Highlights from last nights meeting:
~ talked about the new rules on earning palms
~ heard more information about the Klondike - most fun if you are prepared for cold weather camping
~ worked on snow shoes
~ worked on merit badges
Next week:
~ 2/5/18 troop meeting 7:00
~ 2/6/18 Mackinac Honor Guard signup 7:00
~ 2/6/18  Committee meeting 7:00
 
Announcements:
~ Mackinac Honor Guard will take place the week of July 7th  - 14th 2018

Sign up dates are Feb 6th and 22nd at 7PM
Sign up location First Congregational Church 2001 Niles Ave, St Joseph, MI 49085

Parents must attend and fill out paperwork. No forms will be given to scouts to take home.
Current picture of scout required for sign up.
Scout must have the rank of 1st class or above and be 13 years of age by July 1st 2018.

First payment of $75.00 is due at sign up.
~ new Eagle scout - congratulations Remi Beaufils!
~ Eagle Court of Honor for Jacob Maynard, Jacob Conklin & Andrew Esser on Sunday February 18th at 4:00 pm at the Elks Lodge. RSVP to Mr. Conklin by February 10th.
~ Is your scout interested in engineering?  If so, there is an Engineering Explosion day coming up in Grand Rapids in March.  You can find more information here https://scoutingevent.com/272-16655 
   

Highlights from last night's meeting:
~ Boy Scouts was explained to cub scouts - Welcome!
~ Klondike info - Hoping for snow.  Went over materials that will be needed.
~ OA elections upcoming - watched a video about OA
~ discussed MBU
~ worked on advancements
~ finished some snow shoes.  Keep bringing them until done.

Next week:
~ 1/29/18 - need to commit to Mr. Hill by Monday if you are going on the Klondike.  Permission slips will follow at a later time

Upcoming:
2/16-2/18 - Klondike Derby - Camp Betz
2/18 - Eagle Court of Honor for Jacob Maynard, Jacob Conklin and Andrew Esser  4:00 PM at the Elks Lodge
 
Are you a Life scout in need of an Eagle project?  Do you like to read or go for walks along a walking path?  The Village of Shoreham enjoys doing these activities and they are looking for scouts who are looking for an Eagle project to help with 2 projects.  First, they want to build a Free Little Library which will be places outside the Village Hall.  The second project is placing markers and wooden signage around the walking path in their community park.  If you are interested in one of these projects, please contact Mr. Sparkman or Mr. Shepard for contact information.

Highlights from tonight's meeting:
~ worked on making snowshoes
Next week:
~ Klondike Derby sign up form due
Upcoming:
This Saturday is our first Merit Badge University.  Please click on the following link to see the schedule and also to see what prerequisites (found on a separate tab) need to be done before Saturday. 

Scouts can start arriving at 8:00 and the first period will start at 8:30.  The periods will be as follows:
Period 1   8:30-10:00
Period 2   10:15-11:45
Period 3   12:30-2:00
Period 4   2:15-3:45
Cleanup   3:45-4:30 
Please make sure to print the worksheet for the badges you are scheduled for and bring it with you on Saturday along with pencils.  You can find the worksheets here:
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badges

Those scouts taking T21, make sure to bring your scout book so you get credit for the parts you complete.

Highlights from tonight's meeting:
~ worked on merit badges and advancements
~ talked about the upcoming MBU. It has been moved to January 20th due to funeral being held at the Church that day.
Upcoming:
~ 1/9/18  Committee meeting - 7:00pm.  This meeting is open to all parents.  Please join us and help plan the different activities for the boys.  The more we have helping really benefits the scouts and also helps those leading our boys.
~ 1/20/18 Merit Badge University 8:30am-3:45pm. 
 
Merit Badge University information

• Use this link to find out which classes the scout is signed up for, what period and room the class is in and the prereq's for classes.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zh5BtXmyXMS7vbgXc9TX2n0Pos48mWm2zTueUSpRaV0/edit#gid=738538981 
  
• The scout should print the workbook for the merit badge and then bring it to class.  You can find the worksheets here http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badges 
  
• If your scout has not signed up and would like to, please email the classes he would like to take in the order of their importance to him to Kurt Sparkman
  
• We could really use the help of a few more adults at MBU to make sure the boys stay on task and also to make sure we have the 2-deep adult coverage.  If you are able to help, please contact Kurt.
  

Highlights from tonight's meeting:
~ Meat orders were turned in tonight.  Orders will be ready next Monday and should be picked up at the Christmas party.
~ Mr. Arrans talked about filling out the requirements in the boy scout book.  He explained about keeping a log of camp outs and work hours and to make sure to turn that information in to Mrs. Marquardt.  It is the scout's responsibility. 
~ We are holding our own Merit Badge University so boys won't have to go to Chicago.  It will be held on January 13, 2018 from 8:00am-3:15pm.  Lunch will be provided.   For those new to the troop, this is an opportunity for the boys to earn up to 4 merit badges in one day.  If your son was not at the meeting tonight, I have attached the form that was passed out.  Please have him pick out six badges he would like to earn ranking them from 1 (most desired) to 6 and return the form to Mr. Shepard or Mr. Sparkman ASAP.
~ Two new Eagle Scouts tonight.  Congratulations Andrew Esser and Jacob Conklin!
~ Worked on rank advancements
Next week:
~ Christmas party at SJHS field house from 7:00-8:30.  Pizza will be provided.  Boys with last names A-L are to bring snacks and M-Z are to bring drinks.
Next meeting will be January 8, 2018. 

