Proposed New Owasippe Boundaries

I received a message the other day from one of my Ecology/Conservation mentors, although back then we called it Nature. Joe “Duke” Olechno was a true inspiration to me. He was bigger than life. Duke had a dynamic personality that just demanded your attention when he was in the room. His confidence and self-assuredness was palpable. The boys adored him and flocked to him. They would cling to him like lint on a dust mop. And he was smart, very smart. One of the most intelligent persons I ever met. So I pa y particular attention when Duke sends me a message with his thoughts, especially as they relate to the environment at Owasippe.

Duke’s concern is with the proposed new Owasippe boundaries. In particular, the southern end of the camp just to the east of Reneker Family Camp.

“…one of the things I have been worried about with the new Owasippe boundaries is the loss of the west headwaters to Lake Wolverine.”

One of the more interesting points about the Cleveland Creek watershed is that it’s the only watershed in the state where the entire watershed is owned by a single owner. And because the owner in this case is Chicago Area Council, the negative impact usually associated with the human race is minimal. Scouts don’t build lots of buildings, create erosion problems, or use fertilizer on lawns. So even though thousands of Scouts have camped, boated and hiked in the area, we have been good stewards of Lake Wolverine and the surrounding watershed.

I understand that the intent is to find a conservation buyer, someone who will have minimal impact on the land leaving most of it as is. But in the headwaters area even nominal development can have disastrous consequences. Duke points out that it’s not just the water you see that’s a concern but equally important is the water you don’t see.

“[following the creek upstream]…running up against the road embankment gives you a good idea of the underground flow of water in the area. People often consider the hydrology to just be the river or the lake but the clear flow under the road and through the hill [embankment] is obvious to anyone taking the time … you will find a bottom-land with a skein of small rivulets. I remember one spring in particular that flowed from the base of a large tree. These small flows come together and eventually flow into the creek of the marl beds and thence to Wolverine”

Notice the extension of green vegetation across the Holton-Whitehall Road about halfway between Reneker and Square Lake to the east. Flowing water seeps through the roadbed northwards towards Quaking Bog and on to Wolverine Lake, whose traditional "headwaters" are seen at the top of the image.

Underground flowage is quite common in the area. Jim Marshall, who produced many of the most informative maps on Owasippe noted that Disappearing Creek, a few miles east of Lake Owasippe, runs into a small ridge just south ofHolton-Whitehall Road. Only to reappear to the north-northwest on the other side of the road and continue its flow into the Silver Creek watershed, and thereby into the White River. Gerken Creek next to the Blackhawk dining hall flows westward into the swampy area near the shooting sports ranges. It is then believed to dive underground and emerge to the west in Paradise Valley and then into Cleveland Creek. Flowing water underneath the glacial till of sand is quite common in the area. So you can see where any type of construction in this area would have a negative impact on Lake Wolverine and the entire Cleveland Creek watershed.

Topo Map Close Up of Quaking Bog & watershed to the south. Quaking Bog is the sock shaped meadow just above the word "WHITEHALL." The water flows under the roadway just under the letters "HA" and then northward into the bog. Notice the valley continues to the south of the road that's part of the section that's proposed to be sold to a conservation buy.

This area is also important because of it’s unique flora and fauna. As Duke explains.

“Likewise, the area between Bass Lake and the highway is very interesting. Unlike the rest of the camp, the small Square and 9-Acre lakes are true pocket lakes of the area. the swamps around all three are far more indicative of the reptilian and amphibian populations than anything around Wolverine. And the only efts I ever found ere at Square lake. Both Square and 9-acre had great salamander habitats unrivaled by anything except some of the swamp areas south of Big Blue. I also found the macro wildlife of deer and beavers were better in the south section than in the noisier Wolverine area”

The current proposed boundaries were drawn with operational considerations in mind considering how much space is needed to run program. I don’t believe a there was serious consideration for the ecological impact. I know the overall goal has the conservation of the entire area in mind. But I’m not sure if anyone considered specific habitats and the long term impact. As Duke puts it, the committee that drafted the boundaries “…are thinking more on the lines of recreation rather than habitat”

Portion of the Task Force map showing the lower section #5 that's actually an important part of the Cleveland Creek/Lake Wolverine watershed.

