Simsbury Troop 175

2011 World Scout Jamboree

 

Be a part of “Simply Scouting”, the 2011 World Scout Jamboree on the fields of Rinkaby, not far from the town of Kristianstad, in the province of Skåne, southern Sweden. Hosted by The Swedish Guide and Scout Council, the 22nd World Scout Jamboree will run from July 27-August 7, 2011. The purpose of the event is to bring together Boy Scouts, Venturers, leaders, and staff to share international friendship and adventure for personal growth and development.

The upcoming World Scout Jamboree in Rinkaby, Sweden, promises to be one of the best ever. With 40,000 Scouts expected to attend from six continents and more than 114 countries, it’s going to be a world-class event, one you can be a part of if you start planning now. At Rinkaby, you will get to live and learn with fellow Scouts and leaders from around the world. You’ll be housed in tents along with the BSA contingent, but you’ll soon venture out to mingle with tens of thousands for two weeks of activities and adventure. That’s right, a world fellowship exercise on an enormous scale!

If you are a Boy Scout or Venturer who will be between the ages of 14 and 17 on July 27, 2011, that is, specifically born between July 25, 1993 and July 27, 1997, you may qualify for one of the coolest Scouting events you’ll ever attend. Councils are normally assigned a number of youth slots to fill for the contingent troop. We have not yet been notified as to how many youth will be able to attend.

The basic package plan is $3,525 (plus a nonrefundable application fee of $10). The basic package includes travel from the assigned gateway city, all meals, unit and patrol equipment, accident and sickness insurance, regional and national office administrative/program support, and buses for ground transportation to/from the jamboree site. Cost does not include travel to or from the gateway city. The basic package does not cover the cost of ticketing because of early or late departure from the jamboree site due to medical emergencies, family emergencies, and/or problems based on our Code of Conduct. See www.scouting.org/worldjamboree for the payment schedule.

Applications are available at www.myscouting.org under Event Registration.

Webelo Challance a Success

Webelo's from many different Cub Scout Packs around Simsbury spent the day with Simsbury Boy Scout Troop 175 getting a better understanding of what being a Boy Scout is all about.

The annual event featured the Scouts from 175 demonstrating their pioneering skills and building a set of rope bridges, including the famous "Spiders Web" and the always popular zip-line ride.

The I'm On A Boat patrol put together a typical Boy Scout campsite, including a shelter and camp table.

The fire building competition allowed both Scouts and Webelos to use flint and steel to start a fire and burn through a piece of twine 10" above the ground. Isaac Peacock set a new troop record and had a burn through in 60 seconds. Mike Ryan also beat the old record, turning in an outstanding time of 74 seconds.

The Iron Chef competition brought the Troops cooking skills and creativity to light with some outstanding uses of scout staples macaroni and cheese, chicken, Bisquick, apples, and spices. The "Top of the Hill Gang" took top honors with a simple yet excellent chicken with bacon meal and a Dutch Oven apple pie to finish the meal.

The adults in attendance were treated once again to one of Master Outdoor Chef Dan Osbourne's BBQ spectacular. Pork, chicken and beef along with a number of sides and salad made their way to the plates of hungry parents.

In one of the most anticipated events of the day, Webelos and Scouts worked together in a massive Capture the Flag game. Yellow Team was able to find and capture the Red Team's flag in both games.

The Webelos also participated in a "lost fireman" drill as the Scouts met a requirement for the Emergency Preparedness merit badge. Scouts were told there was a fireman lost in the woods on Onion  Mountain and they had to find him. Using a map of the park, they formed a search line until they found him. The scouts then evaluated his injuries and built a stretcher to carry him to safety. Thanks to the Simsbury Fire Department for the use of their practice dummy.

The night ended with a traditional Boy Scout campfire with a skit, joke telling and Steven Banulski's famous ghost stories.

By all accounts everyone involved had a blast. Check out the photos from the event at the Scout Photo Library.

Team America Rocketry Challenge

The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world's largest rocket contest, sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). It was created in the fall of 2002 as a one-time celebration of the Centennial of Flight, but the enthusiasm about the event was so great that AIA and NAR were asked to hold the contest annually.

Approximately 7,000 students from across the nation compete in TARC each year. Teams design, build and fly a model rocket that reaches a specific altitude and duration determined by a set of rules developed each year. The contest is designed to encourage students to study math and science and pursue careers in aerospace.

The top 100 teams, based on local qualification flights, are invited to Washington, DC in May for the national finals. Prizes include $60,000 in cash and scholarships split between the top 10 finishers. NASA invites top teams to participate in their Student Launch Initiative, an advanced rocketry program. AIA member companies, such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have sponsored additional prizes such as scholarship money and a trip to an international air show.

Registration for TARC 2010 is now open. This year's challenge is to design, build and fly a model rocket that reaches exactly 825 feet, stays aloft for between 40 and 45 seconds and returns the raw egg payload uncracked. Download the application now and be sure to submit it by November 30!

BSA 100th Anniversary Trees

The tree is an important symbol of the family—a family tree, the life of a tree that spans generations, the belief that a tree will continue to provide, long after we're gone.

