Troop,

We have two sailboats reserved for Sea Base in Aug 2019. The troop has to make the deposit on the boats by the 18th of this month. Right now we are 1:1 with parents going with kids and Sea Base likes it to be more scouts than parents. If your scout would like to go with us, please let Danny R know ASAP at bayouboyx@comcast.net and cc me too please. We will have to scratch an adult if we have to go down to one boat and we don’t really want to do that.  Here is a link on Sea Base so you can check it out. http://bsaseabase.org The scout has to be 13 years old and have completed 8th Grade to attend.

Here is the link on the Troop Site to sign up also.

Thanks

Sean

Troop,

This Tuesday’s meeting is going to work on the Citizenship on the Nation MB and I would like to start at 630pm if that is ok. I would like to knock out some rank advancement for the younger scouts as well!  So the meeting would be from 630-830.

We had an AMAZING campout at the Great Sand Dunes.  The Boy led methodology is really coming along. The planning was better, the food was awesome, and the activities were super fun! The patrols are really starting to work well together. However, there is always something we can improve on. I talked to the SPL and ASPL on the way home and they stated these improvements for the next campout:

• Planning: Time constraints for planning each parts of the campout. We don’t need to spend 45 min planning a menu. Delegate more responsibility to the Patrol Leaders.  Plan rank advancement activities into the campout. There are SPL and Patrol leader planning checklist on the website in Scout Corner and those should be used.
• Cooking: This part went really well. We need some cleaning supplies in the Patrol Boxes and we need to organize them better.
• Hiking: Scouts should carry their own gear. Its important that scouts learn the lessons of packing properly…or improperly.  Troop great will be distributed among the scouts.

Here are some sustains:

• Food planning was spot on. Meals were yummy and had variety.  Patrols worked well together on camping.
• Patrols were better organized than in the past. This made all the leadership work better.
• Scouts really put forth great physical effort and mental determination to get to the highest Sand Dune while having fun.  We learned that you can do anything you set your mind too!!

Here is the link to pics from the campout: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kSuWYcsxf2wxaIJK2

Also, I apologize for the late post on the awesome Freez-O-Ree Pics that Mr. Ray took but here is the link to those as well!!  https://photos.app.goo.gl/x6ZASGd1OLJbaop93

All photos can also be accessed on the top of the page under “Photos”

Order of the Arrow:  Order of the Arrow is the Honor society of Boy Scouts.  The Council Representative will be coming to the Troop on the 17th to hold a vote for those that can attend the ordeal. You must have 20 nights of camping with Boy Scouts to attend the ordeal but anyone can vote. We must have some paper complete on Tuesday for those that are eligible on Tuesday. All scouts can vote!  Here is some more information on the OA.  https://oa-bsa.org

Battlefield Colorado:  Our next game night will be on the 24th and it will be at Battlefield Colorado at 6pm.  If you liked the laser tag we did at the last game night then you will love this. This is laser tag on steroids.  They own almost a whole city block that we can use and they will give us numerous scenarios to do.  The cost is $24 per person. Adults can play. I will play!! It will be for about 90 minutes of super fun!!  Here is a link to their website http://battlefieldcolorado.com.  For those that want to go, please fill out the on line waiver with them prior to the 24th.  http://battlefieldcolorado.com/waiver/

Don’t worry about the 12 year old age limit. I talked to them and they said we are good. I’m hoping we can get 15 players.

Summer Camp: Please look at the link for Summer Camp 2018 at the top of the page. Scouts need to get a physical done and plan out what merit badges they want to do soon!  Please download the leaders guide there. It has all the instructions for both.  I will send another post soon just about summer camp but it will be here sooner than you think!

