressive to watch a girl portage a canoe by herself along a rugged trail while reading a book. Many units transition gradually into coed membership by having some crew activities in which they can invite guests to participate.

Can a boy hold membership in both a troop and a crew? Yes, that is a definite option. In fact, the national registration cost is reduced for dual membership.

What about advancement? The good news is that any boy who is first class rank or higher can continue working on advancement whether they are in a troop or crew.  Boys who are actively working toward Eagle often elect to stay very active with both units. In addition, the Venturing program offers a whole new set of learning and advancement opportunities leading to the prestigious Silver and Ranger Awards. These requirements are challenging than the Boy Scout requirements, reflecting an increased skill level.

Does the creation of a crew hurt the troop? The creation of a Venturing crew that is  done in careful coordination with a troop actually helps the troop.  The reality is without an option that can hold the attention of the older Scout, they will leave the unit. We are already seeing the beginnings of this restlessness of some of our older youth in its first stages. The truth is that a troop will lose these boys sooner or later to other activities. A coordinated program will retain boys in the Scouting program and will provide the troop with an invaluable source of instructors and highly motivated leadership.It is also important to keep in mind, that the development of a new crew by another unit may draw existing troop members to it. It is better for the troop to be proactive in its planning for its older youth.

What other advantages does the Venturing program provide? The venturing program opens many new avenues of opportunities. There are regional and national events such as the Winterfest in Gatlinburg which draws participants from a dozen states or the national summer Venturing event in Saint Louis. There is a local Venturing Officers Association that plans events for crews throughout the council. In addition, there are great training opportunities and Venturing camps located throughout the region. Programs such as Kodiak offer new leadership skills training. Also, the council often taps Venturing crews for leadership at council and district events. After all, they are a highly skilled and talented group of experienced leaders.

Are there disadvantages? There are areas you need to be aware of. At some point an adult leadership team separate from the troop team needs to be developed – probably by year two. Some troop leaders may opt to work primarily with the crew as they sons become more involved. At the same time, a good crew will draw in new members and new adult leadership. Some of the older youth may choose to work primarily with the crew as their interests change. However, these are the boys who typically would drop out of Scouting.  We live in a world of options, why would we not want to offer our sons another option for a good, supportive youth experience?

So, the conversation begins. What do you think?

Another year is rapidly drawing to a close. For those of us who are involved with Scouting, this has been a special and unique year. We have been celebrating our national organization’s 100th anniversary. For those of us at Troop 1, we have been in the epicenter of this activity.  Here are some of the highlights of the past year:

• The troop coordinated and hosted a southern Indiana Scouting heritage celebration at the Jeffersonville Carnegie Center in the spring.
• Our leadership authored a four full page series of Scouting history features for the Jeffersonville Evening News and the New Albany Tribune in February.
• Members of the troop did a presentation for the Jeffersonville Rotary Club.
• Provided the speaker, display and color guard for the district Recognition dinner.
• We were featured on the March cover of the Lincoln Heritage Council’s March newsletter.
• The troop was highlighted during the October bi-centennial jamboree.
• The troop was recognized by one of only a dozen Bishop’s Award of Excellence given nationwide.
• The troop and pack were recently recognized by the Jeffersonville mayor and city council during a public ceremony.
• We led the city’s Freedom parade in July.
• The troop was featured in several newspaper articles throughout the year including an article by Courier-Journal columnist Dale Moss.

This has been quite a year for this historic troop. We have been truly blessed with an excellent sponsor and outstanding Scouts, parents and Scouters. On a personal note, this has been a very special year for me as a parent as my son was presented with his Eagle Scout Award. 

Where do we go from here? On March 8, 2011, we will officially celebrate Troop 1′s 100th anniversary when Homer M. Frank held his first troop meeting at the Wall Street Episcopal Methodist Church. We still meet at the same site one hundred years later. We hope to have an official troop birthday celebration in 2011 with  participation from many of our esteemed alumuni. There will be more information on this later. The celebration is not quite over.

