Troop 563 September 2001 Newsletter

Livingston, Montana September 2001 Volume 4 Issue 8

Troop 563 Across the Nation (continued):
Day 14: We woke up and packed out our gear. Then we had breakfast. We took the Metro to D.C. where we walked to the Capitol Building, the Air and Space Museum, and the Natural History Museum. We saw an IMAX movie about caving. The museums got boring though. On the way back to a train station we walked by the Boy Scout Memorial and the White House. Nick Esp cooked shishcabobs on the barbecue for dinner. Day 15: It rained all of last night and today. Everything is soaked. We went to DC again but this time we drove. We went to Arlington National Cemetery and saw the eternal flame, the tomb of the unknown soldier and the changing of the guard. We then went to the American History Museum. Jay and his dad left the trip with their family to head to Boston. We spent a third night on the C&O towpath. Day 16: This morning after breakfast we worked on our Historic Trails award. We picked up tons of trash along the Billy Goat Trail Section B. We moved 23 blowdowns off the trail. We drove for 4 hours today and ate at a buffet. It wasn't too bad of a drive. We set up camp in a beautiful campground in West Virginia. We played an awesome game of Ultimate Frisbee. Day 17: We woke up early and spent two hours in Key's Cave. We also walked around and saw the entrances to four other caves. We had to get the Calypso's oil changed today. We drove for a long time to Mr. Andrews' parent's house. We had a late dinner and birthday cake. We spent the night on their lawn. Day 18: We drove only 1.5 hours to Cedar Point early this morning. We rode roller coasters from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. and everybody rode Millennium Force: the world's fastest and tallest roller coaster! Top speed of 93 mph! After 13 hours of roller coasters, we all loaded back into the van and drove all night
rather than put up tents at the expensive campground. Day 19: We all slept in the van last night. It was really uncomfortable. We passed through Chicago at 4 a.m. We arrived early in Wisconsin and played games and relaxed all day. Day 20: We drove to Bismark, ND today. It is really hot and there are a lot of bugs. We ate at another buffet and spent some time in air conditioned buildings before we went to camp. Everyone took showers for the trip home. This is our last night! The trip flew by! Day 21: We got up at 4:00 this morning and headed for home. We arrived at about 2:00, unloaded the trailer, cleaned the van and everyone happily called their parents to come get them. This trip was awesome!!! Thanks to all the adults who put up with us boys!
by: Nicholas

September Merit Badge Focus:
During the months of September and October we will be working on Space Exploration Merit Badge which none of our Scouts have. We should easily be able to complete this badge in five meetings. In addition, some Scouts will be working on Personal Fitness Merit Badge for the next three months. There will be some meetings in Mr. Andrews' classroom, Sleeping Giant Middle School room A-105. The Scouts have started to receive a copy of the monthly Future Events Summary to keep in their Scout Books. This should help with where the meetings are and when other events are taking place. Personal Fitness testing will tentatively take place at 6:30 p.m. on August 27, September 10 & 24, October 8 & 22, and November 5 & 19. We will meet at SGMS room A-105 and use the high school track. Each testing session will take about 1/2 hour.

