Famous Eagle Scouts

This weekend I attended an Eagle Scout court of honor. And being an Eagle Scout myself, I always love to see another young man earn this prestigious award.

As Mike Rowe said, "The Eagle Award is not really meant for people who need to be dragged across the finish line. It's meant for a select few..."

Rowe is of course the awesome host of Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel.

And he's an Eagle Scout.

That got me to thinking, what other famous Eagle Scouts are there.

Here's a short list of some famous Eagle Scouts:

• Neil Armstrong: First human to step on the moon

• Austin Collie: Wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL

• William Hanna: Animator, director, producer, cartoon artist, and co-founder of Hanna-Barbera

• Ewing Kauffman: Founder of Marion Laboratories and owner of the Kansas City Royals

• Howard Lincoln: CEO of Seattle Mariners baseball team; chairman of Nintendo of America; in 1956 he posed as one of the Boy Scouts for The Scoutmaster painting by Norman Rockwell

• George Meyer: Writer and producer of The Simpsons

• Harrison Salisbury: Journalist who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize (1955); twice received the George Polk Award for Foreign Reporting (1957 and 1966)

• Chuck Smith: President and CEO of AT&T West

• Shane Victorino: Major League Baseball player, current member of 2008 World Series and 2009 National League Championship Series-winning Philadelphia Phillies.

• Ken Whisenhunt: Head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team

There are a WHOLE lot more than I can list here. Yet, one thing is for sure, the rank of Eagle Scout is an elite award. Only 4% of all boys that enter scouting earn the rank. That's not very many.

Bear Grylls World Scout Emblem

If you've been watching the second half of Man vs. Wild Season 4 then you might have noticed a patch that Bear Grylls is now wearing on the right sleeve of his shirts and jackets.

Here's a few pictures of that patch:



Now for those of you who aren't involved in the Boy Scouts, you might not recognize that patch. However, I knew what it was right away.

That patch is the World Scout Emblem.

It is worn by Scouts and those involved with Scouting around the world.

Here's a little history about the patch:

The patch has always had the same design. The patch is one-inch in diameter, in the same two colors. The design is the international fleur-de-lis (flower of the lily), with two stars symbolizing "truth" and "knowledge" and alluding to the outdoor nature of Scouting, surrounded by a rope symbolic of unity and one-ness ties at the bottom by a square knot, a symbol of service. Those white items are on a deep, royal purple background.

Last year I wrote a post about how Grylls was named the New Chief Scout in the UK. I'm glad to see that through him Scouts is getting some attention. Even if it is just in a patch.

(This is from Just Northwest)

Video Bites: Twas The Night Before Christmas

The December 23rd edition of the JustSON Video Bites! That's right, bite-sized videos!

View more of our adventures at http://justson.blogspot.com

Contact us at justsouthofnorth@gmail.com

Erik Meyer to the Shock:
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Boy Scouts of America coin:
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Our Flikr group:
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Ninja Monkey:
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Twas The Night Before Christmas:
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Design for BSA 100th Anniversary coin

The U.S. Mint has announced a special one dollar coin to honor the Boy Scouts of America and their 100 year anniversary.

For those of you who don't know, I'm an Eagle Scout (March 15, 2000. Troop 577 Buckley, WA) And I think this is the coolest thing. I know that I am going to have to get one because:

A) I collect coins

B) The design is really neat

C) I like shiny things

Only 350,000 of the coins will be made and they won't be put into circulation. Instead when they are released (I heard in March 2010) you will have to purchase them from the U.S. Mint Web site.

These will each have the designs that I posted above.

Also, to make these coins even cooler, all of the surcharges collected from the sale of these coins will be donated to the Boy Scouts of America. Thats $3.5 million dollars going to support Scouting!

Also, there will be a 100 anniversary stamp that will be released in July 2010. So keep your eyes out for that.

(This was originally posted on Just Northwest)

Heat induced illnesses

The Northwest is currently in the start of a heatwave with highs for the next week all around 100 degrees. And while many people will use the sun as a reason to get outside, there are precautions that you need to take when being active in the heat.

Whether you're biking, hiking, kayaking or even just laying around camp, temperatures in the 90s are hard on the body. Add in direct sunlight, and you've got a lethal combination.

Two of the most common heat induced illnesses are heat stroke and heat exhaustion. But many people don't know the differences between the two or how to treat for them.

When being active in the outdoors during the heat of summer, it's very important to be able to recognize the symptoms and know when medical treatment is necessary. These are straight from The Boy Scout Handbook.

