November 17-19, Thanksgiving Feast Weekend
Please mark your calendars and plan to come out for this yummy meal and fun camping time. Scouts working on their communication badge can fulfill some of the requirements planning for and presenting at the Court of Honor at this event. Please let the SPL know that you want to be involved. Scouts will cook the turkeys all day Saturday with the feast on the evening of November 18. Sign up sheet attached in the Scoutmaster's Minute.
Please contact Mr. Hill or Mr. Bacon if you are available to help. Scouts should communicate with their Patrol which condiments each person will bring for their lunch meal of burgers. Bring your cold weather gear, as full of a Class A uniform as you have, polishable shoes, green shorts/pants, and Order of the Arrow sashes (if you have them). No mess kits are needed. Bring water bottles and something for hot chocolate or bug juice. Bring all other usual camping gear (showers are not available so lots of deodorant!). Sleeping outside in tents, hammocks, and inside are available. Families are invited to dress for the weather to attend the flag retirement after the dinner and ceremony. Sunday morning half the Scouts will go to each cemetery to take down the flags and bring them back to the Church.
Repeat of Mr. Walsh’s Cold weather camping Info for Thanksgiving Feast Weekend
Bring a sleeping pad to get you up off the ground. But if it is one that has air inside, also bring a blanket to put on top so it doesn't suck away your body heat. He recommended using a low temperature sleeping bag so check the rating. You want the sleeping bag rating to be 20° lower than what you expect to experience for safety. He said that a 20° bag is probably your best bet but can go lower (forecast for this weekend is in the 20’s so pack the beefiest bag and layers!). He recommends using a mummy bag but if you don't have one you can use a regular sleeping bag and maybe put an extra regular sleeping bag inside of it or add extra blankets. Wear a hat and gator to sleep so you don't get cold. Hooded sweatshirts are nice. Bring Long John's and a long sleeve shirt to sleep in that are different from the clothing that you wear during the day. Dirty and wet clothing are not very insulating. Also bring a different thin pair of gloves to sleep in. He recommended bringing hand warmers but not using them directly on your skin. Make sure you wear a shirt between your body and the hand warmer near your chest and clean dry socks on your feet near the one at the bottom of your sleeping bag. Once you wake up, drop the hand warmers into your boots. Keep your boots inside the tent and try to keep them from freezing. Bring an extra pair of boots or shoes in case one pair does get wet and freezes. Don't let yourself get so hot that you sweat and then get yourself wet. Jeans are not a good idea. Synthetic layers are your best friend. Wool can still insulate when wet. Wear lots of layers! Bring your winter coat, snow pants, face mask/scarf/gaiter and gloves and make sure to pack extra socks, like 5 or 6 pairs. None made of cotton.
Please contact Mr. Hill or Mr. Bacon if you are available to help. Scouts should communicate with their Patrol which condiments each person will bring for their lunch meal of burgers. Bring your cold weather gear, as full of a Class A uniform as you have, polishable shoes, green shorts/pants, and Order of the Arrow sashes (if you have them). No mess kits are needed. Bring water bottles and something for hot chocolate or bug juice. Bring all other usual camping gear (showers are not available so lots of deodorant!). Sleeping outside in tents, hammocks, and inside are available. Families are invited to dress for the weather to attend the flag retirement after the dinner and ceremony. Sunday morning half the Scouts will go to each cemetery to take down the flags and bring them back to the Church.
Repeat of Mr. Walsh’s Cold weather camping Info for Thanksgiving Feast Weekend
Bring a sleeping pad to get you up off the ground. But if it is one that has air inside, also bring a blanket to put on top so it doesn't suck away your body heat. He recommended using a low temperature sleeping bag so check the rating. You want the sleeping bag rating to be 20° lower than what you expect to experience for safety. He said that a 20° bag is probably your best bet but can go lower (forecast for this weekend is in the 20’s so pack the beefiest bag and layers!). He recommends using a mummy bag but if you don't have one you can use a regular sleeping bag and maybe put an extra regular sleeping bag inside of it or add extra blankets. Wear a hat and gator to sleep so you don't get cold. Hooded sweatshirts are nice. Bring Long John's and a long sleeve shirt to sleep in that are different from the clothing that you wear during the day. Dirty and wet clothing are not very insulating. Also bring a different thin pair of gloves to sleep in. He recommended bringing hand warmers but not using them directly on your skin. Make sure you wear a shirt between your body and the hand warmer near your chest and clean dry socks on your feet near the one at the bottom of your sleeping bag. Once you wake up, drop the hand warmers into your boots. Keep your boots inside the tent and try to keep them from freezing. Bring an extra pair of boots or shoes in case one pair does get wet and freezes. Don't let yourself get so hot that you sweat and then get yourself wet. Jeans are not a good idea. Synthetic layers are your best friend. Wool can still insulate when wet. Wear lots of layers! Bring your winter coat, snow pants, face mask/scarf/gaiter and gloves and make sure to pack extra socks, like 5 or 6 pairs. None made of cotton.