Sean

Folks,

Here is some updated information for the Sand Dunes Campout:

Weather: (Make sure you bring good rain gear) https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/SAND:13:US

• Friday  59/37F with a 80% chance of rain
• Saturday 66/44F Mostly Cloudy
• Sunday 57/28F with a 70% chance of rain

Directions: 

• See directions from Wilson United Methodist Church to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/i/2ziCi ) in Google Maps. Roughly a 2hr 40min Drive

Attendance:  Right now we have 15 scouts and 6 Adults signed up on Sign Up Genius. Scouts are divided into two patrols.  Please make sure yourself and scout are signed up here: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-great

Timeline:

• Friday, 6 April:
  • 5pm Meet at Church and depart as soon as we can.
• Saturday 7 April:
  • Scouting activities
• Sunday 8 April:
  • 9am Depart Great San Dunes
  • 12pm (noon)  Arrive at Church

Activities: 

• Hikes on the Dunes
• Navigation (Maybe Geocache to make it fun)
• Rank Advancement and Merit Badge Completion
• Knot Tying

Cost:

• $12 per scout for food. Campsite is $160 for everyone.  Some of that cost may be divided up among the campers or the Troop might be able to cover some of that.

Food:

• Scouts will prepare their own food.  Geren and Austin are buying the food and overseeing the cooking activities for their respective patrols. Note that scouts will bring their Friday dinner with them…a Subway Sandwich or something like that. Please see the previous post for a list of food items and menu https://www.bsatroop287.org/shopping-list-sand-dunes-camp/.
• Adults will prepare their own food. We will have some dutch ovens and will likely share breakfast and dinner.  Lunch will be on our own.

Packing List: 

* Scouts please pack your own gear, Parents check. Pack like you are back packing to get used that that and tailor as necessary to adjust for car camping:

• Class A Shirt
• Backpack with Waterproof Bag (Could be a lawn/leaf garbage bag)
• Sleeping Bag – 30 degrees (or have a bivy sack to put over it to make it warm to 30 Degrees)
• Sleeping Pad (The foam ones are the best for cold weather or at least one with a high insulation factor)
• Mess Kit with eating utensils
• Two Liters of Water (One should be a Nalgene Bottle)
• Ligher/Matches
• Sunglasses
• Clothes to match the weather and activities (Rain Gear, Down Jacket, Fleece, Base Layer, Insulation Layer)
• Beanie Cap (Warm)
• Warm Gloves
• Wool Socks and one or two extra pairs
• Head Lamp with spare batteries
• Hand Sanitizer (For for starting fires too)
• Tiinder (Dryer Lint works awesome)
• Some money to get lunch/snack/warm drink on the way back
• Toilet Paper
• Chapstick/Sunscreen
• A list of rank advancements you need to accomplish!!!
• Toothbrush
• Wetwipes
• Positive Attitude
• Permission slip 
• Scout Hand Book!!! (For Rank Advancement Opportunities) 

Troop gear:

• Tent
• Water Purification Pump
• Compasses
• Food to be purchased
• Troop Box with cooking supplies
• Sled
• Troop Flag
• American Flag
• Troop Box complete with stove (Fuel), cooking items, Cooking Canopy, Table
• Firewood
• Troop Telescoping Flag Pole with American Flag

Optional:

• GPS
• Sleds, Snowboards, Cardboard box for sliding down the sandhill. Sand will ruin your equipment so I don’t recommend good sleds or snowboards.
• Camera
• Book
• Folding Chair
• Ghost Stories 🙂

I hope everyone had a great Easter!

This Tuesday’s meeting will focus on the Planning for the Great Sand Dunes campout this weekend.  Scout DO NOT need to bring their personal gear to this meeting. This is a car camping trip and there is very low risk of gear issues.  SPL and ASPL will plan the campout using the Planning Sheet located int eh Scout Corner link at the top of the website.

Scouts will finalize meal plans, activities and packing lists at Tuesday’s meeting. The final cost will also be determined.

We will definitely hike the sand dunes and accomplish rank advancement activities.  This is also a great opportunity for Scout Master Conferences.

