Physical Fitness Merit Badget Meeting—Rescheduled

The September 27 Physical Fitness Merit Badge meeting has been tentatively rescheduled for October 4, 10:00 – noon, at the high school track.

Camp Resolute 2009

[Updated April 3rd]

Contents

  1. General Information
  2. Camp Resolute Scout and Parent Guide
  3. Check In on Sunday
  4. Check Out on Friday Night
  5. Troop Pictures
  6. Emergencies
  7. Visitors
  8. Parental Authorization Form
  9. Medical Forms (2)
  10. Volunteers / CORI Form
  11. Merit Badge Sign-Up
  12. Pocket Money
  13. Uniforms
  14. What to Bring to Camp
  15. Sign-Up for Camp
  16. Leader’s Guide

General Information

Troop 4 will be attending the Knox Trail Council’s Camp Resolute in Bolton, Mass. as our week long local summer activity this year. We will be camping from Sunday, July 19 through Friday July 24. At Camp Resolute, a troop reserves one of about 12 troop campsites for its scouts. Each troop has its own site and we camp as a troop. We have reserved the “Nomolos” site. Scouts sleep in 2-man tents on wooden platforms. There is a cot with a mattress for each scout. Meals are eaten in a dining hall along with the other scouts (about 150) in camp for the week.

A typical camp day consists of merit badge classes in the morning run by camp counselors. The classes are fun and scouts get the opportunity to learn about many outdoor merit badges. Each Scout selects the classes that he would like to attend. The afternoons are reserved for individual scout activities and interests. Many of these activities are explained in the camp guide.

We will be working with the newer scouts on Tenderfoot through First Class requirements during the afternoons and evenings. After dinner, there will be troop activities and camp wide games.

Camp Resolute Scout and Parent Guide

Please review the Camp Resolute Scout and Parent Guide as it contains hints and information about Camp Resolute, and includes required forms. Also, there are a few items in the guide where Troop 4 will do things differently from the guide and a few items listed that we will explain further:

Check In on Sunday

Check In: Troop 4 will meet in the Camp Resolute parking lot between 12:30 and 1:00 PM on Sunday, July 19. At 1:00 PM, we will proceed to our Troop campsite (the “Nomolos” site). Parents and other family members are welcome to help the Scouts move in. Families can stay and tour the Camp during the afternoon, or leave as soon as their entire Scout’s gear is at the campsite. If you can not meet the check in time, please call or email Phil Bedard. Please call or email if you need directions to the camp. It is about a ½ hour drive from Milford.

Check Out on Friday Night

Check Out: is Friday night, anytime after 5:00 PM and before the Camp Resolute barbecue at 6:30 PM. Parents and families are encouraged to stay for the barbeque – information regarding purchase of tickets to attend (scouts are free) is in the Camp Resolute Guide. The troop will take part in the camp barbecue. Because summer camp ends on Friday, we will not be able to have the awards ready for a Court of Honor at camp. Instead, we will announce all the awards completed at camp at the barbecue and give out the actual awards at a Court of Honor in October. The Camp puts on a great closing campfire that the Scouts and their families may attend after the barbecue on Friday night.

Troop Pictures

Each year the Council has a professional photographer take each troop’s picture (the pictures are ready for pick-up Friday night). For those wishing to purchase a troop photograph, the troop will be collecting the $10 fee upon arrival on Sunday July 19 at camp. Please make checks payable to TOP Photography.

Emergencies

Emergencies: If you have an emergency and need to contact your son, you can call the Camp number listed in the guide. At check-in on Sunday, we will have several cell telephone numbers of the different Adult Troop 4 Leaders attending camp that you can call.

Visitors

Visitors are welcome any time. Please follow the Camp check in procedures and they will assist you in locating our Troop in camp.

