Wilderness Scouts of America, Inc.
May 2008 Newsletter

Wilderness Scouts Saved from Poisonous Copperhead Snake by Photon Micro Lights!

This month some Wilderness Scout teens may have been saved from poisonous snake bites thorough the use of a tiny, thumbnail sized flashlight that’s bright light shone brightly and identified a deadly Copperhead Snake that had entered the camp.

Last fall was the driest year on record in Georgia, our group still found some streams with just enough water to supply the needs of one of the boy’s sections.

Camping and practicing outdoor skills when the nighttime temperature falls into the low forties is a very pleasant experience, unless you are besieged with Copperhead Snakes! A while after dark all the boys were still up; some were cooking while others puttered around camp, finishing small chores as assigned. Fortunately, the local ban on all campfires had been temporarily lifted and the fire felt good – too good! As I did a sweep with the tiny Sapphire Blue Photon Micro Light and I noticed movement in the stream that caught my eye. A snake was hurriedly swimming in the ice cold mountain water; then it made a ninety degree turn, right into our stack of wood that was to be used during the chilly night.

The same beautiful blue Photon light that we had previously used to identify a person from fifty yards away was causing the Copperhead’s skin to glow as if it had swallowed a brilliant silver and blue neon bulb! This made the snakes markings very easy to identify – and they are not a protected species – “Know What I Mean?” Our conclusion was that the heat seeking pits of the dreaded viper had allowed it to find the warmth that it was probably seeking. How thankful are we to have discovered the wonderful characteristics of such a light-weight piece of equipment, and will we ever hike in the woods if there is the remotest possibility of another encounter without THE Light? NO!! Just ask the safe, and hopefully well-trained adventurers, who now get an issue of the 0.3 ounce flashlight – which we guess, is the lightest, handiest, thumbnail sized light ever produced!

We have now learned that LRI (the manufacturer) has produced the same blue colored lights with 8 bulbs instead of one, and you can wear it as a headlamp. We quickly notified LRI of these qualities so they might pass the information on to others.

Wilderness Scouts learn to comply with this creed:

• Do not lie, steal, or cheat on your Scoutmates or others.
• Share your food, water, equipment and supplies.
• Do not waste anything or leave trash behind.
• Do not cut down live trees or plants – except to survive.
  Dead and dry wood is always available if you look for it.
• If you have to kill it…then you must eat it.
• Remember always: Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
• Never, Never, Never give up!

Good Bless You Always,

Harold L. Cornwell, President/Founder
Celebrating 25 Years Teaching Youth Survival Skills

Harold L. Cornwell has been a guest of CNN Nightly News, The Nightly News with Tom Brokow, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and the Wilderness Scouts have been featured in Sports Illustrated Magazine.