I hope everybody had a blessed Thanksgiving with family & friends! The weather left plenty of opportunity for service hours - I’ll approve anybody that shoveled for neighbors (particularly neighbors that are less able), mark time w/ parent initial in handbook before getting Scoutmaster signature.
At the meeting, we'll be working on some advancement items, some first aid activities, and planning menus for Board Game Camp. Boards of Review will be happening. Scouts should be in their best uniforms and prepared with signed handbooks, and ready to present themselves confidently to a board of committee members.
Pack 1 has a few extra 25" wreaths and 1 extra spruce top. If you know somebody who would like to purchase any of these items, please let me know.
LAST CALL FOR BOARD GAME CAMP!!! REGISTRATION CLOSES NEXT MONDAY.December 13-15 • Board game Camp • Kiwanis
There will be plenty of room for us to leave our games up and move on to something else. We'll be sleeping and "cooking" elsewhere.
Board Game Camp is Dec 13-15. Sign Up for Board Game Camp Here
View Registrations Here.
Register for Scouting in 2020
You may have recently received mail about fees for Scouting going up. They're not going up for us in Metro Lakes District. They're going up for the rest of the council. That said, nobody is turned away for an inability to pay the full amount.
If you don't register before the January 1, things get messy with getting dropped from our roster, etc. Please don't make extra work for our volunteers.
If you don't plan to continue in Troop 1 next year, please reach out and let me know.
Scoutmaster Corps and Committee Registrations are paid for and handled by the troop - thanks for volunteering, you don't need to register yourself.
Please get registered for 2020, ASAP
Boys - http://www.adventureiscalling.org/join/Troop-3001
Girls - http://www.adventureiscalling.org/join/Troop-5001
View Registrations Here.
Register for Scouting in 2020
You may have recently received mail about fees for Scouting going up. They're not going up for us in Metro Lakes District. They're going up for the rest of the council. That said, nobody is turned away for an inability to pay the full amount.
If you don't register before the January 1, things get messy with getting dropped from our roster, etc. Please don't make extra work for our volunteers.
If you don't plan to continue in Troop 1 next year, please reach out and let me know.
Scoutmaster Corps and Committee Registrations are paid for and handled by the troop - thanks for volunteering, you don't need to register yourself.
Please get registered for 2020, ASAP
Boys - http://www.adventureiscalling.org/join/Troop-3001
Girls - http://www.adventureiscalling.org/join/Troop-5001
Ski Camp • January 24-26, 2020 • Fred C. Anderson
Trollhaugen Ski Resort
Camping inside at Fred C. Andersen in the Peterson Cabins 1 & 2
Trollhaugen is about 30 minutes away. We ski 10-5:30, Return to Fred C about 6 pm
Saturday Lunch is "on your own" 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.
We plan to depart camp at 9:30am and Return to MUMC Sunday at 10:30
Ski Camp costs a lot more than most camps, but we do get a discount. What's your cost? that depends...
Registration Closes Jan. 13.
See who else has signed up here.
Other Down Hill Ski Opportunities
The best way to make winter in MN tolerable is to embrace the 6 months of winter with great activities. If you like to downhill Ski, skiing with Scouts can be a little cheaper and more fun.
Several of the local hills have "Scout Days" with discounted rates. I've compiled a list of below.
We're going to Trollhaugen for Ski Camp on January 25, but if you're interested in other days, I've made a list below. Patrols and/or Scouts interested might coordinate an activity. The Trollhaugen Scout events usually feature Snow Sports Merit Badge.
If we're interested, maybe a scout could call and try to set that up for our Jan 25 event?
Dec. 8 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Dec. 8 - Powder Ridge
Dec. 8 - Wild Mountain
Jan. 5 - Wild Mountain
Jan. 12 - Powder Ridge
Jan. 25 - Trollhaugen with Troop 1 for Ski Camp
Feb. 9 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Feb. 9 - Wild Mountain
Mar. 1 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Mar. 6 - Buck Hill Overnight w/ Northern Star Council
Mar. 8 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Mar. 14 - Hyland Hills (MB offered)
Mar. 15 - Wild Mountain
SUMMER PLANNING
Attending Summer Camp is a highlight of summer for most scouts. This year we'll be up north in Pondsford, MN near the Mississippi Headwaters at Camp Many Point. We like as much of the troop to attend Summer Camp as possible. Not only is it a great time to be with friends doing things scouts do, but it's also a great adventure and a fantastic opportunity for advancement. Younger scouts will work on First Class adventure and older scouts will work on a variety of Merit Badges. Cooking is done at our campsite by patrol. We haven't been to Many Point in several years and are excited to go back. Please mark your calendars now.