Parental Authorization Form

Families must complete a release form to allow their scout to use firearms at the ranges and for their photos to be taken during camp. Please download the form, sign, and submit along with your health forms to Phil Bedard prior to June 18th. As an alternative to a troop meeting, you can send via US mail to Phil at 22 Harmony Trail, Hopedale, MA 01747

Medical Forms (2)

There is a new medical form this year. You must complete all three parts (A, B and C). Part B must be signed by your doctor. For scouts that require medication to be dispensed at camp, there is also an “Authorization to Administer Medication to a Camper” form that must be completed. In addition, the Troop procedures for submitting the medical forms are different from the ones stated in the guidebook and different from what the troop has done in the past. The completed and signed forms MUST be delivered to a troop meeting, or mailed or dropped off at Phil Bedard’s house, NO LATER THAN Thursday, JUNE 18th. The Camp wants the forms before to review them and speedup the check-in process.

The BSA medical forms MUST be: signed off by the doctor, signed off by the parent, and have the medical insurance company name & policy number listed. Many doctor’s offices use a standard form. If such a form is provided by your doctor, please attach it to the BSA form for additional detail to avoid unexpected problems. But even if attached, please note that the doctor MUST SIGN the BSA medical form (BSA rules). Please double check your forms carefully. Each year the troop has to return many incomplete forms for update. The camp will not in-process any scout with incomplete forms. Common mistakes include no parent signature, missing medical insurance information, no doctor phone number, and no doctor signature. The effort for the troop to obtain and process all these forms is very time consuming, so please do all that you can to submit them accurately and on-time. Thanks!

Medical forms for adult leaders are required as in past years. The Council wants these forms before camp also, so please forward them to Phil Bedard by June 18th via a troop meeting, or mailed to 22 Harmony Trail, Hopedale, MA 01747. You can leave them in the scout drop off box near my garage door if you prefer.

Volunteers / CORI Form

The Troop will have many of our regular adult leaders attend in shifts to cover the week. However, if we are low on leaders for a particular part of the schedule, we may contact you to see if you can spend a day or night at camp. We will have an adult leader with you, and all you will be required to do is be present. Meals are at the dining hall and there are hot adult showers. Many adults actually commute to/from work for a day or more.

If you are staying overnight or volunteering for a day, the troop must (per Massachusetts law) submit your name, date of birth, and social security number and other information to the Council so that they can have a CORI check done. If you are asked, and are able to help with the adult coverage, please complete and sign the CORI form and return to Phil Bedard by May 28th (mail or drop off at 22 Harmony Trail, Hopedale 01747). This goes for registered adult leaders as well. Do not forget to attach a photocopy of your picture ID to the form. The information is needed by that date as the troop must submit all CORI forms before June 1 to the Council.

Merit Badge Sign-Up

Scouts should review the merit badge course listing in the 2009 Camp Guide. Some merit badges have prerequisites that need to be completed before camp in order for the scout to complete the badge at camp. If a scout does not complete the badge at camp, he receives a “partial” completion and can finish the merit badge later with a Troop 4 merit badge counselor.

This year the troop will be pre-registering scouts online before camp. Have your son(s) follow these steps:

  1. Select the merit badges from the list in the 2009 Camp Resolute Guide. Each scout should sign up for 3 merit badges. In addition, if a first year camper is fairly good at swimming, he should take the Swimming merit badge – it’s an Eagle required merit badge that is hard to get outside of summer camp.
  2. Check the merit badge course time schedule to make sure that you don’t have any time conflicts. Some merit badges (Lifesaving, Small Boat Sailing for examples) are two periods long.
  3. Bring your selections to the June 4th troop meeting, where a Troop leader will review them, help you make changes if needed, and then will register your scout in the council’s on-line system. If you can not attend that meeting, email your selections beforehand to Phil Bedard.
  4. The most important thing to remember when signing up for merit badges is – Have Fun! Have your son(s) sign up for badges that he will have fun doing.

If your son is completing prerequisites before camp, notes indicating completion are required from the troop counselor for the badge. Please email Phil Bedard before the last June troop meeting once your son has completed any required prerequisites.

Pocket Money

Scouts usually need $30.00 to $35.00 for the week for snacks, supplies, handicraft items, etc. Scouts can bring plenty of snacks to camp, but please be sure that the snacks can be kept in the Scout’s footlocker or duffel bag.

