Simsbury Troop 175

Troop 175 Eagle Court of Honor

 

Eagle Court of Honor at St. Mary’s Church at 2:00 p.m.  

Reception Immediately Following at the Parish Center

Sunday, June 13, 2010

 

Honoring Eagle Recipients

 

Carter Evan-Alden Hill

Gabriel Gerard Benjamin

Stephen Christopher Banulski

This is a special occasion for Troop 175’s three newest Eagle Scouts and celebrates not just the achievement of the scouts but the efforts of the families and leaders in the troop who helped them along the path to becoming Eagle Scouts.  This is a very special event that should be attended by all of the scouts in the troop and their families.  This is a public recognition of the scouts who have spent years completing the requirements and living the ideals of scouting in their daily lives.  There are honorary guests that will be attending the presentations, guest speakers and a nice reception for everyone afterwards.

Scouting is a hands on real life learning experience that provides an achievement based education recognized by earning merit badges, advancing through the ranks, serving in leadership positions, helping others and giving back by performing community service.  This is made possible by the parents of the Scouts and the leaders in the organization who provide their support with Troop meetings, outdoor activities, organizing trips, summer camp, high adventure outings, service projects, parades and the advancement of the scouts.

Please plan on attending the celebration with your family and all of the Troop 175 Scouts who will need to be in uniform and plan on being there at 1:45 p.m.

Car Wash This Saturday

This Saturday, May 29th, Andrew Fletcher is hosting a car wash in the St. Mary's Parking lot. The car was will run from 8 am until 1 pm. This car wash is in support of his eagle project which is to help the Simsbury Crew team.

Please come an have your car washed for this worthwhile event.

Geocaching

There are 1,028,352 active caches and an estimated 3-4 million geocachers worldwide. In the last 30 days, there have been 3,660,927 new logs submitted.

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Easy Steps to Geocaching

1. Register for a free Basic Membership on Geocaching.com. (ask your parents permission first)
2. Click "Hide & Seek a Cache."
3. Enter your postal code and click "search."
4. Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name.
5. Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your GPS Device.
6. Use your GPS device to assist you in finding the hidden geocache.
7. Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location.
8. Share your geocaching stories and photos online.

There are different types of cache and its best to be familiar with some of the terms before you begin.

Check out the requirements for the new Geocashing Merit Badge for scouts.

Simsbury Boy Scout 2010 Adventure Race Rules

Here are the Official Rules for the 2010 Simsbury Boy Scout Adventure Race as of 5/10/2010. The race date is Sunday, June 20, 2010, also known as Father's Day.

Adventure Team Formation:

• 3 man teams – all must finish
• Each team must pick a single color for their shirts
• All teams members must be 10 or over and under 21 and registered Scouts in Simsbury Troop 175, 174, or 76 (Includes Venture crew).
• Team members will have ages added together to determine handicap. Team ages must add up to at least 30 and be less that 60. (See Time Consideration Section)
• All team members must have passed the BSA Swim test

Equipment Requirements:
Each Team Member must have:

• Liter of water or Camelback
• One high energy bar
• PFD
• Mountain bike
• Helmet

Each Team must have:

• Compass
• First aid Kit
• Fully Charged cell phone (Time will be added if less than fully charged phones)
• Canoe and paddles
• Matches (no lighters) or Flint and Steel.
• Pen

Race Requirements:

1. You must stay with 50 yards of each other during the whole race. If a judge or two other
teams report that you are not within this distance time may be added to your result.

2. You must stop and help any team that requests help in an emergency. Appropriate time will be deducted from your final time for helping.

3. You must go to each checkpoint and sign in. (Team captain sign in).

4. You may not receive any assistance along the way other than from race officials. You must stick to the route of the race.

5. You may not leave any team members behind. You may drop them at a checkpoint but only at a checkpoint. If you drop a team member then your time will not count even though you may continue racing.

6. You may not interfere in other teams racing. Interference may be grounds for disqualification. This includes removing any race marks that are part of the course

7. In the event that any team member gets dizzy or ill or starts bleeding for any reason (other than scratches)- you must stop racing and assist the team member.

8. You must get to each check mark by the appointed time limit or must drop out of the race. If you have not made it to a checkpoint by the limit you will receive a call and will be marked as Did Not Finish (DNF). Please do not continue racing but come back to the race finish at Curtiss E.

9. Be careful and take your time. This is an endurance race and most finishers will fail to finish because of injury or running out of energy.

Time Consideration:

The race will start at exactly 10AM at the Pennwood.

