Conquistador Council, Boy Scouts of America
Dowling Aquatic Base Wehinahpay Mountain Camp
It is our purpose to promote Scouting programs of developing the ability of boys, and young men and women, to do things for themselves and others, training them in Scoutcraft, and teaching them patriotism,
courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods which are
now in common use by the Boy Scouts of America.
Update on BSA Training 2010 (National Meeting)
REQUIRED LEADER TRAINING
There are some new rules on Youth Protection Training. New leaders will take the online training before submitting their applications, print out the completion certificate, and attach it to their application when they submit it. At charter renewal time leaders who are not up to date on their Youth Protection Training (within the previous two years) will not be reregistered.
Required training is coming but the pilot programs are being extended a year to ensure the results are being measured accurately. There have been numerous problems with scoutnet and BSA is moving to a learning management system, far more user friendly, for recording training. In the mean time we should be working hard to get out training records as accurate as possible as that information will the initial input for the new system.
SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
The new “slightly” revised National Youth Leader Training syllabus for 2011 will be available at the Course Directors’ Conferences this year.
Kodiak is not being “relooked” yet.
Powder Horn is being revised and taking away links to Ranger requirements. Changes should be out soon.
CUB SCOUT LEADER TRAINING
The new Cub Scout training is moving ahead. The changes are in how the program is delivered and there is little change to the program itself.
The first two fast start programs (Den Leader and Cubmaster) are on line and getting rave reviews. Position specific training will be out on June 20th.
If you go to www.scouting.org/cubscouts you can download (free) the den meeting plans and get more information on the new delivery model.
The new Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide is available at the council Scout shop.
Our best new source for getting Cub Scouting questions answered is to go to program.content@scouting.org. They are promising answers within one to two days.
Posted 5 July 2010
| Youth safety is the No. 1 concern of the BSA.To increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America is implementing several important changes to further enhance its Youth Protection policies. |
Effective June 1, 2010:
- – Youth Protection training is required for all registered volunteers.
- – New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before they submit an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.
- – Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.
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To ensure these policies are fully implemented, please take the following steps:
- – If you have not taken Youth Protection training within the past two years, please log on to MyScouting and take the training. Be sure to have your member ID number. The number can be found on your Boy Scouts of America membership card.
- – If you do not know your member ID number, contact your unit leader or committee chairman. Your council can also assist.
- – A person does not have to be a registered volunteer or have an ID number to take Youth Protection training. To take the training, log in to MyScouting and create an account. From the MyScouting portal, click on E-Learning and take the Youth Protection training. Upon completion, print a certificate and submit it with an application or submit to the unit leader for processing at the local council.
- – If you have taken Youth Protection training online but did not input your member ID number, please log on to MyScouting and input your member ID in the My Profile section so the training will be linked to your records.
- – If you have taken Youth Protection training within the past two years but did not take the course online, log on to MyScouting to ensure your records are up-to-date, or contact your council for verification that your Youth Protection training records are accurate.
- – Finally, please share these important changes with other Scouters.
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| To find out more about the Youth Protection policies of the Boy Scouts of America and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the Parent’s Guide in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks, or go to http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx. |
Cub Scout Delivery Method (aka Cub Scouts 2010): Leader materials supporting Scouting’s New Handbook-based Delivery Method are available from National Supply. These include the new Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide (32354) and 2010-2011 Roundtable Planning Guide (32355), revised Cub Scout Leader Book (33221), Webelos Leader Guide (33853) and Cub Scout Position-Specific Leader Training (34875). Revised Fast Start training for Den Leaders and Cubmasters will be available on MyScouting on Friday, May 7.
The successful delivery method focuses on den activities that lead to youth advancement and higher retention. Information about the pilot, its results, and the new changes can be found in an overview brochure on ScoutSource http://scouting.org/scoutsource.
Report on our Boy Scout summer camp, June 21 – 25, 2010, Dowling Aquatic Base on the banks of the Pecos River, Carlsbad, New Mexico.
PARTICIPANTS Scouts: Max Allen, Darren Chambers, Thomas Lopez, Connor Pederson, and Chris Tagert from the Mesilla Valley Ward – Troop 242, John Curnutt, Kai Udall, Logan Matthews and Jacob Karl from the Desert Hill Ward – Troop 178, and Tim Kraus from Troop 62.
