Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Tips for your next winter camping trip:
- Use the buddy system for winter outings. Buddies can check each other for frostbite, make sure no one becomes lost, and boost the morale of the entire group.
- Plan to cover no more than five miles per day on a winter trek on snowshoes. An experienced group can cover 10 to 12 miles on cross-country skis.
- Always allow ample time to make camp in winter, especially if you plan to build snow shelters.
Fatigue encourages accidents. Rest occasionally when building a snow shelter; taking part in cross-country skiing or snowshoeing; or participating in other active winter sports. Periodic rests also help avoid overheating. - Pulling a load over the snow on a sled or toboggan is generally easier than carrying it in a backpack.
- Snow is a terrific insulator. Snow shelters are much warmer than tents because they retain heat and keep out the cold wind. If you have adequate time for building snow shelters, you will spend a much more comfortable night sleeping in them than in a tent.
- Snow is the greatest thief in winter, swallowing up small dropped items. Tie or tape a piece of brightly colored cord to small items so they can be seen in snow. Some items, such as mittens, can be tied to larger items, such as a parka, to prevent them from being dropped and lost.
- Melting snow in a pot to get water may cause the pot to burn through or may scorch the snow, giving the water a disagreeable taste. Prevent this by adding a cup or two of water in the bottom of the pot before putting in the snow to melt.
- Punch a hole in the top of your ice chisel and string a stout cord through it. Before trying to chisel a hole in ice, anchor the cord to something large or too heavy to be pulled through the hole so you will not lose your chisel in freezing water when the ice is penetrated.
- Always test the thickness of ice before venturing any distance from the shore. Ice should be at least 3 inches thick for a small group; 4 inches of ice is safe for a crowd. Since ice thickness can vary considerably, it is best to stay near the shoreline of large lakes.
- Use alkaline batteries in flashlights. Standard batteries deteriorate quickly in cold weather. Tape the switch of your flashlight in the "off" position until you are ready to use it. This will prevent it from being turned on accidentally while in your pack or on your sled.
- Encourage everyone in your group to wear brightly colored outer clothing so that each person will be more visible, especially during severe weather.
- Small liquid-fuel stoves are much better for cooking in winter than fires, which are difficult to build with wet wood. Gathering wood that is frozen to the ground also can be difficult, if not impossible. A pressure/pump-type stove is essential in winter.
Always use a funnel to refuel a stove so you won't frostbite your fingers by accidentally pouring fuel on them. Fuel evaporates at a high rate of speed and quickly removes heat from anything it touches. - Place a stove or fire on a platform of logs or rocks so it will not melt through the snow.
- Never light or use a stove inside a tent or snow shelter. A tent may catch fire, and vapors in a snow shelter may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Neither of these potential mishaps is worth the risk.
- A windscreen is essential for using a stove in the winter. Even a slight breeze will direct the heat away from its intended mark.
GND Klondike
I need to confirm who will be attending this weekends Klondike; Feb 3rd & 4th. (Patrol Leaders CALL YOUR PATROLS). I, currently, have 13 guys signed up. It looks as though we'll be able to field two Patrols for Saturdays games.
I need to hear from everyone attending by Wednesday night.
We will have a gear 'shake-down' at Thursdays meeting. Bring your appropriate winter gear and your (signed) permission slip. If your gear has not been inspected and I do not have your permission slip in hand at Thursday nights meeting you WILL miss out on this event.
Cost: $8.00 per person for registration (includes a patch); plus cost of food.
We will be leaving the Scout shed Saturday morning at 7:30 am and returning to the Scout Shed by 11 am on Sunday.
The Klondike will be held at NHCTC in Berlin.
We have been invited to stay overnight with T207, should be a great time. Some night games and perhaps a movie or two.
If the weather is mild there may be an opportunity to sleep under the stars.
This promises to be a great 'fellowship' weekend with other Scouts. There will be some friendly competition and LOTS of fun.
Each Scout will bring a bag lunch and snacks for Saturday. Dinner can be cooked on site or be purchased from the 'OA Cafe'.
We'll have oatmeal or something quick for breakfast prior to closing and returning home on Sunday.
I look forward to hearing from you all.
Sincerely,
Mr C.
I need to hear from everyone attending by Wednesday night.
We will have a gear 'shake-down' at Thursdays meeting. Bring your appropriate winter gear and your (signed) permission slip. If your gear has not been inspected and I do not have your permission slip in hand at Thursday nights meeting you WILL miss out on this event.
Cost: $8.00 per person for registration (includes a patch); plus cost of food.