Registration will be at Pennwood from 8:00-9:45 on Sunday, June 20, 2010. Racers will start in order of registration time. Get their early and you start at the front of the pack. Your team must be all present to register. You must show your list of equipment- although canoes PFD’s & Paddles should be already delivered to 185 Bridge Canoe Landing ahead of time. Leaders will be there to guard your canoes. Your team name should be on your canoe. Teams registering after 9:45AM will have one minute added to their time for every minute after 9:45AM they register. Teams may not register until ALL members are present. At 10:00 Registration will close and no further teams will be entered.

Official time will be Verizon Cell Phone time.

Your final time will be your race time starting at 10 AM plus any penalties less time deductions for using flint and steel. Also you will receive a 2- minute deduction for every year yours teams ages are collectively fewer than 45. If you have 3 13 year olds – that equals 39 – you would receive a 12 minutes deduction from your time. You may race with a total over 45 but you will be penalized 2 Minutes for every year your teams collective ages add up to over 45. Maximum age sum is 60. Maximum deduction or addition of time at the end is 30 Minutes.

Simsbury Boy Scout 2010 Adventure Race Course

CHALLENGE 1 - OFF ROAD MOUNTAIN BIKING

The course will start at Pennwood Park off Route 185 in Simsbury on Sunday June 14th at 10:00
am. You must arrive at the starting line by 9:45 to be sure of being allowed to start in the first
wave. Those arriving after 9:45 will be allowed to start at 1 minute after the first group, but their
time will be clocked from 10:00 am.

You must start by 10:00 or you will not be allowed to start.

Start on the upper road trail for 10 minutes until the road veers hard right. At this point the dirt trail goes straight ahead. Continue straight. There are some faint white dots marking this trail. At “T” junction go left on blue trail. 100 ft later is a sign “Metacomet Trail Go Right”. Disregard and go straight on unmarked trail (blue trail goes up to the ridge and back down to rejoin your trail later.

Follow the trail until it descends into Wintonbury road. You must walk your bike down the hill as soon as you see the road. If you ride down the judges will add 10 minutes to your time. The 1st checkpoint is at Wintonbury. Sign in with race official. You must reach checkpoint by 11:30AM.

Bicycle down Wintonbury and get on to Terry’s Plain rd. Stay on the right hand side of the road and ride to Curtiss E. Stay left at Road Fork and go right on Rt 315 at bridge to Curtiss E. Do not cross Route 315 until you get the Curtiss E. If you cross before Curtiss E and your team will pick up 10 additional minutes

Challenge 2 - Scout Skills

The 2nd checkpoint is Curtiss E main table by the river. You must reach checkpoint 2 by 12:00
At this checkpoint, you have 4 events to accomplish. They are:
1. Compass Course
2. Rappel across a river
3. Go over green wall
4. Mandatory 15 minute rest stop.

If you can, do the River Rappel first. If there is a team already doing it, do something else or wait in line.

1. Compass Course: Your must collect clues to give a phrase to official. Once you have thphrase, you may go forward. If you cannot finish after 30 minute, go ahead anyway.

2. River Rappel: You must get your team across the river. If you are having trouble, you may be asked to step aside. If you cannot do it after 30 minutes go ahead anyway.

3. The Wall: You must get your team over the “smooth” side of the green wall. If you cannot do it after 15 minutes go ahead anyway.

4. Rest Stop: You must stop and rest 15 minutes at the Main Table by the River

Challenge 3 - The Run

You must now walk/run to the bike path on iron horse Blvd at the intersection of Rt 315 and Route 10. Watch for traffic.

You must now hike Iron Blvd to Abigail’s Tavern. Somewhere along the way will be the 3rd checkpoint. It is kept secret to make sure you stay on the course. The checkpoint will be on the bike trail and you must not miss it. Get your sign off/in and continue on.

At Abigail’s Tavern you must go East on Rt 185 until you get to the Bridge across the river. Use the pedestrian part of the bridge to cross to the Sycamore Canoe Landing. This is the 4th checkpoint; you must reach it by 2:00 PM. You will have another mandatory 15- minute rest stop here.

Challenge 4 - The Water Ride

Pick up your Canoe, put on your PFD and start canoeing north on the Farmington River. You
must wear your PFD at all time. If you are spotted with it not on your team will be eliminated. Spies will be hiding by the river to make sure. Your next checkpoint (#5) will be well before the Drake Hill Bridge where you must pull into Carter’s Riverside Canoe Stop and Dance Hall (look for sign) and get your card signed by Mrs. Carter. Continue on North on the river and at some point stop to select wood and kindling for the fire you must make at the end of this canoe trip (you may NOT pick up wood at Carter’s checkpoint). You can stop anywhere but you must have your wood before you pass under the Route 315 Bridge near Curtiss. You will not be permitted to pick up fire supplies after the bridge nor use any material found at Curtiss. You must bring it all with you.

