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)
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
