Troop completes 50 Miler

Release of Liability

http://www.sacobound.com/more/ReleaseOfLiability.pdf

To be printed and filled out by everyone in a Saco Bound boat

Thanks,
Andy

Canoe Roster

Canoe # followed by paddlers in BOW then STERN positions

1
John Larsen & Tristan MacLeod

2
Dmitry Steesy & Ian Marnich

3
DJ Hall & Dudley Hall

4
Ethan Chalmers & Andrew Chalmers

5
Ethan Hill & Jim Hill

6
Torin LaLiberte & Ted LaLiberte

7
Zack Mannik & Pat Walsh

8
Ryder Selmi & Bud Selmi

9
Brian Wanek & Ray O'Brien

10
Ben Novak & Ged Owen

11
Ryan Burroughs & Tom Caughey

12
Justin Gamache & Sam Getchell

13
Makenzie Birkbeck & Jordan Pettingill



Floating support:
Marion Owen & Paul Getchell

Gear transportation support:
Micheal Dewar

Canoe Trip Itinerary

Tuesday night 5:30-6:30
Troop shed John Fuller parking lot
-equipt. sign out
-load 'chase' truck w/ gear

Wednesday morning 8am
Saco Bound in Ctr Conway
-canoe overview
-depart
-eat bag lunch (Scout provides own)

Wednesday night 6pm
Saco Landing past Canal Bridge in Fryeburg
-potluck dinner w/ families
-campfire program

Thursday morning on river by 9am
-break camp
-breakfast; eggs and bacon

-lunch PB&J on river

Thursday night camping... Brownfield?
-dinner spaghetti w/ meatballs, garlic bread

Friday morning on river by 9am
-break camp
-breakfast; pancakes

Pull out of river in Hiram... just after noon?

Saturday morning 9am-10
Troop shed
-turn in gear
-trip review

*** Scout must make all scheduled events to qualify for the 50 Miler Award ***

Patrol Log

By now each Patrol should have thier own Patrol book. This book can be a spiral bound or 3 ring binder (I like the binder).

(remember to date and title each entry )

Record the following
Members of Patrol... rank... position in Patrol... MB earned


On Outings -
Date
Outing Location
List of Patrol Members in attendance (in uniform?)
What we did today
Most memorable moments
Notes on:
Preparations; what worked, what didn't.
Gear; repairs needed, things we would bring next time.

At Patrol Meetings;
Date
List of patrol members in attendance (in uniform?)
What we accomplished
What we need to do next

Could have a scrapbook section in the binder... pictures, newspaper articles
Make these books part of your Patrol... decorate it with your Patrol emblem
These books should reside with your Patrol Scribe and should attend every meeting with you.

Link to Saco River map... from Saco Bound

http://www.sacobound.com/images/maps/SacoMap.pdf

Tips for Good River Excursions and Camping from Saco Bound

First, be safe and know before you go.
Check weather forecasts and river conditions.
Always be prepared!
Respect nature and those around you.
Take out more trash than you packed in and practice “Leave No Trace” principles:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Now, as you head to the outdoors be responsible and use some common sense. You need to consider, weather, environment, capacity of your river craft and duration of your trip.

Keep your essentials and valuables in a dry bag along with a change of clothes. Keep your keys in a safe place or leave them near you car or at base camp.
First Aid Kit
Shelter: tent, tarp, sleeping bag
Personal items: proper clothing, proper footwear, medications, sunscreen, bug repellent, biodegradable toilet paper, cat trowel and biodegradable soap
Food & Utensils Water – 1 gallon per person per day
Camping Stove or Firewood
Matches / Lighter and a Flash Light
River Map
Cell Phone
Maine state law requires a state fire permit. These can be obtained at swans falls dam while on the river or Jockey Cap store in Fryeburg, ME on rte 302.

Every one in a watercraft must have a USCG approved personal floation device. Please wear it at all times!

Merit Badges and Summer Camp

In our Troop we have been spending a bunch of time talking about and preparing for summer camp.
Sometimes in our zealousness as leaders to get our boys ready for camp we forget that a healthy Scout program is year round. Scout camp is one week out of the whole year. To focus so much energy on promoting camp as THE place to earn advancements and Merit Badges I think we loose sight of the bigger picture. Indeed it is far easier to let camp staff worry about providing MB Councilors. But, I think a lot is lost in doing so. Merit Badge work is designed to broaden the boys horizons and expose them to new people, things and environments. I'm not sure BSA camp is the optimum place for this to happen. By having the boys do the majority of their MB's at camp we are missing a huge opportunity to involve a larger community in Scouting. We, as Scouters, have the opportunity and responsibility to broaden the outreach of Scouting... Procuring Merit Badge councilors amongst non-Scouters is a great way to do this. I'm not suggesting that having Scouts attend a summer camp program isn't important... It is! I think the focus should be on fellowship, group activities and fun. Let's leave the MB pamphlets at home with the Troops and the local community.