Continue in the canoe to Curtiss and exit at Curtiss.

Challenge 5 - Trial by Fire

You must now make a fire to burn through a string that will be strung in a number of locations. Check in at Main Desk #6. You will be assigned a location. You may use only matches and wood supplies found before the Rt 315 bridge. You may not use lighter fluids, paper, or any prepared stuff. Judges will be watching closely.

You may elect to start your fire with Flint and steel only (no cotton balls or charred cloth). If you do and are successful you will have 15 minutes deducted from your time.

When your string burns through you will stop your clock. You are finished. You may relax and help cheer on your fellow scouts.

May is "Light My Fire" Month

This month Simsbury Boy Scout troop 175 will be "Light My Fire month". The scouts  will be working on advancement requirements that pertain to fire safety and will also work on the Fire Safety merit badge, led by Troop 175 Eagle scout and Simsbury Fireman Lee Adamovich.

Please review the following requirements before the next troop meeting.

Fire Safety Requirements

Do the following: a. Demonstrate the technique of stop, drop, roll, and cool. Explain how burn injuries can be prevented. b. List the most frequent causes of burn injuries. Explain the chemistry and physics of fire. Name the parts of the fire tetrahedron. Explain why vapors are important to the burning process. Name the products of combustion. Give an example of how fire grows and what happens. Name the most frequent causes of fire in the home and give examples of ways they can be prevented. Include a discussion about fires caused by smoking in the home, cooking, candles, fireplaces, and electrical appliances. Do the following: a. Explain the role of human behavior in the arson problem in this country b. List the actions that cause seasonal fires and explain how these fires can be prevented. List common circumstances that cause holiday-related fires and explain how these fires can be prevented. Conduct a home safety survey with the help of an adult. Then do the following: a. Draw a home fire-escape plan, create a home fire-drill schedule, and conduct a home fire drill. b. Test a smoke alarm and demonstrate regular maintenance of a smoke alarm. c. Explain what to do when you smell gas and when you smell smoke. d. Explain how you would report a fire alarm. e. Explain what fire safety equipment can be found in public buildings. f. Explain who should use fire extinguishers and when these devices can be used. g. Explain how to extinguish a grease pan fire. h. Explain what fire safety precautions you should take when you are in a public building. Do the following: a. Demonstrate lighting a match safely. b. Demonstrate the safe way to start a charcoal fire. c. Demonstrate the safe way to melt wax. Explain the difference between combustible and noncombustible liquids and between combustible and noncombustible fabrics. Do the following: a. Demonstrate the safe way to fuel a lawnmower. b. Demonstrate the safety factors, such as proper ventilation, for auxiliary heating devices and the proper way to fuel those devices. Do the following: a. Explain the cost of outdoor and wildland fires and how to prevent them. b. Demonstrate setting up and putting out a cooking fire. c. Demonstrate using a camp stove and lantern. d. Explain how to set up a campsite safe from fire. Visit a fire station. Identify the types of fire trucks. Find out about the fire prevention activities in your community. Choose a fire safety-related career that interests you and describe the level of education required and responsibilities of a person in that position. Tell why this position interests you.

BSA Announces New Scouting Heritage merit badge

On May 4th, the Boy Scouts of America announced the requirements for its newest merit badge - Scouting Heritage, in honor of the 100th anniversary of scouting in America.

Below are the requirements.

Requirements

1. Discuss with your counselor the life and times of Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell. Explain why he felt a program like Scouting would be good for the young men of his day. Include in your discussion how Scouting was introduced in the United States, and the origins of Boy Scouting and Cub Scouting under Baden-Powell.
2. Do the following:
   
   1. Give a short biographical sketch of any TWO of the following, and tell of their roles in how Scouting developed and grew in the United States prior to 1940.
      
      1. Daniel Carter Beard
      2. William D. Boyce
      3. Waite Phillips
      4. Ernest Thompson Seton
      5. James E. West
   2. Discuss the significance to Scouting of any TWO of the following:
      
      1. Brownsea Island
      2. The First World Scout Jamboree
      3. Boy Scout Handbook
      4. Boys’ Life magazine
3. Discuss with your counselor how Scouting’s programs have developed over time and been adapted to fit different age groups and interests (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Exploring, Venturing).
4. Do ONE of the following:
   
