Troop,

Due to weather, we will meet in the church tonight.

You as a Troop have expressed interest in planning and having our own Troop planned and run Summer Camp. Please bring ideas tonight so we can start preparing for the adventure of a lifetime.

Uniform is Class B and we will be working on rank advancement as well as SummerCamp 2023 Planning.

See you tonight!

Mr. Petree

Troop,

Our next campout will be a family campout and is scheduled for October 14^th – 16^th at Picket Wire Canyonlands in the Comanche National Grasslands just outside of La Junta, Colorado.

We will meet as a group at the barn on Friday, October 14^th at 5:00 pm to load up and head out from there.

We will be camping in the grasslands near the Withers Canyon Trailhead. This is just open land and there is no potable water or amenities and only one vault toilet.

Patrols will plan, camp, and cook together as normal like any car camping trip, but will also do a Saturday night dessert for the whole group.

Families are encouraged to attend and will need to supply their own gear and menus for the adventure.
Campers and RVs are welcome but note that there is a lot of unimproved dirt road driving and I would suggest smaller ones like a popup.

On Saturday we will day hike down the Withers Canyon Trail along the Purgatory River past the Dolores Mission to the Dinosaur tracks and have lunch, then return the same route. Round trip is an easy about 10 miles.

On Sunday we will depart at about 10:00 am and plan to be back at the barn at about noon.

Sign up at the link below. Please review all categories and sign up under all applicable slots.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-dino

This is from John:
We are cleaning out the scout closet from 9-11 tomorrow morning. I need to have a few scouts to help out. There will be DONUTS! I could really use some help. Please let me know if you are available by text.
208-596-3115
John Reiser

This message is from John Reiser. It has also been sent out on Discord:
Hi, I’m looking for some Scouts to help with organizing the scout closet at the church this Saturday the 24th. We will meet at 9am and will be done by 11am. I need this to make the next rank, you may need the service hours and the closet really needs to be organized. Let me know if you can make it or have any questions.
John
208-596-3115

Troop,

Sorry for the late notice. Being the first meeting after a campout….. IT”S GAME NIGHT!!!!

Our game night meeting 9/20/2022 will be held at SkyZone • 1750 E Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. We will be there from 6:30pm-8:00pm and the cost is $22.99 per participant for 90 minutes, or $18.99 per participant for 60 minutes if you cannot arrive until 7:00pm. Siblings (and adventurous parents) are welcome to attend. All participants must fill out a waiver at the link below prior to showing up or once they arrive. Attire for this function will be athletic clothing and Skyzone socks if you have them! If you don’t have socks they are required and available for $3 a pair.

https://www.skyzone.com/coloradosprings

Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. Prepare to have some fun and work up a sweat!

Mr. Petree

We have fishing, rock climbing, cooking challenge, and a service project planned for the scout campout next weekend. 10 scouts are already signed up but there is room for more!

Last call for sign ups, I will send the final head count to the scout patrol shoppers tonight.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4aacae2babfd0-bsatroop1

Thanks,

Jason Holpuch, ASM

Troop,

Being the first meeting of the month, it’s time for Uniform Inspections. You all earned a lot of stuff at the last Court of Honor. Come looking your best!

We will also be doing some campout prep and meal planning for the upcoming 11 Mile Canyon trip.

We should have some good weather. See you all tonight around the camp fire at the barn.

Mr. Petree

Please sign up if you plan to attend the campout. We will have the campout and meal planning session during the next scout meeting on Tuesday September 6th.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4aacae2babfd0-bsatroop1

More details below:

ASM Jason Holpuch here with some details on the upcoming campout 16th-18th at Riverside campground in 11 Mile Canyon.
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Lathrop

Riverside campground is about 40 miles West of COS, near Lage George and Camp Alexander.  
Directions:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Riverside+Campground/@38.9599928,-105.375114,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7400972470fa9dcf!8m2!3d38.9599928!4d-105.375114

I have 4 tent campsites reserved which will accommodate up to 32 people and 8 cars for the campout.  This is a federal campground with water spigots and pit toilets.  

This is a great spot right on the river to work on the Fishing MB and patrol style cooking.  We may also have a service project opportunity at Camp Alexander on Sunday morning.

I look forward to seeing you at the campout September 16th-18th! 

