Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 Philmont AA '08
ScoutingManiac does not always reflect the views or opinions of the Boy Scouts of America or the Great Alaska Council.
Brought together about 500 people, a group of scouts from the Peruvian city of Lima held the "March of the Light", a day that I seek to draw attention from neighbors and businesses about the importance of saving energy for the good of the planet and fair use of natural resources, thus supporting the actions of "Blackout World" for the environment.
Cubs, Scouts, hikers and Parent Group Lima 114, made a working ant, touching doors, delivering leaflets and inviting institutions such as St. Pio X Parish, Fire Bomb, Serenazgo, police and nearby businesses, Scouts drew attention its 10,000 residents and more than 300 businesses nearby to extinguish all lights and be part of the global initiative.
Also, the scouts took their camp lamp, flags and banners specially prepared, plus get a band musicians so that together with the hundreds of neighbors and friends begin the "Walk of Light" and the party Peru effective action that generates a good awareness of conservation and energy saving.
This unique project was a success, as well as in Cuzco, Peru Scouts worked with the planet.
Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 Philmont AA '08
Scouts around the world switched off for Earth Hour on the 28th of March 2009 in a worldwide demonstration of a commitment to take action for the environment. Scouts in at least 44 countries participated in Earth Hour, engaging with their family, friends, classmates and communities to share in this world initiative in partnership with WWF. Scout youth members officially presented the results of Earth Hour to Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at an official UN meeting in Bonn, Germany. Jonas Rieger (11 years old) and Marie-Christine Bleil (11 years old) along with the other Scouts from the Phoenix Scout Group in Bonn gave the following speech when presenting the Earth Hour results to Yvo de Boer, on the opening day of UN Climate Change talks: "If the world keeps on polluting, it will get very hot in summer and there will be more and more intense storms around the year. If the world keeps on polluting as it is, there will be very little food and water left for us in the future. If greenhouse gases continue to rise, we will lose our future. Earth Hour is a first step. We have done what we can, by telling our parents and our friends to switch off the lights during Earth Hour. We need to be aware about climate change and our energy consumption every time we flip a switch. We are working on saving our future. But now it is up to politicians to do something. We need a global climate deal to be able to work together on this. We voted for Earth, for our future, and for yours- Will you do the same?"
The presentation was accompanied by a speech from Kim Carstensen of WWF, and Rod Abson of the World Scout Bureau who both talked about the importance of the climate change discussions and the tackling this problem with action. Scouts were seen as leaders in their community and important representatives of the young people who need to be prepared to respond to the issues of climate change. Earth Hour was potentially the largest public demonstration on climate change with hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries participating.
We have received confirmation that Scouts from at least 44 countries participated in Earth Hour, a great example of Scouting's worldwide co-operation for the environment: Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Palestinian Authority, Philippines, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
If you have participated in Earth Hour and your country is not already listed above, please let Rod Abson of the World Scout Bureau know via email: rodabson@scout.org
Most Arrowmen love to spend time hiking trails through the backcountry. But for Charlie Morgan, nothing is more fun than spending a day working on those trails. Charlie—an Eagle Scout and Brotherhood member of Occoneeche Lodge in North Carolina—devotes a good portion of his time to trail maintenance with the Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail. The trail spans from the Blue Ridge Parkway, which cuts through the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, to the Atlantic Ocean on the other side of the state. Eventually, the trail will run all the way through the state and backpackers will be able to hike the entire thing, non-stop.
For Charlie, a typical day on the trail involves trail maintenance, like checking bridges and re-routing parts of the path that have been eaten away by erosion. He spends at least four or five hours a week keeping his part of the trail open and available for hikers. "It's very fun," says Charlie.
Even though the trail plays a big part in his life now, Charlie discovered it by accident. "My Mom got an invitation to a Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail workday for one Saturday afternoon," Charlie explained. "Since I didn't have anything else to do, I decided to go with her." He took to the work immediately - so much so that the organization's president, fellow Arrowman Jeff Brewer, offered Charlie his own segment of the trail to maintain near Jordan Lake.
Working on the trail gives Charlie the satisfaction of giving back. "It's a good service for the community," he says. "You also learn a lot about the environment and all kinds of things about the outdoors." He's also been able to watch the organization grow. When Charlie started, the first workday he attended was only made up for five or six participants. Now, he says, sometimes hundreds of people show up to help build and maintain new sections of the trail. That's something Charlie enjoys, "I've watched it grow and grow."
And this nineteen year old isn't done building trails yet. "Working on my section of the trail motivates me to build more trail," he says. For each new stretch of trail Charlie builds, he'll use the Power of One. How will you use it?
Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 Philmont AA '08
2. What is a kudu horn?
3. Where did the word jamboree come from?
4. In number of participants, what were the top five Scout associations attending the jamboree?
5. How much did a .33-liter can of Coca-Cola (not quite 12 ounces) cost from an on-site jamboree vending machines?
6. Only six countries have no Scouting programs. Can you name them?
7. The next world jamboree takes place in 2011. Where will it be?
8. What gigantic event took place at Hylands Park only 10 days after the jamboree ended?
9. What item in the jamboree souvenir catalog was the most expensive?
10. What are the two official languages of World Scouting?
ANSWERS
1. Chile became the second country to adopt Scouting in 1909, one year before the United States.
2. A kudu horn is a musical instrument made from the twisted pronged horn of the African kudu antelope. Baden-Powell blew it at the beginning of the 1907 Brownsea Island encampment, and the same horn was blown by U.K. Chief Scout Peter Duncan 100 years later at the island’s August 1 sunrise ceremony. The kudu horn is also often used to signal the start of a Wood Badge training course or activity.
