Breast cancer survivors unite for Paddlefest

Dragon boat teams race for disease awareness, unity

CINCINNATI – All eyes will be focused on two bright and colorful Dragon boats on the Ohio River June 27 as two teams of regional breast cancer survivors race for both bragging rights and awareness about the disease.

The Kentucky Thorough Breast Team and The Dragon Dream Team from Akron, Ohio will hit the waters on the final day of the Ohio River Way Paddlefest, a family-oriented, canoe and kayak river event that’s expected to attract more than 1,500 enthusiasts for two days of water sports and entertainment launching from Coney Island Park. The Finish Line Festival & Dragon Boat Races take place 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 27 at Yeatman’s Cove in Sawyer Point Park. The inaugural Dragon Boat Races with teams of 20 paddlers per boat will race on the Ohio between the Purple People Bridge and the Taylor Southgate Bridge.

“Back in the day, there was the race between the Delta Queen and the Belle of Louisville,” said Kentucky team member and State Representative Addia Wuchner, R-Florence. “Now, we have Thorough Breast versus the Dragon Dream Team.” Her team races in a large, 54-foot long traditional dragon boat, which was funded by a grant from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization through the Three Rivers District Health Department. Not surprisingly, it’s painted pink so that anyone who sees it knows what the team is about.

“Any time we can get out into the community, we are able to promote breast health, cancer awareness and show others that there is life after cancer, that as a survivor, you can go out and be active,” said Wuchner, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2006. “My personal motto with cancer is ‘not just fighting and surviving, but thriving.’ It’s very inspiring and emotional to be a part of this team.”

Jim Thaxton, of the Three Rivers District Health Department, said he, too, is amazed by the team’s courage. He was responsible for spreading the word about the team through visits to regional hospitals and cancer support groups, recruiting team members.

“You would never know it, but a few of those women were terrified of getting out into the water at first,” he said of the team’s early days. “But the team is so bonded, they helped each other and now it is effortless. They are very competitive and ready to race.”

The race between the two teams will finish the weekend celebration, which will also involve live music from five local bands, food, refreshments, craft vendors, and paddling films, as well as a Kids Expo. Proceeds from Paddlefest 2009 will be used by the Ohio River Way, Inc. to develop the Ohio River Water Trail, support local river education and advocacy organizations and to work with partner organizations to complete the downtown-to-Lunken Airport segment of the Ohio River Bike Trail.

No matter the competition, Wuchner says she really looks forward to being out on the Ohio River with her ‘sisters.’

“You will be hard-pressed to find a person who has not been affected by cancer,” she said. “Every team member is a survivor with their own amazing story. While none of us would say our cancer diagnosis was a gift, our journey to healing has been a gift and we’re sharing that with each other and our community on the beautiful Ohio River during Paddlefest.”

Contact Person: Teresa Lubric
Company Name: Ohio River Way Paddlefest
Telephone Number: (513) 588-6936
Email Address: ohioriverpaddlefest@gmail.com

Web site address: http://www.ohioriverway.org/paddlefest/

Denali National Park & Preserve (AK) International Exchange Brings Nepalese Climber To Park

This is just a repost of a news release from the NPS Morning Report for June 15, 2009. But I found it interesting to see the NPS reaching out in this way. At the same time, it is Denali National Park which has always been a little forward thinking in the NPS system.

Denali National Park and Preserve’s mountaineering rangers are excited to host volunteer mountaineering ranger PhuNuru Sherpa, a member of the Mt. Everest mountain climbing community, a guide with International Mountain Guides, and an instructor with the Khumbu Climbing School in Phortse Village, Nepal. 

With sponsorship from the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation, 29-year-old PhuNuru is participating in an educational exchange program at both Denali and Mt. Rainier National Parks during the 2009 mountaineering season.  At Denali, PhuNuru is serving on a 30-day high mountain ranger patrol on Mt. McKinley that started on June 3^rd. 

Throughout the month, PhuNuru will be working and training with NPS mountaineering rangers to further develop his technical rope rescue skills and emergency medical response, and in return will share his high altitude Himalayan expertise.  Through this mentoring relationship, NPS staff will also provide the opportunity for PhuNuru to enhance his search and rescue leadership skills and learn resource management and ‘clean climbing’ techniques to put to use in a professional capacity back home in the Himalaya.

The Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation (ALCF), based in Bozeman, Montana, founded the Khumbu Climbing School in 2004 with a mission to improve mountain safety for Nepali climbers and other high altitude workers by encouraging responsible climbing practices. Denali mountaineering ranger Brandon Latham had the opportunity to work with the ALCF in February 2009 by teaching technical rope rescue skills to the Nepali instructors at the Khumbu Climbing School in Phortse.  Latham will serve as the lead NPS ranger on PhuNuru’s Mt. McKinley patrol. 

In early July, PhuNuru Sherpa will head south to continue his educational exchange, joining the mountaineering ranger team at Mt. Rainier National Park and Preserve.
[Submitted by Maureen McLaughlin, Public Affairs Specialist]

International Mountain Guides has a permit to guide climbers at Mt. Rainier National Park and Preserve.

CAMP USA WAREHOUSE SALE – JUNE 20-22, 8a-5p DAILY!

It doesn’t matter what you leave behind, only that your friends are happy that you were there.

It doesn’t matter what you leave behind, only that your friends are happy that you were there.

Adrenalin Junkie, Death Wish or Living Life to the Absolute Fullest

Many times I’ve been asked to explain why someone died. Not how, not what happened, those are always asked first, but why. Why did the loved one put themselves in that position to make the mistake or accept Mother Nature to their death? It is not an easy question to deal with, let alone answer. I doubt I have ever done a good job, or even an adequate job. The best I can do is describe some of the forces, or emotions that drive those of us who enjoy the outdoors.

I had not ridden my bike in 18 days because of a Grand Canyon River Trip I rowed for O.A.R.S. I hopped on my bike tonight and went out for an hour. My normal route is on the local bike path that rises 800 feet in the middle then down 800 and back up 250 to a road for awhile. About a mile later I turn into a subdivision and hop back on the bike path to return home.

The first half up to the top is drudgery. I put Jimmy Buffett on my MP3 player and gradually crank out the miles working up a sweat and some muscles. The drop down after the climb is on five switch backs and three tight turns till the path starts back up. I went screaming into a switchback tonight braking way too late, turning the bike as tight and as low as I could go, worried about my wheels and anything I could not see. A momentary, microsecond of emotion flushed through my body. Not really fear, just that feeling that comes when the adrenalin is surging. And I smiled. Not a grimace in fear or panic but a smile. I love that feeling of coming out of a near disaster in control, or to an extent some control, and living through it.

I once sat around a table with some famous mountaineers, all who had fallen over 100′ while climbing some as much as 2500′. I asked them what they were thinking as they fell. Generally the response fell into three categories: (1) Man this is going to hurt; (2) how the heck am I going to get out of this mess; and, (3) boy are my friends going to give me grief over this. None of the climbers mentioned fear, panic or the idea of dying in their conversations. It was just not part of the psychic. They all loved the sport, they all were still climbing after the near death experience and they are smiled as they talked about their falls. They were all still climbing and guiding.

Later on my bike ride as I was crossing from a bike lane across two lanes of traffic to a turn lane I had my right leg hugging my bike and front chain ring. Consequently I felt the road grime and dirt rubbing on my leg. I was hugging the bike hard because I barely had control. I did it because I was in traffic, being buffeted by the wind and crossing potholes. Again, not fear, not necessarily a surge of panic, but real concerns, Cadillac Escalade are big! but again on the edge and loving it. The rest of the ride was fun. I was alive and I knew it.

When I work for O.A.R.S. I row a gear boat. Garbage, kitchen stuff, anything needed etc and no customers. I like gear boats. I don’t have to entertain; I can think about things and enjoy the day. I enjoy showing the canyon to people, watching their face as they see new things and experience the rush. I recently helped a man climb up behind the Elves Chasim waterfall and jump out. It just required a little coaching and support and he talked about how great the experience was after the trip. I love that. I love the Grand Canyon, but more I love the way I can entertain and interact with people.

But more importantly I am past 50 and doing the job of a 20 year old kid. I am working as hard as I can and asleep before I hit horizontal some nights. I get up and put vitamin I (ibuprofen) in my mouth before I say good morning and spend ten minutes trying to get some body parts to work. I compete at a very basic level with myself.