City Council Ceremony

The Gallup poll has just published today the results of a new poll on Boy Scouting that are intriguing. The poll indicates that of men ages 50 and older, 45% of them took part in the Boy Scouting program at some point in their life.  However, of men ages 18 to 24, only 27% of them experienced Scouting. At each age interval reported, fewer men have taken part in Scouting. One suspects that men who are not familiar with Scouting are less likely to encourage their sons or brothers to participate in the program. In many ways, these results mirror what we already know. Boy Scouting underwent a tremendous decline in membership during the late 1960′s and early 1970′s. In less than a decade, Boy Scout membership nationally plummeted almost 50% in many councils. There were a variety of reasons for this. Nevertheless, Scouting has not recovered from this decline. This clearly means that we have a lot of work to do to sell the many merits of the program and to build membership. An equally concerning statistic in Scouting is that we are losing approximately 40% of our youth members before they reach their second year of enrollment in many areas of the country. There is a wide range of discrepency between those units that retain members for long periods of time (excellent units that consistency meet the needs of their members) and units where turnover is very high. We need to focus on building stronger units with experienced and highly trained leadership.

The gallup poll news is not totally bad for Scouting. It shows that men with a Scouting background tend to be better educated and have higher salaries than non-Scouts. Is Scouting a cause or an effect of parents from higher socio-economic and better educated homes encouraging their boys to participate and remain in Scouting? The answer is that we do not know. This poll does not attempt to look at those factors.

The other encouraging news is that we are beginning to take a serious look at the impact of Boy Scouting on youth development. For an organization serving millions of youth over many decades, there has been an amazing lack of serious research into Boy Scouting – in terms of its benefits, what works and does not work. If we are truly serious about providing a world class program, we need to commit ourselves to asking the hard questions that lead us to develop programs of excellence that truly have a life long impact on those whom we serve.

You can view this gallup poll  survey at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/145187/Younger-Generations-Less-Likely-Join-Boy-Scouts.aspx

John Belski, meterologist for Louisville TV station WAVE (channel 3), announced his unexpected retirement last evening.  Much too young to retire, John’s departure will leave a big void in our community. 

There are many things that I appreciate about John. One was his kindness and consideration toward the Troop when we arranged a visit to the television station through him. It ended up being much more than we had expected when not only did we learn about weather but we were allowed to view the evening news from within the studio – just a few feet off screen from the anchors.  More than that, he spent the next hour and a half leading the group on a tour of the station and talking about weather including allowing each boy use the “green screen.”  He really had a knack of  relating with the Scouts.

I have been impressed with John in many other ways. I am admittedly a weather geek and have found his regular blog to be insightful and informative. John is an excellent teacher whose passion for his profession shows.

I am personally grateful to him for his consideration.

I was shocked to receive a telephone call from him one afternoon stating that he was going to mention my book on The Cyclone of 1917 and an upcoming book signing on the evening weather – which he did.

I have been equally impressed with him during the annual Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. As a member of the Clarksville Rotary Club, our club competes with the clubs in New Albany and Jeffersonville in a good natured competition to see which club can raise the most dollars per member toward the Angel Tree. John has always hosted the live telecast where the winner is announced.

John, thanks for helping to make this community a better place in which to live. Best wishes in your future endeavors.

Here it is – mid August, school is getting ready to begin. And it’s already time to start thinking about the troop’s plans for the summer of 2011. I am going to leave some thoughts on the forum and the blog and try to get your ideas. This is an open discussion, so join in.

Here are some options. There are many more:

(1) Return to Crooked Creek – handy (45 minute drive), easy to switch leaders out; scholarships are available. Downside – we have been there for the past five years. The older Scouts would like more of a variety. Cost around $225.

(2) Ransburg – near Bloomington, Indiana on Lake Monroe. Two hour drive. Traditional summer camp with some enhancements including horseback riding, possibility of pontoon boating, Firecrafter program. Could include the entire troop. Cost around $225.

(3) Texas High Adventure Camp near Dallas. Traditional summer camp for younger boys; high adventure for older Scouts. Both groups can participate in some themed areas like Area 51 or F-16 simulators. Older Scouts can pontoon boat from camp to camp – choose 5 different themes such as Civil War, US Rangers, Vikings, etc. In watersports for the after – wake-boarding, blob, swimming, etc. Estimated cost – $400 to $550 (depending on program selection).  2 days drive both ways.

(4) Salida, Colorado. Return trip by the troop. Spectacular Rockies. Can go to the local camps (San Isabel or Packard High Adventure) or do our own thing. The troop has done it both ways in the past. Activities include Pike’s Peak drive, GArden of the Gods, US Air Force Academy, Royal Gorge, white-water rafting on the Arkansas River, hike to the top of Mt. Elbert – highest peak in the lower 48 states at 14,300 feet; mountain biking. Estimated cost $550 to $650 depending on the options. requires strong preparation. Can be structure as an older boys’ activity or if we have enough leadership, we can structure for 2nd year and older Scouts.

