Tour de Blackhawk, Silver Dollars, Pinewood Derby, Galena, Johll Bead Ceremony

Don't miss out on the early registration discount for the Tour de Blackhawk which ends this week (May 1).  All the information can be found at www.blackhawkscouting.org/2010Events/TourDeBlackhawk/TourDeBlackhawk.htm.  John Wurtzel and his committee are putting together a great event.  There is something for everyone with rides from as few as 8 miles to about 100 miles.  There are also some bike rodeos planned for the Cub Scouts.  This is something completely different that Blackhawk Area Council has never done before.  If you are available to help on the day of the event John is looking for some volunteers for various duties.  Just fill out the volunteer form (http://www.blackhawkscouting.org/2010Events/TourDeBlackhawk/TourStaffApplication.pdf) or send John a note.

The BSA Silver Dollars are selling out.  The uncirculated dollars are already gone and there is less than a week's supply of the proofs left.  Don't miss out, by law the mint can not make more.

Two weekends ago the Council Pinewood Derby was conducted by Bob Gingras and his team, which seemed to draw a lot from the Mighty Pack 5, put on another great event.  I received a number of compliments about the event while at the Winnebago Culvers on Saturday.

I even got to race my car on the Worlds Longest Track ... well at least part of it. It wouldn't all fit in the building.  My car took a big lead at the beginning before being passed on the straight by Jerry Coots' Wanchanagi Key 3 car and Rick Sanner's super special.  Unfortunately for them their cars were both disqualified for having illegal wheels.

Last weekend was the U.S. Grant Pilgrimage in Galena.  There was a tremendous turn out for the event this year far surpassing last year's attendance.  The Pilgrimage committee did a great job adding a number of new things this year.  There was a new Venturing Trail Hike, which was more challenging, a GPS Trail Hike, and some new activities like a zip line.  The OA had lines of Cub Scouts participating in an ever growing list of activities that included a monkey bridge, knot tying, bear bag toss, and compass work.  We had nine Generals this year that participated in a scavenger hunt.  If you got all nine you could get a special scavenger hunt pin.  The Army Golden Knights parachute team was present but unable to jump because of the low ceiling.  They did march in the parade and had a signing session following the parade.  I stayed at Canyon Camp with the Sycamore District Venturers which is slowly becoming a tradition for all the Ventuers to stay together.

Sunday I was in Cuba City, Wi (just north of Galena) for Greg Johll's Wood Badge Bead Ceremony.  As part of Greg's ticket he developed an informational video about Diabetes that can help educate volunteers.  We had four of his grandchildren (two Boy Scouts and two Cub Scouts) help with the ceremony.  I hope to get a copy of that picture to post.

Now its time to get ready for Adventure Base 100 on Saturday.  The BSA traveling exhibit will be in Douglas Park in Chicago this weekend and Blackhawk Area Council will be working there on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Venturer Climbing

Last weekend the Sycamore District Venturers went climbing at the North Wall in Crystal Lake.

August 29-30, 2009

Saturday was Show And Do outdoor skills training. There were sessions on cooking, camping, backpacking, Venturing, and knots. I was in the trading post for the bulk of the time but had a chance to attend a couple of the sessions.

I gave some tours of the Beoger Leadership Lodge to anyone that wanted to stay after Show And Do was over. One new addition was the acquisition of some barn wood by Carol Zarnstorff to use as trim in the Great Room

Sunday was a round of Miniature Golf organized by Sycamore District.

Venturing Summer Camp & OA Conclave

Last week I mentioned being at Venturing Summer Camp and writing about that. I got some pictures to use from the Unti’s. The summer camp is held at Canyon Camp and is designed specifically for Venturers and older Boy Scouts. The camp is open for many of the normal camp activities like swimming, crafts, and shooting sports (including the new paint ball range) but also has activities geared toward being able to complete the Venturing Bronze award (e.g. First Aid, Leave No Trace, and Land Navigation requirements). There are also opportunities to go canoeing on the Mississippi, taking a day long bike ride, and a hike/float through the Apple Canyon River. The Venturers all had a great time. My thanks to Crews 957 and 159 for allowing my crew to join with them for the week.

Caving
Volleyball with homemade net.

Founders Hike through Apple River

Canoe trip.

Several staffers foolishly tried to capture the Zip Zip Bird and paid the price.

Canyon Camp presents an award to a unit based upon participation and enthusiasm. This year the award went to Crew 957.


This weekend was the Order of the Arrow Conclave for Wulapeju Lodge and was held at Canyon Camp. For those of you not yet familiar with the OA, it is a society of honor campers elected by their units after fulfilling certain requirements. The new candidates go through and “Ordeal” following which they become Ordeal Members. This takes Friday night and most of Saturday to complete. The rest of the members work on service projects to benefit the camp in the morning and in the afternoon have different instructional sessions and some free time to go swimming or play kickball. Other OA members work to become Brotherhood members by going through a process to learn about the traditions of the Order of the Arrow. Brotherhood members are eligible to be nominated for the Vigil Honor. It was my great honor to be nominated this year and I spent Friday night doing my Vigil along with the other nominees including Don Reiss, Rick Rhoads, and our Lodge Chief Dan Dick. At dinner Saturday we were presented with our certificates which contain our new Indian names. I was given the name Amendchewagan Milcemosswagon which means Solid Minded Worker.

