| Trailhead |
| VOLUME 3 NUMBER 6 APRIL, 2002 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA .TROOP 287 . PORTAGE, MICHIGAN Visit our Website at www.oocities.org/troop 287 |
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| YMCA Lock-In It was cold, windy and snowy just in time for our February outing but it was warm inside on February 17 as 20 Scouts and 5 leaders spent the night at the YMCA. We had the entire Y for the lock-in. Swimming, basketball, tennis, racquetball, games and running track were all available for our use. Sometime after 2:00 when the pool closed, we had pizza and other delights from the food groups of corn, wheat, flour, water and sugar. By 4:00 the serious games of tennis were winding down and several games of racquetball were underway. Once the rules were explained, the game became even more enjoyable. Most Scouts made it through the night without the need for sleep and by 6:00 we had the Y cleaned and back in shape for the next group. Scouts were delivered to their homes by 6:30 am. Scouts attending were: SPL Nate E, ASPL Dustin B, Brad C, Peter K, Eric S, Evan K, Chris M, Cam H, Sam C, Will McQ, Jeff O, Jon B, Daniel B, Sean CK, Chris A, Garret M, Ryan O, Tim B, Mike B, and David M. Leaders attending: SM Tim Ekola, ASM Don McQuitty, ASM Greg Brier, ASM Tim Marsh and ASM Dan Bunker. |
| Welcome New Scouts Cub Scout packs 243, 286, 287, 289 and 297 held their Blue and Gold celebrations during the month of February. Twenty Webelos Scouts crossed over to Troop 287 plus two additional boys joined our troop who were not Cub Scouts. We held a New Scout Orientation seminar on March 2 and now have the Black Falcon Patrol, the Soaring Eagle Patrol and the Stinger Patrol as part of our troop. All new Scouts were officially welcomed into the troop at the March 9 Court of Honor. |
| Spring Court of Honor Honoring our Moms The invitations were mailed, plans were finalized, tables set, room decorated with balloons and Scouting posters, music was in the air, Summer Camp video was playing, the rain was turning to ice and snow. The setting was perfect for our Spring Court of Honor on March 9. The Troop 287 Chorus (Peter K, Ryan O, Colin T and Dwight T) directed by ASM Mr. Clark and accompanied on the piano by ASM Mr. McQuitty, sang the National Anthem. Scouts served lasagna dinner to family members. Our first dinner was so successful that we ran out of food. We planned for 130 people and 155 joined the celebration. Special thanks to ASM Mr. Chodl for sliding to the store to pick up more salad and pizza for hungry family members. New Scouts were welcomed into the troop. Moms were honored with advancement pins from their Scouts and many awards were given to Scouts and volunteers. Special recognition was given to outgoing Scoutmaster Tim Ekola and his family for the time and dedication serving and leading Troop 287 for the past three years. Dwight T recited the Scoutmaster Benediction and Ryan O played taps as the flags were retired for the evening. |
| March Campout Our first campout with new Scouts was the cold weekend of March 22. With traces of snow still on the ground thirty Scouts and eleven leaders caravaned to Camp Tamarack in Jones Michigan. New Scouts in the Black Falcon, Soaring Eagle and Stinger Patrols spent most of Saturday learning camping skills from our older Scouts. Proper camp set up (including dining fly, Patrol boxes and personal tents) was demonstrated. Fire building, axe yard safety and packing ideas were also shown. Once the work was done, we spent the afternoon hiking around the camp and the Scouts played a very intense game of Capture the Flag. With a clear sky, older Scouts led our traditional troop night hike without flashlights followed by reflections at the campfire. After an active day outside, everyone was down early for the night. Someone was paying attention to the lessons of Saturday because we were ahead of schedule Sunday morning taking down camp so we were able to enjoy another hike around camp. |
| April Camporee Twenty-eight Scouts and twelve leaders attended the annual Spring Camporee held at Rota-Kiwan. More than three hundred Scouts from Pathfinder and Wabano Districts participated in the Camporee. Twenty four stations were set up around the Boy Scout and Cub Scout camps to challenge Scouts in decision making, teamwork, compass skills, teamwork, matchless fire starting, teamwork, controlled knife throwing, teamwork, monkey bridge construction, teamwork, log walking, teamwork, building an emergency shelter, teamwork, human knots, teamwork, passing through a giant spider web, teamwork, A-frame walkers, and teamwork. The day full of activities was concluded with a campfire that included skits and