Merit Badge Camp info

Merit Badge Camp is coming up this weekend (November 8-10) at Kiwanis Scout Camp.

• Register here | See who else is attending

To get the most out of it scouts are encouraged to start early.

The merit badges that will be offered are Citizenship in Society (required for Eagle), Public Speaking, Pioneering, and if there is time and interest Communications (required for Eagle). 

Scouts who have started any of these should bring their blue cards. Scouts who need a blue card can get one from Dr. Nixon tonight or at camp.

Citizenship in Society

This eagle-required badge involves safe, open discussions of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how these relate to scouting and to ethical leadership.  Scouts will learn about different identities and perspectives, respecting others’ beliefs, and creating an inclusive, welcoming culture both inside and outside of scouting.

For more information on this badge, see here.

If you are planning on taking this badge, there are a few things you can prepare ahead of time in order to complete the badge this weekend.  If you decide to take the badge when we get to camp, or don’t have time to spend on it this week, that’s fine.  These research tasks can be done after camp instead, and we can discuss them together and complete the badge requirements when you’re ready.

Have an understanding of these terms

• Identities

• Diversity

• Equality

• Equity

• Discrimination

• Inclusion

• Ethical Leadership

• Upstander

Ethical leadership: Choose an individual you feel has demonstrated positive leadership while having to make an ethical decision. (It could be someone in history, a family member, a teacher, a coach, a counselor, a clergy member, a Scoutmaster, etc.).  Be ready to explain what decision and/or options that leader had, why you believe they chose their final course of action, and the outcome of that action.

DEI champion: Identify and interview an individual in your community, school, and/or Scouting who has had a significant positive impact in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you feel your community, school, or local Scouting group does not have such an individual, then research a historical figure who meets these criteria.  Discover what inspired the individual, learn about the challenges they faced, and share what you feel attributed to their success.

Inclusive event: With the help of your parent or guardian, study an event that had a positive outcome on how society viewed a group of people and made them feel more welcome. Be ready to describe the event and what you learned.

Public Speaking

• For Public Speaking, Scouts should review the requirements in the workbook (http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Public-Speaking.pdf)
• Homework: Before camp, prepare talk and visual aids for Requirement 2. Use the worksheet or another document to pick a topic, prepare an outline, and practice an 8-10 minute speech for Requirement 4.
• We'll do Requirements 1, 3, and 5 at camp. Scouts who prepare requirements 1 and 4 before camp can complete the badge provided they deliver both talks while at camp.

Pioneering

• There is no homework as this is a hands-on badge.

Communications

• Review the requirements in the workbook (http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Communication.pdf)
• We can do Requirements 1c, 3, and possibly 4 at camp. I recommend that Scouts bring a printed copy of the workbook to track their work.

Campout planning tonight | PLC next Monday

Hello Troop 1!

Merit Badge camp is this coming weekend. Tonight's meeting will focus on camp prep - menus, checking patrol boxes, and assigning responsibility for Grubmasters for our patrols. We currently have 5 adults and 8 scouts registered.

Merit badges offered include: Citizenship in Society, Public Speaking, and Pioneering. We'll send a separate email to all with information on the badges and requirements that will need to be done ahead of time or after camp.

There's still time to register for camp if you want to attend but have not yet signed up. Camp cost is $25.

• Register here | See who else is going

As a reminder, the first meeting after a Troop camp is Patrol Leader's Council. The PLC will plan the next month of activities for the Troop. All scouts are welcome to attend the PLC on Monday November 11, but Patrol Leaders / Assistant Patrol Leader / Senior and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders / Scribe are required to attend. If you hold one of these positions and cannot make the meeting, please make sure you have someone else stand in for you.

A side note: We do not yet officially have a Scribe. If no one steps up to take this role, the ASPLs will be required to fill Scribe role for the meeting. Please consider becoming Troop Scribe. Your responsibility is to take notes during the PLC and communicate these notes back to the Scoutmaster for distribution to the Troop.

See you tonight!

Upcoming Camps and Meetings

Hello all - your Patrol Leader's Council met yesterday and planned the next month of meetings. We also have sign-ups available for camp weekends through February. The PLC also discussed the need for better pre-camp planning based on feedback from last weekend's camp.

MEETINGS

Monday October 14: "Don't Be Columbus" day. Who wants to be famous for being utterly lost? Not Scouts! We'll work on map and compass skills. Bring a compass (if you have one) and a headlamp or flashlight, and dress for the weather. Older Scouts should be prepared to take bearings and map out a course outdoors, while younger scouts learn the skills needed to navigate the course.

