2010 Spring Fellowship @ Camp Raven Knob...and a New Arrowman

Last weekend was Spring Fellowship for Order of the Arrow's Wahissa Lodge 118 at Camp Raven Knob where several hundred Arrowmen met for a weekend of cheerful service. The main focus was setting up tents in all the campsites preparing for summer camp that begins in just a few weeks.

This was a unique weekend because there was an unannounced Ordeal going on at the same time where 4 new candidates were participating in a 24 hour ordeal to be Arrowmen in the OA. As seen in the picture to the left, today I just completed decorating the arrow worn by one new Arrowman which I hope will be a long-time memento as he grows into a man during the coming years. If he can somehow hang on to it for 40 or 50 years, one day it will have significant meaning in a way unexpected far down his path in life. I woodburned his name and date of the Ordeal on the rear side of the arrow so that he'll never forget and I'm anxious to present it to him in a couple of weeks.



The picture to the right was taken just after the OA ceremony and if you look closely, the wood arrow that was worn during the 24 hour Ordeal is hanging around the neck of the new Arrowman in the center. If you're wondering why he's wearing a buffalo head dress then take a look at the other pictures just below.

The Indian on the left decided that it would be a great picture if the Scout was wearing his head dress so he put it right on his head and what a great picture that this will be for his scrap book! Although the ceremony where a Scout transitions into Order of the Arrow is quite secret, I can assure you that it's very impressive. The ceremony is usually held at a special spot deep in the woods but due to a violent hail storm this afternoon, we had to move it inside near a fireplace "campfire".

Throughout the weekend we had a great time of fellowship and cheerful service as Arrowmen worked together in cheerful service to prepare Camp Raven Knob for the 2010 session of summer camp. The various chapters worked together in groups and in competition to set up the most tents.

It was like a well oiled machine as gear lines formed naturally to shuttle beds, mattresses, and tents into their proper place. A lot of laughter, jokes, songs, and highly spirited attitudes from everyone made the day a fantastic experience to remember.

Normally at spring fellowship there is a carnival that afternoon but a very dangerous hail storm kept everyone safely confined in their campsites. By 8:00p.m. the storm had passed and everyone met in the dining hall until near midnight for a CrackerBarrell which included good food, fun, patch trading, and as you can see in the picture to the left, Native American dancing is always a highlight.

Camp is now set for a successful summer session and Wahissa Lodge has gladly done their part again.

Kids Choice: Mallets vs. Stools

As previously mentioned in the last posting the pioneering woodshop station at this years Conclave event you had the opportunity to make a wooden mallet or a rustic three-legged stool, as seen in the picture to the left. I don't know for sure why but during my observations throughout the day, I'd say that approximately 80 percent of the kids chose to make a mallet instead of a stool.

This observation troubled me for a while but after a bit of thought combined with almost 30 years experience of working wood with kids I believe I have an accurate answer. In a kids mind the mallet represents visions of an object in motion with great impact when used. Boys are all about action-oriented behaviors and that must be the lure to these rustic wooden hammers. On the other hand a stool is more sedentary where one can plant their body or perhaps a flower pot. Not much action there but kids still like them. I'm just saying that when given a choice a boy is going to choose "action" over "in-action" most of the time and that's what I'd put my money on.

 As seen in the next set of pictures to the right the first step in making a stool was to saw yourself a nice chunk of log using the crosscut saw and there was plenty of adult help available to get this heavy-duty chore done. Next the log was split in half thus producing two sides for two stools so this is a great project for partnering up with someone but I didn't get any pictures of that. Just think of splitting firewood using a wedge.

As the fellow in the picture to the left is demonstrating, the next step after splitting your chunk of log was to hew down a flat splinter-free surface using the foot adze. I've used a foot adze for hewing a lot of log cabin logs over the years but I did mine freestyle using the traditional technique. At Conclave they had a safety log set up for this chore as seen in the pictures to the left and I suppose that was a good idea for this event.

