Movie 13 minutes M2TS format.
Old Juniper District sponsored a Fall Camporee at Camp Aspen Ridge located in Hull Valley about 15 miles northeast of Franklin, Idaho. Old Ephraim district was invited. Thanks to the Order of the Arrow for considerable assistance with this. Venture Crew 1 provided assistance at some of the stations.
Loy Moser scripted the History of Eagle trail for the evening of September 14th; and Michael Gordon gave a brief talk comparing Eagle Scouts with the real thing, the bald eagles of Alaska. While waiting for the Scouts to complete the trail, we watched the movie "Scout Camp" projected onto a screen at the fire bowl amphitheater.
Photographs by Michael Gordon, 15 September 2012.
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By Michael Gordon, District Advancement Committee, Old Ephraim District (A talk at the fire bowl accompanied by photographs of bals eagles in Alaska and Eagle Scouts receiving awards)
Benjamin Franklin wanted the United States National Bird to be the turkey. Had that been the case, our top Scouts might have been called "Turkey Scouts" instead of Eagle Scouts. I suspect not many people wanted to be Turkey Scouts.
So what makes an eagle different from a turkey or other kinds of bird? Let us look at four kinds of bird that represent four kinds of person.
The sparrow lives for the moment eating french fries at Mickey D's. The human equivalent is a young person playing video games every waking moment; no sense of past, future or purpose in life. This kind of bird is pretty but not particularly useful. Food just appears until of course one day it doesn't.
The owl represents knowledge and wisdom, the introverts among us. Owls don't actually DO much; they spend their days sitting in a tree trying to avoid crows and at night occasionally go hunting. The human equivalent is a young person who possesses vast knowledge of trivia. His day is spent gathering more of the same. He is somewhat better off than the sparrow because he is improving his mind and that's a fine thing to do.
The crow or raven is playful and mischievous, the extraverts among us. He uses his intelligence to find new ways of harassing owls but he is also more skilled at finding food and will at times store food in hiding places for future use. He thinks ahead. The human equivalent is the extravert on the playground, the center of attention, the life of the party; and sometimes bullies geeks. He also lives for the moment with not much sense of past or future; but if you are not going to be an eagle, a crow or raven is probably the next best thing and if play is top on your list, then this is the bird for you.
The eagle tends to be rather serious about life. They do play at times particularly in courting. You can see eagles in Cache Valley; and if you see one flying, notice that they are usually going somewhere in a straight line. They have a sense of purpose and intention. They know where they have been, they know where they are going and what they are going to do when they get there. To be sure, eagles are sometimes harassed by crows, but often ignore the crow. The human equivalent is the Eagle Scout -- playful at times, but he knows that food does not just appear, neither housing, friends nor mates. He is already preparing himself at a young age to be a man; and with that preparation will actually find more happiness and joy, better service to others at less burden to himself, than nearly all of his youthful peers.
The eagle endures hardship and stays focused on the goal.
Eagle Scouts endure challenges in their scouting experience culminating in the Eagle Project. This is where they tie all of these skills together in one glorious challenge. Surprises and obstacles arise allowing them to demonstrate that initiative, ingenuity and determination produce success.
Eagles of Alaska Some photographs of bald eagles made by Michael Gordon in Alaska
By Loy Moser. Each of these topics was presented by a Scout along the "Northwest Passage" trail at Camp Aspen Ridge the evening of 14 September 2012. Troops traveling along the trail would stop and listen to each of these presentations
On August 21st, 1912, Arthur Rose Eldred, became the first Eagle Scout. One hundred years later we celebrate his accomplishment and example. He was a Scout in the truest sense of the word - one who goes outside what is known to observe and return with intelligence and experience of what is ahead.
Arthur joined America's newly born program of Scouting in 1910 as part of his brother's troop in Oceanside, New York. During his first five months, he quickly moved through the ranks to First Class. By April of 1912, he had earned 21 merit badges and a little time later applied to become an Eagle Scout. Because he was the first, Arthur's Eagle board of review was different. He was interviewed by James E. West, Ernest Thompson Seton, and Daniel Carter Beard, founders of the Boy Scouts of America and leaders of the national organization.
He proved himself a Scout worthy of the award of Eagle. Arthur was not only ahead of other Scouts, but quicker than the badge itself. He had to wait a few weeks for the first of the Eagle Awards to be completed in production.
