Bobbing with Cubbies

Climbing the Walls

Cub Scout Pack 321 invited the Troop to climb some walls and go swimming with them at NMU's PEIF, and the Troop gratefully accepted. Parents brought snacks, a few cameras, and a lot of encouragement.

They boys had a great time climbing and snacking for an hour before racing off to the pool.

Things got interesting in the pool. Promotions to Second Class and to First Class require some basic water safety and rescue skills. Robert provided the instruction, the PEIF provided a life saving ring, and the boys took turns tossing the ring and getting rescued. Several of the Cubs got involved just for fun, too.

Without a waterproof camera, though, you'll just have to use your imaginations. However, you'll find an album of rockwall climbing by following the link.

Drug Abuse Prevention

Body Armor - Just Like in the Video Games!

Promotion to Second Class requires participation in an anti-drug, tobacco, and alcohol program. Fortunately, we have a State Police post right down the road!

The Troopers were wonderfully informative and fielded everyone's questions. Even the adults learned a few things.

By far, though, the trip's highlight consisted of a trip to the garage where the boys got to see a lot of really nice gear - and give a couple of robots a spin.

You can seem more photos from this event in our album by following the link.

Thank you Michigan State Police!

November Hike

Who here thinks he can out-run a bear?

The fall snow started a little early this year, on October 31st, and it hasn't let up much. After a week or so, the big wet flakes finally started to stick. What a great time to take the Scouts on a walk through the woods!

A good fall hike makes for a great opportunity to practice old skills, learn new skills, and work on a few promotion requirements... like taking a five mile hike, cooking lunch over a stove or campfire, and reading a compass (eh, Carl?).

Along the way, we identified some animal signs, practiced "leave no trace" hiking, and soaked in our home town's raw beauty. Heavy snow showers kept everything fresh and white for us and made our hot lunches all the more welcome.

We finished up our hike on schedule and with full stomachs - if not at our intended destination. What a great way to spend part of a Saturday! Hopefully we can fit in another hike before we have to strap on snowshoes for the winter.

Oh, and don't forget to check out the hike's album!

Pot Luck & Honor Court

 

The Scout Handshake

Scouts work throughout the year on promotion requirements, merit badges, and service projects. Why? Because its fun, interesting, and helpful. Maybe they get a little push from their parents, but it's a push along a path of lifetime learning and community building. Once started on this path, many boys stay on it much to their benefit and ours.

As a result, we find it important to pause a moment to reflect on and reward recent achievements. For example, our Scouts participated in at least seven different service projects since our last honor court, and that doesn't count the assistance they've extended to Pack 321. Scoutmaster Carl handed out dozens of merit badges, and most of the boys also earned promotions, too. 

And, of course, the pot-luck dinner added a warm, neighborly atmosphere to the event. Thanks to everyone who brought a dish, and thanks to our Scouts for all their hard work!

Don't forget to check out the evening's photo album. 

Halloween Party Helpers

Pow! Right in the kisser

Troop 321 has a standing tradition of assisting Pack 321 with its Halloween party and potluck for the past few years - thanks in large part to Grace, Amy, and Amanda. The Scouts stepped up to help, too. This time they raced back from the Scout University event in Marquette to help out with games.

Cubmaster David and Assistant Scoutmaster Darryl both challenged the Pack and the Troop earlier this year to sell more than $700 worth of popcorn. Several boys took up the challenge and fed their superheros a few pies as a reward. What a nice treat! 

The Cubs looked like they had a great time playing games and eating (even more) treats in their costumes. Nice work Scouts! For more pictures, check out the album here: http://bit.ly/1tzgX4h

Scout University

Troop 321 leading the Scout Oath and Scout Law

Scouting has a lot to offer our boys - sometimes too much and all at once. Today's options included:

• Scout University (NMU)
• Scout College (Green Bay)
• Railroad Merit Badge (Green Bay)
• Pack 321's Halloween Party

Many of our Scouts chose to attend Scout University. It was close by, and it offered the opportunity to earn one or two merit badges. 

