Troop, we will be meeting at the church at 7:00 pm to complete some rank advancement. Bring your scoutbook and any extra items to complete your requirements. Older scouts can help newer scouts with requirements and adults will be on hand to sign off on them. You can also work on your merit badges. We will also have time for Scoutmaster conferences and some board members may be available for Boards of Review. Uniform will be Class A’s.

Upcoming Schedule:

20 Jan: Indoor rock climbing

27 Jan: Cyber Merit Badge

3 Feb: CPR training or patrol presentations

10 Feb: CPR training or patrol presentations

14 Feb: 2nd Saturday Rocketry at Challenger Middle School

17 Feb: Campout prep (winter gear relay), Meal prep

20-22 Feb: Mennonite Cabins campout, snowshoe

24 Feb: Game Night (Touch Football – adults vs scouts rematch)

1 Mar: Camp A ice climbing (13+)

3 Mar: Rock climbing class, meal prep

6-8 Mar: Shelf Road rock climbing campout

10 Mar: Game Night – Pickleball

14 Mar: 2nd Saturday Rocketry at Challenger Middle School

Week of 17 Mar: Service Project – Food Bank (this may move to a Saturday based on available times)

22-29 Mar: Sea Base

24 Mar: No meeting (Spring Break)

31 Mar: Guest Speaker (TBD)

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will meet at the church at 7:00 pm for some free play. Play some games inside or outside, while the adults and scout leadership plan out the next few months of meetings. Uniform is class B’s. You can also bring your scout books and knock out some rank or merit badge requirements. Also, if you haven’t turned in your Traffic Safety Merit Badge homework – bring it.

**Parents – Due to scheduling issues, the summer camp venue has changed to Camp A. The dates remain 21-27 June. Please have your scout inform me if they are going or text me directly so we can get accurate numbers for registration.

Upcoming events:

11 Jan: Scout ski day at Monarch Ski Resort

30 Jan: Tommy’s Express Car Wash fundraiser (Table set up from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm) to support our Sea Base crews.

20-22 Feb: Snow caves campout

6-8 Mar: Shelf Road rock climbing campout

Mr. Turner

Troop, here is an opportunity to recycle your Christmas tree and to let others know:

Do you have a Christmas Tree to dispose of? Boy Scout Troop 78 is conducting its 24th annual Christmas Tree Recycling program! They are collecting trees to use for mulch at the USAFA B-52 scout campsite to help control erosion.

Collection days are: Saturday January 3rd and 10th (9:00 am to 4:00 pm) and Sunday January 4th and 11th (9:00 am to 4:00 pm).

Drop off location is: Eagleview Middle School (1325 Vindicator Dr) on the west side.

Alternatively, if you would like to make a reservation for a pick up, please visit 78trees.net and complete the “Tree Pickup Reservation form”.

Donations are welcomed and greatly appreciated to help support Troop 78 scouts. Best wishes for a very Happy New Year

Troop, we will not have a meeting. The church kitchen is still under construction and we will not be able to have our Christmas cookie baking. Enjoy the time off and everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you next year!

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will be visiting the McCandless Veteran’s Home in Florence to bring some Christmas cheer to the veterans. Make sure you are wearing your best Class A uniform and meet at the church at 4:45 pm. We will leave promptly at 5:00 pm to ensure we get to the Home at 6:00 pm. If you are able, please make some Christmas cards for the veterans and we will pass them out. If each scout could make around 10 cards, we can ensure that everyone will get a Christmas card (they have 64 residents). We should be able to play games, read, and talk to veterans and enjoy their company. We will depart at 8:00 pm and be back to the church around 9:00 pm. This will also count toward service hours. So far we have 11 scouts signed up – let’s get everyone available to go and really show Troop 287 support for our veterans!

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will meet at the Wilson Ranch Park at 6:00 pm for some nighttime football. Wear Class B’s and plenty of layers for cooler weather. If you need a board of review, remember to bring your Class A’s and your scoutbook.

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will meet in the church at 7:00 where Mr. Griffiths will be teaching the Personal Fitness merit badge. Uniform is class A’s and remember to bring your worksheet. Adult leadership will also be planning the 2026 outings, including summer camp.

* Attention: Troop 21 has open slots (up to 8) for Philmont for 13-22 June. If you sign up, be prepared for some quick payments and remember you need to be 13 years old. We will make sure to plan around these dates, just in case.

** Just a reminder that when you are posting flags, that you should be in your class A uniform and remember to salute the flag after posting it.

