First day back from a week at Scout camp. The week was a great success for the troop. The heat index of 100+F made life difficult the first few days as a few of the boys didn't heed warning to dring water all day long. But they recovered and the weather finally broke midweek. <br><br>Several of the boys worked on Wilderness Survival merit badge, including my son. I was to sleep out in a shelter too, but I simply ran out of time to build one. We had 43 boys in camp and they kept us leaders hopping. Also, I was working with 8 of them on Environmental Science merit badge so I had very little time to myself.<br><br>My son made a great shelter out of fallen branches, pine boughs and leaves. The councilor was impressed enough to take a photol of it. Unfortunately, my son developed a wheeze after 30 minutes in the shelter. He has asthma so I was not surprised. I even warned the staff medical officer that night that we may end up knocking on his door for treatment. Luckily, he's mature enough to recognize the symtoms early and his inhaler was sufficient remedy.<br><br>At first blush, this may seem an unfortunate disaster, but I actually chalk it up as a valuable learning experience. We know know that an emergency shelter from natural materials is not an option for him. So he must always make sure he has the materials (poncho, mylar blanket , plastic bags, etc.) to create a non-allergic shelter.<br><br>Because of his schedule with other badges (Lifesaving, Camping & Small Boat Sailing), he didn't get a chance to make his shelter until our last night. So he'll have to try it again on our next outing at Devils Lake State Park in Wisconsin next month.<br><br>BTW, I was truly disappointed that my Cherry/Rasberry cobbler with a Cream Cheese pastry crust didn't win the "World's Best Cobbler" competition. However, the winning entry was from a special needs troop and I don't think I have ever seen such and proud, excited group of scout as them!<br><br>I'll catch up and write a new journal entry in a few weeks for those who follow my expoits on my web site.

Bill, I often wonder who learns more, the teachers or students? I took responsibility ( and half ownership) in a badly abused Morgan Stallion with desireable ( and rare) bloodlines.Trouble is, he wanted to kill anyone that came near him. Two weeks in a pasture ( he was locked in a dark 12x12 box stall for 6 months), and we were running up to the fence to throw hay to him. The facility owner had a group of autistic/Down's children over today. I looked over to see a boy STANDING ON THE FENCE petting the stallion! The horse sensed the innocence in him. I was able to enter and just sat in his pasture four hours until he slowly approached me. Now who was the real horseman today? Not me!!!!!

Hi Chris,<br><br>It looks to me (at least it does from my vantage point of over 1,500 miles away anyhow) that you and your stock are much better off at a facility whose owner/manager actually invites/allows disabled children to come onsite to be around the animals, rather than at a place where the owner throws rakes and abuse around with wild abandon. Somehow, I don't think most folks would have any reason to change their mind if they were able to look at it close up either. <br><br>Hmmm . . . bet it must have been fun trying to capture and relocate the Morgan from the old facility while you were under that pressure.<br><br>Regards,<br>Comanche7

I had the able help of a traditional charro amansadore.The stallion was roped at a gallop and gently dropped with a second reata to the foreleg. I ran up and held the head down with a towel over his eyes as my DVM administered a sedative. My local CHP enforced the peace with my former partner. As Peanut may know, sedating an allready physically and mentally stressed animal is an exercise in caution. He was allready getting "fresh' when I slipped the halter off. I figure any horse that will accept me can be fixed in time.