Scouters from Marquette and Alger counties (formerly the Pere Marquette District) organized this annual event, and it's always a big success. This year's offerings included several Eagle required merit badges like Cooking, Family Life, and Personal Fitness. Other options included Photography, Robotics, and Automotive Maintenance.  

Our Scouts did well, and most will have another merit badge to add to their sash after next week's Honor Court. 

Lending a Finger

Dodging a rocket

Pack 321 held their annual Space Derby race, and they put out a call to Troop 321 to lend a finger - a propeller-winding finger, that is. Many of our Scouts came from Pack 321, and quite a few volunteered to help. While Bo operated the starting line, the other boys helped wind up the rockets and place them on the course.

At one point, a rocket left the track, performed a u-turn, and dive bombed Bo. Fortunately, Bo's reflexes saved him from harm, and we all had a good laugh - including Bo who asked to have this photo published.

The Cubs were really good sports, and it looks like they had a blast. What a great event! For more pictures, you can visit the online album here: http://bit.ly/1wVpcKv

Cleanup - Thank You

Nope can't name the donor, so don't ask

A manufacturing company, whose owner asked us not to name it, donated a snow plow attachment for Camp Hiawatha's truck. Winter camping for everyone!

By way of thank you, Hiawathaland District's Scouts volunteered to pick up trash around their offices and manufacturing facility today. Saturday morning. In the snow (flurries that lasted ten minutes, tops).

About 60 people showed up, including five from Troop 321. The property was already very neat looking, but we still filled up about half a pick-up truck full of detritus. The property was quite large, but we were up to it and finished the job in an hour and a half. And then we had hot dogs and hot chocolate.

There's something about doing a good turn with friends on a beautiful fall day that makes the whole weekend feel worthwhile.

And then the lads from Troop 321 went to Dairy Queen. Or a corn maze - depending on which vehicle they boarded.

Project Keep Kids Warm - Shopping Day!

No one should be left in the cold

The big day arrived, and a large crowd waited outside for their chance to pick out winter coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, and boots. Troop 321's Scouts lent one last hand for this most worthy project. Volunteers from many different organizations, including our own Troop sponsors, Wesley United Methodist Church, were on hand to keep the tables neat and assist shoppers.

Thanks to a very generous donation, Dick Derby, our Chartered Organization Representative, could take down names, sizes, and contact information of people who could not find what they needed. The donation will allow the project to acquire and distribute the needed items so that absolutely no child who walked through the armory doors will spend the winter without a warm winter coat and snow pants.

Hats off to our Scouts for their community spirit. I'd love to see even more boys participate next year. This is truly a worthy project.

Project Keep Kids Warm - Setup

Troop 321 Helping Sort Donations

After distributing collection bags and picking up donations, Scouts from Troop 321 helped set up for the big shopping day! Their efforts included setting up tables and signs, unloading piles of bags, and sorting through mountains of coats. Volunteers from many different groups in our community made the work go quickly.

The presence of our Class A uniforms let our community know that it is blessed with caring Scouts eager to do a good turn daily. 

RSVP Flag Ceremony

Standing Ready to Serve

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Marquette put out a request for Boy Scouts to conduct a flag ceremony for their 24th Annual Retired & Senior Volunteer Program appreciation dinner, and Troop 321 answered the call (thanks Amy!).

The volunteers asked for Scouts because the older volunteers like to see youth helping in the community. 

It's efforts like these that help make our presence felt in our community. Great work guys!

Hessel International Scout Rally

What's a little rain? This is great!

This year marked Troop 321's second foray to the Hessel International Scout Rally in recent years. Our contingent of 17 Scouts and 10 adults nearly overwhelmed our lakeside campsite, but with tents pitched together in tight formation we did it!

It was great to see our boys overcome and adapt - especially when the weather turned wet Friday night and stayed wet through Saturday afternoon. The rain didn't reduce the boys' enthusiasm in the least. After breakfast, they hit the trail to explore the games and activities hosted at other campsites.

