2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference

Cheerful Service Opportunity for Arrowmen at NOAC

by Jonathan D. from Tecumseh Lodge 65

This year at NOAC, Arrowmen from across the country had the opportunity to provide cheerful service to an important part of the Lansing area community. A service project was performed at Fenner Nature Center, where Arrowmen worked on an unfinished, overgrown trail. Participants cut new trail while restoring an overgrown trail. Arrowmen also worked to remove invasive species, such as honeysuckle and buckthorn, from the area.

The project was performed under the direction and guidance of foremen from the OA Trail Crew and Wilderness Voyage programs. The entire volunteer crew thought it was a great opportunity to perform cheerful service to the greater Lansing community. “It’s great being able to come out here and help the center,” Ethan C. of Ta Tsu Hwa Lodge said. “I’ve done a lot of trail work but never anything this big.”

The Fenner Nature Center includes over 130 acres of explorable habitats, including ponds, forests, wetlands, and prairies. It also holds over 4 miles of paved trails and a visitor center featuring live animals and interactive displays. Scouting was able to give back to the Lansing area, the Fenner Nature Center, and those who visit the center through their service. Through cheerful service like this, the Fenner Nature Center, and other facilities like it, will continue to flourish and provide enjoyment to others for years to come.

NESA@NOAC: A Show to Remember

by Joe Donahue

On August 1, 1912, Arthur Eldred was declared the first Eagle Scout. In celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of this milestone in Scouting’s history, the OA Shows team collaborated with The National Eagle Scout Association to produce “The 100^th Anniversary of Eagle Scouts” show on Wednesday. This show featured a panel of five Eagle Scouts from various fields who discussed the meaning of award in their lives.

OA Shows Conference Vice Chief Graham Rapier said that the preparation for this began at the National Planning Meeting, but didn’t really come together until close to conference time. “Even up until May’s production meeting,” he said, “a lot of the details were still ambiguous. At that meeting, we solidified the general gist of the show and from there, everything just came together.”

The show began with a performance by the band Doctor Gunn while Eagle Scout chalk artist Kelly Croy created a drawing of an ocean in under 6 minutes. The group Fighting Gravity then came out for a performance and a brief history of Arthur Eldred was presented.

National Vice Chief Preston Marquis also spoke and challenged those that are not yet Eagle Scouts to set goals and commit to become one. “You are the next generation of Eagle Scouts and it is up to you to lead us into tomorrow,” he said. Marquis also recognized the 2,182 Eagle Scouts at NOAC saying, “You know that being an Eagle Scout is something more than a line on a résumé or a piece of cloth that you wear on your uniform. It is a state of being.”

The event culminated with a panel of Eagle Scouts discussing their experiences. Hosted by Croy, the panel featured an Olympic gold medalist, the winners of NBC’s Escape Routes, the chairman of Nantahala Outdoor Center, and the founder of Aqua-Africa. The show concluded with a summary of the drawing by Kelly Croy and an encore performance from Fighting Gravity.

Many scouts were really impressed by the show. “It’s always great to have celebrities, and Fighting Gravity was sick,” said Ryan G. “It was the best show so far,” said Erik Nedrelid. Robbie C. added “There was a great opening that held our interest through the end of the show.”

Rapier said that each of the panelists shared the excitement of the guests. “I had the opportunity to talk to them after the show,” he said, “and they were still excited.”

Fighting Gravity posted their excitement on their Twitter feed, @fgravity. They tweeted, “Performance tonight in Michigan was insane. Crowd went crazy and loved it.”

The show was also broadcast online, after the huge success of Tuesday night’s live stream. Vice Chairman for Communications and Technology Craig Salazar stated that there were approximately 330 people that watched the show online.

Overall, the consensus was clear; the Order of the Arrow truly honored the legacy of the Eagle Scout and inspired them to continue the legacy.

Let the Goodman Games Begin!

by Alan Randall

Leave No Trace (LNT), water conservation, communication, first aid, scout skills, and team building. These things all come together to create a NOAC highlight: the Goodman Games. The games feature competitions that test Scout skills past their common applications. It is also rumored there will be lots of giveaways to reinforce the lessons taught through the games.

T. Alex Hill, Goodman Games youth leader says, “There is so much to do at the Goodman Games and once you see it, you won’t regret it.” Hill told us that the first-aid area is his favorite. Activities such as splinting a broken limb, stretcher racing, and treating mock wounds are going to highlight the segment. “You never know when the skills that you have learned in Scouts can come to use in everyday life…” says Robert Slapikas, Founder’s Day staff member, “…and sometimes they come to use in extraordinary situations.” The Goodman Games will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Ralph Young Field. Hill’s final thoughts: “Come out and celebrate our founders, it is going to be a blast!”

Your Local Doppler Radar: This map shows the location and intensity of precipitation in your area. T... http://t.co/nI5QqLzw9S #NOAC2012

2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference

Cheerful Service Opportunity for Arrowmen at NOAC

NESA@NOAC: A Show to Remember

Let the Goodman Games Begin!

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