The Overnight in April was a journey into Space, all the way to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas. So we loaded up the Troop bus an headed on our journey to the Cosmosphere. Upon arriving we see a Rocket ship and we know that we have landed. When entering I notice a big black plane. It is called the Black Bird as it was used to spy on other countries to see what they were doing in regards to the space program, rockets or weaponry. As this jet plane flew at 80,000 feet. There is a lot of original Space artifacts in their museum as we learned from the tour, even an Apollo Space mission capsule. We also learned about the history and properties of rocket fuel at Dr. Goddards Lab. And we watched a movie about the Space program in the Digital Theater. In doing all of this the Scouts earned Engineering and Robotics Merit Badges.
But the highlight was when the scouts divided up into teams to build their robotic vehicle for the robotic battle. They fought in a double elimination tournament to see who made the best robotic vehicle. And the winning team won an autographed picture of the Astronaut that walked on the moon 3 times. That winning team included James Buehler, DJ Lee, and Drake Ogle. I also want to mention their were undefeated, that’s right they never lost. A big How How to them. But a Big HOW HOW to all the Scouts who went and lived up to the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

The scouts just returned from a trip to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, KS and I’m going to tell you all about it.
Once we arrived at the Cosmosphere, the scouts were told what we would get to do while we were there, and then we began the tour of the museum.
We got to see lots of things that they took into space for everyday use, as well as their space suits.
We also got to see a space rock, but unfortunately we couldn’t touch it. After the tour, we started working on the Robotics badge. We got to add parts to robot machines, and have battle rounds like “Battle Bots”. This was a lot of fun!
That evening, we got to sleep under an actual spaceship, which was really cool!
The next morning after breakfast, we finished battle rounds, worked on our Engineering badge and saw an IMAX movie, before we headed home.
This was definitely one of my favorite overnights.

I personally like the experiences at camp. For example: seeing the Mic-O-Say Dancers and She-She-Be point with its wonderful view of Truman lake. There are different merit badges to be earned, daily swimming, and in my opinion, camping outside is the best. I remember my first year doing the mile swim, and getting to learn leather working and wood carving. It is all so much fun and I just can’t wait until we all go back to camp this summer!

What a great overnight. The Scouts and Leaders that showed up will be earning a white coup for snow on an overnight. This coup has not been given out in a few years. Did we have snow? Yes, before we went home Sunday, eleven inches of snow had fallen from Friday through Sunday morning. Four Webelos II attended the overnight.  Although this was a tough ‘first’ overnight, they all did a great job. It was a great experience which included a five mile urban hike. The scouts and leader made foil dinners (2-hamburger patties, sliced potatoes, carrots, green beans, corn, onion, tomato sauce and different spices) for their Saturday evening meal. After dinner we had several cups of hot chocolate and we played several rounds of hang man. Then it was off to our plastic shelter to go to bed. The shelter was built by the scouts and led by Mr. Humphrey, our newest adult leader.

On Sunday morning we got up and began our day with a cup of hot chocolate. Then it was off to cook bacon and eggs in a paper bag, boil a hardboiled egg in a paper cup and cook link sausage in foil. Overall we cooked 36 eggs, 2 pounds of bacon, 40 sausage links and 30 biscuits on sticks. It was a great breakfast.

What made this overnight great? The Scouts, Leaders and of course the snow. It is not every overnight you get to sleep out in the snow.

On Saturday, 3/11/18, troop 282 celebrated it’s 70th anniversary and numerous former scouts showed up to help Celebrate.. It started off with slide presentation showing the evolution of troop 282 over its life span. Special emphasis on the contributions made by the Scoutmasters and other leaders. A former Reservation director gave us the history of Camp Osceola and J.D. Hammontree along with several humorous stories. Then, they served cake and punch for us to have it was good. It was a good time had by all.

The month of October is so exciting! The Boy Scouts started working on a new merit badge: Hiking. We learned what to take on a hike, what possible scenarios could happen when on a hike (injuries and stuff like that). The only sad thing that happened was the camp out where the cub scouts and boy scouts camp together and did stations throughout the day. It was canceled due to severe thunderstorms, however we get to try it again in the spring! Looking forward to it.

The troop 282’s Court of Honer was a lot of fun. First the troop started off the meeting with opening ceremony. After, we prayed over the meal we ate food that the scouts parents brought. Thanks to all the parents that came and brought food! Then we gave out awards to all the scouts that earned them. These are all the scouts that earned them:

Allison, Jordan received the Water Sports award

Braswell, Devin received the Shotgun award

Buehler, James received the Camping, Environmental Science, First Aid Mammels and Swimming awards.

Chadwick, Mason received the Shotgun award.

Cook, Bryson received Canoe, Personal Fitness and Rifle awards.

Delaney, Jacob received the Basketry, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Hills, Eldon received Archery, Personal Fitness and Rifle awards.

Hollinbeck, Clayton received the Archery, Communications, Personal Fitness and Rifle awards.

Jones, Colby received Environmental Science, Basketry, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Kirkland, Noah received Basketry, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Lee, Justin received the Wilderness Survival award.

Milnes, William received Basketry, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Ogle, Drake received Environmental Science, First Aid Mammals and Swimming awards.

Polina, Matthew received Shotgun and Wilderness Survival awards.