In one of the pictures above and to the right can be seen folks using the wood mallet to hammer in the legs to their stools. The tips of the legs had to be filed down a bit first so that they would have a good snug fit inside the holes. All of the stools built were 3-legged so builders had to think about proper spacing and slant that would result in a firm standing stool.

And of course, as seen in the picture above to the right, you could take your completed stool to the branding station and enjoy burning in a variety of symbols. Building a small simple wooden stool is a fantastic hands-on exercise for any child (or adult) but be prepared to have a little more patience than would be needed for making a wood mallet. Every kid should have an opportunity to experience rustic woodworking and the Boy Scouts excel in these hands-on activities.

A Boy And His Hammer

My favorite activity (by far!) at Conclave this year was found on the OAX (Order of the Arrow eXperience) at the pioneering station. When I first arrived more than an hour had passed by before I knew it because this was the hands-on mecca of this years event.

Here the kids and a few adults worked with intense laser-beam focus making rustic wood hammers and stools... but for this posting I want to focus on the hammers. Several times before on this blog I have more than stressed the importance of hands-on activities for kids as an important catalyst in development of their character, spirit, and worthiness while finding their place in the world. This pioneering station was one of those perfect hands-on activities that scored ten-fold on all counts.

Seen in the picture to the left is one such Scout that I traveled with to Conclave. It was a joy watching him saw his wood, drill his hole, then learning to set his handle into the hammer head with such intense focus.

Throughout the remainder of the day he carried his new wood mallet everywhere he went and showing it to everyone with gleaming pride. In campsite that evening he was still latched onto it like the velcro on my knife sheath.

Since I was the woodcarver in the troop he politely asked if I would carve something on the handle for him and he was sure to tell me that I had full creative freedom. He was very anxious to see what I would come up with as I rustled around gathering up my carving knives. As you can see in the picture above I ended up carving  a nice little woodspirit into the handle which only generated more pride in the tool that he'd made. Off he went again showing it off to anyone who would listen to his story and look at his hammer.

All the way back on the drive from the beach to the mountains I believe that he held onto that wood mallet all the way. Before departing his father expressed his gratitude to me for helping his son with his hammer and the woodcarving. That must have been the proudest kid in North Carolina and I'm anxious to see if he hangs it on the wall in his room or if he wears it out using it. Either way it will be okay because the power of a simple hands-on project worked its magic and really made the difference in one child's life today.

The first step in making a pioneer mallet was to decide the size of it, then choosing the appropriate wood for the handle and the head. Some would choose to make the biggest mallet possible while others opted on the smaller side. As seen in the picture above they would then use a band saw or a crosscut saw to trim the wood down to usable proportions. For a while I enjoyed helping the Scouts saw their wood and everyone of them gave me a sincere thank-you which was encouraging. Finally they would size up their handle to decide which size drill bit to use then hand-drill their hole into the head.

As seen in the pictures above the next task was learning to manipulate a wood file on the tip of their handle until it would fit snug in the hole. When a good fit was found a notch was sawed into the handles tip to help it dry and fit tightly as seen in the pictures below.

When your mallet was completed some of the kids chose to take it to the blacksmith station and burn a fantastic symbol of their choice into the wood.
As seen in the picture to the right is one very proud Scout as he branded his mallet then showed it off for the crowd. This kid is smiling but what you can't see is the live-action trembling in the core of his soul from being so proud of the mallet that he'd made with his own hands. It just don't get any better than this!


I'm not sure exactly how many kids went through the pioneering station on Saturday but the area was at full capacity from opening to closing. What is for sure is that a LOT of kids are a little better off today because some caring adults had the patience to ensure their success and the vision to make it happen. From such a simple hands-on activity I saw the confidence in a lot of kids boosted upwards and the world seemed to become a somewhat gentler place to be. If you want to ensure that the next generation has the best opportunity to succeed then help a child use their hands in a constructive way. You won't be disappointed.

