2014: Info packet Are you tougher than a Scout?

Transcription

1 2014: Info packet Are you tougher than a Scout? This year s Two River s District Freeze-o-ree is a team and troop contest against the standard of a fully trained First Class Boy Scout. The event s purpose is to provide an orienteering learning experience as well as an opportunity to demonstrate Tenderfoot to First Class Scout skills at manned marker stations. The goal of this event is for each Scout to come away with a refreshed knowledge and understanding of the skills he has learned along the scouting trail. Some skills can t be tested in this environment (we aren t going swimming for example), but the event will try to sample from all knowledge areas listed as a requirement for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class Scout. Canyon Park is located on the North shore of Canyon Lake near N W DIRECTIONS: From IH 35 take Exit 191 north of New Braunfels, Texas. Drive West on FM Miles, turn left on Canyon Park Road or from US 281 turn east on FM 306,travel east 12 miles, turn right on Canyon Park Road. 1

2 General Information 1. Freeze-o-ree Staff: The Freeze-o-ree staff will be provided by Troop 512 members as well as District Order of the Arrow leadership. The Freeze-o-ree headquarters is at Pavilion #3. 2. Check-in at Park Gatehouse: Plan to arrive on Friday, February 7th, during the hours of 6:00-8:30 PM at Canyon Park, TX. Sunset is at 6:18PM. Troops preregistered will have campsites preassigned. Units not registered will receive campsite assignments sized to troop registration numbers at the gate. All vehicles and tow vehicles need to be unhitched and moved to the designated parking area before Saturday Opening Ceremony at 09:15 AM. Only trailers will be left in campsites. The parking area is south of the primary camp area and is designated on the map. Late checkin will be available at Freeze-o-ree HQ at Pavilion #3. 3. Park Security: The gates will be locked continuously to block traffic from driving into closed park. Staff with key available will be at Pavilion #3 for all normal entrance/exit traffic. There is a park host who can assist with the gate in a medical emergency. The park is frequented by bicycle riders and hikers during the day even when the park is closed. Campsites should be monitored with one adult present. 4. Registration: Your overall troop roster for the Freeze-o-ree and individual event competition team registration for Saturday should be filled out in advance and turned in at Freeze-o-ree headquarters at the Unit Leader meeting on Friday night. Having them completed prior to arrival will greatly reduce the time it takes to register. Every scout and adult who is camping overnight MUST be included on the troop roster. All scouts are expected to participate in the Saturday tougher than a scout event. 5. Tour Plans: A completed tour plan for each unit must be processed through the Scout Office prior to the Freeze-o-ree and be available if needed at checkin. 6. SPL/OA rep or Unit Leader Meeting: There will be an information meeting at 9:30PM on Friday evening at Freeze-o-ree Headquarters. The Unit SPL (or acting youth unit leader), OA representative and Scoutmaster (or acting adult unit leader) should attend. All units must be represented at this meeting. The final schedule of events, checkout procedure information, registration for Saturday event, troop adult scoring competition stations, and other important information will be distributed at this meeting. 7. Fees: The fee is $9.00 for every Scout and Adult registered by January 30, After then the fee raises to $ You are encouraged to pre-register your entire unit with refunds granted for missing attendees due to health or UIL conflicts. If registering at the event, please bring a single troop check for the total amount owed if possible to Council front desk. Please make checks out to Alamo Area Council. Online registration is available at the District website. questions or last minute registration changes to stephenjmcnamara@aol.com 8. Medical Records: Each troop should bring and retain their health and medical record forms for all Scouts that are attending the Freeze-o-ree. If your troop has trained medical professionals (doctors, para- medics, first responders, etc.), please inform HQ at check-in. Troops will be responsible for all medical requirements including transportation to medical facilities and opening gate for emergency vehicles. Freeze-o-ree staff will maintain a limited first aid station at Pavilion #3 from on Saturday. 9. Uniforms: Full Scout uniforms are to be worn at campfire, chapel and closing. For opening on Saturday and during the orienteering event wear appropriate gear for hiking the back country. 2

