Archives
All Scouts and adults going to Summit and/or Northern Tier need to complete the standard BSA swim test. The test can be taken in one of the following ways:
1. In July at Owasippe (preferred)
2. At one of the two events below (see Troop calendar):
Sat, June 2 10:00-10:45AM at Independence Park, 3945 N Springfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, contact Mr. Boyle
Sun, June 3 2:15-3:00PM at Ping Tom Park, 1700 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, contact Mr. Greiner
3. On your own, assuming you can have a qualified adult trained in BSA Safe Swim Defense sign off the
form here
Either way, the test must be completed and signed off before departing. RSVP APPRECIATED for anyone attending the June 2 or 3 sessions!
SWIMMER’S TEST:
– Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming.
– Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy resting backstroke.
– The 100 yards must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn.
– After completing the swim, rest by floating.
The weekend’s canoe trip / campout in Wisconsin was a success. Apparently we got less rain up north than the folks that stayed in Illinois. And everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, whether seasoned paddler or novice.
The goal of any overnight in the woods is to spend quality time with friends and nature. That objective was clearly met in the rolling hills of Camp Sol R. Crown and on the sinuous stretch of the Nippersink Creek we paddled. After a Friday evening rush hour departure, the crew made it to their destination while there was still enough daylight to setup camp. Saturday morning began with the usual patrol-style breakfast before the short drive to Keystone Landing. The ten boats and their occupants were given a creek-side safety briefing and canoeing demo before pointing their bows downstream!
The water was running pretty quickly, but there was still plenty of time to pause and observe the plentiful birdlife. Every so often, a manmade “rapids” added a little excitement to the trip. After 11.5 miles and less than five hours, the Troop made it to their destination at Lyle C. Thomas Park. Back to camp for an afternoon of card games and other goofing off before the serious work of dinner and campfire skits began!
Sunday broke gray and blustery, but thankfully the rain had passed overnight, with the Scouts making quick work of breakfast and tearing down camp before the trip home.
A huge shout out to Elijah on his final overnight with the Troop as SPL. We will miss his enthusiasm but know the Scouts at Owasippe this summer are going to be with a very talented and energizing staffer. Also many thanks to Mr. Keats and the other adults who spent their weekend shuttling Scouts and camping.
Member of our Google Group? Click
here for more photos.
[PHOTO] Nippersink Creek @boylesfour
I am a strong believer that every scout should go to summer camp at least once. My first week at Owasippe was a life-changing experience, and after that summer I felt like I got what scouting is all about: The camaraderie. The spirit. Being able to goof off without your parents or teachers there to give you the look.
Even if you can’t put your finger on it, anyone who’s been to Owasippe before knows how their time at camp has impacted who they are today. However, I recently read an article that made me question the future of camps like Owasippe. The article claimed that many parents are opting out of sending their kids to summer camp, and instead, are enrolling their kids in academic programs or internships, in order to beef up their child’s college resume.
First, I’d like to add that I don’t think it should be the parents’ choice whether or not we want to go to camp, but that’s not what the author was arguing. He pointed out that for many scouts, summer camp is the first time in our lives that we are living away from our parents, and that if a parent is concerned about a college resume, they should remember one thing: They can’t follow their son to college. That is a path the child must take alone, and if you can master independence at camp, you’ll be more prepared than anyone else when the time comes to leave home. (more…)
