After several years of serving the great Orange County Council, we have returned to serve Michigan Crossroads Council.  While we are adjusting to the new area we are also looking to see where we can best serve MCC.  

Wood Badge Honor Roll

 
The first Wood Badge course was offered in 1919 at Gilwell Park in the United Kingdom.  This Lord Robert Baden Powell knew that every scout deserved a trained leader and Wood Badge was created to fell that need.  Wood Badge is now offered in every country and proves to be a training that goes above and beyond expectations.  It combines both classroom sessions and outdoor activities which bring the scouting experience to life.  It also provides deeper understanding on how and why the Scouting program works.

 Jay Simancek (1988) EC-CS-15

Marianne Simancek (2002) C-23-02

Clysta Simancek (2016) W4-39-16-1

Jeff Simancek (2015) W4-39-15-2

 
Dimitrios Simancek (2019) W4-39-19

Going Digital with Merit Badges

To make the skills needed for the Wilderness Survival and Pioneering Merit Badges easier to access, view and practice, I have start to post videos online.  I have added 2 playlists to my YouTube Channel.

The first playlist is Rope Work.  This channel contains videos for knots, knot challenges, rope making, and I am in the process of creating videos for lashings and more knots.

The second channel is for Wilderness Survival.  This playlist will contain some of the skills necessary for the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge, include fire starting I will be expanding to include shelter building.

Check out these videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/wolftracksmassagethe

Wood Badge

In September 2015 I embarked in a journey which has given me tools and training both inside and outside of Scouting.  Wood Badge is a world-wide training course for adult scouters which teaches the participant about all aspects of the Scouting Program.  Participants will learn about the stages of building a team, group dynamics, programming and so much more.  This course does not take place just in a classroom, but is a 2 weekend intensive course involving classroom and practical applications. After the course the participants are given 18 months to complete "tickets" which they select to help them achieve a goal of theirs specific to scouting.

This has been a wonderful and changing experience.  I encourage each and everyone who is involved with scouting, go through this course and work those tickets.  On October 10, 2016 I was finally presented with my beads to complete my first Wood Badge Course.  I am sure I will be back to help staff a course in the future.

Support Group

For those who have been following me on Facebook know I have recently accepted a challenge to bring an awareness regarding Combat Veterans.  The challenge is known as the 22 for 22 challenge.  Here is a little background . . .  Roughly 22 Combat Veterans commit suicide a day.  The challenge is to commit to doing 22 push ups for 22 days in recognition of these fallen soldiers.  Now let's add to this that September is National Suicide Prevention Month and Sunday was 9-11.  I requested to talk to our boys briefly at our meeting and shared another story with them.

On Sunday, September 11, 2016, I had the privilege of working on a client who was at the towers when they fell 15 years ago.  I have seen this client for 2 years and we rarely discussed this event in his life.  He shared how New York provided counselors, how he sought help, but it had little to no effect.  He discovered acupuncture and bodywork and that it had a profound impact on his ability to cope and deal with the PTSD he struggled with.

In recognition of our former military in our Troop, for those soldiers, friends, and people we do not know, I asked the my Troop to join me, for the day, in doing the 22 for 22 challenge with me.  While only a couple hands went up in the air, what happened next was more than amazing.  25 Scouts and Adult Leaders showed their support, not just for me, but for all the fallen warriors, soldiers, friends, family, and those who are suffering with thoughts of suicide. 

Thank you Troop 606. All I can can is thank you!

 

Repurposing Firewood

Out here is California, we tend to be limited in our campfire options.  It is common to have left over firewood. One nice thing by us is the place we get our firewood carries redwood.  We had left over firewood from our last campout, so, naturally, it got stored in my garage.  I was getting ready for our next campout and thought I should split some of the wood to make some kindling.  I saw this one piece and thought, "This could be something . . ."  After several weeks of chiseling, carving and sanding.  Then add some stain and gloss this is what came out of the former piece of firewood.

Now there was a reason to do this.  I recently saw something in our local scout shop which I thought would be a good idea.  I didn't want to purchase one thinking I would make one instead.  I will say I do like the way it turned out.  I may need to create another one as I increase my coin collection.

 

And to think that we almost cut this down for its original purpose, a campfire.  There is beauty in everything, sometime it just needs a little work to shine through.

Knot Tying Station Mark 2

Question:  What do you do when you have extra wood from a knot tying station????

Answer:  You make another one!

