Scoutmaster Dispatch

Sunday, March 24, 2019

25 March 2019

Court of Honor, Monday 6:30-8:00pm
Our quarterly Court of Honor is Monday. The Program will start at 7pm. Scouts will prepare for the event from 6:30-7. Scouts should be in their best uniforms, and remember to bring a treat to share! Representatives from the Order of the Arrow will also be there to conduct an election ceremony.

Pancake Results
As you may have heard, our Pancake Breakfast was a big success bringing $1,000 for the Troop! Thanks to everybody who worked, promoted, attended and otherwise contributed! Big props to Eddie McDonald for coordinating the event!

SIGN UP BY TUESDAY!!!

SUMMER CAMP 2019 • July 27 - Aug 3
Tomahawk Scout Reservation • Chippewa Sub-Camp • Winnebago Site

ALL SCOUTS are highly encouraged to attend. This is the highlight of summer!
Tomahawk PROGRAM CATALOG
Arrow of Light & new Scouts are HIGHLY encouraged to attend!!! There is a special first-year program designed just for you called "Brownsea Island"!

Cost: $307/Scout; $130/Adult.
Financial Assitance "Camperships" are available to help offset expenses.

Sign Up for your Summer Camp Programs NOW!
Tomahawk PROGRAM CATALOG. ONLINE - Program Sign-up due March 26
Merit Badges & Troop Activities.

OLDER SCOUTS - 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. This is a great adventure for the Werewolf Patrol!

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.

Ripley Rendezvous • May 17-19
Camp Ripley • Little Falls, MN

BWCA High Adventure 2019 • August 11-17
Sign up by May 7

We currently have 1 permit reserved and can host a crew of 9, w/ at least two adults.
We could send two crews if we get more adults to commit. https://goo.gl/forms/7w8UqUXIMTiorjds2

Troop 1 will send one or 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

Not all "trail-worthy" gear is specialty outdoor equipment.

Because a Scout is thrifty, looking for inexpensive yet functional equipment is a micro-hobby of mine.

I purchased my IKEA travel towel set a couple years ago while they were on sale, but even at $10, it is a good deal. These really absorb water, don't weigh much (until wet), dry relatively quickly and are just about perfect for scout needs. The set includes a washcloth, and a good sized towel.

https://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/40413452/

Scout Accounts & Paying for Camps

On our new camp sign up forms moving forward we'll have a place for you to indicate how you'd like to pay. 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.

NSC 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.

Carwash Coordinator

The committee is seeking an adult to coordinate a carwash fundraiser after it warms up this spring and maybe again in summer. If you're interested let committee chair, Peter Edstrom, know.

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

Mar 25 - Court of Honor

March 26 - SIGN-UP DEADLINE: Ripley Rendezvous, Tomahawk Summer Camp,

Mar 30 - Mini-Harvest Service 7:30-9

Mar 30 - Scouting University - SIGN UP HERE
April 1 - NO MTG (Spring Break)
April 7 - (Sun) PLC
April 8 - (Mon) PLC pt. 2
April 14 - (Sun) Pack 1 Crossover / Blue & Gold at Base Camp
April 15 - Troop Meeting

Longer List of Troop Activites Here

Subscribe to the Troop 1 Google Calendar

Google Calendar or in ical format

Scoutmaster's Minute

There is an old saying, "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."

There's a lesson for us in that saying. I've spent a lot of time and of miles walking in the backcountry; many of those miles have been with some of you. Sometimes we can see the destination we are heading to off in the distance, sometimes there are mountain ranges and forests and lakes in the way so, we have to use our map and compass, and trust our orienteering skills.

Whatever the goal you set for yourself, remember that only you can take that first step toward it. No one can do it for you - though we may try an encourage you. Once you've taken that first step, the next step will become easier after that step you'll notice the distance of travel has gotten shorter.

If you come to troop meetings without ever looking in your Scout Handbook and are never asking how to do things you don't know how to do - be it tying knots, starting fires, lashing poles, orienting a map, or if you never get somebody to help you with your fitness tests, or ask who to see about a merit badge, you won't advance far in Scouting.

