Klondike Derby Sled Progress

Finally, progress on the sled.  The frames are attached to each runner and ready for the cross braches and sled shelf for gear.

Troop Activity Planning

Last week the scouts worked with Chris to decide who was going to be on each planning team for the rest of the Troop activities between now and the end of the year.  Part of what we are trying to do is let the scouts feel they own the Troop so they not only decided on these activities as a group but will also have the responsibility to help plan them as well.  

Wanted to let everyone know who the planning teams are.  The Scoutmasters and I will work with the Scouts during the meetings to help guide them along and Chris will include in his meeting agendas time for the teams to present to the Troop on their progress when appropriate, but we are going to ask that they work with their partners independently on some of their efforts and not confine the effort solely to Troop meetings.  Our goal is to help the Scouts learn to plan and organize which is a key component of the Scout Leadership training effort.

Cabin Camping 1/10-12 (Will I/Henry J)

Klondike Derby 1/25 (Henry B/Quinn)

Ski Trip 2/7-9 (William O/Chris)

March Hike 3/22 (William O/Cole)

Lean To Camping 4/4-6 (Will I/Quinn)

Camporee 5/2-4 (Chris/Cole)

Backpacking 6/6-8 (HenryB/Michael)

Summer Mini Venture - TBD

At the next meeting the Scoutmasters will start the process with the first two teams.  If your scouts are part of the 1st two efforts please remind them to think about those events and what they would like to do prior to our meeting on Monday.

Winter/Spring Troop Schedule updated

An updated Winter/Spring schedule for the Troop has been placed in the resource section of this site or can be directly accessed here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxIHiLq40PiGWHBUTVg0bmRQZ3c/edit?usp=docslist_api

Vinecutting

Saturday was a perfect day for our vine cutting project at the Baxter Preserve.  We ended up with over a dozen people pitching in and helping out which is more than twice as many people as we had working last time.  As a result we were able to cover a much bigger area than last time.  Looking forward to next time.

Here are some pictures from our day.

https://picasaweb.google.com/114081196567743974684/November2013VineCutting?noredirect=1

Tonight's Meeting Canceled

We are canceling tonight because of the threatening weather.

No Troop meeting on Monday

We have no Troop meeting on Monday but we do have a Greenbar leadership meeting.  

Agenda for the Greenbar:

* Plan October meeting agendas (Chris) 

* Quartermaster report (Will)

* Presentation of completed draft plan for Orienteering event (William)

* Update on Vine Cutting planning (Henry)

* Committee to help complete draft plan for Hike-O-Ree with Cole (Cole+Committee)

Please remind your scouts what they have on the meeting agenda.  If your scouts have any questions on what they need to prepare or bring please have them give me a call. 

We also need to know who is in/out for our October events.

Troop 4 Has a Facebook Page

In order to better increase our visibility in the community and share all of the great things our Scouts are doing we have created a Facebook page to post highlights of our events and community projects.  The page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/troop4purdys

Please like us and spread the word.  

The blog site will remain the main communication mechanism for the Troop and will contain the most up to date and complete info on our activities for the Troop families.

Troop 4 host North Salem Webelos at Hoyt Scout Reservation

Despite the rain we managed to pull off a campout with the local Webelos.  Fire building, hiking, knots, rain fly building, rope care, and leave no trace ethics were all taught to the Webelos by the scouts of Troop 4.  We finished off the day with a huge fire that we used to cook our dinner over and then used for our evening campfire where we told stories and performed skits for entertainment.  Everyone made it Into their tents before the evening downpour and we slept through the rain.

Look here for more pictures.

Orienteering Competition Date Change

Moved the Orienteering competition to Sunday 10/20 so we do not compete with homecoming on Saturday.

The calendars have been updated. 

Dates approved for vine cutting project

The NSOLF approved our two dates for the vine cutting project.  The Fall date is Saturday 11/16/13 and the Spring date is Saturday 3/8/14.

Both dates have been updated in the Troop calendar.

Troop 4 Welcome Back

As the new school year nears I wanted to welcome everyone back to Troop 4 and update you on our calendar, our new web presence, and give a reminder that Monday is our first meeting.

First, we are going online to provide an easier way for me to communicate out and for you to get pertinent information in a single place.  Our address is: http://troop4purdys.blogspot.com/ and I have already added everyone's email to the mail list.  Please feel free to add additional addresses.  On this one page you will find our up to date calendar, a resource file area where all Troop 4 documentation will be available.  You can currently find the personal camping packing list, this years renewal form, and our proposed calendar for the entire school year ready for download.  All updates and reminders will be posted here and when a post goes up everyone will receive an email with the contents of the post so you don't have to remember to check the site.

If you want to sync your calendar with our public calendar the URL is:

https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/troop4purdys%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics

By clicking on this link your personal calendar will get all updates to the Troop calendar.

Next, our first meeting of the year is this coming Monday at 7:30 in the Purdys UMC.  Same time and place as last year.  I expect the meetings to take between 75-90 minutes each week.  For our first meeting I would like to see everyone in uniform.

We have a busy calendar and our Patrol Leader and Quartermaster have already been meeting to make sure the plans for the early part of the year are in place and under way, so thanks to Chris and Will for the work they have already started.

Our first event is a campout with the Webelos from 9/20-9/22.  Will Isler will review the details with the scouts on Monday.  Please let your scouts know if they will be able to attend.  Will needs to know who is going so he can work out on Monday who will lead which activities with the Webelos.

We also have two community events planned for October and November and the scouts will fill in the gaps on our outings during the first meeting when they decide on what they want to do over the next 3-4 months.

Looking forward to another great year.

Trip Balch

Scoutmaster

Troop 4 Purdys

Greenbar Meeting 9/5 at Purdys UMC 7:30

Our monthly leadership meeting is. Scheduled for Thursday 9/5.

Agenda:

- September meeting planning

- Webelo Campout plan approval

- Orienteering initial work list review

- Vinecutting initial work list review

Troop 4 Purdys Batmen Rock 2013 Spring Camporee

Our Troop's first Camporee was a great success. The Batmen Patrol with 4 newly crossed over Scouts managed an Award of Merit and Honor (the highest level award) at the 2013 Muscoot Spring Camporee. The Patrol finished in the top 4 patrols out of 16 participants which is fantastic for our first Camporee as a unit. The Batmen even managed the only perfect score at the How High/How Far station thanks to Mr. Jeffery's education on how to estimate distances at our last Troop meeting.

Points were accumulated for accomplishing certain classic scout skills at 12 stations and for teamwork in addition to a campsite inspection and participation in afternoon and evening activities as a unit. The Patrol skit "Warm Worms" was best in show in my opinion and I am sure will be used again by other Troops in attendance.

More photos coming soon.

All, please remember to clean all Patrol equipment you ended up taking home and brining to tomorrow's meeting.

As a reminder tomorrows meeting will take place at the Middle/High School track. Please bring a backpack packed with what you would bring on a weekend campout.

Troop 4 in the news

Our community service project at the NSOLF Baxter Road Preserve made the local news:

North Salem Daily