Above The Clouds - Photography - 150

Still photos are great--until you're trying to capture action. Creating a speed / motion effect in a still photo is one of the most under-used techniques in the average photographer's collection of tricks. And although it takes a little practice, I think you'll find it adds a nice new dimension to your portfolio and gives a nice variety to your typical trip photos.

Objectives:

1) (Optional) Watch the above video from Tommy Schultz for inspiration and instruction. 

2) Take a photo that captures motion. The more "blur" the better!

3) Share your photo on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Motion.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

Above The Clouds - DIY - 300

Chief Scientist Carl Nelson shows us an experiment using a water rocket. To learn how to create your own water rocket click here: http://bit.ly/iswaterrocket Imagination Station, Toledo's hands-on science center, is a vital non-profit organization that is an integral part of Toledo's economic, educational and social landscape.

Objective:

1) Watch the video above to learn about the potential of two liter rockets.

2) Search for two liter rocket instructions online. There are a ton of options to choose from!

3) Build and attempt to launch your rocket!

4) Take a photo to document your experience. Post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #2LiterRocket.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

5) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. What instructions did you use? How did the building process go? Did your rocket launch successfully?

Above The Clouds - DIY - 200

Objective:

1) Aquire a kite! Any size will do. This month's Scout Packs, sent to our Members, will contain the "World's Smallest Kites," which work great even in low wind conditions! (We have a very limited amount available in the Scout Store as well.)

2) Wait for, or find, kite flying wind conditions. 

3) Fly your kite! Have fun with it!

4) Take a picture of your kite in flight. Post your photo on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Kite.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

5) Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Above The Clouds - Art - 200

“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up”

-Pablo Picasso

1) Gather supplies. You'll need paint, soap, and paper.

2) Make your bubble art! The sky is the limit on this one. The only requirement is that you make a piece of art utilizing the above supplies AND create bubbles during the process. 

3) Take a picture that documents your bubble art experience. It would be great if you could capture your process here! Post your photo on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #BubbleArt.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

5) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. How did it go? What technique did you use to make your art? Were you happy with your finished product? Did you have a good time?

Above The Clouds - Visit - 300

"Man must rise above the Earth—to the top of the atmosphere and beyond—for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives."

-Socrates

Objective:

1) Decide which of the following you'd rather do: Visit and air museum OR watch an air show. 

2) Identify the particular museum or air show you'd like to visit.

3) Go for it! Spend an afternoon taking in the museum or watching planes fly above your head.

4) Take a photo to document your experience. Post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

5) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Which aviation related experience did you opt for? Where did you end up visiting? Who did you go with? Did you enjoy yourself? Did you learn anything? The more detail the better!

Above The Clouds - Travel - 250

Objective:

1) Research rooftop adventures in your area. You'll want a roof that is a) accessible, b) open air and c) worth visiting. 

Examples of fun roofs to spur your imagination:

       Zed451 in Chicago, IL offers rooftop dining with an amazing view. 

       California Academy of Science in San Francisco offers an accessible living roof.

       In Lincoln, IL there is a quirky tourist spot with a phone booth on a roof.

       And, of course, any roof that offers a great view or a fun time is worth visiting!

Note: A roof is the outdoor top of a building, and is not indoors. (This may seem obvious, but there's always room for clarification!)

It would be really easy to complete this objective in a perfunctory manner. Don't cheat yourself out of what could be an amazing experience by taking the easy way out.

2) Travel to and "summit" your roof of choice.

3) Take a photo while atop the roof to document your experience. Post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Rooftop.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

4) Tell us about your epic rooftop experience in the comments below. Where did you go? Who did you go with? What roof did you hike? Did you run into any problems along the way? What did you enjoy, or not enjoy, about your experience?

Above The Clouds - Literature - 300

"He loves everything about the job: the machinery, the language, the physics, the maps, the weather (always sunny up there above the lid of cloud), his colleagues, the rituals in which multiple layers of safety are embedded and encoded."