I also can also run the rapids any way I want. I can drop in holes and push the limits. I see the beauty, I see the smiles, but inside I am pushing it. I can see how big I can go, how much I can lift, how many miles I can hike, how far I can go, how much water I can have hit the boat. I get a rush. I stand up and ride the rapids on the deck of the cooler or boat. I spin through rapids, I love to show off. But I love to push it, to see if I still got it and can give it back. I smile as the water drips off and the boat teeters on the edge and I push it over and through. I love it.

I don’t know why I love that rush. I don’t know why my days are better after I have it. I went out on the rid tonight with a sore knee and hands from the trip and I came back with a soaring soul. The ride was fun, the rush was wonderful. It is not a fix, it is not a need. It is just something that I enjoy.

Panic – Maybe if you do, you shouldn’t

Many of the problems that start as problems grow to a mess and end up as a legal issue start when someone loses it. So many times I’ve seen people get into more and more trouble because they panic and they cannot stop the escalation on their own.

Once swimmer from another boat on a class IV whitewater rafting trip resisted efforts to be rescued. He was screaming for help but could not get control. I hit him with two throwbags (ropes), got paddles to him twice and finally got so close with the raft we ran over him. In all of those situations he could not grab anything. Eventually I got the boat to show, jumped in the water and did the old Boy Scout lifesaving moves.

Another time a customer from my boat fell out. He kept screaming for help as he bounced down the river. He bounced because his butt was scraping on the bottom. Finally a rafting bus driver reached down from the show and pulled him out of the river. The bus driver did not get his cowboy boots wet.

People who panic I call tiger meat. 1000 or more years ago they would have been eaten by a tiger or some other predator.

Panic attacks are similar and I found a great article that says you can overcome and control panic attacks. Panic Attacks: The Lowdown

Coalition for Education in the Outdoors: Call for Abstracts

Coalition for Education in the Outdoors

Tenth Biennial Research Symposium

January 15-17, 2010

Call for Abstracts

From January 15-17, 2010, an international research symposium will be held at the Bradford Woods Campus of Indiana University in Martinsville, Indiana, a short drive from the Indianapolis Airport. The purpose of this gathering is to advance the empirical, conceptual, and theoretical bases of outdoor education. Like the first nine CEO Research Symposia, this symposium will bring together a wide array of researchers to explore current and future trends in using the outdoors for educational and therapeutic purposes. In addition to spotlighting current research, the program includes featured presentations on timely issues and ample time for both structured and informal dialogue.

The symposium is purposely small and informal to promote productive interaction. The event draws people interested in adventure education, organized camping, environmental education and interpretation, and other outdoor education contexts. Because of the diversity of topics, the informal exchanges, and the quality of sessions, this event is a favorite of both well-established and emerging scholars in the field. It’s also affordable; about $200 will cover registration, lodging, and meals.

Persons wishing to present (oral and/or poster) at the symposium must submit an electronic copy of their abstract (not to exceed 2 single-spaced pages; references only may extend onto a third page; 12 pt Times New Roman preferred) addressing the background, methods, results, and discussion of the study (authors of conceptual papers may use other headings). It is expected that presentations at CEO will not have been previously published or presented elsewhere. Abstracts that ask the same questions, use the same analyses, and make the same logical arguments should not be presented at CEO. Abstracts of works in progress may be submitted provided that a full report can be given at the January symposium. Abstracts are due by September 14, 2009.

All abstracts and manuscripts will be critiqued and evaluated by three reviewers. Notification of acceptance will follow on or around October 18. Individuals whose abstracts are accepted will be expected to present their study at the symposium. They will also be provided with more detailed instructions about preparing manuscripts and the review process for the refereed publication, Research in Outdoor Education, Vol. 10. In addition, abstracts of all presentations will be
compiled and bound for dissemination at the symposium and on-line through the CEO website. Questions about the submission or review process can be directed to Amy Shellman (amy.shellman@cortland.edu) or Jim Sibthorp (jim.sibthorp@health.utah.edu), review coordinators for CEO 2010. Questions regarding conference logistics or registration can be directed to Andy Young (anderson.young@cortland.edu).