Leaders: Mike Matthews from Troop 178 and Steven Ewing from Troop 242.
We shared the camp experience with several other troops. Both Roswell and Lubbock had large groups. There were about 100 total scouts, leaders, and staff. The camp director and head cook was Mr. Guy Eichsteadt from Roswell. His assistants were Mr. Matthew Corp from Carlsbad and Mr. Bob de la Cruz from Lovington. Other staff included a nurse and a trading post manager, as well as several junior staff.
Monday (21st): We met at the Ewing home to pack up with an 8:30 am departure. Mike Matthews drove his truck to haul our gear along with four scouts. Steven Ewing borrowed his father’s minivan to transport the other six scouts. After a drive of about 210 miles, we arrived in Carlsbad about noon. It was sunny, hot and humid due to a serious rain the night before. We went to McDonalds for lunch, and returned to camp about 1:00. The camp began with check-in, medical form reviews, move in time in our tent sleeping areas, and a swim skills test at the city beach area on the Pecos River. The Scouts are living in two large tents, sleeping on cots or metal bunk beds with mattresses. The leaders are in two smaller tents on cots with mattresses. Yes, the leaders have an air conditioner in their tent. Did I mention that it is hot and humid? For dinner, we assembled at the flag pole for a staff flag ceremony and welcome. Dinner is at 6:00, and we were often greeted by swarms of gnats. We wear our scout shirts to the morning and evening flag ceremonies and meals. Connor is serving as our Patrol Leader, and we are united as the Red Hot Chile Peppers. We attended both Patrol Leader and Scout Master meetings to receive needed orientation and instruction and to plan the week’s schedule. We hung up a humming bird feeder, but the birds never seemed to find it during the week. Our Scouts agreed to move their stuff to the other tent so that another troop could all be in the same tent. We had an opening camp-fire program. The fire was made up of four Tiki Torches and two kerosene lanterns. We did not need a fire. Are you remembering that it was hot and sweaty? The program included welcome, songs, shouts and the expected scout camp skits provided by the staff. For the week, the camp schedule was pretty consistent with bed time and lights out at 10 – 10:30 pm. Actual sleeping was often delayed my conversation and heat. The camp is alongside the Pecos River and the railroad tracks. We often heard passing trains.
Tuesday (22nd): The young scouts are excited to get started on aquatics activities. For a hot summer time, the morning is cooler. We are frequently reminded to drink, as dehydration can be a real problem in the hot, summer sun. There is also the need for frequent applications of sun screen. Different camp duties are rotated between the participating troops. Our scouts are in charge of the morning and evening flag ceremony, song and grace today. We split into two groups with five scouts participating in each ceremony. The morning song was something about rowing your boat underneath the stream. After the morning flag ceremony at 7:00 and breakfast, the scouts rotated through two 75 minute merit badge classes; canoeing at the boat dock and life saving at the beach area. This morning we were split into two groups of five scouts, and we traded places half-way through with a quick drive. Lunch is less structured at about noon. Our scouts shared the same afternoon classes at the boat dock area. Again, they are split into smaller groups, but they all participated in the rowing merit badge, kayaking and snorkeling. The kayaking and snorkeling activities are not merit badges, but are combined into a Snor-kay achievement certificate. We decided that Kayorkeling would be a much better name. Can you imagine kayaking and snorkeling at the same time? A good part of the merit badge work today involved teaching and learning as discussion work, but the guys did get in the water for some of the time. The afternoon activities make the river area quite busy. Other scouts are working with motor boating, sail boating, and sail boarding. At each water activity the scouts have to keep track of their personal identification tags on the Buddy Board. The whistle blows for Buddy Check about every thirty minutes. There is a fair amount of work involved in moving the boats, oars/paddles, PFD’s (personal flotation devices/life jackets), and other class supplies between the boat house and the river each day. The leaders were invited and encouraged to participate in the classes with the boys. Often during the river time, there was some fun time for unstructured water events including swimming and water play-time, canoeing, rowing, and kayaking. In camp, when there is not a class or a meal, the scouts often made their own fun with games, cards, or another activity. One staff member named William from Artesia had the coolest deck of cards. They were made out of transparent plastic. For the evening meal, we again did the flag ceremony, song and grace. The evening song was all about sharks, a swimming scout, and a shark attack. Four of our scouts had not taken care of their ID tags on the buddy board, so they were pronounced dead. We had a moment of silence, but dinner seemed to revive them. We will all be more careful with this safety requirement. A couple of the scout leaders completed the mile swim in the river this afternoon. After dinner, we hiked along the River Walk to the Carlsbad Rec. Center. We spent the evening here with some other scout groups for ping pong, pool, basketball, video games, TV and other activities. We hiked a pontoon bridge on the return to camp. We had another warm night. Oh, well.