(5) Boundary Waters near Ely Minnesota. Pristine wilderness. The troop has done two trips there in the past. Fantastic peak experience. You may hear wolves howl at night; lots of bear and moose. Outstanding fishing. Crystal clear night skies. We could count the satellites and see the Milky Way Cluster and the Northern Lights. Requires strong preparation. For older (13+ youth who meet minimal requirements).

What are your thoughts? What sounds good to you. Leave a comment.

It was an early start for the troop as we met at 6am for breakfast. Once again, the crew at the Hilton Garden Inn in Richmond did a fantastic job of  treating us like family as they hustled to prepare pancakes, french toast and omelets. It is both amazing and frightening to see how much teenage boys can consume.  We were thankful that the cost of the breakfast was included in the price of the rooms.

We were on the road heading for the National Jamboree by 7:00AM. It was a surprizingly easy drive in light to moderate traffic as we headed north to Fort A.P. Hill. The signage marking the route was excellent, leading us step by step. We stopped near the gates for a last minute restroom stop. It was obvious that we were not the only ones. A hand written sign on the door of the gas station/mini- grocery stated that the restrooms were only for paying customers. So everyone headed back out to the van with a drink in hand – kind of defeating the purpose of the sotp. Oh well, we were hydrated I suppose.

A line of police cars and military vehicles marked the entrance to the military base. Then it was a drive back a couple of miles into the base where we were directed to park in a large field. A ten dollar per person “donation” was requested at the entry. Doing some quick math – 200,000 visitors times $10 = ?  We did get a small patch for our “donation.” 

We arrived before the official opening time but were quickly ushered through a very efficient parking process into the Jamboree itself.  The entire scene takes some time to process. It is akin to watching rush hour traffic as hundreds of boys and adults stream down the roadway – perhaps ten across; one after another. We had been told that there were perhaps 40,000 or more Scouts and leaders present at the site on the day we visited. We made the decision to turn left at the entrance and head toward the Southern region subcamp where our council contingent was based in hopes of seeing some friends.

It didn’t take long to determine that the likelihood of reaching the far section of the site was very remote.  The Jamboree complex is huge stretching over hundreds of acres. There are all kinds of attractions along the outer road. The first display area was the military section. The U.S. military has an enormous presence at the National Jamboree. All branches of the military were well represented, many with very elaborate displays and giveaways. We were loaded up with patches and shirts

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The scouts were especially taken by the “beer googles” and the presentation on the dangers of intoxication given by the military police. Many of the Scouts staggered across a course, barely keeping from falling. The other area that had the Scouts undivided attention was the overhead ropes course. Scouts travelled across a zip line to one side of a roadway and then walked a monkey bridge back across to the other side. For many Scouts it was a real challenge with some of them slipping while crossing the monkey bridge and landing on the suspended rope in, such we say, a very awkward position. Ouch!

By the time we left the military area, it was already noon and it was on to look for the trading post and for lunch. The lines at both locations stretched back perhaps a half to a full block. We found ourselves wishing that we had packed lunches for the Scouts. There were bargains to be had at the trading post as prices had been slashed down on the next to last day of the event.

FInally, we moved on almost an hour and a half later. As we walked down the road, we passed groups of Scouts with patches spread out on blankets, eager to trade. There is a real art to patch trading. It is serious business for many collectors.  Along the road was a collection of personalities and activities. A young man played his guitar for passer-byers. Scouts and leaders dressed in all manners of clothing including historical replicas, passed by us. It was easy to spot the foreigh Scouts who represented many different nations. Most of them were in the official uniform of their home country. Almost all of the American Scouts were dressed in their Class B uniforms. We saw climbing towers, pools for SCUBA diving and pioneering displays. It was a whirlwind of activity everywhere that made you appreciative of the tremendous amount of planning required to make an event of this size and scope possible. Many of the activities were limited to the paying participants only.  Nevertheless, we only had time to sample a small portion fo the areas open to visitors.

The Scouts admire a display board featuring patches from across the nation.

It was onto the conservation area. This was an outstanding collection of displays, many of them provided by national conservation organizations and federal agencies. This was an excellent group of interactive displays and programs provided by skilled professionals who obviously enjoyed working with the Scouts. One of the most fascinating areas was the Antartica display which was manned by a gentleman who was the last Scout to be selected as the representative to live at the research station.

By the time we finished touring the conservation area, the time was nearing 5:00 PM, the time at which displays closed and the Jamboree was officially closed to visitors. We made the long trek back to the parking area, realizing that we had experienced only a fraction of what the Jamboree had to offer. But we had experienced part of the 100th Anniversary Jamboree. It is a humbling experience that makes you feel good about the future of Scouting.

