Operation On-Target is a high adventureScouting activity. It was created as a Varsity Scout program activity,[1][2] open to Venturers and older Boy Scouts.[3] It has continued since the disbanding of the Varsity Scout program at the end of 2017.[4] The event is mainly held in the western United States, but has included Hawaii[5] and New York.[1] The basic idea is to have Scouts scattered across a particular area, located on mountain peaks or other prominent points[1] within line of sight of each other. Using large signaling mirrors,[6] they relay messages from peak to peak. Success in the event depends on team skills such as map-reading, compass skills, mirror-building, mirror signaling and teamwork.[7] Many units spend time in the weeks or months before the actual event learning communications skills like ham radio[8] and signaling. Reaching the peak can also be a challenge, requiring the boys to practice hiking, camping, and backpacking skills.[1] They also need to consider what they will do if the clouds block the sun.[9]
Fig. 1: The classic large Operation On-Target mirror
According to Doug Brewer, its founder, the name "Operation On-Target" was chosen at its inception in 1980[2] because the "purpose of the experience was to get the Scouts on target with the Varsity Scout program, and on target on the peaks with mirrors".[8]
Two main goals are to establish a signal link from the Mexico–US border to the Canada–US border,[1][10] and to make a link from the Pacific Ocean to at least the continental divide. The event has been annual since 1981.[11][12] As many as 5,000 scouts have participated in a single year, with participation from Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington, from Puget Sound in Washington to Catalina Island and San Diego in California.[13][14][15][16]
The annual event is held on the third Saturday in July[1] and September. Areas with warmer climates typically see larger turnout on the latter date.
A manual for this event was developed by the Great Salt Lake Council, was later reprinted in one of the Varsity Scout Program Helps books, and became a chapter in the Boy Scouts of AmericaVarsity Team Features Volume II handbook.[1] While even small handheld mirrors, 3" to 4" on a side, can be seen 30 miles away,[1] teams are encouraged to take along at least one large mirror.[1] The classic large Operation On-Target signal mirror is a modular design with four square feet of reflecting area, transported in backpacks and assembled on-site. It consists of four 12"x12" mirrors bolted to a square of plywood with wing bolts and mounted on a light tripod. A small aimable signal mirror is taped to one edge as a sight.[1][17]
Early beginnings
Explorer Scouts using mirrors to send signals from Mt. Timpanogos to residents of Utah Valley below. Photo by Glannin A. Cloward
Scouts with mirrors at Mt. Timpanogos, 1964. Photo by Glannin A. Cloward
Operation On-Target was foreshadowed by the 1964–1965 "Signal Festival"[18] organized by Glannin A. Cloward, a former U.S. Air Force pilot and World War II veteran. In 1964 Mr. Cloward led a group of 10 Explorer Scouts from Post 156 (Clearfield, Utah) to the top of Mt. Timpanogos; from there they flashed signals (reflected sunlight) down to the inhabitants of Utah Valley[19] using pieces of old mirrors from which Mr. Cloward had created signal mirrors patterned after those carried in military aircraft survival kits. Several dozen local residents, seeing bright flashes from the peak, improvised return signals using household mirrors from locations around the valley approximately 5 to 25 miles away. The following year a peak-to-peak signaling event was attempted between five peaks in northern Utah,[18] but due to bad weather and inadequate planning communication was successful only between two of the five peaks. Mr. Cloward organized similar activities involving one to three scout units multiple times from 1965 to 1979 from various mountain peaks in central and northern Utah. In 1980 Mr. Douglas G. Brewer,[2] Varsity Scout commissioner for the Great Salt Lake Council,[8] and several other Scout Leaders built upon Mr. Cloward's experience to create Operation On-Target as a well coordinated, multi-council, multi-state activity in the nascent Varsity Scouting program.
^ abcAssociated Press (July 15, 1983). "Varsity Scouts will attempt flashy world record". The Deseret News. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
^Romney, Richard (April 1984). "Varsity Scouting On Target". Boys' Life: 28–31. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^"What Is Operation On Target?". bsaOnTarget.org. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^"Varsity Scouts Practicing Their Mirror Messages". Deseret News. May 24, 1988. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
^"Scouts Join in 'Operation On Target'". Los Angeles Times. July 18, 1987. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^Daniels, Scott (June 1990). "FLASH! 'Operation On Target'". Scouting. 78 (3): 4. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
^ abcPalmer, Douglas D. (July 18, 1982). "Mountains weren't admiring themselves". The Deseret News. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^"Bad weather clouds Scout project". Spokane Chronicle. July 18, 1983. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^"Scouts' sun signals right on target". The Deseret News. July 19, 1999. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^AP (July 13, 1983). "Scouts to Attempt 1,000 mile Relay". Spokane Chronicle. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^"Scouts to Signal From Mountains". The Deseret News. June 18, 1982. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^"Scouts Plan Mirror Message". The Spokesman-Review. July 14, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^"Flashing mountains reflected Scout's communications skills". The Deseret News. July 16, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^"Scouts try to traverse western states with mirrors". The Spokesman-Review. July 18, 1983. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^KZ1O, Dave (July 15, 2006). "99 Hobbies - On Target and BSA". Podcast. Internet Archive Community Audio. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
^"Message from a mirror". Spokane Chronicle. July 18, 1983. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
^ ab"Scouts Plan Signal Event At Clearfield" Ogden Standard Examiner, July 21, 1965, page 12A
^Palmer, Douglas (July 2, 1989). "Scouts to Provide Midday 'Fireworks'". Deseret News. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Operation On-Target.
