TROOP 1 News & Views

Troop News and Views

Troop 1, Gaylord

February 2010

The worksheets for the radio merit badge should be turned in as soon as you can.  Cam, Kory, Anthony and anyone else who did them please turn them in so we can get the badges ordered. 

This weekend is the Daks trip to Camp Greilick. If you still want to go, call and we will put you on the list.  As noted at the meeting, I anticipate the cost to be about $20.00 per scout.  See the attached sheet for details arrival and departure times.  The boys have planned this project from soup to nuts so it should be fun.  Ice Fishing??  Land Navigation?  Capture the Flag? Snow blindness?

The Council  Derby in Cadillac went quite well. We had four on our team and at the last minute the Knight of Petrolia got sick. Kudos to Zach Zelkowski, Brandon Proux and Pat Arndt—good job.  And it was cold.  Thanks also to Mr. Proux for driving.

Our scouts enjoyed a troop swim at the Sportsplex last Thursday night followed by Pizza.  We were guests of the Kiwanis Club and several members were there to run the operation.  Pizza was good too—and we had the whole pool to ourselves except for the 15 or 20 girls they let swim with us. . .  (just kidding moms). 

We have been invited to the Weblos lock in for Pack 1 which will be March 27^th from 7:00 PM to 7:00AM at the community center.  This is a good way to introduce ourselves to our new Weblos Scouts—let me know so we can have adult supervision.  For those of you who love staying up all night, this is the event for you****

I want to alert you to changes made to the scout handbooks that include a couple of new requirements.  These additions especially involve mentoring tasks for each boy as he moves through the ranks.  This is part of the Edge program and designed to give our boys an opportunity to work at coaching and speaking.  More as we got hard copies.

April is the month we have our spring Court of Honor.  Be thinking about your awards and how far along they are.

Order the of Arrow elections are coming up either the 7^th or the 10^th of March at our regular meeting.  The OA is a Scouting organization to which non members elect new members.  In order to be eligible, scouts have to have completed certain camping during the previous year and meet other advancement requirements.  Be thinking of the scout next to you who you can rely on to help around camp or around the meeting. 

The guy who you can count on for that extra match when you forget yours and the willingness to cheerfully lend it—that’s the OA scout.  It is the spirit of cheerful brotherhood that we look for—and you as the scouts who elect OAs new members should too.  Being elected to OA is a distinct honor bestowed by your peers.

You will probably note that ASPL Trevor Adams is now in charge of games—that should be good for the institution.  He has researched his task and has a book full of ideas.

The SPL is adding another tech feature to our meetings—literally.  Guess who will be doing that?  And be sure to bring your books to the meetings.  We will need them each week now.

The airshow  this year is a combination of the EAA Young Eagles Program and the Airshow.  That means that all the good stuff from both will be on hand.  Show this year is 18-20 June and I had them save a space for us to camp again.  Since the airport manager is another old retired military guy like me, maybe we can get a troop tour of the F-18 or some other cool airplane.   Mr. and Mrs. Hancock have volunteered to help which will be great since we might get to fly first.  Book it.  That is easy to remember because it is the week before summer camp.

Summer camp commitments come up March 15^th.  That means all of you that are going to camp will need to make your deposit—either in cash or your scout account—so you get a spot.  Camp is June 27^th to the 3d of July.  This is always the highlight of our year.  Some of you will have to work on merit badges and some of you on advancement but all of you will have a good time.

More hiking in the future say the young scouts.  Less hard core camping, more hiking.  OK, we’ll get that message to our group next weekend. That should be easy with the Pigeon River Forest and the National Forests around here.  And we won’t have to drag the troop trailer either.

How about the computer games merit badge?  If you would have told me that such a thing would ever exist I would have laughed, but here it is.  Think about doing this as a troop—sort of a follow on to Headlands buzz and crackle weekend.

