Exeter Troop 218 dons waders and gets ready to do some work
in the creek at Homestead National Monument. From left to right are
Braden Capek, Ben Bartu, Joey Bartu, Tyler Sysel and Clint Oldehoeft.
Laura Sysel, Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 218 helps her
son Tyler with the basket project at the Scoutout event at Homestead National
Monument.
Troop 218 Scoutmaster Dean Bartu helps hold the grinder down
as troop member Clint Oldehoeft grinds some wheat during a scout event at
Homestead National Monument.
The Cornhusker Council joined forces with the Homestead
National Monument September 9 – 11 to host the councilwide Scoutout
event. The Boy Scouts fall campout was packed full of events that
combined scouting ideals with the skills needed while homesteading.
Troop 218 out of Exeter camped out Friday night behind the
educational center at the monument, setting up camp after a heavy rain went
through the area.
Saturday morning the Scouts had the opportunity to explore
water quality and movement as they suited up in hip waders to begin their
activity. While down in the creek the boys learned how to measure the
flow of the water and monitor erosion.
After shedding their waders the scouts got to play in the
mud. The object of the next session was to see how many living organisms
are making their home near the creek.
Digging into the buckets of creek bank mud the scouts looked
for living organisms and then used a chart to identify them. They were
able to find mayfly larvae along with dragonfly larvae in the mud from the
creek bank.
Birding on the prairie was the next activity for the
group. Dr. Jim Hoke shared his love of birding and the outdoors with the
scouts. They learned different ways of identifying birds and also some
tips on using a bird book.
The scouts cleaned up and headed inside the educational
center to start work on their genealogy merit badge with Beatrice Library
Director Laureen Riedesel.
The scouts explored several methods for researching their
own genealogy and were given several forms to help get them started on their
journey to learn about their past.
During the lunch break the troop members took some time to
visit the Homestead Heritage Center at the monument. The scouts used the
Heritage Center computers to research their family name in the Bureau of Land
Management records to see if they could find homesteading records.
The afternoon session started with the scouts working on the
basketry merit badge. The boys learned to use reeds to make baskets
before heading outside to learn about wheat production. During this
period the scouts sifted the wheat berries and used a grinder to make
flour. They also got to see how a flail works and tested it out without
any actual grain.
Next, the unit headed inside to explore the early
agricultural equipment. They learned how the advancements in equipment
drastically affected the amount of land the farmers could manage.
Archaeology was the last merit badge of the day the scouts
started. Archeologists from the Midwest Archaeological Center (part of
the National Park Service) came from Lincoln to give the scouts a glimpse into
their work.
On a section of mowed prairie the archaeologists had flagged
out strips of land and dropped colored noodles onto the area. The scouts
paired up and one at a time had to see how many and what kind of noodles they
could find and record their findings. After both scouts went through the
section they compared their results.
After supper the evening program began with Ranger Susan
Cook introducing Ryan Paul who spoke about Native American Indian folklore and
told several stories about the names of the constellations. The scouts
then had the opportunity to experience the star lab which is an inflated dome
that they entered which had the constellations projected on the ceiling.
To end the evening the scouts had the opportunity to witness
a iridium flare out on the prairie. This was the opportunity to see
several satellites moving across the skyline.
The scouts headed home with lots of new merit badges started
along with an amazing camping experience at a National Monument.
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