***Rescheduled *** Rocket Hike

Transcription

1 Manhattan Beach Boy Scout Troop 849 ***Rescheduled *** Rocket Hike We Invite all Jr. & Sr. Weblos and their families to attend our annual camping weekend and model-rocket launch event. Hope to see you all there! Where & when: Saddleback Butte State Park on Sat/Sun Feb 9-10, 2013 Meet at: MB Scout 7:45am on Feb. 9th Bring: Standard camping gear (see attached sheet for details.) Be prepared for temperatures down into the 30s at night. Estes (or similar) model rocket. Should be completed and assembled prior to the trip. Meals: Bring your own snacks and lunch for Saturday. Troop will provide dinner Saturday night and breakfast on Sunday morning. For more info contact: Mr. Rick Reely (reeley@troop849.com) Dr. Lance Siegel (Siegel@strabismus.net)

2 Rocket Hike Schedule Saturday - 6:45am - Boy scouts and adult meet at Scouthouse 7am - Scouts and Parents leave for Saddleback Butte 7:45am - Jr. and Sr. Webelos and Parents meet at scouthouse 8am Jr. and Sr. Webelos & Parents leave for Saddleback Butte 9:15am - Scouts arrive at Saddleback Butte and set up 10:15am Jr. and Sr. Webelos and Parents arrive at Saddleback Butte - greeted by scouts/adults who will guide them to their designated campsite. 11:15am - All will meet to begin hike to Saddleback Butte - bring daypacks w/water bottle & sack lunch. 12:15pm-12:45pm - Lunch at Peak - 12:45pm - hike back to camp. 1:30pm-3:30pm Jr. and Sr. Webelos go in cook groups (4 Patrols) Scout Demonstrations by patrol - 25 minutes each group - then rotation to next group. 1:30pm-3:30pm - Parent Orientation (while scouts are involved in scout demonstrations - parents will get presentations) 3:30pm - Model Rocket Safety (All) 4pm - Scouts start Dinner 5pm - Dinner 6:30 pm campfire (scout led) 7:15 pm capture the flag 8:15pm Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler (All) 9pm - campsites Sunday 7:30am Breakfast 8am-8:45am - pack up/clean up campsites 8:45am - leave for launch site 9am - launch site set up 9:15am - Noon Rocket Launching Adult Presentations 1) Rank Advancement/Merit Badges 2) New Scout Program 3) High Adventure - Outdoor Program 4) Parent Participation - Merit Badge Counselors, Patrol Coordinators, assist on Trips or Activities 5) Summer Program - Summer Camp & Backpacking/Longterms

3 2013 Rocket Hike Rescheduled to February 9-10 Boy Scout Troop 849 is sending out this Invitation to all Beach Cities Packs Sr. Webelos Dens to join Manhattan Beach Troop 849 in on annual special joint troop/sr. Webelos car camping trip weekend and Model Rocket Launching at Saddleback Butte State Park (near Lancaster). A joint camping activity with a Boy Scout Troop is a Arrow of Light requirement activity. Each Webelos scout must have one parent attend with them on this camping trip, per Cub Scout regulations for Webelos Scouts. Cost for weekend is $5.00 per person. We will meet at MB Scouthouse at 7:45am on Saturday - where you will be checking in and given directions and campground information. Parking is limited at campground - please carpool as much as possible. Note: This is a Car Camping Trip at a developed site with running water and restroom facilities. Bring car camping gear (tent, sleeping bags, chairs, flashlights, water bottles, sunglasses, hat, etc). Temperature at this High Desert camp is usually around during day and can get into low 30's during the night. Plan accordingly and bring warm layered clothing including gloves, jackets and winter caps can come in handy. Bring sack lunch for Saturday - we will be doing a short hike to the peak of the Saddleback Butte and have lunch there on Saturday. Saturday afternoon is scouting activities for the scouts including Rocket Launching Safety. Boy Scouting troop orientation (including packing an backpack) and Q & A for the adults. Saturday Dinner and Sunday Breakfast you will be our guests at meals cooked by the boy scouts in their patrol sites. Campfire provided on Saturday Night. You can bring firewood if you want as there are firepits in the campsites. Sunday after breakfast, we all pack up camp and go to our highlight of the weekend - launching until we get tired or ready for lunchtime. Model Rockets - You must bring the rocket(s) fully assembled (most must be assembled prior at home) and ready to fire. Besides the Rocket itself, be sure to have Rocket Engines, igniters and wadding for your rocket. You can get the rockets and engines at the local hobby shops. If you don t own your own rocket launcher, there are many scouts willing to share use. SIGNING-UP - Your den leader or designee will be coordinator for your den. Please advise them of your plans to attend so that we can get an accurate head count as soon as possible. Contact - Rick Reeley reeley@troop849.com or Lance Siegel at Siegel@strabismus.net for den reservations or other questions. Information needed to attend. 1) Webelos Scout Name and Parent name that will accompany him. 2) Pack # and Den # so that will help us learn who you are. 3) Contact Phone # and .

