Troop 230
MAY 2008 Newsletter
VOLXXXXIV
A
minute from the Scoutmaster....
As I write this note four scouts in T-230 just completed their board of review for scouting’s highest rank, and they join a list of ninety-three other boys who have held the Eagle rank while in Troop 230. From our inception as a troop, we have had a dynamic program that has allowed young men to reach their potential and has provided the opportunity for our boys to advance at their own pace and reach any goal that they set for themselves. And, we’ve had some great adventures! Again and again and again I see that the young men who take the trips and come to the campouts and who run for leadership jobs and who keep the troop moving are the same ones that reach Eagle. I’ve been doing this long enough now to be able to look back, and see where our Eagles have gone, and as a group I am very proud of them and of the great things they are accomplishing.
We have a great troop doing great things, and this summer we will continue doing the same thing. I’m proud of all of our scouts, and of the troop they form, and of the rich history that goes with the Troop 230 name. This month we will have an unprecedented special court of honor where we will officially recognize and award the highest rank in scouting on Ian Voorhees, Will Klatt, Evan Mulcahy, Travis Morgan, Robert Dieffenderfer, Alex Katzenson, Jeremy Wilson, Kristian Anderson, Matthew Iskra, Kevin McCarthy, Jordan Schneider, Alex Babos, and Jacob Hakala. I know of no other troop in Alaska’s history that has had an Eagle Court of Honor for more than twelve scouts at the same time. It is something we can all take pride in, and an event that I hope every boy will attend. It is scheduled for Saturday, May 31st, beginning at 2pm at the Community Covenant Church at 16123 Artillery Road, in Eagle River.
Important Scoutmaster Thoughts:
We have a very exciting spring and summer with lots of new scouts and new parents and you can feel the enthusiasm at our meetings. Things are happening, and we have big events planned and they are coming up soon. More than fifty boys are signed up for summer camp, and we have some big trips being put together as well. Right now we need scouts to get their names on the trips they want to attend. I cannot over emphasize these opportunities, especially for older scouts. The thing that keeps an older boy in scouting is the high adventure activities, and the trips that we do are intense and exciting and are tremendous opportunities. I’ve discovered that scouts that go on them stay in the program, and scouts that consistently miss them do not. Regular troop meetings and the typical monthly campout are important events where we teach necessary skills and practice what we learn, but it is the big trips and expeditions where those skills are put to real use and the excitement happens. Some events are designed specifically for the older scout who has the skill set, knowledge, and physical stature to handle the demands that these trips can require. Because of that, I encourage the scouts to attend the outings and adventures, as I know it’s the key to keeping them.
Philmont
Scout Ranch Opportunity: For the older boys, there is
a critical meeting coming up soon, taking place on Wednesday, April 30th,
at 7pm at the Lions. The Great Alaska Council will be hosting an informational
signup meeting for the 2009 Philmont Scout Ranch expedition. If your son will be
14 by next summer, and even thinks he might want to attend Philmont, then he
needs to attend this meeting because slot priority will be offered to those in
attendance. Make sure to mark your calendar, and make a point to go and listen
and consider this scouting opportunity that from my perspective is second to
none.
Here are some other important items for all parents:
#1--We need to have an updated and current physical on file for every boy in the troop, and for every adult leader who is planning on attending our major outings. For those going to the summer camp this is critical. The Yukon trip being planned for late summer is also a high adventure activity that needs a current physical, for both adults and scouts. For the boys the actual see-the-doctor physical is good for three years, but the other part of it, i.e. shot records, medical history, etc, is not. The adult physical for those of us 40 and older is good for a single year. Please come by a troop meeting soon, and check with Mary Johnson, who is coordinating scout physicals for the troop. This is important for those high adventure activities of summer, and is a prerequisite to attend summer camp. We need every parent to check and see what we have and then to make sure your son's records are updated and current, and I’d like to get done in May.
