TROOP 1320 NEWSLETTER

April 22, 2002

                           “All The News That Fits, We’ll Print”
_______________On the web at “www.troop1320.org ”

 

SCOUTMASTER NOTES

                       

            As Scouts one of the things which we promise to do is to keep ourselves physically fit. Given recent statistics this aspect of the Scouting experience is more important than ever. By leading an active physical life style we can expect to have a longer and more productive life. But rather than thinking about the long term objective of a long healthy life the need to be physically fit is more immediate. If you look at the activities of the troop you will see that they involve backpacking miles over trails, canoeing over fifty miles on rivers and lakes, climbing up rock cliffs and crawling through caves. None of these activities can be enjoyed if you are a couch potato.  If you are not physically fit you will not be able to climb the mountain and enjoy both the view and the incredible sense of accomplishment.

            So lets remember to spend less time in front of the tv and the computer or video game and get out there on our bikes, playing soccer or other games with our friends and neighbors. You will have fun and in the process you will be keeping your promise to be physically fit.

 

                                                                                    Paul David Burke, Scoutmaster 

                                               

                                      Friends of Scouting Dinner

            Our annual Friends of Scouting Dinner was held on Saturday March 2, 2002 at the Social Hall of Trinity United Methodist Church. The dinner featured salad, spaghetti, bread, beverages (including hazelnut coffee) and a dessert.

At the Court of Honor held in conjunction with the dinner many Scouts were awarded rank advancement badges as well as merit badges. In addition a special recognition and token of appreciation were given to Ralph Meloro, Advancement Chairman who, because of a job promotion, was moving away from our fair community.

            Everyone enjoyed the dinner which was prepared by the Scouts under the supervision of Mr.Grimes.              

 

 

                                                Gettysburg -- High Water Mark

 

            The weekend of April 26 the troop will be visiting            Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to camp and tour the civil war battlefield. We will be camping at the battlefield at the same site where part of the Confederate Army camped during the days in July when the battle raged over a hundred years ago and the fate of the Union was in the balance.

            The troop will tour the battlefield under the guidance of a Civil War reenactor, Richard Gilmore, of Eldersburg, Maryland. Mr. Gilmore is a member of the Union Army and can tell us all about the battle as well as offer some insight of the experience of his relative who fought there.

            We will leave from the Scout House at 6:30 p.m. sharp Friday evening and drive to Gettysburg.      The troop will return home on Sunday afternoon after completing a Scout service on the consecrated ground of this epic battle of the Civil War.

 

 

                                                Calling all Paddlers

 

This is just a reminder that we are now in the process of making final plans for our annual Memorial Day canoe trip. The canoes have been reserved, the route planned and all that is missing is you. Be sure to sign up soon for this great trip. Think of it, three nights away from your parents who really do not know anything and are hopelessly out of touch with life. This is too good of a deal to pass up. Be there or be square.

 

 

                             Finger Lakes Trail Trip

 

          We will be doing our own home grown high adventure trip this summer. The trip will be a weeklong backpacking trip on the Finger Lakes Trail in Southern New York. We will leave on Monday July 1, 2002 and head north to our trailhead. We will travel west to east and hit the village of Watkins Glen, New York to resupply on day three and will finish up near Ithaca, New York on July 6, 2002. This trip will be over fifty miles and during its course we will have the opportunity to view a remote area of the country featuring gorges cared out by the retreating glaciers of the last ice age. Those who are currently planning to take part in this adventure are: Trevor, Dylan, Mike C., Jake, Joe, Corey, Shawn,  Lucas, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Burke and a special guest hiker!

 

 

                                                UP NORTH

 

          Up north, is the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area. It is a one million acre wilderness area composed of thousands of lakes amongst the north woods of Minnesota along and across the border with Canada. 

          Next summer from June 26, 2003 through July 6, 2003 we have reservations for two eight (8) person crews to enjoy this wilderness adventure.  It is expected that the cost of the trip will be approximately $700 per person which would include air fare and other travel expenses. In order to be eligible to go a scout at a minimum has to be 13 years of age and first class. The trip does involve paddling across numerous lakes and then portages which can range from a few yards to a mile in length. In the portages one person carries the 75 lbs. canoe and the other two occupants get to carry the Duluth packs with gear and food which are not much lighter.

          This is a challenging experience where you can catch your dinner in the lake, spot eagles, bear and moose and listen to the silence of the north woods on a warm summer night.

          Because of the cost involve it is likely that we will have an extra fundraiser to help to cover the costs. As spaces are limited and a deposit of $600 is shortly required you will need to get a deposit in to Mr. Grimes in order to reserve your space. As only a few mores spaces remain you should pay your nonrefundable $25 deposit to Mr. Grimes as soon as possible.

          If you have any questions about this trip see Mr. Burke. 

 

                   ( What follows is the article of a new scout of his experience on his first camping trip with Troop 1320)  

 

                                    Twin Echoes Camping

                                               

 

            A bunch of hearty scouts from Troop 1320 went camping at Twin Echoes the weekend of March 23, 2002. When we got to Twin Echoes, it was dark and cold outside. It was probably 20 degrees. Before we went, we had put on warm clothes so that we would stay warm. We also had a fire going the whole weekend so we would stay warm. When we got there, we had to set up our tents right away. It was dark when we had to set up our tents. The tents we slept in could only hold two or three people. We used a lantern for light to assist us in setting up our tents in the dark. Then we crawled into our tent and tried to stay warm.

            In the morning, we had breakfast. Different patrols had different meals. An animal took the cream cheese and the brown sugar from our patrol. The younger boys went with Mr. Dunn to set up an orienteering course for the older boys. After dinner on Saturday night, we all went snipe hunting. A snipe is sort of like a sand piper, but a little bit bigger. It colors are brown, white and white with brown stripes. You have to get a grocery bag and hold it open like a burrow. We did not catch any snipes. Maybe next year the new boys will catch some.

            The first day when we arrived at Twin Echoes there was snow on the ground. The second day the snow started to melt and on the last day the snow was all melted away.

            On Sunday, we took down our tents and packed up our gear. We loaded everything into the vehicles and had a scout service with a reading from the Bible. After that we got into the cars and headed for home. On the way back, we stopped at Sheetz. That was our camping trip.                                

                                                                        By Zach P

 

                       

                        WET AND WILD AT OHIOPYLE    

 

            Just when you thought we could not make your summer better we have come up with plans to go whitewater rafting at Ohiopyle on August 22, 2002. We are still awaiting the details from the commercial outfitter but be sure to mark your calendars now for this day trip.

            This will be an event  which will be open to Scouts as well as their families.  Watch this space for more details soon.

 

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                     

 

                                                                                       

PARENTS: FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

 

Troop 1320 Monthly Trip Schedule

 

 

 

 

April 26-28                                               Gettysburg

 

May 24-27                                                Annual Memorial Day

                                                                  Canoe Trip

 

June 14-16                                                Camping and Sailing   

                                                                Moraine State Park

 

July                                                          Backpacking Otter Creek Wilderness Area

 

July 1-7                                                    High Adventure Trip

                                                                  Finger Lakes Trail

August 4- 10

                        Summer camp @ Heritage Reservation 

 

                                                                                                           

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                                     Troop Committee Meeting

 

The next meeting of the troop 1320 committee will be held on  April 25, 2002 at 7:30 at the Scout House. Richard Meyers, the troop committee Chair will conduct the meeting as best he can given the presence of Hal “Mr. Disruptive” englund. You can expect that matters on the agenda will include The Scouting for Food Service Project,  plans for summer camp as well as upcoming Outings for the Troop. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.