-Geoff Dyer, The Gaurdian

Objective:

1) Read Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot by Mark Vanhoenacker. 

Check out the book from you local library, buy it at your local bookstore or get it on Amazon.

Prefer listening over reading? Grab the book on Audible!

2) Write a book review and post it in the comments below. 

Above The Clouds - Media - 150

Objective:

1) Watch one of the documentaries/movies listed.

2) Let us know which you watched and what you thought of it in the comments below.

The second amazing trailer for Lucasfilm's Red Tails. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.

Red Tails. Directed by Anthony Hemingway.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

AMELIA stars two-time Academy Award®-winner Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart, the legendary aviatrix. Also featuring Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor. Directed by Mira Nair. In Theaters October 23rd!

Amelia. Directed by Mira Nair.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this video. No copyright infringement intended. Everything belongs to their respective owners.

Flyboys. Directed by Tony Bill.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

Disney's Planes Trailer 2013 - Official movie trailer 2 in HD - starring Dane Cook - directed by Klay Hall - From above the world of Cars comes Disney's Planes, an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure. "Planes" movie hits theaters August 9, 2013.

Planes. Directed by Klay Hall.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

All Who Wander - Media - 150

 This media objective is a bit different from our usual objectives, as instead of giving you a list of films to choose from, we've provided you with a framework to base your selection on. If you're having trouble finding options, browse the comments and check out what other scouts have chosen!

Objective:

1) Choose and watch any movie with the words "hike," "walk," "wander" or "lost" in the title or sub-title.

Notes: The movie can be of any genre, including non-fiction. The movie may not be claimed on multiple Quest Scouts objectives. 

2) In the comments below, leave a short review of the movie you chose. Make sure to include the title of the movie, as well as a brief critique of its content. 

All Who Wander - Media - 150

The following three films were selected through popular vote from your fellow scouts! Enjoy!

Objective:

1) Watch one of the documentaries/movies listed.

2) Let us know which you watched and what you thought of it in the comments below.

www.7thart.com 'Trail Angels' is an inspiring portrait of unsung heroes who have made it their quest to help the seasonal thru hikers of the Appalachian Trail, a pilgrimage of five million footsteps. Mala, Baltimore Jack, Miss Janet, and Trail Angel Mary are working class Americans who have embraced The Golden Rule in spite of the sacrifices it often requires.

Trail Angels. Directed by Daniel Peddle.

Available from Amazon Instant.

Subscribe to TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/sxaw6h Subscribe to COMING SOON: http://bit.ly/H2vZUn Like us on FACEBOOK: http://goo.gl/dHs73 Follow us on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/1ghOWmt Wild Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Reese Witherspoon Movie HD With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope.

Wild. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

This is a little taste of my fourth and final documentary on the Pacific Crest Trail. It covers a two-year span ('07-'08) where I attempt to hike the remaining (for me) 1,700+ miles not hiked in the previous three films. Along the way I met some great, strange and, overall, interesting characters.

Walk. Directed by Scott Herriett.

Available from Squatch Films and Netflix Instant. 

All Who Wander - Literature - 300

"Unlike many contemporary travel writers, Bryson good-humoredly refuses to use the opening sections of his book to unburden himself about his ''inner'' journey, to serve up his psyche on a platter. Don't look to ''A Walk in the Woods'' for forced revelations about failed relationships or financial ruin or artistic insecurity."

-Dwight Garner, NY Times

Objective:

1) Read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. 

Check out the book from you local library, buy it at your local bookstore or get it on Amazon.

Prefer listening over reading? Grab the book on Audible!

2) Write a book review and post it in the comments below. 

All Who Wander - Travel - 300

“If we are to have broad-thinking men and women of high mentality, of good physique and with a true perspective on life, we must allow our populace a communion with nature in areas of more or less wilderness condition.”

- Arthur Carhart, Former U.S. Forest Service Official

Objective:

1) Visit a state or national park. (And, of course, provincial parks work too!)

2) Research! Visit the ranger's station, find a map and/or research ahead of time online to find a hiking trail that's right for you.