Uniforms

All Scouts are required to have the full uniform (official pants are not required) including the Troop neckerchief. Official BSA shorts are suggested, but not required. The Scouts usually wear T-shirts and shorts during the day for activities. It is a good idea to buy “Troop 4 “T-shirts for use at camp. We are currently sold-out of most sizes, but we will replenish supplies before summer camp.

What to Bring to Camp

The list in the Camp Guide is a good list to follow. Here are some explanations for some of the items on the list: The mosquito netting is the size that fits over a camp cot sized bed (can get at Wal-mart or sporting goods store). The Scouts sleep in 2-man wall tents with a wooden floor and a camp cot for each Scout. The dowels are to hold up the netting are good to bring, but are not necessary as you can use sticks at the campsite that work just as well. Bring twine to attach the dowels/sticks to the cot. For extra clothes, one change per day is adequate. Slippers are not necessary, but beach sandals are a good idea. A mattress cover is not necessary, as a piece of plastic will do just as well to cover the cot mattress. Swimming Merit Badge Clothes are needed only if the Scout is planning to take the swimming merit badge.

Clothes and gear can be kept in a duffel bag or footlocker while at camp. A backpack can be also be used to carry some of the equipment for the week.

Sign-Up for Camp

The camp sign-up and payment process is the same format as last year. The troop is required to collect the camp fees from the scouts and remit the total camp fee for the troop to the Council. The regular due date for scouts is the April 16 troop meeting. The due date for “new Scouts” – scouts who joined from last November to now – including crossovers from Webelos, is the May 28th troop meeting. Checks should be made payable to “Troop 4” (the troop remits one check to the Council with the list of scouts). Note that scouts can still sign up for camp after the dates listed but each fee is about $30.00 more.

As mentioned, the camp is owned and run by the Knox Trail Council. This year’s fee is $305.00 per scout. The “brother fee” for a brother that is also attending $240.00. Please see Phil Bedard if the fee is a hardship. All hardship requests are confidential.

Please call or email Phil Bedard if you have any questions. The troop has had many great adventures at Camp Resolute and this year will be another fun and adventure filled week. See you there!

Leader’s Guide

The Camp Resolute Leader’s Guide contains information for the adult leaders of the troop.

Troop Four Family Newsletter—September 21, 2008

Troop Elections

Those of Star rank or higher are eligible to run for Senior Patrol Leader. If you are interested in running for this position, please come to the Sept 25th meeting prepared to give a short speech to your fellow scouts on your qualifications and goals for the year. Patrol leaders will be elected at this meeting as well. The new SPL will assign the other troop leadership positions at the following troop meeting.

October Campout

October’s Troop campout will feature a new destination. The Troop will be hiking and camping at the Federated Women’s Club State Forest in Petersham, MA. This forest features a scenic gorge, and is only a short hike to the shores of the Quabbin Reservoir; home to bald eagles and other unique wildlife. The troop will offer a 10 mile hike for those working on the Hiking Merit Badge, as well as other hikes and adventures. Hikes and activities will be paced to accommodate scouts of all ages. The troop also plans to search for signs of the lost Quabbin towns that were abandoned when the valley was flooded to create the reservoir in the early 20th century.

The troop will meet at the parish center at 8:30 AM Saturday October 25th, and leave for the campsite by about 9 AM. We will return to the parish center for pickup by 4pm on Sunday.

Scouts need to bring a bag lunch for Saturday. The troop will be cooking patrol style for dinner and breakfast. Scouts should also bring some money for a fast food or diner lunch on Sunday’s return. Each patrol will develop their menu and give grocery assignments to their members at the October 16th troop meeting.

If your son will be attending, please drop off the permission slip no later than the beginning of the October 16th Troop Meeting. Please email or call Phil Bedard before October 16 if your son will be attending but won’t be at his patrol’s planning meeting. The troop needs to know who is attending for planning purposes. There is a nominal fee of $5/scout to help with the cost of the state park campsites. Please staple or clip the payment to your permission slip. If paying by check (preferred), please make payable to Troop 4.

