The VARSITY VISIONc001af38d1d46a976912-b99970780ce78ebdd694d83e551ef810.r48.… · bones and...

The Varsity Scout reaffirms his adherence to the traditional Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan.

Boat Camping Program Feature

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Operation “ON TARGET” Program Feature

The

VARSITY VISION NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletter

FOR VARSITY SCOUT LEADERS UTAH NATIONAL PARKS COUNCIL™ BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA®

www.utahscouts.org/varsity scouting/varsity vision news letters

May 2014 "Getting mad will never get you anything else" Vol. 17 No. 5

Table of contents Subject Page

Scout Oath or Promise and Scout Law . . . . . . . . 1

Boat Camping Program Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Help with Varsity Scout Activities . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Operation “ON TARGET” 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Put Words into Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

All-Stars this summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Canoe Camp by the late Ren Smith . . . . . . . . . 8

Labyrinth Canyon Float Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

I Blame the Boy Scouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Dangers of a Snow Mote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Greetings from New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Coach’s Corner “Recharge Your Batteries” . . . . 12

Program Planning Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Ultraviolet Water Purifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Silly Mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Letter to the Editor, from Andy Gibbons . . . . . . . 14 Coach’s Corner “The $20 Dollar Bill” . . . . . . . . . 14

E-List Signup

To get this Varsity Vision newsletter sent to you automatically every month, go to the Utah National Parks Council™ website at http://www.utahscouts.org and enter the e-list sign-up icon at the top right of the home page. Follow the instructions given there to register.

All 27 Program Features can be seen at the following

internet site

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/boyscouts/resources/varistyprogram.aspx

Scout Oath or Promise:

On my honor I will do my best

To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;

To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Scout Law: A Scout is...

Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent

May 2014 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

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Let’s include all kinds of water craft, canoes, kayaks, power boats and inflatable rafts. Time spent on the water and at a primitive camp is unforgettable and cherished Varsity Scout time together. The Program Feature book has a vast amount of information and covers this activity quite well.

To choose a destination, prioritize what's important to you and your Varsity Scout team: Good fishing and wildlife viewing, solitude, scenery and most of all – your mode of transportation on the water

Try to plan around predictable elements like late afternoon winds: there's no point in fighting a headwind if you could just as easily paddle the other direction or be in camp. And remember to consider seasonal factors like mosquitoes and water levels. Be sure to check out boating regulations for your preferred area. Permits may be required and "leave no trace" requirements may be in effect on well-travelled rivers and in wilderness areas.

Once you get maps, spread them out on the team meeting room floor before you depart. It's fun to imagine what the area will look like ahead of time, and it's important to identify possible hazards, drinking water sources, and potential campsites in advance. Maps will also clue you in to interesting side trips like hikes, old mining towns, historic buildings and Anasazi ("Ancient Ones") cliff dwellings and rock art.

Kind of Gear to take:

So what to bring? Start with good quality life jacket, lightweight camping gear: sleeping bag, camping Therm-a-Rest mattress, and a tent appropriate for the climate. Always bring a stove: campfires can be unreliable or hard to find wood for, and may be prohibited in some areas. Then there are all the other basics:

• Cooking equipment

• Headlamps • Bug repellant • Water bottles • Dry bags • Extra clothing • Toilet articles • First aid Kit • Ground cloth • Repair kit • Small shovel for burying human waste • A rope

Of course there are hundreds of other gadgets - just don't go overboard. Here are a few simple suggestions:

Long length of cord or lightweight rope: Use it to make a clothesline for hanging all your paddling gear. You can also use your throw rope.

Daypack: Even though you may be traveling from camp to camp by boat, you'll probably take some short hikes. A pack can be helpful for toting water bottles, if the water supply is far from camp.

Cooler: One of the things you can bring that really separates boat camping from other forms of wilderness travel; a cooler is a real luxury. Make sure you bring one with a latching lid in case you capsize.

Loading the Boat

Make sure your gear is in waterproof bags. Water fights will be going on almost all the time between the boys and adult leaders. Some water will collect in the bottom of your boat from these water fights.

Dry bags are made of waterproof, abrasion-resistant fabric and have special sealing closures for water tightness. If you plan to do much portaging, look for ones with shoulder straps. You can also use other packs or duffels, lined with sturdy garbage bags. Avoid packs with large rigid frames: it can be difficult to stuff these into your boat.

Tie everything in. Always important - better to be safe than sorry! Try and develop a simple, repeatable system for keeping everything secure in your craft. If you've got a

Boat Camping

Written by Ken Cluff


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touring kayak, your gear will probably be kept in closed compartments; make sure those hatches are tight. For open canoes you'll want to make sure your gear is not only tied in but secure so it won't shift during the day or dangle if you tip over. Many packs and gear bags come with straps attached: fasten these around the thwarts, and use a second strap in a crossing pattern over and through the whole load.

Balance the load. Even a slightly off-balance load can compromise your stability. The best balanced loads are trimmed evenly from gunwale to gunwale with heavier items on the bottom for stability. The entire load should be slightly

weighted towards the stern. Do your best to keep your gear below the level of the gunwales.