3. The word jamboree is thought to be derived from Swahili for hello, jambo. Speaking at the first world jamboree in 1920, Baden-Powell said, “People give different meanings for this word, but from this year on, jamboree will take a specific meaning. It will be associated to the largest gathering of youth that ever took place.”
4. The United Kingdom (6,104), Boy Scouts of America (3,125), Italy (2,166), Japan (1,483), and Portugal (1,425).
5. A .33-liter can of Coca-Cola (11.15 ounces) from a jamboree vending machine cost 1 British pound or $2.04.
6. The six countries without Scouting are: Andorra, Myanmar (Burma), Cuba, People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos.
7. Sweden will host the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in 2011.
8. The annual two-day V-Festival rock concert, sponsored by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, was staged at the same Hylands Park arena used during the world jamboree. This year’s headline acts -- Foo Fighters, Damien Rice, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and The Fray -- entertained more than 160,000 concertgoers.
9. Struck in 22 carat gold-proof quality, the Scouting Centenary 50-pence coin features the centennial dates, fleur-de-lis, and “Be Prepared” Scout motto. A limited edition of 1,250 coins from the Royal Mint was available at 345 pounds each (about $700).
10. The two official languages of World Scouting, used in arena show programs and in the official jamboree newspaper, are English and French.
Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 Philmont AA '08
To be really strong, muscular, or otherwise built for athletic activities.Now lets look at the dictionary's definition of the word"
The state or condition of being physically sound and healthy as the result of vigirous physical activity and proper nutrtion.Obviously the standard definition is far from the truth of what being fit actually means. So lets educate our boys on what true fitness is about.
A state of general mental and physical well-being
The name of this 13 Pan Jamboree is "The Adventure of the Fifth Element", the setting is a place where the weather gods have been made to teach this man the care of ecological balance. Participants formed tribes regardless of the origin of each and will be directed by the gods. During 8 days living the essence of each element to learn the virtues of each, passing tests and challenges that will give you the final preparation for making the Fifth Element reborn. The birth marked the fifth element of the pact that the man does to nature and the man himself in an atmosphere of brotherhood and tolerance. The Fifth Element reborn in the last minutes of 2009 marked the beginning of a new era in the life of men, full of brotherhood and commitment upon completion of the mission, the gods of the elements return to their original shape and will continue to monitor Man steps to enforce the commitment sealed. Mexico is the perfect place where you can be part of this great adventure. Come and know the journey to the fifth element. You will have four guards who guides you go by introducing a material in a newsletter. These four guidelines help guardians to live an unforgettable experience at this event.
Here is information if you would like to participate or if you know of another scout who would like to participate:
We will be coordinating a national contingent to the 13th Panamerican Scout Jamboree in December 2009, in Toluca, capital city of the state of Mexico. The event is a wonderful opportunity to travel and learn about Mexico in an atmosphere of exploration and adventure and strengthen the Scout brotherhood. The motto of this great event is “Explore our territory, discover your spirit.” More than 8,000 Scouts from around the American continent are expected to attend the nine-day event. Bari Saunders, member of the International Committee, has agreed to serve as the BSA’s contingent leader. Bari and Esther Scoggins, of the BSA International Department, will be contacting those Scouters that have indicated an interest in attending this event. Do you have someone from your council interested in attending? Please contact Esther Scoggins at esther.scoggins@scouting.org.
The twists and turns that come with driving up a mountain road can often be unnerving. So can coming upon an injured motorcyclist on your way to a Scouting event. That’s what happened to 14-year-old Taylor Wood—a Life Scout and Brotherhood member of Siwinis Lodge in Torrance, California—while riding with his Scoutmaster and his Scoutmaster’s son. "We were driving up the mountain and there were about three cars in front of us," recalled Taylor. "Then we started to see motorcycle parts scattered in the road." The motorcycle parts belonged to a motorcyclist in need of help lying on the side of the road with his friend. "None of the other people ahead of us stopped to help so we stopped."
Even though it appeared the injured motorcyclist only had minor cuts and scrapes, Taylor rushed out of the car with his first aid kit. "I always have my first aid kit." Taylor said. "Some people keep them in the back of their car or in their packs, but I keep mine with me." He immediately began to clean the motorcyclist’s open wounds and made sure to stabilize him to avoid making any internal injuries worse. When medical personnel arrived, Taylor and the other passengers in his vehicle slowed traffic down on either side of the accident.
Finally, nearly 20 minutes after Taylor and the others came upon the accident, a Sheriff’s Department helicopter landed nearby to evacuate the crash victim to the hospital. Emergency personnel never revealed the motorcyclist’s name to Taylor or his Scoutmaster, making his heroic deed a random act of good citizenship. But for Taylor, deeds like that are nearly habits. He’s been involved with three other accidents similar to this one. "It’s just a normal instinct," he said.
Taylor used the Power of One to help save a life. How will you use it?
Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 Philmont AA '08