Simsbury Troop 175

Simsbury Celebrates 100 Years of Scouting

Troop 175 will host all of the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in Simsbury and their families for a bonfire celebration of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. Our plan is to build a brief but spectacular bonfire, toast some marshmallows, maybe put on a skit or two, and show our commitment to the ideals of scouting.

Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary Bonfire

Location: St Catherine of Siena Church,
265 Stratton Brook Road, West Simsbury

Date: February 8, 2010

Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm 

Refreshments will be served

All scouts please come in uniform

All those in the community who are involved in scouting are welcome to attend to enjoy a spectacular bonfire, toast some marshmallows and show our support for the ideals of scouting.

For 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has created a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community for millions of America’s youth. We celebrate this legacy as we reaffirm our commitment to inspire and prepare future generations.

SIMSBURY BOY SCOUT SEEKING DONATIONS FOR AFRICAN ORPHANS

Eagle Scout candidate Carter Hill is currently seeking donations for a unique international project focused on children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Africa.  The service project will benefit the Mkombozi Centre for Street Children in Moshi, Tanzania.  Mkombozi (“liberator” or “emancipator” in Swahili) is the leading child-focused agency in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions.  It uses education, research, advocacy and outreach to help vulnerable children.  Hill, a senior member of Simsbury Troop 175, intends to bring critically needed items to the Centre later this year.

“I had the opportunity to visit Tanzania and the Mkombozi Centre during a scout trip in 2007,” said Hill.  “It has unimaginable poverty, and a very high percentage of children orphaned by the spread of AIDS.  It’s a challenge to plan and execute an international service project, but scouting is all about meeting new challenges,”

Hill anticipates a visit during the Christmas season to bring the children at the Mkombozi Centre lightly used clothing, shoes, school supplies, small sports and camping equipment and personal hygiene items.  He will be accepting both donations of these items as well as financial assistance to purchase items and to defray the costs of his trip to the region.

For more information, please contact Carter Hill at (860) 651-0290.

To learn more about the Mkombozi Center, visit their web site at www.mkombozi.org

About Troop 175

Boy Scout Troop 175 in Simsbury, Connecticut, is a successful and growing troop in the best tradition of scouting.  An active troop with strong adult leadership and  nearly 90 scouts actively participating, the troop focuses on building traditional scout skills, helping boys become leaders, and fostering a strong commitment to community service.  Scout skills, such as camping, hiking, fire building and orienteering, are regularly taught and tested during a wide variety of  trips.  The troop sponsored eighteen trips during the 2008/2009 school year.  In addition to domestic venues in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and the Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico, scouts from the troop have also traveled to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (2007), camped in the Amazon jungle in Peru (2008), and canoed through the Algonquin National Park in Canada (2009).  Sponsored by St. Mary’s Church, Troop 175 has a proud record of success in engaging scouts and turning out the next generation of community leaders.  In 2008, the troop raised $25,000 through an Adventure Race to benefit a scout from a neighboring troop with a traumatic brain injury, which will be the topic of an upcoming “Boys Life” magazine feature.  Since 2000, 38 boys from the troop have achieved the ultimate rank in scouting:  Eagle Scout.  Learn more about Troop 175 by visiting our website:  http://www.SimsburyTroop175.org

Ever Been Hungry?

Please join the St. Catherine/St. Mary Youth Groups

For a  

Hunger Walk

Wednesday*November 11, 2009

10:30 am

Rain or Shine

Iron Horse Boulevard

Please bring a bag of non-perishable food and/or cash donations

All donations will be given to area food pantries

***Bring a water bottle***

For further information, please call

Judy Pluta @ 408-9408 or Diane Whittemore @ 651-8825

Thank you for helping those in need!

Holloween Car Wash

This Saturday, October 31st, please stop by St. Mary's school parking lot from 9am to 2pm and the scouts of Troop 175 wash your car with all proceeds going to benefit the in Moshi, Tanzania.

This fund raiser is being organized by Carter Hill, a Boy Scout with Troop 175 in Simsbury. Two summers ago he traveled to Tanzania, Africa and met workers from the Mkombozi Centre For Street Children- an organization that educates, feeds and clothes children who have been orphaned, most from the AIDS/HIV epidemic in Africa. The experience of meeting these children and workers had a profound impact on his life and he have chosen this organization as the focus of my Eagle Scout Project.

Here is how you can help to deliver these very needed items to the children.

THE CHILDREN ARE IN URGENT NEED OF: CASH DONATIONS WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED
GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND SHOES, ANY SIZE/GENDER
GENTLY USED BED SHEETS AND TOWELS
ANY SCHOOL/ART SUPPLIES AND BACKPACKS
TOILETRIES AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS

Please bring any of these items to the car wash if you can.

Nothing But Nets to send nets and save lives

Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced they are engaging their communities and the world by joining with the UN Foundation and Nothing But Nets to send nets and save lives.

