Wilderness Challenge Awards

Just finished a bone handled knife and sheath last night.  I've got kits for some hard working Varsity scouts.

And, the steel strikers I got are really awesome. Compared them to a more expensive one, and they threw awesome sparks!

Scout On!

Wilderness Challenge Information

All the information for the Wilderness Challenge is in the following Links:

Registration and information
Map to Boulders, Location of Wilderness Challenge
Handout for youth
BSA Physical  --just the parent portion necessary--no physical
Syllabus and Event Scoring instructions
Event Score Sheet

email me for questions, see my email address above left....

Scout On!

Wilderness Challenge

Wilderness Challenge is November 13 and 14 at the Boulders at Skyrise, Florence Arizona.

Click here for a link to the PDF: Wilderness Challenge Handout

Click here for a link to the Physical (just fill out parts A and C): BSA Physical Form

Email the completed packet to santanvarsity@gmail.com  or call Stephen Follett for instructions or questions.

Dress is hat, levis and long sleeve shirt.
Bring a compass, GPS, pocket knife (folding variety NO sheath knives) for activities.

You will be responsible for your dinner, breakfast and lunch.

Scout On!

El Lobo

(BUMPED UP TO THE TOP OF PAGE)

Caving - Planning Resources

Here is a great resource on planning your caving trip.  It is four pages another coach put together.  Make sure and review it against all the current rules and guide to safe scouting, etc.  Thanks to Coach Newitt.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/21656536/Varsity-Scouts-Caving

And, some more pictures of another group enjoying Peppersauce.

Scout On!

Peppersauce Caves Report October 2009

Here is the report from the Coach.  (If you want to share your trip, please send me a report and pictures to post.)

Thanks for the helmets and light. Helped much.


We had a great campout this weekend to Peppersauce Caves north of Tucson. We camped the Friday night on the desert floor under the stars (which were out in numbers) due to the higher abundance of wood (believe it or not). We arrived after dark (since there is nothing close to Phoenix for camping) and promptly found a scorpion (the really small dangerous kind). Later we found another animal that grandma doesn't like and then a swarm of ants. The one got the shovel and the ants were taken care of with lighter fluid and a match. After lights out, a skunk wandered into camp to pay his respects. Then around 1:30AM a pack of at least 3 coyotes decided to wander in a make noise for half an hour (tips for next time: open the meat over the fire pit). One coyote camp back around again at 3:30 and 5:00 just to make sure that no one was sleeping.

The cave was fun. It is publically owned but unmarked and tricky to find (even with a map). The opening is like crawling under a desk. Inside is quite warm and muddy with several passages. There are several lakes down there as well. We had three boys go and one other leader besides me. We had a larger leader (250 lb) for the overnighter, but he opted out of the cave (go figure). Being the tyrant that I am, I had everyone with helmets and three sources of light. It took only a few smacked heads to make everyone glad they had them.

Here are a few shots from the cave. The shot with my other leader was the best of one called "the rabbit hole" to some or "the birth canal" to others (I'm coaxing him through in one of the shots. He wasn't too excited about the trip in general. You have to turn your head sideways and lead with one hand to get through. The other tight one that I'm coming out of is called the "lemon squeeze" (not like Led Zeppelin). That one is literally head-down diving into a hole. The toughest part was scaling a 12-ft wall with nothing but the opposing wall to push against with knees mostly, since there were very few grips.

Good fun. Can't wait to do it again.
P.S. Here are some websites:


http://www.sdmb.org/Trails/Trail-Pepper.html
http://www.sdmb.org/TrailDesc/Peppersauce-Map.jpg
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1245412576050804046wQDatn

Bring it on Baby!

Wilderness Challenge is less than a month away!!!



















Scout On!

$1.00 liquid filled Compass

From a fellow coach:

Here is a deal I saw today on a compass for $1 with free shipping.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/25293/Transparent-Compass-w--Neck-Lanyard-1

The reviews indicate this is satisfactory for scout work....

Scout On!

Flint and Steel

Without endorsing any, here are some sources that I found with a quick search:

http://www.black-bear-haversack.com/product_info.php/products_id/2167?osCsid=c176efb8229bf56e2a8e9faf71ae071a

(UPDATE--I ordered 50 flint and steel from Black Bear Haversack. They all throw very nice sparks, but it is best if you get a bigger peice of flint, some that I got were too small to effectively throw a spark for a beginner.   Ask me about finding a "flint" in Arizona.)

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Verns-Flint-and-Steel__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fsubZ190405519
http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CCTP&Product_Code=4868-010-001&Category_Code=

I just happen to have bought the kit that Crazy Crow sells.  It works.

Scout On!

Fur, bones, and animal bits....

Here is a resource for antlers, bones, fur, etc. for making mountain man stuff.  Use your imagination.

http://www.hideandfur.com/  Moscow Hide and Fur

Scout On!

Arrowhead Knapping

My scoutmaster taught me how to knap arrowheads when I was a wee scout of 13.  I found it incredibly facinating.  He was released before I got to make a bow from the osage orange growing on his property.

If you ever wondered how it was done, check this out.  How to make an arrowhead.

I still have all my arrowhead making stuff and pull it out every once in a while to knap a point.  If you ever want a demonstration, let me know and I will dust off my tackle box full of obsidian and glass.  I am always looking for a good excuse.

Scout On!

Wilderness Challenge Preparation

Here are the list of wilderness survival style activities!!  These are not your ordinary "camporee" activities.  These are MAN Games of Survival, Physical and Mental Challenge.  Only the BRAVE and STRONG will survive.  We'll see just how long you will last!

You won't just have to start a fire, that is for little Boy Scouts!  Varsity Scouts start a fire with a rock and a steel, then build a fire to cook something without utensils and EAT IT!!  Bear Grylls style!!!

If you think the challenges on the Survivor TV show look fun, just wait till you experience these games!

Fire activity, including start the fire with flint and steel. 
GPS geocaching chase.
Map and Compass, find a direction and travel on a bearing.
Knife throw.
Hawk throw.
Military style obstacle course with "The Wall"
Team building C.O.P.E. style challenge.
Low C.O.P.E. wire walking challenge.
Team .22 Rifle competition.
On Target style Mirror challenge.

Scout On!

Wilderness Challenge Awards

Here are just some of the awards that will be available for the members of the winning teams.

Scout On!

San Tan Golf Tournament

November 16th @ 7:00 A.M. at Seville Golf and Country Club.

Here is the contact information if you want to Golf!!!!

Jason Graff (480) 313-6637

jason_r_graff@hotmail.com

Scout On!