The time line for the review process is:

September 14     Deadline for submission of abstracts

October 18         Notification of acceptance/rejection – invitation to prepare full manuscripts

November 13    Revised abstracts submitted for binding and distribution at symposium

January 15-17     Research Symposium (15 minute presentations and/or poster presentations)

How to submit abstract:

1. Send e-mail attachment in MS Word.

2. Use lead author’s name as document file name (e.g., SMITH.doc).

3. Put “CEO Abstract – ” in “subject line” of email message.

4. In body of email message include…

• Preference for oral report or poster presentation.
  
• Full title of the abstract.
  
• Names, affiliations, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of ALL authors.
  

5. Send to:

Dr. Amy Shellman, amy.shellman@cortland.edu     

voice: 607-753-4263

Deadline is September 14, 2009

For further information about the symposium, contact the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors, SUNY Cortland, Park Center, P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045 (Voice: 607-753-4971; Fax: 607-753-5982 or E-mail: rls@cortland.edu).

The National Recreation and Park Association is actively recruiting to fill the position of Senior Research Associate.

Summary

This position directs and oversees NRPA’s research and development policies, objectives, and initiatives. Provides vision and direction for the program, reviews and negotiates key research contracts, facilitates the research agenda, coordinates, collaborates with universities, foundations, and government entities and oversees the research project relationships. Creates a competitive and profitable position for NRPA by formulating research and development programs.

The position also delivers a variety of products, based on original NRPA Research and collaborations, for use in the knowledge center and for sale. Will increase NRPA’s capacity (financial, managerial, and intellectual) to act in a strategic, coordinated, and focused fashion in identifying core research areas. Leads and directs the work of others. Provides opportunities for staff, member and partner input on research projects as needed to set the scope. Communicates direction through words or actions to inspire team members to reach goals.

Additionally is familiar with and understands a variety of the field’s concepts, methodologies, practices, and procedures in the field of research and relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Develops the strategy and vision to carry out a project from inception through completion; creates teams and collaborations that understand the project’s direction. Also responsible for planning and budgeting.

Duties and Responsibilities

• COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
  
• DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORT DEVELOPMENT
  
• RESEARCH OVERSIGHT
  
• PROPOSAL CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
  

DISCOVER the BENEFITS at NRPA!

Conveniently located off the Dulles Greenway, in Brambleton Regional Park in Ashburn, NRPA boasts a warm professional environment, with a relaxing and peaceful view of nature at its finest! All staff have access to indoor & outdoor eating areas, as well as indoor & outdoor fitness opportunities. Our facility has a brand new air-conditioned fitness room with access to showers, as well as foot trails for the outdoor enthusiast. Full time staff enjoy a very rich benefit package that includes group Health, Dental, and Vision for employee and family, paid 80% by the employer; 403(b) fully vested upon hire;; Life insurance, Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability paid 100% by the employer; accrue 26 Paid days off per year plus 13 paid holidays, eligibility in the first month of employment, Length of Service Awards and much, much more! NRPA is committed to promoting an environment of work-life balance. To promote healthy lifestyles, at work and away, we have established prog!

rams like Teleworking, FlexTime Schedules, 37.5 hour work-week, Employee Assistance Programs, Educational Assistance Programs, Lunch-and-Learn sessions and more. Discover what we already know NRPA … a great place to work!

APPLICATION PROCESS

NRPA is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to Diversity. Women and ethnic minorities encouraged to apply.

Requirements/Education:

Masters degree (MA, MS) required, PhD highly preferred. Successful candidate will have 7 – 10 years in planning and conducting research and evaluation, ideally in a higher education setting; P&R experience a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge and understanding of park, recreation and conservation issues. Skilled in quantitative research methods, including statistical analysis, data collection, manipulation, and management.

Should be skilled in qualitative evaluation methods, including articulation of theory of change, case studies, and organizational reviews. Need to be skilled in evaluating programs, such as: developing logic models, identifying key indicators.

Supervise outside evaluators, and designing data collection methods. Ability to build and maintain credibility with academics in related fields. Understand that the research agenda is going to be applied as an actionable and translatable resource to practitioners.

Exceptional organization and time management skills including multi-tasking and the ability to set/adapt to changing priorities. Ability to interact effectively with all levels of personnel. Must be able prepare reports, presentations, and other documents that make complex topics, data, and analysis understandable to a variety of audiences using narratives, tables, graphs, and maps.