Use the ends of the boat only for the lightest gear. Keep your heaviest bags and large water jugs towards the center of the boat and use the ends for lightweight gear like sleeping bags and pads. The boat will turn and handle much more easily if you keep the ends light.

Keep fragile items safe and organized in dry boxes. Dry boxes are remarkably impact-resistant and water-proof, quick to open and close, and easy to customize with foam. Besides cameras, dry boxes also work well for small supplies that might disappear to the bottom of a dry bag. Dry boxes are a great solution for packing out garbage and human waste, too, as discussed in the low-impact section below.

Try to get dry bags in a variety of sizes and colors, including clear. This will go a long way towards improving organization and reducing the frustration of hunting through several bags each time you want something. Try using two or three larger dry bags for camping gear and clothing you won't need during the day. Then, use smaller bags for quick access to lunch, camera, first aid supplies, and other day gear. (If you are paddling a kayak, small bags are probably all you can fit in the craft.)

Keep waterproof day items handy. Sunscreen, sunglasses, compact wind gear, and similar items don't have to go in a dry bag. Try one of the commercially made nylon or mesh

seat compartments, or even a fanny pack around your waist for convenient access.

Remember, it's hard on you and on your boat to drag it ashore fully loaded. Bring waterproof shoes so you'll feel comfortable unloading the boat from the water. And, of course, carry the empty boat well up onto high ground for the night, especially on a river where water level fluctuations can take you by surprise. Turn your boat over to keep rain out and to make it harder for an unexpected gust of wind to catch it.

Low Impact Camping

Low-impact camping has been stressed in Varsity Scouting; there is no longer an "alternative" concept; rather, it's a responsibility we all share. And with modern equipment like compact camp stoves, we don't need to be destructive campers. Keep in mind the credo, "Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints," and remember that much of your potential impact is invisible: buried waste, soap scum and even noise.

Garbage Management

Have you ever read about those contests to see how little garbage a Scout can produce? Try playing this game yourself; reducing your garbage in the first place is lesson number one in garbage management.

Leave home with as few cans, bottles, and other non-burnable items as you can. Maximize your pre-trip food preparations so you won't have leftovers or scraps like meat bones and vegetable peelings. Plan meals to minimize leftovers, (For example, plan less of the main dish and more of some easily packed and versatile extras - bread, fruit, and cheese.) Bring a cloth kitchen wipe instead of a roll of paper towels. With a little forethought, you can produce surprisingly little garbage.

Keep it neat

An unprotected plastic bag will invariably get torn, wet, and generally become a bigger attraction for flies than for ecology-minded Scouters. Keep your garbage neat! Dedicate one dry bag for garbage and line it with plastic bags. Keep it in a central place in camp and make sure it gets used. Your


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garbage will stay contained and more odorfree producing fewer arguments over who gets to be the "garbage barge."

Never leave any garbage behind, even by burying it. This includes biodegradables like eggshells and vegetable peelings. It's still garbage! If you carried it in, you can carry it out.

Human waste

When was the last time you went off to explore an intriguing little path, only to discover a grove of toilet paper "flowers" - or worse? Lake Powell is a perfect example of this.

For liquid wastes, stay above the high watermark and at least 50 feet away from any streams. If you must use toilet paper, carefully burn it or pack it out.

For solid human waste, the very best and most responsible solution is to pack it out. This isn't as bad as it sounds! And on some regulated trips like the Grand Canyon, it's required. Line a large ammunition can with a plastic bag - trash compactor bags are particularly sturdy - and set a toilet seat on the ammo-box. (Or consider buying a packable toilet.) Each time you pack up camp, add some dry lime or other disinfectant and tie the bag off. Use a fresh bag for each camp. Use a second box to carry the disinfectant, extra bags, toilet paper, and a box of baby wipes for hand cleaning. Not only will you have significantly reduced your impact, but most Scouts will feel more at home with a real toilet seat.

If you don't bring an ammunition can or packable toilet always bury your waste six to eight inches below the surface, where natural degradation works the fastest. Keep a pack of matches in a plastic bag with the toilet paper, and burn the paper carefully and completely before you leave.

Campfires

Varsity Scouts love a campfire. But an old campfire ring and underbrush scoured clean of burnable wood are glaring and commonplace scars of previous human use.

If you want a fire - and even the most hard-core, low-impact campers indulge sometimes - resist the temptation to make it a roaring bonfire. A small fire will take less wood and effort and will be just as satisfying. Re-use pre-existing fire rings rather than building new ones. In the morning, pick through the cold ashes and collect any unburned debris. For true no-impact campfires, build your fire in a fire pan and take your ashes out with you as garbage.

More low-impact tips

• Don't trench around your tents, instead pick well-drained locations in the first place.

• Keep everyone on the same trails - around camp, on portages, scouting sites or side trips. Don't destroy vegetation for firewood or to make room for your tent.

• Do all your soapy washing at least 100 feet from the water, even if you're using biodegradable soap.

• Camp on a beach whenever possible; your impact will be lowest. Concentrate your impact.

Don't pre-wash dishes directly in a stream or lake. Those bits of macaroni will persist in the cold water better than you think.

