Troop 734 - Hilliard, OH

If you're a race fan, you'll definitely want to check out the BSA Motorsports Indycar Team, making its US debut this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida (they finished 18th at the season opener in Brazil). Check out the Indycar schedule so you can set your DVR!

• Tonight’s program Patrol: Pedro’s; Scout skill: trailer cleanup!
• Next week – no meeting!  In two weeks (Mar 29) the program Patrol will be the Wolves.
• Upcoming events:
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 3 – Mar 27.
  • Spring Court of Honor – Apr 19.
  • High Ropes Campout – Apr 23-25. ** Note – new date! **
  • Simon Kenton Council Camporall – Apr 30–May 2.
  • Horseback Riding Campout – May 14-16.ju
• Announcements
  • Roster verification for horsemanship campout (per today’s email).
  • Mrs. Kirke – We had lots of unclaimed equipment following this weekend’s campout.  Please see Mrs. Kirke if you’re missing something, and please try to make sure that you go home with everything you bring to campouts!
  • If you’re interested in going to the Camporall, today is the last day for the $35 rate.  If you’re not yet registered, and you’d like to register at the early-bird rate, see Mrs. Kirke.
  • Mr. Janek – Circle badges are still available!
  • Mr. Wobser – thanks to all the First Class and above Scouts who helped out with this weekend’s campout.
  • Upcoming races – volunteer signup will begin soon:
    • Dam Fool 4 Miler: Saturday, Apr 10 (9am).   We’ll just need a few volunteers for this race.
    • Cinco de Mayo 4 Miler: Friday, May 8 (6pm).  We’ll need about 30 volunteers for this race.
  • Thanks to Mr. Pearsall for his “camping 101” gear demo!  I shot a couple of videos, so I’ll try to get these posted soon.
  • Check out these upcoming events from Outdoor Source.
  • Finally, here are nine tips to disaster-proof your campsite.

• Tonight’s program Patrol: Jalapeno’s; Scout skills: knots, knots, and knots.
• Next week’s program Patrol: Taco Bellers; Scout skills: First Aid.
• Upcoming events:
  • Skills Campout – Mar 12-14.
    • Please meet at the Church at 6:00pm; we’ll leave promptly at 6:30.
    • New Scouts will have first dibs on the cabin.
    • Permission slips and grub fees can be turned in tonight.
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 3 – Mar 27
  • High Ropes Campout – Apr 16-18
  • Spring Court of Honor – Apr 19
  • Simon Kenton Council Camporall – Apr 30 – May 2
• Announcements:
  • Adults are encouraged to take the youth protection online course every two years.
  • Money for dues, grub fees, etc., can be turned in to Mrs. Bryan.
• Tips for this weekend’s campout:
  • All Scouts should wear their Class-A uniforms to and from camp.
  • Bring a flash light, rain gear, and money for lunch at Taco Bell on Sunday.
  • Bring your Scout book (with your name in it!) and a pen.  Ziploc bags work great to keep your book dry.
  • Remember to pack dry clothes, rain gear and dress in layers, sleeping bag/pad.
  • Mess kits and water bottles are also needed this weekend.  (All camping items needed for a campout are listed your troop binders.
  • Turn in all medical forms to Mrs. Kirke.
  • Mr. Wobser will be grubmaster for the Sunny Daze patrol.
  • Don’t forget that we “spring forward” one hour this weekend!

