Troop,

This weeks meeting will be from 7-830pm as normal.  Due to the fires down south near Bishops Castle we are going to do some planning tonight in addition to camping preparations. Here is our options:

• Option 1 – Continue Camping near Bishop’s Castle as planned.  I contacted the forrest rangers to see if its still safe to camp on Squirrel Creek trail near bishops castle.  The Adobe fire is north of it and is getting some containment but we will not camp at this location if there is any risk of danger.
• Option 2 – Blake M has offered up his Condo in Telluride, sleeps 12.  With this option the Troop will need to leave on Thursday to allow for the travel time. This is really nice of Blake to do this and I don’t know if this will happen again! But Adult leaders would have to commit to departing Thursday and Returning Sunday.
• Option 3 – Hike a 14er and camp nearby. We are doing Mt Harvard Next month also so this would be two 14ers back to back campouts. Doesn’t mean we can’t do it and don’t be nervous that this is too much. There are plenty of 14ers that are moderate hikes 🙂

Scouts and Adult leaders will decide what the plan is at tomorrow’s meeting. Scout leadership will come up with a packing list and meal plan based off the camping decision.

The goal is to stay steady and keep the campouts going!!  The Troop’s Charater and Spirit is derived from High Adventure and determining solutions so let’s try to make something happen!!

Adult leaders please come with some idea’s for locations if the 14er options sounds good to you! I would also like to mention that Mom’s CAN come on these trips too!!!

Thanks
Sean

Troop,

We are on standby for our next campout. The Adobe fire is really close to Bishops Castle. If this fire is not contained or something happens to the area then we will either move the camp out to a safe location or cancel if necessary for safety.  We want to camp, but clearly we have to be safe!!

Here is the link to all the fires in Colorado. As you can see….its seems like half of the state is on fire…..

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dfpc/current-wildfires

Scouts & Families,

Wednesday is July 4^th and the halfway point of our 2018 Flag season!  We need just one more Scout for July 4^th.  Please sign up using Sign-Up Genius.

All of the Drivers & Navigators already signed up should have received an email from Sandy J. with route assignments, list of addresses and a link to the google map.  If you have any questions, please email or text Lisa D.

We will meet at 6am at the barn to load the vehicles and then head out to start the routes. We’ll meet at the barn at 5pm for afternoon pickup.

Scouts should wear their Class A uniform!

Thanks!

Lisa

719-237-3805 cell

Troop,

We have an awesome back pack trip coming up from 13-15 July in San Isabel National Forest. We are going to hike the Squirrel Creek Trail and visit Bishop’s Castle when we are done on Sunday.  Squirrel Creek Trail is about 10-12 miles and is a moderate hike. Every scout has the ability complete this hike and is encourage to attend. We can start as early as the adult leaders are able on Friday morning to get as much daylight as we can and will return on Sunday afternoon after exploring Bishop’s Castle. Here is the link to Bishop’s Castle so you can check it out! http://www.bishopcastle.org.

On the hike, scouts can finish rank advancements, complete merit badges, and conduct scout master conferences if they are ready.  Focus of this camp out (Besides having fun in our beautiful state of Colorado) will be navigation, knot tying and first aid skills.

Scout will predominately provide their own meals on this hike (Mountain House, pre-made meals, etc) with the exception of Saturday Night. The patrols will have a back packing dinner cook-off to see who can make the most creative and delicious meal using only backpacking stoves or an open fire if allowed.  Be creative!!

Parents and families are invited to come down to Bishop’s castle on Sunday and spend time with the troop and with your scout to check out this amazing place. You may bring your scout home with you after Bishop’s Castle. On this trip, expect the troop to return sometime Sunday afternoon.

Here is the map wealltrails-squirrel-creek-2

Please sign up here.

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

Sean

The first part of this update is to personally thank Dan and Chris for facilitating an Amazing Summer Camp experience for our Troop!  Both of these leaders were amazing with the scouts with their mentorship, communication and direction. The scouts had fun and learned a ton! I really appreciate you two and so does all the parents and scouts!!  This summer camp was one of the best I have ever seen.  Also a quick shout out to Ray for chasing the bear away 🙂 Thank you all!!

Here are the pics that I have from summer camp so far.  For some reason not all the pics uploaded to Google Photos but I will get that fixed.  There should be more photos to upload soon!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ikRXrwY3jmmL4CeJ8

This Tuesday’s meeting will focus on wrapping up summer camp advancements, updating scout handbooks, and finalizing what can be finished in Merit Badges.  We will also run part 2 of the fitness test that all the boys need for tenderfoot.

Coming upon us is our next camp out which will be a backpack trip. Right now we are leaning towards San Isabel National Forest which will include a tour of Bishops Castle!!  The dates are 12-15 July right now because that is when the adult leaders could make it.  We added an extra day to allow more adventure!!  The signup genius wil be out soon!!

Thanks

Sean

Parents, if you visit tonight, you will have to park in the main parking lot and walk up to the camp. This will be the same procedure for pick up on Saturday morning.

