Hi Troop 287,

This is Axel and I’m still in Wyoming but I wanted to invite you to help me with my Eagle Project. I’m planning to build 4 benches, 3 picnic tables and 2 planters for my high school during a school service day the first week of school. I need to have everything ready to go for the build day so I need help cutting and staining all the wood. There is A LOT OF WOOD!

Please join us on Tuesday, August 6 from 8:00am to 12:00pm , at my house: 

1175 Crown Haven Cir

Colorado Springs, CO 80919

– You do NOT need to stay the entire time, just come when you can and leave when you need to.

– We will have FOOD for breakfast, snacks, and lunch.

– Please sign up to RSVP by Sunday night August 4 so I can buy food.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-50418412-axels

– If you need help with a ride, please let me know and my mom can help.  

– I will send a reminder next week.

Please let me know if you have any questions and thanks for your help.

Thanks,

Axel

Scouts & Parents,

We have an opportunity this Friday to get your annual swim test taken care of. The test will be needed for both scout camp and the Wyoming High Adventure trip. If you are available to join us this Friday please RSVP by sending a text to Janelle Anderson at (801) 518-9659. She can also help with transportation if you need a ride. 

Date: Friday, June 14

Time: 1-2pm

Where: Downtown YMCA located at 207 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Parking: Please use the parking garage next door (just East of the entrance to the YMCA)

Cost: $3.50 for non-members

Bring: Come dressed in your swim gear with a change of clothes, water bottle, goggles and towel.

BSA Swim Test Requirements:

• Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming.
• Swim 75 yards (3 lengths of the pool) in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl (no dog-paddle).
• Swim 25 yards (1 length of the pool) using an easy, resting backstroke.
• The 100 yards must be completed without stops and must include at least one sharp turn.
• After completing the swim, rest by floating (Typically, for up to one minute).

Please contact me with your RSVP and any questions or concerns you might have.

Thanks,

Janelle

Don’t forget that we have our Court of Honor Ceremony plus a hot dog cookout this week! We need everyone to sign up below so we can buy enough food for families. We will have some veggie dog options too. Please remember to bring the items you signed up for, and if possible, arrive at the church a little early to help with the setup between 6-6:30.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-48880275-topdog

We still need volunteers for our Flag Fundraiser. This is how our troop earns a lot of money for cool trips and gear. We need all scouts to help out so please pick a date you can help on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day or Veterans Day.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5AF2BA1FEC52-49049011-flag

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

4/16 Court of Honor: 6:30p – 8:30p 

4/23 Game Night: TBD

4/30 Meeting Night: TBD

5/7/24: Trip preparation and meal planning for FAM CAMP DINO MARCH in La Junta, CO

5/10 – 5/12: FAM CAMP DINO MARCH

-Axel and Rudra

When: Friday, April 12 – Sunday, April 14

We will be car camping just outside the main canyon close to Witches Canyon. Directions and specific location details will be shared. We will be able to explore new rock formations, canyons, and trails. There will be rock climbing on Saturday with another opportunity to earn the Climbing Merit Badge. Bring good hiking shoes and layers of warm clothing because the nights can get chilly. 

Previous climbing experience or gear (harness & climbing shoes) is NOT required but is recommended so if you have it, bring it.  NOTE: You can rent climbing shoes ($10 for the weekend) at REI which we highly recommend. Get a size that fits tightly with no wiggle room. We will be providing helmets, a few harnesses and belay devices for the troop. 

There’s plenty of hiking and hanging around camp available for those not interested in climbing. It’s about a 3 hour drive to the San Luis Valley so we will try to carpool to limit the vehicles needed. We will meet at the barn on Friday and plan to leave nlt 5pm. We plan to be home Sunday afternoon and will send an update on timing that morning.

Please RSVP ASAP at this link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-48954919-penitente

For our April Court of Honor we will be doing a hot dog cookout!  The troop will provide dogs and toppings, please sign up for a salad/side or dessert at the link below. 

Time will be 6:30 to 8:30 as we have quite a few merit badges to give out.  Please have scouts to the church a little early if possible to help set up!

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-48880275-topdog

BSA Troop 287 voted for Philmont as the high-adventure for the summer of 2025. As such, we secured a reservation for 7/12 – 7/24/2025. We have a crew of 6 committed to this high-adventure opportunity and need 2 more to meet the minimum of 8. The maximum crew size is 12, so we have room to grow.

To recap, this high-adventure trip will cost $1,675 per person plus travel to/from Philmont. There is a financial agreement with payment schedule similar to previous adventure camp agreements.