   1. Attend either a BSA national jamboree, OR world Scout jamboree, OR a national BSA high-adventure base. While there, keep a journal documenting your day-to-day experiences. Upon your return, report to your counselor what you did, saw, and learned. You may include photos, brochures, and other documents in your report.
   2. Write or visit the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas.* Obtain information about this facility. Give a short report on what you think the role of this museum is in the Scouting program.
      • *If you visit the BSA’s national traveling tour, Adventure Base 100, in 2010, you may use this experience to fulfill requirement 4b. Visit www.adventurebase100.org (with your parent’s permission) for the schedule and for more information.
5. Learn about the history of your unit or Scouting in your area. Interview at least two people (one from the past and one from the present) associated with your troop. These individuals could be adult unit leaders, Scouts, troop committee members, or representatives of your troop’s chartered organization. Find out when your unit was originally chartered. Create a report of your findings on the history of your troop, and present it to your patrol or troop or at a court of honor, and then add it to the troop’s library. This presentation could be in the form of an oral/written report, an exhibit, a scrapbook, or a computer presentation such as a slide show.
6. Make a collection of some of your personal patches and other Scouting memorabilia. With their permission, you may include items borrowed from family members or friends who have been in Scouting in the past, or you may include photographs of these items. Show this collection to your counselor, and share what you have learned about items in the collection. (There is no requirement regarding how large or small this collection must be.)
7. Reproduce the equipment for an old-time Scouting game such as those played at Brownsea Island. You may find one on your own (with your counselor’s approval), or pick one from the Scouting Heritage merit badge pamphlet. Teach and play the game with other Scouts.
8. Interview at least three people (different from those you interviewed for requirement 5) over the age of 50 who were Scouts. Find out about their Scouting experiences. Ask about the impact that Scouting has had on their lives. Share what you learned with your counselor.

2010 Camp Mattatuck Merit Badge Time Schedule

SCOUTCRAFT
Camping ............................................. 2:00 & 3:00
Cooking .............................................. Mon. and Wed. 4:00, Tues. 7-8:30am,
                                                                       Thurs. 4-6:30pm, Fri. 11:30-1
Orienteering ......................................... 3:00 All Take Place at
Pioneering ........................................... 1:30-3:00 Mohawk Cabin
Indian Lore .......................................... 2:00
Hiking & Backpacking .............................. 6:45pm
Wilderness Survival ................................ 3:00

NATURE (All Take Place at the Joe George Nature Pavilion)
Environmental Science .............................. 1:00-2:30 or 2:30-4:00
Forestry ............................................... 3:00
Fish and Wildlife Management* .................... 2:00
Mammal Study ....................................... 2:00
Plant Science ........................................ 1:00
Astronomy* .......................................... 3:00
Soil and Water Conservation* ..................... 3:00
Weather.............................................. 4:00
Fishing .............................................. 1:00 ........Marston Amphitheater
Fly Fishing .......................................... 4:00 ...........Marston Amphitheater

*** Astronomy, Fish & Wildlife Management and Soil & Water Conservation will be offered only on even numbered years with Reptiles & Amphibians, Geology and Nature being offered during odd years. ***

SPORTS
Archery ............................ 1:30 - 3:00 ......................... Archery Range
Athletics ........................... 3:00 ................................. Picnic Grove
Rifle Shooting ..................... 1:30 - 3:00 ........................ Rifle Range
Shotgun Shooting ................ 3:00 ................................ Rifle Range
Cycling ............................ 6:45pm ............................. Mountain Biking Center
Sports ............................. 2:00 ................................ Picnic Grove
Climbing .......................... 1:30 – 3:00 ........................ Climbing Wall
Personal Fitness ................. 3:00 ................................ Picnic Grove

AQUATICS
Canoeing ......................... 2:00 & 3:00 ................ Waterfront, Boating
Lifesaving ........................ 2:30 - 4:00 ............... Waterfront, Swimming
Rowing ............................ 3:00 ........................ Waterfront, Boating
Small Boat Sailing ................ 1:15 - 2:30 .................. Waterfront, Swimming
Swimming......................... 2:00 & 3:00 ............... Waterfront, Swimming
Whitewater ....................... 1:15 - 2:30 and 7 :00am -12:00 Fri. ......... Waterfront, Boating

Aquatic Supervision (Both parts) .... 1:30 - 4:00 ........................... Waterfront, Swimming
Snorkeling BSA .................. 4:00 Monday and Tuesday ................. Waterfront, Swimming
Kayaking BSA ................... 6:45-7:30pm Monday and Tuesday ......... Waterfront, Boating

HANDICRAFT
Art .................................................... 4:00
Basketry .............................................. 1:15 – 2:00 All Take Place at the
Leatherwork ........................................ 3:00 Chapel/ Handicraft Pavilion
Photography ........................................ Monday and Friday 6:45-8:00pm
Wood Carving ...................................... 2:00

Unless otherwise stated all sessions are one hour long and will meet each day of the week. Our badges are based on quality not quantity. Please realize that many of the badges require previous work before coming to camp. All merit badges and times are subject to change due to staff and equipment limitations.