Weekly Post, April 26, 2015

Post date: Apr 26, 2015 2:47:36 PM

Hello Troop 737,

Monday night we will be witling so bring your knife. Patrol leaders will be supplying soap. The service patrol for the next month will be the Atomic Swordfish. Please arrive 15 minutes early to set up. You will then be responsible for flag ceremonies and clean up. The Troop guide, Quin G. and instructors, Ethan H. and Adicus P. need to be there if possible to show the new scouts how to be the service patrol. We will also be doing Campout Prep for the La Junta campout. Scouts and parents, who are planning on going, need to be at the church at 7:30. NOTE: There is school on Friday for everyone, so we will not be leaving early.

Scouts and adults who are going to Camp Alexander and Medicine Mountain this summer may need to finish up some paperwork. The HALOs (Head Adult Leader Organizer) will send out an email if needed.

SUMMER CAMP There is 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.

At the PLC this week we decided to add a June back packing trip to the schedule. The plan is to go to the Lost Creek Wilderness area, June 19 – 21. Mark your calendars. Details to follow.

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 end of the year COH (Court of Honor).

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 27 for the La Junta campout on May 1 -3

Scoutmaster Minute Review

PLC last week

I don’t believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.

Harold Geneen

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 27 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm Whittling and Campout Prep Service patrol is the Atomic Swordfish. Please show up 15 minutes early to help set up. We will be witling so bring your knife. Patrol leaders will be supplying soap. We will also be doing Campout Prep for the La Junta campout. Scouts and parents who are planning on going need to be at the church at 7:30.

May 1 - 3 LA Junta Campout Highlights include, Indian dancing, sleeping in a Kiva, Bents fort and a hike to see petroglyphs. HALO Mike O’Connor.

May 4 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm Advancement Service patrol is the Atomic Swordfish. Please show up 15 minutes early to help set up. We will be working on First Aid and Family Life merit badges. New scouts will be working on Trial to Frist Class requirements. If you need to finish up a merit badge you are encouraged to contact one of the merit badge councilor that is listed on the website. There is also a book at the sign in table that lists all the councilors. Any rank advancement needs to be recorded in the advancement computer by the end of the night to be included in the Court of Honor is 2 weeks.

May 9 Church Cleanup 8:00am – 11:00 Come help clean up the outside of the church, which is our charter organization.

May 9 Troop Trailer and Garage Cleanup 11:00am – 2pm. Come help clean out and organize the Troop garage and trailer. Make sure that the Troop and your Patrol box is ready for our next outing. If you can only come for a couple of hours, that is fine. Lunch will be provided.

May 11 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm Flying J Ranch Service patrol is the Atomic Swordfish. Please show up 15 minutes early to help set up. Outdoor FUN at Flying J Ranch Park. Dress appropriately.

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.

May 18 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm Court of Honor Service patrol is the Atomic Swordfish. Please show up 15 minutes early to help set up. All scouts who have achieved a new rank or merit badges since our last Court of Honor will be recognized. All parents are encouraged to come, especially Mothers. Theme is Star Wars so “bring no whole foods, bring tons of GMO’s and Chemicals” Meeting outside so dress appropriately.

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.