Simsbury Troop 175

Adventure. Opportunity. Camaraderie.

Tell us three words that best describe the Scouts organization?

" Adventure. Opportunity. Camaraderie. "

- Bear Grylls

 

Bear Gryllis, UK's Chief Scout, sums it all up in a recent interview posted on his website.

 

 

 

 

On the February Troop trip to Mt Snow and Bromley, participants will be able to work on requirements for the Snow Sports Merit Badge.

Scouts interested in earning this badge should read the requirements and be ready to discuss and demonstrate the requirements of the option that they have chosen.

 

Snow Sports requirements

Discuss winter sports safety, and show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while skiing or riding, including hypothermia, frostbite, shock, dehydration, sunburn, fractures, bruises, sprains, and strains. Tell how to apply splints. Explain why every skier or snowboarder should be prepared to render first aid in the event of an accident. Explain the procedure used to report an accident to the local ski patrol for the area where you usually ski or ride. Do EACH of the following: a. Tell the meaning of the Your Responsibility Code for skiers and snow-boarders. Explain why each rider must follow this code. b. Explain the Smart Style safety program. Tell why it is important and how it applies to skiers and snowboarders in terrain parks and pipes. c. Explain the precautions pertaining to avalanche safety, including the responsibility of individuals regarding avalanche safety. d. Tell the meaning of the Wilderness Use Policy. Explain why each skier and snowboarder must adopt this policy. Complete all of the requirements for ONE of the following options: downhill (Alpine) skiing or cross-country (Nordic) or snowboarding. DOWNHILL (ALPINE) SKIING a. Show how to use and maintain your own release bindings and explain the use of two others. Explain the international DIN standard and what it means to skiers. b. Explain the American Teaching System and a basic snow-skiing progression c. Name the major ski organizations in the United States and explain their functions. d. Discuss the five types of Alpine skis. Demonstrate two ways to carry skis and poles safely and easily. e. Explain the importance of strength, endurance, and flexibility in downhill skiing. Demonstrate exercises and activities you can do to get fit for skiing. f. Present yourself properly clothed and equipped for downhill skiing. Discuss how the clothing you have chosen will keep you warm and protected. g. Demonstrate how to ride one kind of lift and explain how to ride two others. h. Explain the international trail-marking system. i. On a gentle slope, demonstrate some of the beginning maneuvers learned in skiing. Include the straight run, gliding wedge, wedge stop, sidestep, and herringbone maneuvers. j. On slightly steeper terrain, show linked wedge turns. k. On a moderate slope, demonstrate five to 10 christies. l. Make a controlled run down an intermediate slope and demonstrate the following: 1. Short-, medium-, and long-radius parallel turns 2. A sideslip and safety (hockey) stop to each side 3. Traverse across a slope m. Demonstrate the ability to ski in varied conditions, including changes in pitch, snow conditions, and moguls. Maintain your balance and ability to turn. CROSS-COUNTRY (NORDIC) SKIING a. Show your ability to select, use, and repair, if necessary, the correct equipment for ski touring in safety and comfort. b. Discuss classical and telemark skis. Demonstrate two ways to carry skis safely and easily. c. Discuss the basic principles of waxing for cross-country ski touring. d. Discuss the differences between cross-country skiing, ski touring, ski and downhill skiing. e. Explain the importance of strength, endurance, and flexibility in cross-country skiing. Demonstrate exercises and activities you can do to get fit for skiing. f. List items you would take on a one-day ski tour. g. Present yourself properly clothed and equipped for a one-day ski tour. Discuss the correct use of your clothing and equipment, and how the clothing you have chosen will keep you warm and protected. h. Demonstrate the proper use of a topographic map and compass. i. Show a degree of stamina that will enable you to keep up with an average ski-touring group your age. j. On a gentle, packed slope, show some basic ways to control speed and direction. Include the straight run, traverse, sideslip, step turn, wedge stop, and wedge turn maneuvers. k. On a cross-country trail, demonstrate effective propulsion by showing proper weight transfer from ski to ski, pole timing, rhythm, flow, and glide. l. Demonstrate your ability, on a tour, to cope with an average variety of snow conditions. m. Demonstrate several methods of dealing with steep hills or difficult conditions. Include traverses and kick turns going uphill and downhill, sidesteps, pole drag, and ski-pole "glissade." SNOWBOARDING a. Discuss forward-fall injuries. Tell about prevention and what action must be taken in the event of any type of injury or accident. b. Do the following: 1. Demonstrate your ability to select the correct equipment for snowboarding and to use it for safety and comfort. 2. Present yourself properly clothed and equipped for snowboarding. Discuss how the clothing you have chosen will keep you warm and protected. c. Show how to use and maintain your own bindings, and explain the use of the different binding methods. Explain the need for leashes. d. Discuss the four types of snowboards. Demonstrate how to carry a snowboard easily and safely. e. Demonstrate exercises and activities that will get you fit for snowboarding. f. Demonstrate how to ride one kind of lift and explain how to ride two others. g. Explain the international trail-marking system. h. Demonstrate the basic principles of waxing a snowboard. i. Do the following: 1. On a gentle slope, demonstrate beginning snowboarding maneuvers. Show basic ways to control speed and direction. Include the sideslipping maneuver. 2. On slightly steeper terrain, show traversing. j. On a moderate slope, demonstrate an ollie, a nose-end grab, and a wheelie. k. Make a controlled run down an intermediate slope and demonstrate the following: 1. Skidded, carved, and jump turns 2. Stops 3. Riding fakie l. Demonstrate your ability to ride in varied conditions, including changes in pitch, snow conditions, and moguls. Maintain your balance and ability to turn. m. Name the major snowboarding organizations in the United States and explain their functions.