This campout is a family campout. Parents feel free to attend and well as bringing siblings and friends.  There is a family signup portion on the signup genius so we can determine the amount of people we need to plan for. Scouts will plan meals for the scouts.  Family members are responsible for their own meals and can coordinate together if you wish.

Here is the signup genius link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-great

I wish everyone a happy, safe and well deserved Spings Break. No meeting this week!

Sean

Scouts,

To complete our Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge we have to tour a federal facility.  Mrs Carr set up a tour of the United States Post Office for us to meet that requirement.

We will tour of General Mail Facility located at 3655 E. Fountain Blvd. on Friday, March 30, 10 AM.

Please sign up here by Monday, March 26th to attend

The Point of Contact for this tour is  Julie Carr at 303-882-7326 or rjdcarr@aol.com

Please sign up at the following link: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-post

Folks,

I apologize for the late notice, but our game night this week will be on Wednesday at “The Summit” at 7pm. The scouts decided on Laser tag at last weeks meeting. It’s Wednesday because they have Half off the price.  Normally it’s $6.49 a game and a game lasts about 15 min but on Wednesday it’s $3.30 a game. Scouts can play as many or as little as they want.  I will be there from 7-830pm.

Please arrive a couple minutes before 7 and we can get everyone in!

The Summit at Interquest is located at 1180 Interquest Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO.  Please wear the green class B shirts if you have one and if not just wear whatever is more comfortable for playing Laser Tag. No class A uniforms 🙂

Because our meeting will be Wednesday there will NOT be a meeting on Tuesday.  No sign up genius for this one.  Just arrive and have fun!!

Thanks

Sean

Folks,

We have one adult leader that cannot go to the Free-o-ree so we have a paid position open if someone else would like to fill it. We still have two adults going so the campout is a go, but just wanted to pass on the opportunity.

Please call or text me directly if this sounds good to you.  719-648-6798

Thanks

Sean

Scouts,

We are going to meet this Friday at the Church at 5pm for the Free-O-Ree

Please wear your class A shirts and come fully packed. Scouts make sure you bring a meal for Friday night dinner such as a Subway sandwich or similar.

Friday the 16th:

5pm: Meet at Church

530pm: Depart Church for USAFA

Saturday the 17th:

Freez-O-Ree Activities

Sunday the 18th:

9am: Depart AFA

930am: Arrive at Church for Parent Pickup

*Below is the link to the Free-O-Ree Information Packet. Please look it over with your scout. It has an updated Packing List on there as well.

scoutmaster_packet_2018_freezoree_final

Please remember to bring a permission slip if you haven’t turned one in already.

Sean

Scouts,

Next Tuesday’s meeting will focus on Preparations for the Freez-O-Ree. This is a great campout for all ages to include the new scouts.  I will register the troop on Monday night so please sign up on Sign Up Genius as soon as possible: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054baca929a4fc1-freezoree1

During the meeting, we will come up with a meal plan, prep-troop gear, tweak the sled (already Made), and do an inventory of our personal gear.

*ALL scouts going on the campout please bring your gear with everyone you have on the packing list just as if you would for the campout. We are going to talk a little how to pack properly for a campout.  Here is the packing list:

• Class A Shirt
• Backpack (or Duffle Bag) with Waterproof Bag (Could be a lawn/leaf garbage bag)
• Sleeping Bag – 30 degrees (or have a bivy sack to put over it to make it warm to 30 Degrees)
• Sleeping Pad (The foam ones are the best for cold weather or at least one with a high insulation factor)
• Mess Kit with eating utensils
• Two Liters of Water (One should be a Nalgene Bottle)
• Ligher/Matches
• Sunglasses
• Clothes to match the weather (Down Jacket, Fleece, Base Layer, Insulation Layer)
• Beanie Cap (Warm)
• Warm Gloves
• Wool Socks and one or two extra pairs
• Head Lamp
• Head Lamp with spare batteries
• Gators (Good Idea to have these. Some Snow Pants have these built in)
• Hand Sanitizer (For for starting fires too)
• Tiinder (Dryer Lint works awesome)
• Some money to get lunch/snack/warm drink on the way back
• Toilet Paper
• Chapstick or equivalent
• A list of rank advancements you need to accomplish!!!
• Toothbrush
• Wetwipes
• Positive Attitude
• Permission slip 

