Troop Meeting, Monday 6:30-8:00pm, MMC
We'll be working on some more Scout advancement, T4 relay races, and getting to know each other a bit more.Reptile Amphibian Discovery Zoo
Saturday EVENING until Sunday Morning.
We'll meet at MMC 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 sleeping bag). Plan to be home by 9am Sunday.
Wear your Class A - uniform but bring PJs. You might wear your "class b" under your class a and remove your class A or the program. See the photos from last time.
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 - for those of you who've started the MB with the troop back in March, you'll likely finish.
We need a total of at least 18 for RAD to host the program.
See who else is going via this link.
Friday EVENING until Sunday Morning.
We'll meet at MMC Friday at 6pm and drive to Philippo Scout Camp for the Mega Camporee. We'll be competing in scout games and learning with other scouts from Metro Lakes, Mustang, Dan Patch and Chief Black Dog districts. This will be HUGE Fun.
Camporee will cost scout $12 for their food. The participation fees and camping costs are otherwise covered by the troop.
REGISTER here by Tuesday, April 23
See who else is going via this link.
Please Share this Flyer.
We plan to print about 15 color flyers to post at Oxendale's, MMC and at businesses around the neighborhood. If you have a good place to hang one that would drum up more business, let us know.
Also, if your employer might donate the color prints that'd save some expense. Let me know.
Ripley Rendezvous 2019 will be held the Camp Ripley Army National Guard Training Facility, Camp Ripley, Little Falls, MN. This springtime event is truly a unique opportunity to utilize the training facility's ranges and buildings in presenting three distinct levels of involvement. This is a Jamboree style camp, so we'll be tenting and cooking in our site.
We have the following crew registered to attend.
View Current Registrations
ALL SCOUTS are highly encouraged to attend. This is the highlight of summer!
Deposits for Summer Camp are DUE ASAP!!! The troop paid our deposit this week. See who else is going via this link.
Spring Camporee • May 3-5, 2019
We'll meet at MMC Friday at 6pm and drive to Philippo Scout Camp for the Mega Camporee. We'll be competing in scout games and learning with other scouts from Metro Lakes, Mustang, Dan Patch and Chief Black Dog districts. This will be HUGE Fun.
Camporee will cost scout $12 for their food. The participation fees and camping costs are otherwise covered by the troop.
REGISTER here by Tuesday, April 23
See who else is going via this link.
Car Wash FUNdraiser • May 11, 2019
10am - 2pm
Oxendale's Lot
Tell your friends and neighbors!
Please Share this Flyer.
We plan to print about 15 color flyers to post at Oxendale's, MMC and at businesses around the neighborhood. If you have a good place to hang one that would drum up more business, let us know.
Also, if your employer might donate the color prints that'd save some expense. Let me know.
Ripley Rendezvous • May 17-19
Camp Ripley • Little Falls, MN
We have the following crew registered to attend.
View Current Registrations
Tomahawk SUMMER CAMP 2019 • July 27 - Aug 3
Tomahawk Scout Reservation • Chippewa Sub-Camp • Winnebago Site
Full payment for Scouts ($307) is due to Troop 1 by Memorial Day, May 27*. The troop cannot complete summer camp registrations for scouts not paid by this date.
Payments can be made via check to Troop 1, or online at our cheddarup link. If you don't want to make the entire payment, upfront, please make a "scout account deposit" for $100.
https://trooponeupcomingevents.cheddarup.com
If you're interested in any financial assistance, Northern Star Council provides Financial Assitance called "Camperships" to help offset camp expenses.
Campership request form *We've recently been made aware of some changes that will need to happen regarding the allocation of funds from item sales. More information regarding this will come out as soon as we have a full handle on policy.
As of April 15, we have these Scouts Registered: View Current Registrations
If you're not on this list but want to be, Sign Up NOW!
Adults interested in being at camp, even if for a day, please reach out and let me know. As always, those able to drive to and/or from camp, that'll be needed!
Currently, we have Corey Needleman, Conan Collopy and Tuesdae Collopy listed to be at camp.
BWCA High Adventure 2019 • August 11-17
Sign up by May 7 . View Current RegistrationsWe could send two crews if we get more adults to commit. https://goo.gl/forms/7w8UqUXIMTiorjds2
Troop 1 will send two crews to the BWCA from Sunday, August 11 - Saturday, August 17.If we get enough adults, we can have up to 18 people divided up into two crews (think-patrols) of no more than 9 each.
Plan: Drive up on Sunday, August 11 & stay the night at the outfitter in Ely. August 12- On the water. August 17- off water & drive home.
Estimated cost $225/Person
GEAR SPOTLIGHT - BEDDING
Getting a decent night's rest in the woods often depends on being off the ground. Generally speaking, it's important to have something between you and the ground, even if it's a thick pile of leaves you put your tent on top of. So with that in mind, one can spend a little as $10 to North of $150 in hopes of backwoods sleep comfort.Cots are nice for week-long summer camp, but they're bulky to transport and heavy to carry.
Hammocks are terrific for some. I spent every campout in 2016 in a hammock. They can be cold in the winter without a lot of extras. You can also get wet if you don't take the proper precautions with rain fly etc., also, it's only practical for Scouts first class and above.