Patrol Leader’s Meeting Sunday March 7t^h at Bagley, 6:30 PM, Troop Committee following at 7:00 PM.  Troop staff and patrol leaders should all attend.  Among other things, the staff will plan the March-May events and meeting programs.

The fishing trip planning group will present its ideas next week. 

As always, call with questions or comments at 989-732-3307 (office) or 989-732-3464 (night) or email karndt@arndtandassoc.com.

Ken Arndt

Daks Trip-27 February

Troop 1, Gaylord

Troop moves to Camp Greilick on Friday the 27^th at 5:30 from Glen’s parking lot and sets up camp at the Daks on main camp, remaining in camp until Sunday morning at 9:30.  Expected return to Glen’s parking lot will be 11:00 on Sunday.

This is a winter weekend camping event with a polar bear for those who choose.  We anticipate cold temperatures in the evening and temperatures from the mid 20’s F to mid 30’s F on Saturday.  We sleep in wood and canvas shelters with bunks and heated by wood stoves-or, as noted above, in snow caves, at the scout’s option.

What to bring:

Personal toilet articles

Extra changes of:

              Socks

              Underwear

              Pants

              Shirt

Stocking cap or warm hat

2 pairs of gloves

Boots (no tennis shoes) or overshoes to go over shoes

MEDS in a plastic bag with the scout’s name and instructions on what to give who and when.

Camp Gear- 

Small camp shovel

Mess kit and tools

Insulated Cup for Chocolate

Compass

Ice fishing pole if you have one

Sunglasses

Chap stick

Sleeping bag and pad and pillow if desired

Flashlight or battery lantern

Adults commited to be on this trip include but are not limited to:

We have part A’s and C’s for the boys on hand. 

Mr. Arndt Cell:  989-619-0630

Mr. Proux

Questions, call Mr. Arndt days: 989-732-3307 or nights 989-732-3464

Troop News and Views

Troop News and Views

Troop 1, Gaylord

January 2010

Headlands Letter of Instruction, January 15-17.

All of you that signed up for Headlands must be looking forward to a great weekend.  Here is the latest-

Departure:  Friday, January 15, 5:30 PM, from Glen’s parking lot

^{Return: Sunday, January 17, to Glen’s between 11:00 and 11:30 AM}

^{Thinks to Remember:}

^{We have a project on the trails at the Headlands.  If you have small bow saws, clippers or tree trimming tools, please bring them.}

^{Cracker barrel only Friday night so eat dinner before you come to Glen’s}

^{Pack warm clothes—it will be cold.  Extra gloves, hat and face mask.}

^{Sleeping bag or blankets suitable for inside use, change of clothing}

^{Medications in an envelope with scout name and dosage} 

^{Once the final list is developed Wednesday, I will check for current Parts A and C.}

^{If for some reason you do not have one, I will ask your parent to fill one out at departure.}

^{Cost anticipated:  $25.00, any excess goes in your scout account}

^{If you are on PAYGO (Balance over $100 in Scout account, drop your payment at departure.}

^{Optional Stuff:}

^{Electronics, games, guitars—welcome on this trip—the more the better.  If you bring a stereo, bring head sets with them so Mr. Freebish next door can hear her cat under the sled runners.  We will have the troop trailer so there will be plenty of room for the gear.  TVs, X Boxes, Togos and whatever else you want.}

^{Snow Shoes and short skis for cross country if you have them.}

^{GPS, compass} 

^{If you have a griddle or crock pot, that would be helpful.  We only have one kitchen.}

^{Our goal on this weekend is to have fun, plan for two Klondike teams for February 6th, and do a service project which gives us free camping.}