Well, the wood left over was not long enough to make a full three and a half foot station so I made a 3 foot version and added an eighth knot.  Here is the list of knots:

1. Square Knot
2. Clove Hitch
3. 2 Half Hitch
4. Taut Line
5. Timber Hitch
6. Bowline
7. Sheet Bend
8. Figure 8

Red Rope Challenge

Have you heard about the red rope challenge?  I hadn’t heard about it until recently myself.  After little research and talking with the person who introduced me to this, it is simply a knot challenge with the prize at the end being a red rope and bragging rights that you beat the clock.  What is the challenge?  It is tying 14 knots with one rope in less than 1 minute.  The Boy Scouts learn and challenge themselves to do 7 knots with 7 ropes in less than a minute.  Having mastered that (see earlier post), I needed new challenge. So, let’s look at this challenge . . .

The knots (in no particular order):

The 7 Basic Knots

1. Square Knot
2. Clove Hitch
3. Half Hitch
4. Taut Line
5. Timber Hitch
6. Bowline
7. Sheet Bend

Additional 7 knots

1. Sheep Shank
2. Half Hitch
3. Overhand Knot
4. Double Overhand Knot
5. Surgeons Knot
6. Slip Knot
7. Figure 8 Knot

Here is a video which shows the tying of the knots incase you need a little assistance:

Now there is a secret to this challenge.  It is helpful to group the knots together into their families (Hitches, Loops, Bends, etc.).  Another consideration is that there are some knots transition which easily translate into each other.  Organizing the order of the knots will save many seconds, which is, in effect, the point of this challenge.  For example, half hitch, 2 half hitch and taut lines are all part of the hitch family, and they transition into one another quickly and easily.

Knowing the “short cuts” between the knots is also beneficial.  What is the difference between a clove hitch and the Sheep Shank?  When tying these quickly, it is simply an additional loop. There are transitions between the slip knot and the bowline and between the square knot and the sheet bend.  Knowing these short cuts will save you time.

Here is my order and what is currently working for me.  I believe my time for this video was 56 seconds, but my son said that I did a round in 46 seconds.

7 Basic Knots

7 Basic Knots

There are 7 basic knots that the Boy Scouts are often challenged on.  These knots are:

1. Square Knots
2. Clove Hitch
3.  2 Half Hitch
4. Taut Line
5. Timber Hitch
6. Bowline
7. Sheet Bend

At many Camporees, the scouts are challenge to do these in less than a minute.  Knot tying boards are often used to test this knowledge and for the consistency of the challenge.  I searched the web looking for good plans to build these stations and found a good one, but it was too long for storage.  some others did not have the knots I was looking for so I ended up creating a new design for my needs. This new design is easy to build, only 3 1/2 feet long and meets the needs of the seven knots listed above.  As you can see below, I also labeled the knots and used whiteboard paper on the back to record the best times.

I know many people are looking for knot tying stations like these, so I have placed the directions to build your own HERE.

I will post a video on the knots and challenge here shortly

Happy Anniversary O-A

The Order of the Arrow is celebrating its 100th year anniversary throughout 2015.  The Order of the Arrow is often referred to as the Boy Scouts Honor Society.  The Order of the Arrow (OA) recognized Scouts and Scouters who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their everyday life and support others to do the same.  They are dedicated to maintaining the camping traditions, scout spirit and dedication to cheerful service

Founded in 1915 by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson, it was piloted by the National BSA and became an official part of the BSA in 1934.  The Order of the Arrow started with recognizing the scouts who showed the scout spirit and lived by the Scout Oath and Law, and later honored those dedicated camping and camping traditions. It was in 1998 when the OA was officially recognized as the Boy Scouts of America National Honor Society.  

Happy Centennial Arrowmen!

Many Years of Service

When I opened a package from my Uncle, Michael John, I wasn't expecting the long and profound history that was contained in the box.  Amongst old books (dating back to 1913) and many patches there were a treasures of many sorts.  One of these treasures was kept in a small tin that jingled when you moved it.

Many of you may remember when Great Grandfather (Michael Joseph) pulled out his Scouting memorabilia, he had a small tackle box full of different pins he had collected over the years. Most of these were simple service stars, but some were the Veteran Service recognitions.  Michael Joseph died during his 80th year of service as a registered scouter.  Though no service pin was presented to him, he did manage to keep most of these pins.

Also in this treasure box was a Certificate of Tests Passed for his First Class Rank, his Silver Beaver Medallion and his Silver Antelope Medallion. I have now completed a display to recognize his 80 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America.

Be sure to enlarge this picture.  The pins in the center are his Veteran Service Pins.  The certificate near the top is his First Class Recognition dated September 27, 1917.

Another treasure in the box was Uncle Michael John's Merit badge sash, with 22 merit badges and his rank patches.  Michael John was the first Eagle Scout in the Anuta lineage receiving it in May 1944. I will need a different shadow box for this one.

Fun in the Snow

Against popular belief you can find snow in California.  You might need to travel a bit to find it, but it is there.  Troop 606 traveled around 6 hours up into the mountains, just a little south of Yosemite to Kings Canyon National Park.  This trip served to test the boys skills at winter camping.

