Today marked the start of week 3 for the newly Chartered BSA Scouts Troop 439, recently introduced here to Saline Journal readers. Recall that they were to head out last Friday night for historic Camp Teetonkah in Jackson Michigan, returning on Sunday after spending two nights there in a cabin. [1-4]
They’re back in Washtenaw County now.
Subject matter related to camps and camping is not far behind First Aid among subject matter covered in the 1⅛” thick Scouts BSA Handbook. Campouts are where the signature “Patrol Method” of collaborative team functioning is optimally developed and practiced. Participation in campouts is also integral to most advancement on the Trail to Eagle. [5-8]
With permission of their Scoutmaster, we sat down at a table with seven of the Troop 439 Scouts shortly after their meeting was formally called to order. Where did they think we should start in helping our readers grow in their practical understanding of this experience?
“Actually camping is different from reading about camping in a book,” began Leah DeCaro, Troop Quartermaster. “We had real axes and hatchets, and we got to interact with them. We had to start our own fire.” [9]
“It was very injury-free,” Senior Patrol Leader Elliz McClelland added.
You get to know each other by seeing how each person works and how they work together. Even though we meet weekly, these meetings are only an hour or two long, and we have a lot to cover in that time.
Campouts are two days. That gives you more time to come together as a team. That’s how you build a team. You can see how people have different skills, and you know who to go to if you need someone for that.
When asked for examples, consensus among peers was that Troop Instructor Abigail Schafer had distinguished herself with knots. Mia Marshall, who holds dual positions as both Scribe and Patrol Leader, appeared to be the go-to on cutting tools — having impressed the group by splitting a log with just two strikes.
With that we turned out attention to some of the very formalized training and sign-off procedures for which the Boy Scouts of America is known as a means of maximizing safety. Particular to the points above, Scouts must qualify and carry “Firem’n Chit” and “Totin’ Chip” cards in order to be responsible for fires in camp and use of axes and knives. [10,11]
Ms DeCaro politely asked a fellow Scout to produce a Firem’n Chit card in order to review each of its eight points accurately with Saline Journal. She and Historian Rachel Gowell lead fire duties for Troop 439 last weekend, but noted that safety focus on making sure that flames are properly extinguished weren’t as pressing given the time of year.
“The issues we had were with caring for the fire,” Ms McClelland said. “We got it lit, but it was hard to keep it going on the ice and snow. And all of the wood there was wet, too.”
It would be nice to think that the acquisition of such awareness and talents provided little more than quaint touchstones to flesh out the sort of stories shared by docents via casual visit to Rentschler Farm Museum or Weber-Blaess schoolhouse. Unfortunately, we are not yet a month out from the Consumers Energy accident that threatened to leave homes without heat during one of the coldest periods this winter. [12-14]
In the face of such prospects, Scouts BSA Troop 439 is well on its way to being prepared.
References
- Tri-County Sportsmen’s League (home page).
- Tri-County Scouts BSA Troop 439 (Facebook Page).
- “Not a trick question: Look closely at this local Scouts BSA troop photograph; see if you can spot anything different about it” Dell Deaton (February 11, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “Camp Teetonkah” Boy Scouts of America: Michigan Crossroads Council.
- “Camping” Boy Scouts of America.
- Scouts BSA 14th Edition Coil Handbook for Girls, Scout Shop.
- “A beginner’s guide to the patrol method” Bryan Wendell (September 5, 2014) Scouting Magazine.
- “The Eagle Scout Rank” (October 3, 2018 and January 30, 2019) Boy Scouts of America.
- “Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops: Position Description Cards” (2017) Boy Scouts of America.
- “Firem’n Chit” Merit Badge.
- “Totin’ Chip” Merit Badge.
- “Rentschler Farm Museum” Saline Area Historical Society.
- “Weber Blaess” Jim Hoeft, Saline Area Historical Society.
- “Consumers Energy, DTE ask customers to turn down thermostats” Aleanna Siacon (January 31, 2019) Detroit Free Press.