We will be leaving the Scout shed Saturday morning at 7:30 am and returning to the Scout Shed by 11 am on Sunday.
The Klondike will be held at NHCTC in Berlin.
We have been invited to stay overnight with T207, should be a great time. Some night games and perhaps a movie or two.
If the weather is mild there may be an opportunity to sleep under the stars.
This promises to be a great 'fellowship' weekend with other Scouts. There will be some friendly competition and LOTS of fun.
Each Scout will bring a bag lunch and snacks for Saturday. Dinner can be cooked on site or be purchased from the 'OA Cafe'.
We'll have oatmeal or something quick for breakfast prior to closing and returning home on Sunday.
I look forward to hearing from you all.
Sincerely,
Mr C.
Survive or Die
Reprinted from;
AMC Outdoors, November 2006
The difference may be only a few ounces of essential gear.
You are stranded, injured and alone. Night is falling, conditions are deteriorating, and there is no way out until the next day. Or longer. Are you equipped to survive? Your chances will be vastly improved if you carry these essential items and know how to use them.
STAY DRY AND WARM Hypothermia will kill you quickly, especially if you’re wet and the wind is blowing. Always carry at least two heavy-duty garbage bags or a space blanket to protect you from the elements in an emergency situation. When selecting your bags, go thick, go large, and go bright. Look for high-capacity versions designed for hard use, such as contractor or lawn and leaf bags; a thickness of four millimeters is best. Most trash bags are green, brown, or black—difficult for rescuers to see. Try to find a more visible color; orange DOT contractor bags are ideal, though harder to find. Space blankets are usually brightly colored, but can be fragile; look for a more durable material.
To create an emergency rain or wind jacket with a trash bag, cut a slit no longer than your face about eight inches down from the closed corner. Pull it over your head, using the corner as a hood. If conditions are not too severe, cut two small holes for your arms. If conditions are bad, pull a second bag up over your legs to create an emergency bivy. If the situation is really grim, stuff dry leaves or moss in the bags with you for insulation. Use a space blanket in similar fashion by wrapping it tightly around you, but be aware that they are much harder to work with in windy conditions and are more difficult to fully seal from the elements.
KNOW HOW TO MAKE A FIRE Always carry materials to start a fire, both for warmth and as a potential rescue signal. Bring along matches in a waterproof container and opt for “stormproof” versions, which readily ignite and stay lit in windy or wet conditions; some will even burn underwater. Peter Kummerfeldt, a leading survival expert, recently reviewed nearly 20 matches for survival scenarios; his top pick is REI Storm Proof matches (0.65 ounces per box, $4).
Also consider carrying a “metal match,” which creates a shower of long-lived sparks when struck briskly with a metal scraper. When thrown on easily lit kindling, the sparks are sufficient to ignite a flame. Butane lighters should not be relied on as your only means for fire. They will not work if wet, are difficultto dry out, and can be challenging to operate with cold, wooden hands. If you do carry one as a backup, opt for clear models that allow you to see the fuel reservoir and have an adjustable flame for maximum torching.
To get a fire going, you’ll also need kindling. Shredded paper birch bark or other dry forest material will work, but if everything is soaking wet you’ll need a backup: Vaseline-coated cotton balls. Knead Vaseline into a few large cotton balls, leaving the inside dry, and carry them in a tiny waterproof container. (Make sure they are 100 percent cotton; synthetic versions do not burn well.) To light, tear the ball open and easily ignite the dry interior with a flame or sparks. A single ball will burn furiously for six minutes or more.
HELP RESCUERS FIND YOU Always tell somebody where you’re going and when you expect to be back, otherwise the amount of time it will take for rescuers to find you increases dramatically. Carry a whistle to help alert others of your situation; a loud whistle can be heard more than a mile away in good conditions. Blow it in series of three, a standard indication of need. Your brightly colored garbage bags or space blanket will make you more visible, but you should also always bring a signal mirror to alert passing (or searching) aircraft. Weighing as little as half an ounce, pocket signal mirrors can reflect a beam of sunlight several phone for rescue.
AMC Outdoors, November 2006
The difference may be only a few ounces of essential gear.
You are stranded, injured and alone. Night is falling, conditions are deteriorating, and there is no way out until the next day. Or longer. Are you equipped to survive? Your chances will be vastly improved if you carry these essential items and know how to use them.
