Extreme Service Projects

Each Chapter of Wulapeju Lodge 140 will be assisting the community in some way this year in celebration of the 100th year of Boy Scouting in America on August 28th, 2010. The projects are open not only for Arrowmen, but anyone who wishes to help out. Please volunteer to help at the Extreme Service Project in your area and help make this event a success. If anyone is seeking more information simply contact one of the following Chapter Advisors.

Wetassa Chapter (Wetassa District)

Saturday, August 28, 9 a.m.

The Wetassa Chapter of the Order of the Arrow invites all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and parents to help with the “Extreme Service Project,” part of Blackhawk Area Council’s celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Scouting. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. on August 28 at the tennis court at Krape Park in Freeport. We will proceed to clean the park until noon, then break for pizza. After we eat we will continue to clean the park. 
David Hanson, Wetassa Chapter Advisor, 815-273-2436.

Mawat Chapter (Wanchanagi District)

Saturday, August 28

The Mawat Chapter of the Order of the Arrow invites all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and parents to help with the “Extreme Service Project,” part of Blackhawk Area Council’s celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Scouting. This project has been moved to the Klehm Arboretum from 9 am until Noon. The arboretum is off South main in Rockford.

Barry Sanders, Mawat Chapter Advisor, 815-222-9722.

Gokhos Chapter (White Eagle District)

Saturday, August 28, 8:00 a.m.

The Gokhos Chapter of the Order of the Arrow invites all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and parents to help with the “Extreme Service Project,” part of Blackhawk Area Council’s  celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Scouting. Our “extreme service project” is scheduled to be August 28 from 8:00 a.m. until we finish. We will meet at the Camp Lowden parking lot. We have been working with the DNR and the Lowden Ranger to build a waterfront deck for the use of Camp Lowden summer camp and other groups.
Rick Rhoads, Gokhos Chapter Advisor, 815-562-4369

Kiswaukee Chapter (Sycamore District)

Saturday, August 28 9:00 a.m.

In conjunction with the McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD) the Blackhawk Area Council, Order of the Arrow, Kishwaukee Chapter is sponsoring a BSA Centennial Celebration Extreme Service Project on Saturday August 28, 2010.

This One Day of Service is open to all units: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Exploring, parents and all organizations.

 We will be helping to restore habitat at one of the following Conservation Areas:  

• The Hollows, Cary
• Marengo Ridge, Marengo
• Coral Woods, Marengo

 Why restore habitat? Habitat provides homes for animals, nesting and resting areas for birds, and opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy nature. Restoration is the process of returning disturbed habitat to a healthy, self-sustaining natural state that is characterized by a diverse community of native plants and wildlife. Removal of non-native species, such as buckthorn, honeysuckle, autumn olive and garlic mustard gives our native species an opportunity to thrive and provide a home for native wildlife. Land stewardship and the restoration of wildlife habitat is an opportunity for people to become better acquainted with the land, and begin to care for it as their own habitat. On this day of service, help the Conservation District encourage plant and wildlife biodiversity throughout McHenry County.

Two service sessions are scheduled at each site. We need counts of youth and adults in advance of your participation. See below for the information we will need Plan to arrive at the site a few minutes before the scheduled start time. Join us for the whole day (both sessions) and bring a sack lunch (there will not be a cooking area).

1)      Morning: 9 – 11 a.m.

2)      Afternoon: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

3)      Both sessions

The following safety requirements must be observed at all sites:

• Must have at least one supervising adult for every 10 youth. Minimum age 7.
• Dress appropriately for outdoor work and weather conditions. Long pants, long sleeve shirts, sturdy shoes or boots, hats, work gloves and eye protection are recommended. Sandals are not allowed.
• Bring drinking water, sunscreen, insect repellent and a hat, if needed.

 BSA Extreme Service projects will be offered at the following Conservation Areas on August 28.

Habitat restoration – removal of non-native brush and trees and trash clean-up

a.       Register your group in advance as shown below. (Maximum 200 people at each session.)

b.      No experience necessary. Participants will receive instructions onsite.

c.       Distance from parking lot to project: short walk on trail to project area. Worksite is off trail.

d.      Tools: bring loppers or pruning shears if you own them. The District will have a limited amount of tools available for use at the site.

Habitat restoration: remove invasive honeysuckle and autumn olive along the hiking trail and clean up trash.

a.       Register your group in advance as shown below. (Maximum 200 people at each session)

b.      No experience necessary. Participants will receive instructions onsite.

c.       Distance from parking lot to project: short walk to trail head where project begins. Removal of invasive brush and clean up will continue along trail.

d.      Tools: bring loppers or pruning shears if you own them. The District will have a limited amount of tools available for use at the site.

This is the most rigorous service project, beginning with a long walk over uneven terrain from the parking lot. Participants will assist in the removal of barbed-wire fence in order to mitigate habitat fragmentation. The work area is off-trail and there is potential exposure to insects and the thorns of multiflora roses.

1. Register your group in advance as shown below. (Maximum 50 people at each session)
2. Since this area is more off-trail and because of the fence removal the minimum age for this site will be 15 years old.
3. No experience necessary. Participants will receive instructions onsite.
4. Distance from parking lot to project: approximately ½ mile hike over uneven ground.
5. Tools: bring wire cutters, loppers, or pruning shears if you own them. The District will also have some tools available for use at the site.
6. Attire and personal safety gear: participants will be handling barbed wire, so heavy leather work gloves are essential. Wear eye protection. Dress appropriately for outdoor work and weather conditions. Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants. Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended – no sandals are allowed.

 Your group needs to register in advance to participate in the EXTREME Service Project

 Email the following information to kishadvisor@wulapeju140.org

Group type: Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venture, Explorer, other organization type.

Conservation area: Name and A.M. or P.M. session or both.

Contact person, phone number and email address:

Number of: adults (18 years and up)

Number of: youth (12 – 17 years)

Number of: youth (7 – 11 years)

If you will have people at multiple locations and sessions we need counts for each.

Chuck Natoli, Kishwaukee Chapter Advisor, kishadvisor@wulapeju140.org  815-455-8036.