It was cold.  Even with a tall pile of fir and cedar firewood to keep the woodstove stoked, it stayed about 45F or so in the Lodge at Olympic Lutherhaven on Wildcat Lake for the weekend of the Crew Winter Retreat.  The cabins weren't heated or insulated, so overnight sleeping temperatures dipped below freezing.  There's something to be said for a good sleeping bag filled with down.

Even so, we kept busy and had fun.  The food, prepped and served by Mr. J, was great and enough for seconds and even thirds.  God Bless The Cook.

With so many new members attending, we decided to add a theme of Studies in Ethical Leadership to the weekend.  Everyone took turns participating and facilitating, so that by the time we were done, everyone was able to get signed off for their Bronze and Silver Award requirements for Ethical Controversies.  We also interspersed some movies around the discussions.  The Hunt For Red October, entertaining in itself, raised questions about protecting the truth, capital theft to avoid a war, etc.  Do the ends justify the means?  While we watched Amistad, we mused about breaking the law, even if it's a bad law: slavery.

You may think you know and understand the Stages of Team Development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing), and how to use EDGE (Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable) when teaching or leading, but can you quickly recognize the relationship between them?  Can you really recognize what stage a team is in or how fast or slow they're moving between stages?  Do you know which leadership style to apply?  It's called situational leadership, and the old Gregory Peck movie Twelve O'Clock High is a perfect study in it.

We never had the time or the cooperative weather to launch the boats and get out paddling on the lake.  Even the ducks huddled on the shore.

Members of the Crew spent the weekend of November 19th and 20th at the Camp Ramblewood Environmental Learning Center in Sequim Bay State Park, hosted by Fox Island Crew 27 of the Pacific Harbors Council.  Crew 27 is a new Venturing unit and wanted to have their first Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) and asked our Crew to run it.  Three of members staffed the event (Jeff leading, Zack F and John providing backup), and three of our Crew's newest members came along as new ILSC participants (Robert, Trevor, and Sam).

The Camp Ramblewood complex turned out to be ideal for a training retreat weekend.  There are heated cabins, lots of very nearby parking, and is open year round.  It has the capacity for up to 66 people, can be rented during the off-season for only $10/person for as few as 15 people.  The 1000 square foot lodge has a fireplace and full kitchen, too.  We needed the heat, too, since the overnight low this weekend was 22 degrees in the woods alongside Sequim Bay.

Not counting our own, this was the 15th Crew that we have assisted with an ILSC.  Remember, "Teaching Others" is one of the seven Methods in the Venturing program.  Don't know the Venturing Methods and how they differ from Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting?  Read this article.

It's called COPE, or a Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience.  A COPE Course is a custom built challenge course or ropes course designed to meet the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Project COPE installation and operation procedures. COPE Programs are based on attaining seven goals, summarized as:

Teamwork.  Teamwork is the key that allows a group to navigate a COPE challenge course successfully. The COPE challenge ropes course experience makes it clear that each individual can accomplish more as a member of a team than by  going it alone.
Communication. A COPE challenge course encourages active learning of critical listening and discussion skills important for any Crew or individual attempting to accomplish a difficult task.
Trust. Participants completing difficult tasks on a COPE challenge course develop trust in the COPE staff members, their fellow Crew members and themselves.  COPE staff are highly trained and certified in all safety aspects of climbing, by the way.
Leadership.  Team members attempting to solve problems on a COPE course have abundant opportunities to develop and exercise leadership skills in small and large groups.
Decision Making.  COPE requires Crews to make decisions by developing one or more solutions to a  the specific obstacle, problem, or initiative. Teams must consider all the available resources and alternatives, and evaluate the probable results before moving forward.
Problem Solving.  COPE challenges Crews and individuals to develop solutions to interesting problems. Participants must step outside of the box and frequently use creative ideas. Participants can then test their solutions and evaluate the results.
Self-Esteem.  Meeting the challenges of a COPE challenge course allows individuals and groups to develop self-esteem  and encourages them to set challenging yet attainable goals.