Conclave 2010: The Video

 As mentioned in the previous posting last weekend was a big time for North Carolina Scouts who have been nominated by their troops for membership in Order of the Arrow. Only once each year do all of these Scouts come together and meet for regional elections but that's only a very small part of the event.

Below I have put together a short video that gives a very small glimpse of what goes on at Conclave, but remember that it's only a very small glimpse. It must be experienced first hand to absorb it's full impact.

SR-7B Conclave 2010 at Camp Boddie

On April 16-18 the Southern Region Section 7B of Order of the Arrow held it's largest event of the year at Camp Boddie which is nestled on the wild and wooded banks of Pamlico sound. All six lodges were represented bringing more than 1,200 Arrowmen and Brothers together for a very spirited weekend of competition, unique exhibits, patch trading, fellowship, and more hands-on opportunities than I've ever seen assembled in one place.

 Conclave is the premier (and the largest) Order of the Arrow annual event of the year. It is also anticipated more than any other event which is usually held in the spring. Each year it rotates around the great state of North Carolina where all six Councils enjoy hosting this action packed weekend.

Next year I'm proud that the Old Hickory Council will be the host for the 2011 Conclave at our very own Camp Raven Knob in the cool North Carolina mountains. Only those Scouts and leaders who exemplify and best role model the Scout Oath and the Scout law in their daily lives can be chosen to attend. Order of the Arrow is the highest honor society in Scouting and truely is the best that America has to offer the future. These kids are the best of the best and continuously renew my faith in the next generation.

Right now I have only posted a few pictures from the event that mostly have to do with Scout spirit because that's what it was all about. Yes, there was a lot of competition for this years spirit award and I'm proud my Lodge 118 won that award for 2010. We were really pumped and showed almost immortal spirit and pride from sun-up to sun-down... and sometimes even more!

The theme for our Lodge was "Flashback to the 60's" so all of the pictures that you see of our fine upstanding citizen boys and leaders dressed like hippies are us. Also you might notice that I carved 11 of the peace-sign necklaces that some of those "hippies" are wearing for the Scouts and leaders that I traveled and camped with in Troops 529 and 561. I spotlighted those necklaces in this posting.

I will post a video of the event as soon as I can complete putting it together. Most of all I look forward to posting the hands-on opportunities provided at this years event which deserve their own individual spotlight. My favorite was the primitive woodworking station where the kids and leaders had a fantastic opportunity to make their own wood mallets or stools. Other stations that I will report on will include flint knapping, games, basketry, tomahawk throwing, blowgun shooting, music, Indian dancing, primitive cooking, and much more.

Camp Raven Knob: Spring Work Day Event

This weekend I participated with more than 100 Scouts and Scouters at Camp Raven Knob in the first work oriented event of 2010. This was an Order of the Arrow sponsored event by Wahissa 118  but as you can see from the picture to the right, PackMaster Nathan (in blue shirt) was also leading a very motivated group of his Cubs on a conservation project. These boys were too young to be OA members but these kids were a big help and welcomed partners for their cheerful service.

Friday night the rains fell extremely hard on the 3,200 acre Scout reservation but on Saturday morning the sun broke through for wonderful working conditions. As seen in the picture to the right my first crew helped clear several fallen trees that were left from the tremendous winter snowfall leaving trails blocked off everywhere.

Camp ranger Dave Whitfield had already cut up the trees so that we could haul them off the mountain for pick-up. By the way that is Raven Knob in the background so we had a beautiful backdrop in scenery as we cleared the brush and others dug holes for night lights, and erosion control on this trail leading to the Wahissa Lodge building.

As seen in the next picture the afternoon brought back more rainfall so many chores were brought inside. Below one crew is busy in the massive sized dining hall giving the floor the loving attention that it needed. Others are seen cleaning the air duct system that runs throughout the ceiling like a creeping creature from outer space.

