Troop,

I just spent the last hour or so (on Zoom) with the folks at Camp Cris Dobbins talking about our summer camp later this month. Here is the down and dirty on the info from the meeting:

1. Every Youth must bring a signed copy of the last two pages of the linked document below. This is a COVID mitigation plan, and authorization to test for COVID. I will also have these printed out for signing on next week’s meeting and at Scout drop off for heading to camp. Scouts cannot attend camp without these forms signed.
2. MASKS ARE REQUIRED WHEN INSIDE BUILDINGS!!!!
3. Masks are NOT REQUIRED when OUTSIDE and practicing social distancing of 6 feet or more. 95% of the activities are going to be outside.
4. Bring 7-10 masks/face coverings/etc. for the week. Basically change masks when you change your underwear…wait, change masks everyday. disregard that underwear thing-i know how y’all roll.
5. Since the programs are all outside and will have separation, it is recommended to bring a camp chair with you to each of your classes. Maybe a small hiking type chair is best, but you can make the call on what you want to carry around camp from class to class.
6. Camp Docs should be all uploaded (access closes on 12 Jun).
7. Merit Badge info is locked in, so if there is a desired change, we will have to deal with it at camp. We will have the schedules for the week in the next 48 hours or so.
8. Merit Badge Fees (if any) will be compiled and paid at camp. If you owe fees, we can take it from your Scout account or get it paid prior to camp. In short-do not bring extra money to pay those fees.
9. If you want to bring a bike to camp, you will have to sign an acknowledgement as to the biking rules of the camp. If you break any of the rules, you will not be allowed to continue using your bike. You will need to make sure we know about you bringing it ahead of time – like this coming meeting. We may not be able to accommodate a last minute barrage of bikes and get them all to camp if we are not prepared to transport them.
10. Tents: Canvass tents are provided. No more than 2 Scouts allowed in each tent. You may bring your own tent to use, which is recommended by CDC, CCD, and all those other agencies that are pushing rules out about COVID. If you want to pitch your tent on one of the platforms that has a canvass tent on it, you can, we will just have to work that out when we get to camp.

I think that is all for now. If you have any questions ro comments, please let me know.

Dan

Troop,

A couple things for tonight’s meeting:

1. It is the first meeting of the month, which means Uniform Inspections! Class A with all the chest candy you can muster! Sashes, hats, neckerchiefs, you know, the works!
2. Rank Advancement is scheduled for tonight! If you are ready to get some of your skills and knowledge checked off, make sure you have your book and are ready to go. If needed, do a quick review before showing up tonight.
3. We had a great flag display yesterday! It went nice and smooth, except the flags were kind of wet due to the weather. So, we didn’t roll them all. Instead, we propped them up in the barn to dry. With all the Scouts tonight, we will spend a couple minutes rolling and stowing the flags; it should be pretty quick if everyone helps out.

Summer camp update. I got an email from Camp Cris Dobbins about uploading my own and my Scout’s medical forms. Parents: You likely got the same email. This means we will not do a “Troop upload” of medical documents and each individual Scout/Family is responsible for uploading their own medical documents. Well great! If you have any issues, let me know and we will figure it out.

That’s pretty much it.

See you tonight!

Dan

Troop,

Please send your medical forms to me via email, or you can give me a hard copy and I will scan them and give them back to you. I will then upload them to a secured folder so Shari Hughes (our outdoor coordinator) can upload them to Camp Cris Dobbins’ website.

This is a new process for us, since we have always had a hard copy of these documents in hand when we have gone to camp, so bear with us as we learn this too!

If you have any concerns about this process, please let me know and we will figure something out.

Dan

Troop,

Here is the sign up for Flags. REMEMBER–Full Dress Uniform for flags -Class A, pants with belt loops – no athletic shorts (gotta look as professional as possible! Sash is optional since we will be climbing in and out of vehicles and all that – we don’t want it in the way.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0849AAA623A13-flag

It looks like we have the right number of Scouts and the right number of Drivers, but if you want to still help out on Monday, we could use a couple of Navigators to ride along with the Drivers and Scouts already signed up.

