Troop 563 May 2001 Newsletter

Livingston, Montana May 2001 Volume 4 Issue 4

Board of Review Deadline Approaches:
Don't forget to get Merit Badges and Rank advancement completed by May 21.

April Troop Campout:
Troop 563 went on their monthly overnight campout on April 21 and 22 at Snowbank Campground. Before setting up camp, the boys decided on taking a hike up Knoll's Peak. Accompanied by Mr. Lemke and his dog Scout, the boys climbed into the afternoon. The new Scouts searched for evidence of animals and learned the names of lots of different plants. Once arriving back at the parking lot, we carried in all our gear and food along with the massive Patrol Box. After setting up camp, dinner was started. Mark was in charge of the cooking and cleaning so he risked the chance of actually eating that night by assigning Nicholas and Jerome to cooking the ravioli and beef stew. The food turned out all right and dinner was washed down with lots of hot chocolate. The dishes were washed and put away so we decided to go find a place to play capture the flag. Once a suitable playing field was found, we realized we didn't have anything to use for flags so we decided to play a rousing game of "duck, duck, goose". That somehow ended in a dog pile and then we headed off to camp. After some cookies and candy bars, camp quieted down. Brian went to sleep in his shelter and everyone else went to their tents. Over the night, temperatures reached a low of 23 degrees, just giving Jerome, Nicholas and Mr. Andrews enough frost points to reach the 180 degrees of frost mark. In the morning, breakfast was scrambled eggs and little smokies with more hot chocolate. Camp was taken down and everything carried out to the road. Thus ended Troop 563's latest camping trip. [article by Nicholas]

Welcome New Scout Zach:
Zach is our newest Scout in the Troop and has just completed his first campout only one week after joining. He has joined the Dragon Slayer's Patrol and is quickly working toward his Tenderfoot Rank advancement. Please welcome him and his family to our Troop. We wish him the best of fun and adventure in his Scouting career.

Reminder, Fees Due by June 1st:
Jamboree Trip participants owe the final $200 and Summer Camp participants must be paid in full, which is $153, or you will be charged a late fee of $20. Friday, June 1st is the due date.

Troop Election Results:
The Troop had its semi-annual elections on Monday, May 7th. The results are as follows:
Brian - Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Nicholas - Senior Patrol Leader
Jerome - Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
Daniel - Venture Crew Chief
Danny - Troop Guide
Mark - Dragon Slayer's Patrol Leader
Zach - Assistant Dragon Slayer's Patrol Leader
Joshua - Raptor's Patrol Leader
Jay - Assistant Raptor's Patrol Leader
David - Viper's Patrol Leader
Jere - Assistant Viper's Patrol Leader
Jere - Troop Historian
Billy - Troop Quartermaster
Jack - Troop Scribe
Brent - Troop Bugler
Daniel - O.A. Troop Representative
?vacant? - Troop Librarian
Congratulations to all the boys! Boys that are new in their positions will need to meet with Nicholas for their initial training.

