The Troop 264 Newsletter. The Signaler

Transcription

1 February 2004 Volume 24, No. 2 Twenty-Four Years of Upcoming Dates and Deadlines Jan 26 Troop Mtg (No school) Jan 26 Mulch Sales Kickoff (Mr. Hoggard) Jan 31, Feb 1 Winter Backpacking (Sharks) Feb 2 Patrol Mtg 7:30 pm, Venture Mtg 6:30 pm Feb 8 Scout Sunday Feb 9 Troop Mtg 7:30 pm, Venture Mtg 6:30 pm Feb Valley Forge (Mr. Bogan) Feb 16 TLC/BOR (No school) Feb 18 Signaler 6:00 pm Feb 21 Friends Nursing Home (Griffins) Food Bank (Eagles/Leopards) Feb 23 Troop Mtg 7:30 pm Feb 28 Merit Badge Day Mar 1 Patrol Mtg Mar 2 No school Mar 8 Troop Mtg 7:30 pm Mar 10 District St. Patrick s 7:30 pm Mar 13, 14 Military Wkend USS Constellation (Allison/Vikings) Mar 15 Patrol Mtg 7:30 pm, Venture Mtg 6:30 pm Mar 18 Troop Adult Academy 7:30 pm Mar 20 Friends Nursing Home 11 am (Eagles/Leopards) Mar 20 Food Bank 8 am (Foxes) Mar 22 TLC/BOR Mar 24 Signaler Adams 6:00 pm Mar 26, 27 Mulch Pickup/Delivery (Hoggard) Mar 29 Court of Honor March Signaler Submittal Deadlines: Information Due to Reporters: Feb 17 Signaler Distribution Date: Feb 23 (Troop Mtg) Articles Due to Mrs. Adams: Feb 18 at the Signaler Meeting No Articles accepted after Fri., Feb 20 Staff Editor/Webmaster: Joe Weiler jaweiler@erols.com or ratherbeflying@comcast.net Circ. Coord./Reporter: Kevin Correa Reporters: Alex Adams Michael Mercado Zack Hopkins Brandon Wymelenberg PsychoticBMW@hotmail.com Liam O Lone Tim Russell Amanda Wilbur Kckbxingrl@comcast.net Sean Wilbur Magic7@comcast.net Signaler Advisors: Mrs. Greenspon greenspo@erols.com Mrs. Adams: pladams50@comcast.net Mrs. Hopkins sashopkins@aol.com Adult Advisors: Scoutmaster Mr. Bogan denbogan@aol.com Treasurer: Mr. Sponaugle richsponaugle@mailcity.com OA Mr. Patterson Advancement Chairman Mr. Matyas grymat@comcast.net SPL: Tommy Irvin Adult activity coordinators please submit information about upcoming activities to Mrs. Adams (electronically or hardcopy) by the deadline. Please contact a Signaler reporter, if you would like to have a scout generate the announcement for you. If any information or participants of activities have been left out of the Signaler, corrections will be made in the next issue. Please send any corrections to Mrs. Adams at pladams50@comcast.net.

2 Rev 1/14/04 February Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Patrol Meeting 1 Winter Backpacking (Sharks) 8 Scout Sunday 15 Valley Forge (Bogan) OA Chapter St. Patrick s 7:30 pm Venture St. John s 6:30 pm 9 Troop Meeting Opening: Sharks Service: Vikings Venture St. John s 6:30 pm 16 TLC/BOR NO SCHOOL Troop Meeting Open: Sharks MB:Eagles/Leopards Skill:Hawks Service:Vikings District St. Patricks 7:30 pm (Hawks) Signaler Adams house 6:00pm Valley Forge (Bogan) 19 Troop Adult Brookeville Academy 7:30 pm 14 Valley Forge (Bogan) Scout Sabbath Friends Nursing Home (Griffins) Food Bank (Eagles/Leopards) University of Scouting Merit Badge Day 2004

3 Rev 1/14/04 March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Patrol Meeting Venture St. John s 6:30 pm 7 8 Troop Meeting Open: Vikings MB: Foxes Skill: Sharks Service: Eagles/Leopards NO SCHOOL 9 10 District St. Patricks 7:30 pm (Vikings) Military Weekend USS Constellation (Allison/Vikings) 14 Military Weekend USS Constellation (Allison/Vikings) Patrol Meeting Venture St. John s 6:30 pm Troop Adult Brookeville Academy 7:30 pm Friends Nursing Home Visit 11am (Eagles/Leopards) Food Bank 8am (Foxes) 27 OA Chapter St. Patrick s 7:30 pm TLC/BOR Court of Honor Opening: Eagles/Leopards Service: Foxes Signaler Adams house 6:00pm Mulch Pickup/Delivery (Hoggard) Mulch Pickup/Delivery (Hoggard) 2004