Troop Meeting 6/8/09

(Good time for meeting of the adult leadership… 6 or 6:30 prior to the Troop meeting?)



Pre-meeting
Service Patrol (Indians) set up table and chairs for trip sign up
Knot challenge
Patrols attendance


Opening (10 minutes) 7pm sharp
Sr Patrol Opens
Announcements


Skill instruction (20 mins)
'round robin'; rotate by Patrol thru (5 mins each cycle)
All taught by Sr Patrol w/ help of adult leadership (if needed)
· Packing… what to bring, what not to bring
· Menus (planning)… appropriate, healthy, preparation
· Cooking (back packing stove use)… safety, lighting
· Low impact camping… Leave No Trace Principals, waste disposal


Patrol Meetings (20 mins)
Menu planning
Buddy system


Inter-Patrol Activity (20 mins)
Sr Patrol game


Closing (5 mins)
Sr Patrol
SM Minute

Troop 150 Canoe Trip

Preparation
1. Must have commitment from all attending by Troop meeting on Thursday 6/8… no maybes
2. All leadership attending must have BSA Safe Swim and Safety Afloat (available on line)… this is recommended for Patrol Leaders as well.
3. All attendees must have passed BSA Swimmers test, this is an annual test. Once you have signed up we will schedule a testing time and location… according to the BSA this is not optional. For those that can not pass the test there is an option to place them in the canoe of a registered life guard. Please let me know ASAP if you think this may be a problem.
4. Tour Permit filed
5. Reserve canoes

To qualify for the 50 Miler Award we need the obvious… 50 miles. It must be done in 5 consecutive days and must involve a 10 hour service project. A Scout may accompany the Troop for any or all of the trip… but MUST complete all of following in order to qualify for this award.

Day 1 Tuesday June 20, 2006
Meet in the evening to go over final details of the trip
Day 2 Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Meet 9am at Saco Bound in Ctr. Conway
Leave w/ un-freighted canoes
Portage at Swans Falls
Bag lunch
Arrive Saco Landing (Canal Bridge)
Set-up camp
Pot luck dinner w/ families
Day 3 Thursday
Break camp; load support vehicle
Depart Saco Landing
Bag lunch
Canoe perimeter of Lovewell's pond (to gain mileage)
Camp Lovewell's Pond
Day 4 Friday
Break camp… run leg toward Hiram
Camp in Brownfield or Hiram depending on conditions
If we make Hiram Friday we have the option of pulling out that afternoon
Day 5 Saturday
Break camp and head for home
If we made Hiram on Friday we can all meet to stow gear and do a post trip shakedown on Saturday

If we do a river clean-up on our way down stream we should have no trouble meeting our 10 hour service project goals.


THIS IS A FLUID ITINERARY… I WELCOME AND WANT YOUR INPUT

Operation Adventure

WOW!

What a lot of fun we had over the weekend!
True it rained... hard... and most of the time sideways... but, we still had fun. None of the guys had ever been to Hidden Valley before, but, everyone of them can't wait to go back.
I was very impressed with our Scouts, there was no whining or complaining about the weather... infact I'm not 100% certain that they even noticed that it was what most 'sane' people would not venture out in.
We used the archery and rifle ranges in the morning and then had a hiking tour of the campsites...we were supposed to be doing a service project... but, the camp work crews had already completed the cot set-ups for us so we got to spend the whole afternoon on the COPE course. The course was made even more chalgening by the weather. The guys learned a lot and had a great experience.
Dinner was in the dining hall followed by a 'campfire' program and skits. Our guys did a super job with the 'Igor' skit... got lots of laughs and had fun.
The wind howled and the rain pummeled our tents all thru the night but, everyone made it warm and dry.
We broke camp and had a nice breakfast in the dining hall, did a little clean-up followed by a thought provoking service in the chapel. After the service we all headed home.

I hope everyone has a chance to dry out before our next adventure... canoeing the Saco.
See you all Thursday night at the NCCC, 7PM.

-Andy C