Troop 287,

Due to most of the districts starting school this week we will not have a meeting on Tuesday. Our next meeting will be Tuesday the 22nd where we will be focusing on our Pikes Peak Ascent Preparations. A separate post for that campout to follow.

Welcome back to school!!

Hello,

I’m am going to send the packing list and plan for the Pikes Peak Ascent and overnighter tonight. So far this is the list of adults and scouts signed up on the trip.  I have already paid for the Barr Camp lodging/Food and the ride down on the train so those on this list are responsible for the cost. I believe cost per adults is $68 and the cost per scout is $58. This is the $43 for the camping at Barr Camp which includes dinner and breakfast and the ride down on the train ($15 per scout, $25 per adult).

I have one additional Adult and one Additional Scout that would like to attend. If you would like to back out of this trip…the first adult and scout that contacts me will get their slot and will not have to pay.  Otherwise I will add them to the trip.

I will send a follow up post of the packing list, link up times/locations, and complete plan over the next couple of days.

Adults

Floyd S

Sean W

Paul D

Sandy J

Ted J

Julie C

Ryan C

Scouts

Scouts & Families,

Just a reminder that our August Court of Honor is this Tuesday, August 8th @ 6:00pm! August COH is our ice cream social to celebrate all of the Scouts’ accomplishments and a fun way to end the summer!

The Troop will provide the ice cream! Scouts, please  bring your favorite topping to share! We’ll be enjoying our ice cream outside (hopefully the weather will be good for us)  so bring picnic blankets or camp chairs to sit outside!

It’s going to be a great time with lots of awards! We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Sandy J

Committee Chairperson

Here is the link to summer camp photos….

https://goo.gl/photos/L4hrDA45EAjGNELA9

Sorry for the delay! Here you go! I might have some more too. I’ll post them as I find them.

Sean

Hello,

I’m doing awards this time around until we get a new Advancement Chair. Please confirm these are correct with your scout asap.  If yes, no action needed. If no, please text me at 719.648.6798

Sean

Rank Avancements:
Lance W – Star

Cody P – Second Class

Marquel E – Tenderfoot

Jacob J – Scout

Merit Badges:

Cooking

Lance W

Ignacio H

Daniel D

Avery B

Anders C

Preston S

Cody P

Evan R

Devyn L.

Canoeing 

Evan R

Cody P

Ignacio H

Michael C

Inventing 

Daniel D

Environmental Science

Lance W

Michael C

Devyn L.

Ignacio H.

Evan R.

Daniel D.

Jack D.

Nuclear Science

Ignacio H

Daniel D

Wilderness Survival

Michael C.

Preston S.

Rhett B.

Cody P.

Avery B.

Rifle Shooting

Preston S

Rhett B

Avery B. (Still need to get another couple of shot groups)

Climbing

Jude W.

Marquel E (from City Rock)

Preston S (from City Rock)

Movie Making

Lance W.

Devyn L.

Communication 

Devyn L (Still needs requirement 7a or 7b or 7c)

Lance W. (Still needs requirement 7a or 7b or 7c)

Jack D. (Still needs requirement 7a or 7b or 7c)

Search and Rescue 

Cody P. (Still needs requirements 4 and 6.a)

Jude W. (Still needs requirements 4 and 6.a)

Avery B. (Still needs requirements 4 and 6.a)

Rhett B. (Still needs requirements 4 and 6.a)

Preston S. (Still needs requirements 4 and 6.a)

Space Exploration

Jack D.

Engineering

Daniel D.

Jack D.

Evan R.

Live Saving

Jude W. (Still needs requirements 6, 15.a, and 15.b.)

Family Life

Josh J.

Emergency Prep

Josh J.

Other Summer Camp Patches

Ironman – Mark P

10k Bike – Ignacio, Mark P, Daniel D, Jude W,

Polar Plunge – Jacob J, Mark P, Riley C, Michael C. Ignacio H

5K Run (They didn’t give patches for this one)

Summer Camp Patch – All Summer Campers

Hi folks,

Here is a list of positions available within the troop. We are going to ask for Volunteers at the next COH on the 8th. These positions are very important and currently we have some people doing 2-4 of them and its gets a little overwhelming. Please help out if you can!