Also, the link above has the rest of the flag dates on there as well. If you can, throw your name in there and helpa troop out with showing freedom!

See you on Monday with donuts for all and coffee for adults.

Dan

Troop,

Last week’s plan to reorganize the Patrols was pushed to this week due to our awesome FLAG SEASON (see below). The Scout leadership will conduct this process of reorganization under the watchful eye of the adults. The goal here is to have an even distribution of ranks and ages between the patrols. Ultimate veto power is held by adult leadership. New Patrol Names, Calls, Guidons, symbols, etc., will all be worked on tomorrow night.

Flags: there are five holidays we as a troop post flags. Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day.

The Colorado Springs Rotary Club takes and manages the subscriptions for those who PAY ($75/2 years) for the honor of posting a flag in their yard each of these holidays. Yes, we have a duty to the subscribers who pay to have the flags posted. Remember that Scouting responsibility thing?

This means, we can’t just “not” do flags. We are the responsible party for posting these ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL SYMBOLS OF FREEDOM! We dress up, get fueled up on coffee and donuts, then post FREEDOM all around Mountain Shadows (and one ‘hood on the mesa). Then in the evening, we take them down, roll them up and store them for the next holiday. Remember: we salute the flag each time is it posted, and just prior to recovering it.

Here is the skinny on the flags. Basically, each flag costs the subscriber $7.50 to post and take down. The Rotary Club pays for new flags, and maintenance on them, so we don’t have to cover that. The $7.50 is divided three ways equally (Rotary Club, The Troop Operating Fund, and the Scout who posts the flag.

This means, of the eight slots for Scouts to sign up, all the flags are added up and divided amongst the eight Scouts. On average, it is around $60-65 per holiday the Scout can earn for about three total hours of work (once they get the route down and into the groove- this may take a couple of days on flags).

The money the Scout earns can be used for ANYTHING SCOUT RELATED!!! Annual Dues, Summer Camp registration fees, tuition to Scout related classes put on by Council (ours or another), equipment (as long as the item can be tagged against a rank or merit badge requirement), camping gear, etc. Basically, if you can think of a way to use that money for a Scouting item, then I think we can make it happen-just bring a receipt for reimbursement with an explanation…its all on the form! We had a Scout purchase a GoPro Hero 7 i think it was to aid in the Photography or Movie Making merit badge.

Parents, we also need your help and input. I know several of you are stepping up and working it–thank you very much! We need more involvement. Over the life of this program has made the troop nearly nearly $84,000; 50% of which has gone directly toward the Scouts who have participated. Help a Troop out! Get involved. I mean, where else can you help your kid earn $20 an hour, right?!?!

This is the only “Troop” centric fund raiser we do. Popcorn, Camp Cards, and Pizza Pals are all an individual effort. The proceeds the troop keeps pays for all the food we get to enjoy at our Courts of Honor, funds our Scholarship program, purchases new and maintains old equipment, buys fuel for our stoves, fuels our volunteer’s vehicles for those long road trips we have not taken in a couple years, trailer registration fees, etc. Troop dues pays for badges, and some other upkeep stuff as well as off-setting weekend camping trip stuffs.

Anyway, if you have any questions, please feel free to give me a shout. I am always here for you guys, except in July-I will not be here for you.

We usually link up at the barn at 6am, load flags, then roll out. Generally each route is done by 8-8:30. Then the evening pickup starts at 5pm, and gets done around 7 give or take. As the boys, Drivers, and Navigators learn the routes, they get faster, and some friendly competition breaks out via text messages from route to route. It is all in good fun and lending assistance to those on other routes is always offered (especially when there is a foot of snow during pickup that wasn’t there in the morning when we put flags out).

Sorry for the long post!

Dan

Troop/Parents,

This post is just a reminder that we are guests in Wilson Church. We are authorized to use only a portion of the church which includes the main lobby, kitchen (on occasion), and sanctuary. We are NOT allowed to use the classrooms, or be in the classrooms AT ALL (due to Covid related issues).