Snow Forts were built to spend the nights in and the days were spent having snowball fights and sledding.

One of the advantages with camping at this location was that we were a short mile walk from the General Grant Tree.  This tree is the largest Giant Sequoia in the General Grant Grove and is the third largest tree in the world. 

If this tree was an equipment bag it would hold over 37 million ping-pong balls or 159,000 basketballs.  If it were a tank of gas it would have enough fuel to allow a car to drive around the equator 350 times without refueling.  It will take about 20 adults holding hands to wrap around the base of the tree.

Next year we are hoping that we can go to the General Sherman Tree which is the living tree in the world. 

Camp Chawanakee

Camp Chawanakee is nestled in the Sierra mountains on Shaver Lake.  Every summer it becomes the home for Boy Scout Summer Camp offering offering 64 different merit badges and other courses to 3,381 Scouts and 793 Scouters in 210 Troops. The week of July 1-7, 2012, 20 scouts from Troop 606 called Camp Chawanakee home.

The long drive (7 hours with multiple stops and LA holiday traffic) was picturesque.  Once you got out of the city and through the grapevine you are greeted with grape and fruit orchards.  After a trip through Sierra National Forest I finally made it to camp.

The view from the campsite was breathless

Fron behind my tent

Especially the sunsets

The boys participated in a variety of skill earning merit badges in Handicrafts, Scoutcrafts, water sports, High adventure and rank advancement.  Even the adults were able to take classes in training and high adventure.

DImitri Worked on four merit badges and advancements towards his Second and First Class Ranks.  He completed the Pottery and Reptile and Anphibian Study Merit Badges and hes one one requiremtn left to complete both Leatherwork and Basketry.

Jeff participated in the C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Physical Education), when included low and high challenges and a Zip Line.

You have to first climb up to the challenge

The telephone pole looks larger in diameterfrom below

Cables, at least I have something to hold onto this time,

Planking on the way down

After the COPE event Dimitri had the chance to practice his first aid and take out the splinters from Jeffs hand.

We even did an overnight under the stars on the opposite side of the lake.

Waiting in line for the boats

And were off

Canoeing/rowing at sunset, will we make it in time?

Finding a spot to sleep under the stars

At least it was a full moon

Rowing back at sunrise

We were able to celebrate the fourth of July while we were there, just no fireworks.

And of course, time to play on the camp pioneering projects.

Scoutmaster Tested

Kid Approved



100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout

Arthur Rose Eldred was born in Brooklyn, NY on August 16, 1895. Raised in Oceanside, Long Island, NY, and joined Scouting in 1910.  His Troop was one of the two local troops, selected by Chief Scout Executive James E. West to serve as honor guard for General Robert S. Baden Powell. “BP”, the founder of the Boy Scout movement, multi-city lecture touring on January 31, 1912.

Arthur earned his first class badge in March, 1911. Like many of the first few Eagle Scouts, Eldred did not receive either a Life or Star Badge (Life proceeded Star until 1922), but went straight to Eagle. At this time, First Class was considered the highest rank in Scouting, but Scouts could be “Merit Scouts” by earning the required merit badges to become a Life Scout, Star Scout and an Eagle Scout. In the early days of the BSA, these awards might be likened more to super merit badges rather than ranks.

Eldred completed the required 21 merit badges for Eagle in April of 1912. In the August 1912 issue of Boy’s Life, Eldred was listed in the Honor Roll section as having received the following merit badges: Civics, Cooking, Cycling, Electricity, Firemanship, First Aid to Animals, Gardening, Handicraft, Horsemanship, Interpreting of French, Life Saving, Painting, Pathfinding, Personal Health, Poultry Farming, Public Health, Swimming, Chemistry, Dairying, Business, and Plumbing.

In a letter dated August 21, 1912, James E. West formally notified Arthur Eldred that he had the honor of being the first Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of America. In this letter, West informed him that the Eagle badge would be presented at a later date. A primary reason for this was that the dies for the badge had not yet been made. Eldred received the actual badge on Labor Day 1912.

Roundtable Meeting

November 2010 Roundtable



At the November Roundtable Meeting our son volunteered us to do the opening flag ceremony. 

3 generations of youngest son's;

Jay - Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit, First Class Scout, Great Lakes Council Member

Jeff - District Award of Merit, Eagle Scout (4 Palms), District Program Chair

Dimitrios - Weblos Scout

2010 Encampment

The 2010 Encampment was an Orange County Council-wide event.  This was exactly like the National Jamboree I remember.  It takes forever to get to where you are going, a lot of walking and full of dust.

IT WAS A BLAST!

Scouting Tradition: Set up camp in the dark

Exhaustion kicks in

Tent City in the morning

Our Campsite

Cubland Activities

Volunteering at Cubland

The sun goes down over the mountains