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Troop Swim Night: is this Thursday, April 5 (instead of the troop meeting) at the Milford High School pool from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Pizza and beverages will be provided.

Finger Printing Merit Badge: The Finger Printing Merit Badge will be offered by the Milford Police Department to scouts in Troop 4 on Monday, April 9 at the Milford Police Station. Scouts will be able to complete the entire merit badge on this night. Meet at the main entrance to the Police Station at 7:00 PM. We will finish up at 8:30 PM. Scouts need to wear their uniforms. The Milford Police do a great job with the badge requirements and it’s a great way to get a merit badge in one night!

Merit Badge Classes: for Wilderness Survival and Personal Management are under way at the troop meetings. The Wilderness Survival classes will continue on and we will do the outdoor requirements on the April camping trip. Personal Management group classes are finished and we will work with individual scouts and small groups to finish up the badge. The Cycling merit badge will start on the April 12 troop meeting – in conjunction with the May cycling camping trip. Scouts will have the opportunity to finish all the badges before the June Court of Honor.

Scouts Working on Their Second or First Class Rank: The Venture Scouts are doing a great job with teaching the rank requirements for the Second and First Class badges. We are on target to finish up by the June Court of Honor. The scouts need to be sure that they have the “troop activities” requirement done to advance by June. For Second Class a scout must participate in at least 5 troop activities (other than troop meetings), at least two of which must be camping trips since joining the troop. For First Class, a scout must have at least 10 activities at least 3 must be camping trips since joining (the 5 for Second class count for these).

Troop April Camping Trip: will be on Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22 at the troop campsite in Milford. We have many events planned for the campout including:

• Completion of the outdoor requirements for the Wilderness Survival merit badge including building a shelter and sleeping in it overnight. This is open to scouts who would like to complete this portion of the badge but have not done the other requirements.
• An archery contest and some other wilderness contests.
• A campfire at night.
• Dutch oven and aluminum foil cooking.

The troop will meet at the parish center at 9:00 AM on Saturday and leave for the troop campsite about 9:30 AM. We will return to the parish center for pick up Sunday morning at noon. Scouts can be dropped off/picked up early/late if needed, just make a note on the permission slip.

Scouts need to bring a bag lunch for Saturday. We will be cooking patrol style for Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast. The scouts who do not make shelters will be camping in tents. For new Webelos Cross Overs, we will send you a list of the personal gear needed for the trip.

We will need a few parents to drive to/from the event. If you can help out, please indicate on the permission slip. If your son would like to attend, please complete the attached permission slip and return by the April 12 troop meeting. If your son would like to attend but will not be at the troop meeting on April 12 please email Dave Kirchner before the 12th . Since there is no meeting on the 19th, we will be doing all the planning for the trip at the April 12 troop meeting.

The May Troop Bicycling/Camping Trip: is set for Friday, May 18 through Sunday May 20. The troop will be camping and cycling on Cape Cod! More information on the way and plenty of time to prepare those bicycles!

The June High Adventure White Water Trip: will be Saturday, June 23 through Monday June 25. We will be whitewater rafting in Maine on the Kennebec River! We are also using a new outfitter for the trip and we are staying at a campsite that has a pool, hot tub, climbing wall and hot showers. This is a great adventure – please mark your calendars for the event. We will also need some parents to drive and stay for the event (you don’t have to do the white water). More information on the way.

Camp Resolute 2007: will be Sunday, July 22 through Friday, July 27. Most of the families should have received the Knox Trail Council mailer on summer camp. In the next few days the troop will be sending out a special summer camp news letter with sign-up and other information.

Venture Scout Corner

Career Presentation for April: for the troop meetings on April 12 and April 26 attorney Ms. Kristen Rowan will cover the requirements for the Law merit badge and talk about what it is like to be a lawyer, and how to become one. Scouts will be able to complete the requirements for the merit badge in the two meeting nights!

Troop Camping Trip for April: on Saturday afternoon on the camping trip we have made arrangements for the Venture scouts to go to the Maspenock Sportsmen’s club in Milford for an introduction/instruction to trap shooting. Scouts will receive the proper safety/instructions and then have a chance to spend the afternoon trap shooting on the clubs range. All safety gear, shooting gear, and supplies will be provided.

We will get out the details to the Venture scouts in the next week or so.

We also need some Ventures to help with the Wilderness Survival merit badge outdoor requirements on the April camping trip.

This is a great way for some of the Venture Scouts to help meet their activity and leadership requirements for advancement.

Upcoming Event Dates & Reminders:

• Thursday April 5 is Troop Swim Night at Milford High School Pool
• Monday, April 9 is Finger Printing Merit Badge at the Milford Police Dept 7:00 – 8:30 PM
• Thursday April 12 is a regular troop meeting
• No meeting April 19 – Happy School Vacation!
• Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22 – Troop Camping Trip
• April 26 is a regular Troop meeting
• May 3 is a regular troop meeting
• May 10 is a regular troop meeting
• May 17 is a regular troop meeting
• Friday May 18 – Sunday May 20 is the Cape Cod Bicycling Adventure

Troop Four Website: checkout the new Troop 4 website at: www.troop4milford.org we will have more and more information on the site in the future.

Please call the Dave Kirchner at 508-478-5915 or email at kirchner5!!! remove this !!!@comcast.net if you have any questions.