Because of that symbolism—and a shared mission for service and environmental stewardship—we could think of no better Generations Connection partner than the Arbor Day Foundation! Arbor Day has designated official BSA 100th Anniversary trees for anyone to enjoy. Order yours at http://www.arborday.org/boyscouts.

For every BSA 100th Anniversary tree purchased from Arbor Day, another will be planted in Montana at the newly created Boy Scouts of America Centennial Forest. The Centennial Forest will aid replanting of the Flathead National Forest following recent fires.

Troop 76 Holding Wreath Sale

Simsbury Boy Scout Troop 76 is holding there annual wreath sale, their only fundraiser and it meets are year round needs of our troop.  The wreaths are great quality, fresh cut and made locally.  They will be delivered the 1st week of December. 

This is a great way to support scouting in Simsbury.

The sales can go through any Troop 76 scout or contact Andrew Davis at 860-651-7391 or davisfive@comcast.net.

Download Christmas Wreaths Descriptions

Immortals Complete "Swine 2" Mission Profile

Congratulations to the 25 senior Scouts that participated in this last weekends Immortals Mission profile.

Headquartered at the Ryan Duff shelters at Mattituck Scout Camp, the scouts were divided into five teams of four scouts and given a package of information and allowed to make plans Friday night. At 7:00 am on Saturday morning the teams were off to accomplish a list of tasks that would earn them points or "dollars" to win the event.

Some of the tasks included, building a hidden shelter, finding points on a compass course, building a raft and crossing a section of a very cold lake, making a fire without matches, making a camp chair, baking an apple pie, making a rope bridge to cross a ravine and finally playing a camp-wide night-time capture the flag game. It was a long day.

Each team received a dozen eggs that could be used for protection from other teams, barter for trade, dinner or dollars toward the final goal.

On top of this "Taliban Mullahs", senior scouts Mike V., Lee, Keegan, Carter and ASM Max, were roving experts that could be bought for an egg or two to help a team complete an assignment.

It was by far the hardest and most complex game we have played and the Scouts all played it well. Kudos to the winning team of Mike Ryan, Nicholas Carabillo, Zack Zikovich and Jon Epstein and to Lee Adamovich for running away with the Top Mullah award.

To truly get a better sense of the event, see the photos in the Troop Photo Library.

Understanding Merit Badges

Recently a scout asked "Are the Tenderfoot requirements merit badges or parts of merit badges?" The answer might be of interest to other scouts and their parents as well.

Understanding Merit Badges

Merit badges are separate from rank advancement. Ranks like Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class have requirements that help teach you basic scouting skills and those requirements are found in your handbook and signed off by other scouts above the rank of First Class.

The requirements for the upper level ranks (Star, Life and Eagle) consist mainly of earning merit badges, performing community service and holding leadership positions.

Merit Badges are the second main area of the Boy Scout advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the merit badge program. Each merit badge focuses on a specific area and allow you to learn about different subjects. The requirements generally include some study on the topic and practical use of the skills or concepts studied.

Go to  MeritBadge.org for a complete list of merit badges and if you click on the name of the badge you will see the requirements for that badge.

Good badges for a younger scout to work on is Pets (if you have a pet), Reading, Gardening, Stamp collecting or Coin Collecting.   Some of the merit badges that most scouts earn at summer camp are Swimming, Camping, Archery, Fishing, Rifle Shooting, and Nature. The troop will also hold classes from time to time. These badges might be Citizenship, First Aid, Communications and most recently Emergency Preparedness. What ever your interest, you will find a merit badge that can help guide you through the topic and help you advance through Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouts also offer a bunch of special awards that can be earned at
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Boy_Scout_awards

2009 Annual Simsbury Land Trust Photography Contest

Grab your camera and take a hike! Join over 50 other SLT members and students and submit an entry (or three) to our annual photography contest. Last year over 75 entries were submitted by Simsbury Land Trust members. The rules are simple, and there is no entry fee. All photos must be taken on an SLT property or at an Simsbury Land Trust sponsored event. The contest is open to all members of the Simsbury Land Trust (students do not need to be members.) Many of the photographs may be used in the annual report, membership and other brochures, and the website. If you would like any additional information, please contact the office at 651-8773.

Last Year, Scout Isaac Peacock and Assistant Scoutmaster Bill Rice were recognized for their photography.

Photography Contest Guidelines

• Open to all members of the Simsbury Land Trust.
• Enter up to 3 pieces in the following categories:
  1. Close-up
  2. Landscape
  3. Computer enhanced photography
  4. People in Nature – SLT Activities and Events
  5. Student photographers – can be in any of above formats, digital or traditional photography (students are exempt from the membership requirement)
• Work must be in the form of prints 8 x 10 or 5 x 7, b/w or color. Entries will not be returned. All work must be clearly marked with your name, address and phone number, along with the category and location of photo. If you have your photos on disc, a copy on disk as well as printed form would be appreciated.
• All photographs must be taken on Simsbury Land Trust Properties – see our website's Properties & Maps section for a map of properties.
• All winning photographs may be used for promotional purposes by the Simsbury Land Trust. Photographers retain rights to the photograph.
• Winners will be announced at the Simsbury Land Trust Annual Membership Dinner in early spring.

