Then...We went to another Cache called "MicroMonkey" which we knew was hanging in a tree. Again we found another stream littered with trash and wished we had a bag or two. We also posted on the website that this one also needed a CITO (Cache In Trash Out). Anyway we finally found this and even though we were in the woods we could hear muggles near by. This was a great little find and a fun hunt!

Today, after swimming in a EMPTY POOL!! Yeah that's right we had the WHOLE Pool to ourselves!! We headed out find 2 more cache's on our way home. One was a multi-cache, which means you go to one place and get new coordinates somehow and then find the prize in a different place. So this one you got the clue at a Boy Scout Memorial. The Cache was called "Be Prepared" and since I am a former Scout leader I thought I would leave something special. So I left 100 year old ashes that I been sitting on for a while. The ashes have been around the world and even to the moon! Baden Powell and his wife started them over 100 years ago. So I left a piece of those ashes in that cache.

Then just .3 of mile away was a "mini arboretum" where we stopped for a quick mini cache. It was at this place Mt. Washington Arboretum. That had some amazing trees, plants and flowers. Great little sanctuary just a skip out of the city. We were surprised at all the edibles as well. Whomever was heading that up was surely Permaculture friendly. We of course enjoyed our visit here although the hunt was easy. But we loved that the cache showed us this public sanctuary one the edge of the city!

You can see them here: Festival 08 Photos

Scout Environment Weeks is a simple, yet highly effective concept to encourage Scouts to learn more about our environment and be active locally, whilst working towards some of the many environmental awards available in Scouts. To participate in Scout Environment Weeks with your local Scout Group there are three simple criteria:

• Must be conducted within the month of September.
• All participants must complete a minimum total of 4 hours which will contain education or training and a practical work component.
• All activities should be conducted within a 50km radius of your formation’s regular place of meeting.

A colourful Certificate of Appreciation is available for each Scout Group once a registered activity is completed. All forms should be sent to your Branch Commissioner for Environment via your Branch Scout Centre.

Welcome to Scout Environment Weeks 2008!

Scout Environment Weeks is a simple initiative that gives you and your youth members the opportunity to make a difference in your local environment and community.

Simply run a project within 50km of your meeting place in the month of September, let us know what you did and we'll send you certificates to reward your efforts.

You will shortly be receiving a Scout Environment Weeks Kit (SEWing Kit), complete with all the resources and information you'll need to get the most out of this initiative.

Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear them!

Contact details for your friendly Branch Commissioner for the Environment and myself are in the Kit and you are always welcome to contact us.

I look forward to working with you to make a big difference with small projects across Australia in September!

Yours in Scouting,

Gordon Young
National Adviser for the Environment
Scouts Australia

[1] Scout Environment Weeks, September 2008 [Scouts Australia]
[2] Scout Environment Weeks, September 2007 [Scouts Australia]

திருக்கோணமலை மாவட்ட சாரணர் சங்கத்தின் சிபார்சுக்கு அமை வாக இந் நியமனங்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Boys of all ages and their families interested in Scouting can learn all about Uthoff Valley's Pack 776 at this informative event.

Boys will be play games in the gym with other scouts during the parent meeting. New scouts will receive a special gift from the Pack for joining. Parents will learn about the Cub Scout program. There will be examples of scout uniforms and displays showing the exciting projects our Scouts have accomplished.

Joining Scouts is simple and fun! Scouts who start as first graders will be in Tiger Dens, which are groups of no more than eight boys and a Leader. Tigers are required to bring an adult to all meetings and events. Tigers can expect to have three meetings a month: a den meeting for crafts and games, a "Go See It" field trip, and a Pack meeting where all the scouts gather for award recognition.

Boys can start scouting at any age! All boys will be placed in a den at their grade level. We start fresh each year so there is no "catching up" to do if you join in August.
For more information about Scouting, see the official Website: www.joincubscouting.org.

Any Scout who would like to help build our Fenton Founder’s Day Parade Float should meet at John Foster’s house, Wed. Sept. 3 at 6:30pm.  The float theme is “camping”.  Call John for directions or info: 225-3146.  This will also count as a Summertime Pack Activity!

