THE LATEST NEWS FROM OUR SCOUTMASTER! |
Troop 400, Attention Troop 400,
Two merit badges will be taught at the Church Children's Ministry Center from 5:30pm - 7:00pm over the next three Mondays, Jan 30, Feb 6, Feb 13th.
The first merit badge is Electricity. This is largely a hands on merit badge in which scouts will build and test several low voltage projects. During the process scouts will begin to understand the fundamental concepts that are the basis for electricity and magnetism. Three will be three take home assignment with this merit badge:
1) Electrical home safety inspection.
2) An electrical circuit wiring diagram.
3) Read an electrical meter and list five ways to conserve energy at home.
Scouts that participate should expect to build an electromagnet, a telegraph, a buzzer, a motor, and a rheostat.
As in many scouting merit badges safety is of primary concern. Scouts will be asked to learn about how to respond to electrical emergencies.
The second scouting merit badge is Space Exploration. This merit badge is being offered in preparation to our upcoming trip to the NASA Space Museum in Huntsville Alabama. This merit badge is much more textbook and reading based and requires a more mature scout willing to read and do homework. There is one hands on activity to build, launch, and recover a model rocket. The hands on rocket will be schedule on a future Saturday.
These merit badges are offered to all scouts. Scouts who do not exhibit the scout law will be not be successful. In addition to obeying the scout law participants should be patient, willing to share. . To be prepared each scout should purchase or borrow a scout merit badge book, a pencil, an erasor.
Other materials will be provided but a donation of $10 is asked to cover cost of materials.
The availability of Mentors for this project is not known at this time. Scouts should plan to participate in both merit badges and be flexible in switching from one Merit badge to the next during the 1.5 hours time slot.
In Scouting,
Scott Hand
ASM Troop 400
************************************************************** On Mon., 30 Jan, we will have an assistant scoutmaster (ASM) meeting. The troop and patrol leaders will have their PLC planning meeting beginning at 7pm. Once we get the PLC going, myself and the ASMs will break out and have our ASM meeting at 7:15pm.
Topics will include the campout in Feb. in Huntsville, AL, the upcoing March campout, Scout Sunday update, training, equipment and trailer issues, etc.
Hope to see you on Monday!
Below is the current list (as of: Mon., 23 Jan) of Scouts and adults who signed up for the trip to Huntsville, AL:
Scouts (19)-
Donald C - SPL John S - ASPL
Tanner H - JASM
Sean O - PL
Thomas W
Jack N
Kevin M
Shawn C - PL
Robert M
Alex A
Augie L
Donny B
Keith T - PL
Joseph K
Casey D
Zach N
Kevin D
Hunter K
Gavin K
Adults (5)-
Mr. Boling - van (11)
Mr. Northrup - truck w/trailer (4)
Mr. Cunningham - truck w/trailer (4)
Mr. Beckham
Mike Kelley
See below and here for more trip details. Reminder - need $40 deposit by Mon., 6 Feb., balance by Mon., 13 Feb.
Please check the above list for accuracy; you can still sign up and go! Adults - we'll need an adult grubmaster, and need more drivers.
Scouts will need a NOTARIZED parent consent permission form, and everyone needs an updated physical exam form.
Troop 400,
It’s time for our next Troop 400 adventure…to outer space via Alabama (ha)! Details—
Where: Huntsville, AL….we’ll be staying at the youth campground in Monte Sano State Park (east of Huntsville), and also visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center! When: 18-20 February 2012. Meet at the church on Sat., 18 Feb, 7am…return around 5pm on Monday, 20 Feb. Cost: We have two options, which vary from $69-$90 for a child (12 and under), and $74-95 for everyone else; see attached information sheet. We’ll need a $40 deposit not later than Monday, 6 February. Costs do not cover patrol meals; patrols will cook three meals. Other: Information sheet for the travel itinerary, meal plan and options, cost breakdown, and other important notes (i.e. need notarized parent permission form, current physical exam, watch, warm clothes, etc.). Other, part2: Sign-up sheet begins on Monday, 23 Jan 2012. Final trip payment is due Monday, 13 Feb. It’ll be a blast!
************************************************************** Can you say Philmont? PHILMONT!
Got a quick response last night at the troop meeting, and here is the list of Scouts/Youth (ages 14-21) and Adults (ages 22+) who signed up:
Scouts/Youth (ages14-21)-limited to 16:
1. Jon Smidt
2. Jack N
3. Daniel W
4. Andrew H
5. Andrew H
6. Tanner H
7. Ryan M
8. Donald C
9. Bryant M
10. Riley B
11. Kevin M
12. Nicholas H
13. Augie L
14. Robert M
15. John S
16. Tyler M
Adults (ages22+)-limited to 8:
1. Ron Northrup
2. Wade Wilson
3. Gil Medina
4. Scott Hand
5. Ed Hart
6. Danny Hickman
7. Lewe Cunningham
8. Ryan Bitely
*9. Russ Moser - stand-by
Please check this list for accuracy....if you want to go, recommend you put your name on the stand-by list. It never fails in that we'll have Scouts and adults who will not be able to make it for one reason or another...as such, put your name on "stand-by" and pay the required fees....the more we have on "stand-by", the better.