The headwaters area should be considered as a separate “program area” unto it’s own.  Not one staffed with counselors to teach knots or the backstroke. But as a giant, open air terrarium where small groups of scouts can be lead on instructive hikes. Perhaps a conservation outpost could be established at Camp Carlin for Environmental Merit Badge, which would tie in nicely with the preservation of the ecosystem. Or perhaps a conservation. program like Philmont’s (RovingOutdoorConservationSchool) could be established for older scouts. This would introduce them to areas of the camp outside of the traditional program areas and teach them about the unique beauty that we all strive to protect.

Regardless of if or how scouting program can be incorporated into the headwaters area, the key issue is that extraordinary concern and effort must be take to ensure it’s preservation.  And I, Like Joe, am not convinced that selling this part off to a conservation buyer is necessarily the right decision. I believe that it’s imperative the council retain this tract as then they can then exert their full authority to protect it. Or be in the position to place strict controls over its usage as to protect the valuable Cleveland Creek watershed.

Do I Stay Or Do I Go?

I recall an incident during my very first year at summer camp that would not happen these days in our era of youth protection and political correctness. I was about to leave our campsite for the waterfront for swim instruction. But I had to go to the bathroom real bad. So I ran into our kybo (outhouse) and stopped instantly in my tracks. Sitting in the middle seat of our luxurious three seater was my Scoutmaster reading a newspaper. He looked up from his paper and stared at me with his steely green eyes. It was my move.

As an eleven-year-old I was faced with a dreadful decision. Do I turn around and wait for him to leave? Or do I choose the one of the open seats to his left or right? For some reason in my preadolescent mind, leaving seemed just pain rude.

“What would he think?”

“Would he be offended?”

“He was reading a newspaper which indicated he could be in here a long time. And I do have to go real bad and I’m already late for swim class…”

So I chose the seat on the left.

Today this gut wrenching quandary would never have to be mastered by a new scout today as adults have separate facilities or at least a sign outside the outhouse indicated when an adult is inside. But back then it was just a part of growing up.

BTW, I would love to post a picture of an old Owasippe kybo.  Send me a copy if you have one and I’ll post it.

The Best Job Ever

As the summer camping season opens and young men and women on staff spend long hours day and night this week to prepare the facilities, train new staff and review their program plans, I spent a few moments this morning reflecting on what incredible opportunities the Scouting program provides. It’s easy to see and understand how the campers benefit as they romp through the woods, dive off the raft, build fires, cook cobblers and so much more. The wealth of opportunities summer camp provides them is an amazing list of skills from all of the program areas;

• Scoutcraft
  camping, cooking, pioneering, etc.
• Handicraft
  Leatherworking, woodcarving, basketry, etc.
• Waterfront
  Swimming, lifesaving, canoeing, rowing, etc.
• Ecology/Conservation
  Environmental science, forestry, fish & wildlife conservation, etc.

Equally important is that they learn independence. They are away from mom and dad for a week and they learn how to take care of themselves. It’s their responsibility to make sure they complete the requirements for their badges . They are the ones that have to make sure they get to the right program area on time. They must learn to take care of the personal gear for a whole week. Of course the boy’s adult leaders help by prodding and counseling them. But ultimately the boy’s must achieve their accomplishments on their own. And that’s one of the biggest lessons they learn by attending summer camp. They are responsible for their own success. Yes. It’s easy to see how summer camp is a great experience for campers.

But what sometimes gets lost in the shuffle is the awesome experience summer camp provides for the staff. I always tell folks that working as a counselor at Owasippe was the best job I ever had. Young men and women who dedicate their summers for the chance to work at camp come away with an experience and set of skills that are a notch above what they gained as a camper. You are part of a team that’s building a program for hundreds of campers. You must work as a team or it simply wont work. If a fellow staff member needs a helping hand, you jump in without a second thought. The days are long and the job continues well into the night. You are “on the job” at all times. You’re spending your days teaching others skills and knowledge that they’ll put to use as the grow. You are part of their growing process, aiding in their maturity. And you’re giving them memories to last a lifetime.

I can still recall the wonder in a young boy’s eyes when I handed in a frog to hold in hands for the very first time in his life. At the time I was just having a good time and enjoying what I was doing. Now I realize that because of my efforts I may have had a positive influence dozens of young boys. And the leadership skills and team building skills I gained as being a committed member of camp staff have given me tools that have lasted a lifetime. And in the process I met and worked with some great people and as a result I have camaraderie with my former fellow staff members that has lasted a lifetime.

Yes, summer camp is about to open this week and lives will be changed… for the better.

The Ties That Bind

 

Owasippe Staff Association

I truly look forward to the Owasippe Staff Association (OSA)  annual banquet. It’s an incredible group of men and women. On the surface the common touch point that connects each of us is our love and support for the camp for which we all share in common, Owasippe.