In the poorest parts of the world, where effective window screens are lacking, insecticide-treated bed nets are arguably the most cost-effective way to prevent malaria transmission. One bed net costs just $10 to buy and deliver to individuals in need. One bed net can safely last a family for about four years, thanks to a long-lasting insecticide woven into the net fabric. 

Sending Nets. Saving Lives

This entire process of purchasing and distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to children under the age of five, as well as providing education and follow-up surveying on their use, is accomplished at the cost of just $10 per bed net. 

Although $10 for a bed net may not sound like much, the cost makes them out of reach for most people at risk of malaria in Africa, where many people survive on less than $1 a day. Malaria has been brought under control and even eliminated in many parts of Asia, Europe and the Americas. Yet in Africa, malaria infections have actually increased over the last three decades. Malaria is a leading cause of death of children in Africa, killing nearly one million children each year. Every day 3,000 children die from the disease.

Join us and Send a Net, Save a Life.

Troop 175 Helps Simsbury Food Pantry

Troop 175, under the leadership of First Class Scout Mike D. recently held a food drive to benefit Simsbury Food Closet. More than 50 bags of food was collected and dropped off to help those who are having a hard time make ends meet.

Additional contributions are welcome. The Food Closet is located in the back of Eno Memorial Hall, on the North side, at the bottom of the handicapped ramp. Items can be dropped off during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Troop 175 Food Drive for the Simsbury Food Pantry

Boy Scout Troop 175 is organizing a food drive to help support the Simsbury Food Pantry.

Please fill grocery bag(s) with canned goods From your family, friends and neighbors!

Bring to the Boy Scout Meeting at St. Catherine Church. Vans will be available to load your contributions into for delivery by parents to the Simsbury Food Pantry to help those in our community.

COLLECTION DATE: THURSDAY OCTOBER 15TH
COLLECTION PLACE: St. Catherine of Senia Church prior to Troop meeting

Simsbury Food Closet

The Town is again appealing to organizations in the community to assist in collecting non-perishable food items to help the food closet. This year the need is greater than ever. Anything that you can do will make a difference to needy families in the community. 

The Food Closet is located in the back of Eno Memorial Hall, on the North side, at the bottom of the handicapped ramp. Items can be dropped off during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). The Social Services Department can be contacted at 658-3283 for any further information.

Ben's Boathouse at Camp Mattatuck

Camp Mattatuck’s Director, Chris Moon, who asked me to communicate his “sincere appreciation to Troop 175 for their efforts in the construction Ben’s Boat House”. Over the past weekend the camp had stored all of its watercraft and docks within the boathouse, “with room to spare”.  Chris said that the Boat House exceeded his expectations and “it’s awesome”.

This is just one example from many that makes this Troop so spectacular, we are very proud of you.

Thank you,

Mr. Adamowicz.

Troop 175 to Manage Parking at Simsbury Fly-In

The 2008 Simsbury Fly-In will be held on Sunday, Sept 21. Make plans to attend this wonderful event. Watch this space for more info as we get closer to the event date. The scouts and adult leaders from Simsbury Boy Scout Troop 175 have once again be assigned the task of parking all of the cars of attendees.

Last Year, the Fly-in drew an estimated 10,000 spectators, 220 airplanes of all types, and over 300 antique and classic autos. It featured a skydiving exhibition, a simulated rescue by LifeStar helicopter, live music by The Clams, a collection of military vehicles, judging and trophies for cars and airplanes, and many displays of homebuilt and other interesting aircraft. Dealer displays included several of the new Light Sport aircraft.

Here is a map of this event you will not want to miss.

Ben’s Boat House at Camp Mattatuck

Many of you may know that we have started construction of Ben’s Memorial at Camp Mattatuck. This project captures Ben’s love of the water and enthusiasm for water sports.  The Ben Clark Boat House will house all of the camps water craft and docks during the winter also it will be use as a repair shop for boats during the summer months.   In the past most boats had to be transported to multiple winter storage locations and some have been stored outside. Ben’s Boat House is going to be a significant improvement to the Camp facilities and will be actively used throughout the year.

We’ll be working again this Saturday 6/7 starting at 8:30am on Ben’s Boat House.  We hope to complete the wavy edge siding as well as sheathing and shingling the roof.  We’ll need help cleaning up (stacking lumber and bringing debris to the dumpster), also putting the final touches on grading and removing stones.   We hope to complete the project this weekend please let me know if you’re available to help out.

Special thanks go out to Rob Asensio, Carter Hill, Pat Cady, Abby O’Donnell, Brian O’Donnell, Rich Cady, Mark Bushy and Mike Hill for their impeccable work on installing the wavy edge siding.  I received a phone call from Chris Moon Camp Director who said he is “Absolutely Delighted with the structure and in particular the Corner Boards and Special Detail above the Overhead Door”; he also said the roof framers did a great job too.

Mr. Adamowicz.