Please submit your entries to:

Simsbury Land Trust
P.O. Box 634
Simsbury, CT 06070

December Trip Change

Please note the date for December's troop trip has been changed to the weekend of December 12-13.  This trip will be an overnight to Mt. Monadnock State Park in Southern NH.

Gabe's Eagle Project

For the last couple of months, I have been working on my Eagle project. I chose to work with Henry James Memorial School and Simsbury Public Schools. They are a valuable resource in our town. In the courtyard at Henry James, there is an oak tree, whose roots used to stick up out of the rough asphalt. With the help of Mr. Twitchelll, grounds manager for Simsbury Public Schools, and Mrs. Peters, vice-principal at Henry James we decided that the most helpful project would be to build a sitting wall around the tree and put a miniature garden in the center.

The price for the project was around $1500.00, so initially we were worried that we wouldn’t be able to raise the money needed for the project, and that we would have to ask the Henry James PTC to chip in. But, with the help of an extremely productive car wash, and funds brought in by friend's family members, troop members and a few Simsbury businesses we actually exceeded the goal. 

We also had to get the project approved by the Simsbury BOE. Finally, in late September we started the groundwork for the project, and in amongst rainy weekends and scout trips we finished the project on October 30, 2009. We used Techo Blocks to build the wall and glued them together with a strong adhesive. This wall will be useful as a beautification, retaining wall, and a place for people to sit and eat lunch or wait for the bus.

Once again, thanks to all the scouts and scout families who helped raise money or put in hours at the car wash or on the project. Also, thanks to the adult leadership for guidance in the process.

2010 Eagle Scout Scholarship Applications Now Available

According to US Scouting News, applications for Eagle Scout scholarships for 2010 are now available at www.nesa.org. Eagle Scouts who apply for a college scholarship must use the correct application, which is a mandatory requirement.

The 2010 applications can be found here:
http://www.nesa.org/applications.html

In 2009, just over 4,500 applications were received for the 109 scholarships awarded. Of those applicants, 937 used the wrong form and thus were immediately rejected. The rule is that they must use the correct application.

Please use the correct application if you are planning on pursuing a NESA Scholarship.

One Hen Two Ducks - The Lyrics

Here are the words to a favorite song of Troop 175 is this tongue twister of a song usually led by Mr. Mead on his guitar.

One hen;

two ducks;

three squawking geese;

four Limerick oysters;

five corpulent porpoises;

six pairs of Don Alversos tweezers;

7,000 Macedonians in full battle array;

eight brass monkeys from the ancient sacred crypts of Egypt;

nine apathetic, sympathetic, diabetic old men on roller skates with a marked propensity toward procrastination and sloth;

10 lyrical, spherical, diabolical denizens of the deep who hall stall around the corner of the quo of the quay of the quivery, all at the same time.

Troop 175 Resource Guide

Assistant Scoutmaster Bob Gilmore has created an outstanding introduction to scouting and how it applies to Troop 175 in Simsbury. While this is given to the new scouts joining the troop, it is also helpful for existing scouts and their parent to get the most out of scouting.

Download troop_175_bsa_information_resource_guide_october_2008.pdf

Table of Contents  (page number)

Troop Specifics
Council - District 4
Troop Committee 4
Troop Communications 4
Parent Participation 5
Troop Meetings 5
Patrol Leaders Council Meetings (Troop Leaders Meetings) 5
Troop Calendar 5
Annual Charter Renewal / Registration 5
Troop Fundraising Events 6
Scout Accounts 6
New Scouts 6

Equipment
BSA Fieldbook 6
Scout Uniforms 6
Class A 6
Class B 7
Where Do I Purchase Scout Stuff (Uniforms, Apparel, Insignia, Books, Etc.) 7
Basic Equipment 7
Equipment Suggestions 8
Equipment Provided By The Troop 9
Where Can I Purchase Equipment 9

Trips
Monthly 10
Venture 10
Immortals 10
High Adventure 11

Scout Ranks
Scout 11
Tenderfoot 11
Second Class 11
First Class 11
Star 12
Life 12
Eagle 12

Merit Badges
Merit Badge Counselors 13
Eagle Required Merit Badges 13
Troop Merit Badge Program 13
Summer Camp Merit Badge Program 13
Merit Badge Resources Online 13
Merit Badge Books 13

Summer Camp 13

Records 13

Internet Links For Scouting Resources 14

The Essences Of Scouting
Aims of Scouting 15
Methods of Scouting 15
Outdoor Program 15
Boy-Led Troop 15
Boy-Led Patrol 16
Advancement 17

Advancement
How to Advance In Rank 17
New Scout Joining the Troop 17
From Scout to Tenderfoot, 1st Class, 2nd Class 17
From 1st Class to Star, Life, Eagle Scout 18
Boards of Review 18
Courts of Honor 18
Scout Attendance 18
Service Projects 19