14 January 2019

Troop Meeting - Monday, 1/14 6:30-8:00

We've had many scouts doing service this past week! I'm excited to hear from Scouts that helped at the MUMC food shelf fundraiser/spaghetti dinner on Wednesday. At FMSC on Saturday, our table literally packed thousands of meals for children in Haiti.

We have one more troop organized Service Opportunity this month.
1/26 - Mini-Harvest for the MUMC Food Shelf. 7:30-9am. Show up in Uniform and help distribute food to those in need. Last Saturday hike to follow. 

Ski Camp - Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp / Trollhaugen
Feb 8-10, 2019
Troop 1 will be hosting the Arrow of Light Scouts and their Akelas. They'll be sleeping and eating with the troop for the entire weekend. (please register for camp with the troop).

Sleeping inside at Fred C. Andersen in the Peterson Cabins 1 & 2
Schedule:
Friday, Feb 8 - Meet at MUMC 6:00 (eat dinner beforehand or pack a sack, we won't be stopping). On the road by 6:30 for an estimated 7:30 arrival. 
Saturday Breakfast in Camp, 9:00 drive to Trollhaugen (about 30 minutes)
Saturday - 9:30 arrival at Trollhaugen, Ski all day, Return to Fred C about 6 pm
Saturday Lunch is at the Ski Chalet. Bring money or decide with your patrol to pack lunches in advance (You might still want money for hot cocoa). $15-$20 should get you hot cocoa and lunch. Here's their Menu.
Saturday Dinner is provided back in camp. 
Louis Hoffman and Eddie McDonald stay back and cook for the day! Thanks, Guys!

Ski Camp costs more than most camps, but we get a group discount on lift tickets and equipment. The cost breakdown is below. 
• Camp Food $10 -Friday Cracker Barrel, Saturday Breakfast, Saturday Dinner, Sunday Breakfast
• Lift Ticket - $36 Scouts / $40 Adult 
• Skis or Snowboard, Boots, Poles, Helmet - $20 
• Beginner Ski or Snowboard Lessons - Free
Register here -  Registration will Close Feb 4. 

Current Ski Camp Crew - https://goo.gl/gXaUZ1

Name	Patrol
Will Newell	Good
Stuart Champion	Good
Alex Barber	Good
Oliver Needleman	Good
Liam McDonald	Flying Penguin
Nicholas Brown	Bacon
Thomas Newell	Arrow of Light
Eddie McDonald	Adult - (Loon)
Ruth Wikoff-Jones	Adult - (Loon)

Snow Base
Feb 22-24, Tomahawk Scout Reservation 
Snow Base Roster is set. 
Specific details have been sent to participants. 

Reptile Amphibian Discovery Zoo Mar 9-10
Sign Up - https://goo.gl/forms/BDEaB3qgl3MUIfZq1
Saturday Morning until Sunday Morning. Saturday we'll spend the day hiking and then head to RAD Zoo for supper, evening program and sleeping (indoors). 
• Reptile and Amphibian Study MB pamphlet. You may want to read it if you're going for the MB. 
•Here's a helpful worksheet. 

Upcoming Schedule
Jan 21 - Troop Meeting (High Adventure Proposals Due)
Jan 28 - Troop Meeting
Feb 4 - Troop Meeting
Feb 8-10 - Ski Camp @ Fred C. Andersen / Trollhaugen
Feb 11 - PLC Meeting
Feb 22-24 - Snow Base at Tomahawk
Feb 25 - Troop Meeting (Pinewood Derby Workshop/ help pack)
Mar  4 - Troop Meeting
Longer List of Troop Activites

BSA Troop 1 Facebook Group

For those of you on Facebook, feel please join our closed group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnt3001/

Scoutmaster's Minute

Many of you may know, one of my many quirks is that I really enjoy listening to commencement speeches. In fact, I look forward to the graduation season because of it. David McCullough Jr.'s 2012 speech, "You're not Special," or Admiral McCraven's 2014 speech (subsequently turned into a book) called "Make Your Bed", are definite standouts for me. This past year another included another speech I've been reflecting on for months. Comments were delivered by Pete Davis, the 2018 Harvard Graduate Commencement Speaker on "Liquid Modernity" or what he termed, "Infinite Browsing Mode." The following ideas are inspired and borrowed from his.  

Infinite Browsing Mode

Many of us have looked at a streaming service, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, YouTube, etc. and started scrolling through the options. Eventually, after a good number of minutes, we realize we're simply stuck scrolling, and we're not watching a movie. Then we realize we'd rather go to sleep anyway. 