Even with inclement weather shadowing our every move, the Scouts who turned out for this event are the cream of crop in my opinion. Unlike other OA events such as Conclave, Spring and Fall Fellowship, this was strictly a work day and a time for living up to the OA code of cheerful service to others. But when you're working together as a team for a cause greater than any one person, a lot of fun can always be found.

WIP: Designing OA Arrows- (Part 2 of 2)

WIP="Work in progress"

Although it's been a somewhat gradual process I have finally finished 40 arrows for this summers Order of the Arrow Ordeal and what an enjoyable project it has been. Somebody on another blog recently discussed what to do when the carving doldrums hit and you just can't seem to get started carving anything. That's a common condition that woodcarvers occasionally have to deal with and my solution is often to dig deep into the creative process and try to produce something original.

For me this usually means to start the project on the sketch pad until something "clicks" and then it's time to transfer it to the correct piece of wood. The 40 arrows, each measuring 8" long and cut from simple 1" pine stock, were to be a mass-produced project so I had to keep it simple to make so many arrows BUT I still wanted it to have that special hand-made feel to it. My overriding purpose going into this project was to produce an arrow that would symbolize each participants personal sacrifice to cheerfully serve others and I wanted it to be an arrow nice enough that they would hold on to it for a life time and one day look back upon that experience. Hopefully I accomplished those goals but only time will tell.

As previously mentioned I made the arrows from 8" long 1" pine stock and I chose boards with the softest knot-free grain that I could find. After transferring my sketched design to a piece of this wood I then cut it out on the scroll saw and used it for the template for tracing the other arrows. Next I took my "V" parting tool and carved all the feathers, letters, and arrow tip to give them a more 3-D effect. This was about as simple as a carving could get but it gave the piece that original hand-made feel.

I then took the propane torch and very, very lightly glazed the entire arrow with the flame giving it a slightly dark and aged look. This burnt effect made the arrow seem like it had been in battle by removing the solid "new" look of fresh wood. With the drill press I drilled three small holes evenly spaced from top to bottom for the lanyard and the center hole for the bead decoration. I completed the arrows by using my wood burning pen to inscribe "118" in the center which is our Lodge number, then using a thin acrylic red and yellow paint wash for the letters and the arrow tip. Finally I spray sealed the entire arrow with Krylon Acrylic Sealer. I then thought that I was done but decided to add a small piece of leather lacing in the center of the arrow with three beads of no particular colors. This addition really gave the arrows that "unique" hand-made feel that I wanted to achieve and giving each arrow their own distinct difference and look.

As you can see this was a very simple project and something that I myself designed. I can't wait to hand them out at the next Ordeal and perhaps in another 50 years these young Arrowmen will still have the arrow that I gave them long ago. Perhaps it will rekindle fond memories of days past by of a job well done and when their character was being shaped. THAT will be the ultimate hope of my gift.

WIP: Designing OA Arrows On A Freezing Winter Weekend (Part 1 of 2)

WIP="Work in progress"

Temperatures in the North Carolina mountains aren't rising above freezing for a three day block and it will be in the low teens tonight. As I stoke up the wood heater I've been reminiscing from last summer when I came close to passing out from the searing heat during my Ordeal. Man it was hot but I wouldn't trade that experience in Ordeal # 1 or serving as an elangomat in Ordeal # 2 for the warmest tropical beach in all the world.

I am very honored to be part of Order of the Arrow and this first experience last summer was quite a moving moment in my life as I had the opportunity to cheerfully serve others, then in the second Ordeal I helped lead a new group of 15 boys and adult leaders on their first experience. What an honor that was.

Now on the first weekend of 2010 (and a cold one at that) I have begun planning for this summers Ordeals. It is my desire to serve again as an elangomat in both Ordeals. An Elangomat is a friend to each candidate and also a Big Brother, so to speak. The candidates look up to you as a friend to help them through the rigors of sacrifice during their experience so that hopefully it will be as memorable and moving as my own was last summer.

