Bryson Cook and his mom Christina did a couple of Christmas Craft Projects.  A third generation family tradition is making Candy Cane Reindeer for family and friends every year.  Our first Community Service project was last year making Candy Cane Reindeer for Sugar Creek Elementary.  This year we continued the project making over 200 Candy Cane Reindeer for Sugar Creek Elementary.

With Mr Howells approval, Troop 282 sponsored our next project for the Independence Police Department.  Over 300 Candy Cane Reindeer were made with a note saying “Thank you for your dedication and service. From Troop 282.”  Thursday, December 22nd the Candy Cane Reindeer were delivered to the Independence Police Department and they were  accepted with appreciation.  

Bryson Cook and Jordan Allison put their cooking skills to the test with a baking project for the elderly at Monterey Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Independence.  They baked chocolate cover raisin oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip cookies for the residence and staff. We received news that the cookies were enjoyed and they cannot wait for us to bake again.

Troop 282 has taught us the importance of serving our community. Bryson said he took pride in giving to others. He enjoyed baking cookies with Jordan and making Candy Cane Reindeer.  Jordan said he had fun learning how to bake cookies from start to finish. He wants to thank the Independence Police Department for their service.

Honoring our Troop, we plan on starting a tradition of making a Christmas Craft Project every year.

Christina Cook-Grace

Once again Boy Scout Troop 282 helped the Fairmount Food Pantry fill over 200 Christmas Food Boxes December 16, 2016 at 7:30 PM. And yes, once again, with the donations from fellow scouts, scouters and a major donation from one of our families, the troop was able to purchase 95 percent of the food that went into the boxes. As usual, it was a cold, rainy and freezing night for everyone to get out. The troop would like to thank those few scouts and leaders who came to help fill boxes. Your hour of time during this busy time of year will ensure that over 200 families will have a Christmas dinner. 

I cannot think of a better way to help other people ( part of the scout oath) than to make sure they have a meal for Christmas Day, a day of celebration and a day for families to become closer. Just think what type of day it would be without food to feed your family.

Troop 282 had a very different lock-in Nov. 5th & 6th for the scouts to take part in this year. We met on Saturday evening at Trinity Episcopal Church at 7:00 PM where we jumped on our troop bus to go to our lock-in. Once we arrived, it was time to have fun for 8 hours. Garth, our leader in charge, had arranged to have three (3) inflatables: a bounce house, a great obstacle course and the bungee run for us to play on all night. Not only did we get to play all night, we also ate every hour on the hour and had a movie theater with scout appropriate movies. We also invited our 1st and 2nd year Webelos to come along for the fun as well. It was just a great time and I hope we get to do this activity again in 2017. Great job Garth and Dillon.

What a great weekend for a fishing overnight for Troop 282. The weather was great with a high on Saturday of 72 degrees. Everyone who brought a fishing pole enjoyed a great day of fishing. The scouts fished for six hours on Saturday. It was a good experience for everyone. The food that was prepared by the scouts was great. On Saturday morning there were scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns prepared by one group and biscuit, gravy and sausage prepared by another group. Then for dinner there was a deep dish pizza prepared by one group and there was roast, onions, peppers and potatoes prepared by another group. The roast cooked for 4 1/2 hours was tasted great. For dessert there were cobblers (Double Chocolate Cherry delight and Apple) and later in the evening we made s’mores. The Troop had a great campfire with several songs and skits put on by the scouts. 

It was a great weekend.

Before scout camp, I was not so sure I wanted to go. But everyone said it was fun. It was actually amazing and the best camp that I have been to! 

I did my best on the swimming test. I went on 12 hikes. My favorite hike was to Gambler’s Cave because we went in to the cave. I earned my Tenderfoot and three really fun merit badges. 

I did not want to leave camp but I also wanted to get home. All I know is that there will be next year!

My fifth year down to scout camp was nerve racking because I knew that I might be called on call night to be a warrior. The fourth night I was called and eventually became warrior later that session. If I were to choose my favorite year at camp it would be the year I joined the tribe of Mic-O-Say because you are then able to go anywhere on the reservation as for if I was a first year or just a non- tribesmen I could only go were tribal grounds were not. Also my fifth year at camp I was the substitute ASPL, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, that was fun because I got to do a job I always wanted to do. My excitement for my sixth year at camp is already real big, 361 days left.

Here I go. My first article for 282. A little background, I became a member of this troop WAYYYYYY back in 1978. Bob Morris was the Scoutmaster and Scott Howell Jr. was the Assistant Scoutmaster. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1985. My Son Tristen transferred from our original Troop 3 months ago and that was the best thing we could have done for his Scouting Life. Watching the boys helping other scouts with baseball skills was admirable. Not every kid is an athlete but that’s what makes Scouting different. It was a relief from the Competitive BB life!! I witnessed adults and scouts helping boys at the plate and the bases. Another thing that is important to note was if a youth or adult made a mistake running the bases they were called Out. Unlike the theme that u can’t do that. Boys need to learn to play by the rules and not be passed along. If U haven’t figured it out YOU are a part of the Best Troop in KC!! That’s why my Son and I are here now!!

