Newsletter 2011-10-23

Halloween Party

The next troop meeting (October 27th), features the annual Troop Halloween party. The uniform of the night will be “costumes”. There will be prizes for the best costumes (funniest, scariest, most realistic, most creative). Prizes will also to be awarded to the winners of our traditionally nutty games and contests. This is a “don’t miss” troop meeting. Scouts should bring a snack or dessert to add to the Halloween treat table.

 Scouting for Food

The troop will be volunteering in this year’s Scouting for Food event on Sunday November 6th at the food pantry on Exchange Street. We will be receiving and sorting incoming food that other troops and packs will be delivering to the pantry. The event will run from 1200 to 300pm. Mr. Bruce Hastings will be onsite to guide the senior attending scout in the leadership of this important event. Please contact him at bshast@comcast.net if you have any questions. The food receiving and sorting is a really fun task, where we work as a human conveyor belt to sort out the food as quickly as it comes in….and it comes in fast! If you can help, sign up at the next troop meeting. Be sure to where your troop t-shirt at the event.

 Trip Report – Douglas State Forest Backpacking Trip

Over twenty scouts and leaders participated in our most recent backpacking trip to Douglas State Forest The senior patrol leader, guided by Mr. Bruce Hastings and Mr. Paul Watson, led the older scouts on a challenging 3 day / 2 night trip, which qualified toward the backpacking merit badge. The rest of the troop did a fun 1 night trip. Both groups converged at the back country campsite at the southern terminus of the Mid State Trail for the final night of camping. The troop covered lots of advancement activities along the way, and the evening was capped off by one of the best campfire programs in years. The entertainment lasted well into the night, and included (finally) some fresh skit material. This trip served as a good warm-up for more challenging back pack adventures that we’ll schedule for the spring.

 November “Pig Roast” Camping Trip

The November “Pig Roast” Camping Trip will be Saturday November 19 and Sunday November 20 at the troop campsite in Milford. This will be our famous pig roast dinner (with some hot dogs and other food too). The campout will feature outdoor games and contests to align with our monthly program theme: Indian Lore, to include hatchet throwing, tree chopping, log throwing, archery, fire building. We’ll also throw some highland games in for good measure, like caber tossing. We have invited some Webelos to attend as well. We will have a troop campfire Saturday night. The troop will provide a complete dinner and breakfast along with all the eating utensils, cups, plates, etc. The scouts will be planning the meals, activities, and doing the cooking for the weekend.

We will meet at St. Mary’s parish center at 9:00 AM Saturday November 19 and will return to the parish center by 12 Noon on Sunday for pickup on the 20th. Scout should bring their regular camping gear and bag lunch for Saturday. As always, scouts can come/leave early late, etc, if they have conflicts with sporting or other local events. If you need to come or leave early, please note that on the permission slip. We will need a few parents to drive to/from the event.

If your son is planning to attend, please return the permission slip by the Nov 10 troop meeting along with a check for $12 to cover the cost of the food for the weekend. If your son can’t make the Nov 10th troop meeting but wants to attend, please call or email Phil Bedard before the 10th so we can include him in planning for the event.

 Troop Dues and Medical Forms

Both the medial form and payment were due in late September. The med form can be found on the troop website. The troop needs a med form annually for each scout. Unlike summer camp forms, only a parent signature is required. Vaccines, if current, can be stated as such. The combined troop and re-charter dues are $95 per scout ($75 for additional siblings). If you still owe dues or a form, please submit to the troop scribe at the beginning of the next troop meeting. Thanks!

 5 Guys

The 5 Guys fundraiser was a blast. Thanks to all for coming and spreading the word. We raised $300. Special thanks to Amy Croteau for making the arrangements.

 Troop Recruiting

There are two big recruiting events coming up….the November camp out at the Troop Campsite, and the 11/3 troop meeting. Webelos will be attending both. Please take a moment or two to speak with these Webelos and their parents, and do your best to make them feel welcome. Thanks. Speak with the Troop Guide for new scouts if you want to help work with the Webelos at these events. And congratulations for their successful recruiting efforts so far this fall, which has seen the addition of four new Scouts; Taabish, Matt, Andrew and Josiah.

For Venture Scouts: Climbing Event

Mr.Hobart has offered to facilitate a Venture “Climbing” trip in December. He recently sent an email to all ventures with proposed dates, and other trip information. Please respond to Mr.Hobart at hobiewaun@comcast.net, or to Venture crew leader Richard Roberts, if you are interested/available in attending this Venture-only trip.

 For Venture Scouts: Life Scouts

The troop has a very large number of Life Scouts, some newly minted, and some well seasoned. A November meeting will be scheduled for those Life Scouts with interest in starting their Eagle Scout Service Projects. This meeting will be announced several days in advance.

Questions

Please call the Phil Bedard at 508-561-7058 or email at pbedard1@gmail.com if you have any questions.