Troop Scoop

May 2008

Troop Leadership

Scoutmaster Minute - Get Curious!

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." —Abraham Lincoln

It is a foundational tenet of the Judeo-Christian value system to “honor thy Mother” (and Pop, too). And the reasons are obvious—where would you be without the security and comfort you get from Mom? Circumstances may have made it so that some of you do not have the traditional mother-son relationship. Hopefully another nurturing, loving person fills that role for you. You are meant to honor that person , especially this coming Sunday , but every day as well. I wish for you the maturity to recognize the significance of that person in your life. I wish for you the ability to openly show your affection for Mom (at least when no one else is looking). I wish for you the wisdom to wrap yourself in your mother’s prayers as Mr. Lincoln did. It’s a good thing—honor thy mother!

Yours in scouting, Mr. Jones

Calling All Web Surfers!

We are looking at revamping our Troop website and we need your input! Our goal is to make it more informative and interactive, and we’d like to get your ideas on what features or functions you would find useful. What would you like to see on the site? What information would you find useful and how would you like to see it arranged? Take a look at www.wheatontroop35.org and let us know what you think would be a cool update! The deadline for suggestions is April 1 st so check it out soon.

New Leaders

Join me in welcoming our two newest Assistant Scoutmasters! Please take a moment to note their commitment to our troop next time you see: Stan William and Bil Brinkman.

Scout-O-Rama

All of our scout families have received a packet of tickets for Scout-O-Rama, which will be held Saturday, May 10 th 2008 on the grounds of Cantigny. If you haven’t turned in your money for the tickets, please do so ASAP.

The tickets are good for that day only, but the entire grounds are open to visit (excluding the golf course). The mansion, gardens, ponds and maintenance areas will all be open to all ticket holders. The normal ticket price for just the grounds is $8, so not only is the admission half price, but you have a lot more facets of Cantigny to enjoy. Check out the maintenance shed where they are restoring some WWI-era military vehicles!

Philmont High Adventure 2009

We are booked for one crew for July 7-19, 2009! This will be open to all scouts ages 14 or older who are first class rank and above. Cost will be approximately $1,100. We have three slots left, so please consider this great opportunity.

Boundary Waters Canoe Trip - July 25-August 2, 2009

We are looking for scouts and parents who would be interested in going on a Boundary Waters canoe trip in the summer of 2009. We will be leaving on Saturday, July 25 for an 8-day trip, returning home on Monday, August 3, early evening. We will be attending the BSA High Adventure Base in Ely, Minnesota. Cost of the trip will be approximately $500-$600. (BSA Ely charges $50 per day for a fully equipped trip — $50x7=$350.)

2008 Scout Summer Camp

Summer camp will again be at Camp Tesomas in Rheinlander, Wisconsin. We will be leaving on Sunday morning June 22, 2008 and return on Saturday evening on June 28, 2008.

Merit badge selections should be submitted already. Please see Mrs. Plant if you have any questions.

New Event Added

We have arranged for a special camping and activity event in conjunction with the Howell Shooting Club in Yorkville, IL to be held Friday, May 30 th through Sunday, June 1 st. This is not a BSA event, but we will participate as a troop. The cost is $100 per camper.

Details of the event can be found at:

http://www.howellshootingclub.com/shootingcamp.htm

Reservations have already closed

The Adult Corner

One of our new scout families was asking about having a tent come home from the campouts, so I think it’s time to re-run some of the information from previous columns, so here’s a “blast-from-the-past”:

“Hey Mom! I went to the campout and they gave me this really neat tent!”—and other disasters.

Another frequent question that comes my way is, “Why do we get this tent, and what am I supposed to do with it?”

For every tent campout we go on, one of the scouts in each tent-mate pair is assigned by the Quartermaster or SPL to take the tent they used home so, theoretically at least, the scouts alternate. That means every other time your son camps he’ll bring home a tent. Why, you ask? Well, it’s pretty straight-forward—for maintenance.

We usually break camp on Sunday morning before dew and other ground moisture has evaporated, especially if it’s been raining. The tents are invariably damp or wet. I’m not sure if you’ve been in a tent that has been stored damp; it’s not pretty. Mildew can do its thing in a matter of days and ruin a tent permanently.

It is expected that you and your Scout will do the following:

• Set the tent up in a dry environment and make sure it airs out and is dry on all surfaces—sides, bottom, ground cloth, and fly. This should be done on the day you get back and can be a challenge on a rainy day, but garages and basements are useful in this case.

• Clean any mud or debris from inside and outside the tent.

• Inspect the tent for damage—holes, broken/missing poles and stakes, etc. If you can fix it great! Otherwise, report this to the Quartermaster when returning the tent.

• Return the tent at the next available Troop Meeting.

Our tents represent a significant investment and are made available to the scouts free of charge. A little timely maintenance is just the key to protect the investment.

From the committee, Bill Krenicki

Newsletter Information

Please send all information to Janice Brauer.