^{Friday Night-Cracker Barrel}

^{Saturday Morning-Screech and boom, breakfast, prepare for the project}

^{Saturday Afternoon-Trail Clearing, Team Breakdown Practice}

^{Saturday Night-Screech and boom, dinner, screech and boom}

^{Sunday Morning-Clean Up, Pack Up, Depart 10:00AM, Arrive Glens 11:00 to 11:30}

^{Drivers with total load including adults:}

^{Going and Coming}

              ^{Arndt   5}      

              ^{Wagar (Trailer)  5}

              ^{House            5}

              ^{Salem            5}

^{Standby to Come Back}

              ^{Oltersdorf      5}

^{Mr. Arndt’s Cell:   989-619-0630}

^{Call with questions-}

^{Scoutmaster Ken Arndt  989-732-3307 (Office)}

                                                ^{989-732-3464 (Home)}             

A Blind Man “See the World” Through Ham Radio

For all Scouts working on the Radio Merit Badge.

Dynamic DNS Blog: DNS2Go Helps a Blind Man “See the World” Through Ham Radio

Troop News and Views

Troop News and Views

Troop 1, Gaylord

January 2010

We wish all of you scouts and scout families a very happy New Year.

Most of you worked on the tree lot over Thanksgiving and Christmas—thank you. We owe a big thanks to Mr. Salem who has fir and spruce growing out of his ears from all the hours he put in. Also multi shifting would be Mr. Neff, Mr. & Mrs. Oltersdorf, Wagars, Mr. Adams and many others. Results will be tallied soon.

This week is the first meeting of the New Year. There are several housekeeping chores to finish. If you still have wreath money or (Heaven forbid) popcorn money, bring it in. The longer you wait the longer we keep your earnings off of your scout account tally.

The worksheets for the radio merit badge should be turned in tonight. I will bring an extra, but you will have to turn this in to get the merit badge. Details on the exam for Ham license tonight. We will issue the merit badges for the fire safety with the radio badges in the coming month.

Next weekend the 15th (Friday) to the 17th (Sunday) is the Headlands trip. We will ask for sign up tonight so we have a rough count. If you cannot be there tonight, send an email to me and let me know you will be going. Electronics are welcomed on this trip, as most of you will recall. We will take the troop trailer this year so we do not run short of space. Your guitars, amps, TV screens and other stuff will be nice and cozy in there. I anticipate the costs of the trip with our work project to be about $20.00 a head with about 20 scouts and 4 adults, so if you need to make an advance deposit because of your scout account balance, that will be it.

We will also take a couple of Klondike sleds this year. Sign up early, sign up often.

Council Derby; Cadillac. February 6th- This is part of the new council wide event program for the 100th anniversary. Like the Klondike but more. Outdoor games, competition and all around good fellowship. We will be doing some work on this at the Headlands and we hope to field two teams from the Troop.

Winter camping at the DAKS, CGATS, is February 27th and firm. This is a classic Troop 1 Trip and the troop sleeps in canvas tent systems with wood stoves. This is a blast—be sure to sign up. We have space for 16 scouts plus adults.

Patrol Leader’s Meeting Sunday January 10th at Bagley, 6:30 PM, Troop Committee following at 7:00 PM. Troop staff and patrol leaders should all attend. Among other things, the staff will plan the Headlands and the Klondike.

Long term dates. March 20th is the Sportplex Lock In. We are still wait listed on the Silversides wait list as of this writing.

Parents and FOTs (Friends of the troop) . You should shortly receive your invite to the parent and FOT party to be held the 14th from 6:30 to 8.00PM. Informal, no uniforms, the troop buys the Buffet at BJ’s.

As always, call with questions or comments at 989-732-3307 (office) or 989-732-3464 (night) or email karndt@arndtandassoc.com.

Ken Arndt

THIS IS THE BIG TREE LOT WEEKEND

The second weekend in December is traditionally our busiest weekend at the tree lot. We sell about 1/3 of all trees this weekend. PLEASE sign up to work a shift this weekend!

Troop 1 has shared a document with you: 2009 tree sales schedule

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aq4tAoaPuLG6dGQyOHplZkhpRnJuZjVTV3dZNjFZX2c&hl=en

To open this document, just click the link above. Please use this link
to view and update the Troop 1 Christmas Tree Lot sign up schedule.