3 10. Visitors to Freeze-o-ree: All visitors should check in at the Freeze-o-ree headquarters at Pavilion #3, prior to visiting the Freeze-o- ree grounds. Parents and siblings are invited to watch the campfire on Saturday. Visitors should show up no later than 7:00 p.m. Troops will be responsible for providing entry and exit from gated area for their visitors. Gate will be opened by Freeze-o-ree staff from 6:30PM to 7:30PM on Saturday for campfire visitors and will be open after campfire for ½ hour as well. 11. Water: Spigots, where turned on, should be potable, and will be identified at checkin. Scouts will need to carry water during Saturday event activity. 12. Restrooms: Facilities available will be identified at checkin, but note they are not serviced during the winter. Troops need to bring their own toilet paper and help keep the facilities as clean as possible. 13. Cooking: Wood, Charcoal, and compressed gas may be used in accordance with B.S.A. policy. Scoutmasters are responsible for storage and safety of fuel in the campsite area. 14. Garbage: A dumpster is located at the park entrance. Haul out your trash to the park entrance dumpster on checkout. 15. Fires: Due to the possibility of a fire ban and/or getting Park Ranger approval, the types of fires and locations will be confirmed at checkin. If allowed, park rules require fires in fire rings. Army Corps tends to follow Comal County Burn Bans so that can be used a planning gauge for your unit cooking plans. Fires or embers will not be left unattended at any time. Cold fire pit is required before bed or leaving campsite. 16. Buglers: Any Scouts who can play taps, reveille, call to colors, etc. on their bugles are encouraged to bring their bugles and check in with the Freeze-o-ree staff on Friday evening for a time hack. Taps is blown at 11:15PM. Reveille is at 7:15 on both days. 17. Forbidden Items As with any Scout outing, and for reasons of courtesy and safety, these items are forbidden from the Freeze-o-ree. Radios Guns and Ammunition Fireworks Sheath Knives CD/MP3 Players Sling Shots Bows and Arrows Electronic Games Water Balloons Smart Phones Cell phones may be carried by scouts for emergency and medical reasons only. 18. Campsite Inspections: See judging form in this booklet for criteria. Campsite grades go toward overall troop competition. Grading will occur from 10 AM on Saturday and will complete as soon as possible 19. Menu and Duty Roster: Each patrol should have its menu and duty roster posted. These should be readable by an inspector who visits their site. 20. Patrol Flag: Patrol flags are graded as part of the campsite inspection and should left in camp. 21. Saturday Event station judges: Adult leaders from each troop should be prepared to run a scoring location at an assigned orienteering marker. All stations will have Orienteering punches for the teams to punch their cards to show they reached that station. Station judges will award additional points based on team performance of task. All station events will be straight out of the scout book and disputes will be resolved IAW with the scout book. Adult marker locations will be passed out on Friday nights SPL meeting. It is 3