STAY DRY AND WARM Hypothermia will kill you quickly, especially if you’re wet and the wind is blowing. Always carry at least two heavy-duty garbage bags or a space blanket to protect you from the elements in an emergency situation. When selecting your bags, go thick, go large, and go bright. Look for high-capacity versions designed for hard use, such as contractor or lawn and leaf bags; a thickness of four millimeters is best. Most trash bags are green, brown, or black—difficult for rescuers to see. Try to find a more visible color; orange DOT contractor bags are ideal, though harder to find. Space blankets are usually brightly colored, but can be fragile; look for a more durable material.
To create an emergency rain or wind jacket with a trash bag, cut a slit no longer than your face about eight inches down from the closed corner. Pull it over your head, using the corner as a hood. If conditions are not too severe, cut two small holes for your arms. If conditions are bad, pull a second bag up over your legs to create an emergency bivy. If the situation is really grim, stuff dry leaves or moss in the bags with you for insulation. Use a space blanket in similar fashion by wrapping it tightly around you, but be aware that they are much harder to work with in windy conditions and are more difficult to fully seal from the elements.
KNOW HOW TO MAKE A FIRE Always carry materials to start a fire, both for warmth and as a potential rescue signal. Bring along matches in a waterproof container and opt for “stormproof” versions, which readily ignite and stay lit in windy or wet conditions; some will even burn underwater. Peter Kummerfeldt, a leading survival expert, recently reviewed nearly 20 matches for survival scenarios; his top pick is REI Storm Proof matches (0.65 ounces per box, $4).
Also consider carrying a “metal match,” which creates a shower of long-lived sparks when struck briskly with a metal scraper. When thrown on easily lit kindling, the sparks are sufficient to ignite a flame. Butane lighters should not be relied on as your only means for fire. They will not work if wet, are difficultto dry out, and can be challenging to operate with cold, wooden hands. If you do carry one as a backup, opt for clear models that allow you to see the fuel reservoir and have an adjustable flame for maximum torching.
To get a fire going, you’ll also need kindling. Shredded paper birch bark or other dry forest material will work, but if everything is soaking wet you’ll need a backup: Vaseline-coated cotton balls. Knead Vaseline into a few large cotton balls, leaving the inside dry, and carry them in a tiny waterproof container. (Make sure they are 100 percent cotton; synthetic versions do not burn well.) To light, tear the ball open and easily ignite the dry interior with a flame or sparks. A single ball will burn furiously for six minutes or more.
HELP RESCUERS FIND YOU Always tell somebody where you’re going and when you expect to be back, otherwise the amount of time it will take for rescuers to find you increases dramatically. Carry a whistle to help alert others of your situation; a loud whistle can be heard more than a mile away in good conditions. Blow it in series of three, a standard indication of need. Your brightly colored garbage bags or space blanket will make you more visible, but you should also always bring a signal mirror to alert passing (or searching) aircraft. Weighing as little as half an ounce, pocket signal mirrors can reflect a beam of sunlight several phone for rescue.
- Matt Heid is senior editor at AMC Outdoors.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
TROOP MEETING 1-11-07
7pm
OPENING (5 mins)
-Sign-in
-Debrief from the camp out
PATROL MEETINGS (30 mins)
DON'T FORGET YOUR PATROL BOOKS
work on Patrol Flags... need them completed for the Klondike, bring design ideas
*** I only have one (1) Patrol's list of members and positions
ACTIVITIES (30 mins)
Scouter/Tenderfoot
-Fitness
-Whip and fuse
2nd and 1st Class
-estimating measurement (height and width)
-stoves
Star, Life
-Merit Badges
GAME (20 mins)
CLOSING (5 mins)
Announcements
POST MEETING (5 mins)
ALL Troop & Partol Leaders
8:30 pm out the door...
REMINDERS
Registration fee $22
Please pay Mr. Gamache prior to the Court of Honor.
If you have money in your Scout account and want it deducted from the account please write Mr. Gamache a (legible) note requesting the payment be removed from your account.
Court of Honor
(this is the awards night in Scouting)
Jan. 25th @ JHF 7pm
Invite your family and friends!
Friends of Scouting presentation (Troop goal is to raise $1500)
Camp Presentation... wow hard to believe it is time to start thinking about that!
Final chance to sign-up for participating in the Klondike will be tonight.
Next outing... Klondike Feb 3-4th
OPENING (5 mins)
-Sign-in
-Debrief from the camp out
PATROL MEETINGS (30 mins)
DON'T FORGET YOUR PATROL BOOKS
work on Patrol Flags... need them completed for the Klondike, bring design ideas
*** I only have one (1) Patrol's list of members and positions
ACTIVITIES (30 mins)
Scouter/Tenderfoot
-Fitness
-Whip and fuse
2nd and 1st Class
-estimating measurement (height and width)
-stoves
Star, Life
-Merit Badges
GAME (20 mins)
CLOSING (5 mins)
Announcements
POST MEETING (5 mins)
ALL Troop & Partol Leaders
8:30 pm out the door...