A canoe or kayak can get you into places a rubber raft will not go. Many of these places offer unmatched fishing. Canoe or kayak camping in wilderness areas offers an unmatched experience.

I think boat camping is fun if…

• You think that the efforts of a few million mosquitoes might lower your blood pressure.

• You enjoy sleeping on a rock. • Popping blisters is your favorite pastime. • You're looking for an excuse to not bathe for a few

days. • You love being cold and wet. • You need to remind yourself Mother Nature is

always in control. • You enjoy the adrenaline rush you get when you're

sure you're going to die. • Black flies swarming around your face have a

calming effect on you. • You can't get enough GORP.


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Like most men in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I started my Adult Scouting Experience with a calling from a Bishop. That was 35 years ago. I was asked to be a Teachers Quorum Advisor and Varsity Coach. That was when Varsity Scouting was in the pre-pilot stage of development. Hand books were hard to come by, and experienced

Varsity Scout Leaders where even harder to come by. I started to attend Round Table, later to be called Huddle to find out what I was supposed to be doing as I worked with the young men in my Team. As I look back on my 35 years working in Varsity Scouting, I wonder why I keep doing it. Why do I keep going to huddles now? I don’t have a calling requiring me to attend. Why have I spent hours and days and months working in All-Stars Varsity Scout Training or Timberline NYLT Staffs? Why have I taught Basic training all these years? And why now do I attend Varsity Vision training to help on staff? To try to answer all those questions is hard. Yes, it is good to see the young grow and progress. And it is hard work to do a Varsity Vision Training Course, or an All-Star Course, or staff a Timberline NYLT. Until recently it took me away from my family. Several years ago my grandson turned 12 and needed some help to go camping with his troop. So, this will be my third year attending scout camp with my Grandson. What an honor and privilege, what a change to work with a young man -- the son of my daughter that thought I was spending too much time doing scouting. Then my wife and I were able to do a Timberline NYLT together. Then last year on the Timberline NYLT course that my wife and I work with, we heard a young women who was on Timberline NYLT for the 3rd time, staff twice. She told us that the first year as a participant she had come with some regrets that her dad was making her come; that he was always gone with the boys camping; that her first year as staff she had returned with some desires to be doing other things. This third time attending was her 2nd year on staff and she felt that she understood why her father was so into scouting and helping young men grow up. This year she felt that she no longer envied her father’s time with scouts. She felt like she understood he was doing it for her and for her sisters

who need trained men for husbands and fathers of their children. Once while reading the scriptures I came to Genesis 3:19 “In the sweat of they face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.” That caused me to think about the young men of a Varsity Scout team. Do they realize that they are supposed to sweat to eat bread? Do we all realize work is a blessing and a commandment? Also we know from Doctrine and Covenants 58:26 “For behold it is not meant that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant”. So I continue to work with and in Varsity Scouting long after I have been released by my Bishop. I have volunteered many times to attend Rendezvous, and winter camps and trainings, many-many trainings. One day at church they announced that the scouts had attended the winter camp we call Klondike. A friend and fellow member of our ward turned to me and said aren’t you glad you don’t have to attend Klondike any more. I must have gotten a funny look on my face because he then asks, “you didn’t go did you”? And I had to answer that yes, I had attended Klondike and had a great time. I want to appeal to Scouters everywhere and even Scouts who are now adults without a formal call. We need you! We need your skills and your knowledge. We need your insights and your experience. Back in 1975 President Ezra Taft Benson wrote in an article called “Scouting Builds Men” in which he said, “We need to develop qualities of leadership. Young people need to learn the value of staying power, stick-to-itiveness.” They learn that when they see former Scout leaders continuing to participate and be active in Scouting. I hope many of you who read this will take the time to consider what you can continue to do to help boys in scouting. Set your moral compass so all can see the direction you are headed. That direction is to follow the Scout Oath and Law. Do what you can to help in the movement that is about helping boys learn to make moral and ethical choices that will benefit themselves and those around them. May God bless all of us in our efforts to help boys grow to manhood and may it be the manhood that Boy Scouting calls on each of us to exemplify.

Stewart Schow Utah National Parks Council

Varsity Scouting Advisory Board Chairman

Why do I and why should you

continue to help with

Varsity Scout activities? Written by Stewart Schow, UNPC Varsity Advisory Board Chairman

Stewart Schow


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July 19th 2014 I thought it would be wise to share with you a "checklist" that has helped me in years past to get ready for Operation On Target. I hope you find it helpful.

