Troop 4 Newsletter – September 23, 2014

Dear Parents, Scouts and Families,

On behalf of all the Adult Leaders and the new Scout Leadership Team led by SPL Justin Stiles, I welcome you and your sons back for another exciting year of scouting. We have many exciting and challenging activities planned for the troop this year.

Troop Elections and Leadership Positions

The Troop conducted Senior Patrol elections at the end of the 2013/2014 scout year. Justin Stiles won the election, and appointed Chris Watson, Taabish Syed and Evan Kehoe as Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders.  Last week, the scout leadership positions for the year were announced and the patrols met, revised their membership and elected APLs.  Out are the “Vikings” and in are the members of “THE Patrol” (forever to be known as the “TP” patrol).   While not everyone has a leadership position at this time, all will serve in multiple positions over the course of their scout career.

Congratulations to all the new scout leaders.  I am certain we are in good hands.

SCOUT

PATROL

VENTURE

LEADERSHIP

Croteau, Alex

ADVENTURE

Gallagher, Brian

ADVENTURE

Yes

JASM

Sgammato, Dev

ADVENTURE

Yes

Stiles, Joshua

ADVENTURE

Yes

JASM

Symmes, James

ADVENTURE

Yes

Thomas, Thommy

ADVENTURE

Yes

JASM

Bogner, Jacob

BIO HAZ

Yes

JASM

Buckenmaier, Eric

BIO HAZ

Yes

JASM

Hastings, Alex

BIO HAZ

Yes

PL (Ventures)

Lanciano, Samuel

BIO HAZ

Yes

JASM

Petrides, David

BIO HAZ

Yes

JASM

Stiles, Justin

BIO HAZ

Yes

SPL

Driscoll, Tyler

HAWK

Yes

Gorham, Robbie

HAWK

Yes

Hobart, Ashby

HAWK

Yes

Instructor

Kehoe, Evan

HAWK

Yes

ASPL

Matondi, Anthoni

HAWK

Yes

APL (Venture)

Spiegelman, Brian

HAWK

Yes

Instructor

Syed, Taabish

HAWK

Yes

ASPL

Terrill, Andrew

HAWK

Yes

PL (Hawks)

Watson, Chris

HAWK

Yes

ASPL

Weber, Michael

HAWK

Yes

Instructor

Lonergan, Matthew

DUCT TAPE

Yes

Instructor

Maier, Conor

DUCT TAPE

Yes

OA Rep

Rosa, Sam

DUCT TAPE

Yes

Guide

Coplan, David

H. BADGERS

Dulak, Brandon

H. BADGERS

Historian/APL (H.B)

Hobart, Gillieson

H. BADGERS

Chaplain Aide

Smith, Brady

H. BADGERS

PL (H. BADGERS)

Terrill, Zander

H. BADGERS

Thomas, Joseph

H. BADGERS

Den Chief

Zimmerman, Amanuel

H. BADGERS

Scribe

Spiegelman, Kevin

THE Patrol (TP)

QM

Ahrens, Joshua

THE Patrol (TP)

Librarian

Grose, Taber

THE Patrol (TP)

PL (TP Patrol)

Johnson, Ben

THE Patrol (TP)

Jordan, Derek

THE Patrol (TP)

APL (TP Patrol)

Kee, Brandon

THE Patrol (TP)

Guide

Schmitt, Michael

THE Patrol (TP)

Den Chief

Troop Eagle Court of Honor

The Troop Court of Honor will take place 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, Dev Sgammato.  Awards earned by all other scouts since the last Court of Honor also will be presented. There will be a dinner before the awards ceremony. The troop committee is planning the details and will communicate more information to families shortly.

Scout speaking roles will be assigned at the September 25th Troop meeting.

October Backpacking Trip

The troop will travel on the weekend of October 24-26th to the Taconic Mountains in the MA/NY/CT tri-state area. This trip will feature a combination of cabin camping at the AMC’s Northwest Camp and tent camping along the Appalachian Trail. Experienced backpacking scouts desiring a faster pace and very challenging route may choose to leave on Friday afternoon directly after school. This group will meet at the St. Mary’s parish center for an immediate departure at 3pm. They will arrive at the trailhead at dusk for a very short ½ mile backpack to the cabin before dark, followed by a challenging hike to a wilderness campsite on Saturday.

First year scouts, and other scouts not able to leave on Friday will meet Saturday at the parish center for an on-time departure at 8AM. This group will travel on a 5-mile route over the Appalachian Trail to the same AMC cabin. This 2nd group may break into ability groups depending on the number of attendees. Both groups will backpack out on Sunday morning, stop for a fast food lunch on the ride home, and arrive home for a parish center pick-up at 4pm.

