Scouting for Food and Thanksgiving Wattle

Parents and Scouts:

Tonight at the meeting we spoke about two items that I wanted to make sure made it home.

1. Scouting for Food – I have asked the scouts to take the food bags handed out tonight and go to some of your neighbor’s door with the attached note placed in each bag asking for a food donation for the Scouting for Food Program. They can then bring them back at the next scout meeting or by the 1st one in December at the latest. These food donations will go to the Mid Ohio Food Bank.

2. There is an opportunity for them to help in the Local Thanksgiving Wattle. It is a 5-K run-walk to help in the Success Beyond the Classroom project and the Grove City Food Pantry. They want us to have the scouts gather at 7:45 am at the front of the Rave movie theater and help hand out water to the runners. This will go on until 10:00 am and will be a good way to earn some service hours for those that need it. Please contact Roland Kreml if you have any questions. This is a Class B uniform event. I realize this is a holiday and many of you are going to be away, but if you are in Grove City and CAN help they could really use us.

Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving and I will see you next week!

Sincerely,

Kirk Bohanan
Scoutmaster Troop 136

Backpacking Trip this Weekend

Parents & Scouts:

 

Please don’t forget about our backpacking trip this weekend.  We will leave Friday night at 7 PMSHARP – to Camp Oyo for the night and  then on the Shawnee Forest trail.  We will be hiking about 5 miles total.  I have fsome basic items for you to consider for backpacking – [below].  We will have discussion tomorrow night as to what to bring and if you have any questions please ask. 

 

I will have some transportation needs for parents that would also like to go.  You may or may not need to hike the trail – your choice. 

 

 

Kirk Bohanan
Scoutmaster Troop 136

Things to think about when Back-packing this month:

Key items to think about on the trip when it involves hiking with a backpack.

Read your Scout Handbook about the hiking, cooking, and camping gear it calls for while backpacking.  Also the Boy Scout Field Book is a good source for information.  You can get this at the Scout Store.

1. Pack everything inside your pack.  No dangling items that will catch on the trail or hit against you while you hike.  You should be able to turn your backpack upside down and shake it without loosing anything. Pack a couple of large trash bags for keeping your gear dry.  If you need a backpack, the troop has a couple of one that can be borrowed.  See Kirk Bohanan for these – first come first serve.

2. Your backpack as a rule should only weigh 25% of your body weight fully loaded.

[75 lb. boy = 19 lb. pack; 100 lb. boy = 25 lb. pack; 130 lb. boy = 33 lb. pack]

This includes water, food, cook gear and anything else you need to make the trip.  You pack in what you need. Pack out everything, including trash. Don’t forget a 20-30 foot ¼ inch rope for your food bag to keep the animals out of your food.

3. Fill your water bottles BEFORE you leave HOME.  There islimited water available on the trail and will have to be treated.  We will have plenty of filters to treat the water.

4. Bring rain gear.  Include extra Kroger / Wal-mart type plastic bags for putting on your feet  if you are down to your last pair of socks. This will keep your feet dry in wet boots.

5. Plan to have hiking boots on the trail. This will help keep you from twisting your ankle and the boots go farther in wet grass and on muddy trails. Remember extra shoes are extra weight.  Wear two pairs of socks with your boots.  This will go along way to keep any blisters from forming.  Tennis shoes are not a wise choice to wear on this camp-out. DON’T BRING THEM

6. Tents- If you want to use the troop tents you are welcome to do so. If you have a tent or tarp of your own please feel free to bring them on this campout.  We have a few Small two-man tents that are available.  If you have your own tent or want to just use a tarp for cover please plan accordingly.  The big troop tents are heavy, but could be split between 2-3 boys to carry.  Plan who you will camp with and work this out before the campout.

7. Sleeping bag or blanket - please plan accordingly.  A ground cloth and foam pad should also be included in your gear.

8. Food- you will be cooking by patrol on this campout. Any cooking gear needed is to be brought, or shared with others.  Your food will be your choice and menu.  Please start to plan for this and if you want to buy at a local store, or get a backpack type food, you can get it from Gander Mountain, Dicks Sporting goods, or Sabos.  On-line at Campmor.com is good source that I use. You will need all your own eating gear; plate, cup, and eating utensils.

9. Stove – we have some Troop back-pack type stove that can be shared.  You will need to confirm we have fuel for them. They are the small LP type fuel sources.  Note:  LP fuel in small tanks is not a good choice for trips when the outside temps are less than 30 degrees.  Butane type fuel/stoves are best.

10. Bring a small first aid kit that you can use for yourself on the trail if necessary.  See your scout book to see what should be in this kit.  It is also a requirement for Second Class.

Help needed for this Sat 11/10

Parents and Scouts:

We had a great meeting last night and had our new PLC elected.  I think we are going to have another great group again to lead the scouts. 

At the meeting I had a sign up sheet for the Creek Sweep which is this weekend. I need additional help!

Scouts and parents that can be able to walk in the creek and help clean up the water way.

Please let me know if I can add you to the list.  We only had 6 sign up and I am looking for a total of 15 to assist as part of our troop.

To be help with this activity – here is the info:

• It will start at 7:30 am at the church – with a pancake breakfast!
• it is a Class B uniform event. We should be out on the creek by 9 AM [Brown Run this year]
• bring your gloves and wear boots. should be a nice day!
• If you have waders then bring them.  I will need some of you to go into the creek to get stuff.
• we should be done easily by noon – if we get enough help.

Don’t be shy – this is for community service hours for those that need them.

Let me know if you can help!

Kirk Bohanan
Scoutmaster Troop 136

11/6/12 Troop meeting

Scouts and Parents:

Just a reminder that this week we will have three important activities going on of note.

1. Popcorn turn in is this Tuesday night. DON”T FORGET!!! Any un-sold product MUST be returned and check-in to Mr. Dool. [Any parents that can help with this activity is greatly appreciated by Rob] If you need any popcorn products to fill orders please be patient and wait until the end of the meeting to find out if it is available by someone else bringing it back as an unsold item. All money should also be turned in from items sold. Any questions – let me or Rob Dool know.

2. The week will be our Troop Elections. Very important event in the operation of our troop. Our past group of scout representing the PLC under the leadership of Hunter Stewart as the Senior Patrol Leader have done an excellent JOB! Scouts please make sure to thank them for their service. With that said, we will need to have a new group for the PLC; Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, all Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders will be reset within our troop. Any scout that is first class and above can run for SPL. Those that are Second class and above with good grasp of getting First Class soon can run for Patrol Leader positions. Other positions will be appointed as needed. Please be in attendance to elect your new PLC!

3. This week we will also be doing a practice hike for preparation of our back packing trip. The hike will be about 1 mile in length. Please plan to bring your back pack with at least 20-25% of your body weight in the pack. It does not necessarily need to be the right stuff but I am looking for you to be able to see what it is like to carry that much weight and to find out if your pack is adjusted correctly. The right gear choice for the backpacking trip will be discussed at the 11/13 meeting. Each Patrol will have to come up with a menu and get the food for the outing on your own. [maybe first line of business for new patrol leader.] If you do not have a back pack and would like to try and barrow one of the ones that the troop has let me know. I only have about 3-4 to loan out.

The Newly elected PLC will also have the planning PLC meeting for December this Thursday, 11/8 at 7:00 PM – at the church.

The newsletter and permission slip for this month’s campout will be out tomorrow night.

That is all for now - see you on Tuesday night!

Sincerely,
Kirk Bohanan
Scoutmaster Troop 136