Twas the Night before Summer Camp...

T'was the night before summer camp and the Commissioner was frantically packing for the week's long retreat and once again I vowed to never wait until the last minute to pack for camp.

Where's my flashlight? Where's my mess kit? Who took my socks?

Now what did I do with my pack?

And my wife with a musical lilt in her voice says, "You already packed it." to each of those questions I asked.

"Your pack is on your back." she goes.

I love the camping experience but going through the pre-camp check list is one job I truly hate as something is always missing when I hit camp.

The trouble is that I have a printed check list that I go through and I end up repacking my gear twice to make sure that it is all there and when I do that something never gets repacked.

Next year, if I am lucky to go to camp, I will keep everything in the pack when I get home and not touch it until next summer (well maybe I will take the dirty clothes out before storing).

Amber is patiently helping "dear old Dod" get things together for the week and has included some mementos just in case I should forget her while I am away.

Things like:

Mack Glenn her favorite "Build a Bear," monkey that is dressed in a scout uniform.

17 drawings that I am suppose to hang on the door of the refrigerator in my tent.

One photo of herself in her soccer uniform

A Barbie Doll and suitcase of clothes in case it rains and I get bored.

I quietly remove the Barbie and the monkey from my pack and continue with the necessities that I will need.

Time out for dinner.

Back to packing:

I remove the monkey and the Barbie from the pack again as they must be eager to camp with me since they mysteriously reappeared in my pack all by themselves.

Now I think that I will turn in and have visions of scouts having the time of their lives at camp...but only after I remove Barbie and the monkey from my pack...again.

The Out in Scouting

I have been involved with various scouting programs throughout the world and the common denominator with each scout program is getting today's youth outdoors. This has been one of the founding principles within the scouting movement.

It is the draw that brings children from all walks of life into the program.

You can travel the globe and you will find scouts always having fun with any activity offered as long as it is outdoors. No matter how far you go, you will always see miles of smiles as scouts participate in every activity that comes along and you will find it just being good, clean fun.

Just watch a scout travel down a hill on a home made water slide into a mud pit and your will have the time of your life watching scouts have blast getting dirty.

Most will be in their class A's too (including the leaders).

So take advantage of the out in scouting and have the time of your life!

Strange Things Can Be Seen at Scout Camp

I remember not to long ago, at a Mom and Son camp, I witnessed a group of cub scouts grouped in a circle near the old chow hall staring at the ground when one of the young cub's mother joined the group. She obviously was very agitated because the boys were poking at something with a stick.

"Don't touch it! It is going to strike and you will die from its venom!"

Now, I had to go see what the ruckus was about (knowing that the chance of the boys finding a poisonous creature was pretty remote, and I was thinking that the boys had a snake cornered and thought it best to break up the group and let one of God's creatures find a good, safe hiding place. The snakes are non poisonous around the camp but will bite if provoked.

After separating the group, I discover that the dreaded poisonous snake happened to be a green garden hose which was coiled up along side the building.

Strange Sight Number 1

Another time I witnessed a first time camper walking one of the trails to the trading post smacking 2 sticks together which was to prevent the dreaded 3 winged snipe from attacking in broad daylight.

This scout was told that snipes are extremely vicious in daylight and hate the sound of sticks struck together.

Strange Sight Number 2

I once watched a Scoutmaster take his troop on a hunt for 50 feet of shoreline that was missing from the camp and the Scoutmaster used this as a way to get his scouts to go on a nature hike that they didn't want to go on.

Strange Sight Number 3

I watched a scout drag an extension cord into the woods looking for the "currant bush" to plug his boom box into.

Strange Sight Number 4

At the Australian Jamboree in 2007, I saw a scout that wanted to get noticed by all that attended that Jamboree by applying the blue chemicals (for the port-a-potties) onto his body.

He succeeded only to find out that the coloring stained his skin and it was going to take months for that color to disappear in addition to the rash that developed from the chemicals.

I have the photo of him in a PowerPoint presentation.

