Coming up ...

We have a meeting on Thursday, here's what's on the schedule for that night:

• We'll work on firebuilding skills for Klondike (out in the parking lot).
Andrew will bring a flint match so we can practice how to make a flame without a match.
• We'll work on knots and talk about the shelter we want to build for Klondike.
• Klondike is on Saturday, THIS Saturday. We get there early and we'll be back before 5 p.m.

We'll also talk about PHILMONT:
• Money is due, $250. If your parents have spoken to Andrew about the payment, those arrangements are fine. Otherwise, money is due.
• We need to get those physicals done in the near future.

Winter Camp 2006

Click on the photos to see the full size version.

Thanks to everyone for coming and making it a productive, fun weekend.

Klondike Training Responsibilities

This weekend on our campout we will train for the Klondike events. Each scout is responsible for training the rest of the troop for an event or two. Please be prepared to teach your subjects on Saturday. And let me know if you don't know what to do.

Here's the events:
1. Compass Town: The patrol will need to use their map, compass, and orienteering skills to determine location, give or follow map directions, and find specified locations throughout the park. TRAINER: STAN AND FRANK (Andrew will bring maps, scouts bring compasses)

2. Firebuilding Town: Patrols will need to build, ignite(light), and maintain a fire for a specific purpose. Maximum score is determined by method of heat source used to start fire. Only natural fire materials will be allowed to be used. All required supplies must be bundled separately & of sufficient quantity. Patrols must bring firestarters of their choice. (No lint, fatwood, etc.) TRAINER: ANDREW AND BRYAN (Andrew will bring materials)

3. Team Skills Town: The patrol will work as a group to perform complex tasks. ALL -- WE'LL PLAN A TEAM EVENT ON SATURDAY

4. First Aid Town: The patrol will need to apply cold weather first aid skills to victims of a Klondike themed scenario. TRAINER: NATE AND JESSY (Bring your first aid kits. We'll also have troop kit)

5. Archery Town: The patrol will have to demonstrate combined abilities to accurately target shoot. TRAINER: SIMON (Bryan and Jessy are extra shooters)

6. Backpacking Town: The patrol will be required to bring one (1) completely pre-packed backpack based on the requirements of the scout handbook and be able to answer questions related to the fieldbook. Maximum weight of the backpack is not to exceed 40 pounds. TRAINER: FRANK AND SIMON (Frank, can you bring your pack loaded? Andrew will bring the scout fieldbook)

7. Shelter Building Town: The patrol will need to construct an emergency shelter, using materials only on their sled. The scenario will consist of a cold, windy, snowy, mountainous situation. Knots and lashings will be needed to complete this problem. Strength of base anchoring will also be tested. (If patrol chooses to use an anchoring system other than what is found in the pioneering merit badge booklet, the patrol must supply printed documentation of that anchoring system) TRAINER: DANNY AND BRYAN (We'll need to practice knots and lashings. We'll bring ropes and find poles at camp).

8. Polar Bear Slingshot Town: The patrol will build a pre-designed slingshot and launch given object at targets. Knots and lashings will be needed to complete this problem. ALL

Camping Next Weekend

WE'LL HAVE NO MEETING ON THURSDAY, since we leave for our weekend cabin campout on Friday night. We'll be leaving from the Chandler's house at 6:15 p.m. Plan to be there on time, ready to roll. Most scouts still need a permission slip before they can attend.

A few of use will go grocery shopping on Thursday night and also (if possible) we'll pick up gear from Mr. Huntley Thursday night.

This is a weekend for preparing for Klondike. I will post a detailed schedule for who is teaching what and what each event will require of us.

We return from our trip early Sunday afternoon.

These boots were made for Philmont (I hope)

We're planning to go shopping at Campmor on Saturday morning. Campmor is a sporting goods store with some good deals (we're told). We're mainly hoping to buy boots, the most crucial piece of equipment we need to get for the Philmont trip.

If you plan to buy your boots (which is highly recommended), bring your money. If your family needs help paying for boots, have your parent give Andrew a call (732.983.1282). If you just want to come along to find out exactly what kind of boots you should get, that's a fine idea, too. But please plan to buy your boots within the next month or so.

Here's Campmor's boots page:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=34794356&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=69710

While we're there, we'll price sleeping bags and some other equipment. If we find especially good deals, we'll buy things like sleeping bags, water bottles, and some specialized clothing.

If your parent wants to limit your purchases, have them call or send a note and we'll work that out.

TWO THINGS TO WORK ON BESIDES BOOTS:
1) Non-refundable Philmont deposit due Feb. 1
2) Physical form needed as soon as possible (not later than May 1).

Thanks for coming

Thanks to all the family and friends who came to see some of what our troop has accomplished in the past two years. It's a good chance to remember how active our troop has been and how hard everyone has worked toward advancement.

We will have a meeting on Thursday. We'll spend time talking about the Klondike Derby, and working on some of the scout skills we need to exercise.

Schedule for January and February

We're planning regular Thursday meetings for:
January 5, 12, 19 and NOT the 26.
February 2, 9, 16 and 23.

We're going camping at Allamuchy (in a cabin) on January 27, 28, 29. We'll be working on scout skills for the Klondike Derby.

Klondike Derby is Saturday, Feb. 4.

We're also planning and looking for dates for the following:
1) Court of Honor
2) Group shopping trip to Campmor for Philmot boots and gear.
3) CPR certification course.

Backpacking prep

We had a successful backpacking outing at the end of October. Our crew of seven consisted of: Stan, Bryan, Nate, Danny and Jessy, and the leaders were Andrew and his friend Chris Zuehlsdorf. We hiked at the Delaware Water Gap, on the Pennsylvania side of the river.

The hike was up the mountain and along the ridgeline, about 6 miles in and 6 back out the next morning. Despite a very cold night, we managed to stay pretty warm -- thanks to some mad-bangin chili cooked under the supervision of Jessy Rodriguez.

The trip was our first in preparation for our 10-day backpacking trip this summer. More prep is planned for the spring, so stay in shape.

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Thanks to everyone who participated in our annual service project at the State Hospital. It's a short afternoon of work, but it adds a bit of joy to the lives of people who need it, especially at this time of year. Thanks to Mrs. Huntley for organizing it, and to our own Santa, for making the trip.