flag retirement ceremony. The Camporee was designed to be a non-competitive event between troops and offer an opportunity for Scouts to solve the challenges and work together as teams. We did receive ribbons for our gateway that was constructed by the new Scouts and for camp safety for having a fire extinguisher in the cooking area of camp. Led by SPL Cam H and Mike B, a monkey bridge was constructed across the ravine near our campsite. Everyone had an opportunity to cross the bridge made of heavy rope and twine. A steak dinner was prepared by the Scoutmaster was served to Nate E for 100 nights of camping. This is a new tradition for any Scout who has completed 100 nights. Hardest part is doing the paperwork. In the rain Sunday morning we took down camp and returned to CHUM by 12:30. This was a very successful Camporee. |
| Community Service A Scout is Helpful Thanks to the 16 Scouts who got up early on a Saturday morning April 13 to work in the yard of the Gass family. We picked up rocks, raked leaves, prepared the ground for landscaping, filled in ruts from construction trucks and did general spring-cleaning. The Gass family is very grateful for our work. Scouts who helped were Cam H, Brad C, Dwight T, Nate E, Matt G, Alex H, Jacob B, Steve K, David M, Taylor B, Anthony L, Ben B, Garrett M, Mac H, Tom C and Dustin B. Leaders were Mr. Hayden, Mr. Harris and Mr. Bunker. One Hundred Nights of Camping Keep track of the campouts you are on. After 100 nights of camping you will be honored with a steak dinner prepared especially for you by the Scoutmaster. Congratulations to Nate E who received his dinner at the last campout. Along with the steak Nate had hash brown potatoes, corn on the cob, garlic bread and blueberry cobbler for dessert served with sparkling grape juice. |
| Eagle Court of Honor In December Scout Kevin C completed the requirements for the rank of Eagle. Less than 2% of all Scouts in the US achieve this rank. Troop 287 has 88 Eagle Scouts. To honor Kevin, an Eagle Court of Honor will be held at 7:00 on Monday May 13 at CHUM. Please plan to attend this important ceremony and wear your Class A uniform. May Campout Cooking is the theme for our May campout, which will be at Owasippe Scout Reservation the weekend of May 17. Owasippe, locate near Muskegon, is the oldest Scout camp in the United States with 5,000 acres of land. Make plans to join the Iron Chef Cooking competition. Permission slips will be available soon. |
| Scoutmasters Corner The first two months have passed quickly as Scoutmaster of Troop 287 and we have been busy. Troop 287 is successful because of the Scout and adult leadership we have. Cam and Brad are continuing the tradition as Senior and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders. A big thanks goes to Mr. Ekola for his leadership as Scoutmaster for the past three years and all leaders who contribute their time and talents to the success of our troop. We must be doing something right because Troop 287 is recognized around the District as a model of what Scouting is about. We arent inventing anything new, just following the guidelines established by Boy Scouts of America. For almost 100 years the guidelines have remained virtually unchanged and they are still working. It is an honor to be Scoutmaster of this troop and have the opportunity to work with and watch these fine young men grow in leadership and confidence. |
| Troop 287 Calendar April 29 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. Order of the Arrow Elections. April 3 5 Venture Qualifier. May 6 PLC meeting 6:00 7:00 at CHUM. May 6 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. May 11 Scouting for Food. May 13 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. Eagle Court of Honor. Wear your Class A! May 17 19 April Campout at Owasippe Scout Reservation. May 20 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 CHUM. May 25 Ventures Garage Sale. May 27 Memorial Day Parade. Meet at Southland Mall. No Scout meeting. June 2 Committee meeting 7:00 at CHUM. June 3 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. June 8 14 Venture High Adventure Trip to Kentucky & Tennessee. June10 PLC meeting 6:00 7:00 at CHUM. June 10 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. June 13 16 Troop Summer Adventure to Upper Peninsula Michigan. June 16 21 JLT Brownsea at Rota-Kiwan. June 17 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. June 24 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. July 1 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. July 8 Scout meeting 7:00 8:30 at CHUM. July 14 20 Summer Camp at Pioneer Scout Reservation. RETURN TO HOME PAGE |
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