Please let Sandy or I know if you can fill any of these positions

Sean

Scoutmaster:

Current Volunteer – Sean W

Frequency – Weekly

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the safe and educational execution of scout activities and events
• Leads weekly troop meetings
• Leads annual planning meeting
• Conducts scout master conferences in conjunction with BSA guidelines
• Liaison with District Council on Scouting Program
• Ensures troop elections occur bi-annually
• Supports Senior Patrol Leader and other scout leaders in the operation of troop meetings and activities
• Works with Troop Committee Chair to ensure operational efficiency of troop business activities
• Liaison with local Cub Scout Packs
• Coordinates with Assistant Scoutmasters recruitment efforts for Webelos crossing over to troop
• Works with Troop Committee Chair in welcoming new scout families to the troop
• Supervises Assistant Scoutmasters in day-to-day troop activities

Assistant Scoutmaster:

Current Volunteer – Jim B, Paul D, Ryan B, Blake M, Floyd S

Frequency – Weekly

Responsibilities

• Assist Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader in running troop meetings
• Assist scouts with advancement
• Assists and participates in monthly campouts, summer camp, service projects

Committee Chair:

Current Volunteer – Sandy J ( Need Replacement in December)

Frequency – Weekly

Responsibilities

• Recruits for and fills all Committee positions
• Chairs monthly Troop Committee meeting
• Interprets national and local policies to the troop
• Liaison with church sponsoring organization and District Council
• Works with Scoutmaster to support scouting program
• Assists Scoutmaster in resolving disciplinary problems or personal conflicts
• Oversees all committee member positions

Charter Organization Representative:

Current Volunteer – Tom S

Frequency – Weekly

Responsibilities

• Serves as direct contact between troop and Charter Organization (church)
• Solicits the church for potential service projects and communicates to Scoutmaster

 Adult Quartermaster:

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Monthly

Responsibilities

• Ensures that troop gear is properly maintained and inventories
• Propose new equipment needs to Troop Committee

Treasurer:

Current Volunteer – Danny and Pam R

Frequency – Weekly

Responsibilities

• Handles all troop financial activity
• Reconciles troop bank account
• Prepares monthly report for Troop Committee meeting
• Tracks and reports scout account activity
• Supports other committee members with their duties as it relates to finances

Secretary:

Current Volunteer – Sandy D

Frequency – Monthly

Responsibilities

• Prepares minutes at Troop Committee meeting and sends to all parents

Outdoor Coordinator:

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Monthly

Responsibilities

• Manages logistics for troop outings and activities to include
• Securing camp site reservations
• Coordinating transportation
• Assists Scoutmasters with attendance and tracking of scout participation
• Secures tour permits for all troop activities
• Obtains permissions slips for all activities

Summer Camp Coordinator:

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Once a year

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Scouting District that boys will be attending to include reservations, payment
• Track scout participation and work with Treasurer on scout payment
• Notification to parents of appropriate forms required including physicals
• Assist scouts with merit badge and rank advancement class registration
• Arrange transportation to and from camp
• Liaison between attending scoutmasters and parents should a need for communication arise

Popcorn Kernel:

Current Volunteer – OPEN (We need this right now!)

Frequency – Once a year

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the Troop popcorn fundraising event to include
  • Communication of participation sheets
  • Collecting orders and money
  • Submitting orders to Council
  • Coordinating popcorn pickup and delivery to scouts.

Flag Program Coordinator:

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Five times a year. Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4^th, Labor Day, Veterans Day

Responsibilities

• Liaison between troop and Rotary Club organizer
• Solicits participation from scouts and parents
• Organizes routes for scouts
• Communicates participation to Treasurer for credit to scout accounts
• Assists Flag Program Operations Lead on days of program if needed.

