Scouts have bumpy landing

On Mar 19, 2:40 pm, "Morgans" wrote:
"Fred Goodwin, CMA" wrote

Thanx for that reminder.

Actually, to be a merit badge counselor, there is no fee required. If
you register for any other volunteer position (e.g., Scoutmaster or
unit commissioner), it does indeed cost $10, then you can add MBC or
additional volunteer positions for free.

But if you register *only* as a MBC, there is no charge.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^
As long as we are on the subject of becoming active in Boy Scouts, I should
mention the Explorer program, specifically, the Aviation Explorer program.
The Explorers are groups involved in about every career path that could be
taken in life. Examples are paramedic, police, nursing, engineering, and
the list goes on.

Explorers are a "division" of Boy Scouts, and more specifically, "Learning
for Life." Not to lose sight of the ball though, as the organizational
specifics are not important.

Aviation Explorers can be a pivotal way to increase our youth's interest in
aviation. In our post, we have had several youth take aviation as a career
path, when that was not the likely way they were headed.

It is not all that hard to get a new post started. The activities can be
broad, and varied, and not necessarily all aviation. We have gone to at
least two air shows per year (not counting the big one (OSH)) gone skiing,
rafting, to scuba certifying classes, directed parking and aircraft at our
area air show, helped with our local EAA fly-ins, and the list goes on.

I'll bet a good many people do not realize where all of the man (and boy
g) power comes from, to push and park all of the airplanes in the
homebuilt showplane area at OSH every year. It is all Explorers, and other
adult EAA advisors. They also man the ropes at the taxiways in area 51, do
crowd control and plane protection (from the few ignorant people watching
the daily airshow) People over 18 that have been to OSH two times as an
Explorer are eligible to be trained to flag aircraft on some of the active
taxiway intersections off of 18/36, serving one year as apprentice, then on
their own the next year. Shifts are 2 or three hours per day, with
opportunities to work double shifts, if desired.

The Aviation Explorers have a base on the airport grounds, down next to the
North airplane camping area, next to the Civil Air Patrol base camp. There
are usually a few more than 100 boys and girls, and 20 or 30 adult advisors.
Units come from Cleveland, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, North Carolina, and some
other far away places that I can't remember right now.

I can't emphasize how good of an experience Aviation Explorers can be for
you, and for our youth. For those people who really want to make a
difference in keeping G.A. alive, and even growing, IMHO, there is NO better
way to make it happen.

Seriously, think of getting some buddies together and start a post. It is
not hard, and very rewarding. I can point you to a person who is far more
qualified than me, to give you the specifics of how to make this all happen.

Contact me via back channels to get the contact person's name, at:


Make the two obvious BIG changes in my addy.

For other general questions, feel free to contact me, or better yet, post
them here, in newsgroup land.
--
Jim in NC

Its odd that BSA's site http://www.scouting.org/ doesn't mention
Explorers. I've not heard of them. Usually we try to get older boys
involved in Venture scouting to keep them interested.

-Robert

"Robert M. Gary" wrote

Its odd that BSA's site http://www.scouting.org/ doesn't mention
Explorers. I've not heard of them. Usually we try to get older boys
involved in Venture scouting to keep them interested.

This explains it far better than I could ever attempt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_for_Life

Here are a couple other unit specific sites.

http://www.lastfrontiercouncil.org/d...ingforlife.htm

http://www.troop97.net/bsainfo.htm

Notice that I put quotations around "division" of Boy Scouts, and that is
not even right, because it is now called just "Scouting."

Like I said, the divisions are not important. Helping our youth get "turned
on" to aviation is what is important.

Google "Learning for Life" if you want to know more, or even better, inquire
about starting a unit, by contacting me and getting _my_ contact person's
information.
--
Jim in NC

"Robert M. Gary" wrote:

As long as we are on the subject of becoming active in Boy Scouts, I should
mention the Explorer program, specifically, the Aviation Explorer program.

Its odd that BSA's site http://www.scouting.org/ doesn't mention
Explorers. I've not heard of them. Usually we try to get older boys
involved in Venture scouting to keep them interested.