OA members at the Saturday evening flag ceremony.

Free time kickball.

Providing cheerful service to the camp.

Father Mac conducts mass.

August 6, 2009

We had a McHenry County Distinguished Citizens Dinner planning meeting in the morning. The dinner is really shaping up to be another great event this November.

Then it was out to Camp Lowden to help with the storage closets in the maintenance building. Rick Rhoads started by adding a couple of closets for NYLT and Wood Badge storage. Dave Savone and others framed three additional closet spaces to finish out the side. Two will be for summer camp storage. On Thursday Dave Savone, Don Reis, Steve James, and Jim Zeigler were adding the roof portion so there can be additional storage on top for larger items.

As things were going pretty well, Dave added a new rack for the paddles and oars since the old one was about to fall apart.

After finishing the work for the day Dave and I stopped at the Boeger Leadership Lodge. Wow, what a difference a few days makes. With the stain on the outside and the area being graded it really looked great.

Then it was off to Canyon Camp to be with my Crew for the last couple of days of the Venturing Summer Camp. More tomorrow on that.

A Lot of Scouting over the Weekend

This past weekend was another busy scouting weekend. It actually started on Thursday evening with at trip to Galena to present Sandra Shultz, a member to the Buffalo Patrol, with her Wood Badge. The presentation was at the Troop 95 Court of Honor which appeared to be very busy with a lot of merit badges and one new Eagle Scout. Several staff and members of Sandra's patrol were present for the ceremony.

Then it was off to the second weekend of Powder Horn. We started early Friday morning in Crystal Lake where a number of sessions were scheduled including time at the climbing wall and sailing at Crystal Lake. The evening was a session on Emergency Preparedness in between the pig roast and the Hawaiian dancers.

Saturday was an early start to get the Powder Horn participants fed and then off to the 34th Annual Kiwanis Work Day at Canyon Camp. I got to help out John Wurtzel for a few hours with the new pavilion and have lunch provided with the Monroe Kiwanis. Then it was off to Camp Lowden to get dinner ready for the Powder Horn staff so they could eat before the evening entertainment that included a birthday party and "Rock Band" competition.

Sunday was more meal preparation while the Powder Horn participants had a canoe trip and horse back riding. The day finished with a closing ceremony to recognize the participants for having earned their Powder Horn recognition. Mike Condon was the course director and he and his staff did a great job putting the course. Every participant should be able to take the information back to their home crews and start exploring ways to put the information to use.

Powder Horn, Pinewood Derby, and Construction

Last weekend was Powder Horn and Pinewood Derby. Following the Council Executive Committee meeting Thursday it was out to Camp Lowden to get ready for the first weekend of the Powder Horn course. Powder Horn is the advanced training to provide our leaders with outdoor program resources. Along the way the participants get a taste of a lot of the different activities required for the Ranger Award in the Venturing program. Friday the Powder Horn group met at the Stronghold near Oregon, IL for high and low cope courses. It was a perfect day with bright sun and cool temperatures. When we got back to camp the rock was being delivered for the Boeger Leadership Lodge for the basement. The upper level walls have been finished. Saturday was preparing breakfast for Powder Horn and then off to the Anniversary Steering Committee meeting at the service center. The out to Pecatonica for the Pinewood Derby. The competitors had a lot of great looking cars. The high school is a great location for the event and Bob Gingras and his team did a fantastic job getting it all organized and run. Then it was back to Powder Horn in time for dinner and the murder mystery night. There were two deaths and a lot of suspects in this Revolutionary War mystery. Sunday was a rainy day but it did not deter our Powder Horn participants from having a good time at the rifle range shooting muzzle loaders and hand guns. After lunch it was back to Pecatonica for the Pinewood Derby finals and the awarding of trophies to some very proud Cub Scouts. Now on to next week and the U. S. Grant Pilgrimage at Galena. Hope to see you there.

Another Busy Weekend

Saturday was an early trip to Camp Lowden with Dave Savone, Ed Allen, and Dan Banko to help cut and move trees that were taken down last fall. They are now in the way of the construction of the Boeger Leadership Lodge. Fortunately for us the NYLT staff had some time and helped out. We were able to get most of the wood moved and the rest is staged where Dave can get at it with his loader.

Later that day we spent several hours hiking through camp looking for the southern boarder. We got well back into camp but I'm not sure we made it all the way. The rest will have to wait for another weekend, hopefully before all the buckthron blossoms this spring. Below are some shots of the area.

Sunday I was at the Sycamore District Venture Bowling Tournament which included two regular games and a third goofy game. There were twelve teams this year with one coming from out of council. The crew from Marengo won the title and the traveling trophy. Fareen Parkitney did a great job of putting on the event.