Troop 804 - Summer Camp 2011

   
   
   
   
 

Life is full of surprises, some good and some not so good. This week at Camp Olmsted the surprises were mostly good and as a new Scoutmaster that was most welcome. Your sons are amazing individuals and each of them has demonstrated to me Honor, Integrity, Passion and Fortitude. They supported each other numerous times in many venues and I am confident that their actions have left a permanent reminder at Camp Olmsted that Troop 804 from Millersville Maryland was here in 2011 (and that we may be back some day).

I've been active in Scouting in all but the first six years of my life so I've been exposed to many different Scouting opportunities. This past week stands amongst the most memorable largely because of what I witnessed from your sons Leaders. The twelve Leaders that joined me at Summer Camp this year are without a doubt the finest examples of Scout Leaders ever painted by Norman Rockwell or trained by Green Bar Bill (Google him). Please allow me a few sentences about each of them which will barely scratch the surface but hopefully captures the way that I feel inside and the great respect I have for each of them.

Mr. Neal Kindness was constantly 2-days ahead of the program ensuring the greatest possible outcomes for your sons. He met ALL of the camp staff personally and made sure that promises made were promises fulfilled and the path forward was ALWAYS obstacle-free. Never once did Mr. Neal complain about program changes or camp challenges; he met them head-on with Cheerful service. My job as Scoutmaster was made much easier because of the efforts of Mr. Neal. Thank you Neal!

Mr. Dave Shade was my go-to guy for summer camp history and traditions and my sounding-board for everything ethical. Numerous times Mr. Dave provided me with the right direction to take to keep the fun high and the pressure low. His insight and passion was one of the finest demonstrations of Loyalty that I have ever witnessed. Thank you Dave!

Mr. Brian Hufker is a natural teacher and leader oozing of professionalism and a genuine love for the Scouting movement. I was schooled multiple times this week about situational awareness and conflict resolution from Mr. Brian. He is a Helpful Leader whose presence is a blessing to your sons. Thank you Brian!

Mr. Shane Keating (my boss) is as steady as they come. His attention to detail yielded a multitude of good outcomes for your sons this week mostly because of his Kind nature. Never once did I worry about the waterfront activities because Mr. Shane was on-the-job. Thank you Shane!

A Leader who is good, honest and Trustworthy is worth his weight in gold. Mr. Doug Fish is a person of great integrity and high moral values that I know rubbed-off on your sons. Mr. Doug always kept his promises and only took on what he could successfully deliver. Both our Leaders and Scouts have great confidence in Mr. Doug and we are fortunate to have him in our lineup. Thank you Doug!

In my humble opinion Scouts are the friendliest people on Earth and Mr. Ric Gardner is at the top of the list. In 1 week he bonded and made friendships not only with his fellow Leaders but with a large majority of your sons. If your son can tie a bowline with his eyes closed he probably learned that this week from Mr. Ric who shared his passion for knots with many. Mr. Ric treats everyone in a Friendly manner that earns everyone's honor and respect. Thank you Ric!

If every Scout were modeled after Mr. Scott Owen we could literally change the world. Mr. Scott makes everyone in his presence feel at ease which helped greatly with your sons participation at Shooting Sports. Being Courteous is a part of the fabric that is Mr. Scott and we are all richer for his participation this week. Thank you Scott!

Being a first-year camper is a scary experience but being a first-year Leader can be paralyzing if you don't have the personality of Mr. Armando Morrell. Most of us want to do things our own way but the Obedience of Mr. Armando allowed him to take his place amongst the other Leaders and influence your son's achievements. New Leaders are always a welcome sight and Mr. Armando is no exception. Thank you Armando!

When we say "A Scout Is Thrifty" is does not always regard earning, saving or conserving. In the case of Mr. Dan Schindler it means giving generously and sharing wisely. Mr. Dan has achieved a great deal in life which he genuinely wants to share and impart to others. His ability to return blessings and not waste time, talent or resources has been successfully transferred to your sons this week. Thank you Dan!

