RememberSchiff

Deer Lake (CT) Update 4/26/2022: As the Connecticut Yankee Council imposed bid deadline of May 1, approaches... David Stephenson, an avid birder and supporter of the preservation of Deer Lake ...is seeking a declaratory judgment from the Middlesex Superior Court that any sale of Deer Lake must include a conservation restriction prohibiting any changes to the property inconsistent with its use as a bird sanctuary. According to the suit, the council received donations from New Haven ornithologist and philanthropist Richard English in 1985 to establish an eponymous bird sanctuary on the 255-acre property located at 101 Paper Mill Road in Killingworth. According to the suit, after the founder’s death in 2011, the Richard L. English Fund continued to make donations to the council amounting to approximately $100,000 annually. More at source: https://ctexaminer.com/2022/04/26/lawsuit-against-boy-scouts-says-bird-refuge-at-deer-lake-must-be-preserved/

Thank you. I edited some of those posts. ~RS

My daughter-in-law speaks highly of the results of the Patrol Method.

IMHO, the Patrol Method is not that everyone has a specific job rather everyone helps get the whole job done. My $0.02,

Related: Earth Day, Boy Scouts Helping to Regrow Florida's Vunerable Coral Reefs ...Florida’s coral reefs are under serious threat. “It is dying to be quite frank and that’s due to a number of factors, changes in water temp, quality, human interaction,” said Sea Base General Manager Mike Johnson. Johnson thought Scouts could be part of the solution. Using a technique called fragmentation, they cut corals into tiny pieces that regrow 50 times faster than they would in nature. The Scouts then plant them underwater to rebuild the reef. When asked if he thinks there might be a coral restoration merit badge on the horizon, Johnson said, “I hope so.” ... Since launching in 2018, the Sea Base nursery has grown 10,000 corals and is part of a two-decade project to restore millions of square feet of reef. 15-year-old Ryan Emmons says they’re helping the sea and future Scouts. More at Sources: https://miami.cbslocal.com/2022/04/19/earth-day-boy-scouts-regrow-florida-coral-reefs/ https://patch.com/florida/miami/earth-day-boy-scouts-helping-regrow-floridas-vunerable-coral-reefs

In this case, I will judge a book by its cover before reading it. 👍 He had me with "Adventures" in the title. Back in the day, we often rode in the back of the camp ranger's truck...great times... now prohibited by GTSS. For more background of this book by Robert Kellogg, who served as Troop 323 Scoutmaster from 1983 to 1995 see review below https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/life/2022/04/18/three-rivers-man-relives-12-year-scoutmaster-tenure-humor/7288902001/

@QC_ADC welcome to scouter.com.

That would be some price increase. I still see both 30in and 36in sash at $11.99 https://www.scoutshop.org/scouts-bsa-merit-badge-sash-36-62001.html

Welcome @akamistyeyes .

@akamistyeyes welcome to scouter.com. Let's move you to your own topic.

@DrKate welcome to scouter.com.

Deer Lake (CT) Update 4/18/2022: Connecticut Governor Governor and U.S. Senator now involved Governor Ned Lamont, a Democrat, said he recently toured the Deer Lake Scout Reservation in Killingworth and believes it should remain open space. “It's gorgeous,” Lamont said. “So we could step in as needed. We're not the piggy bank. I like going in along side other people.” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also has gotten involved in preservation effort. The Connecticut Democrat said he's looking into the possible use of money from the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund to help in the purchase of this camp and other Boy Scout properties for sale across the nation. “Unfortunately, local Boy Scout councils are selling to the highest bidder,” Senator Blumenthal said. “So, I think it is a national challenge, but it goes to the core of what scouting means and the ethos and ethic of scouting, which they may be betraying.” https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/connecticut-governor-lamont-conservation-bid-for-boy-scout-camp-deer-lake/520-988adcfc-3928-4e6d-9288-74a23997b6f6

Locked again.

Ok, I just a 404 error too. It is not on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine either. Lucky for us that @InquisitiveScouter provided a copy.

Appears BSA Safety Incident Review: Lightning publication is again available online. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-056_lightning.pdf

Recall two months ago: On November 12, 2020, Girl Scouts filed its proof of claim in the Bankruptcy Case, which is identified as Claim No. 11246 (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “Proof of Claim”)... As previously noted, Girl Scouts’ claim involves three distinct types of damages,...…to recover (1) defendant’s profits, (2) any damages sustained by the plaintiff, and (3) the costs of the action.”)... Girl Scouts currently estimates its claim to amount to no less than $18 million. Doc 8679 Filed 02/04/22 : https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/36057865-57ec-4d7c-b736-b8a5499747e8_8679.pdf Seems their claim has been ruled invalid.