Will represent NRPA as needed at meetings and other forums with a variety of agencies, groups and organizations. Can work occasionally outside of normal business hours in order to meet project deadlines. Be able to travel to off-site locations as needed to perform job functions.

Technology:

Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Access, and other MS based programs),Microsoft Outlook, Data querying tools (example: SQL), Statistical Analysis software (Example: SPSS, SAS), FTP, Internet.

Please visit the following web address or the NRPA website to apply for this position: https://home.eease.com/recruit/?id=314632 <https://home.eease.com/recruit/?id=314632> .

Thanks,

Amy Roussos

Manager, Branch/Section Services

National Recreation and Park Association

22377 Belmont Ridge Road

Ashburn, VA 20148

703-858-2153

aroussos@nrpa.org

The Next Federal Transportation Funding Bill

The Next Federal Transportation Funding Bill

Take Action!

Prioritize bicycling and walking

Congress is writing a bill that will define our national transportation system for the next 6 years and we need your help to make sure that your Member of Congress weighs in on the transportation bill to support bicycling and walking.

Representative Daniel Lipinski (D, IL) is circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter proposing that the upcoming Transportation Bill, which is currently being drafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I), promotes and funds alternate transportation options. Representative Lipinski is asking
his colleagues in the House of Representatives to join him in a call for increased federal funding for bicycling and pedestrian programs.

We are thankful for Congressman Lipinski’s efforts on behalf of cyclists nationwide and urge you to contact your Representative to ask them to join Mr. Lipinski and lend their voice to this important debate.

Please contact your Representatives office today and urge them to sign onto Congressman Lipinski’s policy letter today

Letter to the Chief Scout Executive from a Volunteer

William A. Sheehan

24 SOUTH BROAD STREET

WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY 08096

(856) 853-8636

FAX NO. (856) 848-2230

March 25, 2009

Robert Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

Irving, TX 75038

Re: New Annual Health and Medical Record Form

Dear Mr. Mazzuca:

I have had the opportunity to review the new annual health and medical record form, posted online at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34605_Letter.pdf As an Assistant Scoutmaster, I am quite concerned about the effect upon my troop and upon the scouting program in general which will be caused by the red highlighted paragraph on page two of the form.

That paragraph states:

“Individuals desiring to participate in any high-adventure activity or events in which emergency evacuation would take longer than 30 minutes by ground transportation will not be permitted to do so if they exceed the weight limit as documented at the bottom of this page. Enforcing the height/weight limit is strongly encouraged for all other events, but it is not mandatory.”

I have two concerns. One is that making this height/weight chart mandatory rather than advisory will have the effect of excluding thousands or tens of thousands of youth already signed up in our program from participating in it, which will lead either to shrinking enrollments or widespread disregard of the “mandatory” language of the form. In this latter event, my second concern is the potential for opening our organization and our volunteers up to liability should they permit a youth to participate who exceeds the weight restrictions, and should an injury occur which could be arguably tied to the participant’s weight.

At the outset, I note that this prohibition is not imposed merely on activities strenuous in themselves. Rather, it extends to all activities taking place at a point more than 30 minutes from medical care by ground transportation. I submit that anywhere worth taking our youth can be more than 30 minutes away by ground transportation. In many parts of our country, a youth would be more than 30 minutes away from medical attention sitting in his living room, as a couch potato. Rather than getting out a map, a stop watch and calipers while planning an outing, I suggest that Unit leaders simply assume that they are more than 30 minutes away from medical attention for any scouting activity.

The cover sheet for the form identifies 11 risk factors which may define participation in various outdoor adventures. These 11 “risk factors” are not listed in alphabetical or any apparent order, with the exception that “excessive body weight” is at the top of the list, beating out such maladies as heart disease, diabetes, seizures, asthma and anaphylaxis.

A scout suffering from heart disease may be cleared by his physician to participate in hiking and camping, sports, cold weather activities (less than 10 degrees F), competitive activities, horseback riding, backpacking, scuba diving, wilderness/ backcountry treks, swimming/water activities, mountain biking, climbing/rappelling and challenge (“ropes”) courses provided that his physician, after physical examination, checks the boxes on page two of the form (the same page that contains the weight prohibition). Further, a scout with uncontrolled heart disease may participate in any of the activities checked off by his physician with any restrictions noted by that physician, also on page two of the form.

