Troop,

This week, the BSA swim test will be held with Matt Hoekstra at the Southeast YMCA (2190 Jet Wing Dr) from 6:00-8:00pm. Please bring your swim trunks, towel, and flippies. Cost is $10.00 for scouts and $15.00 for parents. Mr. James Zsoka will be in charge. Please do your best to attend and get your scout qualified for summer camp, and water adventures in general. Also, the Sand Dunes campout is this coming weekend (signup genius is posted), so please sign up ASAP if you plan to attend. You can sled down the hills or bring a chair and sit in the middle of the stream. As of now we have 4 adult drivers and 8 scouts attending.

Camp cards are due this Tuesday – please turn in all money and unsold cards to Miss Maureen.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

May 16-18 – Great Sand Dunes campout (the Medano Creek should be running!)

May 20 – Game Night (Outside TBD) & Buffalo Bill summer camp meeting #1 – summer camp parents, please attend so we can review some summer camp details. (I had to reschedule due to an illness).

Make sure you have completed the medical form and then turn them into JC Kundert.

Scout Youth Leaders – we will do a knot meeting on 21 May to schedule out a little further.

Mr. Turner

Troop,

We will be meeting to plan and meal prep for the May campout to the Great Sand Dunes! Nathan will also be giving a class on packing for a campout and what to do and not do on the campout. Try to get creative with your meal selections and some of the new scouts should step up and help with buying the food and cooking. The earlier you get in there and try, the easier it will get.

Upcoming Schedule

May 12 – Scout Leadership Knot Meeting (6:30 pm)

May 13 – Swimming test, Buffalo Bill Summer Camp Meeting – summer camp parents please attend so we can review some summer camp details.

May 16-18 – Great Sand Dunes campout (the Medano Creek should be running!)

May 20 – Game Night (TBD)

Mr. Turner

Troop,

Tuesday is game night! We will introduce our newest scouts to the awesome sport of ultimate cabbage! Meet at the barn at 7:00 pm and we will walk over to Wilson Ranch Park. Make sure to wear your troop hoodie or another hoodie (no class A’s) as the temps should be around mid 40s to low 50s. We should have daylight till around 8:10 and we will head back to the barn for closing. I will bring the cabbages and penny jerseys.

Upcoming schedule:

May 4 – Jefferson’s court of honor

May 6 – prepping for Sand Dunes Campout

May 13 – Swimming test & Buffalo Bill Summer Camp meeting #1

May 16-18 – Great Sand Dunes Campout

May 20 – Game night (TBD)

May 26 – Memorial Day Flags

Mr. Turner

Sleeping bag/pillow/sleeping pad

Mess Kit (plate,cup,bowl, spork)/water bottle

Scout 10 essentials

Bike/helmet/sunglasses/good shoes

Clothes for 3 days/2 nights (minimize cotton), dress in layers (be prepared for lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s), light jacket, beanie, gloves

Small daypack for lunch/water and extra gear

camp chair

Extra personal gear, snacks

Bike repair kit, tools, pump if you have them

Any personal medication

Scout book to work on rank

Ball/cards for evening games

Flashlight or headlamp

Hygiene kit

Hand sanitizer/sanitizing wipes

Troop,

This week we will meet at the church to do trip and meal prep for the mountain biking campout this weekend at Fruita. There will also be a bike inspection, so make sure to bring the bike you will use if you are going on the campout – some of the adults will be able check the basics and make sure you are ready to go.

Here is the link to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B49A9AB2CA0F49-56383787-troop

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

25-27 April – Fruita Mountain Biking Campout 

29 April – game night (TBD)

4 May – Jefferson’s Eagle Court of Honor

https://evite.me/JeffersonCHolpuchCOHTroop287

13 May – Swim Test at Southwest YMCA, 6:00 pm, $15.00 adults and $10.00 youths

Mr. Turner

Troop, Make sure you sign up as we honor Jefferson earning his Eagle rank. The Court of Honor will take place on Sunday, May 4th at 2:30 pm at the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (7400 Tudor Rd, Colorado Springs, CO). Use the link below to access the invitation.

https://evite.me/JeffersonCHolpuchCOHTroop287

Hope to see everyone there!

