'09 Ranger of the Year

300% increase sounds like a lot more, but when there were only two contestants last year, 300% adds up to 6 for this year. While the national RR ministry is putting the Ranger of the Year on hold, we are trying several things here in Louisiana to see what works best to give honor to those Rangers who have done exceptionally well in their advancements and Ranger skills and knowledge. Two Discovery, two Adventurer, and two Expedition Rangers worked together to put on a council fire service Friday night while their leadership traits were being evaluated. The end product was very good considering the amount of time they had and the resources that were available to them. Winners will be announced at the up coming Pow Wow in a few weeks.

Church Ministries RR training

We want to take every opportunity to offer continued training to local Royal Rangers leaders. Today two RR training modules were taught at the Church Ministries conference in Pineville, LA. Rodney Eaton from Shreveport Vinyard Church and Stephen Boyer from Rocky Branch Assembly in Farmerville assisted me with the "Starting a Royal Rangers Outpost" and "Outpost Council" modules. Five churches were represented at the training.

Getting Ready

Pow Wow is just around the corner and we are getting ready. This week we had the Teen Challenge guys come to the camp to do some fall clean up and assist with constructing the back wall of the Ropes Training Center. We had some donated used metal siding that could be salvaged for this purpose that was donated by Bryan Craun and Hosanna First Assembly in Baton Rouge. As funding continues to purchase additional materials, we will proceed with the construction.

Hosanna Church Marrero - Ranger Basics

Leadership Training is a must if an outpost wants to be successful. Saturday September 12 four newly appointed leaders from Hosanna Church in Marrero pastored by George McLean came to the district office to receive their Ranger Basics. This church has not had Rangers in a very long time so it is all new to the leadership. They have scheduled their first meeting tonight September 13, 2009 and desire to grow their outpost to at least 50 boys in the next 3 years.

Congratulations Hosanna and your newly trained leaders.

'09 Eagle Rock ANTC

We had 7 Louisiana Ranger Leaders represented at the 09 Eagle Rock Advanced National Training Camp. I was privileged to be on the staff of the very first ANTC in 1976 at the Boy Scout Camp in Conroe, Texas outside of Houston. There is another ANTC scheduled later this year in Texas, but at this time not enough individuals have registered for that camp to be a go. This is the last year that ANTC's will be conducted giving way to the new training format coming in 2011. Clint and Quinton Lenard from Luna Assembly and David Freeman, James Anders, and Tye Sheppard from Rocky Branch came as Trainees, and Dean Tillman from Harvest in West Monroe and myself served on staff.
Enjoy the photos.
Staff Members

Staff and all trainees at the time of the photo graduation morning.

Staff and Louisiana Trainees

Staff and various district trainees

First nights drama - "three muskateers"

Senior Guide Steve Schultz
Camp Commander Norman Massengale

Staff at morning assembly

Front: Chaplain Paul Stanek
Back: Jr. Commander Anthony Hubbard

GMA model presentation

Change of program & service patrol

Advanced Cooking class

Evening formation

Pioneereing: tower and rope bridge

Wilderness Survival class

"The King is Dead" drama