For a scout who is one pound over on the height/weight chart, however, it’s “no way, Jose”. The scout who does not make weight “will not be permitted” to participate in any activity whatsoever more than 30 minutes from medical attention.

Similarly, a scout suffering from asthma can participate in any of the above activities, at any distance from medical care, provided his physician, after examination, checks the box for that activity. Even a scout with “uncontrolled” asthma may participate with any restrictions the physician cares to note.

Along the same lines, a scout who has seizures may participate in activity his physician, after examination, checks off and even those with newly diagnosed seizure events (within six months) may participate with any restrictions the physician cares to note.

A Scoutmaster can take a scout with a sleep disorder, whose breathing stops from time to time during the course of a night, on any activity indicated by the physician at any distance from medical care. But don’t let that scout be a pound overweight.

A scout who suffers from allergies to the degree that he may suffer anaphylaxis may participate in any activity his physician checks off, at any distance from medical care.

With excessive body weight, and excessive body weight alone, the decision is removed from the hands of the physician, the boy’s parents and the scout leader. All because the form says, in big red letters, that the scout “will not be permitted” to participate in the activity.

Why is that? We all prefer our scouts to be fit and trim, but why is body weight elevated above all these other maladies in terms of participation in scouting events?

What this form says, in no uncertain terms, is that if a scout does not make weight, he or she (in the Venturing program) cannot participate. That is a heck of a note.

I read with interest the recent article in Newsweek magazine concerning the outreach to Hispanic youth. I also understand that you appeared on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams concerning that initiative. Certainly nothing was mentioned that all of the outdoor activities of the Boy Scouts of America would be closed to such youth if they didn’t make weight. If a boy is a bit on the heavy side, he will have to be satisfied with the good citizenship parts of the BSA. Forget about the outdoor activities.

In my view, we do not need the negative publicity should a “weight ban” become public knowledge.

This is an organization that, quite rightly, promotes vigorous exercise in the out of doors. Are we to tell potential scouts that they cannot even begin this program of health and exercise unless they are already fit and trim?

The entire Venturing program is premised upon high adventure. Are we to have the members of each crew get up on a scale to separate those who can continue in the program from those who must be told to stay home? How about OA service weekends? Will there be a weigh in at the Friday night check-in?

At Blue and Gold dinners, when the Cub Scouts cross over a small bridge to symbolize their crossing over to the Boy Scout program, will there be a bathroom scale waiting for them at the end of the bridge?

Scouting is also a movement in which the youth participants are urged to follow the example set by the adult participants. Scoutmasters and assistants, themselves overweight, will be put in a position of informing overweight youth that the youth are absolutely banned from participating in the outdoor Scouting program. The overweight adult, in contrast, can simply pack up his pack and head off down the more than half hour trail, free as an “adult” to choose to ignore the mandate.

Or should overweight adult volunteers be banned as well? Good luck keeping the program running if that is the outcome.

What of a Unit leader who does not bar participation by youth who are a few pounds over. What if such a youth has a health problem during the activity which arguably bears some connection to his or her weight? Because the BSA erected a policy that did not exist before and put it all in red letters, that could become “the law of the case” and liability could be found. (I am an attorney licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey).

Leaving the legalities aside, assume a Unit leader allows participation when a youth does not meet the guidelines. Is such a youth to be turned away at district or council events, such as camporees or OA service weekends, or turned away at the gate of a council summer camp? Many council camps are remote, as I am sure you are aware.

I have not taken a survey, either in my troop or in my district or council, to determine how many boys are affected by this decree. Has the BSA made any such survey? If so, how many of our youth must be banned from the outdoor program? If you don’t know, don’t you think it is something that should be known before any such prohibition is mandated?

In my own troop, I know of one boy who had to be told that he could not participate in this summer’s council Philmont expedition, because of the weight limitation. He is a husky, healthy high school football player, a Life Scout working on his Eagle. Telling him he cannot make the “Summit of Scouting” is one thing. Must I inform him he cannot go on a weekend, drive-in, camping trip, simply because the troop will be camped more than one half hour from a hospital?