Monday October 21: "Totin' Chip" day. Let's learn about safety when using knives, axes, and saws! Bring a pocketknife and materials to sharpen a knife, saw, or axe (sharpening stone, metal file, etc, if you have one). Scouts will have a chance to earn their Totin' Chip or teach others using the E.D.G.E. method. Hopefully, we can remain focused on safety rather than First Aid!

Monday October 28: "Pumpkin Carving" day. Now that we can safely use knives, the PLC planned an evening of pre-Halloween fun! Bring a pumpkin (or other suitable vegetable) to carve into a jack-o-lantern. Please plan to bring your own carving tools, and newspaper or tarp to protect the floors and speed clean-up. If you like pumpkin seeds, make sure you have a container to bring them home for roasting!

Monday November 4: "Pre-Camp Planning" day. We'll be preparing for the Merit Badge Camp. Come to the meeting with your own menu plan - include one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner - your patrol will vote on meals and pick a Grubmaster for the weekend. We'll also verify patrol boxes are complete and talk about the care (and restoration!) of cast iron cookware.

CAMPS

November 8-10: Merit Badge Camp, Kiwanis Scout Camp

We hope to offer some of the Citizenship merit badges, with alternate offerings for Scouts who have completed the Citizenship badges. This will be a busy weekend and will likely require some work outside of the weekend to earn some of the selected badges.

• Register here | See who else is attending

December 6-8: Board Game Camp, Stearns Scout Camp

A full weekend of your favorite board and tabletop games, in Tonkawa Lodge - the newest and fanciest Scout lodge in Minnesota. Bring your favorite games to share, and try games you've never played before. If you haven't been to Board Game Camp before, you don't want to miss it.

• Register here | See who else is attending

January 10-12, 2025: Snow Base, Tomahawk Scout Camp

Snow Base is booked and those who registered prior to October 1 are confirmed. Remember that your full payment for the weekend is due by December 15. If your Scout account can't cover the cost, you'll be contacted by the Treasurer to arrange payment. We may have opportunity for additional attendees (especially for Experience program) - if you are interested and missed the sign-up window, contact me!

• (Contact Dr. Nixon for registration) | See who else is attending

February 7-9, 2025: Ski Camp, Trollhaugen/Fred C. Anderson Scout Camp

Join us for our annual trip to Trollhaugen, where we'll invite the Arrow of Light scouts from Pack 1 for a weekend of skiing and winter fun! This camp costs a little more than most due to lift ticket prices. Scouts will have the opportunity to work on Snow Sports Merit Badge (ski or snowboard option).

• Register here | See who else is attending

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joshua Nixon, PhD (he/him/his)

Camp Planning Monday & Upcoming Camps

Hello Troop 1!

We have several camps planned for the next few months.

October 4-6: Back-to-the-Woods Camp, Rum River Scout Camp

It's not too late to register! This is an unstructured weekend camp at Rum River. Outdoor sleeping and cooking, advancement, and general fun. With a little luck, Scouts can work on Golf merit badge on the camp disc golf course (assuming my Golf counselor approval comes in time!) We're planning the menu at Monday's meeting. If you are going to camp and need to plan camp menus for advancement, this is your chance!

• Register here | See who else is going

November: Merit Badge Camp - date and location TBD

Planning on either Nov 1-3 or 8-10, pending Patrol Leader's Council approval. Stay tuned for this one: We hope to offer some of the Citizenship merit badges, with alternate offerings for Scouts who have completed the Citizenship badges. If you have not provided your input on which badges we should consider, please fill out the form!

• Merit Badge interest

December 6-8: Board Game Camp, Stearns Scout Camp

A full weekend of your favorite board and tabletop games, in Tonkawa Lodge - the newest and fanciest Scout lodge in Minnesota. Bring your favorite games to share, and try games you've never played before. If you haven't been to Board Game Camp before, you don't want to miss it.

• Register here | See who else is attending

January: Snow Base - date TBD, Tomahawk Scout Camp

Council registration for Snow Base opens on October 1. We currently have 16 people who intend to go - that's an awesome group! If you'd like to join us, sleep in the snow, and generally have some winter fun, register now! If need be, we can send two crews on alternate weekends.

• Register interest here | See who else is attending

Last but not least - don't forget SKI CAMP in February! More details to come.

Progress and Camping

Hello Scouts - reminders of a few items:

Merit Badge progress:

Please fill this form out to let your PLC know what badges you would like the Troop to work on at upcoming meetings. Only 3 Scouts have responded so far!