Flag Program Operations:

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Five times a year. Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4^th, Labor Day, Veterans Day

Responsibilities

• Ensures barn is open and ready for scouts & parents on day of activity
• Ensures barn is locked at the end of the day
• Ensures all buckets have appropriate supplies, i.e. duct tape, pliers, PVC caps.
• Assists Flag Program Coordinator as needed

Advancement Chair

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Monthly

Responsibilities

• Maintains scout advancement records via Scout Handbook (cloud based)
• Submits all advancement data to council
• Orders/pick up/package Scout recognition awards for Court of Honor
• Coordinates scout shop account balance with Troop Treasurer and Council
• Trains committee members on how to conduct Scout board of reviews

Troop Charter Coordinator:

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Once a year

Responsibilities

• Updates Troop Roster for contact information, adds new scout families when necessary
• Prepares and submits annual charter
• Assist Treasurer with collection of dues and registration fees

Webmaster:

Current Volunteer – Ryan B

Frequency – As Needed

Responsibilities

• Maintains the troop’s website
• Works with Scoutmaster and Committee Chair on event notifications

Records Coordinator/Historian:

Current Volunteer – OPEN

Frequency – Monthly

Responsibilities

• Maintains file of frequently used forms
• Keeper of the troop policies and operations manual
• Maintains list of all material available for use

Folks,

First, I’m sorry to say that due to the canoe rental requirements I had to make the call to postpone the canoe trip today so we do not loose the deposit on the Canoes if we can’t go tomorrow because we don’t have two adults.  It summer and a lot of people have plans and I know that two adults are not always available.  I also understand that my posts are only a week out or sometimes a little less but please refer to the calendar on the website to see all the future campouts. However, to remedy this for future campouts I’m going to have a leaders meeting and I hope we can hash out  adult participation at campouts in advance.  Since we are going to Climb Pikes Peak next month, I move the canoe outing in Pueblo to September….which might be nicer anyway because it won’t be so hot. I am looking at Sep 15 weekend for the canoe trip

Tuesday’s meeting Agenda:

• We will have the committee meeting starting at 7pm. All committee members and all parents are always encouraged to attend.
• This is our last meeting before the 8 August Court of Honor.  All scouts that need Scout Master Conferences and Board of Reviews please attend. This means we need max ASM and Committee member participation at this meeting.
• I have a lot of Merit Badges to submit for summer camp. If you have completed any please turn them in at this meeting. Those that did their final cooking on the camp stove will receive their cooking merit badge.
• We also need to do elections for new leadership positions so it will be a busy night!  Here is the guidance: SPL and ASPL – First Class Rank or higher, Patrol Leaders – Second Class Rank or higher,  Bugler, Chaplain’s aide, Quartermaster, etc. Tenderfoot or higher.  Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis.
• The Court of Honor will be on Aug 8th at 6pm!  Lets get as many scouts as possible to the SMC to get promoted!

Thanks

Sean

Hello,

I still have this weekend’s campout planned as a go. Right now there are 4 scouts signed up and I am the only adult leader.  There has to be at least two adult leader’s to go. Please sign up today if you can go.

Also, I was made aware that the rattlesnake risk at Pueblo Reservoir might be higher than normal.  I don’t say this to scare anyone off but its important to know.   I’ve left messages with the camp rangers trying to get an update on the situation.  I am still willing to go and feel its safe as long as we know they are out there and what areas to avoid.

I also want to make sure everyone knows about calendar at the top of the website.  All these campouts have been planned throughout the year up through Aug 2017 and are posted there.  I will send posts as updates but please use that calendar as a tool to see and plan for upcoming events.  Occasionally we might make a change but the dates and activity normally stay the same.

Thanks

Sean

Hi Troop,

Here is the link to sign up for Labor Day Flags!  For both the morning and afternoon, we are looking for 5 Drivers, 5 Navigators, and 10 Scouts.  If we can get these numbers then we can keep 5 routes which makes it a lot easier for everyone.