Strange Sight Number 5

I can't wait to get to camp and see what happens next.

A Scout's First Camp Experience

Hello Mudda Hello Fadda, Here I am at Camp....

We all know that camp song but one of my favorite things to do at camp is observe the scouts that are attending scout camp for the very first time.

Seeing what they bring into camp or not bring and watching the boys run through their paces as the camp progresses through the week's activities.

I have seen young scout delete the non essentials from their gear...

things like:

extra shoes and socks, changes of underwear and clothing, rain gear, flashlight, toothpaste and brush, soap, towel, sleeping bag.

What is brought are the important things:

72 Butterfinger candy bars, 35 Baby Ruths, 10 lbs of licorice, 18 packs of gum, 6 bags of gummie bears, an Ipod, cell phone for text messaging, and don't forget the beef jerky ( for emergencies).

Now that day one is covered...Day 2

17 one pound bags of M&M's plain, peanut, and peanut butter.

17 one pound bags of Skittles,

one jar of peanuts (have to make gorp) no dried fruit (too healthy)

Oh and I forgot the 2 cases of the latest and greatest super carbonated triple caffeinated twice sugared cola

the feel good item will be 12 cases of instant snack pudding

and mom's emergency stash of $20. for emergency needs at the trading post (like the suicide slushie's) or death by chocolate double fudge sundaes.

And you will hear comments like,"Gee I hope we can have Frosted Sugar Bombs for breakfast!"

I have seen first time winter camp scouts forget their winter clothing and boots.

I have also seen first time winter camp scouts awake up in a snowstorm of goose down because they forgot to take their boots off when they climbed into their sleeping bags.

The good news is that these scouts do quickly learn and adapt to the situation.

Most are great at taking what they truly need (but there are some that I am sure become the ideas for new sit com material).

I should know, I was that scout once many many years ago.

Just ask that raccoon that ate the Butterfinger candy bar on my chest my first night of summer camp.

Disclaimer: Commissioner Keith never went to bed with his boots on and never took a ton of candy to camp but did have a raccoon eat a Butterfinger candybar while sitting on his chest the first night at camp.

Bear Paw Bound

Commissioner Keith's Tent-Not!!!

I am going off to camp and I am returning to Camp Bear Paw and I haven't been there to camp since I received my Eagle medal 33 years ago.
Oh I have visited Bear Paw since that time, serving as a staff member on a few Mom and Son camp events but not to stay.
I am excited to return to camp as I want to see the changes that have occurred over the 33 yrs since I was a scout.
There is an new dining hall, and they moved the trading post and I understand that the shooting sports area also received well deserved improvements.
I know that the lake has not been moved but the last time I was there; I believe that the waterfront has received some cosmetic changes too.
I remember my first camping experience there, staying in Fox campsite, and going on my first snipe hunt and taking Reptile Study, Nature, and Geology merit badges.
Now 33 yrs later, I am gathering my gear to take with me to camp. I have more things to take with me now than I did then.
So what does this Commissioner take with him to camp? Here is my list of necessities:
Mess kit, canteen or water bottle, sunblock, deodorant, soap and towels, first aid kit, clothes for wet and dry weather, a jacket, sleeping bag, cot, prescription med.'s, sunglasses, a hat, sketchbook and drawing tools, camera, digital recorder, various scout papers and forms, swimming gear, shaving razor, cooler for a surprise treat for the unit I am staying with.
I carry a pocket knife and sharpening stone, compasses, waterproof matches, folding chair, and hot tub (not!...just put that in to see if you were paying attention), harmonica and jewsharp, a walking stick and journal, flashlight and my personal valet (just checking again).
I also have my class A's and usually bring my OA sash.
Other things that go are snacks for the troop cracker barrel and my commissioner's cheat sheet of scout songs that I may not remember from 33 yrs ago.
Australian flag given to me from the Australian scouts and have an international scout flag that will soon arrive and I will bring that should it get here before I leave for camp.
I also bring an extra pair of footwear.
The last thing I will pack for camp will be my positive attitude and smiles as I know that some scouts and scouters may tend to forget theirs and I will have extras to go around to help make the camping experience one to remember.
So look out camp! Here I come!