Definition

Heat exhaustion: This condition often occurs when body fluids are lost through sweating and dehydration, causing the body to overheat.

Heat stroke: Heat stroke is life-threatening. This condition happens when a person's cooling system it so overworked it actually stops working and the internal body temperature rises.

Symptoms

Heat exhaustion:

• Skin will be pale and clammy
  
• Sweating a lot
  
• Muscle cramps
  
• Dizziness and fainting
  
• Headache, weakness, thirst, and nausea

Heat stroke:

• Red, hot, and dry skin
  
• Sweating has stopped
  
• Rapid and quick breathing
  
• Dizziness, confusion and even unconsciousness

Treatment

I'm not a medical professional, but I do know the first aid for these illnesses. In both cases, seek doctor instructions.

Heat exhaustion:

• Have the victim rest in a cool, shaded area with their feet raised.
  
• Loosen or remove clothing.
  
• Cool the victim by applying cool, wet cloths to their body.
  
• If the person is alert, give them cool fluids such as water or sports drinks (that will replace the salt that has been lost).
  
• Do not give alcohol or drinks that contain caffine.

Heat stroke:

• Call 911. This is a life-threatening matter.
  
• Until help arrives, if the person is awake move to them to the shade. If they are not awake, create shade for them using umbrellas, towels, etc.
  
• Cool them any way you can by removing clothing and applying cold, wet towels to the skin. You can also place them in a stream or lake if you are near one.
  
• Keep the victim lying down with their head slightly raised.
  

Prevention

Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be prevented. Avoid being outside performing strenuous activities during the hottest time of the day. If you have to be outside, make sure to replace fluids by drinking lots of water and/or sports drinks. Wear light colored clothing. Take plenty of breaks to rest in a cool spot in the shade. And as I said before, stay hydrated!

Bear Grylls named UK's Chief Scout

For those of you who don't know, I'm an Eagle Scout. That's the highest rank a boy can obtain in the Boy Scouts of America.

Now scouting is not just an American organization, it's a worldwide group.

Scouting taught me many traits, and mainly opened the outdoors to me. Well, I came across this article today, and since JustSON is slowly becoming an unofficial Bear Grylls site, here's some information on the epic survivor. I didn't know that he was a scout:

An ex-special services soldier who has climbed Mount Everest and led an expedition across the Atlantic Arctic Ocean was named as new Chief Scout on Monday and said he was looking for more adult volunteers to help out.

Adventurer Bear Grylls, voted the seventh coolest British man in 2008, was himself a scout and as part of his survival television show "Man vs. Wild" killed, skinned and ate snakes as well as drank his own urine.

Grylls said during his five-year term he aimed to increase the number of 90,000 adult volunteers offering over 200 activities from canoeing to abseiling and to dispel the image of scouts just singing around campfires in old-fashioned uniforms.

"There are 33,000 kids desperate to join the Scouts and there are not enough leaders. I want to encourage adults to get in there and volunteer. The best message I can get out there is that if you want to be able to do the things I do, join the Scouts," Grylls told Reuters.

"People will not think scouts are as geeky as they did," said 13-year old Elliott Tugwell, a scout from east London. "Some might think he's crazy but it shows he is willing to do exciting things like we do."

The movement was founded by the Boer War soldier Robert Baden-Powell in 1907 following an experimental camp on Brownsea Island off the south east coast of England. It has been emulated in many other countries looking for ways to offer a healthy outdoor life to children often from smoky industrial cities.

Grylls, 34, crossed the Atlantic Arctic Ocean in an open rigid inflatable boat and served three years in the elite Special Air Service (SAS) during which time he broke his back in a parachuting accident. He made a full recovery.

An author and public speaker, he will be the youngest Chief Scout in the organisation's 102-year history.
He will replace Peter Duncan, former presenter of BBC children's programme Blue Peter, later this year.

"I got a sense of identity and a sense of belonging from scouts," Grylls said. "My love of the outdoors started with scouting. It was a real confidence boost for me and opened a lot of doors."

Upon joining Britain's largest co-educational youth movement, some from the age of six, boys and girls promise to uphold core Scout values such as trustworthiness, loyalty and to "do their best" while also having fun. It currently numbers around 400,000 members.

"Scouting For Boys" written in 1908 by Baden-Powell is the fourth biggest selling book in the world after the Bible, the Koran and Mao's Little Red Book.