When I recall Mr. Ted Durig's actions this past week I am drawn to his defense of the Scout Oath and Law which ion 2011 takes a Brave man. Mr. Ted consistently placed the values of the Scouting Movement ahead of any other influence at Camp and was the voice inside your sons head helping to avoid bad situations and places this week. Numerous times I saw Mr. Ted challenging your sons with the kind of things brave and courageous Scouts should do at summer camp. Thank you Ted!

Mr. Larry Pratt is not just an ordinary Leader but an outstanding Leader. Mr. Larry has not only embraced the Scouting Movement he has made a commitment to live a Scouting way-of-life. Mr. Larry is an example to be followed in terms of being Clean in thought, word and deed. You sons time together with Mr. Larry has helped them become the kind of young men you have been striving for. Thank you Larry!

Foundations are important in any movement and Scouting is no different. Reverence is our most duty as a Scout because of our obligation to give what is due to our Creator. Mr. Dave Dowling has shown me this week that when you are doing good for others you will become god yourself. Mr. Dave is an exceptional Leader that has firmly taken his place in Troop 804 to accomplish good things. As a result our Troop is a better place and your sons have had the opportunity to see the Scout Slogan boldly in action; Do A Good Turn Daily. Thank you Dave!

I'd like to think that it's simply a coincidence that the 12 points of the Scout Law align with the 12 Leaders that joined me this week at Camp Olmsted but I know better. I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices and pledges made by my colleagues. The brotherhood of Scouting is alive and well. The next time you cross paths with my 12 friends, thank them for being a Leader and teacher to your sons. The keys to the Troop are in trusted hands and the future is brighter than ever before. Next summer can't get here fast enough for me to see what surprises are waiting!

(Editor's Notes
A few final notes and bookkeeping issues about the blog. First, thanks to all the adult leaders who made this blog possible, with special thanks to Dan Schindler who took every photo. He painstakingly reviewed each one (by my count, upwards of 2,000 photos and videos), looking for great shots of each boy, and staying up well past his bedtime to keep company with others involved with the blog so nobody had to stay up alone. We realize that some nights the blog was late in coming and apologize - we know that you really want to see those pictures (we also know you don't care as much for the words, including these), but sometimes the events of the day or technical issues prevented us from doing things as early as we would have liked.

And, of course, a special thanks to Mr. Tom, who used all his Scoutmaster skills to keep the other leaders on task and in concert. His guidance was essential, whether helping to set a tone for interactions with the boys, or in developing the proper napping techniques. He spent countless hours and made many sacrifices and we should all be eternally grateful.

There may be a few more loose ends posted to this blog to preserve if for future years, but for now - this is it! See you next year!

-- Dave Shade)

posted by Tom Cosgrove at 7/30/2011 10:52:15 PM

Troop 804 – Summer Camp at Goshen, Camp Olmsted was a great success!
We had many “Firsts”, Norman Rockwell scenes, and summer camp moments. The success of our program is no accident and relies on the hard work of many volunteers, the good behavior and eager participation of your son(s), and the support of our parents. Thanks to all. In no particular order
Tom Cosgrove – Supreme leader and gets to handle all the tough stuff
Dave Shade – Merit Badge mad man and bombastic blog master – usually up after 2 AM
Doug Fish – Ecology part-time & Shooting Sports full-time – wait a minute, that’s 12 hours a day
Brian Hufker – Ecology – Managed our station with the most merit badges, excellent role model, always helping, and master of the subtle suggestion
Dan Schindler – Admin. - 5 AM runner, all day photographer, and made sure Mr. Shade finished by 2 instead of 3 AM.
Scott Owen – Shooting Sports – a new leader who fit in like he’s been in 804 all along.
Larry Pratt – Culture Craft & Sailing – Added his expertise and harmonica talent
Ted Durig – 1st Year Program – kept’em busy and having a blast – not one major “home sick” episode
Rick Gardner – 1st Year Program – Master knot tier and outdoors man, excellent teacher, and not too bad with a harmonica either
Armando Morell – Tech Center – “Do you mind if a NASA engineer helps out at your Tech Center?”…. they were thrilled. If I didn’t know better, I would swear Armando liked camping.
Dave Dowling – Scout Craft and Medical – Possibly the hardest working guy in our camp. Rarely got to sit and rest? Cared for our most precious cargo and more valuable and important than you can imagine
Shane Keating – Aquatics – part fish, part teacher, part manager, keeps us laughing and knows where to get some pretty funky tooth paste.
Tim Keagy – Photographer and Printer – an out of the spotlight hero.
Cathy Cosgrove – Transportation coordinator – knows how to work the matrix better than anyone
Jim Ruff – Trailer Puller – always willing to step in when needed
Parent Drivers – there when we need’em most

