Please join us at the March Committee Meeting on March 10 at 7:30 PM at Wilson Church. All parents are welcome to attend.

Hello all.
Due to weather and logistics.
The Freezoree outing is cancelled.
See ya’ll on Tuesday.

Departure time: Meet at the church at 5:30 pm. Don’t forget your dinner.
Make sure that you have covered the packing list from top to bottom. For the safety of all participants we will conduct a final shakedown of the personal gear before we depart for the AFA. Those participants that are not fully prepared will not be allowed to attend.
BE PREPARED to have fun!

We need to get a good count for the canoe trip at this Tuesday’s (2/24) meeting.  This flat-water canoe trip is from 26-31 July, on the Green River, and traverses some spectacular, remote country.  The cost will be $275 and we’ll need to collect a $50 deposit at the meeting on March 3rd.  Sign up this week, pay your deposit next week!  This will be a trip to remember!

Sam Moore is canceling the Eagle Project work days scheduled for this Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22 , due to expected extreme cold and snowy weather. These work days will be rescheduled. Keep an eye out for upcoming work dates.

Please join us for the annual Troop 287 Chili Cook-off Court of Honor. Bring your favorite chili and participate in the taste testing to determine the “Troop Winner”.  Setup will begin at 5:30 with festivities beginning at 6PM and the court of honor at 7PM. The troop will provide fixins’. All family members are welcome and encouraged to attend! See you all tomorrow!

Once again, Troop 287 warmly welcomes the new scouts and their families. This is an exciting time in a Scout’s career, but also a very busy, and maybe confusing time. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed right now, no worries. We’re all here to help and guide you through the process. We’re really glad your with us in the troop and the boys have a bright and fun Scouting future in store for them.

To that effect, there are several first MUST DOs for your Scout:

1. Get the BSA Scout Handbook

This is your Scout’s official rank advancement document. They’ll need this as soon as possible to start advancements in Scouts. Also note that there’s a section on Scouting Safety at the front of the handbook for parents to read. Please take the time to read it and go over it with your Scout. You can purchase the Scout Handbook at the Scout Store.

Your Scout will have this book throughout their Scouting career all the way to Eagle Scout. It’s worth purchasing the nicer book and a cover for it. They should bring their books to and from EVERY scout meeting.

2. Download, Print, and Make the Flash Cards

We’ve created our own version of study flash cards to help Scouts prepare and study for rank advancement. These cards aren’t official BSA materials, but we’ve found them to be quite handy. We work really hard to make sure your Scout knows and internalizes their stuff.

At last week’s meeting on February 10th, the Scouts got a start on their cards. Make sure they finish them at home. You can download the cards and get the instructions on how to make them here:

Download Flash Cards

3. Get BSA Uniforms and Patches

New scouts are provided a troop kerchief, slide, epaulettes (loops), and troop number. If you don’t have yours yet, please talk to one of the Scoutmasters. If they already had a tan scout shirt from Webelos, they can continue to use that shirt, but need to change out the patches. Instead of the Arrow of Light patch, there is an Arrow of Light patch they can wear below their scout rank. You can ask about that patch and get Boy Scout uniforms at the Scout Store (located on Fillmore, by the Waffle House, on the big hill between I-25 and Mesa Road.)

A Scout belt, hat, and other stuff is NOT required. Nice to have, but not required.

So, if you already had the tan shirt from Webelos with the Pikes Peak Council patch on it, then all you’ll need to purchase is the Arrow of Light patch (rectangular in shape). The troop will provide you the green loops (to replace the blue loops), troop numbers, kerchief, and slide. There is information in the Scout Handbook on where the patches are to be sewn on.

“Hello, scouts of 287! It’s Sam! I was wondering if I could get your help for my Eagle project? It’s this Sunday, Feb. 15 at my house, 2323 W Kiowa St, from Noon to 3 p.m. There will also be refreshments at the end of the work day, so you should eat before hand. Also be prepared for weather. We’ll see you there! Thanks.”

The February committee meeting will be held tomorrow evening, February 10 at 7:30 at Wilson Church. All parents are welcome!!

This Tuesday, we’ll be having new scout leadership elections. Boys interested in being a scout leader (senior patrol leader, patrol leader, quartermaster, etc), should come prepared to ‘lobby’ their fellow scouts to vote for them. New leaders will take over at the upcoming Court of Honor this month. We also be having a uniform inspection to get ready for the Court of Honor, so scouts are expected to come to Tuesday’s meeting in full class A uniforms. Get all your correct patches on those uniforms! Merit badge sash, too!

Also, after the Freezoree/beginning of next month, we’ll be holding elections for Order of the Arrow for Scouts who are First Class and have met the minimum camping requirements. More about Order of the Arrow can be found on the BSA website: http://www.oa-bsa.org.

TROOP 287 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

January 13, 2015, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

In attendance:

Jen Jirous, Joyce Moore, Keith Moore, Tom Sharp, Andrea Warner, Mary Cancaro and Lisa Woodard.

