Troop 563 April 2001 Newsletter

Livingston, Montana    April 2001    Volume 4    Issue 3

Family Life Merit Badge:
There are 20 Scouts in our Troop that are currently signed up to work on Family Life Merit Badge. Scouts need to keep up with their chores and record what they do. Those that keep up to date should be able to finish this badge at the Scout Meeting on Monday, June 4th. Please take advantage of this opportunity and dedicate yourselves to completing this required badge. There is no better time for your chores and projects than the present.

Summer Camp Deposit Fee Reminder:
Those Scouts that are going to Bear Lake Aquatics Base need to remember to bring their $50 deposit no later than the meeting of Monday, April 30. This deposit is required to attend summer camp and is not refundable unless another Scout from our Troop attends camp in your son's place. Summer camp this year is June 24 through June 30. See the March Newsletter for more detailed information.

Jamboree Plan finalized:
     The final Jamboree plan was presented and approved at the April Troop Committee Meeting. All reservations that can be made at this time, have been made and our group has overnight accommodations arranged for all 20 nights. As planned we will leave on Sunday, July 15th and return on Saturday, August 4th.
     The first of three required meetings for Troop Jamboree Trip participants is Saturday, May 12th. At that meeting we will discuss and decide how our group will function best, our menu for our Appalachian Trail backpacking trip, our five day menu and plans for the other two mandatory meetings. The second meeting will be an overnight backpacking trip on June 16th and 17th where we will practice camping as a unit and put some hiking miles in.

Brian's Eagle Scout Court of Honor:
On Sunday, March 18th Brian held his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. He earned the rank on August 14th, 2000. The ceremony included a slide show of Brian making progress from a Cub to a Scout. Brian was also awarded his Gold Eagle Palm for earning 10 merit badges beyond those required for Eagle.

March Campout Fun at Rustad's:
On Saturday, March 31st our Troop camped on the Rustad's property where we practiced our pioneering, wilderness survival, camping, cooking and capture the flag skills. A total of 10 Scouts attended the campout. Not a single April fools joke was played on Sunday, April 1st which was a big surprise to the Scoutmaster. Most Scouts were pretty tired when he woke everyone up at 6:30 which really felt like 5:30 due to the beginning of daylight savings time. The Scouts had a fun time and were able to complete many various requirements for rank advancement and merit badges.

Nick's Eagle Scout Court of Honor:
On Sunday, April 1st Nick held his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. He earned the rank on August 14th 2000. The ceremony was conducted by the district Order of the Arrow members of which Nick is a member. Nick will continue to work as an Assistant Scoutmaster for our Troop and is helping out on the Troop Jamboree Trip.

April Campout Plan:
The Troop will meet on Saturday, April 21st at 8:30 a.m. at the Lincoln School to leave for our campout at Battle Ridge. There are plans for a hike to help get us in shape for the big summer hiking season. Scouts need to pay $7 for food for the one night trip. We will be back at the Lincoln School at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Livingston, Montana April 2001 Volume 4 Issue 3
Family Life Merit Badge: There are 20 Scouts in our Troop that are currently signed up to work on Family Life Merit Badge. Scouts need to keep up with their chores and record what they do. Those that keep up to date should be able to finish this badge at the Scout Meeting on Monday, June 4th. Please take advantage of this opportunity and dedicate yourselves to completing this required badge. There is no better time for your chores and projects than the present. Summer Camp Deposit Fee Reminder: Those Scouts that are going to Bear Lake Aquatics Base need to remember to bring their $50 deposit no later than the meeting of Monday, April 30. This deposit is required to attend summer camp and is not refundable unless another Scout from our Troop attends camp in your son's place. Summer camp this year is June 24 through June 30. See the March Newsletter for more detailed information. Jamboree Plan finalized: The final Jamboree plan was presented and approved at the April Troop Committee Meeting. All reservations that can be made at this time, have been made and our group has overnight accommodations arranged for all 20 nights. As planned we will leave on Sunday, July 15th and return on Saturday, August 4th. The first of three required meetings for Troop Jamboree Trip participants is Saturday, May 12th. At that meeting we will discuss and decide how our group will function best, our menu for our Appalachian Trail backpacking trip, our five day menu and plans for the other two mandatory meetings. The second meeting will be an overnight backpacking trip on June 16th and 17th where we will practice camping as a unit and put some hiking miles in.	Brian's Eagle Scout Court of Honor: On Sunday, March 18th Brian held his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. He earned the rank on August 14th, 2000. The ceremony included a slide show of Brian making progress from a Cub to a Scout. Brian was also awarded his Gold Eagle Palm for earning 10 merit badges beyond those required for Eagle. March Campout Fun at Rustad's: On Saturday, March 31st our Troop camped on the Rustad's property where we practiced our pioneering, wilderness survival, camping, cooking and capture the flag skills. A total of 10 Scouts attended the campout. Not a single April fools joke was played on Sunday, April 1st which was a big surprise to the Scoutmaster. Most Scouts were pretty tired when he woke everyone up at 6:30 which really felt like 5:30 due to the beginning of daylight savings time. The Scouts had a fun time and were able to complete many various requirements for rank advancement and merit badges. Nick's Eagle Scout Court of Honor: On Sunday, April 1st Nick held his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. He earned the rank on August 14th 2000. The ceremony was conducted by the district Order of the Arrow members of which Nick is a member. Nick will continue to work as an Assistant Scoutmaster for our Troop and is helping out on the Troop Jamboree Trip. April Campout Plan: The Troop will meet on Saturday, April 21st at 8:30 a.m. at the Lincoln School to leave for our campout at Battle Ridge. There are plans for a hike to help get us in shape for the big summer hiking season. Scouts need to pay $7 for food for the one night trip. We will be back at the Lincoln School at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Order of the Arrow Elections:
The yearly O.A. elections will be held at the Scout Meeting of April 23rd. We need at least 50% of the Troop in attendance (we typically have 85% or more). Those boys that are eligible for election will have 15 nights of camping during the past two years, be First Class Rank or above and show excellent Scout Spirit. All eligible Scouts should also attend the May Camporee for the tap out ceremony.