Several weeks before “Operation On Target”, schedule some practice hikes to get yourself and your Varsity Scouts in shape for the actual Operation On Target hike. It would be well to carry packs on your practice

hikes to assure proper physical conditioning for the actual event. Learn how to make signaling mirrors. Have each Varsity Scout in your unit make a signaling mirror. Practice with the mirrors so that each boy is comfortable with aiming and signaling. Learn how to double-reflect, and teach the boys how to do it. You will find out how important double reflection is on the day of “Operation On Target.” Know where the various mountains are that you will be signaling to on “On Target” day. Plan for your Mountain Top Experience by: 1) having parents write a secret letter to their sons 2) printing out an

appropriate letter from President Erying and read it to the boys on the mountain top 3) preparing yourself to talk about the symbolism of “Operation On Target” (light of Christ, setting goals, doing "hard things", reaching for "summits" in life, various prophets who have gone to the mountains to commune with the Lord,

being an instrument in the hands of the Lord to "reflect" His goodness to others, etc.). Consider purchasing a topographical or schematic map of the area that you are going to hike, and know the trails well. Take along a GPS (Global Positioning System) which is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location anywhere on the earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. Shortly before the event, have your Captain and High Adventure Program Manager talk with your Varsity Scouts about what they will need for the camp (food, plenty of water, shelter, adequate clothing and shoes, hat, sunscreen, mirror, compass, stave, good attitude, etc.). Have the Service Program Manager talk to the boys about "No Trace Camping". Tell them what "Pack it In, Pack it Out" means. Have a Plan B in case of inclement weather.

What great conversation will be possible concerning the link between scouting and the church, the symbolism of reflecting light into the lives of others, the thrill of climbing mountains and achieving great goals, the "spiritual light" that emanates from them, and many other topics.

This is not good...

Henry B. Eyring

Varsity Scouts using double reflection to make their contact

with their backs to the sun

Put Words into Action

While Varsity Scouts use the Boy Scout Handbook as their primary guide, these materials serve the Varsity Scouting program in particular:

Every Varsity Scout Coach will find the Varsity Scout Leader Guidebook, No. 34827, indispensable for addressing how to work with older boys and identify their needs.

There are twelve sports and fourteen high-adventure activities—from caving and cycling to snow skiing and rock climbing and rappelling—to help teams plan their program in Varsity Team Program Features Vol. I (#34837), Vol. II (#34838) and Vol. III (#34839).


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Varsity Scout All-Stars The greatest adventure is what lies ahead

Tom Oldham, Utah National Parks Council Training Chairman over All-Star training programs said there are five All-Star courses planned in 2014. Each course is 6 days long, starting on a Monday. Adult leaders and youth Varsity Scouts can both attend All-Stars. This total immersion

program will be challenging at times, but it is well worth it!

Varsity Scout All-Stars is a week of fun-filled exciting days

of high adventure program training and fun! It picks up where Varsity Vision Training leaves off. Program skills are taught and applied in the setting of Varsity Scout activities. Youth are instructed in how to utilize the resources and tools available to Varsity Scouts. This is not a youth leadership development conference; if that is desired consider going to Varsity Vision Training.

Any registered Varsity Scout who is or may be a leader in his team may attend. Participants must be in good physical condition and should be able to live comfortably on the trail and in the outdoors. Coaches

and Assistant Coaches are encouraged to participate as well as Unit Commissioners that serve Varsity Scouts. Your entire Varsity Scout Team may also participate in any of these All-Star courses.

The cost for the 6 day course is $140 and includes food, program materials and facilities. No refunds will be given after 14 days prior to a course starting; however fees may be transferred to another Scout in your team. That boy must meet the same requirements as the original applicant.

Register below for a Varsity Scout All-Stars course. A current Annual Health and Medical Record, with parent or guardian signature, is required for participation. Each Scout must have a Varsity Scout activity shirt and a Field Uniform. Transportation is not provided to and from the event.

For more information email [email protected] or contact the course director as listed below.

Upcoming Varsity All-Stars Courses for 2014:

Frandsen Scout Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/2/2014 - 6/6/2014 Course Director: Bart Cox 435-748-5555 Timber Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/16/2014 - 6/21/2014 Course Director: Eric Tuttle 801-372-3151 Cedar Breaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/14/2014 – 7/19/2014 Director: Dennis Cox 435-590-1227 Skyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/14/2014 – 7/19/2014 Course Director: Scott Woolston 801-420-8820 Wasatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/14/2015 – 7-19-2014 Course Director: Nate Hansen 435-671-2141


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The most memorable activity that I participated in as a young man was a canoe trip that all of the young men, 14 and older, in our stake took part. For those of us who hadn't passed off our canoeing Merit Badge, the trip actually started a year before we left. It was one of the requirements to be able to go. Finally, after all the planning, earning our Merit Badge and earning our money, we met at our Stake Center early one Tuesday morning in July of 1964. We had all of our personal and sleeping gear in our separate packs. Our tents, canoes, paddle, and food, were to be supplied by the camp. There were a total of 31 boys and 6 adults, including our stake and unit leaders. One of our stake leaders was Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who was our Second Counselor in the Stake Presidency/District Vice Chairman. After a word of prayer, we all piled into the station wagons and vans, and left on our trip from Naperville, Illinois to Ely, Minnesota, which was the jump off point for the BSA Region 10 Wilderness Canoe Base. The first thing I remember about Northern Minnesota/Southern Canada, were all of the beautiful pine trees and the clear, clean water. Wednesday morning was full. Our guides tested us on our canoeing skills, we picked our paddles and divided up into four different groups, and then we packed our food for ten days, which included large loaves of bread smashed into five inch loaves. After lunch, each group left, only to see each other Saturday afternoon, when we would camp together on an