REMINDERS
Registration fee $22
Please pay Mr. Gamache prior to the Court of Honor.
If you have money in your Scout account and want it deducted from the account please write Mr. Gamache a (legible) note requesting the payment be removed from your account.
Court of Honor
(this is the awards night in Scouting)
Jan. 25th @ JHF 7pm
Invite your family and friends!
Friends of Scouting presentation (Troop goal is to raise $1500)
Camp Presentation... wow hard to believe it is time to start thinking about that!
Final chance to sign-up for participating in the Klondike will be tonight.
Next outing... Klondike Feb 3-4th
Monday, January 08, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Camping at the Littleton Cabin this weekend.
If you are planning on attending you must hand me a completed Permission Form at Thursday night's meeting.
We will be leaving the Scout Shed @ 9am on Saturday morning.
While we are expecting unseasonably warm temps please BE PREPARED for winter conditions.
We will be working on completing allot of 2nd and 1st Class requirements... this outing really shouldn't be missed.
We will be returning to the Scout Shed around 10am on Sunday morning.
When preparing for this trip please refer to pgs 204, 207, 225-6 of your Handbook (don't forget to bring your handbook).
We will be planning the menu during the Patrol meetings on Thursday night.
There will be a $5 food fee for those wishing to participate.
We will be leaving the Scout Shed @ 9am on Saturday morning.
While we are expecting unseasonably warm temps please BE PREPARED for winter conditions.
We will be working on completing allot of 2nd and 1st Class requirements... this outing really shouldn't be missed.
We will be returning to the Scout Shed around 10am on Sunday morning.
When preparing for this trip please refer to pgs 204, 207, 225-6 of your Handbook (don't forget to bring your handbook).
We will be planning the menu during the Patrol meetings on Thursday night.
There will be a $5 food fee for those wishing to participate.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Scouts Take 1st Place in the annual Holiday Parade
In spite of the sudden on-set of cold weather the guys were able to show their Scouting Spirit.I was VERY PROUD. Great job guys!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Scouting for Food
Super job on the Scouting for Food
1100 food items collected and distributed on one weekend... NICE WORK!
(we are now probably closer to the original 1200 piece figure as I am still getting donated food dropped off to me)
Many thanks to the MacLeod family for all of their help!
1100 food items collected and distributed on one weekend... NICE WORK!
(we are now probably closer to the original 1200 piece figure as I am still getting donated food dropped off to me)
Many thanks to the MacLeod family for all of their help!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Scouting Pictures
http://http://homepage.mac.com/davidmmacleod/BOYSCOUTS/Menu18.html
Dave MacLeod has done a FANTASTIC job of capturing the Troop in action over the last few years. He has also spent a good deal of time putting this all together for us to enjoy.
Dave MacLeod has done a FANTASTIC job of capturing the Troop in action over the last few years. He has also spent a good deal of time putting this all together for us to enjoy.
THANKS DAVE!!!!!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Great job today!
You guys did a super job and I'm very proud. It meant an awful lot to the Veterans to have such a super turn out.
Tomorrow morning Ethan and I are going to be meeting w/ Dr. Waltz to pick up the remaining grave markers at cemeteries around the Valley. We are meeting at the N. Conway Catholic Cemetery at 10am. Any and all that would like to join us would be quite welcome.
Thanks again to all!
Andy C
Tomorrow morning Ethan and I are going to be meeting w/ Dr. Waltz to pick up the remaining grave markers at cemeteries around the Valley. We are meeting at the N. Conway Catholic Cemetery at 10am. Any and all that would like to join us would be quite welcome.
Thanks again to all!
Andy C
Tuesday Nov. 16th
YOU MUST HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PERFORMANCE IN ADVANCE AT ONE OF THE LAST TWO TROOP MEETINGS.
If you didn't make the meeting and get onto the sign-up sheet you must e-mail me by Tuesday
We will have a brief Troop meeting after the play to go over last minute planning for our Scouting for Food drive.
Scouting for Food
Mr. MacLeod is still looking for Scouts to fill the Saturday, Nov. 18th
Noon to 2:00pm and the 2 to 4:00 pm slots.
PLEASE contact him ASAP
csetraining@aol.com or at 356-8129
This is a very important community service project. All of the food that we collect stays with local families.