Upcoming calendar:

24 Nov: Truck Transportation Merit Badge (9:00 am – 2:00 pm) at Fort Carson. Sign up on council website

25 Nov: Railroading Merit Badge (9:00 am – 2:00 pm) at Fort Carson. Sign up on council website

25 Nov: Turkey bowl (adults vs. scouts) touch football

2 Dec: Court of Honor

9 Dec: Veteran’s home visit (Bruce McCandless Veteran’s Home) 6:00-8:00

12-13 Dec: Lock-in at the church

16 Dec: Christmas baking fun

23 Dec: No meeting

30 Dec: No meeting

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will meet at the church at 7:00 and meal prep for the USAFA Scout Hut trip and then work on the Traffic Safety Merit Badge (remember to bring your worksheet). Wear Class A’s. The scout huts have a kitchen and a gas BBQ grill. We will play lots of board/card games, do some hiking, play some sports, and relax. There will also be plenty of time for rank advancement and working on merit badges. Remember to sign up! Also, if you are an adult and plan to go on the outing, be sure to go to the USAFA link on the sign up and register. This will allow you to get on the base.

**IMPORTANT – if you are going to Sea Base High Adventure Camp in March, we will be having a meeting at the church at 6:00. Also, if you are interested in Boy Scout High Adventure trips in the future, you are welcome to come and listen.

Thanks to everyone who made the last Flags event a success!

Upcoming schedule:

14-16 Nov: USAFA Scout Huts campout

18 Nov: TBD (possibly a merit badge); the court of honor was moved to 2 Dec.

25 Nov: Turkeybowl, scouts vs. adults

2 Dec: Court of Honor (Chilli cookoff)

9 Dec: Veteran’s home visit

12-13 Dec: Lock-in

16 Dec: Christmas baking fun

23 Dec: No meeting

30 Dec: No meeting

Mr. Turner

Troop, it’s game night and we will be playing whirlyball! Meet at 3971 Palmer Park Blvd, Colorado Springs at 7:00 pm. Cost will be $15 per person. Wear class B’s.

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will meet at the church at 7:00 pm and carve up some pumpkins! Remember to bring your gutted pumpkin and a design to carve. I will bring tape and carving tools. If you have carving tools, please bring them. Also, if you are able, please arrive a little early to help set up tables in the foyer. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little messy or wear a costume. I can also conduct any scoutmaster conferences or rank advancements. Prizes will be given out for the best pumpkin carving and best costume!

Upcoming events:

4 Nov: Game Night (laser tag)

8 Nov: Veteran’s Day Flags (meet at barn at 6:30 am)

11 Nov: Meal prep and Traffic Safety Merit Badge

14-16 Nov: USAFA Scout Huts Campout

18 Nov: Court of Honor

25 Nov: Turkey Bowl (adults vs. scouts)

Mr. Turner

Troop, In lieu of the canceled Dino March this weekend, we have arranged to go rock climbing. We will meet at the church at 7:00 am on Sunday and head out. We currently have 2 drivers, which can take up to 11 scouts. Other adult leaders and ASMs are encouraged to come as it will be a great time. We will stay local (within an hour drive). You don’t need any special equipment, unless you want to bring your own. Please dress for the weather, in layers, and bring water and a packed lunch. I should also be able to do some Scoutmaster conferences or rank advancement during the downtime.

Mr. Turner

Due to a lack of adult leadership for this weekend’s outing to Dino Death March, we will be canceling the trip.

For Tuesday, remember to bring a gutted pumpkin and a stencil or drawing of what you plan to carve. Also, remember to wear a costume if you want to. Where Class B’s as things can get a little messy. If you need to complete a Scoutmaster Conference, bring your class A’s and scout book.

Mr. Turner

Troop, this week we will meet at the church at 7:00 pm for meal prep (Dino Death March) and a service project. Wilson Community Church has asked for our help in making their playground safe and to meet city requirements. We will help spread mulch on the playground and give back to the church that graciously provides us with an awesome meeting place. Please bring head lamps and iron rakes (if you have them). Uniform will be Class B’s. If you have a Scoutmaster Conference, remember to bring your Class A’s.

Upcoming schedule:

25-27 Oct: Dino Death March outing – 10-15 mile hike to see amazing dinosaur tracks near the Purgatory River. Car camping at the trailhead. Sign-up genius coming soon.

28 Oct: Pumpkin carving and costume contest (bring a gutted pumpkin). Prizes will be giving for best carving and best costume

4 Nov: Game night – Laser Tag

11 Nov: Meal Prep and Traffic Safety Merit Badge

14-16 Nov: Campout at USAFA huts

18 Nov: Court of Honor

25 Nov: Scouts vs. Adults Turkey Bowl

Mr. Turner

Troop, times for Eagle Claw have been determined: Saturday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Uniform will be Class B’s (come prepared for the weather). Meet at the barn and remember to bring your scoutbook, the ten essentials, and a water bottle.