We are also required to put the furniture back in the same configuration as we found it (think leave no trace) as well as clean and sanitize the areas we use as best we can (sanitizer on hard surfaces, etc.).

Please be mindful of the church and their wishes as we use their facilities and make sure we are doing the right thing each time we use the building.

We will also continue to conduct our final evening checks (cleaning and security) after our clean-up at the end of each meeting.

Dan

Troop,

Tis the season to return to the barn! I know the weather is not really that welcoming for us to be outside; however, we like fire and outside stuff. So, we are going to meet tomorrow at the barn. First one there gets to prep the fire!

Also, Be Prepared! The weather may have a touch of rain for us, so make sure you are ready for that. We will focus tomorrow’s meeting on preparing for the upcoming Flags season. Our first Flags date is Memorial Day, just about two weeks from now. Basically, just making sure the flags we have are serviceable and ready to go without being torn or falling off of the pole. We will also go over the proper procedure of posting and recovering the flags.

There are still available slots for all the dates for the season (a total of five), so make sure you get in where you can! Scouts earn about $60/ flag day toward their Scouting account. Sign up below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0849aaa623a13-flag

Class B for tomorrow night! Bring a flashlight and your Scoutbook as well. We may be able to get to some other Scouting activities/learning.

Dan

Troop,

First of all, thanks for an awesome COH. Really well done by Mark and the Scout Leadership team.

Congratulations to those who earned rank advancements and merit badges. Well done by all of you.

And: Congratulations to those Scouts who were re-elected and elected into their positions:
SPL: Mark
ASPL: Evan
PL/QM: Austin
PL: Zander (new position)
Scribe: Jefferson

As a reminder, since I get a few questions and such tnight about how we do things such as rank advancement and merit badges.

Rank Adv:

Scouts need to show thier skills and demonstrate their knowledge to two senior Scouts (PL then ASPL/SPL) on separate occasions (can be same night, just separately) prior to coming to an adult leader for sign off in thier book. the Scout Leaders should sign on the left side margin next to the rank requirement.

The first Four Ranks (Scout-1st Class) can be worked on simultaneously, but must be completed/finalized/awarded in order). Scouts can get onesies and twosies signed off by Scout Leaders and Adult Leaders as they go along. There is no need to wait until all the initials are gathered for an entire rank before getting an Adult to sign off on a requirement. One or two rank requirements signed off a week is not out of the realm of possibilities, and should be sought after as a progressive way to advance.

Why do we do it this way: The Scout seeking advancement will have two opportunities to reinforce their knowledge/skills with their peers prior to presenting to an adult leader (which may be intimidating for some Scouts). The Scout Leader will have the opportunity to teach the younger Scout the skills using the Scouting EDGE method (Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable). Once the Scout has two sets of initials next (left side) to the rank requirement, they can present to an Adult Leader for final sign off (right side).

Merit Badges: There are several steps to obtaining a merit badge, which must be completed in order.

1 Pick a subject (MB to complete)
2 Get permission from the Scoutmaster (signed blue card)-this officially starts your MB journey-Scoutbook will be updated with the date on the Blue Card)
3 Seek out an official BSA certified counselor and coordinate with them (counselor must be YPT and registered with BSA to be a counselor)
4 Either learn from the Counselor, or demonstrate your previous knowledge to the satisfaction of the counselor and get them to complete your Blue Card.
5 Turn in your Blue Card to the Scoutmaster and get awarded at the next COH.

Scoutbook: Parents can sign off on items in scoutbook attesting to items given as “homework” if the Counselor for that particular Merit Badge has authorized this action. If not, parents should not sign anything in Scoutbook because we as a troop track these items for Courts of Honor and such. As a MB Counselor, I often authorize this action since I can’t be there for every Scout to watch them do the stuff I am counseling for, since I pretty much only do “mass merit badges” for the entire troop and i often assign most of the badgework as homework so the Scout is required to do research and bring back the information they have discovered. More on that as we go along.

If anyone has any questions or concerns, please let me know. Apologies for the long post.

Dan

Troop,

Below are the results of the Knot Patrol Meeting. Something is wrong with the calendar on the website, but we are working to fix it.

