Are You Ready For Some MORE Wood Badge?

(Thank you Gary Yandell for the great photo of such great looking Scouters)

Weekend TWO of S8-16-11-1 is getting close and I trust everyone is ready.  I know the staff is ready to see you again when we reconvene as Gilwell Troop 1 this time at Rogers Scout Reservation.  For those of you who have never been there we are particularly excited for you to see Westark Area Council's other premier camp south of Booneville, Arkansas.  (Click on link on the right for a map of how to get to RSR) You will be delighted with its beauty as you were Camp Orr and we are going to give you the chance to camp in some of its most beautiful areas.  Better yet, we are going to get to share your fine camping cuisine right in your campsite so be prepared for hungry guests!

Some of you have asked if you can camp the night before as you did at Camp Orr.  The answer is YES!!  You may spend Wednesday night at Scout World which is about 1/2 mile from the main camp.  Scout World has a stockade (Fort Flanders), a pirate ship and a tree house so you can spend the night there as many of our Scout units do.  There are toilet facilities (indoor plumbin') and running water as well as picnic tables and plenty of places to put your tents up.  We will block off the road at that point and ask that you not wander into the main camp until we open it up at 7:00AM Thursday morning.  Staff will be getting the camp ready for you all day Wednesday so please don't disturb them.  ...and speaking of 7:00 AM please be there by then!  We will have another orientation of this camp and some logistics that will take some time so we want to start on time. By now you surely understand how tight the schedule is.

On the morning of Day 5  (that would be Friday!) we will be performing a service/conservation project for the camp. Our Assistant Scoutmaster for Physical Arrangements, Mr. Chuck Bushong, has put together an outstanding project for us and below is a message from him:

Dear S8-16-11-1 Folks,

Item #1:  Man you were super at Camp Orr!  All outstanding reports.  Visited with Ranger Billy Sunday at Weekend on the Ropes and Billy piled on the praise.  You left camp in better shape than most.  Especially the way you handled the tent take down on Saturday.  Special thanks to Mark Love for assuring the pole sets were grouped.  All this makes summer camp set up go smoother and we have a permanent ‘welcome back’.

Item #2:  Conservation Project for Weekend Two.  Rogers Scout Reservation (from now on referred to as RSR) Ranger John Swink wants to re-open the old campsite down by the lake for use by visiting Scouters. This will involve removal of debris and rocks so the area can be mowed.  The rocks we clear will be used for a new fire ring or to rebuild the existing one.

 

You will need the following personal gear:  Sun hat, long sleeve shirt, long pants, gloves and LOTS OF INSECT REPELLANT.  Let me say that again, LOTS OF INSECT REPELLANT!  Bring sun glasses so we will look cool in the photo.

 

Equipment needed:  Strong backs, weed whips, shovels, gas powered weed eater (qualified operators bringing gas powered equipment must have eye and ear protection and really know how to use this equipment), trash bags for debris haul off, loppers, hatchets, limb saws and maybe a heavy steel breaker bar to move any really big rocks.  Hammers and wrecking or crow bars to knock apart some old picnic tables.  Don’t know for sure how much brush or tree work is required so maybe those qualified weed eater people have a good chain saw.  

 

Item #3:  A reminder you will be camping this weekend.  No cushy wall tents on platforms.  Your tent with the bugs on the ground.   Campsites are selected and not accessible by car.  So keep this in mind as you pack.  Make sure you can move your gear to the campsite as easily as possible.  All campsites have been chosen keeping in mind the ‘Leave No Trace’ ethics.  Please do the same as you set up and take down.

 

If you’ve never been to RSR (Rogers Scout Reservation) you are in for another treat.   Early arrival people will spend Wednesday night using your own gear at Scout World (can’t miss the Fort) and we’ll see you Thursday morning. 

 

You thought weekend one was super…you ain’t seen nothing yet.  I am so excited and ready for weekend two.  See you all Thursday.

 

Chuck “Spunky” Bushong

ASM Physical Arrangements   

SO there you have it!!!.....I am confident you all will arrive on time with a great attitude, a willingness to learn and work and ready to enjoy the outdoors with your patrol and troop.  I am also sure you will bring three copies of your ticket with all five items ready to go!!!  

See you all soon!!!

John Spain, Course Director S8-16-11-1