Blog Archives

ScoutMaster's Minutes 11/20/2023

11/22/2023

Meeting Activities
Scouts worked on advancements, ate leftovers from the feast, worked on separating flags from poles for retirement, and heard the election results. Mr. Hill addressed the BSA’s high standards for safety and how bullying is not allowed and that incidents may need to be reported to police. Bullying is a gateway to abuse that is not acceptable in Scouting. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Advancement
William Conroy was promoted to Star

Election Results
SPL: Blake Bacon
ASPL: Patrick Conroy
Historian: Kevin Svetlev
Webmaster: Matthew Svetlev
Quartermaster: Ryder Bernard
Quartermaster: Colton Smith
Asst. Quartermaster: Johathon Allgood
Bugler: Harrison Rimes
Scribe: Colin Peek
Outdoor Ethics Guide: Levi Leitert

January 19th-20, Climb Kalamazoo
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 this waver 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.

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 the World, (e) Communication, (f) Cooking, (g) Personal Fitness, (h) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (i) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (j) Personal Management, (k) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (l) Camping, and (m) 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.

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ScoutMaster's Minute 11/13/2023

11/15/2023

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Meeting Activities
Scouts worked on advancements, talked about cold weather camping, sorted patches and received copies of their Scout advancement progress. Please check with your Scout to see if the sheet matches what you think has been completed. If you have any complete blue cards lying around, bring them in to be processed.

November 17-19, Thanksgiving Feast Weekend
We need a volunteer adult to help with the cooking of the turkeys outside this Saturday. 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/gater and gloves and make sure to pack extra socks, like 5 or 6 pairs. None made of cotton.

January 19th-20, Climb Kalamazoo
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 this waver 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.

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 the World, (e) Communication, (f) Cooking, (g) Personal Fitness, (h) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (i) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (j) Personal Management, (k) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (l) Camping, and (m) 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.

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ScoutMaster's Minute 11/6/2023

11/13/2023

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Meeting Activities
Scouts worked on advancements, voted in the Troop elections, and had a knot tying relay race.

Cub Scouts still need Den Chiefs
Contact Ben Rhimes at [email protected] to help out.

2024 Annual Dues - DUE BY NOV 1st
BIG THANK YOU to those who have made their dues payments/selections on time! The few who haven't paid I will be sending an e-mail to. If you don't get paid and registered - re-registering next year triggers an extra $25 application fee and paperwork for you to fill out :0

Nov 13th meeting
Come to this meeting to help plan the Feast and work on that requirement for the Communication Badge. Bring your form and payment for the Thanksgiving Feast!

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 below. Last chance to bring forms and money is the Nov 13th meeting!

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 camp - 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.

January 9th and 25th - 7pm First Congregational Church (2001 Niles Ave, St Joseph) - In-person camp info sessions and In-person applications (Further info sessions possible at troop meetings by request)
January 31st - Deadline to turn in Applications for PLC and for all others to receive preferred application status
Feb 29th - 2024 camp roster set (email confirmations will be sent to all selected scouts)
April weekend TBD - Advanced Leadership Training for scouts honored with PLC responsibilities
May 5th 5-7:30PM Mandatory Practice #1
June 9th 5-7:30PM Mandatory Practice #2
July 6-20th - Requested On-Island Service Dates (7 days in that range will be selected by State Parks by January)

January 19th-20, Climb Kalamazoo
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 this waver 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
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!

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 the World, (e) Communication, (f) Cooking, (g) Personal Fitness, (h) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (i) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (j) Personal Management, (k) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (l) Camping, and (m) 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.

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ScoutMaster's Minutes 11/20/2023

ScoutMaster's Minute 11/13/2023

ScoutMaster's Minute 11/6/2023

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