Jun: 20-26 – Summer Camp @ Cris Dobbins
Jul: 16-18 – Crags to Pikes Peak 14er campout
Aug: 6-8 – Loop hike near Sedalia/Deckers
Sep: 10-12 – Dino Death March
Oct: 15-17 – Sand Dunes (Family style)
Nov: 6 – 22 Mile Bike Ride (need to start the cycling MB for those who want/need it)
Dec: 10-11 – Lock-in

As always, these are the best dates we came up with where there would be support to do what you as Scouts voted to do. If there are scheduling conflicts, we will workthem out and get out there Scouting!

Dan

Troop,

There is a new “channel” on the discord server labeled COH Elections.

If you would like to run for a leadership position, please throw your name and what position you want to run for. All “Hard Leadership” positions (SPL, ASPL, and PL) require a candidate speech to be given. Scribe, Historian, Quartermaster positions do not require a speech, but are very important roles and require you to be active for most of our meetings and events.

Anyway, check it out.

Remember that next tuesday is the COH, we will set up starting at 5:30 at the Church. Dinner at 6pm. CLASS A UNIFORMS!!!! I am sure I am forgetting something!

Dan

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4aada829a7fe3-court1

Troop,

Please RSVP at the link above for the Court of Honor next tuesday night, May 11. We will set up around 5:30pm, serve food at 6pm, then move to the Sanctuary for the presentation of the awards and all that.

Bird Dog BBQ is catering the event, so we need good numbers on who will be in attendance. Of course, siblings and folks like that are allowed and expected so they can see you get what you have earned. Basically, we need solid attendance so we get the right amount of food for everyone.

This is a CLASS A event, full dress uniform, all that good stuff.

Elections will be held as well. If you would like to run for a leadership position, please prepare a 2-3 minute speech to present on why you should be voted into that position.

Positions up for election: All of them! SPL, ASPL, PL (x2), Scribe, Historian, and Quartermaster is what we generally have in “office”. SPL/ASPL are limited to First Class Rank and above, PL and the others can be any rank.

Troop, you all decided to play ultimate cabbage at Oak Valley Ranch Park. Since this is a game night, we start a bit earlier than normal. We will meet up at 6pm and close out around 8pm. Mr. Petree is bringing the cabbage.

See you guys there! Here is the location/directions. It is right off of Silent Rain Dr.
From the Church, head north on Flying W Ranch Rd to the stoplight at Centennial. Turn left on Centennial and then turn left onto Silent Rain Dr, just a few hundred yards up. Follow Silent Rain until you see the park on the left.

See you there!

Dan

Troop,

Here is an opportunity to do some really fun white water rafting while we are at summer camp. We could also do this as part of a troop excursion this summer, if you all wanted to. We might be able to make that work.

The link below has all the info on it. Basically, in order to do it, we would need at least five Scouts to sign up. The cost is $75 (each) without transportation and $95 (each) for the River guys to drive the participants.

Rafting-Info-Sheet-and-Sign-Up-1.pdf (denverboyscouts.org)

We can discuss as we get closer to camp time.

Dan

Troop,

Right now there are 15 Scouts signed up for Camp. I have 10 merit badge selections completed. There have been some adjustments to the offerings, like ATV is not on the list for a Merit Badge, but I beleive you can spend free time there (this also may change again), so be flexible.

I need (I apologise if I may have overlooked what you already gave me) the following Scouts to get me their lists: I need three Primary and three Alternate choices!!!!!!! Text, email, phone call, carrier pigeon, just get the choices to me!

John R.
WIlliam W.
Jefferson H.
Ethan M.
Noah H.

Here are the offerings as of right now for merit badges: I am not sure if the ones with a “/” are concurrent offerings or not. Like If you sign up for Energy, youll got Electricity at the same time. Not sure, we will find out!