Since Arthur went ahead into the unknown a century ago, two million young men have earned the rank that is our national symbol and the ultimate achievement in Boy Scouts. During this anniversary 50,000 Scouts across America will join Arthur as Eagles.
Will you rise up and Scout ahead to see and experience what others will not, or dare not? Will you become an Eagle?
The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. We will perform later in life what we practice in our youth, and the actions required of the Eagle rank are perfect practice pieces.
The things we do to earn Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are activities to develop ourselves and to teach values found in the Scout Oath - to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. Swimming and fitness goals are there. First aid, camping and life saving skills that train our minds are there. Learning about the dangers of harmful substances and practices, developing good citizenship and personal responsibility are all in there.
Star and Life ranks turn our focus to others by requiring service in a position within the troop and service in the community. Have you ever noticed that most of the Scout Law is words that describe relationships with those around us? Earning these ranks help us practice the Scout Law.
The rank of Eagle Scout helps us practice the first line of the Oath - On my honor I will do my best. Doing what it takes to become an Eagle brings out the best in us. It brings together and builds on what we learned in the ranks earned along the trail to Eagle Scout. We have become our best. That is why we say you are an Eagle, not that you simply have a badge.
Do you see that advancement is not the end goal, but how you play the game? Will you become an Eagle?
In the Scout Oath we promise to do our duty to God, and our country, ... and to help other people at all times. Service is how we do this. We learn how to serve as we earn Tenderfoot through Life, but we get to do something special with our Eagle Scout Service Project.
An Eagle Project is an act of service that is significant and lasting. It may not be physically present for long, but must be felt into the future. Many of you have heard what others have done, or even helped them in their service projects. It is a rewarding experience in and of itself. You feel good. You share that feeling with the recipients and the participants. You feel closer to others, and you feel closer to God.
It can be compared to a hike into a camping site. Some Scouts become focused only on arriving at the camp, that is the goal, that is all that is important. But wiser and happier Scouts have learned that much of the camping experience is the journey to camp: the beautiful sights and sounds of mountains and streams, plants and animals, earth and sky. It is the same way with the Eagle Service Project. It is not simply a requirement for an advancement or means to an end, it is the journey. Enjoy the journey. You will be wiser and happier.
Will you serve? Will you become an Eagle Scout?
On the Trail to Eagle, you get the chance to lead a part of your troop - it is a part of rank advancement. Those who are effective leaders learn that this does not mean that you can make people do what you say. They realize that everyone wants to be a part of something. Good leaders learn to share the work and the fun. Even if you hold no leader position in the troop, being dependable when given an assignment is being a good leader. Others will see that they can trust you and that you are willing to do part of the work yourself. They will follow you and your example.
When you do your Eagle Project, you get to be the leader. You decide what the project will be. You get to plan where, when and how to do it, what you will need to do it, and even who you will invite to help do it. You will do hours of work before anyone has lifted a shovel.
You will work with Scouts and adults. Often things don't go exactly as planned, and you learn how to adjust and continue. It can be a little scary, but it feels great to help others and you will grow from the experience. It will prepare you for leading later in life.
Many Eagle Scouts have gone on to be great leaders: President Gerald Ford, astronaut Neil Armstrong, film maker Steven Spielberg and athlete Hank Aaron.
Will you be a leader? Will you become an Eagle Scout?
The Trail to Eagle does not end at the badge. You become an Eagle. You are an Eagle. And that means things have just begun.
"I reaffirm my allegiance To the three promises of the Scout Oath, I thoughtfully recognize And take upon myself The obligations and responsibilities Of an Eagle Scout. On my honor I will do my best To make my training and example, My rank and my influence Count strongly for better Scouting And for better citizenship In my troop, In my community, And in my contacts with other people. To this I pledge my sacred honor."
In your troop you can give back by being a junior, and later, an adult leader. All the skills and experience you have can be shared with those who are still on the trail to Eagle.
In your community you can continue to serve and be a leader. This may be in the position of a volunteer in our schools or working as the mayor of your city. You can decide how and where to serve, but you are now an Eagle, you can not go back to being less.
You can join the NESA, National Eagle Scout Association and learn how other Eagles go on to soar by doing more for those around them.
Will you use your Eagle's wings to lift yourself and others? Will you become an Eagle?