Folks,

Tuesday’s meeting is going to focus on two things: Rank Advancements and Elections.

We have a lot to get done Tuesday.  There are at least 2-4 scouts that I think may be ready for a scoutmaster conference so we could use as many ASM’s as possible to facilitate the process.

There will be at least two or more Board of Reviews to do tomorrow as well. Committee members please attend so we can divide into groups of three to speed things along.

Finally, the current 6 month leadership reign is up and its time to hold elections for leadership positions. I encourage all scouts to seek leadership roles within their abilities. 1st Class and above get priority for SPL, then 2nd Class after that….

The troop scribe is making a presentation for the COH so if you have any pics from the campouts, please share them with me on Google Pics or Drop Box so I can upload them onto the website so the scribe can access them for the presentation.

Thanks

Sean

Folks,

Just a reminder that Nate Stafford’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor is on Sunday the 12th at 2pm.  I would encourage you all to attend. We also need at least 4 scouts to be in the Color Guard for the ceremony.  Please sign up here if you can be a part of the color guard for this important ceremony. Eagle Scouts can also participate in the color guard!

Please sign up here!

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-nate

Thanks
Sean

Troop,

We are approaching a Court of Honor.  Tomorrow’s meeting will focus on tying up loose ends. We will focus on Rank Advancements by signing off on requirements, completing MB’s, and conducting Scout Master Conferences for anyone that needs them!

See you Tuesday!

Sean

Scouts,

Unfortunately, I am postponing our Mt Harvard campout. We only had 3 scouts signed and the cost of the campground and food outweighed the benefit of the trip. We will plan for it in the future when we can achieve more participation!

Thanks

Sean

Troop,

Attached is the information for the Campout and Mt Harvard Hike this weekend.

Weather:  We will be hiking up on Saturday and the weather looks good.

Timeline:

3 Aug:

5pm: Meet at Wilson United Methodist Church

530pm: Depart to Buena Vista

745pm: Arrive at Arrowhead Campground

4 Aug:
6am: Wake UP

7am: Start Hike up Mt Harvard

5 Aug:

9am: Depart Buena Vista

1130am: Arrive Back at Wilson United Methodist Church

Camp Ground Information: We will be staying at Arrowhead Point Campground in Buena Vista.  The cost is $10 per person. https://arrowheadpointresort.com

Map:alltrails-mount-harvard-trail

Packing List for Mt Harvard Campout

• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Daypack
• Class A shirt
• Clothes to match the weather (layers)
• Raincoat
• First aid kit fire making stuff
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Binie hat
• Baseball cap
• Sunglasses
• knife
• At least 2 liters of water
• BSA handbook and any other merit badges you want to work on
• Mes kit
• Hygiene kit (toilet paper, trowel, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
• Broken in hiking shoes (proper footwear)
• Extra socks
• Healthy snacks
• Spending Money * *This campground has a stocked trading post with tons of snacks
• Compass

Optional

• Camera
• Camp chair

Menu: 

Friday dinner: bring your own.

Saturday breakfast: instant oatmeal, and bananas.

Saturday lunch: turkey and cheese sandwiches, oranges and hard boiled eggs.

Saturday dinner: hamburgers, and corn on the cob.

Sunday breakfast: toast, and hard boiled eggs.

Snacks: bring your own, and chewy bars.

If extra money: tang, lemonade, and cookies.

Shopping List (Austin is picking up these groceries for the troop)

• ketchup
• oranges
• chewy bars
• eggs
• instant oatmeal
• bananas
• bread
• turkey
• mustard
• mayo
• cheese
• hamburger meat
• lettuce
• tomato
• pickles
• corn on the cob
• butter
• butter hamburger buns

This information was prepared by Ignacio, the ASPL

Thanks

Saen

Folks,

Time for our next big hike and camp will be in Buena Vista and we will hike Mt Harvard.  This is a  car camping trip but the hike will be 12.4 miles round trip.  Here is a link to the full size map: alltrails-mount-harvard-trail

We will determine the Meal Plan and details about the trip on Tuesday at the meeting. Please bring your back pack and items you will be bringing on the trip to this campout.  We are not going to put out a packing list on this email…the scouts will decide the packing list, but please bring what you will use to go up the mountain do we can come up with some good ideas.

