Project SOAR

The 3rd Annual Project SOAR event will take place Sept. 28-30, 2007 at a property owned by the Nature Conservancy near Camp Otter Run. The event will support the Big Darby Watershed Project and it is for Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts.
COST $15.00 before September 15 ($20.00 afterward)
Project S.O.A.R. (Save Our American Resources) is like a council conservation service camporee for Venturers, Scouts, Scouters, and units. Plenty of spots remain open so sign up now to bring yourself or your whole unit to Camp Otter Run! We will tent camp (bring your own) and meals will be provided. Everyone will learn about conservation and conservation awards. Unit leaders can assist Scouts and Venturers toward completing some advancement and award requirements. We will do service projects for a nearby nature preserve and Camp Otter Run, too.

UPDATE: All scouts attending the event must bring a signed copy of the release form linked in the left hand column.

Event Notes

S.O.A.R.

Save Our American Resources

Simon Kenton Council Conservation Committee

The Boy Scouts of America

SOAR event patch

Marsh marigold, a beautiful spring wildflower found abundant in moist areas of Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve, and the rainbow darter, a colorful small fish of clean stream riffles in Big Darby Creek, are featured on the 2007 SOAR event patch.

SOAR 2007

September 28, 29, and 30, 2007

The Nature Conservancy’s

Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve

Logan County, Ohio

Camping

SOAR participants will camp as a group at Camp Otter Run (www.skcbsa.org/council_camping/otterrun_general/otter_run.htm).
Bring your tent and a mess kit.
Meals will be served mess-hall style in the camp pavilion.
A camp restroom will be shared by all—please keep it clean!
SOAR is a BSA event and is subject to all BSA Safety & Health, and BSA Youth Protection and Leadership requirements.

The Schedule

Friday, September 28, 2007
5:00— 8:30 PM    Arrival, set-up & registration
Otter Run Pavilion
8:30— 9:30 PM    Evening Program    Otter Run Pavilion,
“Invasive species”, and
“BSA Hornaday Awards”
9:30—11:00 PM    Cracker barrel    Otter Run Pavilion
11:00    Taps    Campsite Areas

Saturday, September 29, 2007
7:00 AM    Reveille & hot coffee    Otter Run Pavilion
7:30 – 8:30 AM    Breakfast    Otter Run Pavilion
8:35 – 8:45 AM    Field orientation &
safety review    Otter Run Pavilion
8:45 – 9:00 AM    Load for field    Overnight parking
9:00 – 9:30 AM    Travel & unload;
Set-up field projects    Field locations
9:30 – 12:30 PM    Work period One    Field locations
12:30 – 1:00 PM    Sack lunch    Field locations

1:00 – 4:00 PM    Work period Two    Field locations
4:00 – 4:30 PM    Pack-up & load up    Field locations
4:30 – 5:00 PM    Travel and unload at camp
Overnight parking
5:00 – 6:00 PM    Clean-up & relax    Campsite Area
6:00 – 7:00 PM    Dinner    Otter Run Pavilion
7:00 -   8:30 PM    Evening program    Otter Run Pavilion,
Big Darby Wetlands by TNC, Environmental
   Awareness
8:30 – 9:30 PM    Campfire program & Recognition
Otter Run Pavilion
9:30 – 10:30 PM    Cracker barrel    Otter Run Pavilion
          11:00 PM    Taps    Camp Area

Sunday, September 30, 2007
7:00 AM    Reveille & hot coffee    Otter Run Pavilion
7:30 – 8:30 AM    Breakfast    Otter Run Pavilion
8:30 – 9:00 AM    Religious observance    Otter Run Pavilion
9:00 – 10:00    Check out & departure    Otter Run Pavilion

The Project Location

Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve is located

west of Marysville, Ohio along Logan County Road 152 near Camp Otter Run

(travel directions below).

The Nature Conservancy

Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve is protected and managed by the

Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

TNC is a non-profit science-based conservation organization.

Their mission is to preserve biodiversity by

Saving the Last Great Places^©.

These great places are remnants of unique native ecosystems

harboring rare communities of plants and animals.

Why is Big Darby Headwaters

Nature Preserve Special?

Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve protects more than 800 acres of wetlands, woodlands, streams, and old field habitat.

Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve is important for the conservation of:

· Headwater tributaries that provide the Big Darby Creek with an abundant supply of clean groundwater for rainbow darters, Great Blue Herons, and many other species.

· Riparian corridors which play an important role in the health of all streams and creeks.

· Quality wetlands dominated by dogwoods, beautiful marsh marigold and uncommon skunk cabbage.

· Cold-water habitat that fulfills the life-cycle needs of species such as the mottled sculpin and the two-lined salamander.

The colorful rainbow darter and beautiful marsh marigold wildflower are featured on the 2007 Project SOAR patch.

Past and present land use practices such as farming and manufacturing have altered the Darby headwaters region. TNC, working in partnership with Darby headwaters neighbors, is protecting this special area. Long-term conservation efforts are needed to restore the area. Invasive plant removal, restored wetlands, and stream restoration will help return this unique ecological area to its more natural condition.

Once fully restored, this preserve will be used as a public demonstration area for natural channel design stream restoration and wetland restoration. Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve will officially open in the spring of 2008. You are a part of this important project through your participation in the 2007 SOAR event.

