The Yetis! BSA Troop 95

Upward and Onward

2009-01-13T16:21:00.003-07:00

JAN, 2009

With the graduation of the Scouts to First Class and all of them reaching age 12 this last year, they have all moved on to the 12-year-old Scout program. With no more 11-year-old Scouts coming into the program for a while, and in order to stay active with this exemplary group of boys, I have been moved into the 12-year-old Scout program as well. I will be serving as Scoutmaster alongside Ike Ellis, who already has a great program in place. Together, we will continue to serve the Boy Scouts of America by forming fine boys into fine young men.

Thanks for coming along with our adventures, and please join us as we continue as Red Riders at http://redriders.blogspot.com/ .

"It is easier to build a boy, than to repair a man."

Snow Camp on Mingus

2009-01-13T16:08:00.003-07:00

JAN 10, 2009

In preparation for the Klondike in February, the Scouts hiked into the snow on Mingus Mountain to make camp. The snow was 2 feet deep in some places, and at night the temperature was a nice balmy 17 degrees! Every boy learned some first-hand lessons about what they need to bring in the future, and how to maintain comfort in a cold environment. Despite a few missing items, all the Scouts had a great time and stayed warm (enough!).

Court of Honor

2009-01-13T15:51:00.006-07:00

DEC 9, 2008

We had our Court of Honor and I was so pleased to see all the boys advance! We had 7 new First Class Scouts, one new Star Scout, and one new Life Scout. We handed out close to 2 dozen merit badges, enjoyed a great potluck dinner, and finished it up with a fun "Mule Race" game. It was cold and windy but everyone showed up and had a good time watching the boys receive their awards.

A big congratulations to all the Scouts who were recognized for their hard work and dedication!

Grand Canyon Caverns

2009-01-13T15:22:00.009-07:00

DEC 13, 2008

The Scouts visited the Grand Canyon Caverns, located near Peach Springs, and had a blast! We traveled 20 stories below the surface to see crystals, rock formations, a mummified bobcat, the remains of a giant ground sloth, and even a wedding platform! There are also supplies in the caverns for 2000 people that were placed there during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the caverns were declared a Fallout Shelter. The supplies are still good today, as the temperature there is a constant 56 degrees and due to it being a dry cavern there are no bacteria in the cavern.

After the tour we all headed to the local A&W Root Beer, located on Historic Route 66, for lunch. The Scouts all had a great time, and so did the leaders!

Board of Review - First Class

2008-12-03T20:18:00.004-07:00

DEC 3, 2008

Boards of Review were conducted tonight for the Scouts, and I am happy to report that all of them passed and will be receiving their First Class ranks next week at our Court of Honor. Thank you to our Scouts for being so dedicated, and a big thanks to Ike Ellis and Chad Steverson for helping out as Board Members.

First Class Rank

Safety First - Intro to Shooting

2008-11-17T17:21:00.007-07:00

NOV 15, 2008

The Scouts have been memorizing and reciting the four primary rules of Firearm Safety every meeting for a month now. These rules are:

1. All guns are always loaded!
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy!
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target!
4. Always be sure of your target!

We have covered proper handling, loading and unloading, and basic operation and maintenance of firearms. Finally it was time to get the boys out and do some shooting!

We first shot with a .22 rifle, covering shooting stances and accuracy techniques. I am happy to report that all the boys are excellent shots, and two of them had never even shot a firearm before! Throughout the event, I would randomly test them on their knowledge and comprehension of the safety rules, and they always knew the right answer.

Following some target shooting, we went on a short walk where the Scouts had to identify targets and whether or not they were safe to shoot. If safe, the boys shot. If not, we moved on. This walk was very pleasing to me as the Scouts all knew the proper targets to shoot, and the reasons behind each one.

We returned to the range and the boys were able to shoot a few other rifles of various calibers and styles, all the while learning additional techniques. They learned about malfunctions and the proper method for clearing them, as well as general range safety.

All in all they had a good time, and I look forward to the next opportunity that I can take them out shooting.

Flag Ceremony

2008-11-17T17:11:00.003-07:00

Nov 6, 2008

Our Troop was invited to the Liberty Traditional School's Annual Veteran's Day Celebration to present the American Flag during opening ceremonies. We practiced our routine, and the boys showed great respect for the flag, as they alwasy do. The Scouts worked hard to get instep and present the Flag in an honorable manner.