Our destination is home to many interesting features including the highest peak in Connecticut, and the highest land point in Connecticut. A nickel to the scout who can explain how these can be two separate places. We will also traverse exposed ridges, deep ravines and rocky summits.

The option for a Friday or Saturday departure may change based on the number of attendees and leaders. It is therefore very important that all scouts and leaders planning to attend turn in the permission slip no later than the Oct 2nd troop meeting in order to allow for the required logistics planning.

Due to the challenging nature of this backpacking trip, all attendees must be physically fit. New scouts unaccustomed to strenuous activity should begin a fitness program now in order to be ready for this trip. Consider starting the personal fitness merit badge to get in shape. Same goes for older scouts/adults that want to participate. Please direct any questions on this topic to any of the Troop 4 Personal Fitness Merit Badge Councilors listed on the troop website.

All attendees (scouts/adults) will cook their backpacking meals individually, using only boiled water for meal preparation. Veterans of high adventure trips will provide detailed instruction on meal preparation and ingredients each person must buy. Ingredients can be easily purchased at a local grocer at low cost. Scouts should also bring some money for a fast food lunch on Sunday’s return. Detailed meal planning and packing instruction will take place at the October 9th troop meeting. All scouts must then bring their fully packed back-pack to the October 16th troop meeting where a “shake-down” will be performed to ensure each scout is well prepared.

Scouts must “be prepared” by bringing every item on the checklist provided at the 10/9 meeting – no exceptions. On 10/16, each backpack must brought to the meeting in “ready-to-hit-the-trail” condition. Also, a nominal $5 fee (check payable to Troop 4) is required to defray the cost of the AMC Cabin.

Again, if your son will be attending, please drop off the permission slip no later than the beginning of the October 2nd Troop Meeting

Troop Dues and Medical Forms

Troop dues and medical forms are due at the October 2nd or October 9th troop meetings. The combined troop and re-charter dues are $95 per scout ($75 for additional siblings). Please drop off your check at the start of the 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 9th to the Troop Treasurer, Mr. Bruce Hastings at 23 Lucia Drive, Milford, MA 01757.  Please make all checks payable to Troop 4. As a courtesy to the troop and to assist in our planning, if your son does not plan to continue in our program, please have him call the scoutmaster to convey his decision.  Our current roster is listed above.

The 2014 annual BSA medical form is available on the web site and is required for each scout.  Unlike summer camp and high adventure forms, only a parent signature is required.  Part A is an informed consent, release agreement, and authorization that must to be signed by every participant (or a parent and/or legal guardian for all youth under 18).  Part B is general information and a health history.

Please use the medical form on the web site as it is a new version this year.

Procedures for Submitting Troop Forms/Dues

Troop meetings can be very hectic at the start.  Families can help by submitting routine dues, trip payments, permission slips and medical forms directly to Troop Scribe at the start of the meeting. Scribe duties will be performed this year by Amanuel Zimmerman. You will see Amanuel near the “scribe box” at the beginning of each meeting. Please deposit forms and dues into the scribe box.  Of course, parents who have questions regarding forms and payments remain welcome to ask any adult leader when required.

Advancement

All scouts who are ready for advancement, or who are very close, will be receiving an email from me with reminders on badge wrap-up, service hour wrap-up, or to schedule a scoutmaster conference.  Due to the limited number of meetings between now and the Court of Honor, it is important that scouts meet the deadlines established in these emails, and attend their scheduled conferences/reviews, if they desire to advance this fall.

Merit Badges

A reminder on merit badge process: Scouts must obtain a blue merit badge card signed by the Scoutmaster before beginning any merit badge activity. Scouts also are responsible for ensuring that completed and signed off merit badge cards are placed in the scribe box once all requirements are completed.  Merit badge “frequently asked questions” are answered on the troop website. The troop has also recently expanded our merit badge offerings with more merit badge councilors. Check out the website for the latest information.

2015 Summer Camp and High Adventure – July 25 to August 1, 2015

Troop 4 has selected Sabattis Adventure Camp, located at Long Lake, NY for this year’s Summer Camp and High Adventure Location.  (http://www.camps.ppbsa.org/camps/sac/index.htm)   Sabattis Adventure Camp offers both a resident camp program as well as an accredited high-adventure Adirondack Trek program with guided canoeing or hiking treks in the Adirondack Park.  All trek participants must be 13 years of age or older.  All scouts and adults who participate in treks that include canoes, must pass the BSA swimmer test. There are no exceptions to this rule.