Mr. Turner

Troop,

Use the Sign-Up Genius below to sign up for an awesome weekend of mountain biking 25-27 April in Fruita, CO. Please sign up by this Tuesday, April 22 so we have an accurate count.

Adults, we need drivers! Please sign up on the link below and comment if you are able to drive, how many scouts you can take AND how many bikes you can fit in your vehicle. Thanks!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B49A9AB2CA0F49-56383787-troop

Mr. Turner

April Court of Honor and BBQ

Troop,

This week we will have our Court of Honor with a catered BBQ! Dinner will begin at 6:00 pm at the church. If you are able to help with set-up, please arrive at 5:30. The Court of Honor ceremony will immediately follow. Please remember to bring your side dish/dessert if you signed up. Make sure to wear your full Class A uniform.

Eagle Scouts, remember to post your project pictures!

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

22 April – Campout prep, bike inspections

25-27 April – Fruita Mountain Biking Campout (sign-up coming this week)

29 April – game night (TBD)

Mr. Turner

We will be meeting at the regular time of 7:00 pm at the church.

ASM Austin Petree

This weather am I right!?!

Due to the weather, youth and adult leaders have decided to postpone our “Ute Valley bike night” and have instead decided that we will meet in the church as usual. 

The plan is to do a little bit of Rank Advancement for those who need it and play some team building games. If you know any good team building activities let us know, and come prepared with any supplies you might need

We will also be discussing YOUR interests in scouting so we can better plan our meetings and campouts to fit your needs, so take a look in your scout book and find a couple merit badges or activities you would be interested in.

Thank you for your flexibility, 

-ASM Petree

Troop 287,

This week we will conduct a shakedown bike ride at Ute Valley Park in preparation for the April campout- Fruita Mountain Biking! We will meet at the church (bring your bikes) at 6:30 and bike over to Ute Valley. Bring your helmets, bike lights, and headlamps. We will return to the church around 8:00.

Upcoming calendar:

8 April – Scoutmaster Conferences/Boards of Review, rank advancement, games

15 April – Spring Court of Honor

22 April – Campout prep, bike inspections

25-27 April – Fruita Mountain Biking campout

29 April – game night (TBD)

Mr. Turner

Troop,

This week we will be doing meal and trip prep for the Rock Climbing Campout in Canyon City. After that, we will be playing some climbing games and competitions. If you are going on the campout, make sure to dress appropriately and bring warm clothes.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

14-16 Mar – Rock Climbing Camp out (Canyon City): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-55612718-caon

18 Mar – Game Night (Bowling)

25 Mar – Spring Break (no meeting)

**Don’t forget, the next Court of Honor is 15 April: so if you are working toward a rank advancement, make sure you get your ScoutMaster Conferences done on 1 April and your Boards of Review done on 8 April. Don’t wait until the last minute……Be Prepared!

**Also, Scout leadership: tentative PLC meeting will be 17 March at 6:30.

Mr. Turner

Troop,

The campout for March is quickly approaching. We have locked in a camp location down in Canyon City/Penrose and will be camping from the 15th to the 16th. We will meet at the barn at 1:00 pm on Saturday and drive down and set up. Rock climbing will be all day Sunday at a local site and we will return to the barn around 5:00 pm on Sunday. The Troop has plenty of climbing gear, but if you want to bring your own that will work too. Camp out prep will take place at Tuesday’s meeting. Remember, it’s still technically winter so dress appropriately and bring warm clothes. This is also “car camping” so you can bring extra items if needed. Scouts and adults signup using the signup genius below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-55612718-caon

** Summer Camp update: Our roster is finalized and I have everyone’s email address and will be sending out the summer camp guide. Some things to start thinking about: completing medical forms/physicals and completing a swim test (start practicing).

Mr. Turner

Troop, 

This week, we will be doing Rank Advancement, with senior scouts assisting the younger scouts with the Scout rank.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

11 Mar – Camp out prep with some climbing games/competitions

14-16 Mar – Rock Climbing Camp out (Canyon City)

18 Mar – Game Night (Bowling)

25 Mar – Spring Break (no meeting)

**Don’t forget, the next Court of Honor is 15 April: so if you are working toward a rank advancement, make sure you get your ScoutMaster Conferences done on 1 April and your Boards of Review done on 8 April. Don’t wait until the last minute……Be Prepared!

