Camp Resolute $ Due: The $ for Camp Resolute was scheduled to be due by Thursday May 24 for all new scouts (cross-overs from Webelos this year). We have extended the due date to Thursday, June 7. All that is needed at this time is the check for $275/scout (less “brother discount – if applicable) payable to Troop 4. Please call or email Dave Kirchner if you have any questions. If there is a hardship with the fee please let Dave Kirchner know (confidential).
Camp Resolute Sign – Up for Regular Scouts: There is still time to sign up for Resolute this year! Cost for the week is $305 (deadline has past for the early bird rate). Please bring a check payable to Troop 4 by the June 7 troop meeting.
Troop 4 T – Shirts on Sale: The famous lime green Troop 4 T – shirts are on sale at the June 7 troop meeting and June 14 Court of Honor at $10 each. Scouts should purchase several for the upcoming whitewater adventure and summer camp. Buying the shirts helps the troop out also, we had to prepay for the large shipment of shirts.
Service Hour Opportunity: Milford Upper Charles River Bike Trail Grand Opening on Saturday, June 16. Volunteers are needed by the trail committee to help with everything from set up, to working on activities, to clean up – any time between 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If any scouts would like to help out for any part of the day please email M. McNeilly at McNeilly!!! remove this !!!@comcast.net
Free Pawsox Tickets for Scouts and Their Families: The troop received a generous donation of Pawsox tickets from Mr. John Morte and the Milford Lions Club. The tickets are general admission for the Sunday, June 17 1:05PM game. The tickets for scouts and their family and friends (no limit on # of tickets per scout) will be available on a first come first serve basis at the June 7 troop meeting or June 14 Court of Honor. In addition, you can email your ticket requests to Dave Kirchner anytime.
June Court of Honor: Our annual year end June family Court of Honor will be on Thursday, June 14. This is our wrap up of the scout year and dinner with awards night for scouts and their families. There will be lots of awards earned by the scouts given out that night and family members are welcome to attend. Scouts and their families are asked to arrive at 6:30 PM with dinner to start and awards after dinner. The evening will be done by about 8:30 PM. This is a pot luck dinner, and each family is asked to bring one dinner/dessert item. Members of the Troop Committee will contact each family to see who will be attending and what to bring.
Board of Review: The final Board of Review before the Court of Honor for scouts advancing in rank will be help during the June 7 troop meeting. If the scout is ready for the board of review we will notify him.
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 – Adventure Bound – for the trip and we are staying at a campsite that has a pool, hot tub, climbing wall and hot showers. The outfitter runs an excellent program and they will supply us with all the specialty equipment for the trip (rafts, paddles, personal flotation devices, helmets, guides, etc.) Their website is: www.adv-bound.com
We have done the whitewater rafting trip several times and it is a great outdoor experience for all the scouts and the adults. This year’s trip on the Kennebec River will be divided into two groups. The group for the older scouts (minimum age 12) will start at the upper Kennebec River and raft class IV and V rapids. At about the midpoint, the second group of scouts (scouts under 12 and scouts not wanting to do the first part of the river) will join the first group and together will raft class III and II rapids along the lower Kennebec River. By running the rafting this way, all of out scouts will be able to participate in the whitewater experience.
We will drive up to the campsite Saturday and camp Saturday night at the campgrounds. On Saturday night scouts will also be able to try out the climbing wall. We will raft on Sunday, camp Sunday night, and return Monday to Milford. All participants will have the opportunity to work on the Whitewater merit badge.
As with all of our aquatic trips, our troop follows the BSA Safe Swim and Safety Afloat requirements. Each raft holds 6 to 7 individuals, and each raft has a guide in the raft the entire trip. The guides also have CRP/First Aid Certifications. There is also a trip leader supplied by the outfitter that has advanced First Aid/EMT certifications. We will have at least one adult in each raft and will arrange the rafts with the younger scouts so that there will be several adults from the troop in each raft.
The troop will do an introduction to whitewater rafting as part of our troop meetings. In addition, the outfitter conducts a training/safety instruction before the trip.
We are looking for parents to drive and stay for the event. Our June trips are always a great time for the parents as well as the scouts.
The troop will meet at the parish center at 8:00 AM Saturday morning June 23 and leave for the campsite at The Forks, Maine, by 9:00 AM. We will return for pick up at 4:00 PM on Monday, June 25. It is about a 5 hour drive to the location. We will camp at the outfitters campsite, complete with pool, hot tub, climbing wall, and hot showers. We will be cooking patrol style for Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, Sunday lunch, Sunday dinner, and Monday breakfast. Scouts and adults need to bring $ for Saturday lunch stop and Monday lunch stop. The adult leaders will provide the meals for the parents at the campsite for the parents.
The cost for the trip, to help offset the fees charged by the outfitter, is $72 per participant (scout and adult) plus an optional (additional) $11 per participant if the scout/adult wants to do the climbing wall. This is the most expensive weekend event that the troop does, but the troop gets a group rate and subsidizes the trip with troop funds that would cost regular users about $140 per person if they went on their own.
There is a release form from the outfitter that all participants and (parents for scouts) are required to sign. We will email or mail the forms out to the participants along with a suggested list of personal gear to bring.
Scouts, in order to participate on the trip, must have passed the BSA swimmers test. Most of our scouts have done this already. If you are not sure if your son has passed the test, call or email Dave Kirchner.
If your son (and you) will be attending, please return the attached permission slip with a check payable to Troop 4 no later than the June 7 troop meeting. If your son (and you) would like to attend but won’t be at the troop meeting, please drop off the form and $ to Dave Kirchner at 6 Camp Street (in the scout box) before June 7. We will be planning for the trip at the June 7 troop meeting.
Finally, we have reserved a fixed number of spots for the trip. We can add more, but the sooner we know the number, the better the chances to make sure that all the scouts/leaders/parents have a spot. If your son (and you) are going please email Dave Kirchner at kirchner5!!! remove this !!!@comcast.net as soon as possible (as soon as you get this newsletter would be great) – even before sending in the form and $.
Special Troop Newsletters: with information on the Whitewater Rafting Adventure and Camp Resolute will be emailed to the participants within the next week
Venture Scout Corner
Career Presentation for May: Thanks to Mr. Chris Ward for a very interesting (and good food too) discussion on careers and opportunities in the marketing profession at the May 24 troop meeting.
Scouts Working Their Eagle Projects This Summer: need to contact Mr. Kirchner before they start to be sure that the project field work requirements are covered.
June Whitewater Trip: is a great way to have to work on the Whitewater merit badge – you can complete the badge on this trip if you already have the Canoeing merit badge.
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:
- June 7 is the last regular troop meeting for the year and Board of Review
- June 14 is our year end family Court of Honor
- Saturday June 23 – Monday June 25 is our White Water High Adventure Trip
- Sunday July 22 – Friday July 27 is Camp Resolute
Thanks! To the parents and families for their help this past scouting year. Best wishes for a great summer and hope to see everyone this fall.
Troop Four Website: checkout the Troop 4 website at: www.troop4milford.org we have lots of information and event calendars/dates listed.
Please call the Dave Kirchner at 508-478-5915 or email at kirchner5!!! remove this!!!@comcast.net if you have any questions.