The details are in, and we are signed up for a night of caving in the Raccoon Mountain Caverns. Raccoon Mountain Caverns is located just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee and is highly recommended.

The plan is to leave the Scout Hut on Friday at 5:30 pm and be at the caverns by 9:00 pm. We will have several hours of exploring the caves and getting dirty before we bed down for the night inside the cave. The troop will head home after Saturday morning breakfast.

We need to have at least 10 members in our group to reserve a spot, so we need to know right away who is going.

What to bring: Sleeping bag and mat, change of clothes (including shoes), bag to keep your stuff in, ditty kit, soap and towel to clean up with, and money for dinner.

• What: Caving in Raccoon Mountain Caverns
• When: Saturday April 24th, 2010
• Time: Meet at the Scout Hut at 4:00 pm
• Cost: $42.00 + Cost for supper
• Return: Sunday April 25th, 2010 between 11:00 - 12:00
• Deadline: Sign up by Monday April 12 2010, Money due by April 19 2010

 Download:

• Scout Waiver (age 17 and under)
• Adult Waiver (age 18 and older)

We are currently working on the Wilderness Survival MB. Stay tuned for details on the Survival campout on March 12 - 14, 2010

Wilderness Survival Merit Badge: Requirement 5:

Put together a personal survival kit and explain how each item in it could be useful.

A wilderness survival kit is the core essentials that you need to survive a problem in the woods. It is part survival, and part first aid. Every time I go out in the woods I think of it as the heart of my pack. Everything that I might need, but hope I don't use.

A Wilderness survival kit comes in many different shapes and sizes and should be small enough to be easily carried, yet big enough to hold the essentials needed to survive sometime in the woods. Make sure that it is kept in a durable container that is easy to carry, and can take the punishment of going with you every time you go into the woods.

CONTAINERS:

• Altoids Mint Box
• Medicine Bottle
• Wide Mouth Nalgene water bottle
• Small Nylon Stuff Sack
• Mr. Brad hung hit survaval kit on several lanyards and hangs it around his neck when he goes out

CONTENTS:

Everyone has an opinion of what should be in a wilderness survival kit. There are a couple of required items, and the rest are made up of what you think you might need. Remember to keep it reasonably sized, and not add too much, but make sure it is useful. Below is what I carry in my survival kit. You will notice there are somethings that you might not carry in your kit, like a small alcohol stove or a Bible. I carry them because they are small, available, and I useful to me.

• Required: Safety Whistle (I recommend a Fox 40 wistle)
• Required: Survival Priority Card (Below)
• Required: Pocket Knife \ Multi-Tool
• Required: Fire Starting equipment
  • Flint and Steel
  • Fire Steel
  • Waterproof Matches
  • Lighter
  • Fire Piston
  • Cotton Balls in petroleum jelly
• 25’ of line
• Knife Sharpener
• Compass
• Signal Mirror
• 4 Band-Aids, 1 x 3 in
• 2 Band-Aids, 2 in.
• Neosporin - antibiotic for cuts and abrasions
• Aspirin \ Advil
• Water purification tablets (Potable-Aqua)
• Soap or hand sanitizer - Good for fire starting
• 8’ Aluminum foil
• Plastic bag
• Snare wire
• Razor Blade
• Emergency Blanket
• 25’ Fish Line
• Fish Hooks
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Duct Tape
• Safety Pins
• Sewing Thread
• Sewing Needles
• Small alcohol stove
• Pencil & Paper
• Snacks
• Metal Cup
• Large Plastic Bag
• Small Bible

Survival Priority Card

 

Positive Mental Attitude - The most important item you have is your brain Stop - Hug a tree. Relax. Seek safety (from weather, water, animals), shelter (from cold, rain, heat), visibility (so you can see and be seen). A stationary person is easier to find than a moving one. Think - What went wrong? Can I help myself? Can I help others find me? Don't make hasty decisions. Observe - Am I hurt? What do I have that may help me? What's the weather going to do? What natural resources are available? Pray/Plan - Set up camp, make a fire. First Aid Take care of any serious problems. Shelter - protection from heat, cold, rain, sun. Large plastic bag, emergency bag/blanket, poncho, found materials Fire - warmth, security, signaling, ... Signaling - mark X, signal in 3's, Don't yell it doesn't carry far and is tiring - whistle instead Smoke (can be seen for miles), flag/bandana, mirror (single direction for miles), flashlight (single direction) Water - you can survive a few days without it Boil - 5 minutes max 2 drops chlorine per quart (double if water is cloudy) - let set for 30 minutes 5 drops iodine per quart (double if water is cloudy) - let set for 30 minutes Food - you can survive a week or more without it All healthy mammals, birds, insects are edible Anything seen eaten by rabbits, rodents, beavers, squirrels, raccoons, NOT birds No plants with soapy, bitter, acid, burning taste; take a small taste, wait for 5 minutes; use caution No plants with milky saps, or sickly looking; cook

The centennial edition of the Boy Scout Handbook is available, and with the new handbook come several rank requirement changes that will be in effect as of January 1, 2010.

Tenderfoot

• A Scout must teach another person how to tie a square knot using the EDGE model (explain, demonstrate, guide, and enable). He must also be able to discuss four specific examples of how he lived the points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Second Class

• A Scout must discuss the principles of Leave No Trace and explain the factors to consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
• He must explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.
• He must again discuss four examples of how he lived four different points of the Scout Law in his daily life.
• He must earn an amount of money agreed upon by the Scout and his parents and save at least 50 percent of it.

First Class

• An additional requirement to the 10 separate troop/patrol activities states he must demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
• He must discuss four more examples of how he lived the remaining four points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Life

• A Scout must use the EDGE model to teach a younger Scout a specified skill.

Star, Life, and Eagle

• Troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer are two new leadership positions.

Original BSA Release

Merry Christmas troop, and thanks for a great year of Scouting!

Next meeting is January 11th, 2010. See you then, and don't forget to do a good turn daily.

- Scoutmaster William