Taste of Scouting

New Cub Scouts and their families are invited to enjoy a "Taste of Scouting" on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Beaumont Scout Reservation.

New Cub Scouts can spend the day doing archery, crossing a monkey bridge, building crafts, climbing aboard a pirate ship and many other fun activities. Come and go as you like. You may bring a picnic lunch. Cost is $5 per family.

For details: www.stlbsa.org/Common/Home/Taste+of+Scouting.htm

Fall Fright Fest

Fall Fright Fest will be held Saturday, Oct. 11, from 4 to 9 p.m. Cost is $7 per Cub Scout. The reservation deadline is Sept. 26: see your den leader to sign up! Attendance is limited to 1,000 Scouts, and reservations will be closed at this capacity -- even if it is before Sept. 28. Packs will be assigned a time to visit the event based on your preferences.

Buy Girl Scouts Memory Activity Kit Now

]]> http://rikkiresources.wordpress.com/?p=239 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:33:03 +0000 visibleprocrastinations http://rikkiresources.wordpress.com/?p=239 In Baden-Powell's "Wolf Cub's Handbook" [1] he mentions Sixes being of the six colours representing the colour of Raksha's cubs.

A Six, as you probably know, is made up of six boys under a Leader, and these always stick together for work or for play, and each Six is called after a Wolf by its colour - either the Black Wolves, the Brown Wolves, the White Wolves, The Grey Wolves, the Tawny Wolves or Red Wolves.
Each Cub wears on his arm a triangular badge of cloth the colour of his six.
-- Sixth Bite, Wolf Cub's Handbook

The name in brackets following the six is a possible jungle-name for the sixer of the six, based on an idea in Gilcraft's "Wolf Cubs" [2]

1. Grey (Grey Brother) - Grey Brother, the oldest of Father Wolf and Raksha's four cubs and their de facto leader, he and his brothers grow up with the adopted "man-cub" Mowgli and often hunt and fight alongside him.

“The stars are thin,” said Grey Brother, snuffing at the dawn wind. “Where shall we lair today? For, from now, we follow new trails.”
-- "The Spring Running", The Second Jungle Book

2. Black (Black Plume) -

3. Brown (Brown Tip) -

4. Tawny (Tawny Fur) -

5. Red (Red Fang) -

6. White (WhiteClaw) -

[1] Wolf Cub's Handbook [The Dump]
[1] Wolf Cub's by Gilcraft [The Dump]

]]> http://tconews.wordpress.com/?p=956 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:36:50 +0000 tconews http://tconews.wordpress.com/?p=956 கொழும்பு மாவட்ட சாரணர் சங்கம் நடத்தும் 45வது வருடாந்த சாரணர் ஒன்றுகூடல் 26ஆம் திகதி தொடக்கம் 31 ஆம் திகதி வரை கொழும்பு விகாரமகாதேவி பூங்காவில் நடைபெறுகின்றது.
இம் முகாமில் பங்கு கொள்வதற்காக திருக்கோணமலை  மாவட்ட சாரணர் சங்கத்தில் இருந்த 8 பாடசாலைகளைச் சேர்ந்த சாரணர் கள் 35பேருடன் இம்பீசா திரிசாரணர்கள் 5 பேரும் கலந்து கொள் கின்றனர். இவர்களுடன் சாரணர் தலைவர்கள் 6 பேர் பங்கு கொள் கின்றனர்.  கலைமகள் வித்தியாலயத்தின் சாரணர் தலைவர் இ.தேவராஜா இக்குழுவிற்கு தலைமை வகித்து அழைத்துச் செல்கின்றார்.

]]> http://172scouts.wordpress.com/?p=165 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:05:52 +0000 172scouts http://172scouts.wordpress.com/?p=165 Welcome Back!

I hope you have all had a good holiday and are raring to go for the new term.
Also welcome to the new scouts that have just joined us.