It is not the least bit odd. The BSA organizes career programs for
charter organizations such as government agencies or corporations that
may have difficulty with belief in God under the Learning For Life
banner, a subsidiary of the BSA. Exploring and learning for life have
no Oath or Laws as Scouting does. Exploring falls under this banner.
For more on Exploring and Learning For Life visit:

http://www.learning-for-life.org/

http://www.learning-for-life.org/exploring/index.html

http://www.learning-for-life.org/exploring/aviation/index.html
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://scouters.us

On 2007-03-19 14:55:04 -0700, "Robert M. Gary" said:



Its odd that BSA's site http://www.scouting.org/ doesn't mention
Explorers. I've not heard of them. Usually we try to get older boys
involved in Venture scouting to keep them interested.

-Robert

Explorers are essentially a separate organization now. They were once
the only Scouting program for older boys. However, the organizational
structure of Explorers made it vulnerable to legal assault by people
who do not like Scouting or its core values, so the Venture and Varsity
programs were developed instead.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

On Mar 19, 4:40 pm, "Morgans" wrote:

As long as we are on the subject of becoming active in Boy Scouts,
I should mention the Explorer program, specifically, the Aviation
Explorer program.

Again, good call, Jim. Its possible there was an Explorer Post or two
in attendance, but if so, their presence wasn't obvious. What *was*
obvious was a group of youth in bright red t-shirts and BDU pants;
when my son and his buddy saw them, they both said, "Wow, look at
those Commando Scouts!".

Needless to say, I was a bit perturbed to think that a group of Scouts
would show up in military clothing, but it turned out the group was
actually the Civil Air Patrol and they were providing crowd control
assistance on the flight line.

I think at one time years ago, there was a division of Explorers
called "Air Scouts". I don't know what became of them, but I think
aviation posts are all that remain, at least here in the US. I
understand the UK still has Air Scouts.

Aviation Explorers can be a pivotal way to increase our youth's
interest in aviation. In our post, we have had several youth take
aviation as a career path, when that was not the likely way they
were headed.

How would you compare your aviation post to Civil Air Patrol? I was
in CAP for a very short time in middle school, but dropped out to play
football. I regret that decision, because I dropped out of Scouts,
also.

We have gone to at least two air shows per year (not counting the
big one (OSH)) gone skiing, rafting, to scuba certifying classes,
directed parking and aircraft at our area air show, helped with
our local EAA fly-ins, and the list goes on.

The event that started this thread was actually an EAA Fly-In; for the
last three years, the organizers have invited Boy Scouts to come out
and complete their aviation MB. My son and I both expressed our
gratitude that these men & women took time to give back to kids by
hosting the event, and giving the kids free rides (the two gear-up
landings, notwithstanding).

I appreciate your efforts to stimulate interest in avaiation careers
in the youth in your area via your Explorer Post. I wish more adults
with your passion could find a way to give back to youth.

The Aviation Explorers have a base on the airport grounds, down
next to the North airplane camping area, next to the Civil Air
Patrol base camp.

Do you find any crossover between your Aviation Post and the local
CAP?

I can't emphasize how good of an experience Aviation Explorers
can be for you, and for our youth. For those people who really
want to make a difference in keeping G.A. alive, and even growing,
IMHO, there is NO better way to make it happen.

Seriously, think of getting some buddies together and start a
post. It is not hard, and very rewarding. I can point you to a
person who is far more qualified than me, to give you the
specifics of how to make this all happen.

Your local Boy Scout Council can also help, but I think new posts are
a low priority for them, because the youth in a post are not
considered "traditional" members, and so don't help the local DE meet
his annual membership quota.

For other general questions, feel free to contact me, or better
yet, post them here, in newsgroup land.

Jim, thanx again for all you do for the youth in your area.

Again, good call, Jim. Its possible there was an Explorer Post or two
in attendance, but if so, their presence wasn't obvious.

Are you talking as, "Its possible there was an Explorer Post or two
in attendance," in refering to at OSH Airventure?



They are not obvious. It is not only "possible" that there were a couple
posts there, but there *WERE* a dozen or so posts there, *positively.*

Learning for Life programs, which Explorers are one of, wear no uniforms,
memorize no oaths or promises. The only way you could tell that they were
there is by asking anyone wearing an orange or green vest in the homebuilt
area if they are part of the Explorer group. There have been over 100 boys
and girls there for the last 7 years that I know of, and for more years than
that, as recorded- but not seen by me.