**Also, Scout leadership: tentative PLC meeting will be 17 March at 6:30.

Mr. Turner

Please join us in celebrating Austin as he is awarded Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout. The ceremony will be held at the Historic Flying W Ranch on April 10th 2025 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Cake and refreshments will be served at the reception immediately following the ceremony. Flying W Ranch is located at 3330 Chuckwagon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

Please RSVP at the following link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-55494397-austins

Mr. Turner

Troop 287,

We will meet at Ute Valley to hike or snowshoe (most likely hike). Meet at the Eagleview middle school parking lot off of Vindicator at 7:00. Mr. Austin Petree and/or Mr. Zsoka will bring some chemlights for fun. Make sure you bring a flashlight or headlamp and dress appropriately. The hike will be around 3 miles.

If you still plan to attend summer camp at Camp Buffalo Bill – the most important thing right now is to make sure to sign your agreement and get it to Betsy Douglass today (betsydouglass.bsa@gmail.com). We need to have a good count of who’s going so we can lock in and reserve our dates with the camp on Monday.

Mr. Turner

Troop 287,

Tomorrow’s meeting we will focus on rock climbing in preparation for the March camp out. We will have a slideshow showing our rock climbing adventures over the last two years. Austin will conduct a rock climbing demonstration with the help of Mr. Anderson and/or Axel. If time permits we will conduct rank advancement and/or some more fun games.

**The final sign-up genius for summer camp has been sent out along with a summer camp agreement form. Please sign up again before Friday, 21 February, to confirm you can still attend Camp Buffalo Bill in Wyoming from 7-13 June. Also, complete and sign the agreement and email to Betsy or Mr. Turner or bring a hard copy to our meetings. If you haven’t received either message, please let us know. I will also be bringing hard copy agreement forms to tomorrow’s meeting.**

Upcoming schedule

25 Feb – chemlite hike/snowshoe Ute Valley

4 Mar – Scout rank advancement with Senior Scout mentors

11 Mar – Camp out prep with some climbing games/competitions

14-16 Mar – Rock Climbing Camp out (Canyon City)

18 Mar – Game Night (Bowling)

25 Mar – Spring Break (no meeting)

Mr. Turner

Troop 287,

We had a great response to the summer camp post last week. Camp Buffalo Bill in Wyoming won by a slim margin. Please use the sign up genius below to confirm you will be able to join us at summer camp from 7-13 June. The troop will also be sending out summer camp agreement letters and bringing a stack of them to tomorrow’s meeting for each Scout and adult to sign. Please sign up and get your agreement signed by this Friday so we can reserve out slot!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAD2DA1FCCF8-55175314-summer

Mr. Turner

Troop,

On Thursday, 13 February Pack 166 will hold a bridging ceremony at St. Michael’s Church, 7400 Tudor Rd from 6:00-7:30 pm. Three Cub Scouts will be bridging over to Troop 287!

Isaac Thesing

Knox Reed

Sawyer Tonge

On Saturday, 15 February Pack 62 will hold a bridging ceremony at Sunrise United Methodist Church, 2655 Briargate Blvd from 4:00-6:00 pm. One Cub Scout will be bridging over to Troop 287!

Eddie Peterson

If you plan to attend, please were your Class A’s. Come out in force and let’s show the Cub Scouts how to represent and welcome our newest members!

Mr. Turner

Troop,

This week some scouts will be conducting classes to teach new scouts and refresh older scouts on some basic scouting skills. Make sure you arrive early to set up if you are one of the scouts presenting.

Knots: Nathan

First Aid: Rudra

Clothing/Packing: Liam

Team Building: Austin

We will also be welcoming Patrick Kundert to the troop. He had his bridging ceremony on Sunday and will be joining us tomorrow. There are two additional bridging ceremonies this week: Thursday 6:00-7:30 pm at St Michaels Church for Isaac Thesing and Saturday 4:00-6:00 pm at Sunrise United Methodist Church for Eddie Peterson. The troop would like to represent at these ceremonies with some younger and older scouts, so if you are available let your leadership know.

Mr. Turner