New Start Time
For now on Scouts will start at 7:30pm and finish at 9:15pm.
Juniper Green Church Hall – Hall 1 - Woodhall Avenue.

This is to accommodate leaders availability.

About Us
For those who are new to the 172nd Pentland Scouts I thought it might be worth introducing ourselves.
Currently we have 3 leaders:

Chris Welch - Scout Leader
I am the scout leader and have been with the 172nd Troop for 10 years.
I have been Scout Leader since 2002. Prior to 2002 I was Assistant Scout Leader.
Before joining the 172nd Troop I was an Assistant Scout leader in a group in Longstone for 7 years.
We have ran very many varied activities over the years and always try to get out and about as much as possible.
Some highlights include travelling to Holland and The Czech Republic, camping at -6 degrees Celsius, camping up the Ochil Hills.

Kirsty Smith - Assistant Scout Leader.
Kirsty has been with us for 4 years. Prior to joining scouts she was a Guide leader.
If there is any questions regarding payments for anything Kirsty should be the first point of contact.

Robert Candy - Assistant Scout Leader
Robert has been in the 172nd Scout Group since he was a beaver, and is always at scout events.

Neill Sinclair - Group Scout Leader
Neill has been Group Scout Leader since 2002. Prior to that he was Scout Leader.
Although he is not actually part of the Scout Leader Team, Neill very regularity is involved in the Scout nights and at camps.

Festival Camp 08
From the feedback I have received the summer camp at "Festival 08" in Fordel Firs, everyone had a great time. Lots of activities, friends, and fun were had.
All of the 172nd Pentland scouts that attended the camp have gained the Creative Challenge Badge.
We also gained the reputation of being the loudest sub-camp on site!
You can see the photos from camp on our website - http://www.172scouts.com

This Term
There are many activities in the planning stage for this term. Some of the possibles are Swimmers badge, mountain biking, Laser Quest anyone?, camping, and new challenge badges.

Fund Raising

It is at this time of year that we ask everyone in the Scout Group (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers) to help with some significant fund raising.

We have 2 events that compromise our main fund raising for the year.

These are Scout Post and a Bag Pack. You may say, “but we already provide funding via the annual subscriptions”. The majority of subscriptions we ask for goes towards registration and insurance to the Scout Association. That means that if we want to run all the great activities throughout the year at a reasonable cost then we need to do fund raising.

The dates for fund raising will be communicated shortly.

Scout Post

I would like to ask that all scouts are involved in collecting/delivering Scout Post in December. This year we have managed to swap the Commiston area for Baberton. There are several other areas in Edinburgh that we deliver to.

Scout post can raise approximately £500 - £600.

Bag Pack

The other event that we do is a bag pack in one of the supermarkets. Once again I would like to ask all scouts to be involved in this. The more people we have available the better the fund raising is. I would also like to ask all parents/guardians to come along and help too since more adults can be useful.

We only ask you to do a 2 hour slot over the 6 hours that we do the bag packing for.

We can raise between £500 and £1000 depending on the number of checkouts manned.

Contact Information
Chris Welch - Scout Leader
Email: chris@172scouts.com

]]> http://tamiadiscret.wordpress.com/?p=152 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:40:24 +0000 tamiadiscret http://tamiadiscret.wordpress.com/?p=152 Avant le camp il faut obligatoirement se retrouver entre ami et se faire une bonne bouff avant de (retourner) a l'état primitif...             

                                               

                        

Le Touch and Go est un super endroit où on peu se réunir et prendre un ptit verre...

Faire des découvertes... =D

Où on peut prendre la pause ... =D

 

 

 

 

 

Où un touriste arrive une heure plus tard (voir ci contre)

                   

 

 

Et surtout où on BOUFFE !!!! =D

 

Et puis on rentre boire un verre dans le carré et puis dodo car le lendemain c'est le CAMP... (article  venir)

]]> http://techmusicmagik.wordpress.com/?p=469 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:02:06 +0000 techmusicmagik http://techmusicmagik.wordpress.com/?p=469

]]> http://beepbeepboop.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/the-florida-connection/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:49:20 +0000 beepbeepboop http://beepbeepboop.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/the-florida-connection/ Okay, I've got a bit of a big update today. In fact, I will be splitting this update into two posts, because two big events just took place.