Troop gear:

• Tent
• Water Purification Pump
• Compasses
• Food to be purchased
• Troop Box with cooking supplies
• Sled
• Troop Flag
• American Flag

Good afternoon everyone!

Three comments on the Citizenship in the Nation Eagle required merit badge for the scouts.

1) Requirement 2 has the scouts doing 2 of 4 items (a – d). Item c. requires the scout to tour a federal facility and explain what they saw and learned. Mrs. Julie Carr (Jacob’s mom) has scheduled a tour of the General Mail Facility here in the Springs. Please contact her at 303-882-7326 or rjdcarr@aol.com if your scout is interested in attending. She will need to know by March 26th in order to get your scout on the list.

2) The scouts went home with homework for four requirements. Please remind your scout about finishing the homework.

3) We are going to set some time aside at the troop meeting on April 3rd to review the last discussion requirement (#7) and I would also like to have the scouts bring their homework for my review. If a scout has all four of the homework requirements for that night and participates in the discussion, they would finish the merit badge that night!!

Thank you,
Danny R.

Reminder for Svout Sunday tomorrow at 10:00 AM. Set clocks up 1 hour tonight
Tom Sharp

Scouts,

Here is a short notice opportunity for some community service hours for rank advancement.

Chipeta Elementary is having a book reading event tonight from 545-715pm.  The theme is camping and they are asking for Scouts to help in reading and working in the craft room.  They already have some girl scouts helping and they would like some Boy Scout presence. Please make sure you are in Class A uniform with neckerchief.

The point of contact is Andrea Baker with the PTA there.  When you arrive please look for her to check in. The PTA office is to the left as you walk in the school main entrance.

I am in an UpaDowna board meeting from 6-7pm so I cannot make it. If an adult leader can make it please let me know ASAP.  We could have a sign up sheet for those interested in Boy Scouts if we want too.

Chipeta Elementary is located at 2340 Ramsgate Terrace, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

Please sign up as soon as you can so I can let them know if we are attending!!

Sign Up Here!! www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-chipeta  Then please text or email me that you are going so I can let the PTA know ASAP!!

Sean

719-648-6798

seanmwarner@gmail.com

Scouts,

Here is an opportunity to make some money for your scout account. We are going to post ourselves in Front of Bass Pro Shop on April 14th from 3-9pm to sell the camp cards. There is a coupon for Bass Pro Shop on the camp card to it’s an easy sell. We will divide the time into hourly shifts. You may sign up for more than one shift if you’d like.

Base Pro is located at :13012 Bass Pro Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Please sign up at Sign Up Genius here:

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

No glamping allowed — Here’s what does and doesn’t count

***Patrol/Troop Specific Equipment***

IMPORTANT:  Troops will need to bring a sled fabricated prior to the event by the Scouts, in line with this Klondike style event. Troops will be required to have a minimum of one sled, and can have as many as one per Patrol (up to 3). The sled should have the ability to be pushed and pulled across snow or dirt because Scouts will be required to bring their sled to each event station. The weight of the sled should be considered due to certain station challenges the Scouts may encounter. Sleds should also be capable of hauling necessary equipment for event stations (as identified below in the event station descriptions). Troops that do not bring a sled will risk losing points at initial check-in and sled-specific events.