The following night was showtime, and the Scouts did an outstanding job. They received many compliments from citizens and Veterans alike on their behavior and respect towards the flag.

Thank You to all those who have served and who are currently serving in all of our Armed Forces.

Promotions

2008-11-17T17:06:00.003-07:00

OCT 2008

Two more of our Scouts moved upward and onward this month, and we wish them the best in their new Patrol.

All of our Scouts have now reached First Class and have passed their Scoutmaster's Conference. Next up is the Board of Review, where they will be tested on all the knowledge that they have learned.

With the departure of some leadership, it was time to re-organize. Satchel now serves as our Patrol Leader, Tanner remains the Assistant Patrol Leader and Travis has moved into the Quartermaster position. Good Luck guys, and remember your duties!

Bloody Basin

2008-09-28T12:01:00.013-07:00

SEPT 12-13, 2008

We traveled to Bloody Basin to see the great Perry Mesa indian ruins. This time around, we didn't have to hike too far to find a good camping spot close to the edge of a beautiful green canyon. The Scouts all tried Kippered Fish and SPAM for the first time, with some Vienna Sausages thrown in for good measure. They all seemed to like them, which is good, because SPAM is a Scout staple food!

After dinner we ventured out in the light of the full moon to get a closer look at the ruins, and did some scorpion hunting along the way - those black lights really light up the scorpions at night! We found a tarantula along the trail, in addition to the many we saw on the way in that afternoon. The ruins are what is left of a 150 room Perry Mesa Tradition city. The ruins were beautiful in the moonlight, and later we settled into bed under a cloudless, starlit sky.

The next morning we climbed around the cliffs and saw more petroglyphs that we could count! The detail was amazing, and the artifacts we found were incredible. It's nice to go somewhere the whole world hasn't been, as almost everything was still intact. The pictures don't do it justice, as only a few of the many ancient drawings are shown here.

The Scouts got a lesson on eating cactus fruit, and they all ate until their chins were dripping purple cactus juice. We even fed some spiders that morning, all in the name of the real Discovery Channel!

Heading out

Livin on the edge

Beautiful sunset

One of the many tarantulas we encountered

View from camp

Bro. Stine scouts the area in the morning

Breakfast is served

Learning that cactus fruit is tasty

The Ruins

The Petroglyphs

The Real Discovery Channel - one of the few spider that got a free tasty meal, courtesy of The Yetis! Click the link below the picture to be taken to cool video of this spider in action.

http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/?action=view&current=Spider.flv

Scout Camp

2008-09-08T16:33:00.003-07:00

JULY, 2008

A few of our Scouts were able to go to Scout Camp in July and had a great time. They earned four merit badges each, participated in shooting events, horseback riding, kitchen duty, and even ate some pizza delivery. Is that part of Scout Camp?

There are a ton of pictures of the 11-year-old Scouts as well as pictures of their older compatriates available at the Red Rider blog linked in the top right corner of the main page. Or, click here: http://redriders.blogspot.com/

A big thank you all the leaders who were able to go, and congrats to those Scouts who earned badges and enjoyed a good week!

Leadership

2008-07-21T18:40:00.005-07:00

JULY 9th, 2008

Our Troop received new leadership roles and organization.

Our new Troop Patrol Leader is Alex, Assistant Patrol Leader is Tanner, and our new Quartermaster is Wesley. Congratulations to those Scouts on their new positions - remember to serve with integrity and honor!

To designate his position within the Troop, the Patrol Leader will wear the pin of the U.S. Army Infantry School, showing that he has the ability to lead and to inspire others to do great things.

The Assistant Patrol Leader will wear the pin of the U.S. Army Pathfinders, showing that he will help to keep the Troop going in the right direction, and that he will be ready to lead if the Patrol Leader is unavailable.

The Quartermaster will wear a pin depicting the C-47 Skytrain, perhaps one of the most widely used and recognized aircraft of the U.S. Army Air Corp and the early U.S. Air Force. It's cargo and support roles will help to remind our Quartermaster that his responsibilities include making sure that the Troop and all Scouts are prepared and properly equipped.