Day Two of our East Coast trip found us stepping backwards into time into a period when the fate of a new nation was being determined. The troop spent much of the time visiting Colonial Williamsburg. This is a fantastic reconstruction and restoration of the capital of the Virginia territory. Virginia was at the heart of the American revolution and we had the opportunity to relive a recreated experience. Our group heard passioned pleas and calls to action from both Benedict Arnold and George Washington. We had the experience of standing in the very spots where names from our history books once stood – Washington, Adams, Jefferson and many others. It was a humbling experience that makes you appreciate the sacrifices that our ancestors made to pursue their dream of liberty.

Even though the furnishings and the decor of the Governor’s Palace and the colonial Capital are awe-inspiring, it is perhaps the protrayal of everyday life in the Virginia colony that Historic Williamsburg does best. Our Scouts visited the pharmacy where they saw the marvels of 18th Century medicine; we watched a blacksmith laboring over the fires of his hearth, sweat beading up on his brow as he hammered a piece of glowing iron. A riflesmith showed us the intricate work of his trade (I think that one of our Scouts is perhaps almost as knowledgeable).

We benefited from the interpreting skills of Al Loveless, a middle school English teacher, who guides groups during the summer. His love for teaching really shined through. He was superb in helping us to understand the workings of Colonial Virginia whether it was in a shop or a courtroom. The pages from our history books indeed seemed to come to life as we experienced the sights, sounds and smells of that period. What a remarkable day.

It was onto Chicago Uno Pizza where the manager and staff welcomed us like long lost cousins. I have to admit that all of us ate more than we should but it was good and we were hungry. It has really been fun working with this group – there is a chemistry that bonds the group very well. Tomorrow it’s onto the National Jamboree.

A young revolutionary era band performs.

The troop enjoyed a great tour in Beckly, West Virginia.

Day 1 of our East Coast trip is rapidly coming to a close. We assembled at the church at 5:30am – far too early for sensible folk. We were heading eastward before 6am – enroute to our first stop as we headed toward Virginia and the National Scout Jamboree celebrating 100 years of Boy Scouting in America.

We made excellent time on a lightly travelled I-64 despite a light rain that accompanied us much of the day all the way deep into Virginia. Each of our Scouts gets to select one of the places that we eat. We had what is sure to be our controversial pick of the week when our youngest Scout chose Long John Silver’s much to the dismay of many of the adults. Oh well, Tums works wonders. The Scouts seem to have an immunity to the fried food.

We made a truly great stop in Beckley, West Virginia where we toured the exhibition coal mine and mining village.  A mining town based around 1910 has been recreated complete with a church, school, homes and other features. It was a fascinating look into a truly unique community life style which few of us can fully grasp today. The life of the entire community was centered in all aspect around the “Company” which provided housing, food, shelter, schools and even church. It is hard to imagine the back-breaking and very dangerous labor that went into coal mining.

We accompanied a retired miner deep underground into an old coal mine. Sonny did a superb job of interpreting life in the mine. He brought the daily struggles to life and helped us to understand the evolution of coal mining. The mine itself wound miles under the West Virginia hillside.  He spent lots of time with us and answered many questions. This truly was interpretative history at its very best.

Afterwards the Scouts went to experience life in the Company School. Unfortunately, several misbehaved and ended up in the corner, wearing a dunce’s hat, and received licks with the teacher’s paddle that could be heard across the valley.

After survived not only lunch but a journey under ground and the classroom, we continued through the mountains of West Virginia. It is beautiful, awe inspiring nature. We postponed our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway due to  low hanging clouds which would have blocked the views from the mountain tops. We will try the route upon our return trip.

We reached Virginia a little after 7pm and enjoyed dinner at Picidilly’s – a treat after lunch. Thanks Skyler for the choice!

The troop settled into almost elegant rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn by the Richmond airport. Spacious rooms with flat screen TVs, lots of work space, tons of pillows and a fridge and micro-wave. Of course the cookies at the front desk waiting for us were a great hit too. As was the pool.

We are wrapping up from a very long day as the clock approaches 11:00pm. The group will sleep in until our 8am breakfast and then following our church service, it is onto Colonial Williamsburg for a guided tour.

Thanks to every one who helped to make this possible and who is supporting us and praying for our safe eturn. We wish you were here to experience this trip with us.

We are posting photos on Facebook during this trip and hope to continue this blog. In fact, I hope to turn it over to the scouts themselves for the remainder of the trip so that you can hear directly from them.