We've got a young Troop with an average age of about 12, and they put their energy to good use. We stuck to the Patrol Method as much as possible, and they boys planned and prepared their own food. This led to some disappointment when the boys noticed how well the "Parent Patrol" ate (thanks Pete!). At least the boys ate better than the "Our Gang" kids. We're hoping this experience left them with a taste for better planning.

Pete working his magic

In addition to eating well, the adults pursued their own interests. Some ducked into St. Ignace for a bit of shopping. Others took turns trying to get the biggest reaction out of Linda (Darryl won with his inflatable Tauntaun rig). Robert taught the boys a few very loud, very silly songs to sing whilst marching to assembly. We certainly got noticed!

Oh, and we won some prizes, too. The boys took sixth place in the costume contest singing Weird Al's song "Yoda" and won a badminton set. The Troop got top prize for the most youth participants - a large easy-up. Molly L (as usual) won a prize in a drawing - a new sleeping bag.

We're making plans for next year already. The theme: Holidays. If you know any strange or goofy holidays, let us know. Linda wants to do "A Nightmare Before Christmas", but we're not so sure the elderly judges are Tim Burton fans. Ultimately the boys will decide. And by that, I mean the Scouts, Carl.

Veterans Appreciation Fishing Day

Scouts were a big help and well appreciated

The South Shore Fishing Association sponsored a Veterans Appreciation Fishing Day and asked for Scout volunteers to help out with the pig roast luncheon.

The event went well, and they had enough food left over to treat all the volunteers to a free lunch.

Pizza Fundraiser

DJ - taking one for the team

We tried a new fundraiser this summer - pizza! We topped $255 selling pizza and pop at the Festival of Treasures in Ishpeming.

The boys had a lot of fun working the crowds. I think the costumes are going to become a tradition, though maybe not the tape.

If this year is any indication, next year will be fantastic. 

Carp River Hike

Scouts - inspiring future generations

High adventure, that's where Scouts find fun. Today we took another step toward high adventure with a quick shake-down hike along Carp River to Unnamed Morgan Falls. While on route, we saw some of the handiwork of an Eagle Scout who had gone before.

Six Scouts, two siblings, a couple of dogs, and six adults hit the trail for a relatively short three miles. The trek gave the boys a chance to test out packs and boots. This will be useful as we undertake longer and more difficult hikes.

When we reached the falls, we offloaded our gear, uploaded some lunch, and explored the area. The mosquitoes were about Yooper-normal as were the fish. That is to say, the mosquitoes bit and the fish did not. However, luck was with us and we made it back to the cars before the rain hit.

I think we'll be back. The mountain biking trails thereabouts looked quite inspiring.

Also check out our trip album!

Tree Watering

Transplanted trees need extra water

The trees we planted yesterday needed a bit of watering for them to take, so a couple of the boys pitched in and got the job done in short order. 

If this summer is like last summer, we won't need to water the trees by hand, but if the summer is long and dry, we may want to revisit this park weekly. 

Carl and Robert have extra buckets, so give them a shout if you need any. They smell like pickles, which is a real treat; just ask any gardener. 

Tree Planting

Cub, Scout, and National Guard all lend a hand

Cliffs Natural Resources provided funds for tree planting in an undeveloped area along 7th Street in Ishpeming, and they called on the Troop 321 for help with the labor. Our Scouts answered that call.

Not too long from now, the area will become a small park and picnic spot. In another twenty years or so, our boys will be able to bring their children here and share with them the story of its beginning - with saplings, dirt, buckets of water, and a great Scout spirit.

Kevin Corkin, Hiawathaland's District Executive, lent a hand, and our friends from ABC News 10 were there to cover the activity. In addition, two of our Scouts gained some experience with interviews. Cliffs also donated $500 to the Bay-Lakes Council in appreciation of our efforts. Great work guys!

See our album for more photos!

Court of Honor

Scouts leading the way

Today we celebrated our Scouts' achievements in earning both Merit Badges and promotions. Our boys put in some good work these past few months, and they deserve the recognition that goes with it. 