4 Ski Weekend at Seven Springs! January 2-4, 2004 Twenty-eight scouts and scouters enjoyed a weekend of skiing and snowboarding in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania at Seven Springs Resort. While the weather was on the warm side and rainy at times, the scouts and their families made the best of the days and nights. Everyone skied or went snowboarding for several hours. We occupied two adjacent dorms and had a great time. PS. We wish Mr. Laing a quick recovery from his knee injury. The scouts and siblings that attended this event were: Matt Schulz Alex Evans Joe Weiler Scouters: John Harris Tony Laing Kevin Hillman Carey Hillman Michael Mercado Bill Mercado Patrick Vaughan Janice Mercado Ryan Mercado Christine Pendleton Sean O'Brien Jack Vaughan Seth Icangelo Peggy Vaughan Sophie Evans Jim O'Brien Kevin Correa Keith Evans Laura Evans Ron Pendleton Perry Strickman Jack Vaughan Kaitlin Mercado Winter Backpacking/Campout January 31 - February 1, 2004 This year s winter campout is at Popular Grove at Catoctin Mountain Park (by Thurmont MD). Older scouts will be backpacking about 6 miles into the site. The Griffins Patrol is taking a shorter hike and establishing base camp. It s a challenging camping experience and everyone must be properly prepared. One of the challenges is to dress so that you stay warm but don t overheat during the times of physical exertion such as during the hike. A list of some basic equipment follows. REMEMBER NO COTTON! We will meet at St. Johns at 7:45 am and plan to leave promptly at 8 am. Bring a bag lunch for Saturday. We expect the cost of the trip including food will be about $10 - $15. Money will be collected Saturday morning. Contact persons: Jim O Brien or Manny Correa Things for Hike: Comfortable waterproof hiking boots Thermal underwear (not cotton) Wool socks and wicking socks (three pairs) Rain gear Winter hats and gloves (2 sets min) Warm/dry set of clothes to sleep in Backpack First Aid Kit Compass Whistle Water (2 liters minimum) Hiking pants (e.g., nylon) This is a must Ground Pad Chocolate Bar Tent Make plan for tent partner PERMISSION SLIP WINTER BACKPACKING/CAMPOUT 2004 I have reviewed the required equipment list provided to my son regarding proper clothing and sleeping bags. If I am unavailable when contacted by phone, I grant permission for any and all emergency medical or surgical treatment as deemed necessary by the attending physician to (scout) during the Winter Backpacking/Campout on January 31 and February 1, Name of Scout: My son is allergic to the following drugs: I can be reached at ( ) - or ( ) -. Parent Signature Date 4

5 The Valley Forge Encampment February 13, 14, 15, 2004 The Valley Forge Encampment will be February 13,14,15, We will leave Friday after school or as early as we can. Each patrol will need to arrange for its own transportation. There will be Troop cooking for all the meals, Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday breakfast. You will need to have money for the ride for meals Friday and Sunday. Drive time is 3+ hours. We will be doing the encampment program, this year there are 12 stops or events to do. There will be Native Americans and their role in Valley Forge as well as the civilians around the camp and what impact it had on them and their participation in this event. There will also be musket firings, demo and hands on. Cost is $15.00, Scout and or Scouter for the encampment plus food cost. I need to know who is planning on going since I must send in registration Tuesday, January 27. After talking with the COL Council, it will be a great time. Any questions, contact your Scoutmaster at Patrol Corners Foxes: The Foxes are starting to work on the Personal Management Merit Badge. Griffins: The Griffins are working on their First and Second Class ranks and are going winter camping. Hawks: The Hawks are working on the Collections Merit Badge. Leopards/Eagles (Legals): Danny Ramsey is working on his eagle project. John is finishing his write-up. Ben and Perry are still looking for projects. Sharks: The Sharks are working on the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge. They also recently went to the local nursing home. Ventures: The Venture Crew will be going to the local shooting range to learn how to safely shoot pistols. Vikings: The Vikings are working on the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge. Scout Tips Wet-Weather Fire Tip Waterproof your matches before going camping. Dip each "strike-anywhere" match in melted paraffin or paint it with clear fingernail polish. An empty plastic aspirin bottle with a watertight lid makes a good match carrier. Measuring Heights - Tree-felling Method Back away from a flagpole or tree that you want to measure. Hold a stick upright at arm's length. Sight over the stick so that its tip appears to touch the top of the pole and your thumb is at its base. Swing the stick 90 degrees to a horizontal position as if the flagpole were falling. Keep your thumb at the base of the pole, and notice where the tip of the stick seems to touch the ground. Pace the distance from that point to the base of the flagpole to get its height. Mulch Sales Important Dates: 2004 Mulch Kick Off and Distribution of Packets 26 Jan 2004 Distribute Mulch Sale 15 Mar 2004 Last date to turn in orders to Mr. Hoggard. 25, 26, 27 Mar 2004 Pick up Mulch at RELS Trucking from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM 26 Mar after 6 PM and 27 Mar all day Pick up Fertilizer at Mr. Hoggard s House (18600 Sandcastle Court) Contact person: Mr. Hoggard Friends of Scouting Campaign The Friends of Scouting (FOS) Campaign is vital to the Scouting programs in the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) and to Troop 264. The annual FOS fundraiser provides support for the professional Scout staff, Scout shop, Scout camps, Scouting programs and organized events, and adult training programs. Last year, Troop 264's contributions to the campaign totaled $1,830. Our goal this year is to meet or exceed that amount with 100% Troop participation. I mailed a letter dated January 20th to each Scout family. Enclosed with the letter are a pledge card and a self-addressed envelope to facilitate the return of the contribution. If you did not receive the letter, please let me know. If you have already sent me your contribution, thank you very much. If you haven t yet completed the pledge card and written your check, please consider doing it now and return it to me by February 9. The Scouts of Troop 264 and the NCAC thank you for all your support. Norman Strickman, FOS Campaign Coordinator Questions? Call me at (301)

