Scouts

Today in scouts we discused both campouts for the second half of the year, and we started the Physical Fitness merit badge.

Scout Camp: Day 6

Today we packed up, ate breakfast, and got back to Plano, Tx before 1 PM.

Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge

Here are the requiremants for the Soil ans Water Conservation Merit Badge:
1.Do the following:
a. Tell what soil is. Tell how it is formed.
b. Describe three kinds of soil. Tell how they are different.
c. Name the three main plant nutrients in fertile soil. Tell how they can be put back when used up.
2.Do the following:
a. Define soil erosion.
b. Tell why soil conservation is important. Tell how it affects you.
c. Name three kinds of soil erosion. Describe each.
d. Take pictures of or draw two kinds of soil erosion.
3.Do the following:
a. Tell what is meant by "conservation practices".
b. Describe the effect of three kinds of erosion-control practices.
c. Take pictures of or draw three kinds of erosion-control practices.
4.Do the following:
a. Explain what a watershed is.
b. Outline the smallest watershed that you can find on a contour map.
c. Outline, as far as the map will allow, the next larger watershed which also has the smaller one in it.
d. Explain what a river basin is. Tell why all people living in a river basin should be concerned about land and water use in the basin.
5.Do the following:
a. Make a drawing to show the hydrologic cycle.
b. Demonstrate at least two of the following actions of water in relation to the soil: percolation, capillary action, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration.
c. Explain how removal of vegetation will affect the way water runs off a watershed.
d. Tell how uses of forest, range, and farmland affect usable water supply.
e. Explain how industrial use affects water supply.
6.Do the following:
a. Tell what is meant by water pollution.
b. Describe common sources of water pollution and explain the effects of each.
c. Tell what is meant by "primary water treatment," "secondary waste treatment," and "biochemical oxygen demand."
d. Make a drawing showing the principles of complete waste treatment.
7.Do TWO of the following:
a. Make a trip to two of the following places. Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw.
1. An agricultural experiment.
2. A managed forest or a woodlot, range, or pasture.
3. A wildlife refuge or a fish or game management area.
4. A conservation-managed farm or ranch.
5. A managed watershed.
6. A waste-treatment plant.
7. A public drinking water treatment plant.
8. An industry water-use installation.
9. A desalinization plant.
b. Plant 100 trees, bushes and/or vines for a good purpose.
c. Seed an area of at least one-fifth acre for some worthwhile conservation purposes, using suitable grasses or legumes alone or in a mixture.
d. Study a soil survey report. Describe the things in it. Using tracing paper and pen, trace over any of the soil maps, and outline an area with three or more different kinds of soil. List each kind of soil by full name and map symbol.
e. Make a list of places in your neighborhood, camps, school ground, or park having erosion, sedimentation, or pollution problems. Describe how these could be corrected through individual or group action.
f. Carry out any other soil and water conservation project approved by your merit badge counselor.

Scout Camp: Day 5

Today I went on the Bohannon 10 mile hike. It ended early because of the weather, but I was still tired when I got back. Durring freetime, I went and did my conservation project for Soil and Water Conservation, and finished the Merit Badge.