In Scouting, and in life, the rewards don't come to those who sit back and wait for something to be handed to them on a silver platter (or a plastic frisbee). I would like to see every one of you set the Eagle Scout rank as your goal in Scouting.

As a step toward that goal, I hope that all of you will set a goal for recognition and advancement by our next Court of Honor, in June.

Take that step and the ones after that will continue to get easier because you'll have momentum and be well on the way along the Scouting trail.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

11 March 2019

Troop Meeting, Monday 6:30-8:00pm
Hopefully, you remembered to Spring ahead and took an opportunity to help clear some snow.

At the meeting we are hosting a Kristi Johnson, Counselor for Reptile and Amphibian Study Merit Badge - (Thanks to Brandon K for setting this up)!
You might want to review Reptile and Amphibian Study MB pamphlet.
Here's a helpful worksheet.

FYI - there is a Reptile trade show today at the Double Tree Bloomington, at 494 & Hiway 100. 10:00 - 4:00. Ages 5-10 $3.00, age 11+ $8.00

RAD Zoo Rescheduled - Saturday, April 27
New Sign up coming soon.

Pancake Breakfast • Sunday, March 17 • MUMC 8-11:30

Please invite your friends, neighbors, nemesis, teachers, family, coaches, etc.

Pancakes: $5/individual, $20/family
All you can eat.
Gluten Free & Dairy Free upon request.
Real maple syrup!

Funds go to support BSA Troop 1’s program budget.

March 17 is also Scout Sunday at MUMC!
Wear your uniform and be a guest at a service.
Church Services at 9 & 11
Reminder: food service starts at 8am and goes until 11:30.

• Early Shift 7:30-10:30 Includes Set-Up

• Late Shift 9:30-12:30 Includes Clean-up

Sign up to work a shift here

We hope to see the entire troop help out and participate. We'd also like to see the troop families stay for pancakes. In general, we'd like as many attendees as possible also. Please share this Facebok event and flyer with your networks. Scouts got paper flyers on Monday, let me know if you want one.

BWCA High Adventure 2019 • August 11-17

Sign up by May 7

We currently have 1 permit reserved and can host a crew of 9, w/ at least two adults.

We could send two crews if we get more adults to committ.

https://goo.gl/forms/7w8UqUXIMTiorjds2

Troop 1 will send one or 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

REI outlet is clearing out some great external frame backpacks. These would make a great first or second pack. The thing that is nicest about external frame packs for scouts as they're just getting into camping and gear is that your gear doesn't have to fit inside the pack. Internal frame packs are great, but it requires one to have a highly compressible sleeping bag and other space-efficient items, which themselves all cost a bit more.

At $59 the Red Rock Alps Mountaineering Backpack is a great deal. It's ideal for smaller scouts.

If you're a growing scout or a Scouter that likes external frames the Alps Mountaineering Zion Backpack is larger capacity, but still has a telescoping frame so it will grow with you. $89 is still a good price for this pack. Though, you might be inclined to try an internal frame. External frame packs are cooler on your back. Both of these packs have some external pockets for helping to organize your access to gear.

Of course, if you want to go check out good quality used packs, I highly encourage a stop at the Repair Lair on Lake Street. The current inventory has some nice packs.

Scout Accounts & Paying for Camps

NSC provides Financial Assitance called "Camperships" to help offset camp expenses.

Campership request form

Carwash Coordinator

The committee is seeking an adult to coordinate a carwash fundraiser after it warms up this spring and maybe again in summer. If you're interested let committee chair, Peter Edstrom, know.

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

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 & Board of Reviews

Mar 25 - Court of Honor

March 26 - SIGN-UP DEADLINE: Ripley Rendezvous, Tomahawk Summer Camp,

Mar 30 - Mini-Harvest Service 7:30-9

Mar 30 - Scouting University - SIGN UP HERE

Longer List of Troop Activites Here

Subscribe to the Troop 1 Google Calendar

Google Calendar or in ical format

Scoutmaster's Minute

Over the last few years I've read and listened to Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage more than a few times. It's a great tale, told well.