Most members camped or worked at Owasippe at some point in their youth. But deeper down theirs an even more fundamental bond that binds us together. The belief in the ideals of preparing our nation’s youth through the outdoor ideals first postulated by Lord Baden Powell over 100 years ago.

Summer camp is a special time for young men and women. For many it’s the first time they are away from home. For some it creates a high level of anxiety we know as home sickness. They are far from the comforts of their familiar bedroom that has been replaced with a canvas tent and cot. But they are also far from their parents their authority figures that hover over them to make sure their homework is done, drive them to soccer practice and tell them to brush their teeth at night. And summer camp they are on their own. The troop leaders are their to guide them and keep them safe. And the camp staff is their to teach them (and keep them safe).

Blue Racer

But it’s up to them to make sure they get to the right program area on time. It’s up to them to make sure they have a buddy so they travel in twos for safety. It’s up to them what they want to do with their free time, go to the range for open shooting, head down to the lake for free swim, or just play cards with your buddies. For most first time campers this is the first time in their lives they have been autonomous. My memories are still vivid when my Scouting buddy, Greg, would spend a few hours circling Echo Lake behind Camp Stuart in search frogs, turtles and snakes!  I still remember diving in the tall grass as I grab the tail end of  Blue Racer, a beautiful and treacherously fast snake.  We were a quarter mile away from camp out in the woods by ourselves.

What an adventure!

Many OSA members are still active in the scouting program.

Tooth of Time

I spent some time Saturday talking to Mike Flanagan about Philmont. But the discussion wasn’t about the beauty of hiking the trails in the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) range of the Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico, which is an incredible experience. Rather he was explaining the travel arrangements they made for a coach so they could add some pre-trek experiences such as visiting the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.  Passing along tips that I can share with our next crew that’s heading to Philmont in 2012.

DiDi Wolff-Klammer I talked about her preparation for this year’s National Jamboree. She didn’t mention any of the many special programs and activities that take place. Rather she discussed the youth leadership of her provisional troop and how closely they all became because of the shared experience. Some of the boys whom she just met for the Jamboree have invited her to their Eagle Courts of Honor.

Karner Blue Butterfly

And Beth Rychtanek, and I spoke of her planned program for family camp kids to educate them on endangered species at Owasippe. We talked about how she can use the Karner Blue Butterfly as an example. How she can tell them about habitat preservation, the importance of climate, symbiotic relationships and mankind’s role and responsibility in conservation and preservation. And the young boys and girls will learn this as they hike through the oak savanna habitats where Karner Blues can be found.

And Bob Pagels is collecting volunteers for the Owasippe Scout Reservation 100 anniversary program this summer. And Andy Marhoul is making preparations for the OSA’s spring work weekend. And Edgar Wolff-Klammer is coordinates gift card sales so the OSA has funds to use to purchase equipment for the camp, like the sailboat we added to the Sailing base last year. And the rest of the members still support the program with their commitment to aid the camp at work weekend, donations and fellowship programs.

Owasippe is not just a plot of woods with a few lakes and streams. It’s an incubator where special leaning takes place and lifetime memories are grown. And the members of the OSA are not just a group of people that come together to swap camp stories, which we do. It’s a collection of active, caring people who believe in creating a better world for us and our children by providing opportunities for youth to learn and grow while living the Scout Oat and Scout law.

This is what pulls us together. This is what draws us back each year. These are the ties that bind us together for life.

Jack “Tiny” Norman

A few weeks ago, Tiny met the end of his trail.

I knew Tiny but not that well. He worked at Owasippe Scout Reservation when I was a camper. Then when I joined the staff as a Counselor In Training (CIT) he was in his last year before he had to give up youthful pastimes for a real world job. So we traveled in different circles and didn’t get the chance to know each other. We would say a polite “Hello” as we crossed paths later in life at the Owasippe Staff Association’s (OSA) annual dinner and dance. But we never went beyond exchanging pleasantries. Still, he had a profound effect on me as a youth.

Tiny spent most of his staff career at Owasippe as part of the admin staff. I first saw Tiny when I was a young camper at “Super Camp Stewart. HEY!” He was the truck driver that brought the meals from the central kitchen at Ad Center to our dinning hall at Stewart. He would arrive before the meals with the food stored in aluminum boxes called hot packs. While the kitchen staff set up for the meal, he would hang with the other staff as they came in from the program areas and have a little down time before the meal. He would eat his meal in the kitchen area with the kitchen staff, then return to Ad Center with the empty hot packs, milk crates and whatever else needed to head that way. Back at Ad Center he would do whatever was needed to help make the camp run; fix engines, repair signs, plumbing, carpentry and more. He loved the camp and loved working at the camp to help make it run for thousands of young boys.