4 About Troop 849 Troop 849 was founded in May 1956 at MB Scout house. Troop Meetings are on Tuesday evenings starting at 7:30pm and ends at 9pm. We have many outdoor and high adventure activities for your sons to chose from during the year and we offer a wide variety of activities for the boys to try during the year. See our Troop Calendar and Troop website for more information. Eagle Scouts - Troop 849 currently has 115 Eagle Scouts, and many more lined up in the 2013 year. We average 5.5 eagle scouts a year for the past 13 years (70 total), Troop 849 is one of the premier troops in the district and council. We have a troop Eagle Scout Coordinator to help the scouts in preparation of their Eagle Projects and getting their Eagle books ready for approval. Service Projects - there are many opportunities to participate in service projects with the troop. We have a monthly Neighbor to Neighbor Project serving food to needy folks, as well as many scouts doing their Eagle Scout Projects in the upcoming months. Troop 849 is a 2012 Journey to Excellence Gold Award troop. Leadership/Training - Troop Leaders are involved with District and Council Leadership and Training. We have Rock Climbing Instructors, 4 members of HAT (Council High Adventure Team), 3 members of council youth training team, and members on District Scout Leader training and council religious committee. We also have our own Red Cross - CPR, First Aid, and Wilderness First Aid certified instructors (Mr. Rolandelli & Mr. Reeley). Many of our adults are Trained Backpacking Leaders. We are always looking for adults to help out in Training, helping to leading activities and outings, and becoming merit badge counselors.. Scout Advancement - Boy Scout Ranks to earn are: Scout Rank, Tenderfoot, 2 nd Class, 1 st Class, Star, Life and the highest award in Boy Scouts - Eagle. New Scouts try should make it to First Class in a year after joining, but it is not a requirement. Unlike Cub Scouts and Webelos - your sons will advance in rank as individuals or as part of their patrol group by participating in camping trips, outdoor activities and troop meeting advancement opportunities. Some boys advance faster then others, and some boys participate in more events then other boys; which offer more advancement opportunities. The Boy Scout handbook should be with the scout at every troop meeting and advancement activity so that they know what they need to work on. Parents should review the troop calendar and their own son s Boy Scout handbook to make sure their son is aware of needed requirements to complete for the rank they are currently working towards. Merit Badges Counselors - the troop has many merit badge counselors (adults) in the troop to work with the boys. In June we offer the Swimming/Lifesaving MB classes so that scouts can be prepared for summer camp. Parents - We are always looking for new Merit Badge Counselors.

5 2013 Summer Camp - Troop 849 will be returning to Camp Chawanakee on Shaver Lake (northeast of Fresno) in the Sequoia Forest - July 28th-August 3rd. Summer Camp is highly recommended for all new boy scouts, and is a great opportunity to spend time with other scouts camping and working on completing fun merit badges and advancement and outdoor skills. New Scout Program - all new scouts bridging over to boy scouts are placed into a new scout patrol (Dolphin Patrol) to ease the transition over to Boy Scouts. Older Scouts called Troop Guides will work with the new scouts on Scout and Tenderfoot Ranks during the first few months after joining the troop, under Mr. Rick Reeley s supervision. There are special new scout easy backpacking trips geared to teach the new scouts how to backpack, including packing a pack, setting up a tent, cook their own meals, hiking safety, as well as fire safety and tool safety. Troop Contacts: Dave Rolandelli - Scoutmaster - scoutmaster@troop849.org Rick Reeley - Sr. Asst. Scoutmaster - reeley@troop849.org Michael Tauber - Committee Chair - mtauber@troop849.org See you out camping.