4 expected that each troop run station will stay open for the entire 10 to 4 window. Food/water will need to be carried to site to keep station open until 4 when competition ends. 22. Orienteering Event Schedule: For overall campout schedule see attached. At the SPL/Scoutmaster meeting on Friday night, each troop will be handed instructions for their assigned adult tester for the next day. In the morning, at the end of the opening ceremony, each troop will be handed all maps, punch cards, and marker point descriptions for the entire course. Teams will have a short planning period to review material and plan their first line of travel while they wait for the official start. At 10 AM the competition will begin with a horn blast. All teams will start from the flagpole assembly area at Pavilion #3. Teams can randomly navigate to any location or point desired throughout the day from 10 AM to 4PM. There is no break for lunch. Scouts are expected to carry lunch or to return to their campsite for lunch. At each manned station, a Team will punch their card and be tested on a scout skill for additional points. At each unmanned station, the scouts will punch their scorecard with station unique punches to prove they found the station. Navigation between points as well as the order that the scouts take is totally up to the scouts. They will not know the skill evaluated at each navigation destination. Points will be awarded based on finding the point and demonstration of the skill. 23. Team Registration: A competition team will consist of a minimum of two scouts and a maximum of four. Each team will compete as its own entity throughout the day. Teams will compete in 5 categories based on highest scout rank in the team: Eagle/Life/Star; 1 st Class; Second Class & Tenderfoot. There will also be a Crew category and an adult category for those inspired to test their skills. It is to your troop s advantage to not mix higher rank scouts into teams that could compete at a lower level. 24. Skills and Knowledge required to be successful at Freeze-o-ree: Activity events will utilize Scouting skills drawn directly from the Tenderfoot, 2 nd Class and 1 st Class Section of the Boy Scout Handbook. Troops would be advised to review 2 nd Class compass and map skills prior to Freeze-o-ree since they will rely on those skills. Scouts are allowed to refer to their scout book if their team is asked a question above their scout grade. Station judges will assess knowledge and assign scores and document on Team punch card in punch slot. 25. Scout Equipment Needed: Each scout teams needs to carry a compass, watch, map, water, and rain gear. Personal first aid kit and whistle would also be advised (whistles are for medical emergency only). 5 of the 40 sites will have GPS coordinates provided as well as being marked on the map provided to each Team. The use of a GPS device is encouraged to find those sites. 26. Orienteering Event Spectators: Scout Teams are on a navigation exercise and will not be accompanied by Adults. Adults are encouraged to roam between stations to observe in general but they will disqualify their team if they are found with a Team by staff. Scout Teams found with embedded Adults will be moved to the Adult competition category and will be documented on team score card. 27. Disqualification: Tampering, Unauthorized Navigation, or following another team. Any team observed receiving navigation assistance from other scouts teams or adults will lose 100 point from score. Any team following another team will lose the same 100 points. All penalties will be assessed only by Freeze-o-ree staff and will be documented on team score card. Tampering or moving control markers (orange and with nylon bags) will be cause for immediate eviction from camporee. Any protests need to be filed by 4PM with Freeze-o-ree staff. 28. Explanation of Scoring for Team Competition: The competition ends at 4PM sharp with an air horn blast. Teams need to have turned their score cards in at the Freeze-o-ree HQ at 4

5 Pavilion #3 before 4pm. To receive credit for a point the team has to use the correct orienteering punch for that site and punch the correct slot (ie. The punch for point 5 needs to be punched into the #5 position on the card.) There are 20 independent punches and scorers have a key for the correct punch/card combinations. Adult testers will mark additional point totals on card slot as well as punch the card. Total points earned will be computed as the sum of points earned for each site they visited as well as the points earned at each testing sites as marked on their card by the site judge. There is also penalty of -5 points per minute after 4PM. As scoring for a team is completed, staff will post team score cards with final scores outside the pavilion by competition category. Points 1-10 earn 10 points Points earn 20 points Points earn 30 points Points earn 40 points Points with adult skills testers: Adult skills tester has the ability to award an additional score up to the value of the point based on the teams correctly demonstrating the scout skill at that point. For example a team visiting one of the first set of points would earn 10 points plus up to another 10 points for demonstrating the scout skill. In another example, a team at the fourth set of points would earn 40 points for finding the point and up to another 40 points if they demonstrate the skill correctly. Note that in this scoring system, the higher the points, the better the score. In case of a tie for first, second, or third place in the overall team competition, the winning patrol will be the patrol with the most navigation sites visited. 29. Lost Camper after Endex. Team cards will be used to provide accountability of all teams. Any card not turned in by 45 minutes after 4PM end will trigger a lost camper drill. Initial accountability will be to find Team s troop to verify and to sweep campground roads. If team is still unaccounted at this point, then three blasts on air horn will start lost camper drill with adult led senior scout teams from each troop reporting to Pavilion #3 to coordinate initiation of search. 30. Weather Delay or Recall. The Orienteering event will go on in the rain. Most adult stations are sheltered. If a termination of event is required a three air horn blast followed by vehicle roundup will be initiated. Scouts should proceed to nearest road and walk in by road. In the event of extreme weather, scouts will return to troop areas to be sheltered in their cars. 31. Campfire Order of the Arrow Gathering and Fellowship: The Order of the Arrow plans to include an OA callout Ceremony for eligible candidates at our campfire. After the Ceremony, the OA will host a cracker barrel for chapter members at Freeze-o-ree. Sashes are appropriate at campfire since this is an OA event. Confirm OA ordeal candidates you want called out to the OA representative at the Friday night SPL meeting at Pavilion # Campfire Awards: Awards for campsite inspection will be passed out by troop. Event Awards of 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place by competition category will be passed out as well. There are four competition categories based on highest rank in team: Eagle/Life/Star; 1 st Class; 2 nd Class & Tenderfoot; Crew; and Adult. Teams are best formed that try to minimize scout rank within their Team to allow them to be competitive in a junior category. 33. Campfire Overall Unit Awards: The top three overall unit awards will be given to the best troops camping at the Freeze-o-ree, based on the results of the unit scores for (a) Team Events, (b) Campsite Inspection. The best overall unit will be determined by averaging the rankings for each of the Competition Events, Campsite Inspection: Failure to participate in the Sunday service project will disqualify unit for overall awards. 5