But there was more to Tiny’s story than just being a truck driver. I remember him well. In fact he played a significant role in my youth. You see the program staff at Stewart didn’t treat Tiny as a truck driver. They treated him as a friend, as an equal. A highlight of the week was when the staff would coax Tiny out of the kitchen to lead a cheer following a song or skit during the post meal dinning hall program. The staff would work the crowded dining hall of adolescent boys into a raucous frenzy, yelling “Tiny! Tiny! Tiny!,” until he would finally emerge from the kitchen.

I can still bring the vivid image to my mind. The kitchen door would swing wildly as he burst through to the dining hall. His nickname, Tiny, was a play on the fact that he wasn’t. He was huge, burly young man with a square face and barrel chest. He wore a blue denim shirt with the sleeves cut off above the shoulder to show off his massive arms, a pair of guns bulked up from rigorous labor. His biker wallet tucked into his jeans pocket with a silver chain linked to his belt. His clothes dirty and greasy form a day’s hard work. He was the type of formidable character you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.

But there was something different about Tiny. You could see in his eyes that he was a kind soul. Not really a twinkle but a knowing glance that there was more to him then appeared. A little smirk that let you know that he was the same as you and I. That there really wasn’t anything different between him and the other staff members even though there was a stark contrast in clothing (program staff wore the official Scout uniform, shorts and knee socks with garter tabs). He was a brother in the Scouting movement and you could tell. You could tell by the way he addressed you when you met him outside later. He would talk to the Scouts with the same friendly way. And you could tell by the way the other staff treated him, almost revered him. He was a man of strong character and devotion.

So all of the Scouts are chanting, “Tiny! Tiny! Tiny!”  Out blasts this gentle giant from the kitchen. He shirks the makeshift stage, a tent floor board laid across two picnic tables. He prefers to stand on a bench seat in the center of the dining hall, wrapping is bulky arm around the central post. The whole place is literally jumping as 300 boys yell louder and louder in unison, “Tiny! Tiny! Tiny!” Then he quickly jerks his hand up and hold his fingers in the Scout sign, a signal for quiet. The boys respond instantly. Then he leads them all in one of his favorite cheers, the Bemo cheer. The story I heard was that he invented the Bemo one day when he was called out to do a cheer.. Looking down at the picnic tables he notices that the loafs of bread were from the Bemo Bakery. And so it was born.

“On the count of three. One. Two. Three!”

“Bemo! Bemo! Bemo!”

Then he hops down and ambles back into the kitchen leaving behind him a wake of excited campers screaming and yelling. The door swings back-and-forth a few times as he finds his place near the back door and sits on a white wooden platform used to stack the hot packs. After a few announcements the campers are dismissed and race out of the dinning hall back into the woods another day of Scouting program, games or just plain youthful adventure.

I grew up at Owasippe. It’s where I had the best times of my youth. And the young men who served on staff became my idols. I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to part of the family. And so I did as I became a member of staff as soon as I was old enough. And there I had more role models to learn from, folks like Joe Sener, Joe Olechno, Chauncey Niziol, Pat Monanhan, Gordie Steifel, Scott Weber, and so many more. And one thing they all had in common is that they were close friends of Tiny’s. They were part of a brotherhood in scouting where the bonds of friendship last a lifetime.

I was just one young boy in a dining hall packed with 300 others during a few weeks in the summer. There were hundreds before me and hundreds more to follow in the coming weeks. Over the course of a few years Tiny literally made a lasting impression on thousands of young boys. It’s easy to forget the power of being a role model when you’re in the midst of the moment. As a member of staff you’re to busy doing your job and having fun to stop and think of the ripple effect you have on so many people. I’m sure Tiny never really considered himself as a role model while he was driving his truck down Silver Creek Road, or hauling the garbage, or fixing a sign.  But he was a role model to many young men including me.

A few years later Tiny would join his friends and help found the OSA, an alumni group of former staff and others interested in continuing the Scouting tradition at Owasippe. He served as one of the organization’s first presidents and participated in many work weekends building and repairing the camp buildings and equipment, just as he had done in his youth. And it’s through the OSA where I was reunited with my old friends from the brotherhood, including Tiny So I am also thankful for his roll as a founding member of the Owasippe Staff Association. It is a truly incredible organization that has made historic changes for thousands of Chicago Area youth that have camped among the oaks and pines, and the blue waters of it’s lakes and streams.

Tiny’s legacy is in the wind that whispers through the tall White Pines. His voice is the rustle of the White Oak leaves. His heart the roar of Cleveland Creek as it races over Gus Kopp dam. His joy the scream of the Bald Eagles soaring over Wolverine and Big Blue lakes.

Tiny, thank you for being an important part of youth. And thank you for your dedication that help build and preserve Owasippe. Both of my sons have camped there, and we’re returning together this summer. And as the embers of the evening campfire glow in the dark of the night, I will remember you and the others who have met the end of the trail. 

“May the one great Scoutmaster, of all Scouts,
Be with us until we meet again.”

Getting Choked up at Eagle Court of Honors

One tradition for our Eagle Scouts’ award ceremony is for the parents set up a table with their boy’s Scouting memorabilia, pictures, pinewood derby cars, neckerchiefs and homemade slides, patches, etc. I love to see the pictures because I remember the boys from when they first come in the troop as little tykes (11 year-old) and you look up at them on the dais now as grown young men. It’s so fun to watch them grow.

Next month we have an Eagle Court of Honor for a young man who started Scouting with my middle son in his Cub Scout den. So I’ve know and watched him for twelve years, through hundreds of meetings and dozens of camp outs. This summer he led our crew to Philmont in New Mexico for a 10 day backpacking trek. Like all Eagle candidates, he’s An exceptional young man. But this young man I’ve see on the trail to Eagle longer than most so I know I’ll get teary eyed.

Yes, sometimes even I get emotional at these Court of Honors even after attending . There’s a point at about half way through the ceremony when the recipient is standing there in front of his friends, neighbors and family when it suddenly hits him. The presenters will be telling the audience about the importance of the rank, the long difficult journey that required perseverance and commitment from the Scout. Then they start discussing his Scouting history beginning as a Tiger Cub, the rank advancement, the leadership roles, weekend outings, summer camps and high adventure treks. And most of the presenters will usually turn to the Scout and make a comment about their personal experience with him, usually ending with “I’d camp with you any time any where.” In a span of 30 minutes the Scout gets a flashback replay of what he has accomplished over his twelve year Scouting career and he has a sudden realization of the respect he has earned from the adult leaders presenting and his friends and family in attendance.

At this point it’s finally his turn to speak. Some break down into tears right away, others hold out until they start talking about how they appreciate the help of their parents, only a very few remain stoic through out. It’s at this moment that I tend to tear up. I can’t help it.

So get out the tissues next month on the 10th because my eyes will get welled up as Kyle steps up for his presentation. I know he’ll be one of the few recipients that will be able to hold his emotions in check. That’s his laid back personality. I’ve had the honor and pleasure to know and work with thirty-one of our troops thirty-four Eagle Scouts, plus one from another troop. Some I only knew a short time as they earned their award only a year or two after I joined the troop with my oldest son. But now they’re all boys I know from the first day they joined the troop so I’ve seen them develop from start to finish, like Kyle who will be number thirty-three.

Oh, I forget to mention that it’s even much worse when it’s your own son!

R.I.P. John Grout

I attended the annual Owasippe Staff Association (OSA) dinner dance a few days ago. The OSA is a non-profit alumni group that’s open to all past and current staff members that have worked at any of Owasippe’s camps or administration, as well as any interested “friend” of the camp. This was the 32^nd anniversary of the OSA which has donated thousands of hours and dollars to help improve the facilities, programming and training at the nation’s oldest Boy Scout camp (celebrating 99 years of operation this summer). The dinner dance is like an annual reunion where one gets a chance to renew old friendships as well as meet new folks who share a common passion in support of the camp. Unfortunately this Saturday was also a time to grieve. I learned that an old friend of mine, John Grout, had passed away a few weeks ago.

I worked with John in 1977 at “Super Camp” Stuart where he was a commissioner. A commissioner serves as a liaison between the Scoutmasters and the camp. A key part of their job is to visit the campsites and chat it up with the men and woman who have given up a week of their family vacation to take a group of boys to camp. They find out if there are any problems or if the troop needs any supplies or gear. The job can involve correcting problems with merit badge program to as simple as carrying a few extra rolls of toilet paper.

John was a great commissioner.