Mackinac Service Application Meetings - January 9th and 25th
|
Hold the date(s)! Mackinac committee has published their best guess at dates for 2024 so troops and families can be planning ahead. Mackinac Camp is an outstanding opportunity for meaningful service, leadership development, and a fun time on Mackinac Island for a week. Questions on the program, talk to fellow scouts who attended last year.
|
|
Climb Kalamazoo - January 19th-20th
Back by very popular demand from the Scouts - Climb Kalamazoo overnight! 5 hours of climbing, option for climbing merit badge as desired. PLC has selected a date of Friday Night, January 19th. Plan on leaving the church about 7pm Friday, return 10am Saturday. $55 per scout, fill out the waiver in the Scoutmaster's Minute to lock in your spot and commit to paying through the Troop. Fuel and Food costs separate.
Klondike Derby Feb 9-11, 2024
More info coming soon. Make sure your cold weather gear still fits.
Philmont 2024 Crew - 6/18/2024 Through 6/25/2024
More weekend practice hikes will happen in the Spring. Until then, there will be day hikes, and as a crew we need to complete trek selections. Trek discussions will be happening at Monday night meetings - if you can't attend a meet be sure to ask others what was discussed!
We are going to Philmont 6/18/2024-6/25/2024 with travel before and after these dates. The cost per Scout is $1235 not including travel and hotel costs. The first deposit deadline is $150 by Jan. 23, 2023. 2 adults and at least 6 Scouts are needed by this date. There is a max group size of 12. Scouts must be 14 OR completed 8th grade and at least 13 prior to participation.
Pictures
Next payment of $542.50 per attendee is due. Please get checks made to Troop 623 handed to Mr. Lorenz or Mr. Bacon at next week's troop meeting
Upcoming: Gear talk, Philmont training days Philmont Training Weekend, Itinerary selections, Travel options ... Dates/times/locations will be shared at Monday meetings and summary by email.
Homework: Every scout should at least read the Shakedown Guide Part 1 and Part 2 from this web site: https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/philmont-prep-seminars/
Several of the videos are very good too.
We are going to Philmont 6/18/2024-6/25/2024 with travel before and after these dates. The cost per Scout is $1235 not including travel and hotel costs. The first deposit deadline is $150 by Jan. 23, 2023. 2 adults and at least 6 Scouts are needed by this date. There is a max group size of 12. Scouts must be 14 OR completed 8th grade and at least 13 prior to participation.
Pictures
Next payment of $542.50 per attendee is due. Please get checks made to Troop 623 handed to Mr. Lorenz or Mr. Bacon at next week's troop meeting
Upcoming: Gear talk, Philmont training days Philmont Training Weekend, Itinerary selections, Travel options ... Dates/times/locations will be shared at Monday meetings and summary by email.
Homework: Every scout should at least read the Shakedown Guide Part 1 and Part 2 from this web site: https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/philmont-prep-seminars/
Several of the videos are very good too.
Cub Scouts Still Need Den Chiefs
Contact Ben Rhimes to help out.
Merit Badge Counselors
Come to the meeting and we will fill out the form with you! Help keep the troop going!
The troop is in need of merit badge counselors.
The need is most urgent for the Eagle required badges….
(a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in Society (e) Citizenship in the World, (f) Communication, (g) Cooking, (h) Personal Fitness, (i) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (j) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (k) Personal Management, (l) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (m) Camping, and (n) Family Life.
If you are interested in becoming a merit badge counselor look at the options on the list at this link. Talk to Mr. Sparkman or Mr. Langlois to get the forms to sign up.
https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/
The troop is in need of merit badge counselors.
The need is most urgent for the Eagle required badges….
(a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in Society (e) Citizenship in the World, (f) Communication, (g) Cooking, (h) Personal Fitness, (i) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (j) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (k) Personal Management, (l) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (m) Camping, and (n) Family Life.
If you are interested in becoming a merit badge counselor look at the options on the list at this link. Talk to Mr. Sparkman or Mr. Langlois to get the forms to sign up.
https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/
Scoutmaster Conference Worksheets
Click the "More" Menu above, then select Troop Forms. There you will find the Scoutmaster Conference Worksheets to fill out before you meet with the Scoutmaster when ranking up.
