1997 Interfaith Scout Retreat
On August 8,9,&10, 1997 Tecumseh and Miami Valley Councils, BSA, hosted
an Interfaith Scout
Retreat. The Retreat will be held at Camp Hugh Taylor Birch,Yellow Springs,
Ohio.
Although this event has already passed, we have retained this page because it may provide ideas for others interested in conduct an inter-faith retreat.
What is the retreat all about?
Who can go?
What else is there to do in the area?
How can I find out more?
About Camp Birch
Camp Hugh Taylor Birch is operated by the Tecumseh Council, Boy Scouts of
America.
It is located near Yellow Springs, Ohio, in north-central Greene County. Camp
Birch
encompasses approximately 400 acres of wooded land, with 11 acre Martin Lake
(stocked
with pan and game fish) serving as the centerpiece of the camp. Included in the
camp's
facilities are a swimming pool. a 30' rappelling tower, a high and low C.O.P.E.
course,
a 250-person capacity dining hall, and numerous troop and patrol campsites.
We'll see you there!
What is the retreat all about?
The heart of the program is a series of scout-to-scout guided, small-group
discussions.
The specific topics are selected by scouts on the retreat staff. This year the
topics
range from peer pressure to religion in the media. Scouts are grouped by age for
each session, so discussion topics are appropriate to all of the scouts in a
session.
These discussion groups are guided by scouts trained for the retreat staff.
This is a retreat for both the mind and body! Retreat participants are required
to
take part in a service project (this usually has something to do with clearing
brush).
Also plan on a welcome dip in the pool -- last year, the water polo game lasted
until
dark!
Cost for the retreat is still being determined for this year -- but to give you
an
idea, last year it was $15 per participant. The cost will include all food and
the
retreat patch. Bring your own tent.
Back to the top.
Who can go?
The retreat is designed for Boy Scouts, Explorers, and second-year Webelos.
Sorry,
but the topics and discussions are not relevant to younger Cub Scouts. You can
attend
the retreat as part of a troop, post, or den, or as an individual as part of a
provisional troop.
This is an Interfaith
Retreat. You are welcome if your faith is: Armenian Church of America, Baha'i,
Baptist,
Buddhist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints,
Disciples of Christ, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, Islamic, Jewish, Lutheran,
Meher
Baba, Methodist, Moravian, Presbyterian, Protestant, Quaker, Unitarian,
Zoroastrian
... well, you get the idea -- and this is definitely a partial list!
Back to the top.
Area Attractions
United States Air Force Museum
Located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, this is the oldest and largest
aviation
museum in the world, with over 200 aircraft on display. It's Smithsonian-quality
exhibits trace military aviation from the Wright brothers to the Space Age and
Desert
Storm. Many aircraft exhibits are unique to the museum, including an SR-71
Blackbird, F-117
Stealth Fighter, B-1A Lancer, AC-130 Specter, B-36 Peacekeeper, and the XB-70
Valkyrie.
Museum admission and parking are free. A fee is charged for the IMAX theater
located at the museum. Hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Phone (937)255-3286 for
more information.
Clifton Gorge and the Little Miami River
Located next to Camp Birch, Clifton Gorge is a National Natural Landmark. The
100
foot deep limestone gorge was carved by the Little Miami river at the end of the
last ice age. Several types of vegetation rare to the area grow in the gorge,
including
hemlock and white cedar. Daniel Boone is reputed to have escaped pursuing
Shawnee warriors
by leaping the gorge at a narrow point near Clifton Mill. Take a look and judge
for
yourself.
Adjacent John Bryan State Park offers 10 miles of hiking trails along the Little
Miami
River, a national Wild and Scenic river. The park is locally popular for
picnicking
and family camping. Several canoe liveries in the area offer day-trips on the
river.
Phone (937)767-1274 for more information on Clifton Gorge and John Bryan State
Park.
Historic Clifton Mill, located at the head waters of Clifton Gorge, is the
largest
operating grist mill in the country. A variety of antique and craft shops are
located
in the mill. Phone (937) 767-5501 for more information.
Bluejacket Outdoor Drama
This outdoor drama depicts the life of Blue Jacket, a white man adopted by
Shawnee
warriors, who cam to lead the Shawnee Nation. Located 4 1/2 miles southeast of
Xenia
off of Jasper Road, the drama is performed within a mile of Oldtown on the
Little
Miami, the historical capitol of the Shawnee Nation. Phone (937)376-4318, June
to September,
for more information.
Back to the top.
How can I find out more?
Please contact either Fr. Dave Vincent, Harry Heaton, or Steve Coy at the
addresses
below, and ask for more information on Retreat 97. We'll send you registration
forms,
an area map, and keep you posted on the program details and cost as these become
final. If you are an amateur radio enthusiast, give Steve or Fr. Dave a call.
Steve Coy
is KB8UHY, and Fr. Dave is KC8BVK
E-mail to Harry
Heaton: 70451.2227@compuserve.com
E-mail to Fr. Dave
Vincent:dvincent38@aol.com
E-mail to Steve Coy:scoy@dmapub.dma.org
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