Astronomy and Night time Orienteering March 18-20, 2016 Private property near War Eagle Mill Cost: $12 per participant (Registration open to all Boy Scout Troops) This Guide is provided to help Youth and Adult Leaders prepare for the Advance in Scouting Spring Camporee. Registration can be completed online and should be completed by March 5 th. The link to Camporee Registration can be found at the Westark Area Council Website. Yours in Service and Scouting Cornerstone Camporee Staff Camporee Schedule Friday, March 18 th, 2016 4:00-9:00pm Check-in and camp site setup 9:00 pm -?? Begin Astronomy MB and Night Time Compass course Instructions for the evening Saturday, March 19 th, 2016 7:00 1:00 Sleep in, Breakfast, Troop Free Time, Lunch 1:00 4:00 Astronomy MB book work 4:00 Early Campfire Troop Skits and Songs 6:00 7:00 Troop Dinner 8:00 pm OA Callout Campfire: 10:30 pm Lights out / all quiet in the Camps Sunday, March 20 th, 2016 7:00 am Reveille, Breakfast and clean up 8:00 am Interfaith Service. A Scout is Reverent. You are highly encouraged to attend. If you choose to not attend, please be respectful and quiet during this time. 9:00 am Break camp, clean up campsite, locate staff member for campsite inspection and event patch delivery.
Activities The theme of the camporee is Advance in Scouting - Astronomy. The goal is to complete all requirements for the Astronomy Merit Badge EXCEPT 6b which requires 4 consecutive nights of observations. In learning about astronomy, Scouts study how activities in space affect our own planet and bear witness to the wonders of the night sky: the nebulae, or giant clouds of gas and dust where new stars are born; old stars dying and exploding; meteor showers and shooting stars; the moon, planets, and a dazzling array of stars. Requirements 1. Do the following: a. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in astronomy activities, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards. b. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation. c. Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather. Then explain how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon. 2. Explain what light pollution is and how it and air pollution affect astronomy. 3. With the aid of diagrams (or real telescopes if available), do each of the following: a. Explain why binoculars and telescopes are important astronomical tools. Demonstrate or explain how these tools are used. b. Describe the similarities and differences of several types of astronomical telescopes, including at least one that observes light beyond the visible part of the spectrum (i.e., radio, X-ray, ultraviolet, or infrared). c. Explain the purposes of at least three instruments used with astronomical telescopes. d. Describe the proper care and storage of telescopes and binoculars both at home and in the field. 4. Do the following*: a. Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, at least four of which are in the zodiac. b. Identify at least eight conspicuous stars, five of which are of magnitude 1 or brighter. c. Make two sketches of the Big Dipper. In one sketch, show the Big Dipper s orientation in the early evening sky. In another sketch, show its position several hours later. In both sketches, show the North Star and the horizon. Record the date and time each sketch was made. d. Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way. 5. Do the following: a. List the names of the five most visible planets. Explain which ones can appear in phases similar to lunar phases and which ones cannot, and explain why. b. Using the Internet (with your parent s permission), books, and other resources, find out when each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will be observable in the evening sky during the next 12 months. Then compile this information in the form of a chart or table. c. Describe the motion of the planets across the sky. d. Observe a planet and describe what you saw. 6. Do the following: a. Sketch the face of the Moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Label these landmarks. b. Sketch the phase and the daily position of the Moon, at the same hour and place, for four days in a row. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, and buildings. Explain the changes you observe. c. List the factors that keep the Moon in orbit around Earth. d. With the aid of diagrams, explain the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses, and at the times of new, first-quarter, full, and lastquarter phases of the Moon.