It's like entering a long hallway, with millions of doors, behind each door is a different room of requirement. With so many great options its hard to make a decision about which room to enter. 

With so many great opportunities, available to us all the time it can be hard to choose. Nobody wants to be locked out, or locked in, but nobody wants to live in a hallway either. Often times, we call this "keeping our options open." What's your hallway?  Which door will you choose? How will you know its the "right" one? 

What does this lack of commitment mean for how we represent ourselves? Or worse yet, are the infinite options available from developing something in us to prevent us from making decisions and/or maintain commitments? 

Many of us have heard the turn of phrase, "Too much analysis leads to paralysis."  But we also have the antidotes ... our time and effort. Time and effort can turn plans into real projects, strangers into our neighbors, and even a Tenderfoot into an Eagle Scout. 

Don't get stuck in Infinite Browsing Mode, just pick a movie and watch it all the way through. 

7 January 2019

Troop Meeting - Monday, 1/7 6:30-8:00

Happy New YEAR!!!

We had a very productive PLC on Dec 29. We're going to be busy!!!

Service Opportunities 

1/9 -Wednesday - Help the MUMC Food shelf from 5-7pm. It's their spaghetti dinner fundraiser and they'd appreciate the help bussing and running dishes, etc. This is NOT at MUMC it's at Lake Nokomis Lutheran. If you plan on attending, let me know so I can pass along your information - I may not be able to make this event. Scouts should wear their best Class A Uniform. 

1/12 - FMSC - Since Snow Base was canceled, the PLC wanted to do some service at Feed My Starving Children. We have 12 spots - 2 need to be for adults. So that's room for 10 scouts depending on driver availability. Register here by Thursday. Scouts should wear their Red Class B uniforms. No Jewelry and some other rules need to be followed.

1/26 - Mini-Harvest for the MUMC Food Shelf. 7:30-9am. Show up in Uniform and help distribute food to those in need. Last Saturday hike to follow.

Ski Camp - Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp / Trollhaugen

Feb 8-10, 2019
Ski Camp costs more than most camps, but we get a group discount. The cost breakdown is below.
Friday, Feb 8 - Meet at MUMC 6:00 (eat dinner beforehand or pack a sack, we won't be stopping). On the road by 6:30 for an estimated 7:30 arrival. 

We'll be hosting the Arrow of Light Scouts and their Akelas.

Camping inside at Fred C. Andersen in the Peterson Cabins 1 & 2

Saturday Breakfast in Camp, 9:00 drive to Trollhaugen (about 30 minutes)
Saturday - 9:30 arrival at Trollhaugen, Ski all day, Return to Fred C about 6 pm
Saturday Lunch is at the Ski Chalet. Bring money or decide with your patrol to pack lunches in advance (You might still want money for hot cocoa). $15-$20 should get you hot cocoa and lunch. Here's their Menu. Saturday Dinner is provided in camp. Louis Hoffman stays back and cooks for the day! Thanks Louis!

Costs:
Camp Food $10 -Friday Cracker Barrel, Saturday Breakfast, Saturday Dinner, Sunday Breakfast
Lift Ticket - $36 Scouts / $40 Adult
Skis or Snowboard, Boots, Poles, Helmet - $20
Beginner Ski or Snowboard Lessons - Free

Register Here -  Registration will Close Feb 4. 

Snow Base 2.0 - Tomahawk Scout Reservation
DATE CHANGE - Would you like to go Feb 22-24.
Sign-Up here for Snow Base by 1/14. We have a previous crew of scouts signed up. If you're currently registered and can not make it that weekend please let me know ASAP. If your Scout is not registered but is interested in attending that weekend, also let me know ASAP.

And if you're able to drive that weekend, please let me know. We'll likely need more driver(s). We had secured a second driver for our original weekend, thanks Peggy Guinney! I'm not sure of her status for the new weekend. If you're an adult interested in attending, you'll have to complete BSA Youth Protection Training and make sure you have a Health Form Parts A & B filled out.

Check the Snow Base website http://camp.northernstarbsa.org/snow-base

Enjoy an outfitted weekend of winter fun with our trained Snow Base Staff in February. Staying warm is easy when they provide cold weather training, winter clothing, camping equipment, excellent meals, and outdoor activities.

