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