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.

 .       

What a great Eagle Project helping UPLIFT. Uplift is a program that helps the homeless. On the evening of May 31, 2018 Eagle Candidate Justin Lee had his Eagle Project at the uplift warehouse. The 13 people that went and took part worked on re-stocking shelfs, cleaning and assisting with preparing care packages for the homeless. It was a great evening and a rewarding evening. Uplift assist approximately 450 homeless people three times a week by going out in the community with four trucks that provide a hot meal, clothing and conversation with the homeless. There was a story told while we were there about uplift being able to put a fourth truck out in the community to help the homeless and how excited many were to be able to do this. But then they all thought about adding a fourth truck and recognized that this meant that the homeless population was growing in Kansas City and this is not a positive aspect.

What a great weekend for the Tribal Celebration June 1, 2 and 3. Those that went had a great time and enjoyed talking about old times and the upcoming summer camp. When we returned from late night at Lone Bear, we did find out about a new ride in camp. It is called the exciting cot ride. Yes one of our attendees decided to ride this new ride and fell out of their tent on their cot. They side it was very exciting but wouldn’t recommend the ride. After this excitement calmed down everyone went to sleep.

We arose on Saturday morning to the song birds of the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation and made our way to breakfast at the Dining Hall where we had a great breakfast then we were off to the daily events. Some of the events were the auction at the Great Hall, the garage sale at the Mic-O-Say Lodge, learning about the history of the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, the history of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, taking part in the Chieftains Challenge or just talking to old friends. It was a great day. We had some great BBQ for dinner then it was off to the Chieftain Ceremony. David Charles Chinnery was called by the Council of Chieftains to become the 89th Presiding Chieftain of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

It was a great weekend.

My attendance at National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) was extremely educational and fun. We were placed with a patrol of strangers and then sped through forming, storming, norming and performing process (stages of team forming). We showed more enthusiasm and were louder than camp Naish staff and Course B at all meals. We were so loud they put a time limit on when we could do our chants at meals. We also learned different forms of communication and the stages that a team goes through. We learned how to communicate and work together as a team. I would highly recommend this course for anyone eligible. It is not educational it is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life, and not to mention all the new people and friends you’ll make.

As a scout this was my 1st time to be in downtown Kansas City. We started our hike at the Union Cemetery where we learned this was the first Cemetery between Kansas City and Westport to unite the two cities. Then we moved to the Scout Statue in memorial to local Indian tribes. Then we were on the move to the Pioneer Women Statue dedicated to all the women that went west. Then we were off to what I really wanted to see, the WWI Museum. What a place, it has a lot of guns and even a tank. We watched a couple of movies and got to walk around and look at everything. Then we were off to Union Station where we learned about an actual shot out that took place. Then off to the Korean War memorial and the Washington statue in Washing Park. Then we got a big surprise, we got to ride the street car to lunch. Plowboys here we come. We found out at Plowboys that the owner opened up early just for us. Here we ate lunch and learned the history of BBQ in Kansas City. Lunch was GREAT!!!. Then we were off to the River Market once again by Street Car. We learned about the River Market and then we got back on the Street Car back to downtown where we got off and walked several blocks where we saw the first fire station in Kansas City, the Folly Theater, the Auditorium, Bartle Hall and Barney Allis Plaza. Then it was back to the Street Car for our ride to Union Station where we got off and walked to the bus. Then we all had a big surprise. There is actually an Eagle Scout fountain in Kansas City. Seeing this made me want to be an Eagle Scout.

LITTLE BLUE TRACE HIKE & OVERNIGHT

April 14th and 15th

What a weekend for a hike and overnight. It was cold and wet but we still had a blast. We started with a 5 mile hike on the Little Blue Trace Trail. Different scouting skills station were along the trail where the scouts got a chance to do the different skills. Station 1 was knots where the scouts learned the basic scouting knots. Station 2 was measuring the width of the trail without using a tape measure. Station 3 was measuring the height of the shelter house without using a tape measure but by using a scout stave. Station 4 was a compass course. Station 5 was 1st Aid. Station 6 was lashing where the scouts built a balloon launcher. Oh, we also ate lunch during the hike.

Then it was back on the bus to go back to Trinity. Once we got to Trinity, we split up into two groups. One group set up our shelter and the other group cut up the food for our dinner which were aluminum foil meals. Once the preparation was done everyone cooked their own meals in the blowing snow. We also got to sample Garlic Chicken & Potatoes foil dinners, Garlic Steak & Potatoes foil dinners, Chicken and Vegetable kabobs and Steak and Vegetable kabobs. We had a royal feast.

Sunday morning we cooked bacon and eggs in a paper sack, boiled eggs in a paper cup, cooked sausage in aluminum foil, cooked biscuits on a stick and on aluminum foil. Once again we had a breakfast for a king.

It was very cold for April but we made it.

This overnight was a blast. Can’t wait till the next one.