1. Energy/Electricity
2. Chemistry/ Nuclear Science
3. Astronomy/Space Exploration
4. Emergency Preparedness
5. First Aid
6. Camping/Pioneering
7. Search and Rescue/ Wilderness Survival/ Orienteering
8. Mamal Study/ Fish and Wildlife Management/ Forestry
9. Environmental Science
10. Communications
11. Photography/ Music
12. Theater/ Public Speaking
13. Indian Lore/ American Heritage/ Scouting Heritage
14. Art/ Basketry
15. Leatherwork
16. Paul Bunyan Award/ Totin’ Chip/ Wood Carving
17. Lifesaving
18. Swimming
19. Canoeing
20. Kayaking
21. Small Boat Sailing
22. Archery
23. Rifle
24. Shotgun
25. Cycling
26. Climbing
27. First Class/ Second Class/ Tenderfoot
    

If you want to attend camp with us, sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4aada829a7fe3-summer1

Also, we are just about a month and a half away from attendance, which means you and your parents need to work on getting to see your doctor to get a physical completed. Need to have one within a year of attendance to camp. Here is a link to the forms. Need to ensure the form for Summer Camp is filled out by the doctor.

Dan

Troop,

This week, we will be visited by representatives from the Ha-Kin-Skay-A-Ki Lodge, Order of the Arrow.

They will present an invormational video and give us an idea of what the OA is all about. Then they will hold an election for eligible Scouts to be inducted into the OA. I will not go into the details, but we do need as many Scouts as possible at the meeting for the voting process.

To be eligible, a Scout must be a First Class Scout, and have 15 nights in the past two years camping. Up to five of those nights can be a “long term camp” like summer camp, but no more than five nights can be counted in that way. The other 10 must be two or three night (weekend) events.

More on that from the OA reps on Tuesday night.

Just a reminder to get your MB selections in either to me on Tuesday or email them to me if you have not already done so. The sooner we get them in, the better chance you will have getting the choices you want.

Lastly, for those of you who missed this campout this weekend, we all had a really fun time. We had some special concocted brownies using 18 year old cocoa powder and coffee creamer, and even conducted a rescue mission for a lost chair, which entailed repelling (sort of) down a ravine. Pictures and video to be presented at the COH next month.

Gotta decide on game Night for next week as well, since the OA elections are this week.

See you on Tuesday.

Dan

Troop,

We are a “GO” for the campout this weekend. Here is the itenerary:

We will link up at the Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead parking lot and head out from there. (5pm Friday to 8am Sunday)

I would like to get an early start to this adventure, so I am asking that we link up at the parking lot no later than 5pm, with a step-off no later than 5:30pm. (let me know if this is an issue-a group text will be coming out later tonight to make sure all parents of Scouts are aware of the details).

We will hike until the sun gets a little low in the sky find a place to camp and bed down for Friday night. Saturday will be a hike and play/learn type deal up to then back from the crash site to a camping point close to our starting point.

Sunday will be a short hike out, since we have a schedulling crunch to get this thing done. Therefore, we are looking to EXFIL from the Start/Stop parking lot around 8-8:30am. So, pareants, please plan for that timeline. You could always get a coffee in Monument on your way up to grab your Scout.

The Trail is called “Ice Cave Trail” and in Alltrails, you can find it under “Harrison Plane Crash via Ice Cave Trail” (link below).

Here (below link) is the map we will be using, to include our route to and from the crash site. Our overnights will be somewhere along this route.

Here are directions to the Trailhead from the Church (copy and past the link into google maps):

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/6460+Flying+W+Ranch+Rd,+Colorado+Springs,+CO/Palmer+Lake,+CO/@39.0233278,-104.9293935,30874m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x871351eca14a0ee5:0x6960917c224dd986!2m2!1d-104.8677408!2d38.9269429!1m5!1m1!1s0x876caecf444acde9:0x735ec489ae80492d!2m2!1d-104.917204!2d39.1222138!3e0

If you have any questions, please let me know. If we need to cross load Scouts for transport, our current restrictions allow two households in a vehicle, so I think we can work some sort of transport deals. MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED.

BSA Transport guidelines:
Ensure family transportation to/from outing location (no unit carpooling).
-Transport should be limited to the 10 person/two household limit shown under personal gathering size

Talk to you soon,

Dan