On Saturday, 13 human members of Troop 60 (and one canine) went on an 8 mile hike through Kisatchie National Forest on the Backbone Trail.
The trail crossed a wide creek bed and the Scouts had the opportunity to practice bridge construction and teamwork!
Under the awesome instruction of our forester, Troop 60 Scouts learned about erosion and the importance of living root systems to soil retention–one of the reasons clear cutting can have significant consequences to soil loss, for example. They completed Environmental Science requirement 3.d.1:
Scouts then chose two outdoor study areas with different types of ecosystems and counted the number of species in 4-square-yard plots to determine the biodiversity in each as the first step of requirement 4.
Finally, we discussed this Saturday’s hike. Participants should meet in the parking lot at 9:00 Saturday and pack water, a sandwich/lunch/snacks, sunscreen, a hat, and wear appropriate shoes for an 8 mile hike. Parents will need to sign waivers before departure and we could use more adult volunteers.
On April 22nd, Scouts from Troop 60 retired flags in a solemn ceremony.
The script follows:
Troop 60 Natchitoches
Flag Retirement Ceremony Script
April 22, 2018 (Earth Day)
Scout Color Guard posts the colors.
Scouts lead: Pledge of Allegiance
Scout Oath
Scout Law
Scout plays “America The Beautiful” on the double bass.
Thank you for joining us on this beautiful day for a flag retirement ceremony! Today is Earth Day, when—worldwide—people celebrate and hold events commemorating environmental protection. The Boy Scouts of America have an Outdoor Code, which states: “As an American I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manners, to be careful with fire, to be considerate in the outdoors and to be conservation minded.” In all of our outdoor activities, Troop 60 Scouts strive to be worthy of our beautiful American land.
The flag of the United States is probably one of the most easily recognized national flags in the world. Its bright blue rectangular canton—called the “union”— proudly bears 50 crisp white stars representing the 50 states of the United States of America, with 13 horizontal red and white stripes representing the 13 original British colonies that declared independence in July 1776. Our flag is a powerful symbol of our nation, and in the words of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, symbolizes a “new constellation.”
Please join us in singing the United States National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
In 1923, the Federal Government released the single official source for flag etiquette, called the Flag Code. It states, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” The Code, written well before the common use of synthetic fabrics, directs us to not simply dispose of flags but to destroy them in a dignified, respectful manner so that they can no longer be displayed.
As you heard during our Scout Oath, “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my Country,” Boy Scouts respect the United States Flag. Scouts also make a point of respecting the precious environment that is our nation too.
Having accepted flags from the community that have fulfilled their service and are no longer in proper condition to proudly represent our great nation, we must separate the cotton from the synthetic flags as you can see here.
The synthetic flags, which would release dangerous toxins and fumes if burned, are somberly parted: the red and white stripes and the blue fields of stars are carefully and solemnly cut so that the fabric no longer represents the United States of America. This method is recommended by the US Scouting Service Project, among other sources. We give these remnants a dignified burial as befits Old Glory.
[One at a time, Scouts use the shovel to cover over boxes with soil.]
The flags made of cotton material will be retired safely here in this fire. Please remain silent as the Scouts retire the cotton flags.
[Scouts retire flags, one at a time, with an adult leader signaling when the next flag can be safely placed on the fire.]
That concludes this ceremony. Thank you for attending.
Troop 60 Scouts are happy to accept worn or dirty 100% cotton flags from community members, and ask only that the story of the flag–where it was flown, any veteran associated with it, and so forth–be shared with the Scout receiving the flag so we can tell its story at retirement. Nylon and polyester flags are more difficult for the Troop to handle because we cannot burn them and don’t have the funds to pay for recycling. Instead, we ask that synthetic flags be sent to either of the following for respectful retirement:
We encourage local patriots to replace their worn and unserviceable flags with Made in America 100% cotton flags.
Scouts began the Environmental Science merit badge last night, working through the term definitions, discussing the scientific method, and completing an experiment that demonstrated the difficulties of cleaning the ocean after an oil spill.
The visual aid for requirement 2 is here: environmental science, for those who need it.
Please remember that this Sunday we are retiring flags at 4:00 in full uniform. The address went home with Scouts and was emailed to parents; if you need it, please email the SM.
Tonight we had a visitor! Eagle Scout and former Troop 60 member Tanner Delphin came to our meeting and shared with the Troop the many benefits he experienced in Scouting and life. He gave an inspiring talk and motivated the Scouts to aim high and work hard!
We also congratulated our new Order of the Arrow Troop Representative, Austin. He is our contact for information about OA events, service, packing list, and so forth. Congrats Austin!
Because a Scout is helpful, friendly, courteous, and kind, tonight our Patrols broke out into smaller groups and worked with the newer Scouts to help complete their rank advancement requirements using the EDGE method (Educate, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable). Good teamwork helped get a lot of work done!
Parents, please note that we are adding an event to our schedule: on Sunday, April 22nd (Earth Day) at 4:00 pm, we will hold our Flag Retirement Ceremony. (The address will come via Remind and email.) The event should take about 30 minutes and includes a respectful burning of retired US flags, as well as burial of those flags whose material is dangerous to burn. This is a solemn event and participants should be in full Class A uniform. Mark your calendar!
Scouts continued working on their dog bone and whoopie strings in their patrols this week.
Patrol Instructors led their patrol members through the methods for creating lines and one of the adult leaders helped teach the Scouts who missed the initial instruction meeting. 
Each Scout left with the materials they need to complete their lines if they didn’t during the meeting, and Mark will continue instruction next week if needed 🙂
This weekend is the April Order of the Arrow Ordeal for candidates and Fellowship for members. The next opportunity for call out and ordeal is in October, so Scouts who want to qualify are demonstrating Scout Spirit and Cheerful Service!
Scouts BSA Troop 60 