island in the middle of a lake, and where we were to have Sunday services the next day. One thing that I remember about the trip was how clean and beautiful the water was. Our guide told us that we could drink it without even purifying it. We canoed on lakes and rivers, and when there wasn't a passable river, we portaged between the lakes. On one portage, we stumbled upon a group of trees that had been cut down by a colony of beavers, and nearby, we found a skeleton of a beaver and a beaver dam. One of my friends and I, picked up the teeth of the beaver skeleton and put

them on some leather thongs and wore them around our necks. On another portage, we had to go through thigh deep mud. When we got out, we had to have a leech check, and some of us had the unpleasant experience of pulling off blood-sucking leeches. Our breakfasts and dinners were usually very good. Our lunches consisted of paper-thin slices of bread, spread with peanut butter and jam, some dried fruit, and some bug juice, which was water with not enough Kool-Aid. Saturday afternoon, when all four groups got back together, someone suggested that we have a canoe war. The winners would be considered the last ones in the canoe which hadn't been swamped. Four of us in our group, decided to lash two braces between two canoes, so it kind of looked like a catamaran. Needless to say, we never got swamped. The next day, on Sunday, we had a testimony meeting conducted by Elder Oaks. I was one of the boys who had the opportunity to pass the sacrament to the rest of our group. What a special and memorable sacrament meeting that was.

CANOE CAMPING

Written by the late Ren Smith


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That afternoon was spent picking pea-sized strawberries. They were really tasty, but it sure took a lot of them to fill a cup. That night, our guides made us strawberry shortcake for dessert. Monday morning, we again left and each group went their separate way. Other than getting together on Sunday, we never saw another person the whole ten days we were gone. Our evenings were filled with campfires and stories and going to bed early, some of our meals were composed of the fish that we had caught during the day. Some of my most treasured possessions were my hat, suntan lotion, and bug repellant, because the mosquitoes up there were the size of hummingbirds. I'll never forget the beautiful scenery and trees, the clean water, and all the fun and friends that I had on that trip.

While serving on our Stake's Varsity Encampment Committee and on the Timpanogas Tri Star All Star course, I learned some valuable lessons. The first would be the importance of good planning and staff development with a group of 10.

On the Stake trip through Labyrinth Canyon, the planning and staff development really paid off. Our youth and adult committee members, after months of planning, set out on our staff development cruise down the river. We left Green River State Park on a rainy Thursday morning in late June about 9:00 A.M. After stopping at Crystal Geyser we floated to our first night camp site just

south of Ruby Ranch, which is at about mile marker 95.

Next morning we watched a group of young women canoe past our camp site around 9:30 A.M. we put in around 10:00 A.M. We never saw those young women again. That day after a couple stops we set up camp at the beginning of Bow Knot Bend; which is about mile marker 75. On both these days we floated to about 6:30 P.M. On the last day of our trip we put in about 9:00 A.M. We floated till about 4:00 P.M. We took an hour to pack and we drove home. We arrived home about 10:30 P.M. Now I'm going to review what we discovered during this trip. First thing is that you have to plan a minimum of 3.5 hours to shuttle the vehicles down to Mineral Bottoms. Most of the drive is on asphalt but the last 17 miles is on dirt road, with a 1.5 mile section that drops 900 feet to the Green River below. Second thing is that you have to do most of your traveling in the morning. When the day gets hotter the winds always seem to pick up, and they always seem to be head winds. So do most of your traveling before 3:00 P.M. Third thing is to bring a tent because there are lots of mosquitoes. We could never figure them out. Where you thought they should be they weren't, and where you did not expect them they were. It was nice to have a safe haven from them.

Fourth thing, be careful how you pack, because there is a lot of water fighting going on and you could end up going to bed with a wet sleeping bag. So I would suggest double bagging the stuff you want to keep dry with trash bags before you put them in the dry bag.

LABYRINTH CANYON

FLOAT TRIP

Written by Dennis Crawford

Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River South of Green River town, Utah


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Fifth thing is to take plenty of water. Being on the river can fake your body out. You can dehydrate real easy with water all around and not drinking any. In June our group of 10 only drank about 8 gallons. The trip in July had about 100 gallons and they just about ran out. Sixth thing is to know how fast the river is moving and what kind of water craft will you be taking. On our staff development cruise we took inflatable kayaks and large inflatable rafts. I mentioned a young women's group earlier in the article. Well we asked the host at Mineral Bottoms when they got out and it turned out they did the whole 40 miles in one day. It took us almost two days to cover the same ground floating in the big rafts. When we went down in June we had a very high river which helped us along. That meant in July the river would be slower. Seventh thing also has to do with how high the river is, that is camping places. When the river is high places to camp are hard to find. When the river is low there are more sand bars to camp on, and that makes for less bugs too. So after evaluating our staff development trip of 10 rafters, this is what we did. First, because we had such a large group we split into three groups to meet the camping limit of 25. The next thing we did was to put in at Ruby Ranch. There was a fee to put in but they did not charge us to camp so it ended up being a wash with the fees they would have charged us at the State Park. Putting in at Ruby Ranch cut off 25 miles from the trip to make it a total of 43 miles. If I were to do this trip with a varsity team, I would do one of two things. 1) One being to take 5 days to go down the river so you have time for more activities and earn the 50 miler afloat in inflatable kayaks and rafts. 2) I would take all canoes and do it on an extended weekend. This is one example how good staff development can help you. Another good example was how we did it with the staff at “All Stars” course. We took an overnight campout every month and made it coincide with a day on the “All Stars” course. For example our June over night campout was to work out the bugs of our river activity that we held on Wednesday of the actual course. I felt this was very worthwhile. Besides getting your staff to grow closer together, you can avoid any dangerous mistakes because you are more prepared. If you fail to plan you plan to fail and always remember to evaluate.

