Summer camp for Boy Scouts

MUNISING -- Tuesday's weather might not have been great camping weather for most, but any weather is camping
weather for a group of Boy Scouts at Camp Hiawatha near Munising.
For four weeks out of the summer, the camp is home to around 600 Boy Scouts from around the country with an
extra week for Cub Scouts to go to camp as well.
"The kids here at Camp Hiawatha come from all over the U.P., including the Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, Iron
Mountain, Escanaba and Houghton areas. We also have kids now coming from all over Lower Michigan. We've had
units from Ohio, Illinois, and now we have lots of units from Wisconsin as well." said camp director Kevin Corkin.
In addition to learning simple camping and wildlife survival skills, the boys learn how to prepare food in a wilderness
setting.
Other physical skills practiced are handicrafting with wood and leather, marksmanship with low-caliber rifles and
kayaking in the nearby lake.
These are skills that Corkin says just can't be learned outside of an outdoor setting.
"In a school setting, they might not be able to focus. But here, these skills definitely prepare them for the future.
Whether its gonna be a hobby that they want to go into... or they might pick up a skill here that turns into a career
later on in the future." said Corkin.
It's generally accepted that the campers love their camp, some so much they decide to come back as counselors
themselves.
"I just came up here as a staff. Just because I remember coming up as a camper...and I just love the staff so much.
They're just always great, always helpful, cheerful, enthusiastic and that just kinda inspired me to be a staff here."
said Counselor-In-Training Jon Rossio.
Any Boy Scout from any scout unit is eligible to attend Camp Hiawatha.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan About 3,000 scouts from all over the country joined the grand parade that opened this years Boy
Scouts of the Philippines 6th National Scout Venture Camp on the Lingayen beachfront last Monday.
With the theme Scouting for the Environment, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. told the participants that scouting contributes a great
deal in the betterment and development of society and acknowledged the important role of scouting in his life.
I believed then as I still believe now that the best experience and training I got was by being a Boy Scout, he said.
Espino reminded the scouts to always remember and memorize the Scout Law and the mission and vision of scouting. As he said
we are better off, far better off than those who did not become scouts.
The camp chief then told the scouters from the 118 councils in the Philippines to explore the province, and assured their security
and all other necessary support the provincial government can give.
Holding camps at the scenic and sprawling Capitol beachfront, the scouters are high school students from the regions of
Northeastern Luzon, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas, Western
and Eastern Mindanao, and Region I.
In his speech, BSP Acting Secretary General and Senior Vice-President Wendel Avisado thanked Espino for the preparations
undertaken by the provincial government as a host to the event.
The conduct of the 6th venture camp in one of the historic and top-performing provinces in the country is both our honor and
privilege, he said.
He lauded the capability of Pangasinan in hosting national events as the venture camp, as displayed all throughout the preparation
period where the provincial government has gone way ahead of expectations.
Avisado said that the camp will be the BSPs first to be conducted in an open campsite, in front of a beach, thus additional
bathrooms and comfort rooms as well as shallow wells have been installed by the province.
The Scout Venture Camp is being held once every three years to provide opportunities for senior scouts to practice and enhance
their physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual potentials.
The camp which runs from May 5 to May 10 will culminate with a grand closing ceremonies on May 9 with Vice President
Jejomar Binay, the BSP president for the past 14 years, as guest of honor and speaker.

Back-to-School Supply Drives and Giveaways
WSIL -- As kids head back to the classroom, several organizations are working to make
sure they have the supplies they need. Below is a list of school supply drives and
giveaways. If you know of a back-to-school drive that is not on our list, please send the
information to news@wsiltv.com.

Smyrna church gives out free school supplies
Posted: Aug 06, 2009 11:08 AM CST
SMYRNA, Tenn. - Students in Smyrna are going back to school with free supplies, thanks to a local church.
The Living Truth Christian Center handed out free backpacks full of supplies at its Back-to-School Bash Wednesday
night.
The backpacks were given to children who need them most.
Rosalind Russell and her husband were both laid off last year and have been unable to find new jobs.
"This is a blessing for us," said Russell. "It enables us to have more money for food, to pay utilities or other things."
"When money is tight, when you're not working, you have mortgages, so every little bit counts."
"We feel compelled to help families in the community, to help change lives," said Living Truth Pastor Amos L.
Howard. "Especially with the recession, needs are greater."
The church had 500 to give away and parents began lining up early.
"We're excited to make difference in the lives of these children, there are quite a bit of them," said Pastor Howard.
"I know what people are going through, we're thankful there are churches and organizations helping those of us who
are struggling in this time," Russell said.
Metro students can pick up free school supplies at Mayor Karl Dean'sAnnual First Day Festival this weekend.
The event will be held Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sommet Center.
Families are encouraged to bring canned food items to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank.
CHARLESTON, S. C. (WCIV)- West Ashley barbershop owner, Michael Miller, has been collecting and giving away
free school supplies to families in need since 2003.
With the start of school in just two weeks, Miller is set to continue the annual giveaway in communities around the
Lowcountry.
With the help of The Sam Williams Foundation and community partners, hundreds of families will be able to get the
necessary supplies needed for the start of a new year.
On why he does this each year, Miller says, "Some of the students just need the support." When they have the proper
supplies it helps them to "continue to get a good education."
Restoration Ministries Southampton is to give free school supplies to 100 students in an effort to support
families before the start of the school year.
The giveaway is set to take place on Saturday at the Bermuda Institute Auditorium on Middle Road,
Southampton, starting at 10.30am.
Restoration Ministries is a church within the Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Ralph Richardson, said: We have long had a culture of giving in the
community, and may be remembered for the gas giveaway in Warwick two years ago.
This time, the members have opted for a more targeted approached where specific needs could be met,
especially as so many families are experiencing difficult times financially.
We feel that the needs of children and their families are most important and hope that we will be able to
assist 100 children and their families.