First of all, you may recall me saying that I would be in Florida until Saturday. I am not in Florida. How could that be?

Well, here's why: the trip was canceled about 24 hours in because of Hurricane Fay. Apparently, it is rare for a hurricane to hit the keys. Go figure.

I think I said in my last post that I would blog about summer camp later... I have been meaning to, but I have been very busy (read: Counter Strike). I will get to it today, word of honor.

]]> http://172scouts.wordpress.com/?p=162 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:39:33 +0000 172scouts http://172scouts.wordpress.com/?p=162 More photos have been uploaded from the Festival 08 camp.

Please follow the link here: Festival 08 Photos

]]> http://172scouts.wordpress.com/?p=160 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:40:57 +0000 172scouts http://172scouts.wordpress.com/?p=160 We have updloaded more photos from the Festival 08 Camp.

Who won the battle of the scouts v the guides?

]]> http://copamyst.wordpress.com/?p=171 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:16:34 +0000 jamw http://copamyst.wordpress.com/?p=171

Barcelona	2	x	3	Lazio
	5	Chutes	8
	4	Chutes em Gol	7
	1	Corners	3
	0	Faltas	0
	0	Impedimentos	0
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	43,00%		57,00%
Real	0	x	0	Inter
	5	Chutes	9
	3	Chutes em Gol	3
	1	Corners	1
	1	Faltas	3
	0	Impedimentos	2
	0	Cartão amarelo	1
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	43,00%		57,00%
Barcelona	1	x	0	Inter
	3	Chutes	5
	1	Chutes em Gol	4
	3	Corners	1
	1	Faltas	1
	0	Impedimentos	0
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	45,00%		55,00%
Lazio	1	x	1	Real
	4	Chutes	3
	2	Chutes em Gol	2
	0	Corners	2
	2	Faltas	0
	1	Impedimentos	0
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	47,00%		53,00%
Inter	2	x	0	Lazio
	17	Chutes	3
	9	Chutes em Gol	2
	4	Corners	0
	4	Faltas	4
	1	Impedimentos	1
	1	Cartão amarelo	2
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	48,00%		52,00%
Lazio	1	x	1	Real
	4	Chutes	3
	2	Chutes em Gol	2
	0	Corners	2
	2	Faltas	0
	1	Impedimentos	0
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	47,00%		53,00%
Real	4	x	2	Barcelona
	11	Chutes	11
	9	Chutes em Gol	8
	4	Corners	3
	1	Faltas	3
	0	Impedimentos	1
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	63		37,00%
Lazio	1	x	1	Barcelona
	10	Chutes	8
	6	Chutes em Gol	5
	4	Corners	2
	2	Faltas	2
	0	Impedimentos	0
	2	Cartão amarelo	1
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	54,00%		46,00%
Inter	1	x	1	Real
	7	Chutes	4
	4	Chutes em Gol	2
	4	Corners	2
	3	Faltas	0
	1	Impedimentos	0
	1	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	53,00%		47,00%
Inter	3	x	1	Barcelona
	11	Chutes	10
	8	Chutes em Gol	7
	4	Corners	5
	2	Faltas	0
	1	Impedimentos	0
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	59,00%		41,00%
Real	1	x	2	Lazio
	2	Chutes	11
	1	Chutes em Gol	9
	0	Corners	4
	3	Faltas	1
	2	Impedimentos	0
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	42,00%		58,00%
Lazio	1	x	2	Inter
	7	Chutes	10
	4	Chutes em Gol	8
	0	Corners	3
	1	Faltas	3
	0	Impedimentos	1
	1	Cartão amarelo	1
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	42,00%		58,00%
Barcelona	0	x	4	Real
	5	Chutes	12
	1	Chutes em Gol	8
	0	Corners	2
	1	Faltas	0
	1	Impedimentos	0
	0	Cartão amarelo	0
	0	Cartão Vermelho	0
	46,00%		54,00%