Livingston, Montana May 2001 Volume 4 Issue 4
Board of Review Deadline Approaches: Don't forget to get Merit Badges and Rank advancement completed by May 21. April Troop Campout: Troop 563 went on their monthly overnight campout on April 21 and 22 at Snowbank Campground. Before setting up camp, the boys decided on taking a hike up Knoll's Peak. Accompanied by Mr. Lemke and his dog Scout, the boys climbed into the afternoon. The new Scouts searched for evidence of animals and learned the names of lots of different plants. Once arriving back at the parking lot, we carried in all our gear and food along with the massive Patrol Box. After setting up camp, dinner was started. Mark was in charge of the cooking and cleaning so he risked the chance of actually eating that night by assigning Nicholas and Jerome to cooking the ravioli and beef stew. The food turned out all right and dinner was washed down with lots of hot chocolate. The dishes were washed and put away so we decided to go find a place to play capture the flag. Once a suitable playing field was found, we realized we didn't have anything to use for flags so we decided to play a rousing game of "duck, duck, goose". That somehow ended in a dog pile and then we headed off to camp. After some cookies and candy bars, camp quieted down. Brian went to sleep in his shelter and everyone else went to their tents. Over the night, temperatures reached a low of 23 degrees, just giving Jerome, Nicholas and Mr. Andrews enough frost points to reach the 180 degrees of frost mark. In the morning, breakfast was scrambled eggs and little smokies with more hot chocolate. Camp was taken down and everything carried out to the road. Thus ended Troop 563's latest camping trip. [article by Nicholas]	Welcome New Scout Zach: Zach is our newest Scout in the Troop and has just completed his first campout only one week after joining. He has joined the Dragon Slayer's Patrol and is quickly working toward his Tenderfoot Rank advancement. Please welcome him and his family to our Troop. We wish him the best of fun and adventure in his Scouting career. Reminder, Fees Due by June 1st: Jamboree Trip participants owe the final $200 and Summer Camp participants must be paid in full, which is $153, or you will be charged a late fee of $20. Friday, June 1st is the due date. Troop Election Results: The Troop had its semi-annual elections on Monday, May 7th. The results are as follows: Brian - Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Nicholas - Senior Patrol Leader Jerome - Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Daniel - Venture Crew Chief Danny - Troop Guide Mark - Dragon Slayer's Patrol Leader Zach - Assistant Dragon Slayer's Patrol Leader Joshua - Raptor's Patrol Leader Jay - Assistant Raptor's Patrol Leader David - Viper's Patrol Leader Jere - Assistant Viper's Patrol Leader Jere - Troop Historian Billy - Troop Quartermaster Jack - Troop Scribe Brent - Troop Bugler Daniel - O.A. Troop Representative ?vacant? - Troop Librarian Congratulations to all the boys! Boys that are new in their positions will need to meet with Nicholas for their initial training.

Spring District Camporee Fun:
On Friday, May 4th we departed for Greycliff Campground on the Madison River near Ennis. We took our wonderful enclosed trailer to the event which was a great resource. Thanks to Mr. Hughes for hauling it to the Camporee! On Saturday we went to the morning flag ceremony all in full uniform. We then participated in the various demonstrations and had lunch. During the afternoon eight Scouts competed in eight events with excellent results. That evening we found out that we earned six blue ribbons for 1st place, three yellow ribbons for third place and three top awards. The Raptors / Vipers Patrol, (Jere, Tyler, Jay, and Bret) earned 1st place in the Shot Put, Tower Building, Travois Race, and Rope Making, and 3rd place in the Tripod Lift. The Dragon Slayers / Cosmos Patrol, (Mark, Zach, Danny, and Jerome) earned 1st place in the Cookoff and 3rd place in the Shot Put. The Troop earned Red, White and Blue Top Award ribbons for Best Overall Troop, Fastest Travois and Cleanest Camp. During the evening, Calin and Joshua were able to join us for a total of 10 boys attending. That night was the annual Order of the Arrow Tap Out ceremony. Our own Assistant Scoutmaster, Mr. Esp, was the Chief of this event. Danny, Jere, Joshua and Jerome were tapped out one by one in addition to the boys and adults elected from other Troops. They will now have to serve at one of the two O.A. Ordeals in June. On Sunday we had church services and headed home. Mr. Ron Nelson hauled our trailer home which we really appreciate.

Orienteering at the Middle School:
The first session of First Class Rank orienteering was completed on April 27th. We had four Scouts work their way around pieces of the one mile course completing 1/8 mile sections with less than 5% error. A new record was set by Mark as he completed the whole mile in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Additionally, no one has ever completed the entire course in one continuous effort. Nice work Mark! We will be back out at the Middle School on Friday, May 11 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. for any Scouts interested in starting, continuing, completing or practicing the orienteering course.
Future Events Summary:

May
Family Life
Merit Badge Theme

11 Continuation of First Class one mile Orienteering 3:30 - 5 p.m. at SGMS

12 Food Drive Service Project with Postal Service 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

12 8th grade Merit Badges meeting, SGMS 3 - 5 p.m.

14 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Swimming Pool, bring $4

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

21 Troop Committee Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory. No Scout meeting other than Board of Review.

24 - 26 Fund Raiser at County Market

28 Memorial Day (no meeting)

June
Climbing Merit Badge Theme

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

3 Nicholas' Eagle Scout Court of Honor, 2:30 p.m. Grace Methodist

4 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory to finish Family Life

8 - 10 O.A. Ordeal at K-M

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

15 - 17 O.A. Ordeal at Grizzly Base

16 Service Project for Fun Run

16 - 17 Second of three mandatory meetings for the Jamboree Trip overnight campout at Tom Miner

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

24 - 30 Summer Camp at Bear Lake Aquatics Base, Utah

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