6 Conserving Body Heat The Troop 264 Newsletter Important Tips for Staying Warm and Safe in Cold Weather Clothing does not make you warm it provides insulation to trap your body heat, which is what keeps you warm. Dress in layers. Use ventilation to avoid sweating. A stocking hat and scarf that covers your ears and neck or a ski mask works well. Cover your head when you are cold. Remove your cap if you start sweating. Wool clothing is best if you add a layer for wind protection. Cotton is a poor choice since it absorbs sweat and gets wet. Mittens keep hour hands warmer than gloves, though gloves are useful when you have to work with your hands. Bring extra clothes to change into when you get wet. COLD C keep clothing CLEAN O avoid OVERHEATING L wear clothing LOOSE D keep clothing DRY Tent Placement Try to place your tent where it will catch the morning sunrise. This will help melt the frost and warm the tent. Also, place your tent on higher ground, since cold air sinks. Choose a protected site if it is windy. Dehydration Dehydration can seriously impair the body s ability to produce heat. Drink plenty of fluids especially hot liquids. Plan on having hot cocoa, soup, or other hot liquid with every meal and drink lots of water. Cooking Cooking in cold weather will take about twice as long as normal. Always use a lid on any pots you are cooking in to retain heat. Make sure you start heating cleaning water before you start cooking. Try to keep your menu to good one-pot meals, like stews, chili, and hot beans. A good high caloric snack before bedtime will give you fuel to keep warm all night. Sleeping Bag Tips Do not sleep with your nose and mouth inside the sleeping bag. This will trap moisture in the bag, causing it to become wet and not insulate as well. NEVER sleep in the same clothes you wore all day. Bring a thick pair of sweats and thermal underwear to sleep in and use them just for sleeping. Don t wear the same ones during the day. Wear a couple of layers or clean wool or cotton socks. Sleep with a stocking hat on you head. Have a waterproof sleeping mat and a sleeping bag rated to at least 15 degrees or add two wool blankets to it. Put tomorrow s clothes in the bag with you so they will be warm in the morning. Attitude A positive mental attitude is the most important ingredient in winter camping. The demands of winter will drain your energy. You will have to rely on yourself to keep your spirits high. Buddies look after each other and watch for symptoms of frostbite, hypothermia, and exhaustion. Be prepared and have fun! Swimming Merit Badge Anyone interested in completing the swimming merit badge, please contact Mrs. Wymelenberg at

7 This is a thank-you letter from Helen Louise Liversidge for the contribution the troop gave to Olney Help. This thank-you note was received from Karen Montgomery for the picture given by the Troop. 7

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9 Tips For Your Next Winter Camping Trip 1. Use the buddy system for winter outings. Buddies can check each other for frostbite, make sure no one becomes lost, and boost the morale of the entire group. 2. Plan to cover no more than 5 miles per day on a winter trek on snowshoes. An experienced group can cover 10 to 12 miles on cross-country skis. 3. Always allow ample time to make camp in winter, especially if you plan to build snow shelters. 4. Fatigue encourages accidents. Rest occasionally when building a snow shelter; taking part in cross-country skiing or snowshoeing; or participating in other active winter sports. Periodic rests also help avoid overheating. 5. Pulling a load over the snow on a sled or toboggan is generally easier than carrying it in a backpack. 9