We will likely meet at the church at 5pm on Friday and will come back Sunday afternoon.

Skills we will work on are Navigation, the hiking merit badge, camping merit badge, and any additional skills that scouts may need for rank advancement.

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-mtharvard

Sean

At the meeting on Tuesday, July 24, scouts wrote a rough draft of what events the troop could do for the year of 2019. We planned camping trips, merit badges, game nights, and community service. They came out with a large list, and we will be narrowing it down at the next planning meeting. We starred the ones we really wanted to do,and left the ones that we were less enthusiastic about without stars.

 The List:

Camp outs

• *Bishop’s Castle
• Freeze-o-Ree
• *Biking and/or Backpacking on the Colorado Trail or Santa Fe Trail
• *Sand Dunes/Family Camp/ Weblow Event
• Ferrish
• *Shooting Camp
• Boating Camp
• *Canoeing/Kayaking Trip
• *White Water Rafting
• Geocaching Trip
• *Red Feather Horse Trip
• *Yellowstone
• Rock Climbing
• *Telluride
• Hike Day

Merit Badges

• *Scuba Diving
• *Wilderness Survival
• *Search and Rescue
• *Rifle/Shotgun/Archery
• Geocaching
• *First Aid
• *Emergency Preparedness
• *Swimming/Lifesaving
•  *Hiking
• Cycling
• *Cooking
• Dog Care
• Chess Day
• Automotive Maintanence
• *Family Life
• *Personal Management
• *Music
• *Nuclear Science
• Climbing
• *Fishing/Fly Fishing
• *Snow Sports

14ers

• Long’s Peak
• Mt. Elbert
• Grays and Torreys

Game Days/Nights

• Water World
• Lock in
• Battlefeild
• Whirley Ball
• Elitches
• Ice Skating
• Overdrive
• Summit
• Penny Arcade
• Dodgeball
• Kickball
• Mini Golf
• Visit Fort Carson and/or Air Force Academy
• Movie

Community Service

• Humane Society
• Habitat for Humanity
• Upa Downa
• Medicine Wheel
• Rocky Mountain Field Institute
• Soup Kitchen
• National Museum of World War Two Aviation

Other Ideas

• Once a month, wear class A’s, then wear class B’s.

Evan R

Troop Scribe

Folks,

Nate Stafford’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor is on August 12th @ 2pm.  All of the troop is invited to attend!

We are also  going to needs some scouts for the Color Guard and a few other items. Please come celebrate Troop 287’s newest Eagle Scout!!

Thanks,
Sean

Troop,

Thank you so much that Volunteered this week for the Church and For UpaDowna. Please make sure you record your hours in your scout book

This Tuesday will be the first of two planning (Not Evil Planning Meetings) meetings  where the scouts will plan out next year’s activities. Please come loaded with ideas!! Things to think about for this next meeting:

Camping locations

Camping themed ideas (14er’s, Fishing, backpacking, car camping, shooting, etc)

Merit Badge Ideas ( Both Fun and Eagle)

Activity Accomplishment Ideas

Game Night ideas

Thanks!

Sean

Folks,

There are two events that you can volunteer to get some hours for Rank Advancement or Merit Badge Completion.

First, Wilson United Methodist Church is having its Annual Church clean up from 9am-Noon on Saturday the 21st. Lunch will be provided.  This might be working on the play area, landscaping, cleaning or whatever they need.  Please bring gloves and dress accordingly for outside work.  This is the church that provides us a place to have meetings and its a great and simply way to give back while earning community service hours at the same time.

The second, one is I need 4-6 scouts to man a station for UpaDowna’s ROAR in the city on Saturday the 21st from 8am-3pm.  This is an adventure race in town to raise money for the non-profit.  The theme is super hero’s (HeROARs). For this one, I need the names in Advance and we will have to have a meeting prior to Saturday to learn the duties of manning the station.  We might be wearing super hero uniforms or we might wear the scout uniform…not sure yet. Please sign up immediately if you would like to volunteer for this one. There are only 6 positions. Parents can also be some of these positions.

Both of these events are during the same time so you may only sign up for one.  Families and friends are more than welcome to help on both events also !

