This past Saturday, May 1st, Troop 282 had our second Amazing Skills Race Day. We had 10 different activities including packing a backpack, wood tools, a physical fitness course, boil or filter drinking water, rope making with whipping or fusing, shelter building, bear bag, fire building, lashings, and knots. My favorite activities were the bear bag and the lashings.

Eliana

Several Scouts have been working towards earning their Cycling merit badge, and it has been a very fun and learning experience.
We began with learning all about our bikes, safety, and the rules of the road. Once we were familiar with those, we set out on different trails, and began with 2 and 5 mile rides. As we improved, and built up endurance, we began taking 8, 10, and 25 mile rides.
There are definitely trails that I liked better than others. My nickname is now “Crash” because of a bad spill I took on a 10 mile hike, but my fellow scouts were there to pick me up and encourage me to continue.
We are now preparing for our final bike ride that will be 50 miles long. I never thought I would be able to make it this far, but I’ve proved myself wrong!

Dylan

We are working on our Cycling Merit Badge to show our achievement of a completed 50-mile bike ride.  It is an Eagle Requirement.  We will accomplish this by doing required and practice rides.  Our rides started in 2020.  We have completed 10mile and 15 miles.  The first practice ride for 25 miles started last week.  We are riding the Little Blue Trace Trail.

Last week started at 9:00 with the Troop arriving at 8:45. Wehad 3 Scouts in attendance with 2 Leaders riding with us. The ride was difficult because we had not ridden since last Fall.  The weather was not the best, it was cold. The trail was a little difficult, we had a lot of uphill riding on the way back.  The trees are growing back the leaves, the last time we rode the leaves had already fallen. I am looking forward to our next ride but not the crash when we finish the ride.

Lincoln

Blue Elk District Award of Merit Recipient for 2020 – Scott D. Howell, 3rd

Each year all scouting districts in the Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America, select outstanding volunteers within their district boundaries who have given extraordinary service to the Scouting program over a period of years.  These individuals are also selected for extraordinary service given to their communities outside the Scouting program as well.  

Services rendered can range from a Committee Member in any kind of scouting unit to key leadership positions in any kind of scouting unit.  The only real requirement is that the service or services rendered must be voluntarily given and without prejudice and performed unselfishly.  

The highest award that a district can bestow on a volunteer in the scouting program is the District Award of Merit.  The number of recipients that a district can bestow on a volunteer is governed by the number of units within each district.  Each district can bestow one Award of Merit for every twenty-five (25) units.  In the year 2020 the Blue Elk District recognized four (4) individuals with this distinct honor.

One of the individuals recognized in 2020 for the Blue Elk District Award of Merit is Scott D. Howell, the 3rd.  

Scott has been in the scouting program since he was eight (8) years of age joining Cub Pack 282 and earned Cub Scouting’s highest award – the Arrow of Light.  He then transitioned into Boy Scout Troop 282 and earned Scouting’s highest award – Eagle Scout.  He also earned nine (9) Eagle Scout Palms.  

Scott served the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation as a staff member for several years earning various paint levels and is now a Keeper of the Wampum in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.  

He has served as a Committee Member and an Assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 282.  In Cub Scout Pack 185, he has served as a Committee Member, Assistant Cubmaster and now as its Cubmaster.

In 2021 at the Annual Blue Elk District Recognition Dinner Scott D. Howell, 3rd will be officially recognized as a recipient of the District Award of Merit – the highest award a scouting district can bestow on a volunteer in the scouting program.

What a great weekend for a camping and fishing overnight. Troop 282 and 3 Webelos  from Pack 185 spent the weekend fishing and just having a fun and exciting overnight. The Scouts learned how to cast a line, reel in a fish and how to add bait to a hook.  They spent most of Saturday fishing and even got to fish for a few hours Sunday morning. Emma Rider was the winner of the most fish caught with 8. The weekend was challenging since we had to practice social distancing and everyone wore a mask the entire time. See photo below.

On Saturday October 10, 2020 we had our 1^st of two 25-mile bike hikes on the Little Blue Trace Trail. The Scouts and Leaders had a great time. They rode the 25 miles in 3 hrs. (averaged 8.3 miles per hour). They rode from the north end of the trail south for 12.5 miles and then rode back to the north end. The one comment that I heard when they returned was it seemed that we were going downhill when we started and then on the way back it felt as if we were going uphill the entire distance. This scout was correct in his observation.

Great Job Scouts and Leaders only one more 25 mile and then the big finish the 50 miler.

How many leaders does it take to repair our troop rock? The troop rock at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola Missouri has once again been repaired after a summer of laying on its back from being hit by an unknown vehicle.

What everyone should look at is what the Scouting program will give to our youth (girls and boys alike) if they come and join the Scouting Program one of the greatest youth programs in America.

THE AIMS AND METHODS OF BOY SCOUTING

The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the “Aims of Scouting.” They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.

The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.

Ideals
The ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Boy Scout measures himself or herself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and, as he or she reaches for them, they have some control over what and who each individual becomes.

Patrols
The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys and girls how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives.

Outdoor Programs
Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. It is here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for God’s handiwork and humankind’s place in it. The outdoors is the laboratory for Scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature’s resources.

Advancement
Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Scout plans their advancement and progresses at their own pace as he or she meets each challenge. The Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him or her gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.

Association with Adults
Boys and girls learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of their troops. In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to the Scouts, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.

Personal Growth
As Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Scouting. Boys and girls grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is so successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his or her Scoutmaster help each Scout to determine his or her growth toward Scouting’s aims.

Leadership Development
The Scout program encourages boys and girls to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a Scout accept the leadership role of others and guides them toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.

Uniform
The uniform makes the Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood/sisterhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Scout activities and provides a way for Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.

Merit Badge week was fun. I participated in leatherwork, woodcarving, first aid, and environmental science. I earned three out of the four. It took me all five days to get it done. We all had so much fun earning our badges.