I hasten to add that I am in full agreement with the imposition of weight guidelines for the Philmont Scout Ranch. I am a veteran of two Philmont Expeditions in my youth and five Autumn Adventure Treks. I have made weight. I am also aware that making weight can be very difficult for some participants. However, we are not talking Philmont here, we are talking about a trip that is a half an hour into the woods.

It is fine to identify excessive body weight as a potential risk factor, require that a boy’s height and weight be recorded and compared to a chart, at the time of his physical examination, by his family physician, who may then take that into account in clearing him for the various activities on the form. What I object to is taking the decision out of the hands of the physician, the parent and Scoutmaster and drawing a bright red line which will exclude many of the kids we are trying to help rather than a common-sense approach. It seems like someone thought that excessive body weight could be addressed by simply issuing a decree, with the admonition that we in the field “make it so”.

A final observation is that the language used in the form does not talk about the actual weight of the participant at the moment the activity commences. It speaks of the height and weight “as documented on this form” as being the cutoff. I am not advocating that we weigh the boys before each trip. Weighing them fully clothed would not yield the results on the chart, in any event. But what of the youth who has dieted or exercised since the doctor’s exam or who has grown a few inches?

In short, I strongly recommend removing the red highlighted material at the top of the second page and removing reference to that paragraph on the cover sheet “…the height/weight chart must be strictly adhered to…”. Excessive body weight should be treated as any of the other illnesses or conditions listed on the cover sheet, in a place within the discretion of the physician, the participant’s parents and the Unit leader.

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read this letter and hope that it will have the effect of removing that red highlighted language. Please do not put me and others in a position of denying some youth the benefits of the Scouting program because they are not yet fit and trim. Hopefully, after a few hikes, they will do better with the weight situation.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Yours in Scouting,

William A. Sheehan

ASM, Troop 55

Pitman, NJ

WAS/kln

cc: Health and Safety Committee

Boy Scouts of America

National Council Health and Safety Committee

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

Irving, TX 75038

Settlement reached in suit against Idaho State University group CW Hogs

I wrote about a lawsuit against a University of Idaho outdoor program for the disabled in University sued for actions of Participant on an Outdoor Trip for $5M. It is being reported that a settlement has been reached in that suit. See Settlement Between CW-HOG and Family Whose Son was Killed in Jet Ski Accident. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, as usual.

Threat to Green River Water

Uranium Watch would like to bring to your attention a threat to the Green and Colorado Rivers and the community that uses the rivers for private, educational, and commercial recreation. The threat is due to a proposal by Transition Power Development LLC to site a 2-unit nuclear reactor (known as the Blue Castle Generation Project) about 3 miles west of the Green River and the City of Green River.

Transition Power has leased 53,600 acre feet of water that it intends to pipe from the Green River to the site, just north of I-70 and the railroad and east of Hwy. 6. The water would be used to cool the reactor, to operate the reactor, and as a heat sink in case of a nuclear accident.

There is now an opportunity to protest and request a hearing on the withdrawal of 29,600 acre-feet of the water (over 26.5 million gallons per day), which was leased from the Kane County Water Conservancy District (KCWCD). On March 30, 2009, KCWCD applied to change the point(s) of diversion, place of use, and nature of use for Water Rights 89-74, 89-1285, and 89-1513. Application:

http://www.uraniumwatch.org/transitionpower/kcwcd.89-74_changeapplication.090330.pdf

Protests and any requests for a hearing must be filed with the Kent L. Jones, State Engineer, Division of Water Rights, P.O. Box 146300, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84114-6300 on or before Monday, May 25, 2009.

An objection to the application must be readable and state the filing number (a35402), reasons for objections, protestant’s name and address, and any request for a hearing. A protest must be signed by the protesting party or representative. A protest may be faxed, but a signed paper copy must also be sent in the mail. Fax to 801-538-7467.

The will be an informal proceedings pursuant to Utah Administrative Code Rule R655-6-2 of the DWR

For a paper copy of the application, call 1-866-882-4426.

What are the Issues?