Wednesday (23rd): After the morning routine and breakfast, the regular morning classes began. In order to more equally balance class sizes, we combined for the morning work so all ten of our scouts are together for the canoeing class and then for the life saving class. Today’s classes were mostly in the water. The canoeing and rowing classes involved practice with getting in and out of the boats and the scouts practiced the procedures involved when the boats capsize, must be turned back over, and returned to the dock. Our camp duty for the day was to empty the trash from the kitchen, dining area and shower/restrooms after each meal. Another troop was willing to help us, and traded our evening meal preparation and clean-up duties, so we could leave. Some local scout leaders brought in a large grill for dinner. We left before dinner and drove into town for a 6:00 movie. Thanks to Russell Allen and Allen Theaters we enjoyed the new Karate Kid movie AND the air conditioned theater. Did I mention that Carlsbad is hot and sweaty? It was a fun movie, and now we all want to study martial arts. Anyway, we were shocked to find that while we were in the movie, the weather became much cooler which made for a rather pleasant evening. We had a belated dinner saved for us in camp. The camp also had a later evening movie, Treasure Island, that some of the scouts watched. The camp director and cook left for business in Rowell. He will return later tomorrow. Our camp duty today was to clean the showers and toilets on the youth side. What a fun, learning experience!
Thursday (24th): This morning began extra early for some of us. Steve accepted the assignment to be the chief cook for camp breakfast. With the capable assistance of Mike, Connor, Tim and Logan (as well as a few other scout leaders), we prepared ham and sausage, scrambled eggs, and both regular pancakes and a special recipe of apple pancakes for a breakfast. With about 100 total people in camp, that was a lot of preparation and cooking. Our troop was also in charge of the morning meal set-up and clean-up duties. Steve stayed in the kitchen to help clean up during the canoeing class. There is a trading post in camp where the campers can buy snacks and souvenirs. Each day, staff members leave Land Sharks hidden around camp. If a scout finds one, he can take it to the trading post for a reward. Also there is a morning bunk inspection each day where three or four scouts receive a clean bunk award from the trading post. Five of our scouts received this recognition. Do you suppose they clean their rooms at home? Now that the camp week in nearly over, we have settled into the daily routine. The life saving class practiced their rescue techniques, including the stretcher board for an injured swimmer and quick removal of street clothes to jump in for a water rescue. The scouts are finishing off and passing the final requirements for their badges and certificates. Eight scouts and leaders completed the mile swim, including one leader who went two miles. As the classes were completed there was extra free-time in the water today. There was some stress in camp during the later afternoon. A State Health Inspector was in to check on us. I should mention the showers. It is hot and sweaty during the activities each day AND the river water is less than clean. It is nice to rinse and wash off in the late afternoon. After dinner, we had the closing camp fire program. The Tiki torch and kerosene lantern routine was the same. This time much of the entertainment came from the participation of the campers with songs, skits, yells and stories. Did you enjoy the story about the cub scouts? Remember to look both ways before crossing, especially is there is purple dragon around. The camp evening movie was the Hunt for Red October. We had the extra treat of genuine Boys Scout popcorn. We are about ready to go home.
Friday (25th): We are getting tired with so much activity, the heat and less sleep than we would like. We were up early for the last morning. Our scouts and leaders started the day by packing, loading the vehicles, and cleaning up our areas. We were assigned to clean the adult side showers and bathrooms. Since the camp was ending this week, we were asked to help with take down and put away duties. It was very hard work as we moved and stored away the mattresses, bunks and cots, took down the four large tents and put them away and moved the large wooden pallets that were tent platforms. We said our thank yous and good byes about 10:30. There was also a morning advisor meeting and some check out paperwork to complete. We made a stop at Wendy’s for Ice Cream before the return drive. The scouts and leaders were all safely back home by about 4 pm. The camp was well run, well organized, well equipped, fun, busy and hot. The scouts were friendly, cooperative, kind and involved. There were a few minor cuts, bruises, and sun burns, but we were grateful for many memorable adventures, good friendship, learning, safety and fun.
