Extreme Service Project – Blackhawk Area Council Anniversary Event

Last Saturday was the date of the Extreme Service Project conducted by the Order of the Arrow, Walupeju Lodge chapters as one of our council 100^th anniversary events.  Since community service is a big part of the Boy Scouts of America it made sense that one of our anniversary events would be a day of community service.  There were five different locations where local OA chapters arranged for service projects.  In White Eagle District, the Mawat Chapter organized a group to work on the perimeter trail around Camp Lowden.

In Wetassa District, the Wetassa Chapter organized a clean up of Krape Park in Freeport.

In Wanchanagi District, the Gokos Chapter organized a clean up of Klehn Aboretum in Rockford.

In Sycamore District, the Kishwaukee Chapter organized two projects, one at Marengo Woods and the other at The Hollows, both McHenry County Conservation District sites.

All together there were hundreds of scouts and their families that came out to help with the projects.

Patches commemorating the event are available for order, please contact me directly if you would like to have some ordered for your unit.

I also had an event flag that traveled to each site and was signed by participants.  If you did not get a chance to sign the flag and want to borrow it for a unit, district, or chapter event contact me and we can arrange for you to borrow the flag.

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.

Fireside Chats and Quality Lodge

January is always a busy month. Last week was a trip up to Wisconsin for the Arrowhead Fireside Chat. We got some good suggestions from the group to take to the Council Coordinated Committee meeting next week. We do need to talk about that January date. We had to drive back through a snow storm. Tomorrow we're at the Wanchanagi District Roundtable for thier Fireside Chat. Hope to see all our Wanchanagi friends there.
Last week was also the OA Winter Banquet. The officers of the lodge did a good job of putting on the banquet. The guest speaker for the evening was Jim Boeger. He did his usual great job of recounting tales of his days as a scoutmaster and relating those lessons learned.

Congratulation to Wulapeju Lodge for achieving the Quality Lodge designation for 2009. This takes a lot of work on the part of the lodge LEC led by Lodge Chief Dan Dick. Keep up the good work.

BTW anyone got an extra glass, mine broke while being washed :}