3) Hike the trail! 

4) Take a photo at the park to document your hiking experience. Post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #TrailHike.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

5) Tell us about your hiking experience in the comments below. Where did you go? Who did you go with? What trail did you hike? What did you enjoy, or not enjoy, about your hike?

All Who Wander - Visit - 400

"When you put yourself on the line in a race and expose yourself to the unknown, you learn things about yourself that are very exciting."

- Doris Brown Heritage, pioneer in women's distance running

Objective:

1) Choose an organized walk or run that you'd like to participate in. There are many places online that provide a list of events. We suggest you start with Active's list.

Notes:

a- By "organized," we mean an event for which you must register ahead of time and walk with a large number of strangers. Think bin number and free t-shirt type events!

b- While we use the word "walk" and "run" above, of course there are many people who don't use that language to describe their mobility! Adaptive sports are, as always, welcome in Quest Scouts.

2) Register for your run or walk!

3) Show up and go! You can do it!

4) Take a photo that document your experience. Post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Race.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

5) Tell us about your experience with your organized walk/run in the comments below. Which race did you sign up for? Where was it? Did you do it with friends? How did you prepare? Did you experience any challenges? Did you enjoy yourself?

All Who Wander - Art - 200

'Nature is still complete and inexhaustible in her most remote refuges, her magic still real. At any time, meaning any season, in all weathers, in things great and small. Always. Potential Utopias are under every stone, on every leaf and behind every tree, in the clouds and in the wind. Pitting poetry against the inhuman river of time.

-Nils-Udo

Objective:

1) Lets start out with some inpiration. Spend a few minutes checking out the work of Andy Goldsworthy and Nils-Udo. While you're doing this, try to imagine how you might incorporate elements of their art into your own.

2) Head out for a hike. While out, create a public work of art with items you've gathered along the trail.

Note: Keep in mind! Before you do anything, make sure to think about the effects your actions will have on the surrounding area. We suggest keeping your art small scale, and not moving items too far from their original resting places. 

3) Take a photograph of your natural art and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #NaturalArt.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

All Who Wander - DIY - 150

"Ancient nomadic tribes used to mix up dried berries, fruits, nuts and meats together. It wasn't called Trail Mix then, but nevertheless it was just that.  Trail mix was (and is) high in energy, needs no specialized storage, and does not require cooking prior to consumption."

-Carol Casey

Objective:

1) Create your own trail mix. 

Use any recipe you'd like! Pinterest has a ton of great suggestions.

2) Take a photograph of your finished mix (or even better, you on the trail enjoying your snack,) and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #TrailMix. 

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

3) Describe your trail mix  recipe in the comments below. What recipe did you use? How did the mix turn out?

All Who Wander - Photography - 150

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”

– Ansel Adams

Objective:

1) Take a hike!

Note: This objective can be completed alongside other objectives that require hiking. There is no need to take a separate hike to complete this objective.

2) While on the trail, keep an eye out for the following three distinct photo opportunities:

Categories Needed

1- Signage. A sign denoting a trail name or trail rules.

2- A View. A photograph from a vantage point that displays landscape.

3- A Hidden Gem. Something special that catches your attention!

3) Take a photo for each of the above categories.

4) (Optional) Using the tool of your choice, combine the three images into a single collage.

Note: If creating a collage is too technologically stressful, you can keep your photos separate.

5) Share your collage on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #NatureCollage. 

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

All Who Wander - Find - 250

Objective:

1) Make a find that requires a substantial walk to get to it.

Only you can define what substantial means to you! Challenge yourself to choose a find that will make you feel proud of the distance you covered to get to it. 

2) Take a photo of your find/hide (either in process or at the hide location) and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Geocaching or #Letterboxing.

Remember, if you post to a public Twitter or Instagram account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

*A "find/hide" can be either a geocache or letterbox. Not familiar with either? Watch this video by Groundspeak, the #1 lister of geocaches or read about letterboxing from Atlas Quest.

3) Tell us about your experience making the find. If applicable, list your finds GC/AQ number.