Scouts learn patriotism and a love of the

outdoors.

I’m not what you’d call a plant guy. Don’t get me wrong. I like looking at them; I want them in my yard; I appreciate what they do for the environment. But I’ve never been interested

enough to learn their official Latin names. A simple, “Hello, fern; what’s up, rose?” have been sufficient—until today. We’re 30 hours and 12,000 feet into our climb up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 19,340 feet, and every five minutes I’m stopping our guide Wilson to ask, “What’s that plant? What’s that flower called? How about

that tree?” He replies, “paper flower,” “everlasting flower,” or whatever common name applies. Not satisfied, I ask for the Latin names and then the spellings. I’m finding any excuse to get him to stop to talk, so I can catch my breath.

On this, my third climb up Kilimanjaro, I already know what to expect: six nights sleeping on the ground, no bath for a week, cold wind, thin air, and maybe mild altitude sickness. I keep asking myself, “Why am I doing this, again?” Finally I come up with an answer. I blame the Boy Scouts of America. That organization stole my soul when I was a kid and planted it in the wilderness. I was too young to resist their clever sales pitch built around hiking and camping trips. And their system of rewarding accomplishments with higher ranks and colorful merit badges meant, in effect, there was always one more goal to reach, one more mountain to climb.

Fifty years ago, as a Boy Scout, I climbed my first mountain, or rather what passes for a mountain in West Texas. Our troop was camping at Moss Creek Lake near Big Spring, Texas. Off in the distance, rising above the remnants of the Edwards Plateau, stood Signal Peak, a solitary, pyramid-shaped formation squared off at the top by what looked, to us kids, like a hundred-foot-tall limestone cap. Growing up 80 miles away in Midland, we were surrounded by a flat, featureless landscape. Seeing this monolith looming on the horizon 2,667 feet above sea level proved an irresistible temptation to us 12-, 13-, and 14-year-old boys out for a weekend of adventure and exploration.

Signal Peak was three hours of trekking, thousands of prickly pear cactus, several dry creek beds, a few barbed wire fences, and a couple of rattlesnakes away. When we reached the distinctive crown of the peak, we squirreled

I Blame the Boy Scouts By Boyd Matson, National Geographic

Boyd Matson


11

through slits, cracks, and passageways to reach the top. From there, we viewed the world below for miles in all directions.

For years I’ve talked about reliving my Signal Peak climb, and my need for a training hike to prepare for Kilimanjaro was the perfect excuse. My brother agrees to ride with me to Big Spring but has no interest in making the climb himself. Instead, book in hand, he says, “I’ll just read in the car while you go off looking for your childhood.” Remembering the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared,” I bring water for thirst, snacks for hunger, a headlamp for darkness, a fleece for the cold, a shell for wind or rain, and my cell phone in case of accident. I plan to drive to Big Spring, check into a motel, get a good night’s sleep, and then get up early and climb. I feel more prepared than back when I had my Eagle Scout badge stitched on my khaki uniform.

About two hours outside of Big Spring, my plan goes out the window. Dark thunderheads chase us down Interstate 20. The storm, say radio reports, will bring lightning and possibly tornadoes. That’s when I decide to drive straight to the mountain and climb it before dark. A few dirt roads, wrong turns, locked gates, and no trespassing signs later, I park the car at 5 p.m., throw my cameras and cell phone in my backpack, climb over a barbed wire fence, and head for Signal Peak.

In my haste, I inadvertently leave most of my “Be Prepared” items—water, jacket, headlamp—in the trunk of the car. Two hours later, I reach the base of the mountain with no time left to find the best route up, so I just start climbing. My route is steep in places with loose scree making the footing iffy. I have to carefully navigate several vertical rock outcroppings. Instead of adult eyes diminishing my childhood memories, I’m thinking: “We did this as kids?” As I near the base of the big rocky cap, the sun is setting, and I remember another lesson learned as a Boy Scout: “All successful adventures are round trips.” I use the last rays of sunlight to safely descend the mountain, missing the summit.

The next morning, the storm having blown through, I try again, this time finding a better way up. Standing on the top, I think back over the past 50 years and reflect on how the Boy Scouts taught us to embrace the unknown, to test our limits, to push beyond the easy. The lessons went beyond climbing mountains, digging latrines, cooking over a campfire, or securing a tent in howling sandstorms or pouring rain, all of which we did. Instead, the outdoors was our classroom for life lessons about facing challenges and learning that the best rewards sometimes require a little pain and suffering.