7. Do the following: a. Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and some effects of its radiation on Earth s weather and communications. b. Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation. c. Identify at least one red star, one blue star, and one yellow star (other than the Sun). Explain the meaning of these colors. 8. With your counselor's approval and guidance, do ONE of the following: a. Visit a planetarium or astronomical observatory. Submit a written report, a scrapbook, or a video presentation afterward to your counselor that includes the following information: 1. Activities occurring there 2. Exhibits and displays you saw 3. Telescopes and other instruments being used 4. Celestial objects you observed b. Plan and participate in a three-hour observation session that includes using binoculars or a telescope. List the celestial objects you want to observe, and find each on a star chart or in a guidebook. Prepare an observing log or notebook. Show your plan, charts, and log or notebook to your counselor before making your observations. Review your log or notebook with your counselor afterward. c. Plan and host a star party for your Scout troop or other group such as your class at school. Use binoculars or a telescope to show and explain celestial objects to the group. d. Help an astronomy club in your community hold a star party that is open to the public. e. Personally take a series of photographs or digital images of the movement of the Moon, a planet, an asteroid, meteor, or a comet. In your visual display, label each image and include the date and time it was taken. Show all positions on a star chart or map. Show your display at school or at a troop meeting. Explain the changes you observed. 9. Find out about three career opportunities in astronomy. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you. Free Time Activities: Because the primary activities will be on Friday evening, most of Saturday will be free time for Scouts. Fishing on War Eagle Creek Troop activities or games Compass Course Work on Astronomy MB (book work) Saturday Campfire: There will be 2 campfires on Saturday. All troops are encouraged to participate in the Early Saturday Campfire with a skit or song. All skits and songs must be approved by Camporee Staff. The Late campfire will be led by the Order of the Arrow and will include a callout of new OA candidates. Planning Ahead The camporee committee will have planning meetings in February and March to prepare for the event. All Troops planning to attend are encouraged to send a representative. Each troop is asked to prepare a skit or song for the Campfire
Arrival: Plan to arrive at the Camporee as soon as possible on Friday, March 18 th, 2016. Event Check In Procedures: 1. Upon arrival your troop representative should follow signs to check in. 2. Turn in your Troop Event Roster of youth and adults and pay any remaining fees. 3. Each troop will set up camp in their campsite. 4. Trailers in campsites are permitted. 5. If weather permits, cars may be driven close to campsites for unloading but should be parked in the designated parking areas. Trucks with trailers attached are the only ones permitted to remain in the campsites. Religious Services A Scout Is Reverent : There will be an interfaith worship service on Sunday morning at 8:00 am. Please bring chairs if you like. All troops are encouraged to participate. One member from each troop will be asked to partake in the service event (Chaplin s aid). Troops may conduct their own faith services if desired. Water: Drinking water will NOT be available on site and must be brought in. Latrines: Portable latrines will be onsite. We need help from each troop to talk to their scouts about latrine etiquette. Trash should never be thrown into the latrine and latrine pranks will not be tolerated. Safety: Safety is the responsibility of everyone at the Camporee. Westark Area Council provides additional accident insurance for all participants. To be covered, all accidents must be immediately reported to the first-aid station. This insurance does not cover sickness or injuries occurring before the event or chronic conditions. Please have updated health histories (BSA Medical Form A, B) and insurance information available on each of your Scouts. The Medical forms will be shown at check in Friday night. If you don t have Medical Form at check in, you will be asked to get the form. Fire: Open fires are allowed on top of the ground only. Please review the Guide to Safe Scouting and be sure campsites are arranged with those standards in mind, paying close attention to those regulations regarding fires. Have fire buckets and fire fighting tools available. Do not cut live trees on the property! Leave no fire unattended. Make sure fires are completely out, and ashes are disposed of properly. Waste Disposal: All campsite trash should be bagged and removed from the site by each troop. There will be NO waste disposal on site. Quiet Hours: Quiet hours will be different for this camporee since activities will start Friday and last well into early Saturday morning. Tobacco Use: Adult leaders should support the attitude that young adults are better off without tobacco and should not allow the use of tobacco products at any BSA activity involving youth participants. Check Out and Departure: When your troop campsite is ready to depart, locate a camporee staff member at Headquarters to conduct a check out inspection. If upon inspection the troop campsite is adequately cleaned up, event patches will be delivered and the unit will be free to go. Check out will begin at 9:30, Please give our staff the courtesy of attending services and having breakfast before approaching them for check out before 9:30. Questions should be directed to Herb Haile herbhaile@gmail.com, Chris Turner cbturne@gmail.com or Mike Boness mfbscouter@yahoo.com or 479-366-8265
Registration Form (Due before March 7 th ) Must have medical forms for each attendee. Scoutmaster Troop # Contact Person E-mail Phone Number of Scouts Number of Adults ADULTS: Camporee Volunteers: # of Patrols Scouts: Total # of Participants: X $12 = Total Fees
Camporee rules (Please Post in Camp) DO NOT Bring any firearms or ammunition. No vehicles in the camp areas (except for troop trailers). No Electronic Games, fireworks, radios/cd players/ipods/mp3 players. No sheath knives, or scabbard knives No alcohol or illegal drugs No SMOKING IN CAMP Keep latrines clean - Do NOT put trash in toilets. Each Troop will have cleaning responsibilities. ALWAYS leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. Never walk through another Unit s campsite. Always ask permission before entering another Unit s area.
Fire Safety rules Above ground fires are allowed. Be very careful with fires, have fire buckets and fire fighting tools available. Leave no fire unattended. Do not cut trees or break limbs from the trees. (wood piles are ok to use for firewood) Make sure fires are cold, and the ashes are disposed of properly before leaving the area. Leave No Trace guidelines apply.
WALMART VAP (volunteerism always pays) To aid check-in, please try have Walmart employees in your Troop pre-fill out the form below (this is for event VAP, does not interfere with individual VAP)