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SAVE OUR AMERICAN RESOURCES
The Longs Peak Council and Project SOAR
"Experiential Environmental Conservation Education"SOAR's Mission
- To encourage scouts of all ages to participate in Community or Conservation Projects.
- Encourage partnership within the Community, etc to construct meaningful long lasting and visual projects.
- Encourage scouts to learn about the endangered species.
- Encourage Scouts to earn the World Conservation Award
- Encourage Scouts to earn the William T. Hornaday Award
SOAR Patch
In order for Scouts and adult leaders to earn each year's SOAR patch they must complete a minimum of three (3) hours of conservation, environmental, or beautification service work. The Fort Robinson Tree Plant is just one example of the many conservation projects Scouts can do in the council. Project work can also be done in their home communities and at the council's five camp properties. Local unit leaders should contact local conservation professionals at parks, forests, wildlife refuges and environmental centers to arrange for suitable projects. Local unit leaders are the approving entity for patch project completion for their Scouts.The cost of the patch is $3.00, and each year's patch is first available at the Fort Robinson Tree Plant in the spring. After this event patches will be available at all Long Peak Council Scout Shops/Trading Posts and summer camp trading posts at Camp Laramie Peak and the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch.
Some of the funds earned from the sale of these patches will go to support conservation programs through the Longs Peak Council's "Conservation Grant Program". In addition, some of the funds are used to support the William T. Hornaday Conservation Award Scholarship awarded annually by the Council Conservation Committee to a Boy Scout or Venturer who has earned the William T. Hornaday Conservation Award.
Project SOAR for 2010
2010 is a triple celebration year being the 30th anniversary of Project SOAR (Save Our American Resources) in the Longs Peak Council. Illustrated on this year's emblem is a view from the past, the gray wolf, which appeared on the emblem in 1997-98. Also, this year's emblem recognizes the very special Operation OSPREY (Open Space Park Refuge Environment Year) where Scout packs, troops, and crews from across the council have adopted a natural area in or near their community. The osprey and osprey nest pictured on the emblem serve as the symbol for this very special program. This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, and over the past 100 years conservation has played an important role in Scouting's outdoor programs.
The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a fish hawk that lives near waterways almost worldwide. Ospreys fish by using their keen eye sight to locate fish in a river, a lake, or even in the ocean. They then hover over it, and when the right moment comes, the osprey plunges feet first into the water - sometimes to completely submerge itself - to catch the fish with its strong talons. In a show of wing strength the osprey then rises from the water with the fish and flies off carrying the fish head first. In the mid 20th century ospreys reached an endangered status from the effects of pesticides that reduced the thickness of their egg shells. With the banning of some of these pesticides, today they have made a fine recovery; and it is not uncommon to observe one within the boundaries of the Longs Peak Council. In our part of the nation ospreys are migratory moving south in the early fall, but in parts of the south, especially Florida, ospreys are 12 month residents. Ospreys seem to adapt nicely to human made nesting platforms placed near lakes or other waterways. Once they find a good nesting site they may use it for years.
The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was once common in the west. Once reduced to just a few packs, reintroduction efforts in and around Yellowstone National Park in the 1980s have sparked a recent growth in their numbers. Although still a controversial animal, wolves are part of nature's way of culling out the week, aged and sick when it comes to buffalo, elk, deer, and other quadrupeds. Most of the controversy related to wolves comes from their occasional taking of cattle from ranches in their territory. Today with about 217 packs, wolves have expanded from Yellowstone to areas of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and an occasional report from Colorado. In fact, a pack has been located in the Laramie Mountains of Wyoming in the vicinity north of Camp Laramie Peak.
History
- The Longs Peak Council has supported SOAR since 1980.
- Conservation Projects
- Over 600 SOAR projects have been done in the Council.
- See pictures from past projects and a list of project ideas.
- SOAR Patches
- Scouts earn individual award patches for doing conservation projects.
- Tree Planting
- Tree planting is a Council tradition.
- SNAGS
- What good is a dead tree?
- Conservation Grants
- This program provides funding assistance for conservation projects, educational efforts, and research.
- Supported Programs
- Many programs have benefited from the funds raised by our SOAR program.
- Program Recognition
- Our SOAR Program has been recognized for its excellence.
For Further Information
|
Terry Dunn
Council Conservation Committee Chair Email: conservation@longspeakbsa.org |
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Last Updated Wednesday, 03-Mar-2010 21:37:30 MST