Fall Cub Scout Campout 2009

Friday night black jack by lantern light.

Even if it rains, we always eat well.

The Lonesome Pine District Fall Cub Scout Camp Out
was called off on Saturday due to heavy rains.
Probably a good decision.

Kentucke Boone Trail

From what (Tim Brown) has researched…The brainchild for the event was that of Frank Lewis of Frankfort, one of the five ‘original’ charter members of the lodge. In the early years of the fledgling Kawida Lodge (i.e. 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955), Frank (Lay Adviser) spoke with neighboring lodges like Zit-Kala-Sha Lodge #123 of Louisville to inquire as what they did for fund raising. He found out that trail sponsorship was the rule of the day. Zit’s ‘Lincoln Trail’ was very successful in regards to fund raising, so Frank and a few others decided to follow in their footsteps and create a trail centered on a local historic figure. Daniel Boone was the obvious choice.

So, in the summer of 1955 the Daniel Boone Trail Committee was formed. They determined the trail route (from Bryan Station Springs in Lexington to Fort Boonesboro), they developed the trail brochure, and they designed the trail patches and medal. The opening day was originally planned for Sunday, April 1, 1956 but was later changed to Sunday, April 15, 1956 to ensure the readiness of the trail. Check-in / check-out stations were positioned at Bryan Station Springs and Boonesboro respectively, with a midway checkpoint at Stiver’s Grocery at the intersection of Cleveland Road and Winchester Road (U.S. 60) in Lexington. Each participant was given a brochure which had trail information on one side, and a trail map on the reverse. The map portion had to be stamped by Kawida Lodge members serving as trail staff at all three locations (Bryan Station Springs, Stiver’s Grocery, and Boonesboro). The ‘stamped’ brochure was evidence of completion of the twenty-mile trail, and the participant was then authorized to purchase a trail patch and medal (patch - $0.75, medal - $2.50). The patch was the Blue Book’s (A .5), which had the opening day date of April 1956 embroidered on it, and the medal was the bronze-colored arrowhead with a green and orange striped ribbon. The (A.5) was only issued to hikers on opening day, and they were instructed to sew it on a plain, white neckerchief. That’s why all of the neckerchiefs look somewhat different, in the fact that every mother / grandmother used different types of white cloth and placed the patch in slightly different locations on the point of the neckerchief. Most everyone followed the instructions, as it’s nearly impossible to find a mint one that was never attached to a neckerchief. Hikers were also given a pocket card (about the size of a business card) to carry as additional proof of trail completion.

After opening day, subsequent hikers could purchase the same medal, but different patches. The Blue Book’s (A1) was issued to Kawida Lodge members who hiked the trail, and Blue Book’s (A3) was issued to non-OA members who hiked the trail. However, hikers were generally allowed to buy one of each. The A1 originally had a pointed bottom, but a subsequent re-order produced a rounded bottom version (A1.5). The A3 had at least three different varieties due to re-orders (A3a), (A3b), and (A3c). Also, repeater pins were offered for a few years to anyone who hiked the trail multiple times. These small pins were designed to be attached to the ribbon of the medal to indicate the hiking of the trail multiple times. Examples of repeater pins included a KY long rifle, a tomahawk, an arrowhead, etc.). A subsequent re-order of the medals also produced a variety having a different bronze-colored arrowhead, but the same green and orange ribbon. The original patches were made by the Geer Company of St. Louis, and the medals were made by the Medal Arts Company of Rochester, NY.

The trail was one of the seven (7) trails which made up the Trail Hiker Award. The others were the Zollicoffer, Mischa Mokwa, Wah-la-hah, Pioneer Mountain, Wilderness Road, and the Bluegrass). The trail remained in its original location until the late 1960’s when it was decided due to increased traffic and safety risks to move it to another course in the Red River Gorge (the part of the Sheltowee Trail which runs through the Gorge). The last Trail Hiker Award was given out in 1972. The trail was abandoned around 1974.

Fall Fellowship 2009

October 2 - 4, 2009 at beautiful Camp McKee!

Breaks Camp Out

Cool Custom Patch!

Troop 12 visited the Breaks Interstate Park this weekend for a camp out.

We worked on some First Class skills.

Cooking and cleaning skills.

Hiking skills too!

And of course in rained! It's Troop 12.

Deep in the Notches of the Breaks.

Supper time!

Scoutmaster cobbler time!

Flash Light Tag in the dark is a lot of fun.

A perfect fire to end a wonderful camp out.

Quartermaster

Don Combs drove down from Transy tonight for his Sea Scout Quartermaster Board of Review. Lonesome Pine District Advancement Member, Doug Ramey, Ret. Lt. Col. Dave Zoellers, Mike Shepherd, and 2 youth members reviewed Don’s work towards the highest rank in Sea Scouting, and of course he passed!

Don has achieved the BIG 3. Eagle Scout, Venturing Silver, and now Quartermaster. Throw in the Silver Hornaday award and his position as SR 6 Section Chief, and I think you will agree that Don has embraced the Scouting program and has worked hard to accomplish all that it offers.

The best part is that he isn’t done yet! Currently, he is registered as a member of our Council’s Speakers Bureau and does several speeches about Scouting and all that he has done, and how others can do the same.

If the B.S.A. wants something done, then Don will do it. I like that.

Sporting Clays Ordeal

Ceremonial regalia means Ordeal time.

Cracker Barrel is always good.

Sam really likes Mike's chips and salsa!

This is the first Ordeal, not held at McKee, since 1987.

Helping to serve at one of our Council's events is fun.

Our Ordeal candidates travel in style.

Their service was to remove pesky Honeysuckle bushes.

Andrew did give them a break once in a while.

Other Kawida members helped on the Shooting Range.

Buzz giving Kelly some pointers.

13 new Brotherhood members.

Don't play in the fire Cub Scouts!

38 new Ordeal members is a pretty picture.

Danny's Dance

The great Lonesome Pine District got back into the fall swing tonight at the monthly September Roundtable meeting. Good crowd tonight.

We had the opportunity to meet one of our own, former volunteers, as our new District Executive.

Danny Helfen has been a wonderful volunteer leader that has taken the big step to be a professional Scouter.

I like his attitude. He made a great impression on all of us leaders tonight. He cares and wants to make a difference and will do so.

We are going to the next level, so hang on.

It's Danny's Dance now. Whether it is the 2 Step or Tango, just don't stop moving while the music is being played!