Weekly Post, December 7, 2014

Post date: Dec 8, 2014 12:33:21 AM

Hello Troop 737,

Yesterday we had a great Winter Camp Training session. Thank you to our scout trainers Gabe, Morgan, Jonathon, Joe, Chance, Hayden and our SPL/ head trainer Devin Thompson. I also want to thank our HALOs for the event Allan McCabe and Sean Riley. Job well done by all. Thank you also to potential new scout Michael Sapienza for helping with the traditional Umpa Lumpa clothing demonstration.

Monday night is our last Advancement Night of the semester. Come and finish up those merit badges that you have been working on. For all the scouts not working on merit badges, including Trail to First Class scouts, Mr. McCabe will be showing us how to make alcohol stoves. He showed us these when he presented what he keeps in his car survival kit. Adults are welcome to join in. Anyone who wants to make a stove needs to bring at least 2 pop cans. We will also need some scissors, sharpie pens and a ruler. If you have some extra cans please bring them.

This Friday night, December 12^th , is the Wulf Lock-in. Please sign up on Monday night. This is one of our most well attended events of the year. Drop off is from 8:45 to 9pm on Friday night and pickup is at 7:30am on Saturday morning. Webelos are encouraged to come and they are free. Scouts will have access to the swimming pool, gymnastics room, gym and a room for quite time/sleeping. Bring swim equipment, shorts, T shirt, games, snacks and sleeping bag, which hopefully they will use. At 9 pm on Friday one of our older scouts, Matt Kline, will be conducting swim checks for First and Second Class requirements. At around 11pm a snack of pizza and drinks will be provided. We are still looking for a few more adults to help out with this event. We need at least one more for two deep leadership.

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

Boundary Waters Update: 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).

Now is the time to sign up for 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

We have finalized the dates for summer camp. 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 See costs and payment dates below.

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.

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 above. First payment due December 1^st.

Now Ice Climbing for January Camp Alexander cabin trip.

December 8: last night to sign up for Wulff Lock-in on December 12th. Webelos welcome

Scoutmaster Minute Review

None PLC meeting

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 8 Troop Meeting 6:30 – 8pm ELC Advancement Night. Come and finish up those merit badges that you have been working on. For all the scouts not working on merit badges, including Trail to First Class scouts, Mr. McCabe will be showing us how to make alcohol stoves. He showed us these when he presented what he keeps in his car survival kit. Adults are welcome to join in. Anyone who wants to make a stove needs to bring at least 2 pop cans. We will also need some scissors, sharpie pens and a ruler. If you have some extra cans please bring them.

December 12 Wulff Lock-in ( 9pm – Saturday 7:30am Wulff Rec Center This is always one of the most well liked events of the year. We are looking for a HALO (Head Adult Leader Organizer) for this event.

December 8 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 12 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.

Here is the payment information for our two summer camp options:

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.

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.

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.

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.