Troop Eagle Court of Honor

The Troop Eagle Court of Honor will be Thursday, October 23rd from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at St. Mary’s parish center. This special Court of Honor will honor our newest Eagle Scout, Pat Bedard. Awards earned by all other scouts since the last Court of Honor will also be presented. There will be a dinner before the awards ceremony. The troop committee is still planning the details and will communicate more information to families shortly.

Troop Dues and Medical Forms

Troop dues and medical forms are due at the Sept 25th or Oct 2nd troop meetings. The medical form (click here) is required for each scout. Unlike summer camp forms, only a parent signature is required. The combined troop and re-charter dues are $80 per scout ($60 for additional siblings). More information on these forms and dues was previously provided in the 2008 Welcome Letter on the troop web site.

Advancement

Many Life scouts are actively working their Eagle service projects. Keep an eye out for emails and phone calls from these scouts as they recruit help for several interesting projects, which involve service to the elderly, the town library, Middle School East, wildlife habitat restoration and other areas of community service. Please help them as much as you can. Other scouts are actively working the merit badges required to advance to Star and Life, and 11 younger scouts will be working hard this fall on the requirements to earn 2nd and 1st Class rank.

Merit Badges

There are lots of merit badge activities planned this fall, some starting very soon.

  • Rifle – Those who did not finish this badge at Resolute are invited to attend a shooting session at Milford’s Maspenock Rod and Gun Club on Sunday October 5th from 1-3pm. Mr. Croteau will be running this event.
  • Photography – Those who started the Photography merit badge at Camp Tahosa should bring a photography merit badge worksheet to the October 2nd meeting. Complete as much of the worksheet as possible before this meeting. Your photo displays are scheduled to be presented to the troop at the October 16th troop meeting. Call Mr. Hobart with any questions.
  • Personal Fitness (eagle required) – A badge kickoff meeting is scheduled for Saturday Sept 27 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the high school track. Call Mr. Croteau with any questions.
  • Communications (eagle required) and Sales – These badge classes will start later in the fall, and will coincide with our pancake breakfast advertising sales. All scouts who need this badge should sign up. More information to follow soon.
  • Citizenship in the World/Nation/Community. A kickoff meeting will be scheduled this fall, however, most of this badge work must then be done by scouts on their own at home.

Troop Library

Merit badge booklets are a significant expense for the troop. Please help the troop to be thrifty by returning any borrowed booklets to the troop library as soon as you are finished. If you’ve purchased your own booklets, and no longer need them, donations to the library are greatly appreciated.

Troop Equipment

  • Backpacking Stoves. Many thanks to Jeff Croteau for securing a donation of MSR Dragonfly backpacking stoves to the troop. These are premium stoves which easily light in all weather. Many scouts used dragonfly’s on this summer’s Colorado adventure. The troop quartermaster will appoint a team to inventory, assemble and test these stoves at an upcoming troop meeting.
  • Wish List – High Adventure Storage Cabinet. The troop is looking for a used metal cabinet that can be locked, for the storage of our growing inventory of advanced (and expensive) backcountry gear. If anyone has or discovers a surplus cabinet, please notify Phil Bedard.

Venture Scout Corner

Venture Ideas for 2008/2009: The ventures recently held a meeting to discuss their Eagle Service Project status, and also to identify ideas for Troop and Venture meetings & trips for the new season. The crew put many exciting ideas on the table. The scout and adult leadership will work hard to make these happen. This batch of ideas is on the agenda for discussion at the first Patrol Leaders Council meeting.

Eagle Project Status: Jonathan Lincoln and Mike Tusino reported good progress on their ongoing Eagle Service Projects. Mike led a team that built and installed a set of much needed library furniture, and he is currently working on his final project write-up. Jonathan is leading an effort to construct and install a dozen wood duck boxes for a local pond. Jon’s project is part of a state-wide effort to increase the population of the threatened wood duck. Gabe Lanciano is planning some trail work at the local cat shelter to finish up his project, which also included construction of much needed cat climbing/scratching posts. Other projects by Jim Malnati, Spencer Carlin, Tim Brundrett, Stephen Ward & TJ Fasulo are about to start this fall.