Remember this program keeps the troops and scouts funded and we could really use everyones help!!

Here is the link on Sign-Up Genius:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-labor

Thanks
Sean

Hi folks,

This weeks campout will be canoeing at Pueblo Reservoir!

Its a short drive from Colorado Springs and its easy car camping.  Right now I have two sites reserved that can hold 12 campers.  I can another site if more sign up.  The cost per scout will be $25 per scout.  This fee covers the cost of food, campsites, sunscreen, bug spray and cooking stuff for the scouts. The $160 rental fee for canoes are being paid for by the troop which was earned through FLAG MONEY!!  This is another reason why flags are so important! The next flag sign up will be coming out soon so please support the program.

Please sign up on Sign Up Genius at the below link:

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

For this Tuesday’s meeting we will decide meal plans and who is buying and preparing food.  We will also prepare our troop gear.

If you took home a tent to dry out from the Terryall Campout then please bring it back as we will need it!!

Here is a good link to a basic packing list: http://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6976/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist/ 

Please make sure you have a bathing suit or two and towel. We will be in the water a lot and sunburn is a risk so hats and swim shirts are a good idea. Shoes that you can get wet in will help protect your feet.  You can also bring goggles or a swim mask/fins if you’d like because I’m sure we will get some play time in the water too 🙂

I would also like to use this opportunity to conduct Scout Master Conferences during the campout to get some scouts promoted!

Thanks

Sean

Folks,

I hope everyone had a great Independence Day!!  Thank you for all of you that helped with flags.  The neighborhood does really appreciate your service!!

This Tuesday we are going to have a committee meeting and a parent meeting to discuss the way forward as well as upcoming trips.

Scouts bring in your handbooks and dress in Class A’s so we can catch up on signing achievements and have a Uniform inspection.

Thanks

Sean

Just a reminder to those signed up to do flags tomorrow for 4th of July – arrival times for the routes are as follows….

AM route – arrival @ 5:30 am to load flags & start by 6:00 am

PM route – arrival @ 5:00pm and start as soon as all your crew has arrived

Please remember not to lock the barn after the morning routes so that those starting in the evening can get in to get the buckets and no one has to wait for me to get there.

Thank you for all you do! See you bright & early!

Sandy

We are good to go for Flags! As of Sunday evening, we have enough Scouts and family members for 4 routes in the morning and the evening! It takes awhile to recreate the routes and I do not want to wait until the last minute to get the info out. Therefore, I am asking that no one else sign up for this holiday. Don’t worry, we have two more holidays later in the year that we will still need help with if you haven’t had a chance to do flags! Thank you to all who signed up! Below is the info for this holiday; list of addresses, assignments, and a link to the map (that I hope will work).

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to me via email, phone call or txt! See you all on the 4th!

Sandy

719-494-9922 cell

sandycjohnston@hotmail.com

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LuWbx-H8uxKoNVsIhbfwlBLUiL4&usp=sharing

TRP287July4th

TRP287July4th 070417FlagAssign

Folks,

We only have two drivers for 4th of July flags in the morning and in the afternoon. We need 5 in the morning and at night. Two makes it very hard to accomplish this task.

Again, this is how the troop pays for all the awards and merit badges and there is a lot that will be awarded after summer camp.  Everyone one benefits from this programs so its really important that everyone helps out. Last time we only had three drivers in the morning. We also need navigators for everyone. This is a great time to have coffee with your spouse or another scout parent for bonding 🙂

Please sign up. Only a few of us did all the routes last time and its a little exhausting. Working as a team enables us to do all the routes efficiently and not take up the entire day.

Also, Please no one else sign their scout up unless we get more drivers. We just don’t have the seat belts with two cars and will be forced to ask scouts to drop out.

The link to sign up is below.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-4thofjuly

Thanks

Sean

Folks,

We only have two drivers for 4th of July flags in the morning and in the afternoon. We need 5 in the morning and at night. Two makes it very hard to accomplish this task.