Have you ever looked intently at the pictures on our wall down in the scout room? If you have, you may have seen a picture of one Mr. Hammontree, our founding scoutmaster. Although many of you know our troop is in the Blue Elk district, and there’s an actual building at scout camp named after him, do you know much of anything else about him?
Mr. Hammontree not only founded Boy Scout Troop 282 in 1948, but he also held the position of Recording Medicine Man in the tribe of Mic-o-Say for a number of years back in the 1960s. While in that position, Mr. Hammontree, Medicine Man Blue Elk, built his reputation as a man boys could look up to, and strike up a conversation with at any time. As Dave Woodman will always say, Mr. Hammontree could be told your name once, and he would always remember it. A true friend, and a firm believer of the Boy Scouting program, Mr. Hammontree impacted the lives of many tribesmen, and non-tribesmen alike. After Mr. Hammontree’s passing in 1969, the Mic-o-Say records center was renamed in his honor, forever to be known as the Blue Elk Lodge. It is here that I have had the honor to take a position and work this summer on staff, to once again allow troop 282 to represent Mr. Hammontree’s legacy in the records center. It is also cool to know that Dave Woodman, Medicine Man Painted Elk, changed his tribal name to its current status because of his respect for J.D.
To represent troop 282 in Mr. Hammontree’s lodge is a big honor. It is a hard staff to get onto, and being asked to move into this position was a blessing. While in Blue Elk, I am constantly reminded of Mr. Hammontree by his picture on the wall, just as the one hanging in the scout room. It inspires me every day to do my job to the best of my ability so that maybe one day, I can say I had an impact somewhat close to that of our founding scoutmaster. I encourage each and every member of our troop to ask, and learn the history of our troop. Learning about Mr. Hammontree has been one of the most interesting aspects of working in Blue Elk, as I get to know more and more about the man we can only hear about at inductions. Also while working in his lodge, I have begun to truly see his impact at scout camp, and how much he truly meant to the Boy Scouting program in our area. Just as the Lone Star staff says, be proud of our past in troop 282. No other troop can say that they have a lodge at scout camp named after their founding scoutmaster. I would also like to encourage each and every member of troop 282 to come down on staff at least one summer. Maybe some day that will lead you to Blue Elk as well, such as my path has. It is impossible to put into words how much my love and respect for our scout troop and the program we run has grown by working on this staff. I am doing my best, and working my hardest to represent you, my fellow troop members, and myself as best as I can. I want people to know that 282 is a big deal, and we will continue to be a big deal for generations to come. People only have the highest of compliments for our troop, as they should. Can’t wait for you guys to come down to camp
SPL
Ashton England
Runner Black Diving Falcon

The Mic-o-Say Tribal Celebration is a great time for old friends, or even new ones, to come together at a place that is very near and dear to our hearts, the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. While at the celebration, all tribesman get an opportunity to further their knowledge of the tribe, or participate in the Chieftain’s Challenge. While at the celebration, troop 282 showcased our group of tribesman in the Chieftain’s challenge. Although we did not place, we had a great deal of fun, and worked alongside a few boys from another troop. Personally, I think we worked well as a team, and 282 should be proud to have these young men in our troop as part of our leadership core. Another exciting part of the celebration is the revealing of our new chieftain, which this year was Jim Hayes, our first chieftain to hold all positions in Mic-o-Say. I encourage our newest tribesman to keep coming back to camp, and to attend tribal celebration because you get to learn the true meaning of Mic-o-Say and you will have a greater impact in our troop if you do. As always, remember to think before you do anything, and keep the true spirit of Mic-o-Say alive in our troop for generations to come.

On June 7, Scouts from our Troop served as Color Guard for the National Historic Trails Association. They served as Color Guard in the morning for the start of their meetings. Then again at 3pm for the dedication ceremony on the Independence Square. The ceremony has to do with artwork on a stone signifying the origin of the Oregon, California and Santa Fe Trails that originated in Independence Missouri. After the ceremony pictures were being taken by the dedicated trails marker. Then a young lady wanted a picture of the scouts on the courthouse steps, while their picture was being taken Frank White the Jackson County Executive came over and thanked them. We asked if he would take a picture with them he said sure. The Mayor of Sugar Creek, Matt Mallinson came over and thanked the scouts for doing a great job. We were also thanked and praised by spectators for doing a great job of being Color Guard. Being a Color Guard is a great honor. Our Scout Troop is asked because our Scouts know the proper etiquette and respect when they are the Color Guard. I am proud of the Scouts that represented Troop 282 as the Color Guard.