Wood Badgers...Be Friends with Snaggles!!

As S8-16-11-1 Participants and Staffers you will remember the story of Snaggle that Polly told at the final feast.  If you haven't made friends with Snaggle you need to NOW so you can track his progress around the world.

To refresh your memory, Snaggle is a little stuffed animal that the Cub Scouts of Castlerock, Ireland have sent on a trip around the world before he attends the Olympics in London with his Irish Cubs.  He has so far visited Scouts in Hong Kong and is now in Australia!  The really cool thing is that he will be visiting Harrison, Arkansas in January so you'll want to keep up with him.  How do you do that?....well...in FaceBook just look for "Snaggles Olympic Tour" and you will be treated to some great pictures of Scouts entertaining this little guy.

Snaggle has been having fun in Australia and has developed an Aussie accent.  Here is his message and he translated it to Irish afterwards for his Cubs!....ENJOY!!!

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Subject: Snaggle has an Aussie accent

G'day Pauuul Maayyyyt,

Ow ya goin'? Its me, Snaggle, and oym havin a bonza toym here in Straylya.  Oy'v visited plenny of grouse places loyk tha MCG an' stuff in Melbun.  Oy'v been on a tram and waited under tha Clocks at Flinders Street Station.  Oy had a  heck of a good time at Luna Park and had a royd on tha Big Dippa. Now dont get ya knickers in a knot, Oy wuznt being a galah or nothing.  Tha tucker is bonza, Oy'v had vegeymoyt on toast for brekky an' meat poys for lunch.  Akela chucks sum snags on tha barbie and oy put sum dead horse on it. It tastes real good.  Akela lives on a farm and has 50 emus in one of her paddocks.  On tha weekend oy'm gunna have a go in tha paddock with 'em and may even royd one of her horses!  Did ya know that Gembrook is famous for growing potatoes?  It has the best red soil.  True dinks.  Next week oy'm gunna go to tha Cubs swimming carnival.  Akela has made a pair of bathers for me and oy look pretty kewl.  She is a bonza sheila.  Oy'm flat out like a lizard drinkin' with all this travellin' round and stuff, but she'll be right. Oy'm on me pat malone today.  Tomora oy'll meet tha Chief Commissioner an' hopefully Michael Baden Powell; B.P.'s grandson.  I hope oy dun act like a stunned mullet when oy meet him.  Akela would luv ya to copy this e-mail onto me Facebook page so everyone can hear wot oy sound loyk as a dinky die, true blue Straylyan.

Bye for now,

Snaggle

Oi tink scon are loosin' me Oirish accent an' startin' ter spake loike an aussie, So oi 'av translated into Oirish for yer.

Top o' the chuffin' marnin ter yer Paul, its me Snaggle an' oi'm 'avin' a deadly time 'ere in Australia. Oi 'av visited plennty av deadly places loike de MCG in Melbourne. I'v been on a tram an' waited under de clocks at Flinders Street Stashun.  Oi 'ad a deadly time at Luna Park an' 'ad a beoire on de Big Dipper. Nigh don't git vexed, oi wus behavin' meself.  De grub is terrific. oi 'av 'ad vegemite on toast for breakfast an' meat pies for lunch. Akela throws sum sausages on de bbq an' oi put sum tomato sauce on it. it taste fabulous. Akela lives on a farm an' 'as 50 emus in wan av 'er paddocks. On de weekend scon are gonna enter de paddock wi' dem an' may even ride wan av 'er 'orses!  Didja nu dat Gembruk is famous for growin' spuds? it 'as master red muk. Fair dinkum. Next week oi'm gonna go ter de Cubs swimmin' carnival. Akela 'as made a pair av togs for me an' oi luk juicy kewl. she is a gran' lady.  Oi'm ninty ter de dozen wi' al' dis travellin' roun' but i'll be dead on, scon are by meself the-day. The-morra oi 'ill meet de Chief Commissioner 'opefully Michael Baden Powell, B.P.'s grandson. Oi 'ope oi can tink av somethin' ter say whaen oi meet 'imself.  Akela wud love yer ter cog dis e-mail onto me Facebuk page so everyone can 'ear waaat oi soun' loike as an australian.   

Bye for nigh,

Snaggle

Wood Badge Auction at Final Feast!

It has become a Wood Badge tradition to auction a few items at the final feast to raise funds for scholarships for the next Wood Badge course.  We mention this now so you will know in advance if you wish to bring extra cash or a checkbook and bid for a few collectibles.  Here are a couple of pictures of a hand made knife inlaid with the course number and a 2 GB thumb drive inlaid with the axe-in-log logo.

  Also for auction will be a special jigsaw puzzle of a picture of Twin Falls at Camp Orr.  It has a few special puzzle pieces that are in the shape of all eight critters, the axe-in-log, a fleur-de-lis and a state of Arkansas shape.

 There will be several more items too!!!  So...Be Prepared!! 

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

Participant Info for 9-1-11

Sign up on-line here:  WOOD BADGE ON-LINE REGISTRATION ....and be sure to look at previous postings for more info!


First Weekend Wood Badge Participant Information

Dear Folks,

I know you are as excited as I am for Wood Badge S8-16-11-1 to finally get underway!!
Some of you have been signed up for many months and some for a few days but all of us are eager to get started.  First I want you to know that your staff has put in MANY hours preparing this experience for you and you will be so pleased with how anxious all of us are to help you!  We want this to be the best Scouting training experience you have ever had and we are confident it will be.