The Teaching EDGE

New requirements for Boy Scout rank advancement at the ledership leve now requires teaching a scout a new skill using the EDGE method. However most scouts (and the scout leaders) are not yet familiar with this teaching term ever those they might have been using it for years.

Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable… The first letters of those words spell EDGE. This teaching method is called The Teaching EDGE.

When teaching a scout a new skill, you use four very clear steps:

• First, you explained how to do the skill.
• Second, you demonstrated how to do the skill.
• Third, you guided others to do the skill, providing ongoing feedback.
• Fourth, you enabled others to use the skill, providing them with the time, materials, and practice to succeed.

 

Here is why each step is important: 

• Explaining is important because…

It clarifies the subject for the learner AND for the instructor. That’s why I began teaching compass use by explaining the process of taking a bearing.

• Demonstrating is important because…

It allows learners to see as well as hear how something is done. They can follow the process from beginning to end. That’s why I showed you the steps in taking a bearing.

• Guiding is important because…

It allows learners to learn by doing. It allows the instructor to see how well learners are grasping the skill. That’s why I had you take compass bearings while I coached you through the process.

• Enabling is important because… 

It allows learners to use the skills themselves. It also encourages repetition—an important part of mastering a skill. That’s why I encouraged you to continue taking bearings even though I had stepped into the background. I wanted you to keep practicing until you really owned the skill.

 

 

 

2011 Deep Freeze: a challenge and a lot of fun in the snow

When we approached the gate to the Tunxis ski trail the snow was fresh and deep.

The large Klondike Derby dogsled came in handy, and from my estimation it racked up about 5 miles from the many trips it had to take from the trailer to get all the equipment into the campsite. The deep snow was up to our knees and made the hike difficult, but eventually we packed it down by walking over it so much.

We tried to get some trucks up the trail, which turned into a competition of Ford (Mr. Gilmore) vs. Chevy (Mr. Bushey), but they couldn't get very far. I think Chevy won but Ford went first and helped Chevy go farther by blazing a trail.

Once we got everything set up it was time to build snow caves. They ranged in size from three man tent size structures to caves where the occupants’ feet were sticking out of the door for the whole night. Also a group went up the hill and began to put the outer bark on the Wigwam… okay, we used tarps, zip-ties and bailing twine; a 21st century wigwam. When people had finished building their sleeping quarters, a couple of younger scouts started sledding down the Treacherous Tunxis Sled Run, which became very popular and more and more people joined the activity.  

Working on the Indian lore badge was a challenge in the cold and snowy conditions. A couple scouts tried their hand at flint knapping (making arrow heads) and got some decent results. Others built the Wigwam, and cooked some American Indian food. This included pop corn and one squash. I will be continuing this badge, I will just need to look at the troop schedule and see how I can fit classes in. Those of you who have done some work on the written part make sure you fill out the official work sheet from meritbadge.org or open the attachment to print it out.

Christopher Reilly was caught in a surprise “real avalanche.” The snow on the metal roof of the cabin got warm enough from the fire inside to slide off all at once in a giant wave that covered the whole cooking area. Unfortunately Christopher was directly in its path. He was completely buried, but the quick reactions of Ryan Jano got Christopher out and back on his feet in seconds. He shook it off and warmed up a little in the cabin, and soon was back in action.

Sunset came quick and we ate dinner. Bill Meskill made some excellent tacos that the adults all appreciated. The patrol leaders made soup and spaghetti with meatballs, both of which were delicious. After, some went back to their snow shelters to put the finishing touches on them, while about ten scouts went up to the Wigwam to sleep there. The adults went into cabin to hang out and get warm.

The temperature was going down so it was time to climb into a warm sleeping bag and get some sleep. The crew in the wigwam was listening to the Packers Falcons football game on a crank handle radio brought by TJ Nicholson and eating popcorn. Unfortunately, the Packers won.  Most everyone stayed sort of warm enough overnight to get some sleep. The Scouts in the wigwam kept a fire going all night by waking up in shifts. However, because of and underestimation of how much fuel was needed, they had to collect and saw some more logs at about 4:30 in the morning. Mr. Mead woke those who weren’t up at 7:00 a.m. with traditional cheery bull horn wake up call.  We ate a quick breakfast, packed up and hiked or sledded out.

To see more photos from this trip, go to the Troop Photo Library.

