1 April 2008
For essential planning, the Scoutmaster and PLC request that all Scout families reply to this e-mail to indicate which outings your Scout (or Scouter) is likely to attend for the April through August period. The outing descriptions and purposes are listed below.
By Tuesday, April 7, 2008, please reply with your son(s) name (or the adult Leader's name) and list the outings he is likely to attend. Also, there's a time sensitive note your son may be interested in at the end of this e-mail.
Spring Camporee -- April 11-13 at Camp Kikthewenund. Pirates theme. Great for first year Scouts for nailing down several Tenderfoot requirements. Great for older Scouts who can place in top five in competitions and win neat prizes. Permission slips due THIS MONDAY, found at www.T514.org
Canoe Outing -- May 2-4 at Chain O Lakes State Park near Fort Wayne, IN. Only swimmers passing the April 19 mandatory swim checks at Pike HS can attend -- but this is open to all Scouts. It is geared as a preliminary for parts of canoeing merit badge that can be completed at Summer Camp. There are 4 lakeside (canoe to get to) campsites for 24 adventurous Scouts and leaders -- our primary plan. If more are interested, there is a youth camp (our tents) for overflow Scouts and Leaders. I'm thinking this will be in the $40 range, mostly for canoe rental.
Gettysburg Outing -- June 5-8 (Thurs - Sun). We have 24 total spots reserved IN Gettysburg National Military Park. We have arranged for a guide (who is taking the official Gettysburg Guide test later this year) to join us for this trip. We currently estimate somewhere around $80 for this trip, mostly fuel (plus souvenir $). If we have more than 24 we can TRY to get more spots, but we need to know ASAP. Purpose will be to follow the three-day battle during the three days we're there -- and have some time to goof off too. Scouts with White Stag beginning that Sunday will leave Sat eve or early Sunday morning to be on time for their next adventure.
Summer Solstice Sailing Jamboree on Lake Michigan -- June 20-21. We reprise camping on the beach near the East Chicago Marina and learn and enjoy sailing with the assistance and fleet of the Indiana Sailing Association. This year we'll be joined by two Boy Scout Troops from East Chicago! Great for fun; great for advancement. Those who've passed the April 19 swimmer's test (or equivalent) only for this event. Expected cost in the $35 range -- fuel, food and sailing.
West Virginia Whitewater Rafting Aug 1-4 (Fri - Mon) -- for First Class Scouts aged 12 and above only (sorry Phoenix and Wolverine Patrols). This is 2008's Troop 514 High Adventure offering. Rafting two days on the New River, with two styles of raft (day two more adventurous than day one) and camping overnight on the river. For those who have Canoeing Merit Badge, this will be a chance to earn Whitewater Merit Badge as well! We have reserved slots for 6 adults, 14 Scouts -- but can adjust that depending on this survey. We need good numbers here as half the fee is due in 10 days to hold the reservation. Costs are likely to be around $235 youth and $265 adult mostly for the rafting and then fuel costs.
So you can cut and paste this list -- and add "yes" or "no" for your Scout AND for your adult Scouter for each outing! Please -- RESPOND BEFORE APRIL 7, 2008.
Spring Camporee
Chain-O-Lakes Canoeing
Gettysburg
Summer Solstice Sailing Jamboree
Whitewater High Adventure
Your Scouts sure planned an exciting 2008 and I hope to see as many Scouts as possible at our outings -- every one is a chance to advance (and learn, but we don’t say much about that!) and have FUN.
And now that tim-sensitive item for your Scouts -- in 10 days most Scouts are attending the Spring Pirates of Kikthewenund Camporee. And coincidentally tomorrow (Wed) night at 8pm, the Discovery Channel is broadcasting a two-hour Mythbusters Pirate Special -- Arggghhh me hearties - Jamie and Adam have plundered the seven seas in search of pirate parables and maritime myths and the result is this 2-hour spectacular. Enjoy the fun to get in the mood as Troop 514's pirates set sail yet again to capture the vaunted Willie at the Spring Camporee!!!!!!
Yours in Scouting,
The PLC of Troop 514 (Andy Mattice, SPL)
And The Scoutmaster
3 March 2008
Hi Parents and welcome new parents!
Err, I mean parents of new Troop 514 Boy Scouts. Next weekend is Advancement Weekend and our experienced Scouts will be earning merit badges while our new Scouts will be learning, well, learning how to camp. We'll go over tent setup and take down, where to set up tents (and where not to), how to use the stoves safely, how to use and clean up cooking equipment, how to operate as a patrol, and much more. These are requirements spread throughout Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class in the NEW SCOUT BOOKS THEY RECEIVE TODAY! We will also refresh some of the "Scout" requirements so they can earn a patch as quickly as possible. Arrow of Light guys will have an advantage there, and should help the others in their patrol.
Any adults that may be interested in attending some future campouts are invited to attend Saturday (heck you can camp with us too!). It will be a good orientation for you as well, to prepare you to help our Scouts in the future.
We sleep outside, but have indoor facilities for restrooms and our daily sessions if the weather dictates. Right now it looks like patrol games and a campfire for Friday night, a Wide Area game known as Star Wars Stratego Saturday night and Patrol Orienteering Competition on Sunday Morning. Check the permission slip for drop off and pick up times -- and with Troop 514 "If you're on time, you're late!"
Yours in Scouting,
The Troop 514 Scoutmaster
15 January 2008
Hi Parents!
You might have heard from your son that they won the Willie again. The Willie is the award for the best campsite competition at the three yearly Camporees. Troop 514 -- your sons -- have won this twice in a row and three out of the last four times. Be very proud of them and, if they were part of the Camporee outing, congratulate them on a fine job.
The campsite this past Winter Camporee was absolutely beautiful and I took the time to tell them that, in my mind, they won whether the judges agreed or not. The judges agreed and our Scouts scored 71 out of a possible 75 points. It is VERY tough to win the Willie back-to-back. I wonder how they'll take to defending it during the Spring Camporee in April.
After toughing it out for the last two outings, we now turn to two outings which may be indoors. Well sleeping indoors at least. The Skiing outing is a fun thing. We'll have the opportunity for some Second and First Class advancement, and much time for games. The Advancement Weekend is truly special and we expect every Scout will want to attend this outing. We are also arranging to take our annual swim checks during this weekend, necessary for our Canoeing outing, Summer Camp and Whitewater Rafting later this year.
Hope all is well with your family. Thanks for taking the time to encourage and nurture your son is this worthwhile program. I know he's worth it!
Best regards,
The Troop 514 Scoutmaster