6 170th Street East E Ave K-8 Day-Use Area Campground E Ave K Park Overview 1000 Meters Little Butte Saddleback Butte Peak Equestrian East Avenue J Little Butte Peak 2,802 Ft Equestrian Saddleback Peak 3,651 Ft. 200th Street East To Make the Best of Your Visit and to Protect the Park, Please Observe the Following Rules: DO NOT COLLECT, DESTROY OR DISTURB PLANTS, ANIMALS OR ROCK. They are the main attraction of the park and all are protected. Burning of dead or down Joshua Trees or shrubs for firewood is strictly prohibited. DO NOT LITTER. Keep trash secured; desert wind is strong and unpredictable. OFF-ROADING IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE PARK. Vehicles must stay on roads and in designated parking only. 15 MPH speed limit. CAMPING AND DAY-USE FEES MUST BE PAID ON ARRIVAL. Deposit the fee envelope in the green iron ranger and place the completed receipt on your dashboard. Campsite checkout is noon. Saddleback Butte State Park & Facility Map KEEP PETS ON LEASH. Dogs must be on a 6-foot leash or in an enclosed tent or vehicle, and are not allowed on trails (except for Service Dogs). Visitors with vicious or noisy dogs will be evicted. LOADED FIREARMS AND FIREWORKS ARE PROHIBITED. GENERATORS MAY ONLY BE USED FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM. Loud, disturbing noise is never allowed. FIRES ARE ONLY ALLOWED IN THE PROVIDED FIRE RINGS. Portable barbeques and stoves may only be used within the campsite. Be careful when burning anything, including tobacco products. Wildfires are disastrous to the desert and take decades to heal Feet Park Boundary Contour Interval 50 Feet Campground Picnic Area Restrooms Hiking Scenic Overlook Visitor Center Equestrian Eq. Staging Area Locked Eq. Gate Map Key $ Local Road State Park Road State Park Campfire Center Nature Drinking Water Dump Station Group Camp head Parking Camp Host Fee Station Accessible To Day-Use Area Campground Exit $ Joshua Group Camp Saddleback Butte Peak Exit Day-Use Area Meters $ Dowen Nature Feet To Campground Little Butte Desert Hiking Precautions Drink before you leave and when you re not thirsty! By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. The air takes moisture from your breath and dries your sweat, so you lose water faster than you expect. Let someone know where you re going and when you ll be back. Drink pure water. Flavored drinks and electrolyte replacers inhibit your body from absorbing the most important ingredient: water. Bring: hat, sunglasses, sunblock, cell phone, water, trail map, compass, flashlight, salty snacks, more water, first aid kit, layered longsleeved clothing, camera, extra water. Thank you visiting our park and we hope you enjoy your experience! For more information, call the Mojave Desert Information Center at (661) or Saddleback Butte Visitor Center at (661)

