Troop 230
Eagle River,  Alaska
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LONG RANGE TROOP EVENT CALENDAR
"THE BIG PICTURE"

Flag Ceremony:  Patrol Contest-Varies by night                                             Cleanup Bathrooms: Dragons
Setup: Chairs:  Bears & Jr Leaders - arrive 645pm                                        Empty Trash: Flaming Arrow Patrol
Takedown Chairs: Sharks & Jr Ldrs                                                             Cleanup Floor: Cobras & Owls

June 2008 (THEME:  Camping)

The June calendar will be posted in detail after the PLC meets in May and finalizes the plans for the month.   We have two major expeditions planned for June.  The first of these is a canoe expedition that will take 5 days, and the second event is a very difficult backpacking expedition designed for the most experienced and capable scouts in the troop over the Kusegi Ridge.    The overall theme for the month is ADVENTURE, and we are going to do that all out.

KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CANOE EXPEDITION [JUNE 11-JUNE 15]:  Trip cost is $180 which will cover permits, rentals, food, and fuel for drivers. A $50 deposit is due now on this trip. Limited to 24 people. This is a 50 mile expedition through the heart of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.   This trip is designed for scouts in the troop that are physically capable of picking up half the weight of a canoe, approximately 40 pounds, and carrying it for 3/4 of a mile.    Experience has shown that scouts 14 and older generally will enjoy this adventure, scouts that are 13 may enjoy it if they are physically capable and have a strong desire to go, and scouts under 13 typically find it physically too demanding.    For older scouts wanting to go on the Yukon canoe expedition, this trip will provide the experience needed and an additional benefit is that it will also provide an opportunity to earn the canoeing merit badge.

BASIC BACKPACKING ADVENTURE [June 25-29]: We are planning a basic backpacking adventure tailored for the scouts in the 11-14 age range, and they will be backpacking a portion of Crow Pass, hiking in from the visitor center and spending two nights near Heritage Falls and exploring the area, and then returning back to the Eagle River Nature Center. The cost of this three day adventure is $40, and will require about 7 miles of hiking in each direction, over relatively flat terrain. If we have sufficient adult support, and a large group of various skill levels, then we may hike this in two groups to better tailor the difference experience levels by camping in different locations.

July 2008-August 2008  (THEME:  High Adventure)

The July calendar will be posted in detail after the PLC meets in June and finalizes the plans for the month.   We have two major expeditions planned for June, and one major service project.  The first of these is a canoe expedition that will take 5 days, and the second event is a very difficult backpacking expedition designed for the most experienced and capable scouts in the troop over the Kusegi Ridge.    The overall theme for the month is ADVENTURE, and we are going to do that all out.

LIONS CLUB SERVICE PROJECT [JULY 3 & JULY 4]:  At the Eagle River community Fireworks event T230 will help the Lions, supporting them at their food booth and cleaning up the mess the following morning.   This is our biggest service project of the year, and every single scout in our troop should do his part and come out for this event.   

SUMMER CAMP AT LOST LAKE BSA CAMP [JULY 5-JULY 12]:   For June, the PLC has opted to do something a little different for summer camp, and the plan is to attend a great camp that is different than anything we have ever done before.  We are traveling by motorcoach 400 miles this year, to a new location and an entirely new camping experience.    This year there will be waterskiing merit badge, motorboating merit badge, an overnight canoe trip, an overnight mountain biking trek, as well as the usual assortment of merit badges we have always associate with going to camp.    There is even a COPE course, with a high tower and a zipline!   Oh yeah this is going to be way different than what we usually do!     We have things in place to have a blast, and your scoutmaster is encouraging every scout in the troop to go.    Mark your calendar, and don't miss this experience!    Summer camp signups are done, and the total cost of camp [$295] should have been paid by now for everyone.   TAs always, summer camp is open to any scout in the troop.  You can take this link for more information--->SUMMER CAMP

WHITE WATER RAFTING [July 20th]--Whitewater rafting adventure down the Six Mile Creek.  This is a trip for scouts who can SWIM, and passing the BSA swimmers test is mandatory to participate.   Scouts going on the second canyon adventure will need to have the SWIMMING MERIT BADGE.   Without doubt, this is a very intense experience, and we will do this in two levels, to be announced at the troop meetings.   Cost will be announced as soon as the deal is set with the outfitter.

YUKON EXPEDITION [JULY 29-AUG 10]: his expedition is our high adventure trip  for the summer, and is for experienced scouts who have the scout skills and demonstrated proficiency to undertake a trip of this magnitude.   Last summer we hiked the Chilkoot Trail, and ended our adventure on the shores of Lake Bennett, where the gold minors spent the winter of 1898 building boats and dreaming of gold in the lands north of their location.   When the ice went out in the spring, they headed off towards Whitehorse, traveling down the swift and mighty Yukon all the way to Dawson City.   This year we are continuing their journey, and will canoe almost 300 river miles as we follow their adventure.     We are taking a maximum of 24 people to the Yukon from July 27 through Aug 10. Total cost of this expedition has been set at $540, which will cover the camping fees, canoe rentals, chartered transportation ferry service, fuel for the drivers, and the food. This price is a good value, especially considering the high cost of fuel. This is a 1600 mile trip into a foreign country (Canada) and those going will be canoing down the mighty Yukon River from Whitehorse towards Dawson City, and we will paddle all the way down the infamous Lake LeBarge, where Robert Service wrote his story about the "Cremation of Sam McGee."     
           After nine days on the river, we will end at Tatchun Creek after running the infamous "Five Fingers Rapids."  This trip is going to be way cool, and if you are one of our older scouts with the experience to make this kind of a trip then it is definitely time to get your name on the list!    For more than a week we will travel hundred of miles through pristine wilderness and untouched and unspoiled beauty, away from any road and far from any civilization.    You will swim and play and laugh and have fun like never before, and you will have the chance to see the remains of the old cabins, see the old stumps from the trees they cut down, and look at the ruins that they left behind.    You will even get to see one of the original steamboats, still sitting on a remote island, where it was dry docked for repairs that never came.    It sits today as a testament to a time and a place that can only be imagined.    On this trip, if you have what it takes, you will experience scouting at its very best, and without question, you will live a trip that you will never forget.   Signups will begin immediately and we are asking for a $100 deposit to be paid not later than the end of May. The Yukon river flows at 7 knots, and all scouts going will have to have the maturity and experience to go, and as a minimum they should have the canoeing merit badge and be able to pass the BSA swimmer’s test. If scouts don’t have that badge, they can earn it on the Kenai canoe trip in June or at summer camp in early July or on their own with an approved counselor at a time of their choosing, as long as it is prior to the departure date of the Yukon expedition. 

JOHNSON PASS TRAIL [AUGUST 8-11]:  This backpacking trek is designed for the less experienced scout, but it should not be underestimated.   The trail is 23 miles long, and has an elevation gain of 1000 feet.    If it rains it can be difficult, and soggy, and the bugs can be "interesting" at times.    All that said, its a great backpacking trek, over fairly flat trail that in general is in excellent condition, and without doubt there are some awesome views.   This trek is being planned over four days to hike it so that it will be manageable for the younger and less experienced scout.    To check out information from the web on this trail, take this link now----->JOHNSON PASS TRAIL