6 70% Average Troop ranking for each troop within their competition category 30% Troop Campsite inspection 34. Scout Sunday Service A SCOUT IS REVERENT. We will have a non-denominational Scout s Own Service for all Scouts and Leaders on Sunday morning (See Schedule). All Chaplain s aides will meet directly after campfire at Pavilion #3 to organize participation in the Scouts Own Service. We request everyone to attend the Sunday Service as no other activities will be planned or allowed during this time. NO VEHICLES WILL BE LOADED OR MOVED DURING THE SCOUT S OWN SERVICE. 35. Service Project: We are required by the park to perform a service project to gain a waiver of fees for camping. All troop/patrols are required to participate in a service project. Currently, the Corps has requested we clear an area of beach that is overgrown with brush and stack brush for disposal near the road. This project will occur from on Sunday morning to pay for our use of the park. This is similar to the project we did last year. Gear required for this project is gloves for the scouts. Each troop should bring a few picks and loppers to help with pulling the bushes out by the roots. The goal is to not leave stumps in ground. The Corps provided brush saws and loppers last year. 36. Camp Departure: Freeze-o-ree check-out procedures will be provided at Friday s SPL/OA rep/unit Leader Meeting. Be sure that you inform Steve McNamara, Freeze-o-ree Chairman, before you depart. All units are expected to follow the same guidelines of leaving their site clean, taking out their trash, and checking out with the proper Freeze-o-ree Staff before departure. The Freeze-o-ree officially ends on Sunday after the service project. All Units must be out of the Freeze-o-ree site by 2 p.m. Failure to comply with Freeze-o- ree rules and guidelines will disqualify troops from all competition. 37. Patches: Each registered Scout and Scouter will receive a souvenir patch. Units will receive Freeze-o-ree unit streamers as well. Patches and streamer will be available at Pavilion #3 after the service project. Questions please contact Steve McNamara, Freeze-o-ree Chairman (text or to stephenjmcnamara@aol.com) 6

7 2014 FREEZE-O-REE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, February 7th 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM Check in at Canyon Park Gate, Canyon Lake Texas 9:30 PM to 10:15 PM SM/SPL/STAFF & OA Rep Cracker Barrel --Event Registration slips and Troop rosters turned in --Troop leaders pick up their assigned adult (competition sensitive) station info 11:15 PM Taps (Lights out) SATURDAY, February 8 th 7:15 AM Reveille (SR 7:20) 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM Breakfast, clean up and campsite readiness 9:15 AM Opening Ceremony at Flagpole 9:30 AM Map and team event cards released. Adults to assigned marker stations. 10:00 AM Air Horn start for all participants from Pavilion 3 flagpole. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Field Events (carry pack lunch) 10:00 AM -12:00 Campsite inspection 4:00 PM Air Horn marking end of event and start of penalty period for late card turn in. 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Dinner & cleanup 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Proceed to Campfire area for Campfire, Troop Awards, and Event Awards; OA Callout at end. 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM Unit free time 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM Cracker Barrel for Freeze-o-ree staff 11:15 PM Taps (Lights out) SUNDAY, February 9th 7:15 AM Reveille 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM Breakfast, cleanup and pack up campsite 9.15 AM Service, Flag Ceremony 9:45 AM to 12:45 Service Project: Beach brush rollback for Army Corps of Engineers 12:45 AM Freeze-o-ree complete patches & troop unit ribbons available at Pavilion #3 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Clean-up and Departure 7