Troop Participation in 2008 St. Mary's Carnival

It's that time of year again! The 2008 St. Mary's Carnival is in the final planning stages, and will run June 10 through June 14. The church's carnival committee has asked for help from Troop 175 in two areas: Granny's Attic tag sale and trash pick-up during the carnival.

The Granny's Attic tag sale tent is located behind Valley Hardware store, close to Iron Horse Boulevard. Tag sale items are donated by church members and then sold during the carnival. All items are being dropped off the weekend before the carnival (June 7 and 8). Troop 175 has been asked to assist with items, small and bulky, by carrying them from vehicle to tag sale tent.

During the carnival, there are a number of trash cans throughout the carnival location. Our job is to empty the trash cans as they are filled and place the filled bags in the carnival dumpster. 

There is also an opportunity to help with the final clean-up Sunday morning, June 15.

Please check your calendars now and see which day and time you'll be available. At least one adult helper is needed for each time slot.

Please note that we still need quite a few volunteers for some of the dates. Remember that this is a very important fundraiser for the Troop, and it is a huge benefit to St. Mary's in helping them have a successful carnival.

   

If you have any questions, would like to be added to the volunteer list, or have a change, please let one of us know. Thanks again, and have a great week!

 

Mrs. Dunn

Mrs. Weathers

Troop Makes a Splash at Simsbury Half Marathon

Simsbury Troop 175 showed up in force to help the organizers of the Hartford Half Marathon make their event happen in Simsbury on June 1st. 17 scouts and several parents and friends passes out water and performed other tasks to help make the event a success. Their efforts also resulted in a $1,000 donation by the marathon organizers to the Michael Bubnash Family Fund.

Scout Participation in St. Mary's Carnival

It's that time of year again! The 2008 St. Mary's Carnival is in the final planning stages, and will run June 10 through June 14. The church's carnival committee has asked for help from Troop 175 in two areas: Granny's Attic tag sale and trash pick-up during the carnival.

The Granny's Attic tag sale tent is located behind Valley Hardware store, close to Iron Horse Boulevard. Tag sale items are donated by church members and then sold during the carnival. All items are being dropped off the weekend before the carnival (June 7 and 8). Troop 175 has been asked to assist with items, small and bulky, by carrying them from vehicle to tag sale tent.

During the carnival, there are a number of trash cans throughout the carnival location. Our job is to empty the trash cans as they are filled and place the filled bags in the carnival dumpster.

There is also an opportunity to help with the final clean-up Sunday morning, June 15.

Sign-up sheets will be available beginning this week, at Thursday's Troop meeting. Please check your calendars now and see which day and time you'll be available. At least one adult helper is needed for each time slot.

Thanks again, and please let us know if you have any questions!

Troop 175 Carnival Committee co-chairs,
Mrs. Dunn,
Mrs. Weathers

Helping Cub Scouts at Holcomb Farm

Whenever an adult in our troop asks for help from the scouts of 175, their are always at least a few scouts willing to lend a hand. When Mrs. Peacock needed help at a cub event at Holcomb farm in Granby, seven guys from our troop, and one from troop 76, came to help even though for most of them it was an early closing and they could have gone home.

When we arrived at the farm, we spent time setting up the stations that would later teach the cub scouts skills that we use in scouting. There was knot tying, first aid, setting up a tarp and rope tent, and of course, fire building. The Cub Scouts arrived, and everybody, whether done with their stations or not, was put on teams with the cub scouts to go on an approximate three mile hike. Every team survived the Cubs and the forest, but for a while there, it was close. They were all given little whistles and buddies to help them not get lost, boy was it a chore keeping the buddies in check and stopping them from blowing the whistles.

When we finally got back to the farm, everyone settled in for a game of Capture the Flag, except me Brandon Bush and Joey Dunn, who had to finish our station. I am happy to say that these two scouts both helped eagerly, and without question. In fact, they knew their stuff more than I did. When the stations were finally set up there was a flag raising ceremony.

Then all the cubs who were split up into four groups and went around to the stations and got first hand experience on how to build fires, tie knots set up tent with ropes and first-aid.  When each group had gone to all the sights, there was a flag lowering ceremony, performed by the  cubs and they all performed skits about the scout law. (We had helped to teach the scout law and oath.) After this they were free to go.

Here are the names of all the Boy Scouts that helped out: Brandon Bush, Joey Dunn, Isaac Peacock, Mike Duff, James Hermsen, Nick Summa, Cortland Carter and Paul from troop 76. Also, Gabe Benjamin, who wrote this article, was there. All of this could not have been accomplished if we had not showed up and done our jobs, but especially could not have happened if Mrs. Peacock had not been there to coordinate the cub scouts and keep them interested in becoming Boy Scouts at a later time ( hopefully in Troop 175.)

Gabe Benjamin
      

Community Service Form

In order to better track community service hours, we have created a form that can be used to track and report a scout's community service hours outside of troop activities. Troop community service project hours do not need to be submitted on this form.

Download simsbury_troop_175_community_service_form.doc