He had the natural ability to bond with Scoutmasters. He would sit over a cup of coffee and shoot the bull with them, conversing about camp, scouting, politics, current events, work, or whatever topic interested. John was gregarious, smart, and well read. And he would cut through the bull. If there was a problem he would go right at it like a pit bull. He would not put up with bull shit. He was more interested in pragmatic solutions that put things right. 

John also had the respect of his fellow staff. He had a natural ability to command respect. You could feel his skill and intellect while also recognizing the modesty with which he reigned it in. Some folks would call him a natural leader. The type of person people are just naturally drawn to. Yes, some of the tools that made him stand out where gifts he was born with, but he was also a product of his past and his training. John was an Eagle Scout who recognized what he had been given through Scouting, took what he had learned as the foundation of his life, and then gave back to the program. And it’s through that giving where men like John grow and prosper.

A series of unfortunate health issues made the last several years of his life a special challenge. Of course, he never really dwelled on it. He would just say, “Yea, it sucks. But that’s the way it is.” That was indicative of his indomitable spirit. Perhaps he opened up with his close friends but to his more casual friends, such as myself, he downplayed his maladies. Because of some unfortunate circumstances, John died alone. He had been alienated from his family. I don’t know the particulars. Knowing John’s stubbornness the divide may have been his own doing. He had a strong will that served him well but it also could be less than attractive at times. But friends recognize each other’s weakness as well as their strengths and we accept that for what it is, part of the fabric of their being.

My experience as a Scout and as a member of the Owasippe staff form the basis of who I am today. I do strive to live the Scout Oath and Law each day. And my fellow Scouts, Scouters, staff and friends have all played a role in my journey through life. John played a part and I am better off for knowning and working with him. So thank you, John. May you have piece at the end of the trail. When I was a Scout we used to circle around, cross arms and join hands as we said together….

“May the one great Scoutmaster
Be with us all
Until we meet again.”

Until we meet again, John.  Peace.

3/19/2001 Update from Ron Kulak

John Grout Memorial Service
We have organized a fellowship memorial service to honor the life and times of John Grout, who passed away at age 54. This will be open to all friends and acquaintances of John’s, recent and past, that will give all an opportunity to celebrate John’s life and all he, in turn, loved. You are cordially invited to participate and to invite others that John may have known. It will be a fitting way to send him off to his life eternal.WHEN… Sunday, March 28…gathering 3pm; service at 3:30pm with fellowship afterwards (cash bar & light refreshments available)

WHERE: European Chalet Banquet Hall (upper hall), 5335 S Harlem Ave in Chicago, just 1/2 mile south of I-55.

RSVP-by March 25: To Ron Kulak, Owasiron@juno.com or at 708-535-7748. This will be important to make adequate plans at the hall.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED: If you have any photos of John or staff pics that also have him in it, please bring them along for a makeshift memorial we are setting up on site that afternoon.

MEMORIAL FUND SET: We have established a memorial fund in John’s name with the Owasippe Staff Association. Please feel free to contribute what you can. While the amount collected will ultimately determine how the funds will be used, we are looking to use the proceeds toward CIT Training, camp trails, or high adventure programs at Owasippe.

Trekking Poles

The first time I read someone recommending trekking poles I was skeptical to say the least. Decent trekking poles start around $75 up to $150. I had already spend quite a bit for the rest of my backpacking gear for Philmont and forking out more dough for a pair of poles seemed liked a luxury. I was wrong. Trekking poles are worth their weight in gold if you are backing.  There are several advantages to using trekking poles:

1. Provide balance and support for hiking up and descending slopes, especially steep slopes.
2. Provide balance while crossing streams on rocks or log bridges
3. Reduce the impact and fatigue on your legs
4. Double as dining fly poles reducing crew gear (and weight)

There are various estimates on the reduced stress upon the legs, knees and back but a conservative estimate is 15-25 lbs. per step with an accumulated effect of over 30,000 lbs. per mile! And that number adds up quickly for a 5-10 mile hike. There are some points against using poles:

1. They are relatively expensive ranking up there with the big three; boots, backpack & sleeping bag.
2. Requires you to change your step to accommodate the swing of the poles.
3. Increases arm and chest muscle fatigue as the weight is transferred to those areas.

So trekking poles are not for everyone. Most of the Scouts in our Philmont crew didn’t have them and managed quite well. Although one member brought a pair of old ski poles, which provide most of the same benefits, and he found himself loaning one of his poles out to another crew member most of the time. That points out another option, some folks opt for a single pole instead of a pair. My opinion is that if you are planning on doing any serious backpacking, a pair of trekking poles is a “must have” piece of gear.

