The_Seeker
Newly Enlightened
Good wishes from The Seeker!
Hello everyone, my name is John C. and this is my first posting here at CPF! This is actually a survey that I took the other day while at a Camporee Camping Trip at Baiting Hollow. But before that, allow me to introduce myself. I am a 14-year-old Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 229; in other words I am in charge of leading all the other members of our troop. Two weekends ago, the troop and I went on a camping trip at Baiting Hollow Scout Camp for our Spring Camporee (a Camporee is a camping weekend where troops congregate in one specific place for entertainment, competitive activities, and hard work). To cool off after a long day of cooking meals, earning merit badges, wearing uniforms, and hiking trails, everyone just wanted to sit around the campfire and roast marshmallows (this actually happens a lot less often than you think, or at least with our troop).
But I had something else in mind.
Prepared with my father's customized Maglite, which I dubbed "The Modifier" after Colt's "Equalizer," a small Princeton Tec Attitude with 3 LED bulbs, and my personal favorite Princeton Tec 40, I had them all fall in at the precipice of a sloping hill in an orderly line and told them to bring their flashlights. Having everyone state their name and flashlight name (specifics were necessary), I recorded their information on a clipboard and began what I called the Flashlight Roulette (although it had nothing to do with Roulette, it was a fancy name, especially when it came from my specialized welcome-everyone-I'm-your-host-for-tonight's-game voice). Presenting the prizes was my Assistant SPL, consisting of, in second place, a beautiful brass North American Hunting Club pin and key chain, in first place, a large brass belt buckle of Copperhead with the Diamondback imprinted upon it, and in first place for special circumstances, a second NAHC pin and key chain.
I announced the objective of the game: to see whose flashlight would have the farthest beam throw. Special first prize would be handed out to the scout with the most horizontal range. In other words, it would be awarded to the person with the most flood capacity.
Then, making it interesting and enjoyable by having the Scouts participate and laugh, I had everyone go down the line, shining the beam to the bottom of the hill and amongst the trees, and had everyone take notice of the way their beam was, how far it went, differences in color, reasons for the differences, and asking trivia questions of the flashlights as it continued. At last, the game came to the last two men; myself, with the Modifier at the ready but kept hidden, and the hulking giant cousin of my Maglite, a silver Maglite with three "D" cells. Mine, originally equipped for two "C" cells, was modified with three 123A SureFire batteries, metal tubing for a carrier, and a KPR 112 bulb. The scout shone his flashlight down to the tree-line, easily surpassing the others, and then, with a quick draw and a rapid press of the button, the inner clump of trees in the woods was pierced by a bluer but even more powerful Maglite. There was an intake of breath when these poor, innocent children with virgin eyes experienced firsthand the unparalleled and unprecedented power of the Modifier. The Northern lights disappeared in fright, and even the adults turned to be dazzled by the powerful radiance of some miracle rising to meet their gaze.
But, being older and a good sport, I made sure that I kept no prize for myself and only used the Modifier for competitive instances. Here are the results of my survey:
2 "D" cell Maglite: 1st place
Cheap incandescent (2 "D" cells): 2nd place
Mini Maglite (black): 1st place for spread
Mini Maglite (blue)
Plastic Rayovac
Red Coleman Mini: 1 AAA battery
What I found interesting was that the cheap incandescent, with no recognizable name, walked away with second prize. This means, all you Scoutmasters, that for advice to Scout parents, a cheap incandescent bought at Wal-Mart will suffice.
Also, Boy Scouts and anyone out there that deals with kids on outings like these: a very enjoyable and educational activity that will keep everyone talking about the competition and their own flashlights for hours afterwards. Just suggest it in your troop and give it a try! It might be something new for everyone.
Goodbye and good luck!
Simply, A Seeker
Hello everyone, my name is John C. and this is my first posting here at CPF! This is actually a survey that I took the other day while at a Camporee Camping Trip at Baiting Hollow. But before that, allow me to introduce myself. I am a 14-year-old Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 229; in other words I am in charge of leading all the other members of our troop. Two weekends ago, the troop and I went on a camping trip at Baiting Hollow Scout Camp for our Spring Camporee (a Camporee is a camping weekend where troops congregate in one specific place for entertainment, competitive activities, and hard work). To cool off after a long day of cooking meals, earning merit badges, wearing uniforms, and hiking trails, everyone just wanted to sit around the campfire and roast marshmallows (this actually happens a lot less often than you think, or at least with our troop).
But I had something else in mind.
Prepared with my father's customized Maglite, which I dubbed "The Modifier" after Colt's "Equalizer," a small Princeton Tec Attitude with 3 LED bulbs, and my personal favorite Princeton Tec 40, I had them all fall in at the precipice of a sloping hill in an orderly line and told them to bring their flashlights. Having everyone state their name and flashlight name (specifics were necessary), I recorded their information on a clipboard and began what I called the Flashlight Roulette (although it had nothing to do with Roulette, it was a fancy name, especially when it came from my specialized welcome-everyone-I'm-your-host-for-tonight's-game voice). Presenting the prizes was my Assistant SPL, consisting of, in second place, a beautiful brass North American Hunting Club pin and key chain, in first place, a large brass belt buckle of Copperhead with the Diamondback imprinted upon it, and in first place for special circumstances, a second NAHC pin and key chain.
I announced the objective of the game: to see whose flashlight would have the farthest beam throw. Special first prize would be handed out to the scout with the most horizontal range. In other words, it would be awarded to the person with the most flood capacity.
Then, making it interesting and enjoyable by having the Scouts participate and laugh, I had everyone go down the line, shining the beam to the bottom of the hill and amongst the trees, and had everyone take notice of the way their beam was, how far it went, differences in color, reasons for the differences, and asking trivia questions of the flashlights as it continued. At last, the game came to the last two men; myself, with the Modifier at the ready but kept hidden, and the hulking giant cousin of my Maglite, a silver Maglite with three "D" cells. Mine, originally equipped for two "C" cells, was modified with three 123A SureFire batteries, metal tubing for a carrier, and a KPR 112 bulb. The scout shone his flashlight down to the tree-line, easily surpassing the others, and then, with a quick draw and a rapid press of the button, the inner clump of trees in the woods was pierced by a bluer but even more powerful Maglite. There was an intake of breath when these poor, innocent children with virgin eyes experienced firsthand the unparalleled and unprecedented power of the Modifier. The Northern lights disappeared in fright, and even the adults turned to be dazzled by the powerful radiance of some miracle rising to meet their gaze.
But, being older and a good sport, I made sure that I kept no prize for myself and only used the Modifier for competitive instances. Here are the results of my survey:
2 "D" cell Maglite: 1st place
Cheap incandescent (2 "D" cells): 2nd place
Mini Maglite (black): 1st place for spread
Mini Maglite (blue)
Plastic Rayovac
Red Coleman Mini: 1 AAA battery
What I found interesting was that the cheap incandescent, with no recognizable name, walked away with second prize. This means, all you Scoutmasters, that for advice to Scout parents, a cheap incandescent bought at Wal-Mart will suffice.
Also, Boy Scouts and anyone out there that deals with kids on outings like these: a very enjoyable and educational activity that will keep everyone talking about the competition and their own flashlights for hours afterwards. Just suggest it in your troop and give it a try! It might be something new for everyone.
Goodbye and good luck!
Simply, A Seeker