]]> http://pfandtasse.wordpress.com/?p=353 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:35:15 +0000 Till http://pfandtasse.wordpress.com/?p=353 Am Wochenende war ich als Referent beim Jugendmedienevent 2008, einer Veranstaltung für Nachwuchsjournalisten. Ausgerichtet wurde die viertägige Veranstaltung von der Jungen Presse, einem etablierten Jugendmedienverband. Ich habe dort Seminare zum Thema Web 2.0 geleitet. Die Arbeit mit den jungen Medienmachern ab 13 Jahren hat mir viel Spaß gemacht, wenn man sich als Referent auch zwischenzeitlich von den Veranstaltern ein wenig allein gelassen vorkam. Im Moment beschäftigt mich aber eher eine Randerscheinung des Events:

"Scouts" weisen den rechten Weg

Offenbar waren die in weiten Teilen minderjährigen Teilnehmer rund um die Uhr von einem PR-Team der GEMA umgeben. Die GEMA nennt sie jugendlich-sympathisch "Scouts". Ihre Aufgabe war, den Jungjournalisten unter den Fuß zu geben, wie toll die GEMA und wie verwerflich das illegale Herunterladen von Musik sei. In der Pressemitteilung der GEMA liest sich das so:

"Sieben GEMAscouts – selbst Schüler im Alter von 13 bis 18 Jahren – sind vor Ort und vermitteln als Botschafter der GEMA den Jung- und Schülerzeitungsredakteuren ihr Wissen über die kreative Leistung von Musikschaffenden. Mit ihrer Aufklärungsarbeit tragen die GEMAscouts dazu bei, das Bewusstsein für den Wert von Musik zu schärfen, denn Texten und Komponieren von Musik ist trotz zunehmender Digitalisierung sehr zeit- und arbeitsintensiv."

So viel zum PR-Sprech. Für die Teilnehmer stellte es sich so dar: Die sieben "GEMAscouts" mischten sich über die gesamte Dauer des Events unter die Teilnehmer, beim Essen, beim Schlafen in der Turnhalle, beim Freizeitprogramm. Und gingen einigen gehörig auf die Nerven.

Kein Hinweis

Die GEMA trat unter vielen anderen als Partner des Jugendmedienevents auf. Es gab eine Diskussionsrunde zum Thema Copyright & Co mit Ulf Herrmann, Manager Online & Mobile bei der GEMA, und weiteren Vertretern der Musikbranche. Auf der offiziellen Website des Jugendmedienevents gibt es aber keinen Hinweis auf die Anwesenheit eines solchen PR-Teams. Lena Scholz, Mitglied der Veranstaltungsleitung, erkärt, dass die sieben GEMA-Scouts "eigentlich nur normale Teilnehmer" waren, deren Teilnahme von der GEMA finanziert wurde. Mehr habe man von denen nicht mitgekriegt. Allerdings hat die GEMA den Evaluationsbogen der Veranstaltung anscheinend gleich für die Messung ihrer eigenen PR-Aktivität genutzt: Auf dem Bogen befanden sich auch Fragen zur GEMA und zu illegalen Downloads.

Da treiben sich also Leute mit klarem PR-Auftrag (die selbst noch Jugendliche sind) als ganz normale Teilnehmer auf einer Veranstaltung für junge Nachwuchsjournalisten herum und sagen ihr Sprüchlein auf. Die Aktion bleibt für die Teilnehmer und deren Erziehungsberechtigte völlig unangekündigt und unkommentiert. Es mag ja völlig rechtens sein. Mir graut trotzdem davor, dass das Schule macht.