We also welcomed our new Troop members including the boys who crossed over this spring and the boys who joined our Troop from other units. Together we're going to have a great year!

And, of course, we are especially grateful to all the parents who have helped make this possible. Whether its making a dish for the potluck, sharing rides, joining us on camp-outs, or serving as an official BSA Adult Volunteer, we couldn't do it without you.

And so as we honored our Scouts this evening, I'd like to add, "Great job everyone!"

And don't forget to check out the event's album!

Memorial Day Ceremony

"Lest we forget"

Wikipedia defines Memorial Day as "a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the country's armed forces."

This holiday allows Scouts to learn that war is not a Hollywood movie but a very real part of our history that sadly affects families, loved ones, and whole communities. At the same time our nation's wars have allowed us to continue to live in a free and proud land. Participation in Memorial Day ceremonies gives our Scouts an opportunity to demonstrate their reverence and reflect on bravery.

Today's event proceeded flawlessly, and we all have reason to be proud of our Scouts. Last year our boys were invited to sit with the veterans on stage. This year, the veterans invited us to stand alongside the stage, where the crowd could see us clearly, and they did so - with sisu.

Our group also included Cubs from Pack 321: Tyler W, and Matthew C. They're going to make fine Boy Scouts one day!

At the end of the ceremony, each of the men in the honor guard thanked and shook hands with each of our Scouts. It was a proud moment for them and their parents.

More photos are available in our album.

Memorial Day Flag Planting

Scouting: passing the flag down the generations

Scout Oath (or Promise)
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country...

Today we had the opportunity to help those who served their country by serving them, their families, and our community.

In spite of a last minute change in date and time, many Scouts from Troop 321 gave up the first bit of their sunny three day weekend to perform a very important duty: decorating the graves of veterans interred here in our town.

Our Scouts joined many war veterans and blanketed the cemetery with about 1,700 new American flags. Afterwards, the men from the VFW invited the boys over to their newly re-opened hall for hot dogs, potato salad, chips, sodas and cake.

We'll join them again on Memorial Day where we, as part of a larger community, will gather to remember those who served and died for our country.

Additional photos are available in our album.

Spring Camporee

Testing their lashings in a race

Like last year, this year's spring had been "extended" (for a limited time only...) So yes, we had snow and freezing rain right up to Friday morning. Boys went off to school wondering if their parents had the fortitude to let them go to the Spring Camporee. Parents sent their boys off to school wondering if their sons might freeze to the ground that very night. Never mind the forecasted lows were a good 50 degrees warmer than our coldest winter days... that's really not saying much in these parts.

By the time school let out, the weather had cleared, and it was almost easy to ignore the forecast for freezing temperatures overnight. Two Troops and a handful of Scouts backed out, but only one of our boys.

So... the weather Saturday was beautiful with blue skies, a significant warm-up, and lots of sunshine with Sunday bringing more of the same.

And the camporee? It came off without a hitch. Let the others gnash their teeth in envy, Scoutmaster Carl organized and pulled off a really great event with a lot of  help from a lot of really great Scouting folks from our Troop and others. With everyone pitching in, we all got to have a lot of fun.

Fun like...

• testing visual memories
• challenging navigation skills
• patrol sprints using only four legs and four arms (eight legged monster)
• a canoe portage challenge course
• fire building
• match splitting (with a hatchet)
• readiness testing (Scouting essentials)
• Dutch oven entree and dessert cooking 
• and lots of lashings (knot tying)

Of course, we've got a photo album of a lot of the fun stuff, but there was so much going on, there was no way to capture it all!

The boys got off to a great start Saturday morning

One special feature for us included using the "Patrol Method" for the first time. Carl organized the boys into three patrols, each with a patrol leader and assistant. The patrols planned their own meals and duty rosters, set up their own tents, prepared their own food, and cleaned up their own messes. 

"How did that work out for you?" you may well ask. Well... I heard lots of yelling and arguing and debating and trial and error, and they got a lot done, too. 

