Scouting for Food
The troop recently volunteered in this year’s Scouting for Food event held over the weekend of November 3rd and 4th. Several scouts participated at the food pantry on Exchange Street receiving and sorting incoming food that other troops and packs delivered the pantry. Troop 4 was organized by Ben Sgammato. Thank you to all to participated in helping out to a good cause.
Trip Report – Tully Trail – Royalston Falls Backpacking Trip
Seventeen scouts and four leaders participated in our most recent backpacking trip to Royalston Falls. The troop was led by SPL Ulisses Ramirez. The drizzly morning broke to a warm and sunny weekend. The group hiked in at a brisk pace. The area was full of great sites and scenery including an Adirondack shelter, natural 40 foot waterfall, winding streams, moss covered rocks, stone bridge and colorful fall foliage. Scouts from the Ventures, Bio Hazards, Hawks, Duct tape patrols helped clear the area of fallen trees and cooked up some great meals. Our newest scout Dave Nichols jumped right in and joined the troop for the season’s first backpacking trip. Overall it was a 5 mile hike and was a great introductory hike/backpacking trip to start off the scouting season.
November’s “Smokehouse BBQ” – St. Mary’s Camping Trip
The next camping trip will be Saturday November 17 and Sunday November 18 at the St. Mary’s troop campsite in Milford. This will be our famous roasted beast dinner (with some hot dogs and other food too). The campout will feature outdoor games and contests. We have invited some Webelos to attend as well. We are expecting a good crowd to show up this year. We will have a troop campfire Saturday night. Each Patrol should prepare a new skit for the troop campfire. Prizes will be awarded for the best skit! 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 17 and will return to the parish center by 1PM on Sunday for pickup on the 18th. Scout should bring their regular camping gear and bag lunch for Saturday. As always, scouts can come/leave early or 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 attached permission slip by the Nov 8th troop meeting along with a check for $10 to cover the cost of the food for the weekend. If your son can’t make the Nov 8th troop meeting but wants to attend, please call or email Ron Gorham before the 8th so we can include him in planning for the event.
Troop Recruiting
Last week we had several Webelos from Pack 4 and 32 come and join us for Webelos night. The venture scouts organized some great actvities for the Webelos including an Iron man competition, tug of war and making the famous Troop 4 fire starters. Prizes were given out at the end of the night.
Webelos will also be attending the upcoming November camp out at the Troop Campsite. Please take a moment or two to speak with these Webelos and their parents, and do your best to make them feel welcome. Speak with the Troop Guide for new scouts if you want to help work with the Webelos at these events. Congratulations for the successful recruiting efforts so far this fall which has seen the addition of scout Dave Nickels. Welcome Dave!
Troop Dues and Medical Forms
Both the medial form and payment were due in early October. 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!
Thanksgiving
There will be NO scout meeting held on Thanksgiving Day (November 22). Enjoy your family, friends, food and football!
Here is a link on the history of Thanksgiving (beyond the Pilgrims). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving
December Help Needed
Troop 4 traditionally helps St. Mary’s with “greening” of the Nativity scene in at Draper Park (across from the post office). This is tentatively scheduled for December 1. We will need a parent with a pick up truck or a trailer to help gather the pine burrows needed to decorate the Nativity scene. Please call or send an email to Ron Gorham and/or Ken Rosa if you are willing to assist. More details on this will go out in a later email.
MHS Swim Night
The next swim night is coming up on December 6th at the Milford High School. The event is free and all scouts are able to swim, play basketball and an opportunity for anyone working on an aquatics requirement for their rank. Bring a towel; bathing suit and something for your feet (flip flops). Change of clothes too. There will be pizza and drinks available after swim. Pick up time at the MHS is at 8.30pm.
Information Especially for Venture Scouts
Please contact your Venture Patrol leaders Alex Croteau and Wyatt Barie for your current schedule of events. The Venture adult leaders are Mark Hobart (Hobiewan@comcast.net) and Phil Bedard (PBedard1@gmail.com).
Life Scouts:
The troop has a 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. Another November meeting will be scheduled to for those life scouts preparing for the Eagle Board of Review. This meeting will be announced several days in advance.
Advancement
Reminder to all scouts: keep your handbook with you at all troop meetings and campouts. As you fulfill a requirement toward your next rank, ask an ASM or the SM to sign and date your book. This is so that when you feel you are ready for your scoutmaster conference – it will make it faster and easier to go through and check. The camping trips are a great time to work on advancements. If you feel you are ready for a scoutmaster conference – let me know ahead of time so we can schedule you sooner rather than later.
Merit Badges
Several of you are only one or two merit badges away from your next advancement! Let’s get a running start to complete them before the holidays. The next Court of Honor is in early February.
Mrs. Croteau has offered to be at the November 8th meeting to review your progress with your binders. Remember to Be Prepared! Bring your merit badge binders. Contact your councilor for the merit badge you are working towards. If you need a blue card – see me at the Troop meetings and I will have some ready for you. We are all rooting for you to complete them!
Scoutmaster Contact
Ronald Gorham
9 Jillson Circle
Milford MA. 01757
Cell: 508.868.8793