National Boy Scouts of America Operation On-Target Page
Operation On-Target Facebook Page
March 03, 2023
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Operation On Target is a high adventure Scouting activity It was created as a Varsity Scout program activity 1 2 open to Venturers and older Boy Scouts 3 It has continued since the disbanding of the Varsity Scout program at the end of 2017 4 The event is mainly held in the western United States but has included Hawaii 5 and New York 1 The basic idea is to have Scouts scattered across a particular area located on mountain peaks or other prominent points 1 within line of sight of each other Using large signaling mirrors 6 they relay messages from peak to peak Success in the event depends on team skills such as map reading compass skills mirror building mirror signaling and teamwork 7 Many units spend time in the weeks or months before the actual event learning communications skills like ham radio 8 and signaling Reaching the peak can also be a challenge requiring the boys to practice hiking camping and backpacking skills 1 They also need to consider what they will do if the clouds block the sun 9 Fig 1 The classic large Operation On Target mirror Contents 1 Background 2 Early beginnings 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBackground EditAccording to Doug Brewer its founder the name Operation On Target was chosen at its inception in 1980 2 because the purpose of the experience was to get the Scouts on target with the Varsity Scout program and on target on the peaks with mirrors 8 Two main goals are to establish a signal link from the Mexico US border to the Canada US border 1 10 and to make a link from the Pacific Ocean to at least the continental divide The event has been annual since 1981 11 12 As many as 5 000 scouts have participated in a single year with participation from Utah Arizona Wyoming Idaho Nevada California Oregon and Washington from Puget Sound in Washington to Catalina Island and San Diego in California 13 14 15 16 The annual event is held on the third Saturday in July 1 and September Areas with warmer climates typically see larger turnout on the latter date A manual for this event was developed by the Great Salt Lake Council was later reprinted in one of the Varsity Scout Program Helps books and became a chapter in the Boy Scouts of America Varsity Team Features Volume II handbook 1 While even small handheld mirrors 3 to 4 on a side can be seen 30 miles away 1 teams are encouraged to take along at least one large mirror 1 The classic large Operation On Target signal mirror is a modular design with four square feet of reflecting area transported in backpacks and assembled on site It consists of four 12 x12 mirrors bolted to a square of plywood with wing bolts and mounted on a light tripod A small aimable signal mirror is taped to one edge as a sight 1 17 Early beginnings Edit Explorer Scouts using mirrors to send signals from Mt Timpanogos to residents of Utah Valley below Photo by Glannin A Cloward Scouts with mirrors at Mt Timpanogos 1964 Photo by Glannin A Cloward Operation On Target was foreshadowed by the 1964 1965 Signal Festival 18 organized by Glannin A Cloward a former U S Air Force pilot and World War II veteran In 1964 Mr Cloward led a group of 10 Explorer Scouts from Post 156 Clearfield Utah to the top of Mt Timpanogos from there they flashed signals reflected sunlight down to the inhabitants of Utah Valley 19 using pieces of old mirrors from which Mr Cloward had created signal mirrors patterned after those carried in military aircraft survival kits Several dozen local residents seeing bright flashes from the peak improvised return signals using household mirrors from locations around the valley approximately 5 to 25 miles away The following year a peak to peak signaling event was attempted between five peaks in northern Utah 18 but due to bad weather and inadequate planning communication was successful only between two of the five peaks Mr Cloward organized similar activities involving one to three scout units multiple times from 1965 to 1979 from various mountain peaks in central and northern Utah In 1980 Mr Douglas G Brewer 2 Varsity Scout commissioner for the Great Salt Lake Council 8 and several other Scout Leaders built upon Mr Cloward s experience to create Operation On Target as a well coordinated multi council multi state activity in the nascent Varsity Scouting program See also Edit Scouting portalHeliographReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j Varsity Team Program Features Volume II USA Boy Scouts of America 2000 pp 79 87 ISBN 978 0 8395 4838 6 a b c Associated Press July 15 1983 Varsity Scouts will attempt flashy world record The Deseret News Retrieved February 3 2012 Romney Richard April 1984 Varsity Scouting On Target Boys Life 28 31 Retrieved January 29 2012 What Is Operation On Target bsaOnTarget org Retrieved February 14 2020 Varsity Scouts Practicing Their Mirror Messages Deseret News May 24 1988 Retrieved April 28 2013 Scouts Join in Operation On Target Los Angeles Times July 18 1987 Retrieved January 29 2012 Daniels Scott June 1990 FLASH Operation On Target Scouting 78 3 4 Retrieved February 15 2015 a b c Palmer Douglas D July 18 1982 Mountains weren t admiring themselves The Deseret News Retrieved January 29 2012 Bad weather clouds Scout project Spokane Chronicle July 18 1983 Retrieved January 29 2012 Scouts sun signals right on target The Deseret News July 19 1999 Retrieved January 29 2012 AP July 13 1983 Scouts to Attempt 1 000 mile Relay Spokane Chronicle Retrieved January 29 2012 Scouts to Signal From Mountains The Deseret News June 18 1982 Retrieved January 29 2012 Scouts Plan Mirror Message The Spokesman Review July 14 1984 Retrieved January 29 2012 Flashing mountains reflected Scout s communications skills The Deseret News July 16 1984 Retrieved January 29 2012 Scouts try to traverse western states with mirrors The Spokesman Review July 18 1983 Retrieved January 29 2012 KZ1O Dave July 15 2006 99 Hobbies On Target and BSA Podcast Internet Archive Community Audio Retrieved April 28 2013 Message from a mirror Spokane Chronicle July 18 1983 Retrieved January 29 2012 a b Scouts Plan Signal Event At Clearfield Ogden Standard Examiner July 21 1965 page 12A Palmer Douglas July 2 1989 Scouts to Provide Midday Fireworks Deseret News Retrieved April 28 2013 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Operation On Target National Boy Scouts of America Operation On Target Page Operation On Target Facebook Page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Operation On Target amp oldid 1129220573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