If your scout is interested and able to commit, please use this SignUp Genius link to register. As the coordinator for this effort, I will schedule regular information and planning meetings.

Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-47987066-philmont

Please review the Philmont Scout Ranch website for more information about the camp itself: https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/

The crew will be led by Jason Holpuch and Shawn Hatch. 

The following Scouts have committed to this adventure:

1. Miles Kunke

2. Alex Winslow

3. Jefferson Holpuch

4. Noah Hatch

Join us! You’ll love it!

Please contact me if you have questions or concerns before registering.

Jean Kunkle

303.887.9881

You know what would be a great thing to do over this freezing cold weekend? Sit by the fire and finish up your Citizenship in Society merit badge workbook that I passed out to you a few weeks ago. Requirement #6 will be wrapped up at the meeting on Tuesday (1/16) when we have a presentation from Dave Pettigrew. He was in the infantry 2000-2004 and sustained an injury in Iraq (armor penetrating RPG in 2003). He is missing one leg but still skis and rock climbs. Should be an interesting and inspiring presentation!

See you Tuesday!

The winter campout this year is at Camp Alexander in heated bunkhouses!

When: Friday, 2/23/2024, leaving the barn by, and check out from Camp Alexander on Sunday, 2/25/2024 at Noon. More details on the sign up link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-46907560-camp#/

Troop,

We would like to get an idea of who is planning to attend the Scout Holiday Party next week. If attendance is low, we will need to reschedule in January. Please sign up below.

Thanks,

Axel

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-46916603-scout

We will meet at the barn at 7:00 am to caravan to Monarch. We plan to return to the barn by 5:00 pm. Please sign up as a driver and/or a scout at the link below.

DRIVERS: please state how many extra seats you have to help transport other scouts. Keep in mind that you will need room for each scout’s ski’s/snowboards, boots and poles.

SCOUTS: When registering a scout, please indicate if they are brining ski’s, snowboard, boots and poles or if they plan to rent equipment at the resort.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-46876931-monarch#/

This coming Tuesday (12/5), Ms. Janelle and I will be teaching the first part of this eagle required merit badge. Please take a moment to read over the requirements so that you can participate in discussion. We will be sending everyone home with a little “homework” but the majority of it will be completed in the meeting. Let me know if you have any questions.

It’s time for our annual Thanksgiving potluck!  Considering where the COH falls on the calendar, the committee has decided to make it a dessert only gathering this year.  

Have your scout make his favorite dessert!  Let’s see what the boys come up with!

Time: 7-8:30 We will have short ceremony first and then social time.

Please sign up to bring something here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-46188298-thanksgiving

This Tuesday (8/22), Court of Honor will begin promptly at 7 and ice cream and socializing will be after (hopefully outside). Many of you have already rsvp’d and signed up for a topping but if you haven’t yet, please do so at this link.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-icecream1

Tuesday, August 22nd. Court of Honor will begin promptly at 7 and ice cream and socializing will be after (hopefully outside). Please sign up to bring a topping.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-icecream1

Please bring a compass to scouts tomorrow if you have one. If you have more than one, please bring extra for anyone that doesn’t have one to bring.

-Alex

Hey scouts! For my Eagle Project I will be building a flag retirement box and I need all the help I can to assemble, paint, and configure the box. All who show up will get volunteer hours and food. I will have all of the tools, gloves, and other supplies at the location, however if you are attending please make sure to bring close toed shoes. There will be saws and other sharp tools involved. The goal by 2pm is to have the box completed and ready to install. 

 Date: 07/22/2023 (Sat.)

 Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM MDT

 Location: 2560 Stoneridge Dr. 80919

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050848a9a629a4fa7-marks#/

Hello troop,

We are back from Camp A and that means it’s time to do a game night! We will be having a water balloon fight at Wilson Ranch Park next to the church. Meet there at 7 like normal and bring a towel, water, swimsuit, and pre-filled water balloons (sign-up below.)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-water

See you there,

Miles

Hey scouts! For my Eagle Project I will be building a flag retirement box and I need all the help I can to assemble, paint, and configure the box. All who show up will get volunteer hours and food. I will have all of the tools, gloves, and other supplies at the location, however if you are attending please make sure to bring close toed shoes. There will be saws and other sharp tools involved. The goal by 2pm is to have the box completed and ready to install. 

 Date: 07/22/2023 (Sat.)

 Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM MDT

 Location: 2560 Stoneridge Dr. 80919

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050848a9a629a4fa7-marks#/

Greetings from Camp Alexander! 

All are well and having fun. Monday was a bit chaotic, with everyone learning their schedules. The boys definitely got their steps in, running around camp to their merit badge stations, flag ceremonies, and kitchen duty! Monday night was the opening camp fire, and the staff put on a great show. The boys went to bed tired and slept well. 

It’s Tuesday, and the boys have settled into the routine. We are seeing lots of smiles and memories being made. Will got to try out the water in the lake a bit earlier than scheduled, when he capsized his kayak unintentionally. He said the water is very nice. I saw Ben and Lucas on the lake today too, and they were having a blast! Parents, don’t be shocked when your son begs you to buy a kayak when they get home….

Troop 287 has also been very active in shooting sports. I sat in on the Rifle Merit Badge class yesterday, and I was incredibly impressed with the senior instructor Barry. He’s a grandfatherly gentleman that is very good with the boys. He’s strict and very safety-minded. By the end of the lesson, there was no confusion about the rules and procedures for shooting, and everyone got to shoot on day one. In the archery area, Miles and Alex have already shot the necessary score to earn their merit badges. 

Around camp, the kids do a lot of hammocking (hanging out, literally). I’ve setup a Badminton net… we’ll see how long it survives. The Trading Post (sugar shack) is a big hit too, and our campsite is right next to it (unfortunately…?)

Tuesday night was the “carnival night.” The kids got hamburgers, hotdogs, popcorn, and ice cream (Scoutmasters were treated to a steak dinner from the staff, and I could cut through most of the steak  ). We had a chance to mingle with other troop leaders, and heard many glowing comments about Camp A and the staff this year. I have to agree… this is far superior to last year. They are fully staffed with great folks, and they know what they’re doing. 

The boys are on shower cleaning duty now… building some character. If you have any questions or concerns about your son, please reach out. I can recieve and send texts intermittently through the day, and there is a lodge with wifi.

– Mike (and Matt)

Hello, Campers!

Hope you are getting excited and packed for scout camp.  We will plan to come home on Friday night as a troop and aim to leave Camp A after Family Night around 9:30pm. Please coordinate with Mr. Anderson and Mr. Hoekstra before departing so everyone is accounted for. 

See the carpool sign-up below and we still need a volunteer to bring back the troop trailer.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-getting

PACKING: Please double-check the packing list and remember to use a large plastic bin for all your belongings. Here are a few other things we suggest bringing:

– Camp Chair 

– Swim Goggles

– Snacks: Pack them in a large plastic ziplock with your name and Troop number on it. They will be stored locked in the trailer (cannot be stored in your tent). 

MEDICAL FORMS: We will need to correct any medical form errors on Sunday at the barn before departing. All forms must be correct, complete, and compiled into one document for Camp A. 

GETTING TO AND FROM CAMP:

– Meet at Barn at 1:30pm Sunday, 7/9 for a 2pm departure (see sign up below for carpooling)

– Scouts need to eat lunch beforehand, dinner at Camp A will be provided 

– Troop will check out Friday (7/14) around 9:30pm with a tentative pick-up time at the barn around 10:30pm. 

MORE CAMP SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Go to the Camp A website, click on “Program” and then “Camp A Leader’s Guide” which is full of helpful info and a daily schedule.

http://campalexanderbsa.org/summer-camp/program/

Camp -A-packing-listDownload

FAMILY NIGHT:

One of the highlights at Camp Alexander is Friday Family Night. Friends and family are welcome to join in the fun and spirit on Friday afternoon as the scouts participate in camp-wide events. At 5:15 PM the camp will have its final assembly, with Scouts dressed in full field uniform. Awards and rank recognitions will be presented at this time. Be sure to have cameras ready to capture the great moments.  Friday evening meal tickets are sold at the Business Office at $10 and must be purchased prior to dining.

There is no charge for the Scouts and leaders in attendance at camp during the week as the cost is already included in the camp fee. The closing campfire, performed by the Scouts, will begin at approximately 7:45 PM and should conclude by 9:30 PM.

THEME DAYS:

This is not mandatory of course, but many of the boys enjoy participating!

Monday – Crazy Sock Day – wear your favorite crazy sock(s)!

Tuesday – Camp T-Shirt Day – wear your favorite Camp Alexander t-shirt

Wednesday – OA Day – wear your OA sash with full field uniform

Thursday – Crazy Hat Day—wear a crazy hat!

Friday – Floral Fridays– wear your favorite floral shirt