Sleeping Pad, this is the best all-around option. Easy to use in most any season in any conditions. There are a lot of options and all have benefits and disadvantages. I'll outline a few below, but you can read more on this helpful REI page, if you wish.
- Open cell foam: These roll down pretty small, and can provide a little comfort but not much because the compress under weight. They don't provide much insulation: cold in the winter and hot in the summer because of the conforming. Generally, they're very cheap and not worth the money.
- Closed cell foam (RidgeRest / Z-Rest style): These are an economical choice. They provide good insulation, can't really break or tear without some serious effort, and roll or fold up small enough, and don't weigh much. They easily double as a chair or pad to sit on in camp and can be cleaned with a hose. These don't provide much padding so side sleeping isn't great, so while they're good insulators, they're not the greatest for comfort but they're my preference.
- Inflatable mattress: These are highest on the comfort scale, but require the most work to use. You're either out of breath or carrying extra gear to help you inflate it. Great for side sleepers. They compress down very small when not in use and don't weigh much. They can be punctured and therefore rendered useless in the field; packing a small patch kit is a VERY good idea. These kits are usually included in the stuff sack. Sometimes the more expensive models add down insulation to increase the R factor, but these can still be a little cold in the winter.
- Self-inflating air mattress (Therm-a-rest Style): These are basically Open Cell foam pads with a bag around them and sometimes added insulation. They can be punctured and therefore rendered useless. Packing a small patch kit is a VERY good idea. They provide a lot of comfort because they don't allow the foam to collapse and the often provide good insulation as well. In very cold temps putting another layer beneath is best - closed cell pad or even a yoga mat, keeps the cold ground from leeching all the heat.
Some places to shop for gear:
Brick & Mortar: Repair Lair (experienced gear), Midwest Mountaineering, LL Bean, Cabelas, Scout Shop (sometimes they have really good deals, often over-priced).
Online: campmor.com, rei.com, sierra.com, backcountry.com, steepandcheap.com, amazon.com, sportsmansguide.com
We need you - Become an Adult Volunteer
There are two streams for adult participation: Scoutmaster Corps & Committee.If you want to wear the uniform and interact with the scouts, participating in events, campouts, and troop meetings, Scoutmaster Corps is for you. If you'd like to camp occasionally, but really would rather be involved in more of the "business side" of things, troop Committee Membership is your jam.
We want you to get involved in the troop operations, we need your help. Providing opportunities for scouts requires a fair amount of behind the scenes work from adults. Whether its help with one event to more of continual volunteer commitment, we have room for you! Whatever level of assistance you're able to commit to, we'll find a spot for you. You don't have to have any experience, you just have to have to be willing. Reach out to our committee chair, Peter Edstrom, and let him know you're interested.
Upcoming Schedule
April 22 - Troop Meeting
April 27 - Mini Harvest Service 7:30 am / RAD Zoo 5:30 pm
April 27 - Mini Harvest Service 7:30 am / RAD Zoo 5:30 pm
April 29 - Troop Meeting, Camporee planning
May 3-5 - Spring Camporee
May 6 - PLC
May 11 - Carwash 10-2 at Oxendale's
May 13 - Troop Meeting
May 17-19 - Ripley Rendezvous
May 20 - Troop Meeting
May 27 - Memorial Day Service Project - No Troop Meeting
June 1 - Carwash 10-2 at Oxendale's (rain date)
June 3 - Troop Meeting / Elections
June 10 - Troop Meeting
June 14-16 - Camping at "the Farm"
June 17 - PLC
We'll continue to have troop Meetings and do activities throughout the summer.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
Full disclosure: I borrowed this minute from my Scoutmaster idol, Clarke Green.If you haven't seen the youtube video, How Wolves Change Rivers, I encourage you to take 4:30 and watch it. There's been some debate about causation and correlation, etc. True or not, this is a beautiful story of Karma and consequences and what is true for us all is that we are the heirs of our actions. Fortunately, we have the Scout Oath and Law to be our guide.
In 1995 wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park.
- Wolves prey on elk, elk feed on aspen trees.
- When there were fewer elk there were more aspens.
- More aspens mean more beavers who feed on and build with aspens.
- More beavers mean more beaver dams, and beaver dams change the course of rivers.
- More aspens also stabilize river banks, and this also changes the course of rivers.
- It’s amazing, but true; re-introducing wolves to Yellowstone nearly twenty-five years ago changed the course of rivers.
Scientists call the natural system I’ve just described a “trophic cascade”. “Trophic” refers to the food chain, and “cascade” describes how top-level predators (like wolves) effect other species down the food chain and the very environment they all share.
Every Scout has the chance to go camping and see the great cycles of nature like trophic cascades up close (well, hopefully when it comes to top-level predators, not too close!). We can learn a lot about ourselves from observing the natural world.
The trophic cascades wolves caused in Yellowstone makes me pause to think for a moment about the cascading affect of what we say and what we do every day.
It’s all there in the Scout law, isn’t it? When we are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent our own happiness cascades to those around us. Our actions and decisions effect our environment, they create opportunity, they influence others.
Wolves occupy a specific role in nature, they don’t make many rational choices; but we make lots of choices every day. What we choose to say and how we choose to act can have negative or positive cascading effects.
When you make a choice choose to follow the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and the cascade that follows will always have a positive influence on those around you.