Each of you need to pay the $100 deposit by 13 Feb., we have to send in our first payment to Philmont by 29 Feb.
Also, don't bother asking at this time what the total cost for the trip will be...more to follow. My best guess for now is approximately $1700 per person.
Some of you on this list have not been camping with the troop in a long time, or have current physical exams. If you are serious about going on this trip, then stay current on dues, registration, training, attendance, physical exams, etc....just because you signed up on Monday night is no "guarantee" that you'll be going to Philmont!
Looks like a solid group! Start exercising, wearing a backpack, and hiking....hike, hike, hike!
*************************************************** A note from our Chartered Organization Representative: I want to thank everyone for a trouble-fee year so far. To keep us in the good graces of our hosts, I just want to remind everyone of our responsibilities when we are using Woodbine’s Preschool classrooms for Den and Troop Meetings. We need to: 1. Ensure all classrooms are left the way we found them, or better. 2. That means classrooms that a sibling may wander into while dens are meeting. 3. We need to empty the trash cans in the classrooms if we use them. It’s easy—just dump the trash in the large grey plastic can under the breezeway. 4. Leave NOTHING behind that can injure a pre-school child. That means especially pocketknives, fish hooks, tools, or hardware. Count it before you use it, and count it after you use it, just like aircraft maintenance or a surgical team in the O-R. The risk it too great if we leave something behind. 5. The playground is not for our scouts, or even their siblings during meetings. It is for the Preschool ONLY. 6. Make sure the bathroom lights are out and no water is running when we leave. 7. Make sure the doors are locked when we leave. 8. Don’t prop the doors wide open when the heat or A/C is on. Just crack them open. I know that all three of our scouting units use the facilities, as do the Girl Scouts, and so this is not directed at any single unit. This is everybody’s responsibility. I appreciate your help with this. Sam Samoluk Chartered Organization Rep ******************************************************* Click Here for a document from the district roundtable meeting.... It shows how to go on-line and steps needed to do BSA training courses, ex. the Youth Protection Training.
There are many interesting courses you can and should take as a Troop 400 BSA adult leader!
Remember...just completing any of these courses isn't enough; you also must make a copy of the completion card/certificate and give one copy to our troop committee so we can log it into TroopMaster database, and you maintain a copy of your personal Scouting records.
********************************************************* Recently our troop received a nice donation of 14 military style sleeping bags! They are down filled, green in color, clean, and serviceable. I have already given out 3 bags to our Scouts...if you need a sleeping bag, let me know! They will be yours to keep! I'm also picking up MORE sleeping bags end of this month...
Also, in the spring, we received 11 complete military style "shelter half" style pup tents. They are green, canvas, and do not have a floor, ie. you would need a ground cloth/plastic sheet, but are complete with poles, stakes, and ropes. If you would like one of these tents, again let me know...they are yours to keep.
Additionally, if the cost for a camping weekend or trip is keeping you/Scout from going camping, please talk to me or our committee chairman (Ryan Bitley). We do have a campership program to help pay for camping weekends and trips...one program is the "50-50"...if you can pay 50% of the trip, the troop can cover the other 50%. We hate to see our Scouts miss a camping opportunity due to cost.
We understand prices seem to always go up, and not down. We try to keep our camping and trip costs as low as possible...if you need assistance, let me know.
PLUS...we do have uniforms (pants, shirts, some socks) that other Scouts have either outgrown or donated back to the troop. If your Scout needs a uniform, please see Priscilla, Theresa, or Ryan and maybe we'll have the right size!
Also, we have 5 Scout Handbooks at a reduced price of $4.00 each in case your Scout needs one...the council Scout store was running a sale, so we picked up a few before they were gone.
Hope this helps, God Bless....
********************************************************************* In order to have a better operating Troop 400, I need some adult volunteer support....
Click here for a list of different ways you can help...this is the same list I handed out at the COH on Monday night, 21 Sep.
Please look it over; some of the positions require more than one adult to help. These positions do not require you to be a parent, ie. some of our single, adult Eagle Scouts can fill these spots as well.
If interested, or you don't exactly understand what it is I'm looking for, then give me call....995-1582, or talk to me directly at the next meeting.
Our Scouts deserve adult guidance, leadership and support in order to make YOUR SON'S Scouting experience a positive and fulfilling experience! Adults often ask, Moni, what can I do to help?" Here is a list of ways you can help! Let's make Troop 400 a better troop!
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If you want to get involved in Troop 400 in a BIG way, then contact me about this program. It will require some time on your part every week to give us updates and progress reports at our troop meetings, committiee meetings, and courts-of-honor. But in the end, when our Scouts start earning these awards as part of the 100th anniversary of Scouting, it will be well worth your time and energy! In Scouting, Moni Boling
SM, Troop 400
home: 850-995-1582 |
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