Weekly Post, April 12, 2015

Post date: Apr 13, 2015 2:12:18 PM

Hello Troop 737,

WOW!! What a great New Scout Campout we had this weekend. Great weather, great location, fun fellowship, amazing food and we all learned some things. I am very excited about this year’s new scouts and new scout parents. Thanks to all the scout trainers – you did a fantastic job teaching the new scouts. I especially want to thank our SPL, Gabe Eason; you did an outstanding job of leading the scouts. I also wanted to thank Allan McCabe and Mark Bly for supplying the adult food. Then there is Matt Louzon who spent about 8 hours creating different 2 out of this world chilies – the green chili in particular was incredible!!

Speaking of chili. The winner of this weekend’s chili cook off is the Atomic Swordfish! Congratulations to the new holder of the Silver Ladle award!!

Monday night we will be doing a patrol fire starting contest and then something needs to be cooked on that fire. No paper or accelerants, like lighter fluid, are allowed. Patrols need to supply all the materials.

Raffle Tickets. Scouts have been receiving raffle tickets for being on time and in full uniform. Scout leaders have also been handing out a few for scouts who were especially helpful. We will be raffling off this cool knife and compass at the Court of Honor at the end of May. So keep those raffle tickets and bring them to the COH.

SUMMER CAMP Within the last few weeks we have filled the last spots in both our Boundary Waters and Camp Alexander summer trips. There are a few spots left on the Medicine Mountain trip to SD. See info below. All money is currently due for all summer camp programs. Please make sure you are current with these payments.

On May 17^th from 3 – 6pm we will be holding our annual Troop planning meeting. Scouts will be planning the events for next year. Parents, this is a scout led troop so the scouts will make the ultimate decision as to what they want to do but we need your suggestions. Please email me with ideas for campouts, events, meetings, speakers, etc. We will present them to the Scouts.

REMINDER To be included in the Troop 737 group text messages, text @troop737 to (303) 625-7829. This is mainly for Scouts but parents are welcome to join. You will need to respond to a follow up text by entering your name. All of this information is now available on our website under Troop Communication. You can opt-out of messages at any time by replying, ‘unsubscribe @troop737’.

Upcoming signup deadlines

April 20 for the Scout Show on April 25

April 27 for the La Junta campout on May 1 -3

Sign up for Medicine Mountain Scout camp in SD. See info below.

Scoutmaster Minute Review

You all know what a cattle guard is but have you notice that sometimes they are just painted on the road. Cattle could easily cross these painted cattle guards but they don’t – why? They have learned or are programed to not cross them. Sometimes we can be like cows and falsely limit ourselves. Maybe someone once told you that could not do something … you are too small, too young, not big enough, not smart enough. Maybe something happened to you and because of that you don’t think you can do something. But is this really true? I encourage you to push your limits. Get outside your comfort zone. Do something that is uncomfortable until you are comfortable. Spring break a year ago, I went mountain biking in Moab. We started on some pretty easy trails but by the end of 3 days we were doing advanced trials, including Deadman’s Ridge. After 3 days, I was doing things that I never would have attempted or even thought possible when I started. This year when we went back, we started on Deadman’s Ridge and I loved it. So be smarter than a cow! Walk right over those painted cattle guards. You can do anything you set your mind to you just need to push your limits.

Here is a list of upcoming events:

You can always check out the full schedule on the Troop website at: https://sites.google.com/a/themountaintroop.org/troop-737-home/troop-calendar

April 13 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm Service patrol is the Sharks. Please show up 15 minutes early to help set up. Fire starting and cook food over fire contest. Key game.

April 20 Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) meeting 6:30 – 8pm ELC If you are a Patrol Leader or in a troop leadership position please come and help plan the upcoming Troop activities. If you are a Patrol Leader and you cannot make it to this meeting you need to talk to your assistant Patrol Leader or someone in your Patrol so that all Patrols are represented at the PLC.

April 25, 2015 Scout Show 10:00am to 4pm. Denver Stock show complex. Help man Troop 737s booth where we make our famous Smacos. Sign up for shifts but make sure to make time to check out all the other cool booths at the show including the Coleman display that has some great deals on all kinds of equipment.

May 1 - 3 LaJunta Campout Leave sometime Friday afternoon since there is no school of Friday . Highlights include, Indian dancing, sleeping in a Kiva, Bents fort and a hike to see petroglyphs.

May 9 Church Cleanup 8:00am – 10:00 Come help clean up the outside of the church, which is our charter organization.

May 9 Troop Trailer and Garage Cleanup 10:00am – 1pm. Come help clean out and organize the Troop garage and trailer. If you can only come for a couple of hours, that is fine. Snacks will be provided.

May 17 Annual Troop Planning meeting 3 – 6 pm ELC Scouts come and help plan the activities for the upcoming year. We really need your input. Parents, this is a scout led troop so the scouts will make the ultimate decision as to what they want to do but we do need your suggestions. Please email me with ideas for campouts, events, meetings, speakers, etc. We will present them to the Scouts.

Summer camps.

Sign up early and make your payments. The troop will not be fronting costs. If you do not make your payments on time you will not get the early discounts and you may not be able to go. There is plenty of time for scouts to make money for summer camp. If money is an issue please contact me, we can make it happen

Medicine Mountain Summer Camp in South Dakota In addition to the typical scout camp activities this camp has a special program for high adventure that includes backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing, caving and COPE. There is an extra cost for these activities. Check out the website for more information. A couple of other interesting aspects of this camp are that there are no camp activities scheduled for Wednesday. Participants are encouraged to go check out the sites of the Black Hills. Also there is a family camp just outside the scout camp where families can set up camp including RVs. This out of state camp is for scouts who are currently in the seventh grade and above. The dates are July 12 – 18. We currently have 8 scouts and 3 adults signed up to go. There is room for up to 25. So talk to you buddies and sign up! http://mountain.blackhillsbsa.org/

Medicine Mountain Scout Ranch in SD – July 12 – 18 Maximum 25 total slots

Standard Scout Price $295 Due Now

Standard Adult Price $125 Due Now

Late Scout Price After May 2, 2015 total $320

Late Adult Price After May 2, 2015 total $150

Include all merit badge costs

NOTE: This does not include transportation and food costs to and from camp.

As Scoutmaster of a very active troop, I am constantly being approached about our troop helping out in the community. The troop policy has been to give our Eagle projects the priority over any other service opportunities. Instead of bombarding you all with these other opportunities I will keep a list and if a scout wants to participate in a service project or he needs service hours for rank advancement, he can email me for the list.