Once you have decided to buy a trekking pole there are many features to choose from.   Here are my recommendations based on my experience:

1. Get 3-part telescoping poles that collapse down for easy storage lashed to your pack, even with a pack rain cover on. Two part poles are okay but the cost savings is not that much.
2. Some folks prefer poles with cork handles, which cost more, but I’m happy with my standard “rubber” handles. Make sure you get ones that are formed to fit a grip and have a wrist strap. Flat grips like those found on hiking staffs will tire your grip and the straps, when worn properly, actually support your weight. If you are using the poles properly, you will hold the pole only slightly with your thumb and forefinger to direct its motion.
3. Some people spend the extra money for poles with spring shock absorbers. Some reviews say they are helpful, others say they make little difference. The difference is usually in the extra cost. So I’d say go shockless unless you have spare cash to spend.
4. Most come with carbide tips, which actually have incredible grip. There were several times when my tips held on to the slippery rocks saving me from a “face plant” on the Tooth of Time Ridge.  They usually provide protective rubber tips and detachable baskets. The baskets provide support in boggy or sandy soil where the tips penetrate down. I found the baskets very effective on the sandy hills of Owasippe but unnecessary at Philmont.

My last comment is that once you get your poles you’ll need to learn how to use them properly. Here are two links that offer advise on proper pole usage:

	Pete’s Pole Page by Peter Clinch
	Trekking Poles, from Bonnie & David Alley

Rookie Campout

I attended my first weekend campout, which happened to be a District Camporee as well, at Camp Yorkville in Yorkville, Illinois, a far southwest suburb of Chicago. The two most memorable events of this trip was being sent out for a “tent stretcher” and the rookie initiation. These are now considered “hazing” and are forbidden by Scouting. But back then it was just part of the ritual to send rookies out for a jar of elbow grease, a smoke bender, a left handed monkey wrench, or to send them out on the infamous Snipe hunt.

Tent Stretcher

Every rookie has to go through this cleverly crafted ruse. If it rains of the tents are particularly wet from the morning dew, the senior scouts will send the rookies off looking for a tent stretcher “so we can dry the tents.” Or sometimes it’s a left-handed monkey wrench or a jar or elbow grease and, if it’s dark out, the infamous snipe hunt. None of these treasures exits of course. It’s just a ruse to play on unsuspecting and naive rookie scouts.

I already knew that none of these existed. I think I must have heard my dad reminiscing with his friends at some point in time. My dad had been a Boy Scout too. I started to object, but one of the older scouts shushed me so I played along. Off we trudged, from campsite to campsite, asking each troop if they had a tent stretcher we could borrow. Of course, none of the brought their with them this trip. But they were sure they remember seeing one at the next troop’s campsite. This continued from troop to troop until we had visited every single troop attending the camporee.

We returned empty handed but that didn’t bother the older scouts, who were rolling with laughter at our fruitless trek.

I do remember at a subsequent camporee, I can’t recall which one, where we (I was an older scout by then) sent a group of rookies out for a tent stretcher. An hour later they returned with one. It seemed that a Scoutmaster from a site on the far side of the campground pointed them towards an old, heavy, rain-sodden picnic table. It took them over a half-hour to lug it all the way back to our camp. They were quite dejected when we explained we no longer needed it as the tents had sufficient dried already on their own.

Initiation

Now searching high and low for a tent stretcher is all part of the fun and games, but rookie initiation was a serious concern for me. The older scouts were definitely up to something. They were whispering amongst themselves all Friday evening and all day Saturday. You would only catch little bits of information. I did know they were going to initiate the rookies and it was going to happen after the awards campfire Saturday night.

I did my best to prepare. I sat a far away from the older scouts as I could. As soon as they dismissed the troops, I took off running for the field. I had no particular place in mind as long as it was away from them. I ran and ran and ran and ran. I stopped when I was about a half mile from campfire and about the same distance from our camp.

It was late and dark, so I decided to loop back around the tree line and work my way back to our campsite. Maybe I could manage to sneak into my tent without them noticing.

I worked my way along the tree line in the dark, as I had forgotten my flashlight in my pack. I figured I was getting close when I suddenly heard someone calling my name. It sounded like one of the older scouts. So I dropped to the ground and laid still. In a few seconds a couple pairs of shoes walked right by me by only a few feet. They never even noticed I was there! I was sure it was Joe Puletta and another senior scout.