Seems promising ... https://wnyscouting.doubleknot.com/camping/summer-camp-at-camp-scouthaven/67048 Update: 04/02/2022: Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick said the Town Board voted Monday to sign a sale contract to buy Camp Stonehaven for $665,000. Broderick said Lewiston plans to turn Camp Stonehaven into a nature preserve. "We may even coordinate with the Western New York Land Conservancy for some protection of some of that land," Broderick said. "It would be open to the public. There's one pavilion out there that we might keep. We're probably looking into getting rid of some of the cabins out there, because we don't want that liability." "Over the next several months, we will be announcing exciting facility and program enhancements to improve and expand Scouthaven’s role as the pre-eminent home for scouting locally," the Greater Niagara Frontier Council said. https://buffalonews.com/news/local/local-boy-scout-council-sells-camps-to-fund-share-of-sex-abuse-settlement/article_c2001d10-b12f-11ec-b714-6f955daff0d5.html

Good point. Another concern is fallen trees from thunderstorms. Here's a former Camp Hinds (ME) counselor cabin (no one inside at strike) https://www.pressherald.com/2018/08/08/tree-falls-on-unoccupied-cabin-at-scout-camp-in-raymond/

Camp Titanic? Strike that, Titanic crew served children first.

Captain Ross A. Reynolds, USMC 1995-2022 ...Ross had an innate desire to serve. He joined Scouts at an early age and through dedication to his community and grit he obtained the status of Eagle Scout in 2011, scouting's highest honor. While at the B.S.A. Camp Wanocksett, Ross was a dedicated staff member for 8 years and an active member of the Order of the Arrow serving in roles on the Gischachsummen team related inductions and ceremonies. He also attended the National Order of the Arrow Conference in 2012. He loved hiking, camping, and boating. Some of his fondest memories were of times spent at the lake at Camp Wanocksett. ... https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/fitchburg/name/cpt-usmc-obituary?id=33970130

We also have a safety drill so scouts know where to gather (add storm shelter signs). You might look at camp signs in tornado areas. So we have a camp guide's section Safety Rules and Procedures, posted signs repeating those rules and procedures, and a drill at the start of camp. Another $0.01

What I have seen are just the Camp Safety Rules (including bad weather, wildfires procedures) printed in large type on a 5x7 or larger cards and enclosed in a weatherproof seal. These signs are posted on all structures - camp office to latrines. Not unlike the Safety Signs in classrooms regarding nearest fire exit and shelter-in-place. I like the NOAA sign. another reference https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/articles/lightning-safety-outdoors

Yeah, I would expect a "no harm, no foul" informal response or perhaps a "more training" response even though both training and safety procedures were not followed. WTH, add your valued opinion! What constructive resolution would you recommend? Will you send scouts to the next NYLT if these "adults" are again on staff (we did not). In your lean-to photo, I saw no Safety signage regarding bad weather procedures. IMO, there Should be a weatherproof sign. Are those braces just 1x4? My $0.01,

Deer Lake (CT) Update 3/30/2022: The Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is now involved. Sale of the Deer Lake camp property in Killingworth has garnered significant public attention and interest from community leaders and preservationists. The Office of the Attorney General is currently reviewing questions regarding the legal status of the property and a potential sale. At the request of Attorney General Tong and due the pending inquiry into the property, the Boy Scouts have agreed to delay their decision on the sale of the property until May 1, extending their previous March 31 deadline. “I thank the Boy Scouts for hearing my concerns and agreeing to postpone this deadline while our inquiry into the property proceeds, and for being cooperative and responsive to our questions. I have heard from a number of community leaders and preservationists who have a strong interest in the future of Deer Lake. I hope that this extended time will allow all sides to work together on a positive resolution,” said Attorney General Tong. https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Press-Releases/2022-Press-Releases/Attorney-General-Tong-Update-on-Deer-Lake-Sale https://www.wtnh.com/news/conservation-group-hopes-to-outbid-developer-for-boy-scout-property-in-ct/ Mark Kraus, Scout Executive of the Connecticut Yankee Council, said Wednesday morning that the sale to developers was still in place. Kraus did not respond for a request for comment after Tong’s announcement Wednesday afternoon. https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-boy-scouts-deer-lake-postpone-deadline-may-1-20220330-5sutpcddqnbdzplgne4qzuzktu-story.html

Some of my scouts were injured during this NYLT training. As instructed by "adults" (keeping it scoutlike), scouts gathered on high ground under tall Eastern White Pines under a canvas canopy with aluminum poles during the lightning storm. Camp Bell had a written weather safety procedure to evacuate downhill to the Camp Lodge. Neither training nor this camp policy were followed. Despite the injuries, scouter and parent uproar, the same "adults" staffed NYLT the next summer. Eventually, word got to National, perhaps through this forum, perhaps through incident reports. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-056_lightning.pdf This incident is Incident Review #4 on above pdf.