Venturing Crew 42

Our thanks to Jake, Ryan, Zack, and Jeff who helped with the American Legion's Highway Cleanup on Saturday morning, December 6th.  They filled 16 thirty-gallon bags and left the interchange of State Highways 3 and 305 in pristine condition.

 

Our thanks to Alex and Dave from the Kitsap Marauders Fencing Club, who visited the Crew in December.  None of us had ever touched a foil, epee, or saber, but within two hours, these excellent coaches had taught us enough of the basics to engage us in battle.  Fencing is great for balance, fitness, judgement, and strategy.  It helps to have quick reflexes and builds confidence.  Our bouts may have ended quickly, but not for a lack of heart.  We hope to continue perfecting our newly gained skills. 

Crew 42, augmented by Venturers from Crew 1504 in Bremerton and Crew 1860 in Port Townsend, served on the Wood Badge for the 21st Century staff at Camp Parsons from September 25th through 27th. Among other duties, the Crew taught 56 adults on the properties of a "model campsite" that adheres to the seven principles of Leave No Trace. The Crew also facilitated a series of Round Robin teamwork games called Decision Making. Our Venturers also lead a 160 resource hour Conservation Project at the Pulali Point Arboretum. Feedback was excellent. Wood Badge is a 6 day outdoors-based advanced trainng course for adult Scouting leaders and was first taught by Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1919 at Gilwell Park, east of London. Many of the traditions of Wood Badge are carried on to this day, though much of the content has been modernized for today's society in the USA.

Our Crew, veterans of a Philmont Expedition in July 2008, have just been notified that we've been selected to return to Philmont in 2010.  Each year, a lottery is held to select those Scouting units across the nation who will be allowed to go.  News will follow once the paperwork arrives, but start clearing your calendar for late June/early July 2010 for our Trek.   Go to the Photo Album and see what it was like in 2008.

Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico.  The ranch, formerly the property of oil baron Waite Phillips and now that of the Boy Scouts of America, is currently in use as a National High Adventure Base in which crews of Scouts and Venturers take part in backpacking expeditions and other outdoor activities.  It is the largest youth camp in the world by size and number of participants.  Phillips sometimes allowed others to visit his ranch, including a few Boy Scout troops.  He was so impressed with the Scouts that in 1938, he donated 35,857 acres to the Boy Scouts of America.  In giving it to the Scouts, he included 3 provisions: that his horse Gus could stay there until his death, that his family could come and visit the ranch, and that it remain a working cattle ranch.  They initially named it the "Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp"  The word 'Philturn' comes from Waite Phillips's name, together with the "Good Turn" he did by donating the property.  In 1941, Phillips added more Philmont property, including the Villa Philmonte, bringing the total to 127,395 acres.