Rechtlich und PR-Ethisch in Ordnung

Der Vorsitzende des Deutschen Rats für Public Relations Richard Gaul weist für PR-Ethik allgemein auf den Grundsatz des "offenen Visiers" hin: Ist eine PR-Aktion als solche zu erkennen bzw. der Auftraggeber klar ersichtlich, ist die PR in dieser Hinsicht in Ordnung. Die "GEMA-Scouts" trugen T-Shirts mit GEMA-Aufdruck. Es sieht so aus, als sei diesem Grundsatz Genüge getan - wenn auch so mancher die Shirts erst für Promo-Ware gehalten und sich nichts dabei gedacht hat. Besonders schlau kann man die Aktion trotzdem nicht nennnen, denn manche Teilnehmer waren gar nicht begeistert. Sie machten sich auch in den Feedbackbögen der Veranstaltung Luft, wie mir eine Referentin berichtete. Dass die nun glühende Befürworter der GEMA werden, ist zweifelhaft.

Woher kommen die GEMA-Scouts?

Dank Lukas, der einen der beim Jugendmedienevent im Vorfeld des Jugendmedienevents durch die Junge Presse unter die Leute gebrachten Flyer gescannt hat (Text hier), und der Kommunikationsabteilung der GEMA bin ich nun schlauer. Ich zitiere: "Bei der BRAVO Supershow 2007 haben sich mehrere Hundert Jugendliche als GEMAscouts beworben." 23 davon wurden ausgelost, 22 verbleiben. "Bevor die GEMAscouts ihrer Aufgabe, z.B. in Form von freiwilligen Vorträgen in ihrere Klasse, nachkommen konnten, fand in den vergangenen Monaten ein Kennenlernen mit der GEMA bei Konzerten von Roger Cicero statt - Meet&Greet inklusive! Zum großen gemeinsamen Auftakt kamen Anfang Mai ale Scouts nach Nürnberg zum GEMAscouts-Workshop. Zur Einstimmung wurde am Vorabed die BRAVO Supershow besucht." Aha.

Zur Klarstellung: Ich bin selbst Produzent geistigen Eigentums und sicher nicht für dessen Diebstahl. Ich kaufe gern CDs. Es geht mir hier also nicht um den Inhalt, sondern um die Form, und die finde ich nicht gerade zukunftsweisend.

]]> http://escribosikiero.wordpress.com/?p=237 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:32:09 +0000 Karlos1337 http://escribosikiero.wordpress.com/?p=237 Otro verano más 15 días de vacaciones con mi gente, esta vez en Burgos, campamento tradicional junto con todo el grupo de Lorca y no podría haberlo pasado mejor, ruta excepcional con Jungla, actividades de lujo con mis chic@s, construcciones geniales y un buen rollo general en todo el campamento, mención especial a intendencia y sus intendentes (viva el Jota y su cocina serrana), necesitaría un nuevo blog para agradecimientos y anécdotas así que de momento dejo solo unas cuantas fotos:

[caption id="attachment_238" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Recien llegados"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_239" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="En construcción"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_240" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="La Covacha"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_241" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="De ruta"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_242" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sin palabras"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_243" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Staff (me faltaron Noe e Ines)"][/caption] ]]> http://dragonspeed.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/im-off-to-the-stein-valley-2/ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:00:47 +0000 dragonspeed http://dragonspeed.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/im-off-to-the-stein-valley-2/ Today we are heading out to the Stein Valley to hike with the Venturers from my group.

We have 10 days of hiking planned and then a day of river rafting.  It's going to be a real challenge.  The last time I did this hike was 14 years ago.  It was tough then.  Now that I'm 40.... Urgh, it's gonna be tough.

When Mrs D and I hiked this the last time, our camera batteries died on the first day :(  We only got 3 pictures.  This time, I'm bringing the 40D and 2 batteries.  2 x 4GB cards.  I WILL make sure I get my pictures!

Here's our itinerary... I'll be back online by the 29th at latest.