A hearty “Thank you” to anyone I may have missed and hope to see you all next year.

posted by Neal Kindness at 7/30/2011 10:44:07 PM

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
  

The final day has come and nearly gone and the week has been fantastic. This morning, the Troop awoke at 5am (yes, you read that right) to attend religious services. After breakfast, stations held the final merit badge classes. The COPE crew spent the day on the "giant swing" (total free-fall on a 50-foot pendulum) and the zip line. In the afternoon, the boys performed a service project on behalf of the camp, followed by the bulk of the campsite breakdown. The Scouts did a good job of cleaning and packing and managed a little free time. After dinner, the daily "runners" wanted to make up for the run that was lost in the morning, so the roughly 14 boys and 3 adults wanting to run again got sweaty in the evening. In fact, several boys finished the run, and then did it again to get in five runs for the week. Later in the evening, merit badge completions were reconciled with the staff and then the whole Troop went to the final campfire, where they led a rousing game of "Name that Tune" with kazoos. Final merit badge statistics will be announced later, but overall the Troop appears to have done quite well. The boys will be getting up at 5am (again) on Saturday to do their final packing and loading the bus for our scheduled return to Baldwin Hall at 11:30am. It has been a wonderful week abut these 59 stinky smiling boys and 13 smelly dads can't wait to get home!

posted by Dave Shade at 7/30/2011 12:35:00 AM

Technology report #2. It is Friday morning and I am happy to confirm with the camp staff that our technology merit badges were all completed yesterday. Way to go 804!!! Today we were up at 5:00 AM and we have a full day of activities including all other merit badges completions and the camp preparation for our trip home early tomorrow morning.Yesterday (Thursday), the Space Exploration class ended with a bang! Our scouts had a great time launching the rockets they assembled. It was great time and I am sure you will hear all about it.Tomorrow we are all returning home taking with us new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime….

posted by Armando Morell at 7/30/2011 12:22:48 AM

   
   
A view of what our adult leaders do to help keep Summer going! The pictures are of ASM Ric Gardner, Committee Chair Shane Keating, and SM Tom at 9am, 11am, and 1pm.

posted by Dave Shade at 7/29/2011 2:14:11 AM

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
   
   
   
   
   
     
   
   
   
   
 The week is winding down. Thursday in Summer Camp is usually devoted to scrambling to finish merit badges and this year is no exception. As of Thursday night, the boys had completed roughly 40 merit badges, with many more expected tomorrow. Some of the older boys have been enjoying the COPE course (pictures of boys with helmets). And, of course, you'll see our estimable Scoutmaster taking his turn watching Camp. Friday will be devoted to final attempts at finishing merit badges and the significant planning needed to pack up and leave camp by 6:45am on Saturday morning. Although the boys are having a great time, we all can't wait to get home! P.S. The Play-Doh pictures are from the Camp "Art Show" with exhibits from Sculpture, Art, Photography, etc.