8 Campsite Inspection Unit: Campsite: SITE SELECTION AND TENT PLACEMENT (5 points total) Takes advantage of ground slope. Avoids insects, poison ivy, obvious danger from overhead. (5) SHELTER (10 points total) Tents properly erected; trim, securely anchored. (5) Cover for dining facilities properly erected; trim, securely anchored. (5) FIRE, FIREWOOD, AND WOOD TOOLS (15 points total) Fire site a safe distance from tents, etc.; adequately contained. (5 ft. radius cleared around fire) (10) Adequate fire buckets and wood tools stored. (5) HEALTH AND SAFETY (30 points total) Food adequately protected from contamination and spoilage. (5) Cooking equipment stored off ground and clean. (5) Location of adequate first aid kit visible to all. (5) Campsite is clean and in order. (10) Personal equipment neat and stored properly. (5) CAMP IMPROVEMENTS (20 points total) U.S. and troop flags properly displayed. (U.S. Flag on the right side of the entrance to a person standing in the entrance facing out of camp.) (10) Campsite improvements/campcraft. Created basically with natural material and put to practical use to make campsite more comfortable and convenient. Examples are built-up fireplace, utensil rack, pack rack, table, seat, boot scraper, fire bucket holder, tripod, wash basin, pot rack over fire, etc. (10) PATROL ORGANIZATION (20 points total) Evidence of separate patrol sites. (10) Patrol menu posted in Patrol site. (5) Patrol duty roster posted in patrol site. (5) TOTAL POINTS (130) 8

9 ENTRY FORM FOR FREEZ-O-REE ORIENTEERING EVENT ONE FORM PER TEAM UNIT TEAM NAME UNIT MEET EVENT CATEGORY: MARK ONE STAR/LIFE/EAGLE & UNDER ADULT ONLY CREW 1 ST CLASS & UNDER 2 ND CLASS & TENDERFOOT ONLY TEAM MEMBERS NAMES/RANK ( Max 4 per team) ENTRY FORM FOR FREEZ-O-REE ORIENTEERING EVENT ONE FORM PER TEAM UNIT TEAM NAME UNIT MEET EVENT CATEGORY: MARK ONE STAR/LIFE/EAGLE & UNDER ADULT ONLY CREW 1 ST CLASS & UNDER 2 ND CLASS & TENDERFOOT ONLY TEAM MEMBERS NAMES/RANK ( Max 4 per team)

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11 ENTRY FORM FOR FREEZ-O-REE ORIENTEERING EVENT ONE FORM PER TEAM UNIT TEAM NAME UNIT MEET EVENT CATEGORY: MARK ONE STAR/LIFE/EAGLE & UNDER ADULT ONLY CREW 1 ST CLASS & UNDER 2 ND CLASS & TENDERFOOT ONLY TEAM MEMBERS NAMES/RANK ( Max 4 per team) ENTRY FORM FOR FREEZ-O-REE ORIENTEERING EVENT ONE FORM PER TEAM UNIT TEAM NAME UNIT MEET EVENT CATEGORY: MARK ONE STAR/LIFE/EAGLE & UNDER ADULT ONLY CREW 1 ST CLASS & UNDER 2 ND CLASS & TENDERFOOT ONLY TEAM MEMBERS NAMES/RANK ( Max 4 per team)