Court Of Honor

2008-06-29T10:34:00.007-07:00

JUNE 25th, 2008

We held our first Court of Honor at the Stine's house and it was a great turnout and a great event. We ate some hot dogs and hamburgers and socialized for awhile - a big Thank You to our great cook, Bro. Stine, for grilling up our meal!

Our program started with Bro. Stilson's father, Sam, talking about his experiences in Vietnam and how the American Flag has always stood as a symbol of freedom for him. He told some stories about seeing the Flag while in combat, and seeing the coast of America upon his return from war, and the emotions and courage that the Flag invokes in him. Thank You for your stories, Sam, and for your service to our great country.

Bro. Stilson talked about his own feelings for the Flag, and how it should always be displayed proudly and properly. He then described the event that was to take place, the retirement of some worn American Flags. Our scouts, with great reverence, presented the Flags while Alex led us in the Pledge of Allegience. The scouts then folded the flags and each was placed on the fire while all in uniform gave the Scout Salute. When the colors had burned completely, all were thanked for the great reverence that was shown and the scouts returned to their seats.

The program continued with the awards presentation. Bro. Stine and Bro. Stilson both shared their feelings for the great scouts that we have, and for their dedication and determination. Bro. Stine presented the boys with their Day Camp badges, their Tenderfoot badges, and a Silva Compass so that they can always find their way. Bro. Stilson presented them with their Second Class badges and an Esbit lightweight stove, a useful tool for backpacking and camping. Bro. Stilson was also pleased to present Dallin with the Golf Merit Badge - he is the first scout in our Troop to be presented with a Merit Badge.

Thank you to everyone who attented and showed this great group of boys your support.

Folding the flag after the Pledge of Allegience

Scouts salute as the flags are retired

Bro. Stine and Bro. Stilson talk about their great scouts

Bro. Stine presents Day Camp and Tenderfoot badges

Tenderfoot Scouts - all equipped with a new compass

Bro. Stilson presents Second Class badges and our first Merit Badge

Second Class Scouts - ready to cook with new stoves

Scout Day Camp

2008-06-24T22:09:00.006-07:00

JUNE 21st, 2008

This past Saturday, the scouts attended a Day Camp and really shined! Being among about 20 other boys, they remembered all of their teachings and Scout information and breezed through the workshops. They even managed to place 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the top five of the obstacle course! As leaders, we have had many comments about the great attitude and aptitude of our scouts at the Day Camp - we couldn't be prouder of them.

Great Job Scouts! Those who attended will each be getting a Day Camp badge in addition to their rank badges tomorrow night at the Court of Honor.

Tougher than it looks

Completing the obstacle course

Enjoying the CYFD fire truck spray

Scouts are always learning something new

Relaxing in the shade

Scouting Saves Lives

2008-06-12T17:44:00.003-07:00

Scouting is fun and exciting, but it is important for us to remember that it is also training for times when a scout may be called upon to go above and beyond his comfort zone.

These scouts did exactly what they should have done, and saved lives. They used first-aid techniques learned in their scout books while earning their ranks, they were carrying first-aid kits as all scouts should, and they did not hesitate to act to help those in need.

Please click the link below to read the story.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365852,00.html

Board of Review

2008-06-11T21:10:00.006-07:00

JUNE 11, 2008

The scouts had their Board of Review for Tenderfoot and Second Class Rank and we are very happy to report that all of the boys passed! They made it look easy, and it is a true testament to their character and to the great group of boys that they are. A big thank you to Ike Ellis, Chris Roby, and Chad Steverson for serving as our reviewers.

Our Court of Honor will be held on Wednesday, June 25th where the boys will be presented with their rank.

Thank you for being so awesome, scouts - we are proud of you!

Tenderfoot Rank

Second Class Rank

Stoneridge Peak

2008-06-07T22:19:00.010-07:00

JUNE 7, 2008

We hiked Stoneridge Peak, a climb of 1500 feet in a little under 2 miles. The view is amazing from all the ridges leading to the peak, but of course the view from the peak is the best! The weather is surely getting warmer, though it was nice and breezy at the top to help us cool off.

We were able to identify a lot of local plants, and some of the scouts got introduced to some plants with defenses, like the cat-claw and prickly pear.

These scouts never need encouragement to help each other out

A few interesting things along the ridges

Coming up to the peak

The scouts loved climbing the rocks!

