The Last Month

Sorry it's been a while, but I've been busy...

Chinook District Camporee 2011: Survival Island (May 20-22)
Survival Island was a blast. Our District came togther to form another crowd of great games, for once run solely by the OA and Venturers. We put together the following games:
Spear Throwing
Archery
Tracking
Knot Tying
Shelter Building
Fire Building
First Aid
And I think that was it.
I spent the day at the Tracking Station, hiding a fox pelt every few minutes for a group of Scouts to find. The number-one station seemed to be Spear Throwing.
Cantidate-wise, this was the best year I've seen so far. If everyone goes to their Ordeal, then we will grow to a size larger than I thought we would this early in my being OA.

Skate Trip (May 31)
My school went on a roller-skating trip to Skate World. We did this last year, but one thing is different: we actually had to go to all 6 classes! But, besides that, it was fun.

Mom's Birthday (June 1)
This year we got Mom a beautifal new purse, since she turned her old one into a camera bag. My grandparents came over and brought her a Kole's Gift Card. Another great year has passed by.

Evening of Excellence (June 2)
The annual Middle School awards ceremony. I was given the opportunity to lead the Pledge of Alliegence and did so. My awards? Honor Roll for 8 Quarters (framed certificate) and Warrior P.R.I.D.E. (certificate). Next year: High School!

The Dead by Charlie Higson
My newest review is here. What do you think?

Jack, Ed, Bam, and the other students at Rowhurst School, the world has ended. Everyone age 16 or above has become a mindless zombie with only a lust for flesh... flesh of those too young to contract the Disease. When their school is taken over by the “Sickos”, they begin a long journey that will take them to London... but will the City be any safer than the countryside?
Meanwhile, one of the students is having visions of a new religion... but when these visions begin to come true, people become worried what’s in store for them.
Set as a prequel to Higson’s The Enemy, The Dead follows an all-new cast of characters during the Disaster. This spine-tingling thriller is one-of-a-kind, and will give you many sleepless nights. It turns its own pages and refuses to let you go. 5 stars out of 5.

Coming Soon
Math Finals (June 9)
8th Grade Awards (June 9)

OA Meeting June 2011 (June 9)

Last Day of School (June 10)
Oak's Park (June 10)
Green Belt Testing (June 10)
SUMMER! (Starting June 11)

Camp-o-Ree: Survivor Island

At 6:00 on Friday, May 20th, Camp-o-Ree 2011: Survivor Island begins. Scouts begin traveling to Sand Island, St. Helens, Oregon to have fun and win awards. Let the survival begin!
And remember: do your best, or be sent to Redemption Island. This event is run by the OA.

May 17, 2011 Special Election Results

Today the special election for Columbia County took place, which included, among other things, tax levies for our Emergency Services. Starting at 7:30, Columbia County Sherrif's Office hosted an election party in hopes of good results on their levy.
The results for th Sherrif's Levy:
Yes: 3,976 (42.27%)
No: 5,430 (57.73%)
Bummer. Oh well, maybe next year. What do you guys think?
For more results, go to http://www.co.columbia.or.us/elections/results/EL45.HTM.

Two New Reviews

Sorry it's been a while. Here's my newest Reviews.

The Price of Freedom

By: A. C. Crispin

25-year-old merchant sailor Captain Jack Sparrow is haunted by his past as a pirate. Amenderis, a Princess of the magical African Zerzuran Tribe, is uncertain about her future as a slave. When Cutler Beckett of the EITC brings them together, the two must learn to trust each other as they sail across the ocean to find her brother, return them to their native island, and overall, protct Zerzura from th greed of Beckett. This prquel to the Pirates of the Carribean series is full of suspense, romance, and page-turning thrills. This book not only tells the story of Jack and Amenderis, but also has flashbacks of his past. Beautifully written, this book will glue itself to you. Have fun reading it!

Divergent

By: Veronica Roth

In the future, Beatrice “Triss” Prior is only allowed to look in a mirror once a month. She is not allowed to war any color but gray. She must wear a robe at all times. She lives in the selfless Abnegation faction. In the future, Chicago is split into 5 factions that bring out a specific trait that the lack of may have caused the Apocalypse, which happened hundreds of years before: selflessness, honesty, bravery, peace, and intelligence. Every year, the 16-year-olds from each faction go to a choosing ceremony in which they choose the faction that thy will live in for the res of their lives. To stay in a faction means to stay with your family. To change factions means to be remembered... as a traitor. When Triss travels from the selfless Abnegation to the thrill-seeking, brave Dauntless faction, she must face her fears, including the love of a boy she barely knows. As she tries to protect her society from a Revolution that would kill off all the city’s political leaders, she learns that bravery and selflessness aren’t all that different. This book, coming out in May 2011, is one of the most action-packed dystopian novels I have found. It is given 5 stars by me, and hopefully by you as well. Read as Triss learns more about those clos to her, those she barely knows, her society... and herself.This novel is for ages 14 and up.

The 15th President and the $5 Bill

I have so far read 3 out of 6 OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books) list. This is one I was looking forward to reading: Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson.

In 1865 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford Theater. This caused the greatest calamity that the U.S. had seen since the Revolutionary War. There were crowds in the streets and man hunters in the wilderness, hunting for the man who caused it: actor John Wilkes Booth. Running from Washington, D.C. all the way through Maryland and into Virginia, Booth attempts to escape his hunters on a 12-day run to safety. Facts are gleaned beyond what the casual reader may have known and an entirely new experience for those who have delved deep into the assasination of our 15th president.
A beautifully written historical book, fit for everyone aged 10 and up. I was never very fond of non-fiction books, but this book was a blast! In fact, it could easily be turned into a riveting historical fiction. Is this 4-star book not enough for you? Then read Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, a more adult-oriented version of the book (also by James Swanson).

Turkeys and a New Review

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Thanksgiving was busy. The day of the year when I eat the most. Anyway, this weekend scouting for food is finishing up. So I'll do that. Also, I have joined our school Oregon Battle of the Books team and I am reading 8 books i never knew existed beforehand. Here is the review for one of them: Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Perry:

In present-day rural Oregon, 11-year-old Ignatius “Brother” Alderman is forced to face the world when his divorced father is deployed to Iraq. Alone with only his grandparents and a hired hand, Brother must take charge of the ranch, keeping the promise he made to his father: the ranch will be the same way he left it when he returns. But as the months go on, Brother learns that he was not meant to be a rancher, and he wonders if his father will ever come home. With threats and disappointment surrounding him, Brother must step up and learn to be a man.
In all reality, when I first saw this book it didn’t appeal to me very much, with the title seemingly uninteresting and the cover just a snapshot of the main character. But, as soon as I picked up this book I could not put it down. This story is full of twists, turns, and may, in every aspect, be a true story. In her first novel, Rosanne Parry truly gave it her all. This heartwarming story gives us life lessons and is meant for everyone, whether they love to read or not.

Happy Halloween!

Today is Halloween 2010! Halloween stands for different things depending on who you are. Kids: Annual Day of Walking Around in Coustumes, Staying Out Late, and Eating Candy. Most teenagers: Annual Day of Scaring People. Most adults: Annual Day of Wasting Money on Candy to Give to Strangers and The Eve of the Day where Most Kids go to the Dentist. I love Halloween.
This year no one knows what I am. I keep changing my costume. From Mummy to Igor (Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant) to Viking to Cow to Zookeeper to Safari Guide. What am I tonight? I have no idea yet. this is my first year not trick-or-treating (probabaly). Happy Halloween, everyone!