• Fill out form here

Camping opportunities:

Fall Camporee (October 4-6) - Only 1 Scout signed up so far, if we do not have at least 4 Scouts we won't attend!

• Register Here | See who else is going

Snow Base (January 2025) - 6 Scouts / 2 adults interested, any others who want to attend should register soon!

• Register here | See who else is going

Next meeting is Monday September 16, 6:30 PM at Minnehaha United Methodist. Please note I will not be able to attend this meeting as I will be out of town for work.

Meeting Tonight at MUMC | Snow Base interest

Hello Troop 1!

Looking forward to seeing everyone tonight at Minnehaha United Methodist, 6:30 PM.

Please consider signing up for Snow Base: This unique winter camping experience is offered at Tomahawk Scout Camp. We hope to bring a crew in January. All food is provided as part of program cost, and Snow Base provides high performance winter gear to ensure everyone stays warm and has fun. Northern Star Scouting registration for Snow Base dates opens October 1. Dogsledding lottery opens September 15. We need you to register your interest soon to ensure we can get a spot. More info here from the Northern Star website.

Snow Base has three main programs:

• Experience Program: Introduction to winter camping. Scouts sleep indoors in a bunkhouse Friday and Saturday nights, with the option of trying a night in a snow shelter.
• Spearhead Program: Scouts sleep in a bunkhouse Friday night, then construct and sleep in their own outdoor snow shelters on Saturday.
• Dogsledding Program: Open only to Scouts who have attended Snow Base before. This popular program is lottery-based. Scouts spend the day with a dogsled team, and sleep indoors with an optional outdoor option Saturday night, like the Experience program.
  

Program cost is $88 (Experience program), $101 (Spearhead program), or $260 (Dogsledding program).

Scouts who have attended in prior years really enjoy this winter camping experience! Build and sleep in a snow shelter, play winter games, and learn how to stay warm in the snow. See photos from the 2023 Snow Base weekend here.

• Register Interest Here | Campout Roster

Labor Day | Upcoming Meetings | Pancake Breakfast | Fall Camporee

Greetings Scouts!

As we wrap up summer and head into the school year, we have a lot going on. Please read carefully!

MEETINGS

Monday Sept 2: Labor Day - no Troop meeting.

Monday Sept 9: Troop meeting, Theodore Wirth Park Trailhead, 7PM.

• Please note this is a different location and time than our normal meetings! Cullan F's Eagle project will have volunteer shifts on Sept 9 (see note from Cullan, emailed separately). Your Patrol Leader's Council opted to move the meeting to make it easier for Scouts to help with the project while still attending the Troop meeting. This will be a shorter meeting - we will still plan to be done by 8PM.
• Meeting plan: Targeted Advancement - bring your Scout book and be ready to work on requirements!
  

Monday Sept 16: Troop Meeting, Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 6:30PM. Meeting plans include:

• Pancake Breakfast planning - see below for more information!
  
• Merit Badge progress review - please fill out this form and bring your answers to the meeting

Monday Sept 23: Troop Meeting, Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 6:30PM. Meeting plans include:

• Targeted Advancement - bring your Scout book or Merit Badge blue card(s) and be ready to work on requirements! Scouts who need to work on the same things will be paired with any Scout or adult who can help them.

Monday Sept 30: Troop Meeting, Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 6:30PM. Meeting plans include:

• Campout Planning - Fall Camporee. Patrols need to check gear and plan menus.
• Targeted Advancement - Rank or Merit Badge work

PANCAKES

Sunday September 23: Pancake Breakfast fundraiser

• Be prepared to help spread the word and to help out. More details to come.
• For those working on Communication Merit Badge, this is a great opportunity to design a flyer to help promote the fundraiser! (Requirement 7c)

CAMPING

October 4-6: Fall Camporee, Fred C Anderson Scout Camp. Camp focus: Ecology and Conservation, with opportunity for Conservation service hours. Hours can count towards rank, Environmental Science, or Sustainability MBs.

Camporee is a Council camp. Attendance cost (including food) is $45 youth / $40 adult for early registration. Prices increase by $10 for late registration.

• Sign up here | See who else is going

OTHER UPCOMING CAMPS: Remember - These won't happen unless the Troop plans them!

November 22-24, Stearns: Merit Badge camp/Pack 1 skills demo

December (date/location TBD): Board Game Camp

January (date TBD), Tomahawk: Snow Base

February (date TBD), Fred C Anderson/Trollhaugen: Ski Camp

Thanks for reading and enjoy your holiday weekend!