While on your ON TARGET hike be aware of the Snow Motes

which are the melt-gaps between a snow filled ravine edge and its surrounding rock walls. They can be fatally deep and capped over with a thin layer of snow. They often run deeper than expected, because the adjacent rock warms faster from the melt-water running down and also the snow pack moves downhill away from the rock face.

I remember 5 deaths in my lifetime that have taken place on the back side of Mt. Timpanogos in these snow moats; 3 of them were boy scouts. Moats can be the most dangerous feature of small snow-filled ravines often found in our higher Utah Mountains in July especially after a heavy snow fall like we had last winter. If you’re not sure of the under-snow topography, stay off of it! If you have to cross one of these areas you should use a climbing rope, an ice axe for belaying and probing. This requires special training. If you are taking your team into snow fields, it would be wise to seek expert instruction and help.

This is a picture I took of a moat on the Timpooneke Trail that has melted out and you can see down the rock face. This trail is a popular hike and just 3 weeks before this picture we observed

people sliding down through this snow gully. It’s a good idea to just stay off these areas because you don’t know what is underneath.

DANGERS OF A

“SNOW MOAT” Written by Ken Cluff


12

I have fallen in love with the skies of the Southern Hemisphere! When I served in New Zealand as a young missionary 42 years ago, I don't think I looked up to the heavens even once. Now I can't wait for nightfall so that I can see some astounding

constellation or star cluster or nebulae, all with only the naked eye. The skies above Inglewood are wonderfully dark, even darker than a stack of black cats. The Milky Way just blazes with brilliance every night as it sweeps from horizon to horizon, 180 degrees of sheer beauty. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are nearby dwarf galaxies that can be seen with the naked eye, and are fascinating to observe. And what can I say about the Southern Cross? Wasn't it Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young that sang, "When you've seen the Southern Cross for the first time, you understand why you came this way..." ? The Cross is amazing, and points right to the southern celestial pole, much as the Big Dipper guides the viewer to the North Star in the Northern Hemisphere. There is not a bright star that marks the south celestial pole as Polaris marks the north celestial pole, but two dim constellations surround the pole and make it easy to locate. The beauty of the Southern Cross adorns the national flags of both New Zealand and Australia, highlighting its importance to this part of the world. I have enjoyed finding Scorpius and Sagittarius and Orion, all "standing on their heads" down here in the Southern Hemisphere. As I started my morning jog this morning, I was greeted by the very thinnest crescent of the waxing moon, closely accompanied by Venus, blazing in dazzling effulgence. All is well, God is in His heavens.

Elder and Sister Taylor

Two lumberjacks were pitted against each other in a tree-cutting competition. They were assigned to two equally-sized trees, and the first one to fell his tree would be pronounced the "winner" and would receive a cash award.

The trees were huge and would require much time and effort to cut. Each ax-man chose his favorite axe, and the race started. The first lumberjack attacked his tree trunk with fury. He knew he would win. Chips flew at a remarkable pace. Soon this lumberjack noticed that his competitor was taking a break about every 20 minutes, resting on the other side of his tree. The first competitor smiled to himself, now assured that he would win against a competitor who had to frequently rest.

He worked furiously for over 2 hours, not stopping once to rest. When he was sure that victory was within reach, his competitor's tree came crashing to the ground. His competitor raised his axe in jubilant victory, claiming his reward money. Dejected and perplexed, the loser approached the victorious axmen and stated, "I can't understand how you won. I chopped non-stop and you took rest breaks every 20 minutes. How did I lose?" The competitor said with a smile, "I wasn't resting when I stopped chopping. I was sharpening my axe!" There is a great "lesson for life" in this story. We all need to take time on a regular basis to "sharpen our axes". We should take time to ponder, to think, to change our usual routine, to do something to renew the soul, to "recharge the batteries". Sharp axes make for efficient work!

Greetings from New Zealand Written by Elder Michael Taylor

Past Operation “ON TARGET” Chairman

Coach’s Corner Recharge Your Batteries

Program Planning

A team's biggest challenge will be planning a

balanced program that includes all five program fields of

emphasis. Many activities will overlap some. For

instance, a weekend hiking trip could double as a high-

adventure activity, but could also help some members

meet advancement requirements. The same hike could

include service by planning a conservation project while

on the trail.


13

The “SteriPEN”, it’s a handy water purifier tool you can carry. It's basically an Ultraviolet ray flashlight. You submerge it into your glass of unsterilized water. The water stays cool and it doesn't change the water, except to kill all the living bacteria in it, viruses included. It pays for itself quickly, as you don't have to buy bottled water. You take out the SteriPEN, push a button, and stir the water with the glowing purple UV light. After less than 60 seconds, you take out the SteriPEN and drink the water. UV light is how some towns and companies sterilize water. Of course, it doesn't make Beaver pond water taste any better. For backpacking, it's what we call a disruptive technology -- no other water purifier comes close. Bet on the SteriPEN because you treat the water 100 percent, I have tried pills and filters in the past, but I think the SteriPEN is the best solution in all circumstances. I would take one on an extended wilderness trek with no hesitation. It would become a permanent travel companion.

