Winter Schedule Update from the Scoutmaster

The Christmas season is past and now it is Klondike Derby season.   This note provides an update to the troop for planned and (sometimes) unplanned events.

Saturday the 26^th of January.  Since the Headlands trip was put off until February, we decided to have our own event at Andrae along the Pigeon River.  Happily, we were able to join Troop 1240 from Indian River for the hike and sledding down through the trees. Looking forward to the Polar Bear now right Fiji, Jordan and Patrick?  Polar bear has been rescheduled to March 23/24 at Cole Canoe Base (see below)—way cooler and we get to examine our summer camp site. 

Summer camp deposits will be due this month.  As most of you know, we are going to Cole Canoe Base near Alger this summer the week of July 21^st week.  This is a good opportunity for all of our boys to catch up on merit badges and enjoy the Rifle River.

Summer camp cost is about $285 and we generally provide some stipend for each scout going from the troop.

February 3d—Scout Sunday and Patrol Leaders Meeting.  Events at several churches—Mr. Detgen is taking the troop flag to his church, Mr. Clink is taking a group to the E Free church and the scouts who attend St Mary will gather for Mass and gifts at 9:00 AM.  Dress nicely and neatly in your uniform for mass!  Later on in the evening after mass, meet for a committee and patrol leader meeting for all Patrol Leaders, Troop Staff and SP. Meet at Bagley at 6:00PM.

Saturday February 9^th is the Klondike Derby.  We depart early from Bagley on Saturday and work through the training and testing all day.  Lunch is provided.  This is a core event especially for patrol leaders since it involves moving patrols through stations for points.  It also gives us a chance to get our sleds out of storage and given them a run.  Cost for this event is typically about $10.00.

If you are thinking about now—how will we pay for this, especially summer camp—remember that we still cut grass all summer.  If we go in July, most scouts will have the chance to earn money ($12.00 per hour) for camp well before we go.  Please put this money making opportunity for your scout into your summer plans. 

The weekend of February 22d is Headlands.  We rent the mansion up in the Headlands preserve and this is our “electronics” outing.  We come home on Sunday morning with eyes bagging—fingers worn to a nub.  Hopefully the weekend uses up some of the gaming energy we all face with the scouts as a distraction to homework.

Cost is about $15.00.  This one also has a small project—this year trimming vines and branches.

March 9^th is the Merit Badge Tech in Traverse City.  This is a chance to catch up on all merit badge work and you can work on the badges we have already signed up for in the troop and have that work apply to our work here.  Cost for Scouts is $10.00 but we have to sign up now to get the best badges.  Log into Meritbadge.info/mbn/  We will work out transportation.

March 16^th is the Sportsplex Lock in.  No need to say much about that—scouts will play, we adults will work.  Cost for scouts:  $20.00.  Thanks to all of you adults who have signed up so far to help.

March 23d is the recon of Cole Canoe Base where we go to camp this year—and we will turn this into our Polar Bear.  The temperature will be cold but not January cold—and we get a look at the summer camp site.  Leave early Saturday morning come back to Gaylord on Sunday morning.  How about that?  Cost about $10.00.

It is shaping up to be a good first quarter-as always, call with questions-

Ken

989-619-0630 (Cell)