Upcoming Event Dates & Reminders

  • Sept 25 – First general troop meeting. Troop elections.
  • Sept 27 (Sat): Personal Fitness MB kickoff at the HS track.
  • Oct 2 – Troop Meeting / Photograph MB meeting
  • Oct 5 (Sun) – Rifle Merit Badge, Maspenock Rod/Gun Club (only for those who took Rifle at Resolute)
  • Oct 9 – Troop Meeting
  • Oct 16 – Troop Meeting to include Photography MB presentations & Campout Planning
  • Oct 23 – Eagle Court of Honor
  • Oct 25 & 26 – Troop Campout – Quabbin
  • Oct 30 – Troop Halloween Party
  • Nov 1 (Sat) – Troop Service Project (tentative date – watch for updates)
  • Nov 1 & 8 – Scouting for Food (tentative dates – more detail to follow)

Questions?

Please call Phil Bedard at 508-282-0283 or email at bedard18@verizon.net if you have any questions.

May Camping Trip – St. Mary’s Cemetery

Scouts: be sure to bring your scout handbook to the campout this coming weekend. We will be doing advancement and scoutmaster conferences, in preparation for the upcoming boards of review, and it’s important that we be able to ensure all requirements are properly signed off and dated in each scout’s handbook.

The May Camping Trip will be Saturday, May 2nd and 3rd at the Troop campsite near St.Mary’s Cemetery in Milford. We will meet at the parish center at 10:30 AM. We will return for pick up at the parish center by 11:30 AM on Sunday. Scouts need to bring a bag lunch and the items listed on the Troop 4 camping equipment list.  There is very limited parking at St. Mary’s so it’s important for scouts to meet at the parish center and carpool.

Campouts at our troop campsite are great opportunities to practice camping and cooking skills, pioneering activities and even night time fun at the nearby park. This trip is a perfect introduction to camping for new scouts, and for those who need to come/go because of team sports events. For food, scouts need to bring a bag lunch for Saturday, will be cooking patrol-style over an open fire for dinner and breakfast. Scouts will plan these patrol meals at the next troop meeting.

If you son will be attending the May campout, please complete the permission slip and return it to the Troop Scribe at the April 16th troop meeting. All first year crossover scouts are strongly encouraged to attend as this is a great introduction to camping and pioneering skills. If your son would like to attend but won’t be at the April 16th troop meeting, please call or email Phil Bedard at 508-282-0283 or bedard18@verizon.net We will need a few parents to drive to/from and/or stay for the event. If you can help out please indicate on the permission slip.

Maine White Water Camping Trip

WAIVER FORM

PERMISSION SLIP

The Maine Whitewater Trip is from Saturday, June 20 through Monday June 22nd. We will meet at the parish center at 9 AM. We will return for pick up at the parish center by 3:30 PM on Monday. We will stop for fast food lunches on the way up and back, but scouts are welcome to bring a bag lunch if they prefer. Scouts also need to bring all the typical items that are found on the Troop 4 camping equipment list.

As we did two years ago, we will be using the Adventure Bound outfitters. They will provide the boats, wetsuits, all equipment, and even the expert guides that will ride in each boat. Friday is a travel day to our “resort” campsite, complete with pool, hot tub, and climbing wall. Saturday is whitewater day. Our river course follows the Kennebec River. The outfitter provides lunch on the river. Monday is our return trip home. Scouts will be cooking patrol-style using camping stoves. Patrols will plan their meals at the June 4th troop meeting.

The steeply discounted price for Boy Scout troops is $80 per person. There will be no other expense for this 3day trip except for some pocket money for fast food on the ride up/back. Those interested in attending must submit an $80 check payable to Troop 4 by May 14th. This is a firm deadline, as we have to submit payment to the outfitter to confirm our slots soon after. As with all our trips, parents are welcome (but not required) to join us on this high adventure event.

Please note that all participants need a complete and signed waiver form.