Here is the link to sign up for either one of these events: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-community1

Hi Scouts and Families,

Thanks to the adults for leading an awesome hike up Mt Bierstadt this weekend! Lance said it was fun and challenging.  Dan and Chris mentioned they would like a little more of a push and I believe they challenged the scouts to a race up the next one!!  Paul and Ray offered to jog to the top of Mt Harvard to record the winners as they cross the line. I look forward to the 14er next month!

For tonight!

I apologize for the late email so please communicate with each other to make sure everyone gets the message. Tonight is game night!  We are going to play kickball at Pinon Valley Park.  Its been a little while since we did this and everyone loved it last time! Its free and it starts at 7pm. Families are more than welcome to play! Wear whatever clothes you want to wear that’s good for Kickball!

Here is the google link to the map. Its really close to the church

https://goo.gl/maps/NCmGPzX1TP22

Folks,

My last post said the campout was Saturday and Sunday but the correct days are Friday and Saturday. Its fixed on the website now buy the last email that went out was wrong.

Sean

Troop,

From Lance (With Dad’s Help):

Here is the plan for this weekends Camp Out:

Downloadable Map: alltrails-mount-bierstadt-trail

Weather next 6 Days: 

Days 0-3 Mount Bierstadt Weather Summary:

Heavy rain (total 2.0in), heaviest during Sat night. Very    mild (max 50°F on Sat morning, min 39°F on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Mount Bierstadt Weather Summary:

Heavy rain (total 2.0in), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 48°F on Mon morning, min 37°F on Mon night). Winds    increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the NW by Wed morning)

Timeline:

13 July:

5pm: Arrive at Wilson United Methodist Church

530pm: Depart

14 July:

Early- Hike Mt Bierstadt

Late afternoon Early Evening – Return to Wilson United Methodist Church

Packing List (Determined by Scouts):

• Extra pairs of socks(wool)
• At least 2 liters of water,
• Headlamp (flashlight), spare batteries
• Broad brim hat
• Beanie
• Hygiene kit
• Toilet paper
• First aid kit
• Buff
• Rain gear
• Light jacket
• Lighter/matches

Added by Sean

• Back Pack
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Mat
• Small Day Pack (for the climb)
• Clothing to match weather 45F at the top. Please dress in Layers
• Broken in Hiking Shoes/Running Shoes
• Healthy Snacks
• Sunglasses
• SunScreen
• Light Gloves
• Compass
• Permission Slips
• Pocket Knife
• Hydration Powder (Gatorade, etc)
• Optional: Camera

Troop Gear

• Camping Stoves with Gas
• 2 x 5 Gallong Water Containers
• Water Filtration Pumps
• Tents

Meal Plan: (Ethan Gilkes is Buying the Food)

Friday Night: Scout bring their own Dinner…subway or whatever.

Meal plan: Desert:

Patrol 1: S’mores:

Marshmallows, Chocolate bars, Grahamcrackers

Patrol 5: Rice Krispies:

Rice Krispies, marshmallow

Saturday Morning:

Breakfast: pop tarts

Lunch: sandwiches 

(Ham, cheddar cheese)

Snacks: chewy bars, flavored packets for water

Here is the Sign Up Genius Link if anyone one else would like join:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-squirrel

Sean

Folks,

We will camp near Bishops castle as planned. The Adobe fire is 95% contained/out..its not even being shown on the Colorado Wildfire map anymore.  The Ring Fire is further south but its 75% contained.  Should be nice and safe to camp by Bishops castle although I suspect open fires will not be allowed.

Sean

Troop,

UpaDowna is doing a park clean up today. This is a great opportunity to earn some community service hours!!

Park Cleanup

Troop,

This weeks meeting will be from 7-830pm as normal.  Due to the fires down south near Bishops Castle we are going to do some planning tonight in addition to camping preparations. Here is our options:

• Option 1 – Continue Camping near Bishop’s Castle as planned.  I contacted the forrest rangers to see if its still safe to camp on Squirrel Creek trail near bishops castle.  The Adobe fire is north of it and is getting some containment but we will not camp at this location if there is any risk of danger.
• Option 2 – Blake M has offered up his Condo in Telluride, sleeps 12.  With this option the Troop will need to leave on Thursday to allow for the travel time. This is really nice of Blake to do this and I don’t know if this will happen again! But Adult leaders would have to commit to departing Thursday and Returning Sunday.
• Option 3 – Hike a 14er and camp nearby. We are doing Mt Harvard Next month also so this would be two 14ers back to back campouts. Doesn’t mean we can’t do it and don’t be nervous that this is too much. There are plenty of 14ers that are moderate hikes 🙂

Scouts and Adult leaders will decide what the plan is at tomorrow’s meeting. Scout leadership will come up with a packing list and meal plan based off the camping decision.