Previous Snow Base Roster

Upcoming Schedule
Jan 9 - Service for Food Shelf 5-7pm at Lake Nokomis Lutheran
Jan 12 - Service at Feed My Starving Children 9-11
Jan 14 - Troop Meeting
Jan 21 - Troop Meeting (High Adventure Proposals Due)
Jan 28 - Troop Meeting
Feb 4 - Troop Meeting
Feb 8-10 - Ski Camp @ Fred C. Andersen / Trollhaugen
Feb 11 - PLC Meeting
Feb 22-24 - Snow Base at Tomahawk

Longer List of Troop Activites

High Adventure Proposals

Sponsor your idea. Do some research about where you'd like to go and what you'd like to do. Presentations at the Troop Meeting on - Jan 21

Scoutmaster Minute
This is inspired by a monologue from the Ancient One in the 2016 Marvel film, Dr. Strange:

You cannot beat a river into submission. You have to surrender to its current and use its power as your own. 

As youth, we're often at the confluence of many rivers. You can only paddle upstream so long before you're exhausted. Use your resources and skills to help accomplish your aims. 

26 December 2018

26 December 2018

12/29 - Saturday 9-12, MUMC - PLC 
We are having our PLC and an intro session to our Leadership Skills Training. I'll bring Baker's Wife donuts. Saturday 9-12, MUMC
All scouts are welcome to participate, please register here: https://goo.gl/forms/iO6F9J2uIkVfiysz2


SNOW BASE UPDATE - Tomahawk Scout Reservation
DATE CHANGE - Would you like to go Feb 22-24
We have secured a second driver for our original weekend, thanks Peggy Guinney!

Unfortunately, the weekend we selected has filled up. I apologize, I waited to make a reservation until I knew the definite size of our crew which was in question, based on transportation. As soon as I found out we wouldn't need to do a participant lottery, I tried to register and... it's full.

The next weekend available would be, Feb 22-24

If you're currently registered and can not make it that weekend please let me know ASAP. If your Scout is not registered but is interested in attending that weekend, also let me know ASAP. And if you're able to drive that weekend, please let me know. 

Snow Base Roster


HIGH ADVENTURE & SUMMER CAMP
Sponsor an idea for our DIY High Adventure this summer. We'll start the "pitches" on January 21 and vote before the end of January, so gather some details for a presentation about where you'd like to go, what you like to do, and how we might go about it. Superior Hiking Trail, BWCA, Something else? Choose your adventure... literally.

We head to Tomahawk July 27 - August 3. I'll be at camp all week, but we'll need to fill a second adult spot that can happen in many ways, split up the week into shifts, or somebody can stay all week. Please be thinking if you can spare a day, or two...or 5 and hang with us at Tomahawk. Chippewa, Subcamp; Winnebago, Site

Minneapolis Public Schools don't start back until after Labor Day so we can make this happen between August 11-18.

Ski Camp Registration... coming next week. 

16 December 2018

16 December 2018

Troop Meeting / Court of Honor- Monday, 12/17 6:30-8:00

Bring a dessert to share, we won't get started with CoH until 7pm - we'll be in the gym.

Snow Base - Tomahawk Scout Reservation
Jan 11-13
Sign-Up here for Snow Base by 12/18. We only have a couple scouts signed up.
Check their website http://camp.northernstarbsa.org/snow-base
Enjoy an outfitted weekend of winter fun with our trained Snow Base Staff in January. Staying warm is easy when they provide cold weather training, winter clothing, camping equipment, excellent meals, and outdoor activities. The tiered programs and commitment to innovation ensure fun for all experience levels a new challenge each winter.

Upcoming Schedule
Dec 29 - ILST Primer / Model PLC 9-12
Jan 7 - Troop Meeting

Jan. 11-13 - Snowbase

Jan 14 - PLC / Committee Meeting

Longer List of Troop Activites

Scoutmaster Minute

Have you ever soaked a disposable lighter? Maybe it fell into the water or you forgot it outside and there was a rainstorm. When you try to light it, it doesn't work. It's really hard to make a spark. The gas inside remains as flammable as ever but the ignition system is the problem, it won't spark when there's water. Press the button and gas still releases. In fact, you can light a flame with the help of another spark. People can be the same way. Sometimes you just need to help somebody else and they'll get going just fine. As B-P said, "the real way to find happiness is to bring it to others."

9 December 2018

9 December 2018

Troop Meeting - Monday, 12/10 6:30-8:00

Board Game Camp - Kiwanis Scout Camp

Dec 14-16 is this weekend!!!
We currently have many Scouts registered - view who's going.
Don't miss out on this favorite camp, Monday is the last day to register. Sign-up here

If you look closely, you'll notice we're short a few seatbelts. Please consider if you'd be willing to drive to or from camp.

