If you are short on budget, but long on desire to create some haunted house scenes, then this is the article for you. This scary "Gotcha Door" and the humorous "Quicksand Swamp" can be created at minimal expense for a youth group´s haunted house or set up on a front porch, in an open garage, or even at a school carnival! Informational and instructional 975 words

Humorous look at that darn automatic lawn sprinkler system. Flit, flit, floosh the newspaper kid ran over the pop-up again! And...the pvc pipes actually move around underground; science can´t prove this yet, but... 250 words of humor on how to not spend a summer day. *** Article structured to be a stand alone humor spot or good lead-in article for a home improvement site, or professional installation service. Also could insert some how-to considerations or a side-bar: such as anti-siphon valves, layout plans, etc. mid-way through the article.**

The startled volunteer burst into laughter as he realized he´d been fooled and the crowd applauded...."Hoisting the scuttlebutt water-keg" is a Sea Scout event which involves the crew quickly lashing a tripod out of large spars and hoisting a water barrel several feet off the ground without spilling water or collapsing the tripod. For demonstrating this skill at scout shows our skipper designed a good-natured prank that involved a hapless volunteer with crowd pleasing results. 430 words of tradition and humor. foxtale (J Fox) also published Paws for Refreshment in Scouting Magazine, the BSA Snorkeling Study Guide for Catalina High Adventure, and The Firelight Honor: Flag Retirement - Note: Scuttlebutt Cap and Firelight Honor articles will be discounted to scout unit newsletters or websites-

Headed off for the Korean War, this U.S. Marine aviator wanted a keepsake for his wife and kids. But he hadn´t counted on the wrath of a Navy Chief. 860 words, and a bit of nostalgic humor first published by J. Fox (foxtale) in The Front Porch newspaper supplement, November 2004. (Will deep discount to veterans websites, newsletters, magazines.)

As the flames licked at their tattered flag, these Americans stood as one and pledged.... This is an awesome 3 minute flag ceremony that can be adapted to create understanding and inspiration at any youth camp setting. At a campfire an old volunteer scoutmaster scouter opened his pocketknife and the firelight flashed on the blade as he stepped toward the flag! His short 3 minute ceremony followed by the challenge that he issued sent a chill down the spine of every camper, and left each with a lump in the throat and the hope and pride in being an American. - Patriotic and Inspirational 832 words - J Fox (foxtale) originally published fnasr in The Front Porch newspaper supplement February 2006 -note: will discount for scout and summercamp based websites, newsletters and magazines-

A humorous tale of how hair dyed the school colors might have been ok for the sports team, but this camp counselor quickly discovered a different hair style was a necessity for survival at summercamp. J Fox (foxtale) 800 words. Originally published fnasr in The Front Porch newspaper supplement February 2007