As soon as they were a reasonable distance past me, I make my break. Bam! Right into Mr. Weikart. I will never forget the steely green eyes bearing down at me. “Where have you been!”

I later found out that Mr. Weikart had two reasons to be upset. One, a rookie scout under his charge, me, had taken off for the woods alone at night. And, two, his eldest son, Jeff, was the real target of the “initiation.” The senior scouts grabbed him after the campfire and tied him up in the KYBO (keep your bowels open, a.k.a., outhouse). They had stripped him down to his underwear and covered him in shaving cream. In a way, I was fortunate as their prank diffused his anger towards me and placed the target of his ire on them.

It’s interesting though, years latter, as an Order of the Arrow Ordeal Candidate, I would end up sleeping under the stars near the tree line I was following that night.

Half Full or Half Empty

I have always considered myself a “half full” kind of guy. I’ve always tried to remain optimistic and upbeat. A recent conversation at the OSA banquet with a friend of mine regarding my opinion on giving Ben Smith the benefit of the doubt in my recent post has, by extension, caused me to evaluate my opinions regarding the current Chicago Area Council’s (CAC) intent with regard to their scaled back camping strategy for Owasippe Scout Reservation. Perhaps I should be taking a look at the “half empty” point of view.

The half full interpretation is that they are frightened of losing control and are not ready to partner with Owasippe Outdoor Education Center (OOEC) to create a new model in outdoor facility management. That they want to retain several hundred acres on the Shores of Big Blue to meet their desire to run a smaller, more manageable summer camp program. I think this is short sighted as the original explanation for a smaller operation was based upon an inability to meet the ongoing costs of operations and infrastructure investment Also, they pointed to a reduction in summer camp program participation.

However, attendance has stabilized and actually grown to the point where the facilities at the two camps are stretched to capacity. (How would you fit Scouts from 2+ camps into one?) And by selling and partnering with OOEC the council would increase it’s available funds by millions while permanently reducing its operation expense as they would no longer have to pay property taxes nor be responsible for a large chunk of the infrastructure expense. So the half full point of view positions the CAC leadership as just slow to come to the realization of the opportunity in front of them.

The half empty interpretation is very insidious and downright depressing. Perhaps the CAC’s intent is to divide and conquer. Their current plan has them selling the majority of the land for “conservation” while retaining the acres on Big Blue for a smaller camping operation. Is it coincidence that the land on Big Blue just happens to be the most valuable part of the real estate with regards to future development? Lake front plots on Big Blue are worth far more than pine savannas, especially since those savannas may harbor endangered species potentially requiring expensive “take” exemptions from the Federal government, further reducing the attraction to developers. So it’s really the few hundred acres around Big Blue that represents the best potential to maximize windfall profits.

Another aspect to consider is that once the bulk of the land is in a conservation ownership the remainder is then severed from that parcel. This may make it easier to force zoning change on Blue Lake Township, since half of Big Blue is developed already. The court may be more inclined to side with the Council’s claim of illegal taking. Although I personally don’t see any difference as the township’s claim is based upon the right of self governance, but perhaps there are legal precedents that may be easier to apply given the resulting change in land use composition. Plus opposition from either the residents or friends of Owasippe may not be as rigorous since the bulk of the land would have been saved. The tree huggers would have been mollified. And the impact on the township’s infrastructure reduced as the overall number of new citizens would be less than the original plan. Perhaps this is why the Council has not dropped its appeal in court as it’s anticipating the need to continue its litigation for the next round of “Chain Saw Scouting.”

The half empty point of view is depressing. It not only saddens me to think of the lost opportunity Scouting has in developing a new outdoor program management model, one that could be applied to many other Scouting assets throughout the country. But it truly shakes my belief in the program. I was raised in the Scouting program and taught to live by the scout Oath and Law. To believe that the leadership is more intent upon practicing “Enron like” real estate transactions for the sake of maximizing profit while forsaking the scouting program is disheartening. No, disheartening is too weak of a word. I need a word that describes the shattering of the core foundation of one’s character.

Crushed? Beaten? Trampled? Distraught? Violated?

Do these come closer? What a terrible epitaph for a program whose mission is to teach and mentor the youth of today to become the leaders of tomorrow. They really should be careful and examine their own actions and lead by example rather than fall upon the old adage “Do as I say, not as I do.”

So is the glass half full or is it half empty? Are we building a better future or are we cashing in? I await the Council to prove which it is.