If you son will be attending the June whitewater trip, please complete the permission slip and waiver, and return it to the Troop Scribe at the June 4th troop meeting. But note that payments are due earlier on May 14th. If your son would like to attend but won’t be at the meetings when forms and payments are due, please call or email Phil Bedard at 508-282-0283 or bedard18@verizon.net We will need a few parents to drive to/from and/or stay for the event. If you can help out please indicate on the permission slip.

WAIVER FORM

PERMISSION SLIP

Christmas Tree Pickup

The Milford Christmas tree pick up will be Sunday, January 4. This is a combination fund raiser and service project that we participate in with other scout units in town. We are looking for one or two more parents with pick up trucks or trailers to drive around our assigned territory in Milford to pick up the trees and transport them to the town disposal area. It starts about 8:00 am and ends about noon. We will be camping this weekend so we really need a few scouts and parents who won’t be camping to help out. Please call or email Bob Garber at bobg.home@comcast.net if you can participate. We had to schedule the camping trip the same weekend because that was the best fit for all of our winter activities.

To make sure to get a tree pick-up at your home,  call Mary-Ellen at 508-478-2851.

A $5.00 donation is requested.

Scouting for Food – Assist at Food Pantry

Meet at the Food Pantry on Exchange Street.

Rifle Merit Badge Completion Session

At the Maspenock Rod and Gun Club. This session is only for those who started the badge at Resolute this past summer.

Personal Fitness Merit Badge Session

At the High School track. Contact Mr. Croteau for details.

Welcome Letter from the Scoutmaster – September 2008

Dear Parents and Families,

On behalf of all the Adult Leaders, I would like to welcome you and your sons back for another exciting 2008 – 2009 scouting year. We have many exciting and challenging activities planned for troop meetings and outdoor events – some old favorites and some new adventures as well.

This past year was filled with many outdoor adventures, including camping, backpacking, winter camping (featuring the Split Rock “luge” course), rock climbing and cycling. The troop closed out the year with great summer camp weeks at Camp Resolute and Colorado’s Camp Tahosa.

Over the past year there were many awards, merit badges, and badges of rank earned by the scouts. We are very proud of our two new Eagle Scouts from last year, Alex Morte and Brian Zanella. We’re also proud to announce our newest Eagle Scout, Patrick Bedard, who passed his Board of Review over the summer. Pat’s Eagle Scout award will be celebrated at our next Court of Honor.

Our scouts participated and completed many individual and group service projects, including several Troop 4 Eagle Scout projects underway.

The troop website continues to expand with information on activities and calendar dates/times. We have added pictures from each monthly troop outing, and useful information on the merit badge process. We’ve also added features that allow you to be notified of all website updates, if you choose. Be sure to check out the website on a regular basis at: www.troop4milford.org

The Venture scouts will continue to have a “Venture Corner” in each of the troop newsletters with information especially for them. And we will continue to bring in guest speakers to talk to the Ventures on a variety of careers and occupations, and plan to schedule some venture-only trips to challenge these older scouts.

Troop meeting activities will include old favorite activities including: cooking, scoutcraft, pioneering, engineering, advancement, demonstrations, and merit badge classes. The troop meetings will continue to be held 7:00 – 8:30 PM on Thursday nights at St. Mary’s parish center.

The Venture Scout organizational meeting will be held Thursday, September 18. The first meeting for ALL OTHER SCOUTS (scouts in grades six through eight) will be Thursday, September 25. This will be our organizational meeting for the year, for election of Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, and Senior Patrol Leader. Venture scouts will come to the meeting as well.

Dues for the Year

The troop is collecting both the BSA re-charter fee and annual troop dues in one combined payment. Despite rising expenses, the troop is planning no increase in the fee over last year, in anticipation of a strong fundraising effort at this year’s pancake breakfast. The pancake breakfast is our primary fundraiser for the year, so we are expecting all scouts to fully participate in this year’s effort.

The total due is $80/scout with $60/scout for the second or more scouts per family. If this is a hardship please email/call Phil Bedard (confidential).

The fees are due at the start of the season. Please drop off the your check at the start of the September 25 or October 2 troop meeting. If your son(s) can’t make either meeting but would like to continue in the troop, please mail the dues prior to October 2 to the Troop Treasurer, Mrs. Debra Laviolette at 7 Paulene Drive, Franklin 02038. Please make all checks payable to Troop 4.