The goal is to stay steady and keep the campouts going!!  The Troop’s Charater and Spirit is derived from High Adventure and determining solutions so let’s try to make something happen!!

Adult leaders please come with some idea’s for locations if the 14er options sounds good to you! I would also like to mention that Mom’s CAN come on these trips too!!!

Thanks
Sean

Troop,

We are on standby for our next campout. The Adobe fire is really close to Bishops Castle. If this fire is not contained or something happens to the area then we will either move the camp out to a safe location or cancel if necessary for safety.  We want to camp, but clearly we have to be safe!!

Here is the link to all the fires in Colorado. As you can see….its seems like half of the state is on fire…..

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dfpc/current-wildfires

Scouts & Families,

Wednesday is July 4^th and the halfway point of our 2018 Flag season!  We need just one more Scout for July 4^th.  Please sign up using Sign-Up Genius.

All of the Drivers & Navigators already signed up should have received an email from Sandy J. with route assignments, list of addresses and a link to the google map.  If you have any questions, please email or text Lisa D.

We will meet at 6am at the barn to load the vehicles and then head out to start the routes. We’ll meet at the barn at 5pm for afternoon pickup.

Scouts should wear their Class A uniform!

Thanks!

Lisa

719-237-3805 cell

Troop,

We have an awesome back pack trip coming up from 13-15 July in San Isabel National Forest. We are going to hike the Squirrel Creek Trail and visit Bishop’s Castle when we are done on Sunday.  Squirrel Creek Trail is about 10-12 miles and is a moderate hike. Every scout has the ability complete this hike and is encourage to attend. We can start as early as the adult leaders are able on Friday morning to get as much daylight as we can and will return on Sunday afternoon after exploring Bishop’s Castle. Here is the link to Bishop’s Castle so you can check it out! http://www.bishopcastle.org.

On the hike, scouts can finish rank advancements, complete merit badges, and conduct scout master conferences if they are ready.  Focus of this camp out (Besides having fun in our beautiful state of Colorado) will be navigation, knot tying and first aid skills.

Scout will predominately provide their own meals on this hike (Mountain House, pre-made meals, etc) with the exception of Saturday Night. The patrols will have a back packing dinner cook-off to see who can make the most creative and delicious meal using only backpacking stoves or an open fire if allowed.  Be creative!!

Parents and families are invited to come down to Bishop’s castle on Sunday and spend time with the troop and with your scout to check out this amazing place. You may bring your scout home with you after Bishop’s Castle. On this trip, expect the troop to return sometime Sunday afternoon.

Here is the map wealltrails-squirrel-creek-2

Please sign up here.

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-squirre

Sean

The first part of this update is to personally thank Dan and Chris for facilitating an Amazing Summer Camp experience for our Troop!  Both of these leaders were amazing with the scouts with their mentorship, communication and direction. The scouts had fun and learned a ton! I really appreciate you two and so does all the parents and scouts!!  This summer camp was one of the best I have ever seen.  Also a quick shout out to Ray for chasing the bear away 🙂 Thank you all!!

Here are the pics that I have from summer camp so far.  For some reason not all the pics uploaded to Google Photos but I will get that fixed.  There should be more photos to upload soon!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ikRXrwY3jmmL4CeJ8

This Tuesday’s meeting will focus on wrapping up summer camp advancements, updating scout handbooks, and finalizing what can be finished in Merit Badges.  We will also run part 2 of the fitness test that all the boys need for tenderfoot.

Coming upon us is our next camp out which will be a backpack trip. Right now we are leaning towards San Isabel National Forest which will include a tour of Bishops Castle!!  The dates are 12-15 July right now because that is when the adult leaders could make it.  We added an extra day to allow more adventure!!  The signup genius wil be out soon!!

Thanks

Sean