posted by Dave Shade at 7/29/2011 2:14:20 AM

Five days into camp guiding ten 10-13 year old Scouts at their 1st summer camp, I arrived back in camp from a 5-mile hike and realized I haven't felt like this since August of 1984 - like I just got done a week of 2-a-day football practices. These guys have energy! This is a wonderful group of 1st year campers and we've had a full week of new adventures. In addition to the hike, it appears these guys will come home with 30 merit badges between them - Art, Mammal Studies, and Leatherwork! All of our guys shot rifles on a target range for the first time -smiles all around! Most of the guys chose to climb the climbing wall - smiles! Half the guys chose to shoot a shotgun for the first time - smiles! Swimming, canoes, kayak - smiles! Snakes in cages and turtles - smiles! The "Trading Post" - smiles! Team building games - smiles and laughter! I wish I had a camera with me to record them working as a team to balance the "Wobbily Ship" - they succeeded and it was amazing to watch them work together. Ask them about it - they are future leaders in the making.

posted by Ted Durig at 7/29/2011 2:14:29 AM

Today, we began finishing merit badges in large numbers. All of the scouts still have smiles and have been working hard. At insect study, they went found all sorts of bugs, spiders, frogs, and even insects. They then take them and draw a picture for a total of 20 found insects. We are looking forward to finishing more merit badges tomorrow and heading into the Friday night campfire. With so much excitement, we even had a Thursday night campfire in our site and invited some neighbors to enjoy it with us. It was very entertaining.

posted by Doug Fish at 7/29/2011 2:19:52 AM

Thursday already and now it's hot, 101 in the shade (not, Mr. Dave didn't have a fever). All our boys did a good job with drinking water. The first year Scouts did a great job with the hike. I hear that they liked the dip in a pond in the middle … even Mr. Ted got his toes wet. Overall the boys had a great day. Did I mention it was hot!?!

posted by Dave Dowling at 7/29/2011 12:40:36 AM

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Another great day! Among the highlights: the first completed merit badge (Woodcarving, Josh Saderholm); third and final day of training for the mile swim; first-year campers visited the COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) course, climbing wall, and shooting ranges; polar bear swim at 6am; visit from Mr. Steve, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Andrew; great weather; Scouts out on "outpost"; and more and more and more work on nearly 200 merit badges!

posted by Dave Shade at 7/28/2011 12:30:39 AM

Wake, walk, good morning, walk, breakfast, walk, stations, walk, pick up mail, slow walk w/ arms full, lunch, walk, stations, walk, Mr. Dan sleeping in camp, walk, dinner, walk, evening activities, walk, plan, talk, plan, sleep.

A scout learning to swim; two friends walking down the trail together; 20 Scouts playing Frisbee; Another 5 gallons of Gatorade; adults working hard… and loving it…; walking, walking, walking, and more walking; endless examples of Scouts helping Scouts

posted by Neal Kindness at 7/28/2011 12:24:32 AM

Our Scouts are having a great time at camp and continue to make progress and learning while having lots of fun! In the technology arena we are learning about Energy, Electronics/Electricity, Aviation and their favorite, Space Exploration. With our scouts strongly participating during lectures, the well trained camp staff covers the material in what turns out to be a lively "hands on" experience that definitely engages. The material covered includes an introduction to the various concepts with typically a short lab session where experiments/demonstrations are conducted. Personally I am having a great time and the envy of all of the adults as our technology activities are mostly conducted in an air conditioned room…. YES!!!

posted by Armando Morell at 7/28/2011 12:04:18 AM

 
We know that many of you wonder what adults do in camp. At all times, at least one adult is stationed in our Troop campsite keeping an eye on our boys. Here is Dan Schindler taking the watch....

posted by Dave Shade at 7/27/2011 12:53:01 AM

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Sometimes we think that the younger Scouts won't be able to keep up with the older Scouts. In my case at 53 years old I decided at the first mile run that maybe I couldn't keep up with the older Scouts but thought I could at least keep up with the older Scout leaders (Mr. Dan Schindler and Mr. Dave Shade). Wrong! About half-way they moved ahead and I took up the rear. Mr. Dan and Mr. Dave kept up with the other Scouts. The second day we had 14 runners (1/4 of the Troop!). Two were first-year Scouts (Ryan Demar and Andrew Lukas).