Snow Base - Tomahawk Scout Reservation
Jan 11-13
Sign-Up here for Snow Base by 12/18. We only have a couple scouts signed up.
Check their website http://camp.northernstarbsa.org/snow-base

Enjoy an outfitted weekend of winter fun with our trained Snow Base Staff in January. Staying warm is easy when they provide cold weather training, winter clothing, camping equipment, excellent meals, and outdoor activities. The tiered programs and commitment to innovation ensure fun for all experience levels a new challenge each winter.

Upcoming Schedule
Dec 10 - Troop Meeting Board Game Registration cut-off / Menu Planning
Dec 17 - Court of Honor / Desert potluck
Dec 29 - ILST Primer / Model PLC 9-12
Longer List of Troop Activites

Scoutmaster's Minute
Inspired by the movie "Lincoln," and my time in the backcountry...without a map.

Part of the reason Baden-Powell chose the Fluer-de-lis as a symbol for Scouting was its reference to the compass. A compass, it'll point you North from where you're standing (provided you’re using it correctly), but it's got no advice about the terrain. Are there swamps? Water to cross? Access to water in the dessert? How about a canyon? Or anything else you might encounter along the way. It can still be a VERY useful tool in helping you get to your destination.
If in pursuit of your destination, you plunge ahead, without paying attention to your environment and potential obstacles, and achieve nothing more than to sink in a swamp or are swept away in too deep water with too strong a current ... Then what's the use of knowing North?

2 December 2018

2 December 2018

Troop Meeting - Monday, 12/3 6:30-8:00
This will be the last of three meetings focusing on Merit Badges: Law, Plumbing, and Scouting Heritage. Last week we whipped some ropes. This week the PLC is going to focus on a couple of knots and a related game. Preliminary menu ideas for board game camp may be floated, time permitting. Menu planning happens 12/10.

Board Game Camp - Kiwanis Scout Camp
Dec 14-16 is quickly approaching!!!

We currently have several Scouts registered - view who's going (I figured out how to use the importrange function). Don't miss out on this favorite camp.

Sign-up here for board game camp by 12/10, no exceptions. 

We'll be staying in two bunkhouses: Otter and Wolverine. Be thinking of the games you'll bring and what you'd like to eat! 

Typically, menus have relied on easy meals so the focus can be on board games. We'll be leaving electronic games in MPLS for the weekend and spend time with some long and short form games. Its a great time for D&D, Risk, Catan, Monopoly, Exploding Kittens, even simple games like 21, and who can drink their hot cocoa slower. We've even had game boards merged and new rules created. Perhaps somebody should bring a game design merit badge pamphlet with them!

Remember to pack slippers - those concrete floors get cold! 

Snow Base - Tomahawk Scout Reservation
Jan 11-13
Sign-Up here for Snow Base by 12/18.  We only have a couple scouts signed up.
Check their website http://camp.northernstarbsa.org/snow-base

Enjoy an outfitted weekend of winter fun with our trained Snow Base Staff in January. Staying warm is easy when they provide cold weather training, winter clothing, camping equipment, excellent meals, and outdoor activities. The tiered programs and commitment to innovation ensure fun for all experience levels a new challenge each winter.

Snow Base will provide the equipment (sleds, sleeping bags, cooking, etc...), most of all the cold weather clothing (bring your own long non-cotton underwear and jacket) making the packing list quite small. Snow Base also provides all meals - they're tasty!

Upcoming Schedule
Dec 3 - Troop Meeting
Dec 10 - Troop Meeting Board Game Registration cut-off / Menu Planning
Dec 17 - Court of Honor / Desert potluck

Dec 29 - ILST Primer / Model PLC 9-12

Longer List of Troop Activites

Scoutmaster's Minute

Have you ever squeezed too much toothpaste out of a tube of toothpaste and tried to put it back in the tube? It can’t be done, can it? No matter how hard you try, the toothpaste is out of the tube forever.

Toothpaste is similar to unkind words. Once unkind words come out of your mouth, you cannot take them back.

So when we are tempted to say something unkind, we should remember the parable of the toothpaste, and keep the unkind words to ourselves. 

18 November 2018

18 November 2018

Troop Meeting Monday, 11/19 6:30-8:00
This will be the first of three meetings focusing on Merit Badges: Law, Plumbing, and Scouting Heritage. Most scouts selected their Merit Badge of focus last week. 