The top - very windy up there!

View of Prescott Valley

Dewey

Prescott

And the southern mountains

The descent begins!

Maverick Mountain

2008-06-01T11:03:00.009-07:00

MAY 30 -31, 2008

Maverick Mountain, located south of Wolf Creek and past the small community of Groom Creek, has an elevation of almost 7300 feet. We parked by the Hassayampa River at around 5400 feet, and our goal was to sleep at the top of Maverick. All of our scouts were ready to make the climb, and the 12-14 year old scout leader was with us to see what kind of boys we had been preparing for him.

In a little over 2 miles we climbed 1900 feet of elevation. The going was a little tough at times, with thick brush and steep grades, but as usual none of the scouts were complaining or falling back - they all kept pushing onward and upward. By the time we reached the top, dusk was upon us and the light was fading, so we picked the flattest spot we could find and set up camp. The stars were bright and shining as we ate dinner, then the boys settled in and it wasn't long before the hard hike caught up with them, and the mountainside was filled with songs of snoring!

With a little struggling to keep from sliding down the mountain, we all got some rest and descended in the morning after breakfast. Going down was a bit easier, as we had chosen a new path, and waiting at the bottom for us were the cool waters of the Hassayampa River. Boys will be boys, and they dropped their packs and played in the water. Everyone wanted to take their reptile discoveries home to mom, but the leaders thought it best to just leave them at the river!

Maverick Mountain as seen from the road

Halfway there!

It's a long way to the top!

A big Alligator Juniper tree greeted us near the top of the first spur

Taking a break for a photo op

Even at 7000 feet, Arizona still provides thriving cacti

Dusk is upon us as Maverick's 2nd peak stares down at us

You can see the incline at the "flattest" spot we found to camp

In the kitchen - where's your shoes, Tanner?

Buddy teams help each other with everything, even packing up

The descent

The Hassayampa being overrun by scouts!

Treasures from the river

Ready for more action! Next up: Hiking to the pueblos of Perry Mesa in July!

Ike breaks in his new Jeep by giving it a bath!

Bobcat Skinning

2008-05-18T13:06:00.004-07:00

MAY 17, 2008

Following a great campout of Fathers and Sons in the pines of Cherry, we headed out to a local ranch so that the boys could get some hands-on experience skinning a bobcat. I am into hunting predators and this bobcat was taken last winter in Skull Valley, and has been frozen in my freezer since then. When I mentioned to the boys last month about the possibility of skinning a bobcat, they were very excited and so I decided to go through with it after they earned their Totin Chip last week. Some of them wanted to try, others didn't, but there were no weak stomachs and everyone walked away with all 10 fingers.

Thanks to Fred for the use of his equipment and knowledge, and for being a great hunting partner!

Compass Course

2008-05-18T12:57:00.007-07:00

MAY 3, 2008

We only had a couple of boys show up due to some conflicting schedules, but we had a great time and thanks to Dallin and Travis for showing up! We set up 6 compass points in an area, each with coordinates marked on a map and "artifacts" marking the real world location. The boys found their way to each one, and then were taught how to shoot distant landmarks and find their position a map. New technology like GPS is great, but using a map and compass is a great backup skill to have!

After completing the course, the boys earned the right to "wear the badger"

Our location marking artifacts: Coyote skull, elk ivory teeth, 13 articles of faith, young mule deer antlers, and a badger pelt. We also used some rock cairns to mark a location and teach the boys about natural ways to mark a trail.

Iron King Hike

2008-05-18T12:50:00.003-07:00

APRIL 26, 2008

We hiked a round trip 8 miles into the Granite Dells and learned about first aid - luckily not first hand! The scenery is beautiful and the boys enjoyed hiking in the granite.

Allen Springs Campout

2008-05-18T12:24:00.009-07:00

APRIL 11 - 12, 2008

Our first campout as a Troop, we headed to Allen Springs on Mingus Mountain. After a hike that totaled about 1 1/2 miles, and was near vertical at times, we reached the top and selected a campsite. The boys had a great time, and even the first timers did great!

A fox skeleton that we found near our campsite

A beautiful sunset

Satchel keeps us all entertained

It was cold when we packed up, and we looked forward to getting moving

The boys learn about rock stoves, poisonous plants, and knot tying

Until next time . . . .