Mr. Salem is in his first year as volunteer coordinator for the
tree lot. It would be a big help for all Scout Families to sign up for
3 selling dates as soon as possible.

Troop 1 Calendar of Events

EVENT DATE UPDATES! To view calendar in email, click the link below.

Troop News and Views

Troop News and Views

Troop 1, Gaylord

December 2009

We wish all of our scouts and scout families a very Merry Christmas and a rewarding scouting experience in the coming year.  We are sending along a few notes for immediate digestion and notes to supplement the troop calendar which our troop scout staff has developed for the coming 10 months. Summary of these activities will be posted by Mr. Neff on the calendar as he gets time.

First, tree sales.  Sales are going very well so far, except that we are not getting participation from a broad enough base of our scout families.  It is essential to have the support of scouts and families selling and supervising the tree lot in regular shifts.  We guess that each family should be taking about 3 shifts the way things are set up now.  Remember, the troop functions on the money we make on the tree sales.  If we don't sell all of the trees, then the troop will not have the funds to operate—that means money for the camperships this summer for each scout going to Greilick, awards, group transportation to places like the submarine Silversides (which the boys have planned for this summer) and a whole bunch of other activities.  All of the other events that we do to raise money go right into the scout's accounts—the troop keeps nothing from those money earning activities. 

So please lend a hand—especially this weekend.  This may be our biggest weekend and we are the only tree lot in town to boot.    One adult can supervise two or three scouts—and the scouts have fun at the lot loading trees and shoveling snow—and some scouts have even gotten tips this year.  Pop over on the sign up sheets and add your name.

Remember, the key is at Kmart at the service desk.  The green plastic box in the trailer holds the cash and checks.  That box stays in the locked trailer at the end of the shift and the key goes to KMART.  Sandy empties the cash box every day so there is no need to worry there.  HELP—thank you.

Wednesday the 9^th meeting is the end of the radio merit badge. If you cannot be there, let me know and I will get your worksheet graded after the class is over.  We will also make special preparation for the troop Christmas party the following week. We also have a board of review that night for several of you.

Stop and congratulate Kevin N. our newest Eagle Scout—as of this month.  Where's the party Kevin—no, at the tree lot won't do.

We are processing the Fire Safety Merit Badges from the Fall Camporee now, which entails transferring the camp cards to blue cards.  Tedious.  But you who camped and do the radio worksheet will get two badges the Spring Court of Honor.

Kiwanis gift baskets are due for loading and packing again—its that time of year.  Judy Doan says she could use help on the 17^th for about 2 hours from 6:00PM to 8:00PM.  4 or 5 scouts will be appreciated by the people who pay our registration fees and send you Boy's Life..  That is the day after our Christmas party.  The SPL will be asking so be ready if you need those service hours—and even if you don't.  This year we load food and pack baskets at the Gaylord school system office building in the activity room.  It is behind the Intermediate School and across the street from the United Way building.

No meetings the week of Christmas or New Years—the 23d or the 30^th  of December.  The first meeting of the New Year is January 6^th.

Meeting Cancellation policy for weather:  we cancel a troop meeting when Gaylord Community school closes for weather.  If there is no school because of weather, then there is no scout meeting.  Otherwise we will cancel with the scout phone fan.  The fan is now being updated by the SPL so if you have a new phone number, let him know at the meeting this week.

Adult Party. Say what?  We are going to have a first ever adult hail and farewell party (no scouts) hosted by the troop January 14^th.  This will be an evening dinner (we buy the food, you bring refreshments).  I am guessing 6:30PM to about 8:30 PM.  Now I know that some of you have young kids who need watching---let me know by email how many you have and we will provide a solution to that problem.  We don't want you staying away to watch the younger kids.  All parents are welcome, encouraged, cajoled, begged and otherwise invited to attend.  I promise not to talk long but we do have to recognize some people—outgoing leaders and incoming leaders and get input on the program the scouts put together for the year.  We will be asking for a response at the first troop meeting in January and finalizing the plan at the first committee meeting on January 10th.  Think a Tiger Cub's first words:  Mama, Papa, Buffet.