May Campout Plan:
The District Spring Camporee will be held at the Greycliff Campground on the Madison River on Friday, May 4th through Sunday, May 6th. We will leave from the Lincoln School at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and return at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. It is recommended that Scouts eat before they arrive on Friday evening or bring a sack dinner as the Troop will only provide snacks Friday night. The Camporee has a pioneering theme and our Troop is responsible for the Tripod Lift Event. Each Patrol has to build a 10 foot tall tripod and use a hauling rope to lift a patrol member at least 18 inches off the ground. There will be seven other pioneering events during the afternoon. The Saturday campfire will be the Order of the Arrow tapout ceremony. Sunday morning there will be a religious ceremony before we break camp and head home. This campout will cost each Scout $15 which is $11 for food and $4 for half of the camporee fees. A camporee patch is included in this fee. The $15 is due at the April 30th Scout Meeting.

Troop Elections the First Monday of May:
As we have for the past couple of years, we will hold Troop Elections on the first Monday of May. This year the elections are May 7th. All positions of responsibility are open for Scouts that wish to complete the leadership requirement for Star, Life or Eagle ranks. You have to be a First Class Scout or above for the time served to count toward your next rank. Interested Scouts should make sure they tell Mr. Andrews which positions they wish to run for by May 6th and have a speech ready for the meeting on May 7th. Scouts will be reminded that holding a position of responsibility requires that they are an active leader and show initiative toward doing the best job that they can in their position.
Future Events Summary:

April
Family Life Merit Badge Theme

21 - 22 Troop Campout at Battle Ridge, meet at 8:30 a.m. Lincoln School, back at 11:30 a.m. Sunday

23 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory with O.A. elections

28 8th grade Merit Badges meeting, SGMS 1 - 3 p.m.

30 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory, $15 due for campout

May
Space Exploration
Merit Badge Theme

3 District Roundtable Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Bozeman the four year 2000 Eagles should attend

4 Green Bar Meeting during evening of Spring Camporee

4 - 6 District Spring Camporee & OA Tapout at Greycliff Campground on the Madison River

7 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory with Troop Elections

12 First of three mandatory meetings of the jamboree trip participants
1 - 3 p.m. at SGMS room A105

14 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory with Board of Review

19 Day Hike 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (location TBA)

20 Nicholas' Eagle Scout Court of Honor, 2 p.m. Grace Methodist

21 Troop Committee Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory

28 Memorial Day (no meeting)

June
Climbing Merit Badge Theme

1 Green Bar Meeting 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at SGMS room A105

4 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory

11 Spring Court of Honor 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory

16 - 17 Second of three mandatory meetings for the Jamboree Trip

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