Troop 651's
BSA Today
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| On-line edition | January 1997 |
Desert Camp Next Month
We've invited the Webelos of Pack 662 to join us in Little Blair Valley February 21-23 for camping, a hike to the Indian writings in Smugglers Canyon, and a rousing campfire. We have challenged all to come up with a fancier dinner than the Pirate Patrol ( the adult leaders) are planning - they're not saying what they've planned! Come and welcome the Webelos into our Troop - they graduate March 28 at Richland School.
"Two Heads" Backpack
On December 13-15 19 Scouts and 4 Scouters backpacked through Dos
Cabezas, visiting several 1920's railroad camps, a railroad tunnel, and
camping in an Indian cave near some pictographs. What a great turnout!
Leading the way were SPL Andy, JASM Louis, ASPL Eric, and our
trail guide Mark, along with Chris Bal., Charles, Nick I., Kevin, Jacob,
Nick M., Tyson, Stephen, Kellen, Michael S., Merritt, David W., Jon,
Chris W., and Rauri, along with John Scheunemann, Chuck
Iacuaniello, Debbie Balfour, David Jenkins, and Richard McGee.
Thank you to the Shamels for the use of their van! We learned a lot about
backpacking, as well as cross-country route finding and map and compass.
The Next Backpack
For those who completed the December backpack in a strong manner, our next trip is a Camelback on March 21-23. A base camp will be available at Culp Valley campground for those not backpacking IF we can get at least two adults to staff it. On Saturday the backpack will wind through the hills east of Ranchita, camping high on a ridge, then on Sunday we drop down the ridge with fabulous views into Borrego Springs. It should be an exciting trip. Beside drivers and adult help, we will need an extra car or two on Friday night for the car shuttle.
Water is usually rare in the desert. On this trip we will be lucky and pass at least one and possibly three springs (we'll "scout" them out the week before and let you know). IMPORTANT: We will not permit you to take water from these springs unless you attend the troop meeting on March 6where we will have a lesson on water filters and purification tablets and how to use them correctly and safely. If you miss this meeting, you will have to carry at least 1 gallons with you, so don't miss it!
Snow Camp
A small but enthusiastic group hit the snowy mountains January 18-19 for our annual winter camp. Over one foot of fresh snow covered Barton Flats. Sledding and snow balls fights filled the day. The weather was beautiful, a balmy 34 degrees in the tents at sunrise. Those participating were Kevin, Kellen, Mark, Eric, Jon, Chris W., David H., Michael S., and William, with John Scheunemann, Bill Jeffrey, Wally Krywko, Dan Tresko, and Chuck Warren.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Scouts advancing this month: Tenderfoots Jacob, Michael W., and Merritt,First Class Byron, and Stars Jon, Rauri, and Chris W.
Good Turn Done Good!
Sometimes more really is better! More Scouts participated this year in the San Marcos Lions
Club's annual Christmas food drive. (The Lions are our Troop's chartered organization.) More
Scouts could put in more time and therefore collected much more food! A whole pickup truck
full! Good job, Scouts, in helping make others holidays a little brighter.
Check the Rule Book
Our Troop has a published set of Troop 651 Policies which each family should have received when they joined the Troop. (Our newest members should see SM John Scheunemann for a copy.) We've let a few things slide in the past which, due to recent events, WILL NOW STRICTLY BE FOLLOWED:
Permission slips must be signed and returned by next meeting to the Patrol Leaders who will contact the Scoutmaster or trek leader with number of attendees and seatbelts available at least one week prior to the activity.
If permission slips are not turned in by the deadline, Scout will not be allowed to participate in that activity.
This is necessary to allow time to find enough drivers for the trip.
If a Scout misses and is not excused by the Scoutmaster more than 50% of the meetings between campouts, he will not be allowed to attend the next campout.
The Scoutmaster and High Adventure Team will now require that attendance at the troop meeting immediately before any outing is required for participation on that outing. This is necessary not only for transportation but, more importantly, to review plans and safety concerns for the trip.
In some cases, attendance will also be required at other designated troop meetings to review skills needed on the outing. For example, skill instruction in water safety or hypothermia may be required before an aquatic or cold weather activity. These required meetings may be announced only at the prior troop meeting. If you miss a meeting it is your responsibility to find out if you missed anything real important. If you plan on missing two in a row, it is especially important to find out if the one you will miss is required for a particular outing.
Requests for excuse must be made to the Scoutmaster or designated trek leader before the meeting and will only be granted to extreme reasons and not because another activity was chosen instead of the troop meeting. In considering a request for excuse, the Scout's experience, rank, and/or age may be considered. Therefore, in some cases one Scout may be excused while another with the same excuse may not.
A list of required items for each activity will be provided...Inspection of gear brought by the Scout may be made to ascertain his preparedness to attend the event. It is the parent's responsibility to remain at the departure point until Scout has passed inspection of gear.
Failure to pass inspection of gear may prohibit Scout from attending activity, as determined by the Scoutmaster or his Designee
In addition, equipment inspections at troop meetings have been made in the past and quite often many Scouts failed to bring their gear. We have excused this in the past but will no longer do so. We make such inspections for safety reasons considering the Scout's experience and the conditions of the trip (cold, dry, rugged, etc.). Failure to bring requested gear to a troop meeting for inspection will keep a Scout from participating in that activity.
Scouts must earn the Scout Badge prior to attending outings.
You are not officially a member of Troop 651 until you have earned the Scout Badge!
Please!
Help us help you have a fun and safe Scouting outing! We do not want to be mean or hard-nosed about the policies, but we do want to ensure that each Scout has a safe and enjoyable experience on our adventures. Thank you for your cooperation!
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Be Prepared!
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