Also, we should know the dates of the SHT trip before Winter Break.
Summer Camp - August 9-15, Camp Many Point
Superior Hiking Trail - 27 June 2020 - Weds 1- July or Thursday, 2 July 2020
(there could be a second or third crew that decides to go another time, depending on adult availability).
Service Hours
Recently there has been a lot of discussion around service hours, what counts, what doesn’t, do they need to be approved in advance, what if they didn’t get logged, etc. To cover my bases, I have reached out to several scoutmasters from troops around MN and the nation. I will try and answer some of these questions here and will be willing to answer specific questions via email or offline.
What is the nature service? Why do we do it?
The Scout Slogan is: Do a Good Turn Daily. In the Scout Oath we promise: to help other people at all times.
This is the spirit of service. Service comes from the heart and is not done with any expectation of anything in return (except maybe the opportunity to log the hours). Scouts are required to log their time for ranks because, like anything else, practice makes permanent; in order to create service-oriented adults, scouts are compelled to “practice” as a youth. When we practice offering our time and skills without asking anything in return, it becomes part of our nature.
Scouts must complete and log service hours while working on each rank. Service hours must be logged in the back of the scout’s handbook and approved by the Scoutmaster. One hour of service is required for Tenderfoot, two hours for Second Class and three hours for First Class. Six hours each for Star and Life. These hours are not cumulative across ranks and cannot be reused. For example, the six hours for Star need to be completed while the scout is a First Class scout and can not be used for Life.
What counts as service hours?
There is wide discretion for the Scoutmaster to approve or decline service hours. BSA offers very few guidelines but when we examine the nature of the heart in relation to service, we realize
When a scout has done legit service, I have never turned them down.
FYI - there are a two general rules that I hold by, similar to that of the Eagle project: (1) the service is done in the spirit of “doing a good turn” / “helping other people at all times,” in other words, not be for a benefit (financial or otherwise) to the scout or scout troop as its primary intent, (2) not done to meet requirements for other organizations, i.e. "no double-dipping" (church, NHS, etc). All hours must be approved by the SM. These guidelines give troop 1 scouts a wide latitude to perform various services.
Here are some examples:
• Went on a church mission trip - Yes
• Worked at church in children's program, to meet confirmation volunteering requirements- No
• Worked in a concession stand to raise money for the soccer club (where he/she is a member) - No
• BSA Popcorn sales tables - No
• MUMC Mini-harvest - Yes
• 50th St. Clean-Up - Yes
• Worked in a concession stand to raise money for the soccer club (not a member) - Yes
• Worked a community festival to help a community organization, the organization gave a donation of money or equipment to the troop - Maybe
• Shoveled snow for neighbors, and/or around hydrants, and drains, etc. - yes
• Volunteered at the monthly Mini-harvest at MUMC - Yes
• Feed my Starving Children - Yes
• Concessions for Halloween Party - No
• Troop 1 Pancake breakfast - No
• Earth Day cleanup - Yes
• Pinewood Derby helper - Yes
Upcoming Schedule
Subscribe to the Troop 1 Calendar
Scoutmaster Minute • Cheerful Service
Service is part of Scouting. Every Scout must participate in service projects to advance in rank. But service goes beyond advancement requirements. It is part of the growing process. As you move from childhood to adulthood, you progress from only working for what you want to what is good for the community as a whole.
That is why so many good people spend so much time volunteering. Think of all of the adults who help out this troop. They give their time willingly to help you, even though they are busy. These Scouters don’t complain about the commitment. They are happy to spend their precious free time helping you - the future - not because it benefits themselves, but because they know it is a good cause. They demonstrate cheerful service every week at our meetings, they help out with leading fundraisers, organizing opportunities, attending camps and adventures, and sitting on boards of review.
Why do you think service is important? What will your good turn be?