On Saturday, we plan to clear our camp at 7:00 and check out at 7:20am. We will have breakfast at that same time as well. If you are able to drive scouts back, please arrive at Camp A at 7:00. We should be back at the church to download the trailer around 9:15-9:30. Should be done unloading the equipment by 10:00, ready for transport home for showers with lots of soap and scrubbing with lots of bristles or at least a power wash in the front yard. Hope this finds you well. 

Dan McGuire

Also, please remember to email or text Sean Warner if you are able to transport scouts back in the morning. I’m tracking we will need 14-15 seatbelts for scouts as a few of them will go home with their parents tonight.

Thanks

Sean

Just a reminder that we need enough drivers to bring scouts home tomorrow morning.  If you can help with this please confirm with me by texting (719-648-6798)  or email seanmwarner@gmail.com. A couple of scout will be departing with their parents tonight because they have sports in the morning, but if they do not have an activity tomorrow morning then I encourage you to let your scouts depart tomorrow morning so they can help with check out and clean up…and get the extra night of camping.

Here is the daily update from Dan McGuire!

“Good Friday morning, Parents! 

Today is our final day in Camp! The Scouts will be making up any missed requirements from this week. We already have bunches of badges earned including one camper who spent the night alone in the woods last night for Wilderness Survival (he came back unharmed this morning), several Scouts who evacuated “injured” campers for Emergency Preparedness, a few crack shots in Rifle, Shotgun, and Archery. Just in case of injury, several of our Scouts earned their First Aid and have actually put it to use this week (minor scrapes). A few Scouts spent time improving Camp Alexander with a service project, earning hours toward rank advancement. Others spent about 40 mins to earn their Mining and Society MB. With Orienteering MB, Search and Rescue MB and Life Saving MB earned, we will be prepared to conquer our next Troop adventure. To document the camp, a few Scouts earned their Photography MB. In case of hunger, a couple boys earned their Fishing MB. Rock Climbing was also completed. We have a couple of Scouts who gazed at the stars and earned their Astronomy MB which culminated with a midnight hike which ended just after 1 am. On a nightly basis, the knowledge gained by our skilled Scouts during the day was passed along using the EDGE method of instruction to spread the knowledge and ensure rank requirements were completed, which served to solidify first and second tier learning. And finally, we now have Scouts qualified in Mammal Studies MB just in case we encounter other fuzzy animals along the trail. Tonight at our closing ceremonial camp fire, our Troop is performing two skits, so please come out if you can to make sure there is someone in the crowd to applaud them. If I missed a MB, i will blame it on too little sleep and too much food from the chow hall. 

Dan McGuire”

Good afternoon Scouting Parents! I hope all of you are enjoying the glorious weather! We certainly are! The boys are finishing up their classes today and are looking forward to a free day tomorrow; which will be for make up classes and fun extra curricular activities and such. Tomorrow also is our scheduled family dinner/visit night. Of course you can come up anytime, but dinner is at 5:45 or so, we get our time slot for dinner tomorrow at 2:30. Our closing ceremony is at 5:15 if you would like to attend. I know a couple of parents are planning on taking their kids home tomorrow. Those who would like to just need to sign them out at the business office. 

Dan McGuire

Sunday:

Scouting Parents! Apologies for my lack of communication last night. It was hectic getting settled in our camp. We are sharing our camp with a troop from Texas, but we have clear boundary lines. All the boys are well last night and this morning. They are all getting to their assigned classes and are having a good time so far. More updates and possibly photos to follow later on. Take care, Dan McGuire. 

Monday:

Scouting Parents! Day two update: All is well here at Camp A, in Sioux Camp!  They boys are well on their way to earning their assigned badges and the younger scouts are doing well in their rank advancement classes. There are a few aches and pains for some of our boys, which is to be expected, especially for first time campers. Some of the treks to the badge sites is a distance. We are tonsuring your boys are taken care of. If you need anything or have any concerns, please let me know. 

Yours in Scouting,

Dan McGuire

Tuesday:

Scout Parents! Good Wednesday evening! The weather has been great yesterday and today and is expected to be nice over the next couple of days. The boys are learning a great deal in their classes and working hard toward rank advancement. Our “first four” scouts (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd and 1st Class) completes a five mile hike as part of the program. Haven’t heard too many complaints out side of minor aches and pains. They are doing great. A few calls home for some to calm their nerves and such have worked wonders to get them back on track. They are all eating well, learning and having fun. Our youngest scouts completed a service project together to help out the camp. All is well. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have concerns, questions, or comments. Sorry for the long post.

Dan McGuire

Parents,

If you would like to come up to visit your scout this Friday then you can arrive at anytime after 1pm.  Line up for Dinner starts at 515pm, but I recommend showing up no later than 5pm.  There will be a closing campfire ceremony from 730-930pm.  The temps can get a little chilly up there so dress warm.