The entire staff of the Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conservancy thanks you for your hard work and applauds your efforts to protect our valuable natural resources for generations to come.

Project Summary and Purpose

Participants will join field crews working in assigned project areas to help remove bush honeysuckle along riparian corridors and/or along a new trail currently under construction.

These projects may include:

· Cutting honeysuckle with a bow-saw or loppers.

· Dragging cut shrubs away from the stream.

Although these assignments may not seem glamorous, they are absolutely critical. Bush honeysuckle, as you will see, completely takes over the shrub layer. Seeds are easily spread by wildlife that eats them, and the seeds provide low nutritional value to the wildlife. Once established, bush honeysuckle completely shades the ground allowing for little or no native plant growth. Unfortunately, the alarmingly invasive herb, garlic mustard, blooms early in the spring and seems to thrive among bush honeysuckle.

All work will be off-trail. The work areas are brushy and rugged. Tasks will include bending and cutting with hand-tools, lifting and dragging brush.

What to bring to this Project SOAR event

Personal camp gear:

o camp chair

o sleeping bag and pad

o unit or personal tents required

o mess kit & mug (no disposables, please)

o personal hygiene items

o extra shoes

o change of clothes

o prescription medications

Personal dress and equipment for field work

(bold items required):

o Class 1 & 2 Medical form (or Class 3) fully completed

o heavy long pants (blue jeans—good fit—no baggies!)

o sturdy boots (leather preferred—no sneakers!)

o heavy gloves (leather preferred)

o whistle (in pocket, if worn on lanyard—must be tear-away)

o map of project areas (to be provided)

o pocket compass

o water bottle

o small personal first-aid kit

o bright-colored tee shirt or long-sleeve shirt (no camo)

o jacket

o raingear

o hat

o bug repellant

o sunscreen

o fanny pack or small backpack for water and essentials

o bandanas

Tools (please bring whatever you are willing to use):

o manual brush-cutting tools

ü bow saws for cutting large saplings

ü log-handled loppers for cutting wrist-size saplings

ü short-handle cutters for cutting finger-size twigs

The registration form can be downloaded from the event page on the Simon Kenton Council website (framed below). A copy of this form is also available here.

Additional Information

Project SOAR Project SOAR began as a Boy Scouts of America special conservation emphasis in 1971 to continue the tradition of BSA conservation service—the Conservation Good Turns of previous decades. Project SOAR is an ongoing emphasis encouraging Scouts to participate in community beautification and conservation projects. Look for more project SOAR opportunities in 2008. PROGRAM Friday evening there will be a cracker barrel and a presentation about non-native invasive species and how to control them by real experts from The Nature Conservancy! Saturday after a group breakfast, all youth over thirteen will participate in invasive species plant removal from the nearby nature preserve for about 6-7 hours (lunch served in the field). Youth 10-13 will work on similar projects on camp at Camp Otter Run. Everyone helping will get a service certificate for a minimum 6 hours service useful toward rank advancement! Saturday evening there will be presentations and discussions about nature and conservation and about the Hornaday Awards—the highest honor in conservation!	Big and Little Darby Creeks The Big and Little Darby Creeks represent one of the most biologically diverse aquatic systems in the Midwest. The watershed - part of the larger Lower Scioto River Basin -encompasses 560 square miles. In recognition of the river's distinct characteristics, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources classified 82 miles of the Big and Little Darby Creeks as State Scenic Rivers in 1984. The same areas received National Scenic RiverConservation. Action: The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with more than sixty public agencies and private organizations, has developed a protection strategy for the watershed. For more information, visit the Nature Conservancy website. Camp Otter Run is located at the headwaters of Big Darby Creek—one of the most pristine streams in Ohio, and a focus area for The Nature Conservancy, a scientific non-profit conservation organization. We will be the first major volunteer group to help develop the brand new nature preserve just named, “Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve.” We will work on similar projects at Camp Otter Run, too.
Location, Location, Location View Larger Map	Directions to Camp Otter Run Take St. Rt. 33 west from Dublin towards Marysville. Continue on St. Rt. 33 till you come to the exit ramp for St. Rt. 347 in Logan County. At the curve bear left, go straight ahead to the stop sign. At the stop sign, turn left. St. Rt. 347 ends and becomes Logan County Road 144-A. Take this to the stop sign. Turn right onto County Road 144. Otter Run entrance will be 1.4 miles on your right. There is a large yellow sign (reads “Stop Ahead”) just before the entrance into Otter Run. Note: The larger map has more useful detail.
All Venturing and Boy Scout units welcome. Youth especially interested in nature and conservation should definitely participate with or without his or her unit. Project S.O.A.R. is the best opportunity to meet working professional conservationists and nature experts and it’s a great opportunity to meet and work with council nature and conservation experts ready to guide interested youth toward earning nature and conservation-related merit badges and awards like the prestigious Hornaday Awards!	The fee includes meals, camp fee, and the unique and restricted Project S.O.A.R. annual patch for 2007. And more—only S.O.A.R. participants are eligible to buy previous year’s Project SOAR patches—few remaining from 2005 (almost gone) and 2006 (plenty available) so it’s not too late to get the whole set if you are among the first in line (patches will go first come, first served based on application date).