Day 1:                    Sunday, August 17 – Departure Date
                              0645: Leave Hall for main bus terminal
                              0800: Greyhound bus to Whistler Village for transport to Blackcomb Helicopters
                              1200: Helicopter to Tabletop Mountain
                              Hike begins - Tabletop Mountain to Caltha Lake (4.5 hours) 

Day 2:                    Caltha Lake to Tundra Lake (8 hours)

Day 3:                    Ultimate Challenge Day - Tundra Lake to Stein Lake (10 hours)

Day 4:                    Stein Lake to Avalanche Creek (5 hours)

Day 5:                    Avalanche Creek to Cottonwood Creek (6 hours)

Day 6:                    REST DAY: NO HIKING; Remain at Cottonwood Creek

Day 7:                    Cottonwood Creek to Ponderosa (5 hours)

Day 8:                    Ponderosa to Lower Cable Cross (6 hours)

Day 9:                    Cable Cross to Devil’s Staircase (7 hours)

Day 10:                 Devil’s Staircase to Stein Valley Trailhead (2.5 hours)
                              Hike to Lytton (3 hours)
                              Lodging at Lytton: Jade Springs Campground

Day 11:                 Wednesday, August 27
                              1030: Hyak River Rafting on the Thompson River

Day 12:                Thursday, August 28 – Return Day
                              1645: Greyhound to Vancouver
                              2145: Arrival at Vancouver bus terminal

Technorati Tags: Stein Valley, Hiking, Scouts Canada, 40th Marpole Scouts, Hyak River Rafting, Lytton

]]> http://heshalldirect.wordpress.com/?p=22 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:08:51 +0000 Fr. Daniel Sparks http://heshalldirect.wordpress.com/?p=22 Fr. Daniel Sparks, author of He Shall Direct Thy Paths, is offering a free copy of the book to any current or former member of the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment (3-61 CAV) from Fort Carson, Colorado. The book will be mailed at no cost to the Soldier or personally delivered by Fr. Sparks.

Soldiers or former Soldiers of 3-61 CAV may request a copy of the book by email, phone, postal mail, or by speaking directly with Fr. Sparks. Requests should include a valid mailing address.

]]> http://momentsinthemayhem.wordpress.com/?p=2415 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:42:29 +0000 Kathy http://momentsinthemayhem.wordpress.com/?p=2415 Sweat! Is that what you do? So do I! (I'm not sure if anyone will know the song I'm talking about, but oh well.) We're experiencing a little heat wave here. There hasn't been much new to report, but I thought I'd just give an overview of what we've been up to.

Scott has been working hard, as usual. His last week of military training this year was learning to fight fires, so that was kind of interesting for him. It's always more fun when he gets to do something different. Luckily, he wasn't called up to fight any fires, which they could do now that he's trained. Although I guess we're not out of the woods yet on fire season, especially with this heat! He's been doing a good job with his 11-year-old scouts and they're planning a fun hike for next weekend. Tonight he has all our boys at the library for a Friday night movie. Quiet house! No sounds of the television, Wii, or loud children blasting into my ears! It's strange, but I'll take it.

I have been working extra this week since Karin, the other girl on my transcription account, is on vacation. It wasn't too bad really. It could have been a lot busier. I ordered a canner. It hasn't arrived yet, but I have been eagerly watching my tomatoes every day to see when they will ripen. I'm excited to try canning some tomatoes and maybe try making some salsa or spaghetti sauce to can. It will be my first attempt at that, so it should be interesting. I have a feeling it won't be long until they ripen, since I know they love sunshine. The plants are a determinate variety, which I learned means they all ripen at the same time, perfect for my canning plans. I also really want to get out and pick some peaches. I just started seeing signs for them and I so loved the peaches I canned last year that I really have to do that again for sure. Mostly I'm just trying to survive our little heat spell. We spent some time at the lovely air conditioned library today, which was great. Noah loves it there between reading stories, doing puzzles, coloring, and playing with the toys. We happened upon an activity there playing Wii games on a big screen, which Sammy did. Gabe and Josh were at the swimming pool cooling off there. I'm enjoying my book "The Good Husband of Zebra Drive," part of the Ladies Detective Agency series. I haven't read one of that series for a long time, so it's fun visiting those characters again.