With several months of time for planning I decided that I will design each of my candidates their own arrow as  seen in the first picture up top. Candidates are always given an OA arrow to wear during the duration of their Ordeal but I'd like to personalize the arrows for the members of my groups so I'll need to make about 30 total. I carved my own arrow from the rough-out provided then finished it later and I described it more here.

It is a high honor to be chosen for Order of the Arrow and new candidates should feel being a part of something much bigger than themselves. The arrow they will wear will be a lasting symbol of that experience when they sacrificed personal comfort while serving others and I hope that they will cherish it for many years to come.

For now it's a very cold winters night in January... time for putting another log on the fire, pulling up a chair and carving another arrow. It just don't get much better than that. Stay warm and keep on carving!

Order of the Arrow: "Fall Fellowship"

Lots of stuff goes on at the annual Fall Fellowship weekend of the Order of the Arrow. Boy Scouts and Scouters came together from several northwestern North Carolina counties at my new home away from home Camp Raven Knob for a weekend of fun competition, fellowship, workshop meetings, Lodge elections, lots of good food, and a Saturday night auction.

Too bad that it rained steadily all day on Saturday but not even that stopped any event from it's scheduled time. The Scouts who show up for the Fall Fellowship are the best in their troops when it comes to scout spirit. Some of the games started inside but most of the competitive activities such as tug-o-war and erecting a tent were held right in the afternoon rain. The wet, the cold, and even the mud seemed to inspire even more energy from the participants which made it a lot of fun to be there.

While Saturday afternoon was mostly fun and games then followed by chapter meetings, speeches, campaigning and elections, the morning was filled with a lot of workshop choices that included Scoutmaster brainstorming sessions, Elangomat training, and Order of the Arrow history to name just a few. It was a great opportunity to soak in a LOT of wisdom from those who have already traveled this road thus generating only more enthusiasm to learn more.

Saturday night was greatly anticipated from my own point of view because this is when the annual patch auction is held. One of the first patches produced by Camp Raven Knob, circa approximately late 1950's fetched nearly $300.00 and the profits were split between the camp museum and the Lodge. Personally I bid on a 1948 edition of the Boy Scout Handbook and I got it for $20.00!

Also, since my troop works with at-risk youth we don't have a way to raise funds for memberships, rank & merit badges so I donated 5 woodspirit, Indian, etc. walking sticks to the auction to raise money for our troop. They only auctioned off one this night at $40.00 and the remainder will be sold at other upcoming Scouting events. Last year I donated five walking sticks that raised about $250.00 for our treasury.

2009 produced a great Fellowship and everyone left in high spirits.

Future "Arrowmen"

Scout Slide # 2: OA Lodge Indian

Carving neckerchief slides is something new to me and something that I've been meaning to get to for many years. Finally the slide bug has bitten hard enough that I'm now hooked on them.

For beginners I really love carving in-the-small so the slides fit the bill for this need. Secondly, they offer an endless opportunity for creativity since just about any idea, far or wide, can work for a slide. Thirdly, I've recently become active in the Order of the Arrow so that leads right into number four... slides are practical in that this is a carving that can be worn to Scouting events.

Anyhow, I just finished my second slide which is an Indian with an eagle head dress. My first slide was a miniature totem pole which I posted on August 31st and can be found here. I decided to personalize it with some additional woodburning

Image by Mr Wabu via Flickr

to bring attention to my OA Lodge, Wahissa 118. Perhaps one day when I'm long gone then it will become a collectors item. :)

I carved it from a small piece of basswood the exact size of a Jenga Block which was 1" X 3" X 3/8". I first sketched the pattern onto the wood then cut out the waste wood around the eagle wings with the scroll saw. Next I went on to carve all the detail and my Flexcut mini pelican blade was a pleasure to work with on this small carving. After it was completed I then used my detail woodburner to add the feather texturing on the eagle and the Wahissa lettering. The "118" number was painted on with burnt umber and a very small detailing paint brush. I used watered down acrylic paints for the color and gloss polyurethane for the final finish. Oh yeah, I also cut out and attached the rounded slide on the rear side with wood glue and clamping.