Dec. 8 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Dec. 8 - Powder Ridge
Dec. 8 - Wild Mountain
Jan. 5 - Wild Mountain
Jan. 12 - Powder Ridge
Jan. 25 - Trollhaugen with Troop 1 for Ski Camp
Feb. 9 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Feb. 9 - Wild Mountain
Mar. 1 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Mar. 6 - Buck Hill Overnight w/ Northern Star Council
Mar. 8 - Trollhaugen (MB offered)
Mar. 14 - Hyland Hills (MB offered)
Mar. 15 - Wild Mountain
SUMMER PLANNING
Attending Summer Camp is a highlight of summer for most scouts. This year we'll be up north in Pondsford, MN near the Mississippi Headwaters at Camp Many Point. We like as much of the troop to attend Summer Camp as possible. Not only is it a great time to be with friends doing things scouts do, but it's also a great adventure and a fantastic opportunity for advancement. Younger scouts will work on First Class adventure and older scouts will work on a variety of Merit Badges. Cooking is done at our campsite by patrol. We haven't been to Many Point in several years and are excited to go back. Please mark your calendars now.
Also, we should know the dates of the SHT trip before Winter Break.
Summer Camp - August 9-15, Camp Many Point
Superior Hiking Trail - 27 June 2020 - Weds 1- July or Thursday, 2 July 2020
(there could be a second or third crew that decides to go another time, depending on adult availability).
Service Hours
Recently there has been a lot of discussion around service hours, what counts, what doesn’t, do they need to be approved in advance, what if they didn’t get logged, etc. To cover my bases, I have reached out to several scoutmasters from troops around MN and the nation. I will try and answer some of these questions here and will be willing to answer specific questions via email or offline.
What is the nature service? Why do we do it?
The Scout Slogan is: Do a Good Turn Daily. In the Scout Oath we promise: to help other people at all times.
This is the spirit of service. Service comes from the heart and is not done with any expectation of anything in return (except maybe the opportunity to log the hours). Scouts are required to log their time for ranks because, like anything else, practice makes permanent; in order to create service-oriented adults, scouts are compelled to “practice” as a youth. When we practice offering our time and skills without asking anything in return, it becomes part of our nature.
Scouts must complete and log service hours while working on each rank. Service hours must be logged in the back of the scout’s handbook and approved by the Scoutmaster. One hour of service is required for Tenderfoot, two hours for Second Class and three hours for First Class. Six hours each for Star and Life. These hours are not cumulative across ranks and cannot be reused. For example, the six hours for Star need to be completed while the scout is a First Class scout and can not be used for Life.
What counts as service hours?
There is wide discretion for the Scoutmaster to approve or decline service hours. BSA offers very few guidelines but when we examine the nature of the heart in relation to service, we realize
When a scout has done legit service, I have never turned them down.
FYI - there are a two general rules that I hold by, similar to that of the Eagle project: (1) the service is done in the spirit of “doing a good turn” / “helping other people at all times,” in other words, not be for a benefit (financial or otherwise) to the scout or scout troop as its primary intent, (2) not done to meet requirements for other organizations, i.e. "no double-dipping" (church, NHS, etc). All hours must be approved by the SM. These guidelines give troop 1 scouts a wide latitude to perform various services.
Here are some examples:
• Went on a church mission trip - Yes
• Worked at church in children's program, to meet confirmation volunteering requirements- No
• Worked in a concession stand to raise money for the soccer club (where he/she is a member) - No
• BSA Popcorn sales tables - No
• MUMC Mini-harvest - Yes
• 50th St. Clean-Up - Yes
• Worked in a concession stand to raise money for the soccer club (not a member) - Yes
• Worked a community festival to help a community organization, the organization gave a donation of money or equipment to the troop - Maybe
• Shoveled snow for neighbors, and/or around hydrants, and drains, etc. - yes
• Volunteered at the monthly Mini-harvest at MUMC - Yes
• Feed my Starving Children - Yes
• Concessions for Halloween Party - No
• Troop 1 Pancake breakfast - No
• Earth Day cleanup - Yes
• Pinewood Derby helper - Yes
There are exceptions. If you're not sure, do the service and ask later.
Upcoming Schedule
BSA Troop 1 Facebook Group
For those of you on Facebook, feel please join our closed group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnt3001/
Scoutmaster Minute • Cheerful Service
Service is part of Scouting. Every Scout must participate in service projects to advance in rank. But service goes beyond advancement requirements. It is part of the growing process. As you move from childhood to adulthood, you progress from only working for what you want to what is good for the community as a whole.
That is why so many good people spend so much time volunteering. Think of all of the adults who help out this troop. They give their time willingly to help you, even though they are busy. These Scouters don’t complain about the commitment. They are happy to spend their precious free time helping you - the future - not because it benefits themselves, but because they know it is a good cause. They demonstrate cheerful service every week at our meetings, they help out with leading fundraisers, organizing opportunities, attending camps and adventures, and sitting on boards of review.
Why do you think service is important? What will your good turn be?