Rider, Isaac received Basketry, Environmental Science, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Rider Josiah received Basketry, Environmental Science, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Rider, Noah received Basketry, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Standley, Jaden received Basketry, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Stevenson, Quincy received Archery and Climbing awards.

Suiter, Dylan received Basketry, Environmental Science, Leather and Wood Carving awards.

Vaughn, Johnatan received Archery and Climbing awards.

Then after we were done recognizing them we recognized the people who received
Mic-o-Say advancements:

New Foxmen:

Ryan Hills
Claton Hollinbeck

New Braves:

Quincy Stevenson – Ferocious Fox
Bryson Cook- Son of Mystical Waterfall
Jonathan Vaughn – Night Stalking Arrow

New Warriors:

Jordan Allison – Son of Blue Eyed Falcon

PAINT – Additional Responsibility(s)
Fire Builder – orange:

Justin Lee – Broken Hearted Wolf
Mason Chadwick – Swift Shadowed Snow Wolf
Devin Braswell – Ferocious Brown Bear
Matthew Polina – Blue Eyed White Tiger
Jordan Allison – Son of Blue Eyed Falcon

Runner – Blue:

Jeremy Humphrey – Little Blue Crescent Moon

Shaman – Purple:

Benjamin Wyatt – Fierce Black Wildcat

Sachem, Keeper of the Wampum, Sagamore and Medicine Man – White:

Phil Gramlich – KW Golden Image

Eagle Coup:

Jeremy Humphrey – Little Blue Crescent Moon

Religious Coup:

Jordan Allison – Son of Blue Eyed Falcon

Den Chief Coup:

Jordan Allison – Son of Blue Eyed Falcon
Jeremy Humphrey – Little Blue Crescent Moon

Camp Scoutmaster Coup:

Matt Copeland – Runner Lone Hidden Owl
Tina Allison – Honored Woman Blue Eyed Falcon
Christina Grace – Honored Woman Mystical Waterfall

2018 Camp Staff Coup:

Jordan Allison – Son of Blue Eyed Falcon

After we were done recognizing Mic-O-Say promotions we threw away our dinner trash, did closing ceremony, put up tables, chairs, flags etc. and went home.

I was asked why we have a troop rock at scout camp. That was a very good question and I have given it quite a bit of thought. I am going to compare our troop rock to a patrol’s patrol flag. It should be something that everyone in the troop should be proud of, something that we can stand behind and rally around, something that should tell a little history about our troop and be a symbol to let other scouters know that our troop camps in the best camp at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, Camp Lone Star.

Our troop rock has been around for a long time and it has been in many different locations in Camp Lone Star (Wigwam in the early days). Our troop rock started out on the NE side of the dining hall when the entrance road went around the mess hall. When the entrance road was changed, it was moved over to the road by the fire hydrant in front of the Nature Lodge. When the power lines were buried it was moved one again to where it resides now.

Our scout troop is 70 years old this year so to commemorate this event, Scott Howell III spent the weekend of June 30th and July 1st our troop rock w giving the rock a new coat of paint and lettering. Yes, our troop rock stands out just like the scout troop. It represents one of the best troops in the Heart of America Council and the Blue Elk District. Scouts, Leaders and Parents while at camp during 5th session, please visit and show your respect to your troop rock. First year campers, you may want to start a tradition having your picture taken with your troop rock each year. This will provide you with some great memories in the future.

This summer I was given the opportunity to attend NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training). The training taught me tools to become a better leader and teacher. They taught me how to teach with excitement. The skills they taught can be used not only in Scouting but can be used at school and a work place. The best part was meeting new people. At NYLT you are never alone, you make life long friendships. The training made me excited for next year as I hope to work staff for Bartle or NYLT.

The construction is under way for the new Blue Elk Lodge named after J. D. Hammontree, Recording Medicine Man Blue Elk, the founding Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 282 sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence, Missouri. The new building is funded by tribal members contributing monetary donations to the building fund. Everyone’s monetary help is needed and no donation is too small.  As a tribesman and an Eagle Scout of Troop 282, I am challenging all current and past Troop 282 tribal members to dig deep into your pockets to make a monetary contribution to the building fund for the new Blue Elk Lodge. This will show your dedication to our founding Scoutmaster, a true legend in the Tribe Mic-O-Say and in the Boy Scouting program.

For those who did not have the opportunity to know this man, I would like to share his legacy. J. D. walked with a cane, spoke very softly and was the organist for Trinity Episcopal Church.  He was the Scoutmaster of Troop 282 from 1948 until 1969 when he passed away. He walked the hills of Osceola from 1939 to 1969 as an integral part of H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. It is impossible to know how many lives he touched, influenced and changed during his scouting career. J.D. was a very good listener and anyone could stop him on the trail to talk and he would take the time to sit down and listen. He also had a very good memory and once he met you and knew your name he would never forget it. If you passed him on the trail a year or two later, he would call you by name. He was respected by all the scouts and leaders. As I previously said, he spoke very softly in all settings, only stated his thoughts once and expected his audience to be attentive to the conversation. J.D. Hammontree, Medicine Man Blue, should be remembered by all and I cannot think of a better way to honor him than having the new Blue Elk Lodge named after him.

I am challenging all current and past Troop 282 tribal members to please dig deep into your pockets and make a monetary contribution to the building fund for the new Blue Elk Lodge. If you are a scout and can only afford to contribute a dollar or two, do not feel that your contribution is too small because many small contributions add up to equal a combined large contribution.

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