A lot of you have been asking what to bring, what to wear, where will I sleep and other important questions.  Now I hope to answer the majority of them in this letter but first the usual reminders:

1) Please make sure all your fees are paid and recorded at the Scout office. Carisa Breedlove is your contact there for that.

Send fees to:

Westark Area Council, BSA

1401 Old Greenwood Road

Fort Smith, AR  72901

Attn: Wood Badge  WB-016  (include this code on all checks)

Phone (479) 782-7244 or register online if you have not yet at www.westarkbsa.org .

2) You must have a current BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Parts A, B and C only).
Arriving at Camp Orr without this physical will be your ticket home to go get it.  This form is available at the Service Center or at the link here:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6gDk2fwncbTMzQ1Y2U3MmUtMTRhOS00YjczLWE0MjgtMjkzYjdmNjc0MjVi&hl=en


3) If you have any special dietary or physical limitations or requirements that you have not already entered on the on-line application, we need to know about it to make provisions to meet your needs.  This information will remain confidential.  


OK....Now with that out of the way!:

A) Check in: You may begin checking-in at Camp Orr at 7:00AM, Thursday, September 29.  Weekend One will end around 5:00PM Saturday, October 1.  Please arrive at check-in in your FULL uniform for your Scouting position. You will not be allowed to enter the area where staff is setting up (the dining hall area, hogan, etc) before 7:00AM.  For those traveling a long distance you may camp Wednesday evening at a designated camp site (Blackfoot) at Camp Orr if you like.  There will be a sign to direct you to this site that has been set aside but we ask you not to come into the main camp as staff will be very busy getting ready for you.  You will need to provide your own equipment (tent, sleeping bag, etc) and food Wednesday night and Thursday breakfast. Another option would be to camp at nearby Kyle’s Landing. Or for your last night in a real bed for a while there are several hotels in nearby Jasper and even more in Harrison!

B) Uniform:  Uniform for the course is the full official uniform for your current Scouting position.  You are provided a wonderful course hat and activity t-shirt at registration. Your Wood Badge neckerchief is presented a little later in a special ceremony on the first day.  Weekend One foot wear should be comfortable.  Please NO OPEN TOE shoes!!! There are SO many things at camp to stub your toes on so please abide by this rule.  The Official uniform will be worn throughout the course. During some events or weather extremes we will dress down to activity t-shirts.  It’s possible for the night air to chill in September, so bring a jacket or even a lap robe for the evening sessions. (I know..that is so hard to imagine as I am writing this and it is 104 outside!)  Of course, Scouts and Scouters are always prepared in case of rain....yes, bring rain gear!

Most all training sessions take place in the Troop Learning Center seated at tables.  It is very important you bring something soft to sit on.  A stadium seat with folding back,  a ‘Crazy Creek, Thermorest seat or a simply a seat cushion will provide you a much better learning attitude.  Sorry, there is not enough room for the popular folding camp chairs with or without a foot rest in the Troop Learning Center.  But DO bring a camp chair for your camping area near your tent though!

C) Sleeping arrangements are as follows:
A group of volunteers has pitched nice, large wall tents in three campgrounds so you can get the full Scouting experience offered at Camp Orr.  These tents are pretty large and will accommodate two to a tent with room for cots (recommended!) if you like. Bring your sleeping bag and small pillow.  Women will occupy Sassafras campsite and men will be in Cedarvale and Limestone campsites.  Electricity is available for those with medical needs but you should bring your own extension cord.  There are showers and flush toilets nearby!  They are modern and nice and you will be pleased with such luxurious facilities.  There are relatively new outhouses too for those wishing a more primitive experience!  

D) Food:   Beginning with Thursday lunch and ending with Saturday lunch, including evening cracker barrels, your friendly Quartermasters will prepare, serve and clean up every meal for Weekend One.  (If you arrive Wednesday evening remember Thursday breakfast is on your own!)  The coffee pot will be on and plenty of water, tea, hot chocolate and cool aid will be served.  Be sure to bring your cup.

E) Where is Camp Orr?...and what about that hill down into it I have heard so much about?   I am attaching a map with complete instructions.  Yes, the hill is steep and there is an area where we insist you stop before proceeding.  Just remember what those lower gears on your vehicle are really for and use them to slow your vehicle as you proceed. You will make it just fine!

F) Departure: Weekend One will end around 5:00PM Saturday, October 1.

No matter what Scouting role you play, Wood Badge training will help you understand the inner workings of each scouting phase and how each is dependent one on the other.
Your leadership skills will take a major step forward.  Your new skills will aid you at home, work and most of all with your scouting job.  You will be the force that moves Scouting forward in the 21st Century.  Wood Badge is the most fun and intense training you will have in Scouting...the staff is working hard to make sure of that.

You will leave Wood Badge with new specialized leadership skills, new life-long friends and memories to cherish.  Welcome to S8-16-11-1.  Your Staff and I are so excited you chose to come.

More information will follow but if you have questions please e-mail me at john.s.spain@gmail.com.
See you Thursday, September 29 at Camp Orr.!
John Spain
Course Director S8-16-11-1
john.s.spain@gmail.com