Highlight's from tonight's meeting:
~ outside game
~ learned and practiced knot tying
~ worked on merit badges
Next week:
~ Meat stick fundraiser due on Monday 12/11/17 - bring completed form and money
~ Boundary Waters deposit due on Monday 12/11/17 - still an opening or 2 if you are not signed up
~ sign up for merit badges at our Merit Badge University will be on Monday 12/11/17  - please attend so you can sign up for the badges you need/want
Upcoming:
~ 12/5/17 - Committee meeting at 7:00.  All adults are welcome to attend
~ 12/18/17 - Christmas party at SJHS Field House at 7.  Pizza will be provided by the troop.  Scouts need to bring the following:
                     Last Name - A-L bring snacks
                     Last Name - M-Z bring drinks
 

Highlights from last night's meeting:
~ Went over the Buffalo Bob's fundraiser - orders due back 12/11 (band kids going to Hawaii need to turn it in before they leave)
~ Boundary Waters - 1st deposit is due 12/11 (band kids going o Hawaii need to turn it in before they leave)
~ explained to the new scouts how their scout account works
 
Upcoming:
~ 12/18 Christmas Party

Highlights from last night's meeting:
~ Heard about the Buffalo Bob's Specialty Meat Snacks Fundraiser - made locally from Zick's.  All of the profit raised by the scout will go into the scout's account.  The order forms are due back on 12/11.  Make sure to fill in the name, address and phone number for each order.  Zick's will return the orders on 12/18.
~ unloaded the trailer from the weekend
~ talked about what merit badges they were interested in and boys filled out the form that was sent out.  If your scout hasn't filled out which ones they are interested in, please have them follow this link to record the ones they are interested in.  https://goo.gl/forms/QFPtmQGuedNqiLTb2 We are planning a Merit Badge University at the church in January instead of making the trip to the MBU we usually attend in Chicago and will be using this information to decide which badges to offer.
~ If you are interested in participating in the Boundary Waters Canoe trip and haven't signed up, please see Mr. Shepard or Mr. Merle.  There are a couple spots available.
Next week:
~ Designs for our Klondike Derby patch are due on Monday 11/27.
Upcoming:
~ 12/11/17 deposits are due for Boundary Water's trip
~ 12/18/17 Christmas party
 
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Highlights from tonight:
~ Planned for Thanksgiving Fest weekend.
Next week:
~ Monday's meeting will be held at Riverview Cemetery at 6:30.  Bring a flashlight, long pants and a coat.  We will be removing the service flags.

To help determine which merit badges are needed/wanted by the scouts, Justin Shepard has created a form that we would like to have your scout fill out.  Please have your scout click on the following link https://goo.gl/forms/QFPtmQGuedNqiLTb2 and pick out the badges that they still needed and would like to work on.  Justin's form will keep track of the responses
.
Upcoming:
~ 11/7 - Committee meeting - all parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.  We are meeting at 7:00 at the church.
~ 11/12 - meeting at 6:30 at Riverview Cemetary
~ 11/17-11/19 Thanksgiving Fest campout

Highlights from tonight's meeting:
~ cut wood relay
~ worked on getting things ready for the Thanksgiving Fest
~ picked new Class B's
~ wrote letters to soldiers
~ worked on advancements
Upcoming:
~ 11/4/17 - Blue Star Mothers Support the Troops campaign - 10:00am-2:00pm at Stevensville American Legion Post 568 - Boy scouts will earn service hours by helping at this event.  Please make sure to wear your class A's.  
~ 11/5/17 - PLC meeting from 4-6pm at 1st Congregational Church - this meeting is for all scouts in leadership positions
~ 11/13/17 - meeting will start at 6:30 and we will meet at Riverview cemetery to collect the flags off the sites.
~ 11/13/17 - permission slips for Thanksgiving Fest are due.  (see attached)
 
Mrs. Maynard wants to share the following council events that are going on in the area if your scout is interested in attending (on their own)
Boy Scout Shoot! STEM Day at Van Andel Institute
This NOVA Day on Saturday November 4th, 2017, will be split into two sessions, one for Cubs and one for Boy Scouts. $20/youth fee covers all of this! Register here:  https://scoutingevent.com/272-13825
Gerber Shooting Sports Weekend - ShotgunCome out and have a great time earning you Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge or come out for Open Shoot. Scouts should be 13 years old. Saturday November 4th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Register here: https://scoutingevent.com/272-14476
Rota-Kiwan Shooting Sports Partial Day
Come out and have a great time completing your rifle or shotgun merit badged that you've started but haven't completed for one reason or another. Saturday, November 4 between 1pm and 5pm.
Cost will be $7 for Rifle and $10 for Shotgun. Register here: https://scoutingevent.com/272-15405
Whoosh/Swing/Hang On NOVA Day at RKExplore Engineering! Come out to Rota-Kiwan and explore engineering through the use of simple machines! Sessions are available for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and Ventures. Registration is $10 per Scout. Saturday November 11 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Register here: Michigan Crossroads Council - Whoosh/Swing/Hang On NOVA Day at RK