Troop 35 Newsflash, January 23, 2013

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Melinda K.

Welcome New Scouts!
Congratulations and Welcome to our 6 new Boy Scouts who crossed over from Cub Scout Pack 335!

We warmly welcome you to our troop and look forward to getting to know all of you as you continue your scouting journey.

Upcoming Events:

  • Jan 25th-27th – Cascade Mountain Cabin Camping and Skiing
  • Feb 2nd – Klondike at Cantigny 8am-5pm (more details to come)
  • Feb 22nd-24th – Hoover – Polar Bear Camping 6:30pm meet at Gary Church
  • March 3rd – Highway Clean-up
  • March 10th – Highway Clean-up Rain Date
  • March 9th-10th – OA overnight at Rush Copley open to all scouts and friends – registration required
  • March 15th-17th – Lakota Cabin Camping
  • April 14th – Court of Honor – “Green & Gold”, set up at noon, event is 1-4, clean-up till 5pm
  • April 19th-21st – Camp Lowden Cabin Camping

Upcoming Troop Meetings

  • Jan 29th – Klondike planning and Future Events Planning! (Meeting in Gamon Hall – lower level of Gary Church)
    • Each scout has been asked to do a little research and fine 5 places he would like to go. These can be ideas to do during a Troop Meeting on a Tuesday night. They can be something we can do in a day as a day trip. Or they can be ideas of places to go for a weekend campout or perhaps even a longer 3 day get-away. Within reason (no trips to the moon!) if you want to do it, or you have a friend in another Troop who has done it and it sounds like fun – bring it! We will then take those ideas and begin to plan on how we can get there.
  • Feb 5th – PLC – all scouts are welcome to come and plan future meetings
  • Feb 7th – Committee Meeting
  • Feb 12th – Permission slips due for Hoover Camping – Campout planning/Flaming Arrow’s advancement/simple campout supplies/Okpik presentation about cold weather camping
  • Feb 19th – work on rank advancements
  • Feb 26th – 1st Aide rank advancements w/stretcher carries

Reminders!

  • Get your ideas together for January 29th meeting!
  • Klondike – February 2nd
  • Spring Court of Honor – April 14, 2013
Posted in Leadership, Recruiting, Scout Values, Scouting skills, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Scoutmaster Minute – New Year 2013

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Mr. W., ASM

scoutmaster

Scouts,

Now that the Holiday’s are over and I’ve just awoken from a 2-week

hibernation it’s time to get focused on Scouting and look ahead to a whole year of new opportuities!

There is a fundamental change that happens when a boy leaves Cub Scouts and bridges into Boy Scouts. New Boy Scouts learn early-on that the responsibility of advancement and the pace of earning merit badges now rests squarely on their own shoulders.

Mom and Dad aren’t expected to carry that burden once the boy enters the big leagues.

With summer camp fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to to set goals. Careful planning, smart goal-setting and constant encouragement are essential components of goal achievement.

Scouts who are disciplined to set specific, measurable and realistic goals give themselves the best chance of steadily earning merit badges and rank advancement on the path to Eagle Scout.

Please, Please, Please don’t wait for the last minute!
Goal-setting is not solely a tool for earning merit badges and rank advancement. Scouts can set a wide variety of goals that will help them in their journey. While goals are very personal and individual, here are ideas for you to consider as you learn this life-long skill:

Short-term goals (achieve in 30 days or less)

  1.     Plan a month’s worth of Good Turns- 30-days makes a habit for this core value in Scouting
  2.     Learn two new knots- this essential skill in Scouting takes practice
  3.     Learn about the Troop leadership positions and decide which one is best for you
  4.     Organize and re-stock your first-aid kit
  5.     Teach a younger scout how to correctly fold a flag, then practice, practice, practice

Longer-term goals (achieve in 3-6 months)

  1. Help a younger scout earn 1 merit badge and 1 rank advancement
  2. Complete any partial merit badge you have
  3. Master orienteering- Map and compass mastery can be intimidating, yet it’s a vital survival skill
  4. Look ahead to your next rank, set a date and make a plan to achieve it
  5. Earn enough money in your Scout Bucks account to buy a scout-related item, just for you
  6. Earn a certification- i.e., first aid, CPR, BSA lifeguard
  7. Earn an Eagle-required Merit Badge

The number of goals you set is as important as the quality or complexity of the goals.Setting  too many goals can lead to frustration when they aren’t all met. This may lead to an urge to   give up all together.