In early November 1804, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, the Corps of Discovery, began building on the site they named “Fort Mandan,” and continued for the next couple of weeks. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and their crew, were going up the river to explore and map the country recently purchased from France; record what plants, animals, and people they encountered; make peace and set up trading possibilities with the natives; and find what was thought to be an easy route to the Pacific Ocean.

Do you think just anyone would have gone along with Lewis and Clark? Probably not. It took someone of strength, of skill, of curiosity, and of bravery to sign on with the expedition. After all, the threats from wild rivers, hostile people, wild animals, disease, and the unknown were enough to keep most people from even thinking about it. That is, the Corps of Discovery members were brave, and that bravery allowed all but one of the members to return safely.

When most of us think about bravery, we think about being cool in the face of some immediate, life-threatening situation. However, most of us will rarely, if ever, be in such a situation. But, there is a different kind of bravery all of us will have to have to get through life—the bravery to do the right thing, even if it’s not the popular thing or if it might embarrass us; to keep going when things are tough, to do what we don’t want to do, but have to do.

This is the kind of bravery that means you will follow your heart, and not the pressure to go along with everyone else because you feel threatened or laughed at. The Corps of Discovery did what had to be done, the everyday sort of bravery, a lot more than they had to face immediate danger. That is why we admire them and celebrate their accomplishment today. So, obey the 10th point of the Scout Law. Be brave, and you will feel that you’ve done your duty, and lived true to your conscience.

Sunday, March 3, 2019

4 March 2019

Troop Meeting Monday, 3/4 6:30-8:00
We'll be working on some rank advancement stuff. Observing at Cardi Bob, Caeli's skink. Learning a bit more about reptiles and amphibians, playing a game, and working on some first aid skills.

Buck Hill Overnighter • Mar 8-9, 2019 (This Friday night)
WHAT: All night skiing, snowboarding & tubing! If Ski Camp has left you wanting even more...
WHO: All Scouts BSA, Venturers, Explorers and any of their friends 11 years or older; Mr. Needleman will not be there, please let me know if you're an adult that plans to be in attendance. We need to have two adults on-site.

WHERE: Buck Hill Ski and Snowboard Area in Burnsville, MN
WHEN: Friday, March 8th 10:00pm - 5am Saturday, March 9th
COST: $40.00 ($45 after Monday)
Cost includes lift ticket, ski/snowboard rental, beginner lesson, and tubing lift ticket
Online Registration: https://scoutingevent.com/250-buckhill2019

Reptile Amphibian Discovery Zoo • Mar 9-10, 2019
Saturday EVENING until Sunday Morning.
* CHANGE IN PLANS for SATURDAY - No Hike*
Meet at MUMC at 5:30pm.
Depart 6pm
Arrive 7:15pm RAD Zoo
Pizza, evening programs 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.

Current Drivers: Corey Needleman (8), Peter Edstrom
Maybe Drivers: Quentin Randolph
Adults: If the new timeline is more favorable and you'd like to attend (and drive some scouts) please sign up.

Arrow of Light Scouts are welcome to attend.

LAST CALL for REGISTRATION, Sign up by Tuesday 12pm.
Sign Up • https://goo.gl/forms/BDEaB3qgl3MUIfZq1

Scout (or Scouter) Name	Patrol
Thomas Newell	Arrow of Light
Ryan Beck	Arrow of Light
Emmett Karol	Arrow of Light
Nicholas Brown	Bacon
Thomas Edstrom	Flying Penguin
Brandon Kotula	Flying Penguin
Soren Lewandowski	Flying Penguin
Liam McDonald	Flying Penguin
Caeli Casey*	Good
Oliver Needleman	Good
Lucien Randolph-Tarrant	Good
Andy Beck	Good
Kayla Savold*	Good
Ale Castrejon*	Good
Ina Gomez*	Good
Corey Needleman	Loon (adult)
Tuesdae Collopy*	Loon (adult)
Eddie McDonald	Loon (adult)
Julian Branden	Werewolf
Everett Needleman	Werewolf

View Up-to-Minute RAD ZOO roster here

Pancake Breakfast • March 17 • MUMC 8-11:30

Please invite your friends, neighbors, nemesis, teachers, family, coaches, etc.