I watch "Man vs. Wild" all the time. And I am just about finished with Bear's book, "The Kid Who Climbed Everest." (I'll have a review up in a few days) I always had a load of respect for this man and what he can do in the wilderness, but I have even more respect now that I found out he was a scout. That is pretty neat.

And if anyone can dispel the image that scouts just sit around a campfire and sing, it's Bear.

What to do when backpacking in bear country

A few days ago I was talking with a friend of mine and he asked me, "Casey, you do a lot of outdoor stuff, what would you do if you came across a bear? Would you run away?"

At first I didn't know if he was serious, then I realized that while I had grown up learning many outdoor techniques in the Boy Scouts, others hadn't. I explained to him what I would do if I encountered a bear, and better yet how I would try to prevent that encounter in the first place.

I'm no Bear Grylls, but I am an Eagle Scout. Follow these guidelines to help minimize your risks of an encounter with a bear when in bear country.

How to help avoid a bear:

• Find out local bear activity- If you're going to an area ask the local park rangers what type of bear activity has been reported lately. They'll also be able to tell you what they recommend for that area to prevent bear attacks.
  
• Make lots of noise- Making noise will help to alert any nearby bears to your presence and help lessen the chance of a sudden encounter. These sudden encounters are what cause a majority of the reported bear attacks. A startled bear is an angry bear. One way to make noise is to shout, "Yo bear!" every couple seconds. Another is to sing or talk loudly. You can also wear a bear bell, but those aren't super loud and in areas near rivers and streams, probably won't be heard over the rushing water.
• Avoid hiking in the dark- While it may be fun to take a trip off into the brush in the middle of the night, you never know what might be sleeping on the other side of that berry bush.
• Hike in groups- If you're going on your own adventure, then that may be hard, but if you are with a group, stick together. The increased number of people as well as the fact that you will most likely be talking will help to warn a bear you are coming.
• If you come across a cub beware!- Wherever a cub is, a mother bear is sure to be near. Never, I repeat, NEVER get between a mother bear and her cub.
  
• Use a bear box- A bear box, or food storage container, is a thick canister for storing your food in. This will not allow the bear to eat your food and allow you too keep your food a good distance from your tent.
• Cook and camp in different clothes- The clothes you cook in will smell like the food you cooked. This smell will make your tent smell good to a hungry bear. Keep the cook clothes separate and with the food in the bear box.
• Cook away from the tents- Set up a designated cooking and eating area. Only have food in that area. If a bear does come into camp, chances are they'll stay around the area where the food was and leave the tents alone.
  

What to do if you do spot a bear:

• Do NOT run- Bears are fast. Really fast. Even faster than you hyped up on Red Bull and adrenaline. A bear can run at over 40 miles per hour and accelerate from 0-25 mph in around 6 seconds. Trust me, you can't outrun this fellow. A bear also might see you running away as a game or sport. Catch the camper if you will.
• Slowly move away- If you spot a bear and it is unaware of you, slowly back away the way you came. Detour a large distance around the bear or just make camp somewhere else.
  
• Don't move- If a bear does spot you, stop moving and stand still until the bear leaves or moves away. Then slowly back away.
• Play dead- If the bear does become aggressive and attack you, play dead. Curl up on the ground with your knees to your chest and clasp your hands together on the back of your neck.

And most importantly, when in bear country, ALWAYS carry bear spray or pepper spray. You can buy this at any outdoor store. Oh, and make you know how to use it and practice flipping the safety latch off. You don't want to be reading the directions with an angry bear coming at you.

Hope this helps prevent you from running into any bears. Bear attacks are very rare, but never the less it is better to be safe than sorry. Get outside, have fun, and be safe.

Snow place like home

There is no better time to experience the outdoors, then in the winter. As a young boy, I had the great opportunity to learn from my Scoutmaster the proper ways to camp in the snow. What follows is my first winter campout.

“Load up the minivan boys!” Scoutmaster Ratchet shouted. “Let’s head to the mountain.”

“What do you mean you need a toilet Scoot? We just left 15 minutes ago!”

“Of course I meant to hit that ice patch and put the van in the ditch Casey. Now get out and help the others push.”

“No Scoot, I don’t think it would help if I got out of the van. My cocoa would get cold.”

“Great job with the van boys, but now it will be dark when we get to camp.”

"And that is why it is important to make sure you use all of the poles to set up your tent. Otherwise your tent collapses under the weight of the snow. Now get the shovels and dig me out."

“How did you lose the pot in the river Casey?”

"Don't worry Scoot, bears hibernate during the winter."

"Why yes, that frozen pond should be strong enough to walk on. Here I'll show you."