Again, this is how the troop pays for all the awards and merit badges. There is a lot that will be awarded after summer camp.  Everyone one benefits from this programs so its really important that everyone helps out. Last time we only had three drivers in the morning. We also need navigators.

Please sign up. Only a few of us did all the routes last time and its a little exhausting. Working as a team enables us to do all the routes efficiently and not take up the entire day.

Also, Please no one else sign their scout up unless we get more drivers. We just don’t have the seat belts with two cars and will be forced to ask scouts to drop out.

The link to sign up is below.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-4thofjuly

Thanks

Sean

Hi Troop,

Since we just got back from Summer camp and many of the scouts are pretty tired still we are going to have a Scout Master only to discuss the way forward for our Troop, address issues and Plan.

The Meeting will be at 7pm at Mrs. Johnston’s house located at 7455 Winding Oaks Dr, 80919.

I encourage all ASMs to attend.

I will also fill out all the Blue Cards our from Summer Camp. Many scouts should be really close to their next Rank.  The rest of the summer should focus on completed these few remaining requirements before the next COH in August….along with some fun camping 🙂

Thank You,

Sean

Folks,

We made it to the middle of the week and I just wanted to send a little update letting you know that all the scouts are still alive and well….at least for now 🙂  Some are a little scratched and bruised but they’re boys! It’s been really hot during the days but the nights have been awesome for sleeping.  These boys are going non-stop! I’m willing to bet they will be exhausted when they come home.

The first year scouts are doing well.  They have been enjoying their rank advancement activities and are on their overnighter tonight.  It’s super cool getting to know them and I love their positive attitude towards everything. We did a 5k run on camp and Riley, Mark and Jacob were the only scouts that would run it with me!….it was at 515am though 🙂

Anders, Ignacio, Even and Cody are loving the Canoeing Merit badge because they get to hang out in the pond all afternoon. Rhett, Avery and Preston and sharpening their aim on the rifle range every day. Daniel, Ignacio and Jack are getting their science on between their Nuclear Science and Space Exploration Merit Badges (be nice to these two because we might be working for them some day or they might save the planet!) Lance and Devyn focused on Eagle Merit Badges and Movie Making.

The Cadre are super cool here and have been scouting using a Knights of the Round Table Theme and they have been a lot of fun! The camp guide assigned to us comes to our camp every day and plays with the scouts.

The food is really good here too….I’m getting kinda fat! ….oh, and remember when I said the scouts would spend most of their money on candy and soda?….ummm, yep…it happened 🙂

So the internet is really slow and intermittent here. I can send a text or check an email but I am not really able to send photos. However I am taking them and will post them all at the end of the trip.

Sean

Folks,

We are all set for summer camp! Just a reminder to be at the church on Sunday at NOON.  We must check out of Camp on Saturday the 24th at 10am and need volunteers to help drive the scouts back to the Church. Most likely we will be back at the church by 10 and would need drivers to come to camp around 830am.

I have all the paperwork. If I found something missing then I should have contacted you directly. Thank you to all the parents that worked hard to get all those physicals and paperwork done.

If you can drive to camp then please come to the church

Here are some reminders:

Scouts are to travel in Class A’s

Peaceful Valley Headquarters Number: 303.648.3023 (In case of emergencies)

Thanks

Sean

Scouts & Parents,

Summer Camp is all set for tomorrow! Show time at the church is 12 noon, tomorrow, Sunday 6/18.  It’s going to be a great week for Summer Camp.

And as a reminder to those not going to Summer Camp, there will be no meeting this coming Tuesday, 6/20.

Folks,

I sent an email to all the ASMs.   Right now I do not have an Adult to stay over night at Summer Camp on Sunday.  This means we cannot check in to summer camp until I have an adult. I hope everyone understands this. The Adult has to have the Scout Physical.

Please call, email, or text if you can go. I also might need some adults to help drive on Sunday.

Sean