7 The quietly commanding Saddleback Butte towers some thousand feet above the broad alluvial plains of the Antelope Valley on the western edge of the Mojave Desert, less than 15 miles east of the bustling city of Lancaster. One of many similar land features in the Antelope Valley, the butte (defined as a solitary mountain ) was once the core of an ancient volcano whose shell eroded down over time, leaving a protruding granite mass culminating at 3,651 feet in elevation. Twisted, sharp, and intriguing, the abstract shapes of the Joshua Trees are beautiful in their distortion, dotting the vast high desert landscape among pungent Creosote bushes. The 2,955 acre park was created in 1960 to preserve this habitat for the native plants and animals that were once common here, but are becoming increasingly rare due primarily to loss of habitat. Desert dwellers that make the park home include coyotes and kit foxes, jack rabbits, cottontail rabbits, kangaroo rats, many kinds of snakes and lizards, and the occasional badger or skunk. Be cautious of the Sidewinder and Mojave Green rattlesnakes (the deadliest of the rattlers), which slink about in the warm evenings searching for rodents. A celebrated resident is the Desert Tortoise, sometimes seen by visitors with the curiosity and patience to embrace the quiet, unhurried ways of this age-old desert animal. If seen, however, the tortoise must be left alone as it is a federally protected Threatened Species. Bird life includes many migratory species, and a few permanent residents golden eagles, hawks, ravens, and owls, and smaller birds such as cactus wrens, horned larks, finches, and shrikes. The best time to visit is in the springtime when wildflowers are apt to put on a beautiful display of color. Autumn is also likely to be pleasant as well, although temperatures may vary widely and change suddenly. Summer temperatures average 95 F and occasionally range as high as 115 F, but evenings are peaceful with warm breezes and clear skies. Frost and sub-freezing temperatures are common in the winter, with occasional snow. Day-Use Facilities The day-use area includes 27 picnic sites with tables and barbecue grills, and shade ramadas for protection from the sun and wind. Water and pit toilets are located near the picnic area. Explore the colorful displays and hands-on exhibits illustrating the natural and cultural history of the area at the Saddleback Butte Visitor Center, which also offers a serene, scenic view overlooking the park. Our Mission The mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Saddleback Butte Campground Facilities The family campground has 50 first-come, first-served sites featuring tables, barbecue grills, fire rings and shade ramadas, with a limit of eight people per site. Accessible restrooms and water are located throughout the campground. RVs/campers up to 30 feet are welcome and a dump station is available. Use of the group camp, for up to 30 people and 12 vehicles, is by reservation only. Hiking The peak can be reached from the day-use area by hiking the 2.5 mile Little Butte, or from the campground take the 2-mile Saddleback Butte Peak. The trails begin on a mild slope through moderately loose sand among creosote bushes and Joshua trees, to the base of the butte where they merge. It then becomes a challenging climb up sand and rock, but the finale is worth every step at the top, enjoy a breathtaking 360 view over the Antelope Valley and east across the Mojave desert. For a nice moderate 3-mile loop, take either trail east to where the two trails meet, go back west on the other, and then take the park's gravel main road to return to the trailhead where you started. California State Parks California State Parks does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at the phone number below. For more information about Saddleback Butte State Park or to receive this publication in an alternate format, please contact: State Park Mojave Desert Information Center (661) th Street West, Lancaster CA MDIC@parks.ca.gov Saddleback Butte State Park (661) Visit us on the web at: Directions nd Street East, Lancaster From Hwy 14: Exit Avenue K in Lancaster, go east 18 miles, turn left on 170th St East. Signs are on the right. From Hwy 15: Take Hwy 138 west, go north on 165th St East. It becomes 170th St, continue to Avenue K. Campground Entrance: 170th St East & East Ave K. Day Use Area: 170th St East & East Ave J (one mile north of Campground entrance). The short self-guided Dowen Nature loop commences at the Visitor Center, highlighting the variety of unique natural features of the park. Operating Hours Equestrian Use Campground open 24-Hours A 4.5 mile horse trail skirts along the north and west base of the butte. A 10-mile loop can be made by beginning north-east of the park at the equestrian staging area gate and exiting south-west at the service yard gate, then continuing around the south and east boundaries of the park. The equestrian staging area has easy pull-through access for large vehicles. Equestrian use is regulated to preserve the integrity of the park; call (661) for gate access. Horses are limited to the designated equestrian trail and staging area, and horse camping is not available. Group events are welcome with advance notice. Visitor Center hours vary; call for schedule. Day-Use Area available Sunrise-Sunset Park Use Fees Senior & Disabled Discounts available. $5 Day-Use fee per vehicle applies for hiking, use of Day-Use area, non-camper use of Dump Station, and for individual Equestrians. $12 Camping fee per overnight use of family campground sites with 1 vehicle; $5 each extra vehicle. $66 Group Camp by reservation through Reserve America, (800) or ReserveAmerica.com. 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