For Asst Scoutmasters in high school or college – your annual fee is $15. Please remit a check to Mrs. Laviolette at the above address.

Reminders for the Troop Meetings

  • We realize it’s hard sometimes to make the 7:00 PM meeting start time. Coming late from another activity or school work/job is fine, but when scouts arrive they should come into the meeting room (no detours to Store 24). We will be starting the meetings at 7:00 PM.
  • Uniforms must be worn to all the troop meetings, unless coming directly from a sport practice or other activity.
  • Return of troop camping equipment. Most troop equipment will be cleaned and put away after a trip. If your son does bring home equipment from a trip to clean – probably a tent, please clean it and get it back within 2 weeks of the event. Tents can be dried out in a garage or cellar – they don’t need to be aired out in the open. If you currently have any troop equipment, please return it by the September 25th troop meeting.

Form to Fill Out

The annual medical form is located here on the web site. A hardcopy version of this letter will also be available at the September 25 troop meeting. The troop asks for this information annually – and access is limited to a few adult leaders. The information is then kept by the adult leaders in charge at all meetings and activities. We need the updated information on hand in case of medical emergencies and to be aware of any health restrictions for activities. Please complete the medical form and bring it to one of the first two troop meetings.

Advancement and Badge Work

Troop 4 has a long tradition of many scouts earning many awards and badges. The upcoming year will be another year of great accomplishments.

The troop will continue to help scouts working on Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class badges of rank at troop meetings and troop events. These scouts, as well as the other scouts in the troop, will also have the opportunity to work on merit badges in Communications, Personal Fitness, Citizenship, Camping, Salesmanship, and other badges soon to be determined. Scouts who started the Rifle Merit Badge at Camp Resolute this summer will have an opportunity to finish up at a special event run by Mr. Croteau at the Maspenock Rod and Gun Club on Sunday October 5th (1-3pm). Those who worked on the Photography, Dog Care and Gardening merit badges over the summer should meet with your counselor in October to wrap these badges up before the court of honor in late October.

This year, Life Scouts preparing for, or working on their Eagle Service Project will be assigned an adult advisor from the troop leadership. Advisors will be available for questions and guidance as you work on your project.

Scouts working on Star, Life and Eagle ranks will also have opportunities to complete their scout spirit, participation and leadership requirements at troop meetings and activities this year.

Adequate participation is necessary for scouts working on Star, Life, and Eagle ranks in order that they can demonstrate and meet the scout spirit, active participation, and leadership requirements for advancement. While it is up to the Scoutmaster to determine if the scout meets the requirements, the Troop Committee has established these minimum participation requirements (and there may be more on an individual basis):

  • Scouts must attend and be an active participant in at least half the troop meetings in the scout year.
  • Scouts must attend and be an active participant in at least 4 outdoor troop activities in the scout year.
  • Scouts must demonstrate scout spirit during these meetings and outdoor activities and obey the scout law. Violations of the scout law will delay advancement. Serious or repeated violations will be reviewed by the Scoutmaster and Committee to determine further action.
  • In order to complete leadership requirements, scouts may need to attend more than the number of activities listed above, and may have to work independently to complete some requirements.
  • Scouts wishing to advance in the middle or part of the scout year would be expected to meet the meeting requirements and the appropriate ratio of outdoor activities (2 outdoor activities for half a year for example).
  • The Scoutmaster determines if the scout has met any and all requirements for advancement. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a delay in advancement to the next rank, including Eagle.

Upcoming Events

The complete calendar of events through the end of 2008 is on the website. 2009 dates will be posted shortly. Here are a few dates for some upcoming events with more information to follow:

  • A Troop Eagle Court of Honor on Thursday, October 23 for all the awards and badges earned since the June Court of Honor. Dinner will be served. The dinner will start at 6:30 PM and awards will start about 7:15 PM. The evening will conclude around 8:30 PM.
  • Personal Fitness Merit Badge Session will be held 1100-1230 on Sat Sept 27 at the High School Track. Contact Mr.Croteau for details.
  • Rifle Merit Badge completion session (for only those who started the badge at Resolute this summer) will held Sunday October 5 from 1-3pm. Additional details to be published soon.
  • The troop fall backpacking trip will be held on October 25/26.
  • The Troop’s annual Halloween Party will be Thursday, October 30.
  • Scouting for Food for scouts interested in participating will be the weekend of Nov 1/2

The first Troop Family newsletter will be out shortly with lots more information.