The "Patrol Method" forms the heart of Scouting. It was new to most of our Scouts, but it's a really great tool to teach leadership skills, self-reliance, teamwork, and so much more. All the boys slept in tents, no one missed a meal, and the campsite was cleaner when we left than when we arrived. More importantly (probably), the boys have started learning how to organize themselves and work together as a team.

From a parent's point of view, watching the boys employ the Patrol Method was like watching five boys all learn to ride the same bicycle all piled on at the same time. But by standing back and watching them work things out for themselves, they learned far more far faster than they would have during any Troop meeting. 

A lot more.

Project Feed a Neighbor

Will and Phoebe lend a hand

Wesley United Methodist Church put out the call for volunteers to help out with "Project Feed a Neighbor" and Scouts from Troop 321, along with many other community organizations, answered.

The project covered all neighborhoods in the Ishpeming/Negaunee area with the goal of refilling the pantries at the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul's.

Church volunteers provided coffee and baked goods for the many volunteers, and local media covered the event.

Service projects are an important part of Scouting and are one of the requirements for promotion.

In the media:

- ABC 10
- The Mining Journal
- TV 6

Copper Country Merit Badge Day

Danny got wrapped up in First Aid

Ten Scouts and a handful of parents took a road trip to the Copper Country to give the boys a chance to earn a Merit Badge today. Merit Badges offered included first aid, fingerprinting, insect study, fish and wildlife management, and chess.

The boys came away with signed "blue cards", an appreciation for Michigan Tech, and some really great ideas - some of which did not involve bugs.

This was a great way to spend a dreary, damp, and chilly spring Saturday. We've got more great photos here in our trip album!

Klondike Derby

Exiting the secret entrance into Laketown

Bilbo and Thorin's company continued their quest for the Arkenstone this year. Threatened by orcs and spiders, they crossed a river, forest, and lake, and faced hunger, injury, and many other challenges. Yet they maintained their spirits with song and cheer and hot soup until at last they found the fearsome dragon, Smaug, high in the snowy mountains.

Troop 321 fielded two patrols, and both were awarded numerous ribbons for their many achievements. Next year they will have the chance to complete their quest and return safely home. Will they make it? We can only hope.

Some Scouts chronicled their exploits in song and others with many images, each according to the custom of his land. Our local bards were out as well to share our exploits with the world. Thanks also to the many adult volunteers from our Troop and from Pere Marquette zone for all the work they put into this event. It's a big deal, and the boys enjoyed it immensely.

Lock-in!

The night went a lot like this...

It's winter and the boys sometimes get squirrelly, so what's a Troop to do? Lock. Them. In! It's an idea so brilliant, it makes you wonder why we don't do this every month... Volunteers? Anyone?

So we locked the boys in, and we had a enough volunteers that Carl didn't have to wander the hallways muttering to himself. And the boys and their brothers and their friends went about the very serious business of having fun.

Video games abounded with Flappy Birds causing the most buzz - and frustration. Next door a non-stop game of  "capture the fort" dominated the gym. The boys turned hockey sticks into rifles or canons, a scooter became a scout car, and with only a little prodding, they conscripted two trash cans on wheels to serve as battle tanks.

It's also true that a few sleeping bags saw limited service as sleeping bags, but that wasn't discouraged. There's more evidence of good times here in this album, too!

Pack 321 Webelos Cross Over...

On My Honor...

... with a little help from their friends in Troop 321 and Boy Scouts' honor society, Order of the Arrow.

Families, Scouts, and leaders all attended this significant and solemn event, and many of the boys from Troop 321 participated.

These former Cubs will now choose a Troop to join, and we expect many of them will choose ours.

Additional event photos may be found in our album page.

Cub Winter Games

They're working - see the clipboard?

Cub Winter Games? We've been there, done that, and brought home the ribbons as Cubs. As Scouts, we’ve got the Klondike Derby to look forward to in a couple of weeks, so what have we to do with Cub Winter Games anymore now that we’re a lot older?

The answer is easy: we help run the games! From set up to take down and all points in between, Troop 321’s Scouts were on hand to lend a hand.