How it works…

Ultraviolet photons harm the DNA molecules of living organisms in different ways. In one common damage event, adjacent thymine bases bond with each other, instead of across the "ladder". This “thymine dimmer” makes a bulge, and the distorted DNA molecule does not function properly. “Outdoor Life” emphasized that SteriPEN was the only device to destroy viruses in addition to bacteria and protozoa.

While nothing makes a more memorable mountain climbing trip than a genuine emergency, ending up hurt or lost is not a good experience for your Varsity Scouts. Growing up here in Utah and spending a lot of time in the mountains, I have had a few real emergencies in my life. I've been lost twice and I mean really lost, that was before the GPS was invented. I've run out of gas on a snowmobile ride in sub-zero weather and while waiting for help to arrive I ended up huddled over a fire to thaw out. Fortunately, I knew where I was and the only thing that I had to start a fire with was my map! All of us are prone to silly mistakes that lead to minor injuries. It is usually better to treat a minor cut or scrape at the time it happens rather than waiting, which allows healing to begin in less than optimal conditions. By taking a little time, you can put together a small first aid kit to carry in your backpack. You’ll be surprised how often you will put it to use for yourself or a friend. Two years ago I got a MRSA infection in my left arm. The “MR” stands for Methicillin-resistant and is a synthetic antibiotic used in the treatment of penbicillin-resistant Staph Aureus infections. It is really bad stuff and everyone has it on the surface of their skin where it is harmless unless it gets into your blood stream.

A lot of Scouts do not use band-aids on minor scrapes and cuts but they should. Even a very minor skin abrasion can allow for bacteria to enter the body. So make sure to cover all scrapes and cuts with a band-aid, no matter how minor the scrape or cut is. Neosporin or any other brand of anti-bacterial cream or spray will do. Wet wipes—you can purchase pre-moistened personal wet wipes in individual pouches. They also come in antibacterial formulas. You can use them to clean the wounded area. Gently remove as much debris as possible before applying the anti-bacterial ointment. This will help to kill any bacteria that has already gotten onto the scrape or cut. Then make sure to cover all scrapes and cuts with a band-aid, no matter how minor the scrape or cut is. Then keep an eye on it.

Ultraviolet Water

Purifier

Silly Mistakes

Written by Ken Cluff


14

Even though it's not my job any more, I read over the VV Newsletter this month, and I came away so impressed. The pictures are inspiring, and the articles are timely and always have new information in them. Things are getting interesting for Varsity Scouting these days. We have

more support at upper levels than I have ever seen before, ever. Gary Dollar has been asked to Chair the Varsity Program Committee for the Western Region. I am going to work with him there. The policy will be that there is a Varsity Program Committee at the Region, Area (5 of these), and council levels. This will be parallel to the same kind of organization for Venturing: they will have committees at each level. BSA National has officially approved the Varsity Vision Leader-Specific training course as fulfilling the requirements for Varsity leader-specific training. Leaders still have to attend Outdoor Skills training and Youth Protection to qualify for the "Trained" patch. Gary Dollar also has a special pocket patch for those who have attended Varsity Vision training. It's very attractive. There are a growing number of Varsity Vision training courses. Our goal is for them to be held regularly in every district and at the Stake or multi-Stake level. The response to the course has been very favorable. The key will be quality control. The most important thing I see that is working in favor of the Varsity Scout program is the top-level support we are receiving. We are being encouraged and helped along the way as we expand training and become visible everywhere. On this note, I would mention that there will be new leader helps on the lds.org youth activity site. I have seen how these are going to look, and they are great! They emphasize that the planning is just as important as the execution of events, if not more so, because that is where the leadership training happens. BSA National is also going to add a tab for the Varsity program on their official site. The goal line is in sight. We are on the nine yard line, it is first and ten, the halfback has the ball, we're blocking for him, and the line has just opened up a big gap. The only thing

that would stop us now is to fall or fumble. And we're not going to do that. So again, thanks for your dedicated and loving labor over the Varsity Vision Newsletter. I hope those who are receiving it are getting their friends to sign up.

A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it...?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We may feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what

we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.

You are special-Don't EVER forget it

Andy Gibbons

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

From Andy Gibbons

Coach’s Corner “The $20 dollar bill”

What we are all about...

The Varsity Vision Newsletter provides Scouting leadership motivation and inspiration as well as a dialogue on needs, direction and policies in the Utah National Parks Council™. The newsletter Staff assembles and distributes useful new ideas, practical tips, enthusiasm and the VISION of Stand-Alone Varsity Scouting. Opinions and ideas expressed herein are

those of the editors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect official BSA policy. The Varsity Vision Newsletter is non-profit service publication to promote Scouting leadership excellence throughout the Utah National Parks Council™ and is distributed 12 times a year through

this web site:

This is Gary Dollar introducing the cover for the “new” Varsity Vision training course that was presented to the National Council members at the Annual National meeting.

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