#2--We are having an extremely important parents meeting for all parents whose son's are attending summer camp on Tuesday, May 20th. I am asking for at least one parent to make this meeting. We have a lot of information to give out, and things to discuss especially since we are going all the way to Fairbanks this year to a new camp in a different council. Please make every attempt to make this meeting!
#3—Adult Backpacking Class: Assistant Scoutmaster Sam Johnson will be offering a short class for parents on backpacking, and if you are interested in going on the troop’s outings but your skills are a little rusty, then this class will give you some knowledge and help you dress properly and make sure you carry what you need but leave behind what you don’t. He will hold that class during the troop meeting on Tuesday, May 6th.
#4—Fees: We have several major trips that we are working on, and it is now time to collect the deposits so that we can finalize them. Obviously, we have to know who is going, and we also need money to purchase the deposits, rent canoes, etc that these adventures require. You can’t do trips like we are planning without a firm commitment from the people who will want to go.
SUMMER: AN UPDATED PLAN AS IT STANDS: Speaking of trips, our summer plans have changed slightly, and as we get closer to the events some things have solidified and others have been altered. As it stands as I am writing this, here are the bigger events that are in the works at this time. We are making two changes of significance. The first is the Kusegi Ridge hike has been changed into a Crow Pass hike that will be better targeted for the age range of boys currently in the troop. The second change is the planned Yukon Canoe Trip has been altered to make it more exciting, and less expensive, and still meet our goals for a high adventure trip catered to older scouts that will be thrilling, safe, and fun. Here are the details for our summer activities:
Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge Canoe Trip[June11-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.
Summer
Camp [July 5-July 13]—All camp fees should have
been paid in full ($295). Those signing up for camp now will incur a $25
"late fee" imposed by the council. This year we are going to
Fairbanks, using a chartered bus, and this camp should be exciting and
different. I am still looking for a commitment from one or two additional
parents who can take the week off and spend it supporting the troop. With more
than fifty boys going, and being 400 miles away from Anchorage, I would like to
have no less than five parents in camp at all times.
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]: 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 our adventure will
follow the trail of the minors of 1898, canoeing down the mighty Yukon River
from Whitehorse towards Dawson City, and 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! 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 Hike [Aug 8-11]: Price has been set at
$40, which will cover freeze-dried food and parking fees. 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. It is a great backpacking trek, with some
awesome views, and we are taking four days to hike it so that it will be
manageable for the younger and less experienced scout. This is our last planned
outing for the summer.
Website http://t230.com
Once again, I mention the website because it’s the most
important link to keeping everyone informed. I encourage every parent to check
at least the Hot Stuff page a day or so prior to the meeting, to make sure your
son doesn’t forget something important. Our site gets updated at least twice a
week, and sometimes more often. When the council cancelled the Scout-O-Rama our
website was updated almost immediately. For May, the usernames and password
associated with our troop will remain unchanged.
May: The Specific Plan and the Purpose....
In May we are planning on backpacking through the Russian River Lakes Trail System, and will be concentrating on teaching the skills that will make that trip possible. This will prime us for bigger adventures to come, and many of the skills we will use (water purification, wilderness sanitation, lightweight stove cooking, etc) will transfer directly to the later trips coming up this summer. This is an opportunity for Patrol Leaders to lead, and for the guys to push themselves on a tough physical challenge. Adults are needed to make this work, as we will be breaking off the hike at separate camping locations to accommodate the different skills levels we have in the troop. Younger scouts will hike a shorter distance at a slower pace, while the older boys will hiker farther faster.
Finally, we will have two courts of honor in May, one on May 27th, followed by a special Eagle Court of Honor on Saturday, May 31st. These will be the last Courts of Honor before the new school year begins in August, so mark your calendar and encourage your son to get working on finishing up his rank advancement items.
Yours in scouting....
John C. Dieffenderfer
Scoutmaster – Troop 230