Climbing Merit Badge

Here are the requirements for the Climbing Merit Badge:
1.Do the following:
a. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur during climbing activities, including heat and cold reactions, dehydration, stopped breathing, sprains, abrasions, fractures, rope burns, blisters, snakebite, and insect bites or stings.
b. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person.
2.Learn the Leave No Trace principles and Outdoor Code, and explain what they mean.
3.Present yourself properly dressed for belaying, climbing, and rappelling (i.e., appropriate clothing, footwear, and a helmet; rappellers and belayers must also wear gloves).
4.Location. Do the following:
a. Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing skills.
b. Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering.
c. Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any other environmental hazards.
d. Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of an emergency.
5.Verbal signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals during every climb and rappel, and while bouldering. With the help of the merit badge counselor or another Scout, demonstrate the verbal signals used by each of the following:
a. Climbers
b. Rappellers
c. Belayers
d. Boulderers and their spotters
6.Rope. Do the following:
a. Describe the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling.
b. Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.
c. Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.
d. Explain when and how a rope should be retired.
e. Properly coil a rope.
7.Knots. Demonstrate the ability to tie each of the following knots. Give at least one example of how each knot is used in belaying, climbing, or rappelling.
a. Figure eight on a bight
b. Figure eight follow-through
c. Water knot
d. Double fisherman's knot (grapevine knot)
e. Safety knot
8.Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:
a. Commercially made climbing harness
b. Tied harness
9.Belaying. Do the following:
a. Explain the importance of belaying climbers and rappellers and when it is necessary.
b. Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing wall.
c. Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or climbing wall using a top rope.
10.Climbing. Do the following:
a. Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.
b. Climb at least 3 different routes on a rock face or climbing wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with a belayer.
11.Rappelling. Do the following:
a. Using a carabiner and a rappel device, secure your climbing harness to a rappel rope.
b. Tie into a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.
c. Rappel down three different rock faces or three rappel routes on a climbing wall. Use verbal signals to communicate with a belayer, and demonstrate good rappelling technique.
12.Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.

Pioneering Merit Badge

Here are the requirements for the Pioneering Merit Badge:
1.Show that you know first aid for injuries or illness that could occur while working on pioneering projects, including minor cuts and abrasions, bruises, rope burns, blisters, splinters, sprains, heat and cold reactions, dehydration, and insect bites or stings.
2.Do the following:
a.Successfully complete Tenderfoot requirements 4a and 4b and First Class requirements 7a, 7b, and 7c. (These are the rope-related requirements.)
b.Tie the following: square knot, bowline, sheepshank, sheet bend, and roundturn with two half hitches.
c.Demonstrate the following: tripod and round lashings.
3.Explain why it is useful to be able to throw a rope, then demonstrate how to coil and throw a 40-foot length of 1/4- or 3/8-inch rope. Explain how to improve your throwing distance by adding weight to the end of your rope.
4.Explain the differences between synthetic ropes and natural-fiber ropes. Discuss which types of rope are suitable for pioneering work and why. Include the following in your discussion: breaking strength, safe working loads, and the care and storage of rope.
5.Explain the uses for the back splice, eye splice, and short splice. Using 1/4- or 3/8-inch three-stranded rope, demonstrate how to form each splice.
6.Using a rope-making device or machine, make a rope at least 6 feet long consisting of three strands, each having three yarns.
7.Build a scale model of a signal tower or a monkey bridge. Correctly anchor the model using either the 1-1-1 anchoring system or the log and stake anchoring method. Describe the design of your project and explain how the anchoring system works.
8.Demonstrate the use of rope tackle to lift a weight of 25 pounds and pulling a log at least 6 inches in diameter and 6 feet long with the tackle. Use the tackle to put tension on a line. Explain the advantages and limitations of using a rope tackle. In your explanation, describe the potential damage that friction can do to a rope.
9.By yourself, build an A-trestle OR X-trestle OR H-trestle using square and diagonal lashings. Explain the application of the trestle you build. Demonstrate how to tie two spars together using a shear lashing.
10.With a group of Scouts, OR on your own, select a pioneering project. With your counselor's guidance, create a rough sketch of the project. Make a list of the ropes and spars needed, then build the project. (Note: This requirement may be done at summer camp, at district or council events, or on a troop camp outing.)

Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge

Here are the requirments for the Fish and Wildlife Managemant Merit Badge:
1.Describe the meaning and purposes of fish and wildlife conservation and management.
2.List and discuss at least three major problems that continue to threaten your state's fish and wildlife resources.
3.Describe some practical ways in which everyone can help with the fish and wildlife effort.
4.List and describe five major fish and wildlife management practices used by managers in your state.
5.Do ONE of the following:
a. Construct, erect, and check regularly at least two artificial nest boxes (wood duck, bluebird, squirrel, etc.) and keep written records for one nesting season.
b. Construct, erect, and check regularly bird feeders and keep written records of the kinds of birds visiting the feeders in the winter.
c. Design and implement a backyard wildlife habitat improvement project and report the results.
d. Design and construct a wildlife blind near a game trail, water hole, salt lick, bird feeder, or birdbath and take good photographs or make sketches from the blind of any combination of 10 wild birds, mammals, reptiles, or amphibians.
6.Do ONE of the following:
a. Observe and record 25 species of wildlife. Your list may include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Write down when and where each animal was seen.
b. List the wildlife species in your state that are classified as endangered, threatened, exotic, game species, furbearers, or migratory game birds.
c. Start a scrapbook of North American wildlife. Insert markers to divide the book into separate parts for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Collect articles on such subjects as life histories, habitat, behavior, and feeding habits on all of the five categories and place them in your notebook accordingly. Articles and pictures may be taken from newspapers or science, nature and outdoor magazines; or from other sources including the Internet (with your parent's permission). Enter at least five articles on mammals, five on birds, five on reptiles, five on amphibians, and five on fish. Put each animal in alphabetical order. Include pictures whenever possible.
7.Do ONE of the following:
a. Determine the age of five species of fish from scale samples or identify various age classes of one species in a lake and report the results.
b. Conduct a creel census on a small lake to estimate catch per unit effort.
c. Examine the stomach contents of three species of fish and record the findings. It is not necessary to catch any fish for this option. You may visit a cleaning station set up for fishermen or find another, similar alternative.
d. Make a freshwater aquarium. Include at least four species of native plants and four species of animal life, such as whirligig beetles, freshwater shrimp, tadpoles, water snails, and golden shiners. After 60 days or observation, discuss with your counselor the life cycles, food chains, and management needs you have recognized. After completing requirement 7d to your counselor's satisfaction, with your counselor's assistance, check local laws to determine what you should do with the specimens you have collected.
8.Using resources found at the library and in periodicals, books, and the Internet (with your parent's permission), learn about three different kinds of work done by fish and wildlife managers. Find out the education and training requirements for each position.

Scout Camp: Day 4

This is what I did today in my classes:
Emergency Prepardness-
We went over what to do I someone got lost.
Climbing-
I learned how to coil a rope, and finished the merit badge.
Soil and Water Conservation-
We learned the Water Cycle, and how to recycle sewage.
Pioneering-
We built models of towers, and rebuilt the tripod that held the water coolers, and I finished it today.
Fish and Wildlife Managemant-
We had the fish dissection during freetime, so I finished the merit badge.

Scout Camp: Day 3

This is what I did in my classes today:
Emergency Prepardness-
We went over carries, and caried someone up Cardiac Hill.
Climbing-
I finished 2 cycles in class, and the third durring freetime. (A cycle is Belaying a climber, climbing, belaying a rappeler, and rappelling.)
Soil and Water Conservation-
We wrote consevations projects that we could do.
Pioneering-
We went over lashings today.

Scout Camp: Day 2

This is what I did in each of my clases today:
Emergency Prepardness-
We went over more first aid.
Climbing-
We learned the figure-eight follow though, and went Bouldering.
Fish and Wildlife Management-
We finished except for the fish dessection.
Pioneering-
We went over knots.

Scout Camp: Day 1

I left for scout camp today a 4 AM. When we got there Brother Nine handed out our bracelets and schedules.
This was my schedule:
Emergency Prepardness
Climbing
Fish and Wildlife Manegment/Soil and Water Conservation
Pioneering
For most of today all we did was go over First Aid.

Drop-Off

Today I dropped my stuff off at Brother Nine's house so that he could take it to Scout Camp tomorrow.

Preparation

Today I start getting packed for scout camp.