Headlands, January 15-17. This is a classic Troop 1 Trip and this year should be no exception.  We leave Friday night and come back Sunday morning.  Outdoor activities will include a project for the preserve on Saturday which usually degenerates into anything but service, but indoor activities usually take the form of games, fiddling around (adult terminology) with electronics which are required on this trip.  So tune up your games—Play Stations and Xbox 360's—adults get out the cards.  Sign up on the 6^th of Janaury.  We may need an additional driver or two depending on the sign ups.  This year I think we may take the troop trailer for gear and sleds. This is the perfect outing for those adults of you who have trouble reclining on the ground without benefit of a house wrapped around you.  We have a 10 bedroom house and it is heated, so no walking to the porta potty unless you just can't camp without the plastic privy experience—we'll have one delivered for you.

Pinewood Derby Car Races for Pack 1 will be in January.  We usually provide help with set up, car weigh in and running the race.  Stand by.

February 6^th-Council wide Klondike Derby;  The annual derby always gets a good showing by our troops.  Kenny and his staff will begin planning in January.  How many sleds to we have now I think 4—so no chance we will be short of snow transportation.  This is council wide and in Cadillac this year—so we will need help with transportation.  More in early January.  You can peek at activities on the Council web site.

February 26-28. Winter camping at the Adirondacks in CG.  Supreme winter experience.  Wood stoves and shelters that sleep 8 each.  We have room for 16 scouts this year plus adults.  A little ice fishing, wood stove cooking, land navigation and for those of us with pounds of hair on our chests, shelter building and sleeping (aka a Polar Bear).  Are you kidding me—sleep outside??  The opportunity is yours if you want the patch.  The shelters are heated by the wood stoves, so its not really like Robert Byrd at the pole in 1923, but its not like the Headlands.  Plastic potty shelter—you bet.

Sledding Party.  Somewhere in here the boys want to have a sledding party.  Ideas on where would be most appreciated.  We are trying Michaywe's old ski hill, the old Ski Village in Waters and (just kidding) Deadman's Hill.  Do the last hill on a saucer and you get the survival merit badge? 

March 20^th is our Sportsplex Lock In under our departing committee chair Tom Wagar and Venture Leader Jim Marsh and our awards chair Ann Wagar and it looks like another big hit.  This thing has grown from 200 kids to last year's total of 456—that is a lot of syrup flasks Tom.  Band director will be Jim Marsh, as usual.  All night swimming, hockey, skating, bowling and eating.  It is an all-nighter for sure.  Adults in shifts—I bet you can't wait to be asked.  Where else can you get free popcorn.

March 25^th 2010 is also the date of adult leader training (indoor) up in Petoskey.  This is the easy part of adult training.  This is one day from 9:00AM to about 3:00PM.  Janice Adams and Jeff Poux went last fall and thought the information presented was very useful.  There are needs for leaders in the troop and that will require the training—will you consider coming along?  The second phase of the training is Outdoor training and it is in April 16 to 18 probably near Gaylord—the outdoor training is much more fun. . . . have I mentioned that?   Plus, we have a nice warm tent for you and cool cooking utensils and pots.  Just ask Kathy Arndt how much fun it was.  

April 17^th--Lansing Tour.  The boys are planning a Lansing Capital tour on the 17^th, as well as a visit to two of the museums that feature the history of our state.  Well we will need drivers, unless Zack, Caleb, Mike O and Kenny can fill the bill.  I can see the heads shaking no already.  More as the event gets firmed up.

100^th Anniversary Spring Camporee is April 30 to May 2 this year, and that is when the camping season officially opens.  This will be a big deal this year.  That means that cooking gear comes out of the trailer for the first time, so plan on it now.  This is a Council wide event celebrating the 100^th anniversary of scouting and it should be well organized as opposed to some of the seasonals in the past. 