I will let you know if there is a sign up for anything for dinner but as of this time just arrive.   You will have to park a little down the road at their guest parking lot….Maybe 1/3 mile down the road so you might want to show up even a little earlier.  I plan to be there about 3-4 pm.

Thanks

Sean

Hi Parents!

Dan and Chris are doing a great Job and all the scouts are all checked in a settled in their camp site yesterday! Thanks to all the committee for doing an outstanding job on the paperwork! Check in went super smooth!!

Here is a pic of their camp site!

Sean

Troop,

Summer camp is upon us!  Just a reminder to please arrive at the church on Sunday at noon. Please arrive with you scout prepared with the packing list found on page 75 of the attached. We have 17 scouts and two adults going to summer camp. We need transportation to bring them up all.  If you can help drive us up then please sign up and arrive at the church at noon. This is going to be a great time for all the scouts and I appreciate everything that our committee, scoutmasters and parents have done to make this happen!!

Camp_A_2018_Program_Guide_v2

Sean

Hello Troop!

Its time for Rank Advancements and to present Merit Badges! Next Tuesday is our Court of Honor and it will be a BBQ Themed event. The Troop is going to provide the meat and sauce.  We are asking the families to bring the sides:

Troop,

The primary focus for tonight’s meeting will be preparation for summer camp.  We will make sure we have all the right forms for scouts and adults. If you are going you should have received an email from the committee about you summer camp paperwork status.

Please review the summer camp link at the top of the website for any information.  Of particular, please download the guide and pack in accordance with the Summer Camp packing list.  Have a swimsuit available so your scout can do the swim test immediately upon arriving to camp.

Parents can visit their scouts while at summer camp if they wish. The best time to do that is after dinner. There will also be a parent night on Friday that you can attend.

The ONE thing we will need are drivers to take scouts to summer camp and bring them back. The adults going will not have enough room in their cars alone. Its about a 45 min Drive to Camp A.  Scouts remember to travel in Class A Uniforms.

Here is an updated link to the Sign Up Genius to Include Drivers. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-summer1

Finally, we wil be doing some Board of Reviews tonight for scouts that recently went through the scout master conference.

Sean

First,

Thanks to all of you that did an outstanding job with Flags today!! You did more than just put out flags….you honored our the fallen that fought for our freedom!!

On Tuesday, we will focus on Rank Advancements. We will knock out the Fitness Requirements for Tenderfoot.  This will require Running, Situps, Back Saver Sit/Reach and Pushups. All scouts needing this requirement please wear physical Fitness attire.

The rest of the scouts will be able to have time to brief all available scoutmasters so they can work towards promotion!

Thanks

Sean

Scouts & Families,

Tomorrow is the start of our 2018 Flag season! Please check Sign Up Genius if you are unsure if you signed up for this holiday. All of the Drivers & Navigators for this holiday should have received an email with route assignments, list of addresses and a link to the google map.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me via email or txt.

We will meet at 6am at the barn to load the vehicles and then head out to start the routes. We’ll meet at the barn at 5pm for afternoon pickup.

Scouts should wear their Class A uniform!

See you in the morning!

Sandy

The museum is located right outside Gate 1. You do not need to have a military ID to enter.

6012B Nelson Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80913
United States

If you are working towards your Citizenship in the Nation, this visit will count towards visiting a Federal Government Facility.

http://www.carson.army.mil

Sean

Jack finished his merit badge last night.  There are six others that are close, Lance, Marquel, Rhett, Mark P, Geren, and Evan. Each of them have one or two requirements left to finish.

Rhett needs to finish the last piece of #3 which is to choose one of the news stories and describe how it would impact he and his family.  He also needs to finish #8 writing to his congressman about an issue important to him.

Marquel needs to also finish the last piece of #3.  He also needs to do #6, choose a speech of national importance & #8 the letter to his congressman.

Lance needs one of the remaining requirements of #2, he has 2d signed off.  He also needs to finish the last piece of #3, which is to describe one of the news article and explain how it affects he and his family.  He also needs requirement #8.

Mark P. needs to complete #6 & #8.

Geren needs to complete #3 & #8.

Evan needs to complete #6 & #8.

Thanks to Danny R for running this Merit Badge!

Sean

Troop,

We are short one driver for Memorial Day Flags. We have enough scouts and navigators.  Ideally, it could be one of the parents of the scouts that are doing flags. There is an open trailer at the troop you can use to hold the flags if you have a trailer hitch. Makes it easier and the flags will not go in your car. Normally, I would do this but my son will be out of town. If another driver does not sign up then we have to have one of the current drivers do two routes which is tough.

Please sign up at the following link if you can do it.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-flag1

Thanks

Sean

Troop,

Please come prepared to with your worksheets for citizenship in the nation.  Young scouts that are not working on this can work on Rank Advancements!

Also, those that took home troop tents and gear, please clean and dry that stuff and bring back when you are done.

Photos of the last week’s campout will come soon. We all had a great experience!  The long route did 27 Miles and the shorter route 15 miles!!!  Great job for all scouts that did this adventure!

Sean