Communications Merit Badge

I finished the Cummunications merit badge today.
The requirements are:
1.Do ONE of the following:
a. For one day, keep a log in which you describe your communication activities. Keep track of the time and different ways you spend communicating, such as talking person-to-person, listening to teachers or the radio, watching television, reading books and other print media, and using any electronic communication device. Discuss with your counselor what your log reveals about the importance of communication in your life. Think of ways to improve your communications skills.
b. For three days, keep a journal of your listening experiences. Identify one example of each of the following, and discuss with your counselor when you have listened to:
1. Obtain information
2. A persuasive argument
3. Appreciate or enjoy something
4. Understand someone's feelings
c. In a small-group setting, meet with other scouts or with friends. Have them share personal stories about significant events in their lives that affected them in some way. Take note of how each scout participates in the group discussion and how effectively he communicates his story. Report what you have learned to your counselor about the differences you observed in effective communication.
d. List as many ways as you can think of to communicate with others (face-to-face, by telephone, letter, e-mail, text messages, and so on). For each type of communication discuss with your counselor an instance when that method might not be appropriate or effective.
2.Do ONE of the following:
a. Think of a creative way to describe yourself, using, for example, a collage, short story or autobiography, drawing or series of photographs, or a song or skit. Using the aid you created, make a presentation to your counselor about yourself.
b. Choose a concept, product, or service in which you have great confidence. Build a sales plan based on its good points. Try to persuade the counselor to agree with, use, or buy your concept, product or service. After your sales talk, discuss with your counselor how persuasive you were.
3.Write a five-minute speech. Give it at a meeting of a group.
4.Interview someone you know fairly well, like, or respect because of his or her position, talent, career or life experiences. Listen actively to learn as much as you can about the person. Then prepare and deliver to your counselor an introduction of the person as though this person were to be a guest speaker, and include reasons why the audience would want to hear this person speak. Show how you would call to invite this person to speak.
5.Attend a public meeting (city council, school board, debate) approved by your counselor where several points of view are given on a single issue. Practice active listening skills and take careful notes of each point of view. Present an objective report that includes all points of view that were expressed, and share this with your counselor.
6.With your counselor's approval, develop a plan to teach a skill or inform someone about something. Prepare teaching aids for your plan. Carry out your plan. With your counselor, determine whether the person has learned what you intended.
7.Do ONE of the following:
a. Write to the editor of a magazine or your local newspaper to express your opinion or share information on any subject you choose. Send your message by fax, email or regular mail.
b. Create a web page or blog of special interest to you (for instance, your troop or crew, a hobby, or a sport).. Include at least three articles or entries and one photograph or illustration, and one link to some other Web page or blog that would be helpful to someone who visits the Web page or blog you have created. It is not necessary to post your Web page or blog to the Internet, but if you decide to do so, you must first share it with your parents and counselor and get their permission.
c. Use desktop publishing to produce a newsletter, brochure, flier or other printed material for your scout troop, class at school, or other group. Include at least one article and one photograph or illustration.
8.Plan a troop court of honor, campfire program, or an interfaith worship service. Have the patrol leaders' council approve it, then write the script and prepare the program. Serve as master of ceremonies.
9.Find out about three career opportunities in the field of communication. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
Also the picture is:
.
I did requirments 1c, 2b (a pen), 3 (talk in church), 4 (my grandma), 5 (city council), 6 (pythagorean theorem), 7b (this blog), 8 (court of honor), 9 (Web Master).

Fundraiser

Today we had our YM fundraiser, for Scout Camp, High Adventure, and Philmont. We sold hot dogs, washed cars, and had a yard sale with things people in our ward donated. People donated clothes, furniture, toys, books, a gumball machine, speakers, a TV, golf clubs, CD cases, a keyboard, hard drives, shelfs, shoes, and someone donated 3 boxes of old vinyl records. Everything that wasn't sold there is being sold on ebay or donated to The Salvation Army. For the carwash, the city on Plano said that we couldn't use soap, because the runoff goes into the nearby creak. I had fun standing on a traffic island holding a sign where Park and Roundrock meet. The night before we all went to Brother Bishop's house to organize everything and to onload. This morning we all went back at 6 am to set up. The fundraser lasted from 7 am to 1 pm, but I had to leave early because I had piano lessons.
The scouts (12-13 year olds) go to scout camp this summer from the 11th to the 16th. It is located at Hale Scout Reservation in Talhinia, Oklahoma. The website is halescoutreservation.org.
The YM 14+ years old are going to high adventure this summer the week after scout camp. It is in Corpus Christie, Texas, but besides that I don't know more about it.
Philmont is next year for 14+ year olds, and is at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. The website is philmontscoutranch.org.