General News
**Dan Patch Fall Camporee @ Stearns Campsite 10///04-10/03/04.
Various merit badges will be offered.
**Gander Mtn in Lakeville is offering a Deal on Scouting
Equipment/Gear on Feb 28, 2004.
**WCHA Scout Day is Sat. 3/20/04 a 2 PM game. $15 buys a ticket in,
a hot dog, soda, chips and post game on ice slap shots.
**Spring Advancement will be 2/24/04 at Christ the King
Church�..youth leadership roles and a free rocket kit offered.
Time: 7 PM
Check with Kathy Burnside or the Scoutmasters for more information on
these events.
Scoutmaster Report
Our Scoutmasters have decided that at regular meetings the Scouts no longer must wear the neckerchief with their uniform shirts. However, shirts must be tucked in at all times. Full uniforms are REQUIRED at Board of Review and Court of Honor. Scouts may wear the Class B uniform on camping trips unless the troop is going to a designated Scout Camp, i.e. Many Point, Stearns.
Camping
NOTE TIME CHANGE!!!!!!
The January campout will be a skiing day at Afton Alps on Saturday,
January 17, 2004. Downhill skiing, tubing and boarding will be
available. There is a "Snow Sports" merit badge that can be earned
as part of this activity. Meet at the church at 8:00 AM --- we will
need adults to supervise and drive. Cost is $10, the usual fee for
camping. Scouts will be returned to their houses by 5-5:30 PM. Sign
up is required.
The February campout is at the Isaac Walton League facilities on Bush
Lake. The plans are for this to be a Son/Father campout on Saturday
night with an all parent cookout that evening. The event is planned
for Saturday Feb. 2, 2004 at 10 AM.
We plan a wicked Broomball game as well as a small service project to
pay for the use of the facilities. We are inviting Webelos and their
parents to join us.
March campout is being planned and we are considering the campsite near Cannon Falls on the weekend of 3/19, 3/20, & 3/21. Weather permitting we may be able to do Rocket Launching. Other activities may be rifle/shotgun shooting.
The April campout will be 4/16-4/19. Place as yet not picked.
The May campout will be 5/7 at Cleary Lake that will include the OA
Call Out. On the calendar, please cross off the 5/21 campout.
HIGH ADVENTURES
Lou Heffernan suggested the troop consider a SCUBA training adventure
for this spring. Lou has signed up a number of spaces for this
activity for the dates of 3-1, 3-3, 3-8 and 3-10. The course does
require a firm commitment of time in order to be certified. The
Scouts MUST attend all sessions and it does require study time to
pass the test to be certified for Scuba. The classes will be at The
Scuba Center at 50th and Penn and the water classes are at the
Northwestern Chiropractic Center at 86th and Penn. The cost is $219
per person and the troop will pay � of the fees. Each swimmer will
also need to purchase or rent snorkel, mask and fins.
After passing the Scuba certifying exams the Scouts can then be
certified for Open Water Diving that will cost $159 and will be held
later.
To register for this activity, please see Lou at the 1/12/04 meeting
Tim Anderson is planning a Northern MN High Adventure at the cost of approximately $125. This adventure is geared to interest the older boys who may be not as enthusiastic about Many Point camp. Tim is looking into white water rafting and maybe biking/hiking at Lutsen. Details to follow.
Ross Amundson is organizing a High Adventure-Sea Base. This would be
for the summer 2005. We must submit out application by 2/15/04 so we
will need a deposit of $100 by 2/1/04. Once we have placed our
application, the Sea Base people will decide by Lottery who is
accepted. The total approximate cost, including airfare, will be
$1000. The adventure we are looking into is on one of the Tall Ships
based in the Bahamas. Scouts must be age 14 by the time they are to
leave and cannot be over age 18. We will need at least two Adult
Leaders.
TREASURER'S REPORT
We remain financially sound with an anticipated $1500 more in the
account that at this time last year. We welcome suggestions on any
big-ticket items that the troop might acquire or replace�.please see
the Scoutmasters with any ideas.
The really great news is that we are doubling the camp credits!!!
Way to go, troop!
ADVANCEMENT REPORT
We have several new Scouts signed up so if you see a new face, please
make them welcome.
It is time for the yearly re-chartering of the troop. The fee of $25
per boy is due now. Make the check to the Troop and give it to Evan
Newton or Tom Solberg.
This would be a great time to be sure we have the current addresses
and phone number for everyone too.
Summer Camp
We have decided to keep Many Point as the camp of choice for this summer. We will be going the week of 7/25/04. We may explore other options for next year. If Many Point is not interesting to you, consider the HA in Northern MN.
Secretary's Note
If you are receiving this newsletter by mail, that means I do not have your Email address. Email delivery allows you to receive the news quicker and it is cheaper and easier as well. If you have an email account, please let me know or better yet, email me the address to my account at [email protected]. Thanks.
Calendar
| 12 | Meeting | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
| 17 | Skiing at Afton Alps | 8:00 AM | meet at NHUMC |
| 18 | Eagle Court of Honor for Jeff B. and Drew M. | 2:30 PM | St. Luke's LC |
| 26 | TLC (plan Feb.) | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
February | |||
| 2 | Meeting | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
| 5 | Parent District Roundtable | 7:00 PM | CTKLC |
| 7 | Parent Planning Meeting | 7:30 AM | NHUMC |
| 9 | Meeting - Broomball Making!! | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
| 21 | Campout / | 10:00 AM | Isaac Walton Bush Lake |
| All parent steak fry | 5:00 PM | '' | |
| 23 | Meeting | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
March | |||
| 8 | Meeting - Nominations | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
| 15 | Meeting - Elections | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
| 19 | Campout | TBD | Cannon Falls |
| 22 | Board of Review/ TLC Meeting | 7:00 PM | NHUMC |
ALL PARENTS!!
Consider attending the next parent-planning meeting.
We will be discussing fundraising ideas to assist the Scouts who want
to attend these great HA we have planned.
Also, we will be discussing ideas to move the troop back to patrol-
organized units versus the current organization that is more troop
oriented.
We need your ideas and input so put the date on the calendar and plan
on attending.