Friday, November 10, 2006
COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, Nov. 15th @ 7:30 pm
Pike/ Conway Dahl office (old AD Davis location) 3277 Wht. Mtn Highway
This meeting is open to all parents and Committee members, please make every effort to attend... this is your Troop.
Agenda;
- Calendar
- Fund Raising
- Chair Positions
- Troop Handbook
This should be a very productive meeting... I'm looking forward to lots of great ideas and hoping to come out of this meeting with and even stronger Unit and a Committee that is ready to further the aims and goals of Scouting in the Valley.
We'll see you all Wednesday night.
YIS,
-AC
Thursday, November 09, 2006
VETERANS DAY
Does anyone know the significance of the phrase “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month"?
It's the time, day, and month when, in 1918, the peace treaty was signed bringing an end to the conflict we know today as World War I.
People notice and remember unusual coincidences like this.
In the years following 1918 many nations chose to honor those who fought and died in the War with special ceremonies held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
In England , an Unknown Soldier was buried in Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is the sacred and hollowed place where the people of Great Britain honor their heroes.
In France an Unknown Soldier was buried in Paris beneath the Arch de Triumph, a sacred place to the French.
In the United States , on November 11, 19 21, we created the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery .
Over time, other nameless heroes have been added to our Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Today, there is an unidentified soldier from WWI, WWII, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This sacred place has come to symbolize all those who have fought and died in the service of our country.
Our Congress made this day a national holiday, originally known as Armistice Day - to honor the end of the "war to end all wars".
Unfortunately, there were other wars. Armistice Day has been renamed Veteran's Day.
For a brief time, Veteran's Day was moved from November 11th.
Congress turned it into one of those Monday - 3 day weekend holidays. People, however, remembered the coincidental date. Fate or the hand of God perhaps, had marked forever the 11th of November - Congress had to change it back.
Veteran's Day should be a time when we remember, and honor, all that have served in these nations armed forces.
It's the time, day, and month when, in 1918, the peace treaty was signed bringing an end to the conflict we know today as World War I.
People notice and remember unusual coincidences like this.
In the years following 1918 many nations chose to honor those who fought and died in the War with special ceremonies held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
In England , an Unknown Soldier was buried in Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is the sacred and hollowed place where the people of Great Britain honor their heroes.
In France an Unknown Soldier was buried in Paris beneath the Arch de Triumph, a sacred place to the French.
In the United States , on November 11, 19 21, we created the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery .
Over time, other nameless heroes have been added to our Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Today, there is an unidentified soldier from WWI, WWII, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This sacred place has come to symbolize all those who have fought and died in the service of our country.
Our Congress made this day a national holiday, originally known as Armistice Day - to honor the end of the "war to end all wars".
Unfortunately, there were other wars. Armistice Day has been renamed Veteran's Day.
For a brief time, Veteran's Day was moved from November 11th.
Congress turned it into one of those Monday - 3 day weekend holidays. People, however, remembered the coincidental date. Fate or the hand of God perhaps, had marked forever the 11th of November - Congress had to change it back.
Veteran's Day should be a time when we remember, and honor, all that have served in these nations armed forces.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Veterans Day
This year Veteran's Day, as I'm sure you are all aware, falls on a Saturday.
The schedule of events are as follows;
11 am church service at the North Conway Congregational Church (across from Your Paws Only).
We will leave the church following the service and march to the JHF School.
From the school we will parade to Schouler Park (in front of the train station).
At the park there will be a flag ceremony w/ two Scouts from Troop 150 aiding the Legionnaire's in folding the flag. The flag will be presented to a local widow to commemorate her husbands service to our country.
Following the service, around 2pm, the Scouts will be invited to attend a luncheon with the members of the Legion. This, from my understanding, will be a ticketed event. You should see me immediately following the ceremony at the park if you plan on attending the luncheon.
The boys and leaders will be expected to be in 'Class A' uniform.
Please remind the boys about the reverence that is due to the men and women that have sacrificed for our country. They are expected to be on their best behavior.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
FULL MOON HIKE
What a night for a hike... Absolutely beautiful! The moon was as bright as I have seen it. Cloudless and calm, what a treat!Twenty-one joined us for our jaunt around the moon lit pond. I kick my-self for not bringing a camera... In reality this is not something I will forget for quite a while. It was gorgeous.
Total wild life count:
SPL- 1
Indian Patrol- 6 members
King Chickens- 3 members
Mountaineers- 1 member
Huskies- 1 member
Adult leaders- 3
Family members- 6
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