1. Even Scout leaders have lessons to learn|Adults gather at
Morris 'University' to learn new skills
The Herald News - Joliet (IL)
November 14, 2006 | By Jeanne Millsap
Steven Mann (right), a Boy Scout from Plainfield Troop 13, places hot coals on top of a
Dutch oven as part of his dad's presentation on Dutch oven cooking for Boy Scout
leaders during Saturday's Scouting University. "All Things Wood" instructor Ed Fleming
(above) shows other Boy Scout leaders an alternative use for his shaving bench. More
than 230 adult Scout leaders attended Rainbow Council's annual event in Morris,
learning skills in the 65 classes that were offered.
MORRIS - The Boy Scout leaders attending Eric Carter's
maps and compass course at the weekend Scouting
University could tell their instructor had been in the
military. His projected contour maps listed barracks and
tanks. Carter, who retired in June after 23 years in the
Army, was one of 55 instructors who spent Saturday
helping Cub and Boy Scout leaders from Will, Grundy, and
Kankakee counties learn to be better leaders. Carter is
2. also a leader in his two sons' pack, Bolingbrook's Cub
Scout Pack 134.
"This event is such a great thing," Carter said. "You can find stuff on the Web, and there
are people to call when you need help, but actually sitting down with a group of your
peers who are Scout leaders is a great opportunity for learning how to lead a group of
Scouts."
More than 300 Scout leaders from the three counties served by the Rainbow Council
gathered for the annual Scouting University, which rotates its location each year.
They enrolled in their choices of some 65 classes at Morris Community High School.
"This is really the one time in the year when adult Scout leaders come together without
their Scouts," said Morris Boy Scout Troop 471's Celia Mistretta, who was in charge of
the event this year. "It's a time for them to network with each other, to meet other
leaders, and to learn the skills that they need to be good Scout leaders."
Classes were targeted to leaders of Cub Scouts, which is the branch of Scouting for
grade school-age boys, and to leaders of Boy Scouts, which includes junior high and
high-school-age boys.
They included topics designed to make Cub Scout meetings fun, to further outdoor
skills, to stretch leadership abilities, to organize Scouting events and to help boys along
their scouting ladders.
Class topics included wilderness survival, advanced backpacking, staying warm in cold
weather, magic campfires, Dutch oven cooking, pack pizzazz, den chief training and
boards of review.
3. Some other popular classes included leathercraft, Indian lore, bird identification,
scrapbooking and cards, all things wood, women in Scouting, and plant and tree
identification.
This is Mistretta's first time to organize the event, but she's attended two in the past,
taking courses in Dutch oven cooking, backpacking and safe climbing.
Taking the Webelo-to-Scout transfer class helped her prepare her older son, Kade, for
his transition from Cub to Boy Scouts, she said, and will help her younger son, Ian,
when he's ready to make that move.
Sean Denoyer, senior executive director of Rainbow Council, taught Tiger Cub outdoor
fun.
"This is a great event and a very nice turnout," Denoyer said, "People's schedules are
very busy, and this is the one time where they can take as many classes as possible in
one shot at one location. It's like a smorgasbord of training."
Bob Bowen, the council's vice-president, said Scouting is still one of the best
organizations for kids.
"It's the only organization I know of that offers physical education, leadership, career-
training, hobby exposure and community service all at the same time," he said.
By Jeanne Millsap
Copyright, 2009, The Herald News. All rights reserved. REPRODUCTION
PROHIBITED.
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