The cost for the Adventure Camp program (not including transportation) is $371 Early (paid by 4/30/2015) or $409 Regular (paid after 4/30/2015). The approximate cost (not including transportation) for a hiking trek is $414/ person; and a canoeing trek is $442 person.  The Troop is researching cost effective transportation options.  In addition, the Troop Committee will meet to decide upon any incentives that each scout may be able to earn to help defray the cost of the trip.

Those participating in the Adventure Camp program will be staying at the Apache site. (http://camps.ppbsa.org/camps/sac/sites/apache/)   The summer camp experience will be similar to your experiences at Camp Resolute in that it offers a full program of merit badges, COPE and scout activities. (http://www.camps.ppbsa.org/camps/sac/Camp%20Program.htm)   It will, however, differ in significant ways.  Sabattis Adventure Camp is a patrol cooking camp. Each troop brings its own stoves, pots, pans, utensils and other cooking gear.  Each Scout provides his own plate, cup, bowl and eating utensils.  The Camp provides the food and other staples for each meal. This experience will prepare Scouts for future troop camp outs.  It also helps develop community within the troop as Scouts learn to work together with fellow Scouts.

As Justin and I mentioned at last week’s meeting, those who participate in the Trek portion of the trip (http://www.camps.ppbsa.org/camps/sac/Trek.htm) have a decision to make at this week’s Troop meeting:  Should we go: (1) canoeing; (2) canoeing and hiking; or (3) hiking and backpacking?  Should our trek be moderate; strenuous; or very strenuous.

If you are genuinely interested in participating in the Trek next summer, please review the Trek route information at the following website and be prepared to cast your vote for your favorite Trek at this week’s Troop meeting.  http://www.camps.ppbsa.org/camps/sac/trek_routes.htm

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. Contact the new troop Librarian, Joshua Ahrens, if you have any library questions, would like to donate booklets, borrow books, or are seeking a particular merit badge book that’s not in the library.

Troop History

Troop Historian Brandon Dulak has taken the challenge to improve the collection and preservation of Troop artifacts. Please see Brandon if you can provide useful artifacts, like newspaper clippings of Troop 4 scouts, an especially good picture or two of a Troop 4 event, or any other notable artifact.

Troop Equipment

The troop continues to enhance the troop equipment inventory. Since last fall, we have purchased 4 new REI 2-man tents and 2 new 4-man tents.  We also are in the process of purchasing new backpacking stoves and replacing our ailing flagpoles.  Soon our newly appointed quartermaster, Kevin Spiegelman, will be evaluating the remainder of our equipment (water filters, axes, hatchets, stoves, cook kits, chef kits, and a variety of specialized backpacking equipment) to ensure you remain one of the best equipped Troops in the area.  All scouts should work closely with the Kevin to account for, clean and return all troop equipment used at camping and other events. Any outstanding troop equipment from the June 2013 Whitewater Rafting Trip and this summer’s Camp should be returned at the Sept 25th troop meeting.

The Venture Corner

Venture Program 2014/2015: The Ventures patrol held its first meeting on September 18th and planned the activities of the Venture Patrol for the next few months.  The Venture Patrol will be led this year by Alex Hastings and Anthony Matondi who will serve as PL and ASPL, respectively.

Thanks to Ashby Hobart and Conor Maier who are organizing the September Venture Poker Night (no money) to take place during the September 25th Troop meeting.

Thanks to following Venture scouts who likewise have stepped up to lead a Venture activity or Service Project.  Please bring your draft plan to this week’s Troop meeting.  Your plan should outline the date/time and location of the event; any equipment or cost associated with the event; and any logistics requirements to include transportation needed.

VENTURES

NAME

MONTH

ACTIVITY/SERVICE PROJECT

Ashby Hobart

Conor Maier

September 25th

Poker

Eric Buckenmaier

David Petrides

October

Driving Range/Miniature Golf

Thommy Thomas

Dev Sgammato

October

Clean-Up of the Upper Charles River Trail

Anthony Matondi

Christopher Watson

November

Bowling

Brian Gallagher

Alex Hastings

Evan Kehoe

November

Events for the WEBELOS Overnight

Michael Weber

Taabish Syed

December

Indoor Whiffle Ball or Kick Ball

Troop 4 Website

Please frequent the Troop 4 website at: www.troop4milford.org which we are in the process of updating with this year’s information.  We look to keep this site current with schedule and other useful information.  Thanks once again to Mr. Steve Eddins for his continued support in providing the Troop with technical support to make the Troop’s website such a beneficial resource.

Please call Brian Weber at 508-259-4114 or email at brian_p_weber@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Very Truly Yours,

Brian Weber

Scoutmaster