Gabe had a successful week of scout camp last week. He enjoyed it and got some things accomplished. He seems to have a new motivation for scouts, which is exciting. He did some rock climbing and has been showing me all the cool knots he learned for that. He takes on funny projects around the house. He loves our new ladder, so he used that to clean my really high windows inside and out. He has also done some more painting, but not as much as I'd like because he gets sidetracked into other things. For example, this morning he decided he needed to know all about how radio frequencies worked so he studied up on that in the encyclopedia and online.

Josh is back into football season, sweating it out and getting in shape. He and Sammy decided to sleep on the trampoline last night since their room was too hot and the poor kid got completely devoured by mosquitoes. Bug spray for that kid from now on! He must have his mom's blood. Sammy must have his dad's blood, which for whatever reason the mosquitoes don't like. No fair! I've been giving him piano lessons, basically just following the lesson that Sammy gets. It gives me some structure to follow to make teaching easier for me and I save the cost of a lesson. He has been doing great with that and seems to really enjoy it.

Speaking of piano, Sammy is doing well with his piano lessons too. He complains sometimes about practicing, but once he starts he enjoys it and usually goes back and plays old songs and messes around making stuff up, so I think he just likes to pretend he doesn't want to practice, because he really seems to like it. Or probably he just doesn't want to be pulled away from whatever he's doing, but once he starts playing he's fine. Sammy also plays with his friends a lot. Pretty much every day he either goes to a friend's house or has a friend over here.

Noah's favorite things are watching his shows, especially Blue's Clues, and playing games on the computer. He learned to use the computer mouse this summer, and oh boy! Now the sharing of the computer between everyone in the family has gotten exponentially harder. As soon as the mouse thing clicked for him, a whole new world opened up and he doesn't like to give it up easily. Of course there is a dad and other brothers that need turns and a mom that needs to work or have her turn, so it can all be very hard for an almost 3-year-old. He also doesn't go very far without a notebook under his arm and he's constantly drawing. I try to keep the writing utensils under control and away from him, which works okay until I feel bad that he just wants to draw in his notebook. Of course the drawing has a way of migrating other places besides the notebook. Yep, still working on that problem!

Well, that's what we're up to these days. It's pretty normal, mundane stuff, but I know that when I look back later I'll want to remember the day-to-day kind of things as well as the special events and occasions.

]]> http://thebronxzoo.wordpress.com/?p=1909 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:44:07 +0000 charihar http://thebronxzoo.wordpress.com/?p=1909 From ESPN:

A Major League Baseball source said Friday that the New York Yankees decided to fire two scouts for taking kickbacks from Dominican prospects after being briefed by MLB investigators on the financial scandal and the role the men played in it.

The fired officials were identified as Carlos Rios, the Yankees director of Latin American scouting, and Ramon Valdivia, the team's Dominican Republic scouting director. The two, who had been on leave, were terminated Thursday.

The source said that the Yankees have worked closely with MLB on the investigation. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman declined comment.

MLB investigators are still preparing a report on the skimming issue for commissioner Bud Selig. The report is expected to be finished within weeks, the source said.

Earlier this month, ESPN reported that Carlos Rios was a target of investigators for forcing several players to kick back a portion of their signing-bonus money. Sources have told ESPN that the investigation is expected to implicate roughly 20 employees on "a handful" of teams.

The 20 or so employees either received money or were aware of others who did. In late July, the Red Sox's Dominican scouting supervisor, Pablo Lantigua, was fired after MLB investigators confronted him about allegedly skimming signing bonuses, according to an MLB source.

Investigators have also expanded their probe to Venezuela, where many major-league clubs have academies.

Federal authorities also have been part of this probe. But sources have said FBI agents have limited their investigation to allegations surrounding fired White Sox official David Wilder, Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and Nationals special assistant Jose Rijo.

The White Sox also said findings from baseball's investigation had been given to federal authorities.

Bowden has confirmed that he has spoken with federal authorities but insists he has done nothing wrong; he said the FBI agents had asked him nothing about his own activities.

This is terrible. Hopefully this issue will be resolved quickly. I'm sure that this wasn't the first time scouts or team officials have taken advantage of Latin American prospects. Maybe this will serve as a cautionary tale for future team officials and prospects alike.

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