• Early Shift 7:30-10:30 Includes Set-Up

• Late Shift 9:30-12:30 Includes Clean-up

Sign up to work a shift here

We'd like as much of the troop to help and participate as possible. We'd like as many attendees as possible also. Please share this Facebok event and flyer with your networks.

Scouts will get paper flyers on Monday.

Scouting University • March 30 • Folwell Hall UMN

Spring 2019 MBU on March 30th at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities! This is a very popular event and will fill up.

There are 10 merit badge options for the morning session and 9 options in the afternoon. Please read the entire paragraph at the beginning of the registration form.

Cost: $25 full day (morning, lunch and afternoon session); $15 one session There is an extra charge of $5 for those who attend Space Exploration.

Please also bring this form already printed and filled.

Pizza lunch is provided for the Scouts who plan to stay for the morning and afternoon sessions. We have a part of the form for allergy information so even if the allergy is not pizza related, please still provide all allergies since we may provide other snacks.

There will be a confirmation email when you register (up to a week later). In the email, there will be more information about check-in and parking on campus.

Register here: https://goo.gl/forms/yu2JUqfbY5U8Xooh2

SUMMER CAMP 2019
July 27 - Aug 3 • Tomahawk Scout Reservation • Chippewa Sub-Camp • Winnebago Site

ALL SCOUTS are highly encouraged to attend. This is the highlight of summer! http://camptomahawk.org/About-Tomahawk

Arrow of Light & new crossed over Scouts are HIGHLY encouraged to attend!!! There is a special first-year program designed just for you called "Brownsea Island"!
More info soon!

Cost: $307/Scout; $130/Adult. Financial Assitance "Camperships" are available to help offset expenses.
All interested Scouts and Scouters
REGISTER Here, by March 26!!!

We'll select programs soon (individual program registrations / merit badges opens April 1). We need to get our roster of scouts signed up, ASAP!

OLDER SCOUTS - Apostle Islands Sea Kayaking, Sign up Here:

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.
View the Flyer Here -
THIS LOOKS AWESOME!!!
Cost: $50/ea.

Sign Up Here by March 26

• Extreme Program: Limit of 1,000 youth and adults, Youth: Age 14+
• Adventurer Program: Limit of 3,000 youth and adults, Youth: Ages 12+
• Action Center: Limit of 3,000 youth and adults, Youth: Ages 10+

BWCA High Adventure 2019
August 11-17
Sign up by May 7
https://goo.gl/forms/7w8UqUXIMTiorjds2

Troop 1 will send two crews to the BWCA from Sunday, August 11 - Saturday, August 17.
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

Scout Accounts & Paying for Camps

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.

NSC provides Financial Assitance called "Camperships" to help offset camp expenses.
Campership request form

Carwash Coordinator
The committee is seeking an adult to coordinate a carwash fundraiser after it warms up this spring and maybe again in summer. If you're interested let committee chair, Peter Edstrom, know.

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
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
March 26 - SIGN-UP DEADLINE: Ripley Rendezvous, Tomahawk Summer Camp,
Mar 30 - Mini-Harvest Service 7:30-9
Mar 30 - Scouting University - SIGN UP HERE

Longer List of Troop Activites Here

Subscribe to the Troop 1 Google Calendar
Google Calendar or in ical format

Scoutmaster's Minute
"A Wrapper A Day" - that's one of my mottos.

When I'm out walking, I try to pick up one wrapper a day - it's usually more than that, unfortunately. I have no idea how the wrappers get there, but there's never a shortage of them.

I'm 43 years old and I have never actually seen someone throw a wrapper on the ground on purpose. I have no idea what sort of person does it. It just doesn't make sense to me, but there seem to be more than enough of them around.

So, I just do what I can when I can - just a wrapper a day.

Troop 1 has 30 scouts. If we all did A Wrapper A Day, that would be over 10,000 wrappers in a year - and that would be about 100 pounds. Crazy right.

Of course, it's up to you to help or not, and no one will know if you do. But, wouldn't it be great if one day I couldn't find a wrapper for that day?