What *was*
obvious was a group of youth in bright red t-shirts and BDU pants;
when my son and his buddy saw them, they both said, "Wow, look at
those Commando Scouts!".

Needless to say, I was a bit perturbed to think that a group of Scouts
would show up in military clothing, but it turned out the group was
actually the Civil Air Patrol and they were providing crowd control
assistance on the flight line.

I think at one time years ago, there was a division of Explorers
called "Air Scouts". I don't know what became of them, but I think
aviation posts are all that remain, at least here in the US. I
understand the UK still has Air Scouts.

Aviation Explorers can be a pivotal way to increase our youth's
interest in aviation. In our post, we have had several youth take
aviation as a career path, when that was not the likely way they
were headed.

How would you compare your aviation post to Civil Air Patrol? I was
in CAP for a very short time in middle school, but dropped out to play
football. I regret that decision, because I dropped out of Scouts,
also.


I know nothing of Civil Air Patrol youth, so am unqualified to speak to
that.

We have gone to at least two air shows per year (not counting the
big one (OSH)) gone skiing, rafting, to scuba certifying classes,
directed parking and aircraft at our area air show, helped with
our local EAA fly-ins, and the list goes on.

The event that started this thread was actually an EAA Fly-In; for the
last three years, the organizers have invited Boy Scouts to come out
and complete their aviation MB. My son and I both expressed our
gratitude that these men & women took time to give back to kids by
hosting the event, and giving the kids free rides (the two gear-up
landings, notwithstanding).

Yes, it is a great thing, to fly the boys, which we try to get done at least
once a year. It is done with the EAA program (which I can't remember the
name, right now. Young Eagles; is that it?)

I appreciate your efforts to stimulate interest in avaiation careers
in the youth in your area via your Explorer Post. I wish more adults
with your passion could find a way to give back to youth.

Thanks. I am no longer active, but was for about 7 or more years.

The Aviation Explorers have a base on the airport grounds, down
next to the North airplane camping area, next to the Civil Air
Patrol base camp.

Do you find any crossover between your Aviation Post and the local
CAP?

None that I am aware of.

I can't emphasize how good of an experience Aviation Explorers
can be for you, and for our youth. For those people who really
want to make a difference in keeping G.A. alive, and even growing,
IMHO, there is NO better way to make it happen.

Seriously, think of getting some buddies together and start a
post. It is not hard, and very rewarding. I can point you to a
person who is far more qualified than me, to give you the
specifics of how to make this all happen.

Your local Boy Scout Council can also help, but I think new posts are
a low priority for them, because the youth in a post are not
considered "traditional" members, and so don't help the local DE meet
his annual membership quota.

Correct. The connection to Boy Scouts is very distant, and not a factor in
recruiting members.

Read some of the links that I and another provided back a few posts, if you
want to understand the organizational connections better.
--
Jim in NC

Seconds before the plane came down, Riegel said, the pilot told his
passengers he would land on the grass next to the runway.



Wonder why the pilot chose to land on the grass instead of the hard,
smooth runway. Seems that a gear up landing on a runway pretty much
assures a good outcome to everyone - while landing on the grass could
result in the plane digging into the soft ground, and possibly
flipping, etc....

Glad this one turned out ok.

-CK

On Mar 19, 12:56 pm, wrote:
Seconds before the plane came down, Riegel said, the pilot told his
passengers he would land on the grass next to the runway.

Wonder why the pilot chose to land on the grass instead of the hard,
smooth runway. Seems that a gear up landing on a runway pretty much
assures a good outcome to everyone - while landing on the grass could
result in the plane digging into the soft ground, and possibly
flipping, etc....

Glad this one turned out ok.

-CK

Probably worried about fire. The sparks trailing a runway landing can
be pretty amazing.

On Mar 19, 3:56 pm, wrote:

Wonder why the pilot chose to land on the grass instead of the hard,
smooth runway?

Probably trying to avoid all that foam in the middle of the runway.

On 2007-03-19 13:32:54 -0700, "Brad" said:

On Mar 19, 3:56 pm, wrote:

Wonder why the pilot chose to land on the grass instead of the hard,
smooth runway?

Probably trying to avoid all that foam in the middle of the runway.

Yeah, right. Only very large airports have the ability to foam the
runway. They probably wouldn't do it for a gear up landing in a
bugsmasher.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor