Sunday, February 24, 2019

25 February 2019

Troop Meeting Monday, 2/25 6:00-8:00
We'll mostly be helping the Cub Scout Pack work on their cars. There are a few bits of troop business, but we're looking mostly to provide some good examples and cheerful service to the pack. Zach Jones will have his Eagle Scout Board of Review at 7pm - wish him luck!

Snowbase was a warm success! Despite the snow, we saw live mosquitoes on Saturday and the drive home on Sunday was uneventful! Meanwhile, lots of fun was had. The consensus was to do it again next year! Maybe doing the Dog Sledding, Logging Camp and/or Spearhead adventures. 

Link to pictures  - open to additions

Reminder about Uniforms
Scouts Always will need their uniform for camp. We ALWAYS travel in uniform. So if you're meeting at MUMC, show up with your scout shirt on (and tucked in; neckerchief is awesome too!) As a rule, if you're not sure, default to wearing your Class A is a good choice; it's never wrong to be in uniform when scouting. At meetings, we wear our uniforms, at events we wear our uniforms, at meals we wear our uniforms, on service projects we wear our uniforms. The "Class-B" T-shirt is not technically a uniform, it can be the most appropriate sometimes, but we'll let you know when.

Reptile Amphibian Discovery Zoo • Mar 9-10, 2019
Saturday EVENING until Sunday Morning
* CHANGE IN PLANS for SATURDAY * 
The PLC decided NOT to do a hike but rather leave in the evening to accommodate the overnight ski event at Buck Hill for scouts on Friday (see below). Several scouts want to do that and get some rest before RAD, so on Saturday we'll meet at MUMC at 5:30pm for a 6pm departure arriving by 7:15pm to RAD Zoo for pizza, evening program and sleeping (indoors on the concrete floor - bring a sleeping pad and an indoor bag). We plan to be home by 9am Sunday. 

The cost is $38.  Reptile and Amphibian Study MB pamphlet. You may want to read it if you're going for the MB.  Here's a helpful worksheet

We need a total of at least 18 for RAD to host the program. - we're currently at 16.
If you're not on this list and planning to attend, please sign up. 

We Need Drivers- if the new timeline is more reasonable and you'd like to attend (and drive some scouts) please sign up. 

Arrow of Light Scouts are welcome to attend. 

Sign Up • https://goo.gl/forms/BDEaB3qgl3MUIfZq1
Thomas NewellArrow of Light
Ryan BeckArrow of Light
Nicholas BrownBacon
Thomas EdstromFlying Penguin
Brandon KotulaFlying Penguin
Soren LewandowskiFlying Penguin
Liam McDonaldFlying Penguin
Caeli CaseyGood
Oliver NeedlemanGood
Lucien Randolph-TarrantGood
Andy BeckGood
Corey NeedlemanLoon (adult)
Tuesdae CollopyLoon (adult)
Eddie McDonaldLoon (adult)
Julian BrandenWerewolf
Everett NeedlemanWerewolf

Buck Hill Overnighter • Mar 8-9, 2019 (Friday night)
WHAT: All night skiing, snowboarding & tubing! If Ski Camp left you wanting more...
WHO: All Scouts BSA, Venturers, Explorers and any of their friends 11 years or older; Mr. Needleman will not be there, but other troop adults plan to be in attendance.
WHERE: Buck Hill Ski and Snowboard Area in Burnsville, MN
WHEN: Friday March 8th 10:00pm - 5am Saturday March 9th
COST: $40.00
Cost includes lift ticket, ski/snowboard rental, beginner lesson, and tubing lift ticket

Grey Wolf Youth National Youth Leadership Training 
Please sign up by Wednesday 12pm at the latest -cough, cough, nudge, nudge, wink, wink: Will Newell, Stewart Champion, Alex Barber, Andy Beck, Brandon Kotula, Thomas Edstrom - One of you should go!!!

Each year Troop 1 is able to send 1-2 scouts to a week-long youth leadership camp run by the council. 

Grey Wolf National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is a one-week program held in June and July, it replicates the first three weeks of typical unit operations, including patrol leader's council meetings, troop/crew meetings, patrol meetings, and planning for a big event. 

Becoming a better leader is the theme, but many aspects apply to daily life. You'll need the desire to make a long-term commitment to master the skills and tools to benefit our troop. Grey Wolf NYLT is unlike any other Scout camp you've attended. You won't work on merit badges, advancement, or have daily swims. You'll play a lot of games, sing songs, and do fun activities that promote team-building. Get ready for a fast-paced week and prepare to learn for yourself and for the benefit of Troop 1.

My nominations are due Friday. Scouts must be First Class Rank or above and need to be at least 14 years of age, or 13 and have completed 8th grade. 

Fill out Interest Here Due Feb 27 12pm.  



IT'S FINALLY HERE 
Sign-up for SUMMER CAMP 2019, July 27 - Aug 3
We are heading to Tomahawk again this summer!  We'll be in the same Winnebago site in Chippewa Sub-camp. 

http://camptomahawk.org/About-Tomahawk

All interested Scouts and Scouters Pre-REGISTER here, ASAP
We'll select program stuff later, but we need to get a handle on who is going to Summer Camp. 

Apostle Islands Sea Kayaking, Sign up Here:

This program is for older scouts; all participants must be age 14 by September 1st to participate. They must be prepared for the physical demands of a high adventure trek. 

The Sea Kayaking Program in the Apostle Islands is the top tier of Tomahawk High Adventure. This trip is 5 days long. Scouts spend 4 nights on 3 different islands.


Sign up is open for only 12 participants. 9 spots remain. 

Paying for Camps & filling Scout Accounts 
Cheddar Up 
Most often camping costs can be deducted from your scout account, which scouts fill up through fundraising (wreath and popcorn sales). If you're not sure of your scout account balance, reach out to the troop treasurer, Jen Newberg <troop1.mpls.treasurer@gmail.com>


Vote for a New Council Patch
To reflect the recent program changes NSC's move to Base Camp at Fort Snelling, our council adopted a new, updated logo for Northern Star Scouting. That means it's time for a new council shoulder strip, and they want to hear from you! 
http://www.northernstar.org/vote-for-a-new-council-patch#prettyphoto_2376/0/



Scouting Mobile App
BSA’s Information Technology Group, along with many volunteer beta testers, are excited to announce the new Scouting mobile app, which is now available for both iPhone and Android devices.

BSA Troop 1 Facebook Group
For those of you on Facebook, feel please join our closed group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnt3001/

Upcoming Schedule
Feb 25 - Troop Meeting (Pinewood Derby Workshop / help pack)
Mar  4 - Troop Meeting
March 8-9 Buck Hill Overnight Ski event (register via Council)
March 9-10 RAD Zoo (Register with Troop)
Mar 11 - Troop Meeting
Mar 16 - Pack 1 Pinewood Derby (10-1)
Mar 17 - PANCAKE BREAKFAST (7:30--12:30, 2 shifts)
Mar 18 - Troop Meeting
Mar 25 - Court of Honor
Mar 30 - Mini-Harvest Service 7:30-9
Mar 30 - Scouting Universty 
Longer List of Troop Activites

Subscribe to the Troop 1 Google Calendar
https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=dHJvb3AxbXBsc0BnbWFpbC5jb20
Or public address in ical format
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/troop1mpls%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics

Merit Badges 
What are they?  MBs are a secondary area of the Scouts BSA advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the merit badge program. A sub-group of merit badges are known as "Eagle required" merit badges. To earn Eagle Scout, most of these badges must be earned although some are "either/or" badges. To earn Eagle scouts also have to earn some merit badge they choose. And there's a merit badge for almost everything - heres a full list. 


Where to earn a Merit Badge?
Once you have a blue card from your Scoutmaster, call or contact a counselor on your own. You can find a counselor list via Scoutbook or ask me.
Go to a Merit Badge class at Scoutmaster Bucky or The North Star Scouting Museum or at Scouting University (March 30 - look for info soon).


Scoutmaster's Minute
A compass is a simple instrument. It reads the magnetic forces of the earth and points to magnetic north. If you get it too close to another magnet, it can give you a false reading. If you don't know how to account for declination, in certain parts of the country you can be in big trouble. In the hands of a skilled scout, it can help keep you on the right path. Like any skill practice makes permanent. 

Like the needle of a compass, our morals guide us on the paths of life. When we're orienteering, sometimes we take a bad reading or miss a clue on the map, and end up a bit lost having to backtrack. Scouting helps give us practice with both compasses. Remain true to your Scout Oath and Law, and you can keep on the right path.