In addition, we helped raise nearly $200 for Nelson William's family, and we've got a whole album of fun uploaded and ready to view, too. Great job guys!

UP 200

Troop 321 on station

When the days are short, the nights are long, and the thermometer threatens to crash through zero - what's a Troop to do on a Friday night?

Well, we'll stay up, head out, and help the mushers racing in the UP 200 safely cross the street. Why? Because we're short of little old ladies, that's why.

OK, we're doing it because it's a long race that crosses many roads and the organizers need all the help they can get. And frankly, it's a thrill to witness a page out of Jack London's Call of the Wild right here in the U.P. You're just not going to see that sort of race in Atlanta any time soon - though maybe next year...

And there's a McDonald's with hot chocolate just a few minutes down the road on our way home.

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

Scouts: Learning to Serve

Troop 321 held its first annual spaghetti dinner and bakesale fundraiser this evening. We should be very proud of our boys for all the work they put into this event.

A couple of weeks ago, a half dozen Scouts braved the cold to sell tickets from door to door in Ishpeming. They also took turns standing vigilant at the Holiday gas station and at Jubilee inviting patrons to purchase tickets. Other boys sold tickets to family, friends, and neighbors. Severe cold hampered their efforts somewhat the following week, but it did nothing to dampen their spirits.

Our Scouts sold many tickets to people on the promise we would donate them to the Salvation Army, and Darryl dropped them off in time for distribution. As a result, Troop 321's fundraiser also served to help feed our local needy.

More boys volunteered to help out with the dinner. They rolled up their sleeves and took on all tasks: ticket taking, food preparation, serving, table bussing, and cleanup. However, this was truly a family event with Dave, a professional chef, keeping the boys in the kitchen organized, Darryl who handled the shopping and a lot of the food preparation, and, of course, our sweeties Grace, Carolyn, and Robert who brought baked goods. We've also uploaded a photo album - here.

A few of the adults put their heads together and agreed we should try this again next year. With the boys a year older, they can take on even more responsibilities. We should also be able to incorporate this event into several different merit badges, too: Salesmanship and Cooking come to mind!

Cardboard Classic

Troop 321 blasting through the crash barrier

Sometimes the weather doesn't hold up for the Scouts' outdoor activities, but the Cardboard Classic event never fails. After all, we only need freezing weather in the middle of the winter in the U.P.!

Troop 321 entered two sleds this year, both with experienced teams. They fielded some super fast sleds, but they just weren't fast enough. But no matter, everyone had a blast!

You can find more action photos here, and news coverage here!

A few of the boys arrived early to the event so they could help the Cubs lug their sleds up the hill - a favor the smaller boys sure appreciated! It's great when the older boys show the younger boys both kindness and leadership.

Gearing up for the Cardboard Classic

Scoutmaster Carl Chilling Out

Now that the snow crunches under foot, our breath comes out in steamy wisps, and the days are starting to lengthen, it must be time to gear up for the Cardboard Classic!

Of course, the first order of business is to fashion sleds out of duct tape and cardboard. Classic! I've heard that in warmer climes, they make watercraft out of these materials, and, I suppose, snow is just another form of water...

We'll race on February 1st, but today was all about ingenuity, engineering, and hot chocolate (thank you Amy!).

We've got at least two racers read to rip!

Scout Day at Marquette Mountain

Gary grabs some air

It's winter here in Yooperland, and that means fun for Scouts! Marquette Mountain hosted "Scout Day", and Scouts from all around flocked to the slopes.

Marquette Mountain has offered Scouts a special discount on Scout Day for the last several years. This year our "zone" (Marquette and Alger counties) representatives put together a belt loop and merit badge opportunity for the boys.

Eric Creel, a student at NMU and ski instructor, organized Snow Sports merit badge work. Over a dozen Scouts earned their merit badges including Gary and Jackson. The food was good, too. Chuck helped the kids, including many Cubs, assemble and cook silver turtles outdoors on the grill.

The event, with registration first open to our zone and then to the district was a big success. There's talk about opening it up next year to the Bay-Lakes Council and show them how much fun we have up here!