According to Utah Code Annotated, Section 73-3-8, it shall be the duty of the state engineer to approve an application if:

• There is unappropriated water in the proposed source.
• The proposed use will not impair existing rights.
• The proposed use will not interfere with the more beneficial use of the water.
• The proposed plan is physically feasible.
• The proposed plan is economically feasible.
• The proposed plan will not be detrimental to the public welfare.
• The applicant has the financial ability to complete the proposed works.
• The application was filed in good faith and not for purposes of speculation or monopoly.
• The appropriation will not unreasonably affect public recreation.
• The appropriation will not unreasonably affect the natural stream environment.

If an application does not meet the requirements of this section, it shall be rejected.

The March 30 Application does not address any of these criteria.

The withdrawal of such a large amount of water (almost 50 million gallons per day), if the project is approved, would have an adverse impacts on public recreation, stream environment, and public welfare. The intake structures in the river, which would supply the water to gigantic pumps on the bank of the river, could be hazardous to recreation. Having a nuclear reactor next to the Green River would discourage recreational visitors to the whole area. Any commercial recreation company would have to be knowledgeable about any emergency response planning and have their own response plans. A radiological accident would be disastrous.

Any concerns regarding the impacts to more beneficial uses, public recreation, natural stream environment, and the public welfare should be brought to the attention of the State Engineer in a protest. For additional information and links: http://www.uraniumwatch.org/transitionpower.htm

If you have any questions, comments, or want to be kept currently informed, please e-mail Uranium Watch at sarah@uraniumwatch.org or call 435-210-0166.

Sincerely,

Sarah Fields

Program Director

Uranium Watch

You’ve got to be kidding!

An audacious water extraction project by a private entrepreneur named Aaron Million who wants build a 560 mile long, 10 feet diameter pipeline from the Green River in Wyoming over the continental divide to the east slope of Colorado.

This pipe would export 250,000 acre-feet per year out of the Colorado River basin into the Mississippi River drainage. Let’s keep the water in the river!

I urge you to send your own comments to the Army Corps of Engineers at MCRG.EIS@usace.army.mil by July 27, 2009.

2009 National Extension Tourism Conference

2009 National Extension Tourism Conference

“The Tourism Connection: Sustaining People, Places, and Communities”

The Yarrow Resort Hotel and Conference Center, Park City, Utah

June 14-17, 2009

Greetings! We’re up and running with the Draft Program Agenda for the 2009 National Extension Tourism (NET) Conference. To review this, please visit the conference website at http://extensiontourism.net
and click on “Agenda.”

We’re going to have a great conference with around 100 people attending from all over the country and several other countries, and we have a great program agenda with three excellent keynote speakers, a dozen poster presenters, over 50 oral presentations, nine separate workshop presentations, addressing a number of topical areas including Agricultural Tourism; Rural Tourism Development; Heritage and Cultural Tourism; Ecotourism and Nature-Based Tourism; Tourism Education and Training; Tourism Marketing and Promotion; Tourism Research and Evaluation; Community and Regional Tourism Planning and Development; and Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts of Tourism and Recreation… plus five interesting and exciting field trips, and quite a few exhibitors, all in beautiful Park City, Utah!

Also scheduled is a Pre-Conference Workshop titled “Applications of GPS to Support Tourism Planning” by John McGee, Ph.D., Virginia Geospatial Extension Specialist.

If you haven’t already, please join us and register for the 2009 NET Conference!

Help us spread the word to recruit more conference attendees! The more the merrier!

Earlybird Conference Registration Extended to Friday, May 22, 2009

Group Room Rate at The Yarrow Resort Hotel and Conference Center Extended to Sunday, May 24, 2009

On behalf of the 2009 NET Conference Planning Committee, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to Park City, Utah, for a great conference!

Thanks. SWB

Steven W. Burr, Ph.D.

Chair, 2009 NET Conference

Associate Professor of Recreation Resources Management

Director, Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Extension Specialist in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Department of Environment and Society

College of Natural Resources

Utah State University

5220 Old Main Hill

Logan, Utah 84322-5220

(435) 797-7094 Office

(435) 797-4048 Fax

E-mail: steve.burr@usu.edu

Website: extension.usu.edu/cooperative/iort

Join us for the 2009 National Extension Tourism Conference, June 14-17, 2009, in Park City, Utah.

Visit http://extensiontourism.net for more information.