May 15^th is the Opening of Grass Cutting Season.  It also means scout opportunity to earn money for scouting.  This year both Hayes and Old St Mary will need new leaders and we are thinking about how to organize it.  Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Summer Camp for Troop 1 is June 27th to July 3d.  Our younger scouts should all attend camp with us.  We are going to make a special effort to really coach our scouts this year. Last year all scouts qualified as blue swimmers and thanks to excellent coaching by Janet Hancock every boy earned at least one promotion and many merit badges.  We are thinking about the activities and advancements now and I can assure you that no scout that goes to Camp with us will have a bad experience.  Late February this year we will have a meeting for parents on summer camp-especially the new Weblos 5's we hope to have join us.

Silversides and Michigan Adventure Park.  July 17 & 18 The Boys are planning on doing the water park and submarine tour, assuming we can rent the submarine.  We are checking.  I can see a few heads with the say what???  This trip takes the form of a day trip to Michigan Adventure Park in Muskegon and in the evening we go down to the harbor and stay overnight on the SS Silversides, a WWII submarine.  It is really a wartimes sub—and it is just like it was during the war. We have the run of the interior and exterior of the sub—really. There is also a museum there.  This really is one of the coolest things we do.  Mr. Oakley is a Navy submariner and he always goes along to explain the pipes and tubes and valves to the boys.  This year "Foghorn" Jeff Riley may also go along—that man can snore, especially when you are trapped in the rear torpedo room with him.

6 to 8 August we are planning a Pigeon River camping trip. This is 3 days of camping in a primitive site with hiking, camp cooking and exploring.  Not much we can say but its an end of summer "almost back to school" trip close to home so travel is not a big issue.

This year's Hessel Trip is September 10^th. We don't know the theme yet, but this is one of the highlights of our camping year.  Hessel is near the old National Forest Campground—and there are girl scouts and venture crews there.  Work all day, try to get a girl to dance with you all night.  We hear very good stories about Hessel, but the truth always comes out around the campfire.  It's a scout's life.

Is that enough for now?  I think so.  It is easy to write these ideas on paper, but it takes all of us to make them come true.  Thank you for your support—now and next year.  I appreciate it and the boys appreciate it.

As I write this, Jim Salem is probably out in the storm at the tree lot shoveling out the trees.  We owe Jim a big thanks for all that he has done.  We will have to get him some Tim Neff sunglasses, but for now we send along a big thanks.   Headlands and Daks are firm now, as is the Klondike, so set your  sail for those events now.

Let me go down and see what he is doing.  As always, call with concerns or suggestions.

Yours from the Scenic Trail,

Ken Arndt

Sportsplex Lock-in

14^th Annual

GAYLORD SPORTSPLEX LOCK-IN

Hosted by Troop 1 &Venture Crew 1 of Gaylord

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010 

 

Otsego County Sportsplex, Gaylord

                     

         

 

Ice Skating!    Hockey!    Swimming!    Bowling!

  Video Games!   Card Games!    Board Games!

  Fun,  Food, & Scouting Fellowship!  

Guitar Hero Tournament - Trophies for the Winners!

 

Cost is only $18 per person!

Includes use of all the Sportsplex facilities plus

Bowling at the Gaylord Bowling Center (between 2 & 5 am) !

Door Prizes!  Midnight Pizza & snacks!

Continental Breakfast!

 

Capacity is limited !  First come, First Served !

Advance reservations required!

  E-mail downingam@yahoo.com   or phone 989-732-4038

 

Registration will be between 8:30 & 9:00 PM

The event will run until 6:00 AM Sunday

 

You are responsible for the following:

Providing your own transportation, obtaining permission slips  (with

health history in case of accident), & obtaining tour permit from Council

 

 

For additional information contact Tom & Ann Wagar at the e-mail address above or

Jim Marsh at xeod20@yahoo.com  .