"See, always test the ice before you try to walk across it. Now go find some wood so I can dry my clothes."

"No Scoot, there are no sasquatch out. Sasquatch hibernate in the winter too."

"You see boys, the heat from the fire will melt the snow on the tree branches above you, causing it to fall. Now who wants to restart the fire?"

“And that’s why you never put your tent near fire. Nylon is highly flammable. Who wants to learn how to build a snowcave?”

"Badgers? I am not sure if badgers hibernate Scoot. Why do you ask?"

"Now remember boys, it is never a good idea to build your snowcave on a badger den. Hand me more gauze Casey."

"No Alex, I don't recommend taking a hot rock into your sleeping bag with you tonight to stay warm."

"No Casey, not a badger either."

"Cold oatmeal builds character. That was a test to see if any of you would put a tarp on the wood before bed."

“Why didn’t I cover the wood after you went to bed Casey? Now what kind of test would that be?”

"Alright boys, it seems someone left the headlights on and the battery went dead. Who wants to hike to town and call for help?"

Scout earns 121 badges

The video embedding was disabled for the video I wanted to post, but here is the link.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

This kid earned all 121 merit badges that are offered by the Boy Scouts of America. And he did it to honor his grandma.

As an Eagle Scout myself, I know that being a scout is not always easy. You often are ridiculed for what you do. But Scouting taught me many values that I still hold with me today.

For example, my love of the outdoors was truly developed while camping every month with the Scouts. This enjoyment of the outdoors, and of writing, showed me where I want my career to go.

One great example of when my outdoor skills were ridiculed, was on a campout in college. A group of the guys along were trying to get the fire started. Any outdoors person knows that you don't build a fire using full logs and gas. But that is what they were trying. After sitting there for 45 minutes while they made fools of themselves, I calmly asked if I could start it.

They laughed and said sure and started to had me the gas. I said, "No thanks. And to top it off, I'll do it without a match, in under 5 minutes."

They laughed and didn't think I could do it. I grabbed some lent from my bag and my flint and knife. I kicked away the mess they had made in the fire pit and started fresh. I put down the lent, then some dry bark chips, then twigs and small branches in the tee-pee shape. I struck the flint to the steel, and got a flame. I nurtured the fire and soon it was roaring. (fire building was probably my favorite part of the campouts in scouts)

Then one of the guys says, "what, are you a boy scout or something?" Laughing, obviously meaning it as an insult.

I said, "Actually, I am an Eagle Scout."

He countered with, "Oh, I didn't mean it as an insult. That's cool."

And he was right. It was cool. While Scouts doesn't always have the best image, I do know that if I was stuck in the woods, I would know enough to survive for at least a while.

So to Shaun Goldsmith, who worked very hard for his 121 badges, I tip my hat. Good work Shaun.

Also, 2010 marks the 100 anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. They were founded on February 8, 1910.

How about this:
Boy Scouts of America Silver Dollar Centennial Commemorative Coin

A new House bill recently introduced to celebrate the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) with the minting of a commemorate silver dollar has exceptionally strong bipartisan support.

Rep Pete Sessions [R-TX] introduced the new bill on April 22, 2008. The bill looks to be soundly popular with an already 296 cosponsors lined up to provide their early signature for the "100 Years of Scouting" commemorative coin.

Rep. Sessions commented,

“Boy Scouts are a significant part of American culture, shaping the values, citizenship, and skills of millions of young men,” Sessions stated. “As an Eagle Scout with four generations of Boy Scouts in my family, I strongly value the Boy Scouts’ history of instilling a sense of duty to God, country, and self.”

Not altogether surprising, in the 110th Congress, 248 members of the House of Representative and the Senate have participated in Boy Scouts of America as Scouts or adult leaders.

The bill, H.R. 5872, is entitled the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act and calls for 350,000 silver $1 coins to be minted in 2010. The collector coin would contain 90% silver and 10% copper.

Given the history of the organization and the support of congress, this bill would seem a likely candidate for passage. It is now under consideration in the House Committee on Financial Services.

In addition to the commemorative coin initiative, Sessions is also building support for a U.S. postage stamp to celebrate “100 Years of Scouting.” Currently, Sessions has garnered the support of over 320 Senators and Members of Congress for a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General, requesting a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America.

In 1960, the United States Postal Office celebrated the Boy Scouts of America’s 50th Anniversary with the introduction of the 4 cent commemorative stamp depicting a Scout holding up the Scout sign.

What a sweet coin.