Thanks,

Jason Holpuch, ASM

Troop,

Following our outing it is time for a game night. The PLC has informed me that we will be holding a barn game night to consist of thing like ultimate frisbee, dodgeball, tag, hide and seek, and others. We will hold it at normal meeting time.

See you tomorrow night for some fun, games, and exercise.

Mr. Petree

We are coming to the end of flag season. I’m so grateful for the participation we have had this year. This flag program is our biggest fund raiser. We have room for a Scout/Parent sign up for this weekend. We are in need of one flag driver and two navigators. This program works best if a Scout and a Parent sign up together, then we are not short on drivers or navigators, but of course we want all boys to have a chance to do flags. Please consider signing up below to help us out this weekend. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5AF2BA1FEC52-flag

Troop,

We have received a few request for merit badges within the troop.

Below is a current listing of what members of our troop have to offer as far as MB selections: If you need contact information for those below listed couselors, please come to a meeting and coordinate with them directly, or ask Mr Petree or myself. I don’t think posting all that here is a good idea with all those Scam Likely people scanning the internet for scam vicitims is a good idea!

If there is a MB that you dont see on this list that you would like to do, let Mr Petree or another adult leader know and we can get you a list of registered and qualified counselors from around Council.

Remember, the first step sis to get approval to start a merit badge from Mr Petree. He will give you a blue card. You will make contact with a counselor, and demonstrate your knowledge/skills to them, the counselor will sign the blue card when they are satisfied with your stuff, then give you the card to turn back in to Mr. Petree. (if the troop hosts a MB class, it is a little different).

Jenine Winslow  
Astronomy
Enviro. Science**  
Mammal Study
Sustainability**  
Weather

Maureen Reiser
Communication**
Cooking**  
Dog Care
Emergency Prep.**  
First Aid**  
Pers. Fitness**  
Sports

Ray Petree  
Backpacking
Camping**
Emergency Prep.**  
Engineering  
Fishing  
Search and Rescue  
Wilderness Surv.

Dan McGuire  
Automotive Maint.  
Backpacking
Camping**
Emergency Prep.**  
First Aid**  
Hiking**  
Home Repairs  
Metalwork  
Pers. Fitness**
Public Speaking  
Wilderness Surv.  
Woodwork

Jason Holpuch  
Citizenship in Society**
Cycling**
Digital Tech
Electricity  
Electronics  
Energy  
Engineering  
Fishing  
Personal Mgmt.**  
Programming  
Snow Sports  
Woodwork

Matthew Hoekstra  
Cit. in Nation**
Cit. in World**
Motorboating
Public Speaking  
Safety  
Small-Boat Sailing

Michael Anderson  
Cit. in Comm.**
Cit. in Nation**  
Cit. in World**
Climbing  
Communication**  
Electronics  
Engineering  
Family Life**
Hiking **
Inventing  
Photography  
Robotics

Janelle Anderson  
Art
Athletics  
Cooking**
Emergency Prep.**
Home Repairs  
Nature  
Painting  
Pets  
Pulp and Paper  
Reading  
Snow Sports

**Eagle Required

Troop,
Just wanted to send out a reminder for this weekends backpacking trip.
The plan is as follows Friday 8/26/22 4:30pm meetup/ 5:00pm departure to Sunday 8/28/22 return about noon give or take.

Please print off and complete a permission slip for your scout and bring it with you to turn in tomorrow when we meet up. Remember Class A uniforms for travel.

We still need a few drivers. Please sign up below with comments on how many seats you have available for scouts .

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-squirrel

Patrol shoppers ( Austin, Orion, and Ben) should arrive tomorrow with the food portioned out per person for the weekend so we can hand each scout their rations to add to their packs. Adults we are on our own.

We are looking to start near the Davenport Campground located at the end of Forest Service Road 382. From there we will head out northwest to perform the hike in a clockwise direction and plan to host two skill levels of loops. We will start and finish together as a troop but will split out along the way.

The red loop is just a little over 7.5 miles / 2034 ft elevation gain.
The green loop follows the beginning and the end of the red loop, but will continue further southeast making it a little over 14 miles / 3612 ft elevation gain.

The Troop will supply tents, JetBoil stoves/Fuel, and water filters. Scouts will be responsible for their 10 essentials and all other personal gear.
Following the completion of the hike on Sunday we will all head over to Bishop’s Castle for about an hour or so and explore this monument.

Troop,

Tonight is the night! We will gather to recognize all of the accomplishments of the past 3 months. It’s been a busy one!