Livingston, Montana September 2001 Volume 4 Issue 8
Troop 563 Across the Nation (continued): Day 14: We woke up and packed out our gear. Then we had breakfast. We took the Metro to D.C. where we walked to the Capitol Building, the Air and Space Museum, and the Natural History Museum. We saw an IMAX movie about caving. The museums got boring though. On the way back to a train station we walked by the Boy Scout Memorial and the White House. Nick Esp cooked shishcabobs on the barbecue for dinner. Day 15: It rained all of last night and today. Everything is soaked. We went to DC again but this time we drove. We went to Arlington National Cemetery and saw the eternal flame, the tomb of the unknown soldier and the changing of the guard. We then went to the American History Museum. Jay and his dad left the trip with their family to head to Boston. We spent a third night on the C&O towpath. Day 16: This morning after breakfast we worked on our Historic Trails award. We picked up tons of trash along the Billy Goat Trail Section B. We moved 23 blowdowns off the trail. We drove for 4 hours today and ate at a buffet. It wasn't too bad of a drive. We set up camp in a beautiful campground in West Virginia. We played an awesome game of Ultimate Frisbee. Day 17: We woke up early and spent two hours in Key's Cave. We also walked around and saw the entrances to four other caves. We had to get the Calypso's oil changed today. We drove for a long time to Mr. Andrews' parent's house. We had a late dinner and birthday cake. We spent the night on their lawn. Day 18: We drove only 1.5 hours to Cedar Point early this morning. We rode roller coasters from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. and everybody rode Millennium Force: the world's fastest and tallest roller coaster! Top speed of 93 mph! After 13 hours of roller coasters, we all loaded back into the van and drove all night	rather than put up tents at the expensive campground. Day 19: We all slept in the van last night. It was really uncomfortable. We passed through Chicago at 4 a.m. We arrived early in Wisconsin and played games and relaxed all day. Day 20: We drove to Bismark, ND today. It is really hot and there are a lot of bugs. We ate at another buffet and spent some time in air conditioned buildings before we went to camp. Everyone took showers for the trip home. This is our last night! The trip flew by! Day 21: We got up at 4:00 this morning and headed for home. We arrived at about 2:00, unloaded the trailer, cleaned the van and everyone happily called their parents to come get them. This trip was awesome!!! Thanks to all the adults who put up with us boys! by: Nicholas September Merit Badge Focus: During the months of September and October we will be working on Space Exploration Merit Badge which none of our Scouts have. We should easily be able to complete this badge in five meetings. In addition, some Scouts will be working on Personal Fitness Merit Badge for the next three months. There will be some meetings in Mr. Andrews' classroom, Sleeping Giant Middle School room A-105. The Scouts have started to receive a copy of the monthly Future Events Summary to keep in their Scout Books. This should help with where the meetings are and when other events are taking place. Personal Fitness testing will tentatively take place at 6:30 p.m. on August 27, September 10 & 24, October 8 & 22, and November 5 & 19. We will meet at SGMS room A-105 and use the high school track. Each testing session will take about 1/2 hour.

Troop 563 enrollment numbers:
During the past five years our Troop has had 39 boys join by completing application forms. Five have dropped out after a very short time. Nine have dropped out after being fairly active members for about a year. Two have moved out of state. One has transferred to a Troop out of town. One became an Eagle Scout and soon turned 18 years old. Four others have become Eagle Scouts and are still active members. The Troop also has 17 other Boy Scout members with many possible Eagle Scouts from those ranks. Our percentage of Eagles from the total membership is 13% (5 out of 39) which is just above the reported national average of 10%. Our Troop currently has 21 Boy Scouts and could easily handle a few more. Boys are encouraged to earn the Recruiter Award. This is done by inviting a boy to join our Troop and help him earn his Tenderfoot Rank.

Summer Court of Honor:
Due to the public closure of the National Guard Armory, we will hold our Summer Court of Honor at Sleeping Giant Middle School room A-105. The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by the regularly scheduled Troop Committee Meeting at 8:00 p.m.

District Fall Camporee:
The annual District Fall Camporee will be held at Snowbank Campground on September 21 - 23. We will meet at 5:30 p.m on Friday and return at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Our Troop will be offering Venture Rock Climbing on Saturday during which Scouts will be able to earn a significant portion of the Climbing Merit Badge. Scouts need to bring $14 to the Court of Honor on Monday or on Friday at 5:30. The Troop will pay 1/2 of the $6 camporee fee. Scouts will pay $11 for two nights of food and $3 for the camporee.

Future Events Summary:

Sept.
Space Exploration & Personal Fitness Merit Badge Focus

15 Jay's Eagle Court of Honor, 7 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church

17 Summer Court of Honor at Sleeping Giant Middle School room A-105. 7:00 - 8:00 Troop Committee Meeting 8:00 - 8:30

21 - 23 District Fall Camporee at Snowbank. Meet at 5:30 p.m at Lincoln School on Friday, return at 11 a.m. at Lincoln School on Sunday.

24 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at SGMS room A-105.

October
Space Exploration & Personal Fitness Merit Badge Focus

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

4 District Roundtable Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Bozeman

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

8 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at SGMS room A-105.

13 - 14 Venture Caving Trip

15 Troop Committee Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory. Scouts have a guest speaker and should attend.

22 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at SGMS room A-105.

27 - 28 Troop Campout

29 Scout Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Armory. Deadline for Merit Badges and Rank Advancement awarded at the Fall Court of Honor. Board of Review #1

God Bless America

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