Cub Scout Day Camp: Orienteering

Maps and compasses! I helped with Cub Scout Day Camp last year, too, in the same capacity. It's neat to see the boys learn about a skill that is seeming more and more outdated, though is still very important. With GPS capabilities in our cars, phones, cameras, and more, do we still need compasses with magnetic north and maps to find the way? I say yes! 

We are in a transition in this area, though, so I'm curious as to where we go and if requirements to learn about these will be changed. I asked my husband who said GPS units can run out of batteries, be subject to selective availability (used previously so only military had precise measurements--not used after 2000), it's easy to keep a record of your track in coastal waters (he's from a Navy background) and is required by law in these cases, etc. "Prudent people will always have a paper back up, that doesn't run out of batteries or is not dependent on a satellite system."

We started our session talking about basic map skills, highlighting the compass rose, Never Eat Soggy Wheat (North, East South, West), how to orient a map, basic parts of a compass, magnetic north, the concept of a pace, and how to use the compass. I had a great, ENTHUSIASTIC helper who made it much easier. Thanks! He took half the boys to work on map skills in more depth while I took the other half to the field to work on using the compass. 

This was the center spot. We always came back here for our next direction, though these could be set up in different ways. 

Wild Edible Cub Scout Hike at Ox Bow

I dropped my oldest off earlier this week for Cub Scout Day Camp at Ox Bow County Park. This is his second year attending. It has been well run and a good experience for the children and adult leaders. One requirement is to take a hike and learn about poisonous plants. Andy took us on a walk to also learn about a few wild edibles.

Ox Bow Scouting Activity

On our way to my son's scouting activity on Wednesday, it was raining and sunny. I quickly exclaimed, "Look boys--there should be a rainbow out!" They quickly found this in a nearby field. It looked like we could have found the pot of gold, we were so close. It was fun to hear my 4-year-old ask where the rainbow was the next day as we passed the same area. He's developing understanding of these prisms of light!

Campfire Cake

Last night, my son's cub scout group had their Blue and Gold banquet. Each boy was supposed to bring in a cake. We'd found several ideas online and used some of the ideas for his inspiration. He made a campfire with chocolate filled wafers as the logs, chocolate candy rocks to ring the fire, and fruit leather cut in triangles for the flames. He put some upside down ice cream cones and extra chocolate filled wafers as trees without any leaves on them.

Not only did he enjoy making his cake and spending time with me, but he also enjoyed getting the "most outdoorsy" award for his cake and earning his Wolf!

Do you ever make nature inspired food? We made camping scenes instead of traditional gingerbread houses at Christmas time. 

Scout Open House at Woodlawn Nature Center

Woodlawn Nature Center had an open house for the Scouts in the area this last Friday. Of course, Girl Scout cookies were available. I don't know why I didn't buy any! :-)

In this family event, some siblings enjoyed the drums.

The sand castle and fresh water fish were a hit!

Many boys enjoyed making tracks--what a great winter activity! Unfortunately, the temperatures were in the single digits, so the night hike was canceled--looking forward to another one soon.

Other families enjoyed the insect collection.

The rocks and minerals were fun and educational as well.

Everyone listened to the director and a song for a bit.

Charlie Cauffman sang and played a couple traditional songs for the group.

The director, Fred Deferbrache, mentioned many ways Scouts might interact with Woodlawn Nature Center. He talked about overnight stays, renting the facility for meetings, camping on the site, campfires, service projects, Eagle and gold projects, becoming members, etc.

A Girl Scout shared some of the projects she is thinking about doing.

Others visited with the turtle . . .

And the puppet stage was a hit!

As the spouse of a Scout leader, a mom to a Wolf, and more boys getting ready for the scouting program, I'm glad we have many great community resources like this! There is such an energy here when the scouts start learning and interacting with the exhibits here. 

Cub Scouts at Woodlawn Nature Center

My son's cub scout pack descended upon Woodlawn Nature Center last night. The pack rented the center for the night to host their pack meeting.

They had their traditional meeting and awards and then started exploring.

The boys found the long nose gar, the box turtle, the Canada geese, animal tracks, etc. in the pond room.

They explored with microscopes, felt snake skins, looked at the owls and birds' nests, and swapped stories about insects in the Living Michiana exhibit.

We checked out the rock collection. They were surprised at how heavy galena is! I've always been amazed at the cleavage of galena--cubes!

How interesting that the "big" boys liked the sensory bins too!

They checked out the wigwam and American Indian artifacts and learning materials in the wigwam. They also made s'mores out at the fire pit.

The older boys really enjoyed the drums. How interesting to FEEL the vibrations! Boom, boom, BOOM!

The dinosaur cave was a hit! They enjoyed digging in the sand and finding fossils and bones. "Mom, is this real?"

Woodlawn Nature Center is a great option for a scouting group, birthday party, or other gathering. I have rented facilities and organized many parties in the past. The member rates for renting the building were VERY reasonable for 2 hours. The scout leaders brought in their own food and activities were built into the facility. I wonder if I can convince my boys they need their birthday parties at Woodlawn Nature Center . . . seems much easier than cleaning the house!

Cub Scout Day Camp--Orienteering

I was asked to help with orienteering at Cub Scout Day Camp . . . what a fun week! This was the first year my son attended Day Camp and we were excited to participate. 

I "loved" it when the three-year-old found poison ivy and started rubbing it all over his clothes and head. I didn't touch those clothes for months! Yes, I have an aversion to poison ivy--itchy, itchy!

We made it a family affair, with the younger boys in the kiddy program and my husband helping with stomp rockets, similar to these, when he could. Here is an easy version if you're looking for a gift. 

They really are fun and reminded me of my days hosting Science Club in Japan and working with the Jason Project. Everything this week was space related. Great theme! 

It was a hot, hot week. I was grateful for a hat, shade, and cool water. I found that orienteering is still difficult for this age, but not impossible. A few helpful tips we found were to create a flat shelf with one hand to hold the compass. The boys wanted to grip around it. Practicing the flat shelf without the compass helped when we were ready to use the compass.

We explored maps, how to use compasses, and how to make our own compasses. I had great helpers each day who were leaders and examples. While my background is in education, I was reminded of excellent teaching techniques from a twelve-year-old scout. He's a great leader already!

The Day Camp leaders did an excellent job pulling together all the needed materials and activities for our adventures. Great experience!

During my "free" time, I enjoyed going on another hike with a few wild edibles, exploring aquatic bugs, trying my hand at bb guns, and touching fish!