Board Game Camp - Kiwanis Scout Camp
Dec 14-16 is quickly approaching!!!
Sign-up here. We'll be staying in two bunkhouses: Otter and Wolverine. Be thinking of the games you'll bring and what you'd like to eat! Typically, menus have relied on easy meals so the focus can be on board games. We'll be leaving electronic games in MPLS for the weekend and spend time with some long and short form games. Its a great time for D&D, Risk, Catan, Monopoly, Exploding Kittens, even simple games like 21, and who can drink their hot cocoa slower. We've even had game boards merged and new rules created. Perhaps somebody should bring a game design merit badge pamphlet with them!

Remember to pack slippers - those concrete floors get cold!Snow Base - Tomahawk Scout Reservation
Jan 11-13
Sign-Up here for Snow Base 
Check their website http://camp.northernstarbsa.org/snow-base

Enjoy an outfitted weekend of winter fun with our trained Snow Base Staff in January. Staying warm is easy when they provide cold weather training, winter clothing, camping equipment, excellent meals, and outdoor activities. The tiered programs and commitment to innovation ensure fun for all experience levels a new challenge each winter.

Snow Base will provide the equipment (sleds, sleeping bags, cooking, etc...), most of all the cold weather clothing (bring your own long non-cotton underwear and jacket) making the packing list quite small. Snow Base also provides all meals - they're tasty! 

Wreaths
Thanks to all the scouts that showed up and helped out. A special thanks to Jeanette and Cory for their dedication to making our wreath sale smooth - as their sons are both in 11th grade, we need to get some new volunteers to train in with them for future years, they've got it down to a science if this is something that interests you, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're aware some items are missing, we're tracking them down. If you have confusion please contact Jeanette. 

Merit Badge Week - North Star Scouting Museum

The Last Super Merit Badge Week of the year will be held between Wednesday, December 26, and Saturday, December 29.

Register your Scout now for the most desired workshops! PLEASE NOTE: There are two sections of Communication offered during this week. Each is an independent workshop, and it is not required to take both of them.

Citizenship in the Nation - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/citizenship-in-the-nation-merit-badge-workshp-tickets-52612615750

Communication 1 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/communication-merit-badge-workshop-1-tickets-52613607717

Family Life - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-life-merit-badge-workshop-tickets-52614991857

Scouting Heritage - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scouting-heritage-merit-badge-workshop-tickets-52615564570

Citizenship in the Community - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/citizenship-in-the-community-merit-badge-workshop-tickets-52713162488

Personal Management - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/personal-management-merit-badge-workshop-tickets-52728347908

Communication 2 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/communication-merit-badge-workshop-2-tickets-52614486345

Citizenship in the World - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/citizenship-in-the-world-merit-badge-workshop-tickets-52713553658

Upcoming Schedule

Nov 19 - Troop Meeting
Nov 26 - Troop Meeting
Dec 3 - Troop Meeting
Dec 10 - Last day to register for Board Game Camp / Menu Planning
Dec 17 - Court of Honor
(No Troop Meetings Dec 24 or 31)

Longer List of Troop Activites

Scoutmaster's Minute

Thanksgiving is this Thursday. Its a time for family, food, reflection, gratitude and sharing our "plenty." As Scouts, we have a unique lens to focus our experiences.

Try to tease out all the "plenties” that fill our lives: plenty of loving friends and family members. Plenty of interesting books and movies. Plenty of homework to do, Plenty of goals to achieve, merit badges to earn, ranks to advance through. Life offers so many types of richness—may we notice and celebrate each one.

It's important to remember not everyone has the opportunity to sit down at a Thanksgiving table that’s full of food and family. take some time to share, and provide some service. Whether by volunteering your time, inviting a friend or neighbor to join your family’s celebration or something more for those who need support, you can be sure that you’ll appreciate your “plenty” all the more when you share it with others. Remember our Scout Slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily.

Many families have the tradition of going around the Thanksgiving table and sharing the things each person is grateful for. Maybe this year, you can ask your guests to share a thought about something they’re grateful to have “plenty” of. Some might be funny, but some might express true gratitude. 

Gratitude is sometimes understood as “recognizing the good.” Gratitude is available to us every day, and it's important to take time for discovering it.  Finding and expressing gratitude is something for us all to “practice”. Make a point to find gratitude daily. At first, it might be forced or contrived, but practice makes permanent. Remember your pledge to live by the Scout Oath and may you bring happiness to others.