Jen Jirous – Committee Chair

• Minutes from December were approved.
• Recharter paperwork was completed; Troop 287 successfully rechartered.
• February 17^th: Chili Cook-off Court of Honor; the boys will compete for 1^st prize for the best chili
• The boys’ schedule from the Yearly Planning Meeting was approved

Keith Moore – Scoutmaster

• Troop 287 welcomes Webelos from Sean and Andrea Warner’s Cub Scout pack as guests at tonight’s meeting!
• Mary – Cub Scout Mom – was welcomed to the Committee Meeting
• January 24^th ski trip was changed from Cooper to Monarch; it will be a one day trip instead of an overnighter; adult drivers needed.
• February 8^th is Scout Sunday; the boys will attend either the 9:30 am or the 11:00 am service at Wilson United Methodist Church.
• Summer Camp: Sandy Johnston will send out information to the Troop so that decisions can be made.

Joyce Moore – Advancement Chair

• Continuing problems with Troop Master software/ church hardware was discussed

Tom Sharp – Charter representative

• Considering moving the boys’ plaques to the inner hallway
• Boy Scout bulletin board was also discussed
• Jim Brinkman, ex-Scout Master put new wheels and a new hub on the Troop’s trailer.

Mark your calendars – here are a few other upcoming activities planned by the Scouts’ at their Yearly Planning Meeting (more info at pikespeakbsa.org):

• Jan 17, Tiger Hockey Scout Night, at the World Arena, 5:00 arrival time.
• Feb 7, Saturday, from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Pikes Peak Council University of Scouting; held at Colorado Technical Univ. – space is limited.
• Feb 8, Scout Sunday; boys attend service at our charter organization: Wilson United Methodist Church
• Feb 27-Mar 1, USAFA Freeze-O-Ree; $20 early-bird registration.

The Troop 287 ski trip to Monarch is scheduled for Saturday, Jan 24. This is a day trip.

We’ll be meeting at the Safeway parking lot (30th and Colorado) at 6:30 a.m. Buy lift tickets here, in Colorado Springs. Recommendations: Shell sells tickets 2 for 1 when you buy 10 gallons of gas. Rent boards, skis, poles, and boots at Ski & Golf, Colorado Kite & Ski, Mountain Chalet. Helmets are also recommended. We plan to be back by 6:30 p.m. Bring lunch or at least $10-15 for lunch. Bring snacks, we will not be having dinner or breakfast.

We need scouts and adults to sign up.

Happy New Year! The January Committee Meeting will be at 7:30PM on Tuesday January 13 at Wilson Church. All parents are welcome!!

Fun and learning was had by the Webelos of Pack 26 as they visited Troop 287. Events included tomahawk and atlatl throwing along with some dutch oven cooking. Overall, a good turn out and good weather … wheh!

All scouts of Troop 287 are encouraged to help with serving dinners at St. Mary’s Annex on Sunday, December 28th. Please be there by 5:45 in Class A uniforms.

All scouts of Troop 287 should be at Wilson Church 12-3:30-ish to help with the Webelos activities Saturday, Dec 13. Wear Class A uniforms.

TROOP 287 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

DECEMBER 9, 2014, 7:30 PM

In attendance:

Keith Moore, John Uhlman, Tom Sharp, Will Mawhaney, Chris Swanson, Lisa Woodard, Sandy Johnston and Phil Stafford.

Jen Jirous – Committee Chair

• Agenda provided via email – Get well, Jen!

Keith Moore – Scoutmaster

• Dec 28, Sunday – Soup Kitchen, 5:45 – 7:00 (always the 4^th Sunday)
• Chris Swanson will start a sign-up sheet for the Mt. Cooper Ski Trip
• Jan 24, Saturday (or Jan 25) – Ski Trip Cooper
• Boys started the Citizenship in the World merit badge tonight; thank you, Gina Swanson!
• No Scout meetings on Dec. 23, Dec. 30 and Jan. 6^th; meetings resume Jan. 13^th.

Chris Swanson

• Need adult volunteers for Ski Trip to Mt. Cooper
• Will Mawhaney may be able to volunteer as a chaperone

Phil Stafford – Treasurer

• Popcorn sales are finished; prizes were distributed.
• Phil will help look for a replacement Treasurer

Mark your calendars – here are a few other upcoming activities planned by the Scouts’ at their Yearly Planning Meeting (more info at pikespeakbsa.org):

• Dec 13, Saturday, from 2:00 – 6:00 pm – USAFA Falcon Ice Arena Basketball Scout Night and post game skate.
• Feb 7, Saturday, from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Pikes Peak Council University of Scouting; held at Colorado Technical Univ. – space is limited.
• Feb 27-Mar 1, USAFA Freeze-O-Ree; $20 early-bird registration.

The December committee meeting will be at 7:30PM on Tuesday December 9 at Wilson Church. All parents/guardians are welcome.