***Saturday Activities***

IMPORTANT:  Each Troop/Patrol will be responsible for going to as many stations as possible, in no particular order. Each station will award points that will contribute to an overall score, and the top three Troops/Patrols will be recognized at the awards campfire. There are ten stations that are subject to change but currently planned to include:

1. Station 1 – accuracy and safety with axes, saws and knives (equip: N/A)
2. Station 2 – reaction course (equip: N/A)
3. Station 3 – sled race (equip: troop sled)
4. Station 4 – fire safety and fire building (equip: matches and fire building materials)
5. Station 5– wilderness survival skills (equip: shelter building supplies)
6. Station 6 – lashing skills (equip: 50 feet of 550 cord)
7. Station 7 – first aid skills (equip: first aid kit and splinting materials)
8. Station 8– orienteering skills (equip: compass)
9. Station 9– knowledge of Scout skills (equip: Boy Scout Handbook)

***Bonus Station: showcase of different Academy clubs and teams throughout the day

Each of the nine stations will be competitive, and Troops should prepare by reviewing axe/knife safety, fire safety, wilderness survival, first aid, orienteering and pioneering. Please ensure you bring the required supplies for each station.

Youth participation – $20

Adult Participation – $20

Please sign up at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-freezoree1

Scouts,

Scout Sunday is March 1th at the church at 10:00 am. The Church that graciously lets us use their facilities greatly needs attendance from the Troop for being our charter organization. We also need adults to assist in serving cake and an need an older scout to read scripture.

The service is at 10:30. Tome Sharp will do a short training for scouts tonight to let us know what to expect when ushering, greeting, and reading.

Please sign up on Sign Up Genius Here:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054BACA929A4FC1-scout1

Thanks,

Tom Sharp

Charter Org Rep

Scouts,

Tonight’s meeting will focus on Continuing the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge.  I believe Mr. Reeves (MB Counselor) gave all those that are working on it some stuff to do from the first class. Please make sure you arrive with your worksheet and those items completed.

For the new scouts that are not working on Citizenship in the Nation, let’s get started on some Scout-First Class Achievements:

Sean

Hey Folks,

We had a great Campout this Month by snowshoeing 3 miles up the Crags then camping at Sentinel Point Trail in Florissant. Here are some Review thoughts about the trip:

• We learned some cold weather camping lessons.  Keep Nalgenes in your sleeping bags to prevent freezing.
• Dress properly while hiking in the cold. Don’t over dress while moving because you will sweat and get really cold when you stop.
• Pack your own bags.  Please let the scouts pack their own backpacks. They should know what is in their pack. Parents can help by inspecting AFTER scouts attempt to pack on their own first. Parents, please do not pack for your scouts.  Please do not OVERPACK!  Their packs can get heavy quickly on the trail at altitude.  Way too much clothes can become a hinderance just as fast as not enough clothes.
• Good job on the scouts that had a list of rank advancements needed to be accomplished. We were able to knock some of those out.
• Ingnacio did a great job teaching the Fireman’s Chit and also did great leading the troop on this hike/campout.
• Snowshoes can be a little tricky to walk in but the practice was good!

Here is the link to the photos. If you have any to add please send them too me!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tgRY5wpQdSKpqnnU2

Sean

Campers,

Just a few reminders for the campout on Saturday.

• Please bring a signed permission slip. Its on the website to the right
• Please make sure you have a 0 degree bag or have liners or a bivy sac that converts it to 0 degrees. REI sells these and so do most outdoor retailers in town.
• Please bring a breakfast for the ride up on Saturday (Or eat before hand)
• Also, please bring on pre-made meal that you can heat up using only hot water. The Scouts planned for Everyone to bring one Mountain Man (Dehydrated Meal) type meal that you can get at any sports store. There are other brands too….
• Also, for money saving options for those that need to buy some gear, I recommend checking out Gearonimo and Mountain Equipment Recyclers. I was there yesterday and they have tons of used (but great) jackets, pants, and some new items too.
• I was in Costco today and I saw these boots for sale for about $15 so I thought it might be a good boot for scouts that are still looking for a pair. They say they are waterproof and insulated hiking boots.