Make your 2011 camp reservation by October 1 to lock in the 2010 fee.
The camp fees will increase, following a plan to increase staff salaries, to attract and retain good camp staff. The staff are being paid far below other camps and we need to be competitive.
Contact the council service at 575-622-33461 to lock in your reservation.
Promote camp– get another troop to attend next season– contact the service center– and earn a special camp recognition.
2011 camp season is gearing up now!
The 2010 Trail’s End Popcorn sale is coming up fast. The goal of the sale is to provide a proven, successful, simple money-earning project to fund unit program, to fund the council services and programs, and to increase community awareness of local Scouting programs.
“Leaving money on the table” is a central theme of the popcorn sale. Surveys show that most potential customers will buy at least one product, but most potential customers are never asked to buy popcorn. This is “money left on the table” when you consider how many potential sales are missed because a Scout simply does not walk around the block to make sales. Or, not all Scout units are selling popcorn.
30% of the sales pay for the the product. Of the remaining 70%, nearly 38% is returned to units in commission and prizes, 12% covers other council expenses, and 20% goes toward program and services.
The average Scout-sale last year was $125 gross, or $47 in commission and prizes. How much does your unit need to fund a year of exciting program providing what the Scouts put in their plan? How much do you need to keep parents from reaching for their wallet? $47 can go a long way toward registration and Boy’s Life fees, badges, camp fees, or making that special field trip? A motivated Scout can easily sell over $350 by making sales around the neighbhorhood. What does $350 in sales provide to your unit treasury?
Key dates for the sale:
May 29 Unit commitment due
July 30 Show and Sell Orders Due
August 15 Distribution- Show and Sell orders
September 1 Scout promotion mailer distributed
By Sept. 8 Kickoff- in each district (not roundtable)
Sept. 8 Take Order Sale begins
Sept. 15 Payment Due- Show and Sell
October 2 Recognition event- mid-sale (tbd)
October 17 Sale Ends
October 22 Orders due to council (popcorn/ prizes)
November 17 Distribution of popcorn (each district)
November 17 Payment due
November 30 Payment checks deposited
Sale commission plan:
Basic commission: 25%
Bonus for the following of 5%: attend kickoff, on-time product/prize order, on-time payment
Bonus for the following of 3%: achieve average sale of $350 gross per registered member
Prizes: 5% (if selecting “no prize” option then additional 5% in commission will be given)
Maximum of 38% in commission and prizes
Make sure that your pack, troop, or crew have submitted the unit commitment form and plan to attend the district kickoff. If you are planning for the Show and Sell be sure to submit your Product Order before July 30.
Wehinahpay Mountain Camp- aerial view
Wehinahpay Mountain Camp is operated by the Conquistador Council, BSA. At an elevation of 8,500 feet in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico, the camp offers all outdoor Scout camping (except aquatics). Programs include Outdoor Living Skills (Scoutcraft or campcraft), Ecology-conservation, Handicrafts, Shooting sports (rifle, shotgun, archery). The camp also offers C.O.P.E. and climbing.
In 2008 construction was completed on the C.O.P.E. course, the climbing tower, shooting range shelters, camper showers, the ecology center, and the staff cabins. Future renovations include the former health lodge, the cook’s cabin, the Lake Lodge, and old director’s cabin.
The camp is open for year-round use with some blackout dates during hunting season. The summer camp season is generally from mid-June to the end of July.
The camp is in Potato Canyon, near Weed New Mexico. The campsites are located in pine and fir forest, and the canyon floor is grass covered meadow. The humidity is low, the breeze is fresh and cool, and there are no mosquitoes. Wildlife commonly seen include elk and turkey, the occasional bear, and the shy coyote.
Dowling Aquatic Base- aerial view-
Dowling Aquatic Base, operated by the Conquistador Council, is on the Pecos River in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The summer camp program offers swimming, lifesaving, rowing, canoeing, sailing, sailboarding, kayaking, motorboating, waterskiing, and other BSA aquatic programs.
The Boy Scout Uniform
You are someone special,
Not because you wear the uniform,
But because you work hard to be worthy of
The uniform you wear.
Don Carrison/ Rod Walsh
