The Mid-Summer Ritual was a huge success. There were 29 Adult Firecrafter candidates that went through ritual.
I don't know exactly how many youth candidates went through, but I would guess somewhere around 80 youth total.
We had 2 candidates from our Troop go through ritual. Both did a great job, and passed with flying colors.
One of the hardest items that a youth candidate must do is to make fire by friction using a fire by friction set that they have constructed while at camp. In order to make it to ritual, they must have popped a spark during camp, which is not as easy as it looks. It takes a lot of really hard work for these candidates to make it this far, and it's quite an honor to make the rank of Firecrafter.
For those that don't know much about Firecrafter, here is a little overview of the program as listed on the Firecrafter website:
About Firecrafter
Chief Executive Francis Oliver Belzer created Firecrafter as an honor program to recognize Scouts at summer camp and to keep them involved from year to year.
The first Firecrafter ceremony took place at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi on a summer night in 1920. At the close of the first camping period, the customary awards campfire was held in the camp arena. Among those expecting to be recognized were four Woodsmen who had completed all of the requirements for the new third camp rank. They waited through the campfire without being called, and as its closing minutes came near, they began to think they had been forgotten. Finally, just before the Scoutmaster's benediction, Assistant Executive Stanley Norton instructed the candidates to remain in the arena after the close of the campfire. And so the four bewildered Woodsmen waited anxiously while the other Scouts, Scouters, and parents drifted away.
When they were at last alone facing the dying embers of the campfire, they were put to the Unknown Test, and became the first to take the Firecrafter Oath that has challenged more than eight thousand Scouts and Scouters since that night. The ceremony was conducted by Francis O. Belzer and Stanley Norton, assisted by Rex Pruitt and P. D. Hoelscher, the camp physical director.
The year is now 2010 and instead of four Woodsman standing before Firecrafter Hill, over 300 Scouts, Scouters and some of the council's outstanding leaders were bestowed upon the knowledge of the Unknown Test this past year.
As we celebrate our 90th Anniversary, we continue to emphasize our creed and pledge of Faithful Service. Aside from the character building and leadership training objectives, Firecrafter is a service organization. Its members dedicate themselves to a life of service to Scouting, above and beyond what might be expected of a Scout. In more than ninety years of existence, Firecrafters have performed thousands of special service projects. Firecrafters are challenged to conduct camporees, campfires and other outdoor activities. In established camps they have built buildings, repaired facilities and constructed conservation projects. Each year Firecrafter assists the council in preparing camps for the summer camping season. Recently, Firecrafter has been active in providing information for camp promotion.
We as Firecrafter also believe that Enthusiasm and the Scouting Spirit are contagious. Firecrafter's goal is to instill this spirit through the candidacies and fellowship with other Firecrafters.
We are a growing organization and we believe that it is always easier to follow rather than lead. Often it is necessary to lead when one must defend one's beliefs or takes one's life in the right direction. Firecrafter forces candidates out of the following attitude and shows them that in some situations, one must lead the way to accomplish their goals. Leadership is a rare and valuable trait, which Firecrafter attempts to instill.
We are building on our council's outstanding leaders and shaping them into the future of Scouting. We encourage our Scouts not only to be leaders in Firecrafter, but to be leaders in their own troop and all of Scouting. We emphasize their continued quest for Eagle and hope that the experience of Firecrafter can help them to succeed in the skills needed to advance.
As you can see from everything listed, this is a really great organization for the Scout to be involved in.
For more info on Firecrafter, check out the Firecrafter website at http://www.firecrafter.org.
For my 100 Days Strong:
I didn't weigh myself this morning because I was still at camp. My goal is to reach 165 lbs within the next month or so.
This is my 100 Days Strong. What's your's?
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