**Eagle Claw is a class led by a Camp Buffalo Bill counselor (Callin) – you will complete lots of rank requirements for the ranks of Scout all the way up to 1st Class (some requirements may need to be completed at home). Things like first aid, cooking, knots, hiking, orienteering, etc. This is an awesome opportunity that doesn’t come around very often. If your scout is not a 1st Class rank, it is highly encouraged that they attend these classes.

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will be conducting a moonlit hike to the top of Pulpit Rock. Meet at the Pulpit Rock trailhead at 7:00 pm. Bring some water and dress for some really cool weather. Parents can pick up their scouts at the trailhead around 8:30 pm. For any scout wishing to complete a scoutmaster conference, I will be at Discovery Park on Buckeye Dr on Tuesday from 5:00 – 6:30 pm (make sure you wear your class A’s) – first come, first served.

**Attention Camp Buffalo Bill attendees – Summer camp patches have finally arrived! I will bring an example to the hike so everyone can see, but we will present these at the November Court of Honor.

Upcoming schedule:

11-12 Oct: Eagle Claw at the barn (times TBD) – these classes will help you get most of the way to First Class rank

14 Oct: Scout planning for 2026 (this is where you will brainstorm ideas on what you want to do for monthly campouts next year, along with summer camp)

21 Oct: meal prep and Traffic Safety MB

24-26 Oct: Dino Death March – 10 mile round trip hike to see the dinosaur tracks along the Purgatory River near La Junta

28 Oct: Pumpkin Carving / Costume contest (prizes will be awarded for both) – each scout should bring a gutted pumpkin ready to carve

Mr. Turner

Troop, we will be conducting a Skills Round Robin event on Tuesday. Senior scouts will be teaching essential classes – knots, first aid, and backpacking/Fireman’s chit. If you are teaching a class, make sure to bring any necessary training aids.

Upcoming schdule:

7 Oct: Full moon hike (Pulpit Rock)

11-12 Oct: Eagle Claw (this is a awesome opportunity for newer scouts to rank up – we have a summer camp counselor coming to teach the classes, so don’t miss out!) Signup coming soon.

14 Oct: Scout planning for 2026 outings

21 Oct: Meal prep and Traffic Safety MB

24-26 Oct: Dino Death March – join us for some awesome hiking to dinosaur tracks on the Purgatory River near La Junta (car camping at the trailhead)

28 Oct: Pumpkin carving and costume contest

Mr. Turner

Troop, we are canceling the WWII Aviation Museum visit on Sep 27 due a lack of interest. We may try to reschedule it for a future date. See everyone on Tuesday.

Mr. Turner

Troop, this is the last call to sign-up for the WWII Aviation Museum visit this Saturday, 27 September at 10:00 am. We would ideally like to get 8-10 scouts to make it worthwhile. Please sign-up by Thursday. If we do not get enough scouts to sign up, we will cancel the visit. We will be doing the special tour that will show us behind the scenes on how they restore these historic planes.

Mr. Turner

Troop, this week is a game week! Congrats to all the scouts and adults that made the Blodgett Peak sunrise hike. We will meet at the barn at 6:00 pm and then walk over to the park and play some dodgeball! Uniform will be class B’s. Temperature’s are going to get a little chilly so be prepared with a hoodie if you need it and bring some water. We will play till dark or around 7:30. If you have agreements or initial payments for Sea Base, you can give them to me and I will pass them on to the treasurer later that evening. I look forward to seeing everyone there for some exciting games! Remember, if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball! We will also be having a new scout visit, so let’s welcome him to the troop and have some fun.

Upcoming Schedule:

27 Sep: WWII Aviation Museum visit

30 Sep: Skills round robin event

7 Oct: Full moon hike (Pulpit Rock)

14 Oct: Scout planning for 2026

21 Oct: Meal planning/Traffic Safety MB

24-26 Oct: Dino Death March campout

Mr. Turner

Troop, due to low interest in the September backpacking outing for this weekend, we have decided to cancel it. Instead, we will be doing a sunrise hike Saturday morning to the top of Blodgett Peak. We will meet at the Blodgett Peak Open Space off of W Woodmen Rd at 4:00 am sharp. Austin Petree will be joining us to lead the way. Sunrise is around 6:45 am. As the temperatures continues to get cooler, make sure you dress in layers. Remember to bring a headlamp and water and possibly a snack. We should be back to the trailhead no later than 8:00 am. The trail is about 6 miles round trip with about 2,300 feet of elevation gain. Also, if anyone is interested I will be heading to Rudy’s afterwards for some breakfast burritos.

Mr. Turner