Please attend in your finest Class A uniform, Merit Badge Sash, Scout Pants, etc.
Arrowmen (Order of the Arrow members), please bring your sashes, but wear your Merit Badge Sash.

Any Scouts that can come a little early… like 5:30 pm to help set up will be appreciated.

Ice Cream Social starts at 6:00 pm. Bring your family!

We will start awards at about 6:30 pm…. and there are a bunch!

See you tonight!

Mr. Petree

Please RSVP as soon as possible so we know how much ice cream to purchase!

When: August 23rd @ 5:30

Where: Wilson Church

Please RSVP and choose something fun to bring.

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

Troop,

This is a reminder that if you are planning on joining us on the upcoming backpacking trip you need to sign up at the following link.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-squirrel

It is important for pre-planning purposes to have an accurate headcount so we can appropriately shop for food and ready enough troop gear. Signups close on Friday 8/19, but it would be helpful to have a good headcount at tomorrow night’s meeting.

As of now, we have 11 signed up for the full loop and 2 signed up for the half loop. We need experienced/trained adults to sign up for the half loop if it is to be supported.

Remember, the Troop will provide tents and Jetboil Stoves/Fuel. The rest of the gear is individual responsibility. The troop does have a few backpacks and sleeping bags we are happy to loan out if needed.

After the trek we will be heading over to Bishop’s Castle to explore. If you never have seen it, it’s quite the sight.

It’s going to be a great time! Jump on board!

Mr. Petree

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4AACAE2BABFD0-personal

Hi Scouts,

Sign up here for troop 287 scouts interested in starting the Personal Management Merit Badge.  This is an eagle required badge that requires a lot of work and research on saving/investing and also on time management.  We will do a break out initial MB session during the troop meeting on Tuesday 8/16. 

You will need to buy or print a copy of the Personal Management MP pamphlet.  

You will also need to track your progress on the Worksheet (I have printed copies of the worksheet)

http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/personal-management.pdf

Jason Holpuch, ASM

Congratulations to our new Candidates elected last night for eligibility to join Scoutings Honor Society!

Austin Petree
Jefferson Holpuch
Miles Kunkle
John Reiser

You young men have been identified by your peers as being worthy of having the opportunity to join the Order of the Arrow. In order to be inducted into Scoutings Honor Society, you must undergo and pass an Ordeal. The Ordeal will be held Friday, August 19, 2022 at 6:00pm to Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 9:30pm at Camp Alexander.

Please register for the OA Fall Fellowship Weekend at the link below on the Pathway to the Rockies Council Calendar. (Click on “Council Calender” not “Pathway to the Rockies Council”)

While we will not discuss the Ordeal, what I will tell you is you need to arrive packed to camp overnight for the duration and should eat a good dinner before you arrive. Make sure you bring your best Class A uniform and appropriate outdoor footwear for this event.

This is not a Troop 287 event and you will need to pack your own gear (10 essentials) and secure your own transportation.

W.W.W
Mr. Petree
Brotherhood Member, OA

Troop,

I am back…. Yes this is your SPL.

It time for the OA elections, So I hope to see many of you tonight to support those eligible. The Buffalo Mountain Lodge sending is over some representatives to talk to us about the Order of the Arrow and then hold an election.

Tonight we will also be doing some campout preparations for our upcoming backpacking trip. Remember to sign up if your interested the link is in the signups drop down on the website, sign ups close 8/19.

Austin Petree
Senior Patrol Leader

When: August 23rd @ 5:30

Where: Wilson Church

Please RSVP and choose something fun to bring.

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

Troop,

The Buffalo Mountain Lodge of the Order of the Arrow will be at our next meeting to speak with us about the OA and hold re-election.

Following summer camp. They felt it was best to attend a Troop 287 meeting and provide more information about the Order of the Arrow and hold a more official style election. You guys have already cast your votes and I expect the same results when you have the opportunity to do it again.

Please come in full Class A uniform and be ready to re-vote the 4 Candidates you previously elected.

In order for the election to be valid we need to have the majority of the Troop present, so please support the Candidates you selected and be there. We need everyone to attend this meeting.

If you meet the requirements and are elected to be a Candidate, the Ordeal is scheduled to take place August 19-20 at Camp Alexander and you can register following the election at the link below to the Pathway to the Rockies calendar and click on the OA Fall Fellowship Weekend event to register.