Weekly Post, December 14, 2014

Post date: Dec 14, 2014 9:24:09 PM

Hello Troop 737,

Thank you to Mr. McCabe for showing us how to make alcohol stoves out of two soda cans at our last meeting. I know I want to make my own after seeing one made.

Thank you to Pete Schiffers and Matt Dickson for staying up with our Scouts at the Lock-in this Friday night. I am sure everyone had a great time. Matt Kline conducted swim checks for some of our younger scouts … Thanks Matt.

This Monday night we will be welcoming in potential Webelos. If you know a potential Webelos please invite them to our regular meeting. Everyone will be making woggle neckerchief slides. Yes everyone present, including adults, will be able to make a new neckerchief slide. If anyone has experience making woggles, also known as a Turk’s head knot, we would appreciate your help. We will also be doing some fun scout activities.

We will also be finishing our raffle for the prize below. To earn raffle tickets; be on time, in full uniform and stay for circle time.

Sign-up sheets for summer camp will be available at Monday night’s meeting. See information below.

We still have open spots for Boundary Waters. Where are all the 14 to 16 year old scouts?. Don’t miss this chance of a lifetime! See info below

Now is the time to sign up for Big Horn Training See info below

Any older scouts, 13 and above, interested in going Ice Climbing. See info below for our trip in January.

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 can opt-out of messages at any time by replying, ‘unsubscribe @troop737’.

Upcoming signup deadlines

NOW Boundary Waters sign up now see below. First payment due December 1^st.

Now Ice Climbing for January Camp Alexander cabin trip.

January 12 for Camp Alexander cabin trip on January 16 - 18

Scoutmaster Minute Review

Good communication is a good life skill and it is especially important for leaders. Before Thanksgiving, I was working with a group of high schoolers and we were putting on 2 events. I was emailing the leadership team all the pertinent information and I thought I was doing a good job of communicating. It turns out, that I did not have the right email address for 2 of the most critical leaders for these events. Because of that, these events didn’t go as well as we had hoped. The two leaders felt really bad, but it was really my fault. I did not verify that they received the critical information. I should have texted them the information or at least verified via text. This is how high schoolers communicate best. It is a leader’s responsibility to figure out what is the best way to communicate with your team. It may be Facebook, phone, text, email, face to face or in the case of your Grandparents it might be an old fashion hand written letter. When working with a large group you will probably need to use multiple forms of communication. Good leaders are good communicators. Find out what is the best method for the receiver to get communication and verify that critical information has been received and understood.

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

December 15 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm ELC Webelos visit. We will be welcoming new potential Webelos to this meeting, so if you know some potential new members encourage them to come visit. We will be making neckerchief slide woggles/Turks head knot. All scouts and adults who want to make a woggle are encouraged to attend. Game Steal the Bacon.

January 5 Troop Bowling Night 5:30 – 9pm Details still being worked out. Scoutmaster Challenge: any scout who bowls a higher score than the Scoutmaster will get a free shake.

January 12 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm ELC Patrol/Team building. Campout prep. Mines and Submarines.

January 16 -18 Camp Alexander Cabin Trip Leave 6pm Friday return late on Sunday (no school on Monday). We have rented a cabin that sleeps 24. Activities include broom hockey, sledding and plenty of hiking/snow shoeing. There is Ice Climbing available for scouts 13 and older for an extra $32 but we need to sign up fairly soon.

January 18 PLC Meeting 6:30 – 8pm All members of the Patrol Leaders Council come and plan the upcoming meetings and events. All patrols should be represented.

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

For the out of state we will be going to Medicine Mountain Scout camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is for scouts who are currently in the seventh grade and above. The dates are July 12 – 18. We have reserve a total of 25 spots. The first 20 scouts who sign up and pay the deposit will be set to go. The other 5 spots are for adults. We are looking for a HALO (Head Adult Leader Organizer) to head up this group. Here is a YouTube video about the camp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EEWMdCk6uY

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

Deposit due at initial sign-up $10.00

Early Bird Scout Price Due March 15, 2015 total $245 after initial deposit $235

Early Bird Adult Price Due March 15, 2015 total $100 after initial deposit $90

Standard Scout Price Due May 1, 2015 total $295 after initial deposit $285

Standard Adult Price Due May 1, 2015 total $125 after initial deposit $115

Late Scout Price After May 2, 2015 total $320 after initial deposit $310

Late Adult Price After May 2, 2015 total $150 after initial deposit $140

Include all merit badge costs

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

The instate camp which is for all Scouts is Camp Alexander, which is about 45 miles west of Colorado Springs. The dates for this camp are July 26 – August 1. We have signed up for a campsite that accommodates 21 to 27 people. So again, first come first serve. Here is a video about Camp Alexander https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lfDd-s9_AkQ See costs and payment dates below.

Camp Alexander in Colorado – July 26 – August 1 Maximum 27 slots

Total Costs Scout $320 Adult $235

Payment Schedule:

Initial deposit due upon sign-up $35

Due January 5, 2015 $75 per camper

Due March 2, 2015 $100 per camper

All remaining fees due April 27, 2015 $110 per scout, $25 per adult

Some merit badge costs are extra.

Boundary Waters: It is time to make your deposit of $100 so that the planning can start on crew make-up, transportation and entry points. As it now stands we have 19…only 8 scouts and 11 adults.. (Isn’t this supposed to be a trip for the older Scouts?). Parents need to understand and encourage the older scouts to attend.. where are all the 14-16 year old Scouts… It is the best way to keep those older scouts in Scouting and moving towards achieving Eagle. We need at least 5 more scouts to sign up so we can have 3 full crews of 8. The deadline has been extended to January 1^st. Please sign up or let me let me know if you are interested. The dates are 6/9/15-6/18/15, which includes one travel day each way to/from Minnesota. The final cost will be determined after we buy group-plane tickets, which won't be until spring, 2015, but the total cost will be about $900 per person. A deposit will be needed by 12/1/14 (expect about $100 down). This is a trip NOT to be missed by any Scouts at 14 ages or above (13 years old is allowed with a parent).

Big Horn Training. This is the preeminent Boy Scout leadership training. All the scouts that have attended this training have had a great time and found the training to be invaluable. All scouts who are 13 years old or older and have achieved at First Class can attend. I know I wish I had the opportunity to take this training when I was in school. Here is a link for more info: http://www.denverboyscouts.org/openrosters/view_homepage.aspx?orgkey=1897

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.