February 19-21

Troops at Broad Creek enjoyed a great weekend in the snow, sledding and exploring. One of those troops was Troop 944 from National Pike. They had there annual “Feast Weekend” at Camp Spencer. Over 55 scouts and 25 leaders attended this snow packed outdoor camping trip. Saturday patrols competed in dutch oven cooking.  Some of the entries included pizza, chili with corn bread topping and the winning entree was old fashion beef stew. In  the afternoon scouts worked on many different merit badges including Emergency Preparedness were coarse members were interrupted during dinner for a lost leader drill. Scouts were treated to a great dinner with chicken and stuffing as the main coarse and ending with warm apple pie, brownies, and all topped with ice cream. To complete the evening scouts conducted a mock trail to complete the cinema merit badge and held a campfire.

troops version of water prof tents

mock trail

Next week we will feature Broad Creeks Scout Shop and Trading Post.

Two back to back blizzards hit camp ending late in the day on February 10. Heavy drifting snow, and winds up to gusts of 40 mph knocked down lines and power for a day and half at camp. As of the early afternoon on February 12 the bridge over the dam remains closed do to heavy drifts of snow. The rangers are making great head way opening up roads and parking lots for troops camping this week-end. Camp will be open Friday February 12 for troops. See more pictures of camp.

Late update: 35 scouts  and 9 leaders from Troop 497 are staying at the Hanson Lodge and have the whole camp to them selves. One scout tent was seen out on the snow and the boy’s were busy making snow caves and sled runs.

New summer air-conditioned tents, nope. Snow cave contest from Troop 497 scouts.

troops using this to build a snow cave , well that’s just cheating

Still hibernating, spring is coming!

A winter wonderland

Oh yes, the water is this clear at our rock quarry water park

Sailing is back with our new fleet on the Susquehanna River

Introducing this years 2010 BCMSR Camp Directors. At Camp Oest our cub scout resident camp we have Ken Osterriter Camp Director returning for another great summer season. He is joined by Josh LaVeck as his Program Director. At Camp Saffran we have Brian DeBease as Camp Director who severs as Harford’s DE. He is joined by long time staffer Chris Castilo as Program Director. At Camp Spencer we have Kevin McCelland returning for his 12 year as a staff member with Matt McManamay also returning as Program Director. Casey Snyder returns as BCMSR Camp Director and is joined by David Blehi as Business Manager.

DSC_0547, originally uploaded by hergan family.

DSC_0543, originally uploaded by hergan family.

The first new merit badge in over three years, Scuba Diving reflects the new direction of BSA to develop merit badges based on youth/Scout input to assure relevance and excitement around the merit badge offering. This merit badge, developed in association with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), leverages our spirit of outdoor adventure and expands our aquatics offering. More than 84 percent of Scouts surveyed were interested in the merit badge and recommended that BSA adopt it.

Key facts you need to know about the merit badge are as follows:

• Completing the Scuba Diving merit badge will result in the boy achieving an open water certification enabling him to dive around the world with the appropriate supervision, based on his age.
• There are two important roles for this merit badge – the merit badge counselor and a certified dive instructor.
  • Sometimes this may be the same person.
  • More likely, the counselor will be an existing BSA adult member.
  • Always the instructor will be one certified by one of a number of instructional agencies.
  • The instructor does NOT have to be a BSA member.
• Earning the Scuba Diving merit badge is open to all Boy Scout-age youth. There are, however, limitations based on age with respect to how deep and with whom a boy can dive. These limitations vary by certifying organization.
• Completion of the Swimming merit badge is a requirement of the merit badge and must be completed prior to entering into scuba training portion of the requirements.
• Boys with a current open water certification will NOT have to recertify in order to earn the merit badge. They will, however, have to have completed the Swimming merit badge, present their certification to the merit badge counselor and complete all the other requirements
• There are three important pieces of information which must be fully reviewed by the merit badge counselor prior to approving any Scout for the merit badge: the merit badge requirements, the notes to counselor and the scuba policy of the Guide to Safe Scouting.

Attached you will find a locally customizable and printable PDF file announcing the merit badge, showcasing the cover, and outlining the notes to counselor and requirements. The Guide to Safe Scouting is available at http://www.scouting.org/healthandsafety/gss.aspx.

Have fun and dive safe!

Check out this 90 second video of the Discover Scuba program at Broad Creek’s Lost Pines High Adventure Outpost.