Order of the Arrow Ordeal Weekend #2 (and more carving!)

If you ever doubted the future generation of leaders, then you should have seen what I saw at the Order of the Arrow Ordeal #2 last weekend at Camp Raven Knob. In my recent posting of the last Ordeal on the weekend of August 22 found here, I earned my own membership in the Order through a weekend of "scant foot" and "arduous labor". This last weekend I was glad to return and serve as an Elangomat (leader) in a group of about 15 new candidates. I was very proud of the youth (and two adult candidates) in my group who definitely re-newed my faith in the next generation. They worked extremely hard and almost non-stop for more than eight hours then were up past midnight for a full day of work, cheerful service, and sacred ceremonial procedures for membership. They more than passed their test for becoming "Arrowmen" in the Order and I was very proud of them all.

Image via Wikipedia

Each year the Order of the Arrow Wahissa Lodge 118 (Boy Scouts of America) holds two Ordeals for new candidates to be considered for membership. This last weekend was the second and final Ordeal for 2009 and there were about 65 candidates who became new members. In another 10 months of continued service in their troop, active participation in the Order, and upon completing several other challenges they (we) will then have the opportunity to bring our membership "full-circle" thus progressing from Arrowmen to the Brotherhood.

Membership in the Order has it's privileges such as being welcomed to all the yearly events which consist of service to others combined with a lot of fun camaraderie among brothers, and probably more fun than anyone could imagine.

During the final ceremonies at this Ordeal I was also proud to wear my first neckerchief slide. I was determined to wear it this week so I started it last Monday and finished it just in time last Thursday.

It is a small totem pole boasting a bear, frog, fox, and a bald eagle towering proudly on top. As you can see in the pictures to the left it is very small at only 3" tall and a wing spread of 2".

When the carving was finished I attached the wings into a carved notch with wood glue and a small dowel rod. As you can imagine it was all very delicate work which required a lot of focus and careful handling but using basswood made the work both enjoyable and successful. The slide got a LOT of compliments at the Ordeal so I'm now working on a lot of other new ideals for neckerchief slides. What a great week!

Order of the Arrow Ordeal Weekend(and a little carving!)

This last weekend I spent one of the most arduous but tremendously rewarding weekends of my life participating in my Order of the Arrow ordeal at the 3,2oo acre Raven Knob Boy Scout Reservation. I was one of about 163 candidates to participate but I was probably the only one who was actually a candidate in 2008 but it took me a year before I was able to schedule my Ordeal.

Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America and is entirely youth led. Adults can also be elected by their troop as candidates but they can't hold elected office however we are encouraged to offer advice. I was greatly humbled and surprised while attending an Order of the Arrow ceremony last summer when with more than a thousand scouters present, my name was announced to come forward for tapping by the lodge Chief. I honestly had no idea nor did I expect such an honor so I hesitated for a few moments until I was convinced that I really did need to step forward. What an honor.

Due to various complications in my schedule I wasn't able to attend an Ordeal last summer but I made sure that I was there this last weekend for the first of two Ordeals offered in 2009. Ceremonies are sacred in the Order so I won't reveal what happened because (1) I can't and, (2) I wouldn't want to spoil this unique experience for another prospective candidate. I'll just say that it was an enormously meaningful and powerful experience that I will never forget. In a nutshell an Ordeal is meant to emphasize service to others and self-sacrifice.

During this day of sacrifice I managed to grab a few short moments to carve the arrow assigned to me and to be worn throughout the Ordeal. In the beginning it was just a simple cut-out on the scroll saw but I knew that I'd want to have a real memento from my experience to remind me of what I went through for many years to come. When I got home yesterday evening I completed the Arrow with some woodburning and painting, then I attached the Wahissa Lodge 118 lanyard.

This has been quite a weekend where I made a lot of new friends and I'm looking forward to serving for many years to come.