I thought hey (bright idea!) I think that the first year Scouts need a head start and I would be the one to head out with Ryan and Andrew before the other guys. Well, I kept up with Ryan and Andrew but had to keep telling them to slow down, because we had a long way to go (but I didn't tell them to slow down because I couldn't keep up). They did great - really. A little more then half way they put me in the dust. Well, we have three more days of running left. All I can say is com on Tom Cosgove. I bet I can keep up with you.

posted by Ric Gardner at 7/27/2011 12:25:07 AM

It's been a great day. I have been working on the rifle range and spending time in ecology. The staff working these areas are excellent and do a great job keeping the scouts attention. The scouts are engaged and grins are everywhere. The week is starting out very well.

posted by Doug Fish at 7/27/2011 12:23:52 AM

Rain rolled in last evening and cooled us off after it passed there were more activities. Order of the Arrow members held a social but one of the most interesting activities was the reptile and amphibian night hike, which six boys from Troop 804 participated in for their merit badge.

Tuesday was sunny and cooler with a high of around 90 degrees. There were many activities from archeology to wilderness survival. The staff took the night off and the boys cooked dinner over a large campfire. Tomorrow is Wednesday, the half way point. Assignments will start coming due and the adults are providing guidance and encouragement.

posted by Brian Hufker at 7/27/2011 12:24:17 AM

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
I thought I would write about the sounds of camp. I would constantly hear from the boys "what do you have next?" and "When do you have free time?". Another popular one, "Want to go to the trading post?, Do you know if it's open now?". Then there was the sound of the S.P.L. shouting "Mail Call!". If you listened closely SOME of the boys were even overheard saying "let's go get a shower." Today we heard a sound that we didn't like to hear, Thunder. And it was heard frequently this afternoon.

It's been a great first day. Thank you for allowing us, the adult leaders, the opportunity to spend time with your sons.

posted by Shane Keating at 7/26/2011 12:03:02 AM

Goshen offers many opportunities to observe bird life. Through Mr. Larry's guidance Scouts have watched a pair of goldfinches devour wild thistle. Most exciting is the fufous-sided towhee, a robin-sized bird that feeds off the forest floor. We'll keep look for more local species.

posted by Larry Pratt at 7/25/2011 11:59:35 PM

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  

Well, we made it! It was a very good day - transportation went very smoothly and the Troop arrived at Camp Olmsted right on time. The boys did a great job unloading their gear and picking "tent buddies". That was followed by a tour of camp. Unfortunately, there were distant rumbles of thunder that prevented the boys from taking their swim tests, so those will happen tomorrow. Dinner was good: roast chicken, baked potato, carrots, rolls, and a salad bar. After dinner, the boys had free time to review their merit badges, set up their tents, or plenty of Frisbee. The day ended with a camp-wide campfire, toothbrushing, and bed. Today, the weather was warm and humid, but there are rumors of some cooling on the way.

Other adults will write some observations every day and we will do our best to post lots of pictures. For today, however, this will be it…..

posted by Dave Shade at 7/25/2011 11:59:49 PM

   

(The pictures are from last year. Click on small pictures to see larger views.)

Welcome to the 2011 Troop 804 Summer Camp Blog! Departure day is almost here! This year 59 Scouts and 13 adults will travel to Camp Goshen for a great week of fun and learning. We will post short updates here as time allows during the day, and each evening we will try to post lots of pictures and stories. We do get busy and sometimes the internet doesn't cooperate so please be patient if postings are delayed. Hopefully everyone is nearly packed and looking forward to a good rest (OK, we know many of the boys will be too excited to sleep well). Don't forget to help them double-check their packing - and make sure they know where things are, especially their swim gear. See you all on Sunday morning!

posted by Dave Shade at 7/23/2011 6:36:11 AM