Custom Boy Scout Trailer on a Budget

As a Scoutmaster, I often get questions regarding our trailer when we go to Scouting events - so here is a rundown of our trailer in case anyone else is interested.

Troop 192 bought the Featherlite Model 1610 aluminum trailer used from Craigslist a few years back. Our former Scoutmaster researched quite awhile to find this one with a concession door. I think we paid about $2500 for it at the time. I’ve seen the MSRP list for about $13K, with sale prices new about $9K. We sold our old trailer for about $1,000 to offset the costs. Our troop has an annual pop can drive that helped pay for the balance.This unit has dome lights, 12v light, etc.

We modified the concession door to make it a pantry and added a pullout cork board for duty rosters and camp info.

 Weight according to a flyer found online is 1,850, but that doesn’t include the shelving inside (metal and wood). With all of our gear, I’m guessing it weighs around 6-7,000 lb. This unit has dome lights, 12v light, etc.

 I took the photos. We wanted to show our boys in action, but without the faces, so it would be a promotion of Boy Scout in general and now just our troop. We happened to have some parents in our troop that worked in the sign industry at SignGraphix - they helped with the design and really made this a reality. Graphics Communications in Shelby Township installed the vinyl. Cost for the printing and installation was about $2,200.



I consulted with the Marketing Communications Director from the Great Lakes Field Service Council and the National office regarding high-resolution graphics. Council was able to secure a higher res .eps file for one of the logos.

The only thing that National requested was that we include "www.BeAScout.org" on both sides of the trailer. You can find some of the logos here: http://scoutingwire.org/bsa-brand-center/scouting-logos/

The pantry really sets this trailer apart and makes an ideal setup by our dining fly. It really helps in kitchen prep and provides easy access to a lot of key items for food prep and essential cooking items.

A big thanks to our troop and committee members for supporting this long-term vision for promoting our troop in the Southeastern Michigan area.

Boy Scout earns Eagle Rank and Hornaday Conservation Award

I'm awful proud of my son Samuel for recently earning his Eagle Scout award as well as the Hornaday Conservation award and badge. Sam was highlighted in the Clarkston News and Oxford Leader for his accomplishments. Over 250 man hours were invested by Sam and his volunteers to help rid the Shiawassee Basin Preserve of over 200 invasive Autumn Olive bushes. Many thanks to the Davisburg Rotary, Rotary sponsor Collin Walls, and Troop 192 Scoutmaster Gary Maley for all their efforts in getting Sam through this ambitious Eagle Scout Service Project.

Kudos to Phil Custodio for the nice article:September 14, 2011 - Boy Scout Sam Ekstrom took on an invasive species for his Eagle Project, removing more than 200 Autumn Olive bushes from Shiawassee Nature Preserve.

"I like the outdoors – I hate seeing wild life areas taken over by invasive species," said Ekstrom, 16, scout with Davisburg Troop 192. "It looks good – they haven't grown back."

It will take an ongoing effort to keep out the plant, which was imported to the United States from Asia in the 1800s and grows up to 40 feet high and 50 feet wide.
Collin Walls, Springfield Township supervisor and Davisburg Rotarian, suggested the project. Completed last June, the project took a lot of organizing and coordination of scouts, adults volunteers, and business donations, he said.
"It took my communications skills to a whole new level, talking to youths and adults too," Ekstrom said.

They made their own herbicide applicators out of PVC pipe, and spent two days tagging then removing the plants.
Sam Ekstrom, who lives in Springfield Township with his parents Lee and Heather Ekstrom, also received the Hornaday Conservation Award for distinguished service in natural resource conservation.
"We're proud of him," Heather said. "His dad is an Eagle – that helped motivate him. Boy Scouts are truly fabulous. They give him a lot of skills he'll be able to use his whole life."

Sam plans to stay in scouting, working for his Eagle Palm award.
His 10 years in scouting include serving as instructor, senior patrol leader, patrol leader, chaplain aide, troop guide, den chief for Pack 133 of Andersonville Elementary School, flag coordinator, and summer camp counselor at Camp Tapico in Kalkaska.
He also earned the Baden Powell Award, the first for Troop 192, for exhibiting the highest ideals of Scouting during Summer Camp. He earned 33 Merit Badges and the WEBELOS Arrow of Light.

Top 20 List: Why Boy Scouts Camp in Cold Weather

Our Boy Scout Troop went cold-weather camping this past weekend. I posted a photo on Facebook. A friend asked, "Why on earth are you camping when it's so cold??"Good question.

It didn't take long to come up with my Top 20 List:

1. Because it builds boys into men.
2. Because your "100 craziest things I've ever done" needs improvement.
3. Because it beats playing video games alone.
4. Because your best buddies are doing it.
5. Because you like it when your clothes smell like an oak-seasoned fire.
6. Because you can sleep in a warm bed anytime.
7. Because extreme anything is cool.
8. Because microwaved s'mores just don't taste right.
9. Because snow happens.
10. Because jokes are funnier when your sitting around a fire.
11. Because training for signs of hypothermia and frostbite in the summer just seems weird.
12. Because life knowledge is different than book knowledge.
13. Because there are no mosquitoes.
14. Because surviving is fun.
15. Because it tests what your made of.
16. Because experience counts.
17. Because being prepared is a way of life.
    
18. Because it toughens the spirit.
19. Because it invigorates the soul.
20. Because it's what Boy Scouts do.

Boy Scouts of America is celebrating 100 Years of Scouting in 2010.