Please call or email if you have any questions. In addition, on behalf of all the Adult Leaders, a sincere thank you for all of the help from families and friends over the past year. Looking forward to an exciting year!

Very truly yours,

Phil Bedard
Scoutmaster

Eagle Scout Court of Honor

Our next Court of Honor is scheduled for June 11th. This will be an Eagle Court of Honor for our two most recent Eagle Scouts, Gabe Lanciano and Jonathan Lincoln. In addition, many other scouts will receive merit badge, advancement and other awards. Please respond ASAP to the invitation you recently received from the Troop’s COH planner (Michelle Garber, mic.garber@comcast.net), so that we can plan appropriately for the meal. Scouts and their families are asked to arrive at 6:30 PM for dinner. Awards will start after dinner about 7:15 PM and the evening will be done by about 8:30 PM.

Swim Night

The April 9th meeting will be held at the high school pool as the troop conducts our spring swim night. Meeting drop-off and pick-up is the same as a normal troop meeting. New scouts will have an opportunity to try their hand at the BSA Swim Test. This is good practice for the test given at summer camp. Pool games, belly flops, and pizza/soda will round out the night.

Troop Meeting

Day Hike and Orienteering Contest

PERMISSION SLIP

The Troop Day Hike and Orienteering Contest will be Saturday, March 14 at the Hopedale Parklands Forest. We will meet at the parish center at 9:00 AM and leave about 9:30 AM for the park. We will return for pick up at the parish center by 5:00 PM that evening. Scouts need to bring: a bag lunch, poncho or rain coat if it looks like rain that day, wear boots, bring a hat and gloves/mittens. A spare pair of socks is a must. If the weather is cold, bring a warm coat as well. Scouts should bring at least one quart/liter of water (no soda, juice, punch, etc.). Do not bring water in disposable water bottles – get a canteen or hiking water bottle at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. for less than $10. Scouts need to bring a day pack (school pack will work fine) to carry all their gear for the day.

The Hopedale Parklands Forest is a great place to hike and explore. There are miles of trails and hills that surround the Hopedale Pond and the Mill River. After hiking in to a remote hill top shelter, we’ll set up base for our Orienteering Contest. We will divide the scouts into age/ability groups. Using orienteering maps, scouts will plot strategy, and then seek out as many orienteering markers as possible in the allotted time. The troop has conducted these orienteering contests before with great success. At the end of the hike we will enjoy some of Troop 4’s famous fried dough!

If you son will be attending the hike, please complete the permission slip (click here) and return it to the Troop Scribe at the March 2nd troop meeting. All first year crossover scouts are strongly encouraged to attend as this is a great introduction to our outdoor program. If you son would like to attend but won’t be at the March 2nd troop meeting, please call or email Phil Bedard at 508-282-0283 or bedard18@verizon.net We will need a few parents to drive to/from and/or stay for the event. If you can help out please indicate on the permission slip.

Venture Scouts will be planning and leading this activity. Ventures will perform the course setup on March 7th using GPS devices, and will also lead the actual event on March 14th. Venture attendance at one of these two dates is required. Attendance at this hike counts toward the outdoor participation requirement (>= 50% of events) to advance to the next rank. Ventures must coordinate their attendance through event leaders Mike Tusino and TJ Fasulo.

PERMISSION SLIP

Troop Meeting

Troop Meeting

Due to some unique circumstances, the upcoming Thursday March 5th troop meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, Mar 2nd. This one-time shift to a Monday night was made to ensure we had some extra adult leader support required for the opening night for our new scouts. Additional leaders will be on hand to provide orientation to both our new scouts and their parents.