Tzofim Friendship Caravan 2009

On Monday, July 13, 2009, the Israeli Scouts friendship caravan performed an hour long concert at Congregation Cnesses Israel in Green Bay.
For over 35 years the Tzofim (Israeli Boy and Girl Scouts) have been sending troops of 10 Boy and Girl Scouts to North America, called the Tzofim Friendship Caravan. These troops put on a show which gives a little taste of Israel: its history and its current state, its people and cultures, its hopes and aspirations, its everyday life and special occasions.
As the Caravan Scouts meet with people from all walks of life, they allow you to get to know Israel better. The Caravan Scouts were selected out of thousands of candidates to serve as ambassadors, representing Israel’s youth and in fact, its future. Their first task in each community they visit is to put on an exciting and moving show, and also meet the American people to exchange ideas and make new friends.
There are 4 Caravan troops visiting the U.S. this year and they are named after four of the seven species of plants indigenous to Israel: Caravan Rimon (pomegranate), Caravan Tamar (date), Caravan Gefen (grapevine), and Caravan Te’ena (fig).
Caravan Te’ena was in Green Bay and the cast members included:
Lee Joe Barak, Lia Mader, Tal Ofir Been, Bofar Kohen, Limor Maya Gadot, Eyal Givon,Omer Golan, Omri Zemler, Kobi Arni, and Yossi Akrish. These fine young men and women gave a high energy performance and interacted with the audience throughout the entire show and on many occasions had the people on their feet dancing and clapping to the music.
Most touching was the promotion of the Israeli Scouting program which lives up to their motto:”No Child Left Behind.” And these scouts believe in the program and it certainly shows with the smiles, the outgoing personalities, and the passion for what they do.
Highlighting their stop in Green Bay was a tour of Lambeau Field.
Tomorrow, the caravan will make for Milwaukee, then onto Chicago, Minneapolis, and stops that the members could not recall as they have spent 3 months touring in the states.
I had an interesting conversation with Eyal Givon, who was gracious enough to grant an interview prior to the show and I found him to be as fascinated with the workings of Bay-Lakes Council as I was in the Tzofim.
We both tried our best to get all of the answers to our questions before show time but I fear neither one of us succeeded as time ran out or we would still be there for hours.
If there was a downside to the event it would be that these scouts can’t stay in Voyageur District longer.

The 13th Scout Law

Nature's Fireworks.

Happy Independence Day everyone!
The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays and it isn't because I get time off from work but rather because of what the colonists fought for and believed in to give birth to a new nation and due to those beliefs, I will now give you my Boy Scout 13Th Law:
A Scout is Independent...

That was my answer to the question before my Eagle Board of Review some +30 yrs. ago on what law I would add to the Scout Laws.

Our Forefathers showed us the way to recognize our individuality and showed us the proper way to affect change: Through freedom of speech and the rite to assemble.
There was a need to break away from England's tyranny and they did so through voicing their opinion and beliefs which went unheard and England's King at the time tried to smash our patriot's voice through unfair taxation and various penalties that placed a burden upon the colonists which proved unbearable.
The War for Independence was the outcome.
Being able to stand up for what is right is what we believe in.

A scout should learn to be independent and know what is right and wrong and be brave enough to challenge and speak out on what they feel is wrong and know the proper means to affect change.
My Mother once asked me, "If all of your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump off the bridge too?"
I'd like to think that I wouldn't. My independence gives me the courage to stand up for what I believe in and I know that I wouldn't jump as I know and can foresee the possible consequences of jumping off that bridge.

Yes, a scout needs to learn team building skills and yet he still needs the ability to be an independent thinker and find his own way to hone leadership skills that are necessary to become tomorrow leaders.
It is through reviewing our Constitution and learning about US history that will teach him the right way to lead, be the outstanding citizen, and when necessary, through proper channels and proper protests, be Independent.

Happy Independence Day!