How to avoid frostbite

“Don’t go far,” Frank Simon’s mom called as Frank and his three friends set out to ski the backcountry from a lodge at Paradise Inn, Wash. It was a sunny day, but the temperature on the lower slopes of Mount Rainier wouldn’t climb above freezing.

The boys’ route through the woods and up a gentle slope didn’t seem long to Frank. But Bill Wright, his best friend, was wearing thin gloves instead of thick mittens. After an hour or so Bill said in a frightened voice, “I can’t feel my fingers!”

Frank looked at them. They were white and extremely cold to his touch. Frank told Bill to put his hands in his own armpits, against his skin, until the fingers were rewarmed.

Bill did and was able to ski back to the lodge. He was lucky. He’d suffered no permanent damage.

COLD BITES

 

Frostbite is tissue damage caused by freezing. It comes in three types: Frostnip, superficial frostbite and deep frostbite.

Frostnip is not true frostbite, just supercold skin. It looks pale and feels cold. Sometimes frostnipped skin apprears as a patch of white on your cheeks or nose. As soon as you see this, cover the cold spot with your warm hands.

If your fingers or toes are affected, do as Bill did. Stick them inside your clothing, next to your wam skin, until they rewarm and appear normal again.

Superficial frostbite is the term for cold-damaged tissue that hasn’t frozen solid. When you push carefully on the cold skin, it’s still pretty soft. It looks like frostnip, but when you rewarm it (the same way you rewarm frostnip), fluid-filled blisters develop.

Don’t pop these blisters. Cover them with a clean dressing and be careful to keep the skin from freezing again. This person needs to see a doctor.

Deep frostbite occurs when tissue has frozen solid. The skin is no longer soft. It feels like ice. Unlike superficial frostbite, you don’t want to rewarm deep frostbite. It can be very painful, and a doctor should oversee it. Insulate the area to keep it from thawing or freezing even more, and get the person to a doctor as soon as possible.

PREVENTION

You can protect yourself from frostnip and frostbite by:

1. Wearing mittens. They hold more heat than do gloves.
2. Being especially careful to wear winter boots that fit. Don’t cram extra socks into summer boots and think that will keep your feet warm. If your feet are too tightly smushed into boots, warm blood can’t get to your toes.
3. Drinking plenty of water and snacking often. Your body turns water and food into fuel to warm you.

REWARMING NO-NOS

Do not rub frostbite to rewarm it. Rubbing causes more damage. Do not hold frostbitten skin near a fire or another source of high heat. High heat causes more damage, too.

 

 

By Buck Tilton
Illustrations by Jonathan Carlson
From the November 2001 issue of Boys' Life magazine

2011 Klondike Derby

The Matianuck district of the CT Rivers Council will be holding it's annual Klondike Derby on February 4-5 at Camp Workcoman. The theme is "Disaster in Alaska" and it will be a mission profile adventure.

If you are interested in forming a crew from Troop 175 and have an adult leader that will attend with you, please see Mr. Mead at the next troop meeting.

Positions of responsibility for Star, Life, and Eagle

To earn the Boy Scout ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle, a boy has to serve in a position of responsibility for six months (four months for Star rank).

But not every position of responsibility applies. Assistant patrol leader, for example, is not considered a position of responsibility in this sense. But senior patrol leader is.

To keep it all straight, here's a short guide to which positions in a troop, team, crew, or ship will count for advancement.

FOR STAR AND LIFE SCOUT:

Boy Scout troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, Venture patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, troop webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.

Varsity Scout team: Captain, cocaptain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow troop representative, librarian, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, den chief, team webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.

Venturing crew/ship: President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, den chief, quartermaster, historian, guide, boatswain, boatswain’s mate, yeoman, purser, storekeeper, crew/ship webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.

FOR EAGLE SCOUT:

Boy Scout troop: Same as Star/Life, except bugler is removed.

 

Thanks to the Scouting Magazine blog for this article.

BSA Merit Badge Requirement Changes for 2011

Several merit badge requirements have received minor modifications and updates. Here is a series of articles from Scouting Magazine.

 

2011 revised requirements: Sports merit badge

2011 revised requirements: Archery merit badge

2011 revised requirements: Nuclear Science merit badge

2011 revised requirements: Horsemanship merit badge

2011 revised requirements: Astronomy merit badge

 

If you are already working on one of these merit badges, you may continue to use the old requirements. If you are just starting the badge, you would need to use the new requirements.

Snowshoe Basics

Don't let a blanket of white keep you from hiking through a winter wonderland.

It's cold, it's winter, and there is two feet of snow covering the ground, but that's no reason to stay indoors. Strap on a pair of snowshoes, and you can stride out into the backcountry no matter what Mother Nature has in store.

Snowshoeing has become enormously popular in recent years. It's inexpensive, it's terrific exercise, and it's easy to do. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Beginners can master basic skills in a few minutes.

Read this article "Snowshoe Basics" by Karen in Scounting Magazine to better understand what snowshoes are right for you and how to use them.