If this all sounds like too much for you, start by setting one near-term and one longer-term goal.

The important thing is to get your mind and your body in motion… NOW!!! 

Looking forward to a great 2013!
Your Scoutmaster,
Mr. Cat.

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Scoutmaster Minute – Merry Christmas from Troop 35

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Mr. W., ASM

December 24, 2012

With Christmas upon us, I thought tonight I would try to answer an age-old question regarding Santa Claus: Is it possible that Santa Claus was a Boy Scout?

Let’s take a look at how The Old Man stacks up against the Scout Law;

  • Trustworthy – You certainly can trust that Santa will show up every year, just like he promises.
  • Loyal – He’s very dedicated to his craft and his mission. Imagine the disappointment if he wasn’t loyal to his work.
  • Helpful – saves many Dads from last-minute shopping. Dads are notorious for leaving things to the last minute, just ask a mom.
  • Friendly – how many adults would let a millions of kids sit on their lap and listen to what they want? And smile while doing it?
  • Courteous – He always says “thank You” for the billions of calories he gets in milk and cookies each year.
  • Kind – delivering gifts to children is a great act of kindness. Except for the drum sets. That’s not too kind, at least to the parents.
  • Obedient – I emailed Mrs. Claus on this one. No reply, but seeing he’s been married for all those years, I’m going to bet he does what she tells him.
  • Cheerful – Ho ho ho. Need I say more?
  • Thrifty – makes his own toys. Saves a bundle on shipping alone.
  • Brave – would you get in a magic sleigh pulled by reindeer and fly? Me neither.
  • Clean – not sure how he does it, but that red suit looks great even after the millionth chimney has been gone down
  • Reverent – does his thing on a very special night for his religion and represents the spirit of the day.

…So yes Troop 35, it looks like Santa Claus may indeed have been a Boy Scout.

This time of year no matter what holiday you celebrate, remember that doing your best every day and living the Scout Oath and Law is what really makes each of you a Boy Scout!

Happy Holidays,
Mr. Cat.

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Troop 35 Newsflash November 28, 2012

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Melinda K.

Wreath Sales

Retail Sales continue this weekend – see the schedule on ScoutTrack

Upcoming Events:

December 2nd-8th – Christmas Sharing at Gary Church – See email from Jim Whitlock for times

December 6th – Committee Meeting at CozyMel’s in Wheaton at 7pm

Upcoming Troop Meetings
Dec 4th – Help with Christmas Sharing

Dec 11th – Winter Court of Honor

Dec 14th-15th  – Lock-In at Gary (Webelos attend 7-9pm)

Dec 18th – Troop Elections

Dec 25th – Christmas Day – no meeting!

Jan 1st – New Year’s Day – no meeting!

Jan 8th – PLC

Jan 10th – Committee Meeting

Jan 15th – Ski trip planning (permission slips due)

Jan 18th-19th – JLT 6pm to 1pm on Saturday

Jan 22nd – Klondike Derby Planning

Jan 25th-27th – Cascade Mountain Cabin Camping

Jan 29th – Klondike planning

Reminders!

Christmas Sharing week of December 2-8, 2012 at Gary Church

Winter Court of Honor – December 11, 2012

Committee Meeting at CozyMel’s – December 6, 2012 at 7pm

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Thanksgiving – Scoutmaster minute

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Mr. W., ASM

Scouts and scout families,

As Americans, we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

We live in freedom, most of us have an abundance of food and clothing, and we all have adequate shelter.

We are as blessed as any people in the world, but sometimes we forget that and gripe that we don’t have even more.

Let’s remember that a lot of the worlds’ population goes to bed hungry in homes that few Americans would want to live in. Not to mention the diseases that we’ve never even heard of before.

So it’s good to remind ourselves occasionally that we are lucky and to give thanks for our blessings.

That’s what Thanksgiving really is, a time to give thanks. The Pilgrims started it hundreds of years ago when they gathered to thank God for a bountiful harvest.

Today Thanksgiving is a time for families gathering around a table groaning with a bounty of food, followed by watching football games, and then more dessert!

There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s important that we don’t forget the real meaning of Thanksgiving.

So when you sit down with your family for Thanksgiving dinner this year, take time to count your blessings and give proper thanks for them.

Your Scoutmaster,
Mr. Cat.

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