SCOUTING SMOKE SIGNALS
I’m a firm believer in the Scouting program in our town/county/state/nation/world. It is one deterrent that we have against crime. Train the youth right and maybe they won’t go astray after they grow up. I know there are former Boy Scouts in prison and even Eagle Scouts that have been in trouble with the law. But for the most part and I would say a very high percentage, boys that come through the Scouting program are a cut above the rest of the boys who just like to ‘hang around’, go to malls, or wind up ‘being bored’ with themselves and their life to the point that they experiment with drugs and wind up committing crimes to support their habits.
(This was sent to me from California) BOY SCOUTS WERE PREPARED FOR BRUSH FIRE
On June 25, a brush fire began in an unoccupied area of O’Neill Regional Park. It just happened to occur during the Saddleback District Cub Scout Day Camp – one of the largest Cub Scout day camps in the nation. When the fire was sighted there were close to 1,000 people in the park participating in the camp.
Over 800 of these were children. Three volunteer staff members, which included a firefighter, a deputy sheriff, and a city policeman, immediately dashed up the hill armed with nothing more than three fire extinguishers and two shovels to fight the fire. Thom Spratt, our deputy on site, immediately called for fire fighting equipment to respond, while staffers down below evacuated the campers and remaining volunteers to a safe gathering area.
John O’Keefe, our Long Beach firefighter, with the assistance of Brian Meissner, city of Orange policeman, directed the emergency response team of Scout volunteers in fighting the fire until the Orange County Fire Department arrived on the scene. By the time the fire department arrived the fire, which had grown quickly to cover an area the size of a large house, had been contained and every camper and staff volunteer had been accounted for. The kids settled in to cheer on the fire trucks and fire crews.
While this fire may seem minor, it was a catastrophe in the making. Without the quick thinking of these Scouters, the fire would have spread quickly, threatening the lives of our children and the homes in the city of Rancho Santa Margarita. Many thanks to Firefighter John O’Keefe, Deputy Thom Spratt, and Officer Brian Meissner for their quick thinking and bravery. Many thanks to the Orange County Fire Authority for their quick response and call-out of all necessary equipment to handle this fire and protect our campers. And last, but not least, many thanks to all the Scout volunteers who calmly and quickly herded our kids to safety. I am proud to be counted among you. Cheryl McElwayne (Ms. McElwain is the health and safety office for Saddleback Day Camp.)
PORTAGE CREEK CAMP ASSOCIATION TO HOLD FALL HUMONGOUS GARAGE SALE
Portage Creek Camp Association is still looking for items to sell in their fall garage sale. The Scout Cabin at the corner of Lower Huntington Road and Ardmore Avenue is slowly filling up with “collectibles, antiques, goodies, and unique junque but they need more. The time of the sale will be announced in Scouting Smoke Signals in the next edition of THE WAYNEDALE NEWS. Portage Creek Camp Association is the sponsoring unit for Boy Scout Troop 44.
Once upon a time, as the story goes, there was an Explorer Post #2044 that met at the Scout Cabin. We are interested in re-instating that Explorer Post or maybe a Venture Post with that same number. We will need leaders to get one started, along with boys and girls in the 14 to 21 age group. Till next time, “Be Prepared,” “Do a good turn daily,” and remember, “A smile is a frown turned upside down.”
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