10 6. Snow is a terrific insulator. Snow shelters are much warmer than tents because they retain heat and keep out the cold wind. If you have adequate time for building snow shelters, you will spend a much more comfortable night sleeping in them than in a tent. 7. Snow is the greatest thief in winter, swallowing up small dropped items. Tie or tape a piece of brightly colored cord to small items so they can be seen in snow. Some items, such as mittens, can be tied to larger items, such as a parka, to prevent them from being dropped and lost. 8. Melting snow in a pot to get water may cause the pot to burn through or may scorch the snow, giving the water a disagreeable taste. Prevent this by adding a cup or two of water in the bottom of the pot before putting in the snow to melt. 9. Punch a hole in the top of your ice chisel and string a stout cord through it. Before trying to chisel a hole in ice, anchor the cord to something large or too heavy to be pulled through the hole so you will not lose your chisel in freezing water when the ice is penetrated. 10. Always test the thickness of ice before venturing any distance from the shore. Ice should be at least 3 inches thick for a small group; 4 inches of ice is safe for a crowd. Since ice thickness can vary considerably, it is best to stay near the shoreline of large lakes. 11. Use alkaline batteries in flashlights. Standard batteries deteriorate quickly in cold weather. Tape the switch of your flashlight in the "off" position until you are ready to use it. This will prevent it from being turned on accidentally while in your pack or on your sled. 12. Encourage everyone in your group to wear brightly colored outer clothing so that each person will be more visible, especially during severe weather. 13. Small liquid-fuel stoves are much better for cooking in winter than fires, which are difficult to build with wet wood. Gathering wood that is frozen to the ground also can be difficult, if not impossible. A pressure/pump-type stove is essential in winter. 14. Always use a funnel to refuel a stove so you won't frostbite your fingers by accidentally pouring fuel on them. Fuel evaporates at a high rate of speed and quickly removes heat from anything it touches. 15. Place a stove or fire on a platform of logs or rocks so it will not melt through the snow. 16. Never light or use a stove inside a tent or snow shelter. A tent may catch fire, and a snow shelter may help lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Neither of these potential mishaps is worth the risk. 17. A windscreen is essential for using a stove in the winter. Even a slight breeze will direct the heat away from its intended mark. 10

11 ADVANCEMENT INFORMATION PAGE BOARD of REVIEW (BOR) Any scout needing a Board of Review should call Mr. ( ) no later than two Sundays (8 days) before the scheduled Board of Review. Failure to give proper notification will delay your BOR for a month. If your scout is scheduled for a BOR, he must bring an adult with him. That adult is needed to sit on a BOR for another scout. This way we can accommodate all scouts striving fort advancement. Scout dress code for BOR will include Class A shirt, neckerchief, slide, and scout pants (khaki or black pants can be substituted). A scout hat is preferred. SCOUT SPIRIT for ADVANCEMENT We all recognize that Scout Spirit is hard to evaluate. We know Scout Spirit includes being helpful and cheerful, but it is more than that it s giving back. In an effort to assist Patrol dads in recognizing Scout Spirit, the following guidelines are offered. Our troop believes that prior to each advancement, participation in the following activities exemplify the essences of Scout Spirit: A minimum of 1 nursing home visit Participation in at least 1 fundraiser At least 4 overnight outings per year Good deeds done outside of scouts The Patrol Dad, not a senior scout, is responsible for signing off on Scout Spirit prior to your Scoutmaster Conference. SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCES Any scout needing a Scoutmaster Conference for advancement up through 1 st class, needs to contact one of the following for a conference: Mr. Winter Mr. Greenspon Mr. Laing Mr. Long Mr. Pitts Mr. Predoehl Mr. Vinson Mr. Zuccaro Scoutmaster Conferences for Star, Life, and Eagle must be held with Mr. Bogan - ( ). BOR for STAR and LIFE SCOUT ADVANCEMENTS While ropes and compasses are provided for younger ranks, by the time you are ready for Star and Life advancement, you should be responsible enough to bring your own knot rope and compass for your BOR. We are requiring all scouts who are advancing to Star or Life to bring a knot rope and compass to their BOR. LIFE and EAGLE SCOUTS as ADVISORY BOR MEMBERS If you are a Life or Eagle Scout and would like to sit on a Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, or Star BOR, as a Technical Expert, call Mr. Winter ( ). You would be the fourth person on the Board. While you wouldn t have a vote, you would have input into the decisionmaking process and add invaluable knowledge and insight by asking questions that perhaps scouters wouldn t think to ask. This is a great way to give back to and maintain the quality of your troop. 11

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