• Tonight’s program Patrol: Froggies; Scout skills: camp setup, safe swim, and directions without compass.
• Next week’s program Patrol: Jalapeno’s; Scout skills: knots, knots, and knots.
• Upcoming events:
  • [R]Maple Syrup Festival – Mar 6.
  • City Council meeting for Communications Merit Badge – Mar 8.  Please arrive by 6:30-6:45, and be in full Class-A uniform!  (see link for more information, including the address!)
  • Skills Campout – Mar 12-14.  We verified attendance tonight and set grubmasters.  We’ll be camping in The Pines, and we’ll have Krebs Cabin for those who would prefer to be inside.  Please be sure to have your application and medical forms turned in prior to camping!
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 3 – Mar 27.
  • High Ropes Campout – Apr 16-18.
  • Spring Court of Honor – Apr 19.
• Announcements:
  • There is/was a new parent orientation tonight for parents of new Scouts.
  • For those attending summer camp this year, we’ll be taking our swim test in advance.  This helps us get checked in and settled a little more quickly, and it’s been a big help in the past.  We’ll be doing the swim tests at Aquatic Adventures during the first or second week of April – watch for more information on this.
  • Ropes course – April.   Helmet, 30-feet off the ground.  April 16-18 – rough headcount tonight.  Summit Vision – Hoover Reservoir. 
  • Mr. Pearsall will bring gear to next week’s meeting to do “Scout Gear 101”.  This will give new Scouts a chance to see some of the equipment that your Scout may start accumulating.  None of our Scouts run out and buy all this stuff all at once, but as you begin to acquire stuff, we’ve found that it’s helpful to know something about the options that are available.
  • Mr. Janik still has some circle-patches (to wear around the world Scouting emblem).  These patches are available for $1.50.
  • We have some openings for this summer’s Northern Tier trip.  If you’re interested (and you’re First Class or higher and 14 as of the start of the trip), please let Mr. Hansford know.
  • Our junior leader training classes will resume on 3/15 (we’re skipping next week for the City Council meeting).
  • The Simon Kenton Council is holding its centennial celebration Camporall from April 30 through May 2.  Check out the link for more information.
  • On May 22 and 23, the BSA’s Adventure Base 100 is making a stop at the Columbus Zoo.  Wear your uniform, and get in free!

Welcome to new Scouts and new parents.  This is an exciting time for all of us, and we can't wait to have all of you join us!  We always do our best to capture announcements made in each meeting, but don't be afraid to ask questions if you need more information.

• Tonight’s program Patrol: ??; Scout skills: Flag etiquette.
• Next week’s program Patrol: tbd; Scout skills: tbd.
• Upcoming events:
  • Communications Merit Badge class – Feb 23.  This should be our last class, but don’t forget to attend the City Council meeting on Mar 8.
  • [R]Maple Syrup Festival – Feb 27.  Please let Mr. Lane know if you can help with the the festival on Feb 27 or Mar 6.
  • [R]Maple Syrup Festival – Mar 6.
  • City Council meeting for Communications Merit Badge – Mar 8.
  • Skills Campout – Mar 12-14.  Click the link to the left to read more about this campout.  If this is your first campout with Troop 734, be sure to read "All about a Troop 734 Campout".
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 3 – Mar 27.
  • High Ropes Campout – Apr 16-18.
  • Spring Court of Honor – Apr 19.
• Announcements:
  • Summer camp is coming up.  Be sure to check out this link for important information about this year’s summer camp.  Here’s another link that has general information about summer camp.  Your first payment of $30 is due this week in order to get the maximum early-payment discount.
  • Dues are going up to $7 per month for Scouts in order to defray rising costs.  In addition, adults who attend campouts will contribute $5 to help cover grub costs.
  • Mr. Janik still has some circle-patches (to wear around the world Scouting emblem).  These patches are available for $1.50.
  • New Scouts:  There are six patrols in the Troop, and all of our new Scouts will need to decide which Patrol they want to join.  We're going to rotate new Scouts among each of our open Patrols, and we'll ask them to commit to one of them once they've had a chance to complete the grand tour.

No meeting due to weather.  Go help someone shovel!

• Tonight’s program Patrol: tbd; Scout skills: tbd.
• Next week’s program Patrol: tbd; Scout skills: tbd
• Upcoming events:
  • No Communications Merit Badge class on Feb 9.  Classes will resume on Feb 16, and the class has been extended a week to Feb 23.
  • Skiing / Tubing – Feb 12.  Note:  We’re now planning on leaving here at 9:00am and skiing during the day!  Be sure to click the link for updated prices.
  • [R]Communications Merit Badge class – Feb 16.
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 2 – Feb 20.
  • Pack 148 Blue-Gold Banquet – Feb 20.
  • Communications Merit Badge class – Feb 23.  This class was added to make up for the cancelled class on Feb 9.
  • [R]Maple Syrup Festival – Feb 27.  Please see Mr. Lane if you can help with this event, either this week or next week (Mar 6)!
  • [R]Maple Syrup Festival – Mar 6.
  • Skills Campout – Mar 12-14.
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 3 – Mar 27.
• Announcements:
  • Summer camp voting was tonight.  Results (in order): Crooked Creek (9 votes), Blue Ridge (8 votes), Chief Logan (7 votes), and Woodland Trails (6 votes).  Mr. Hansford will work on making reservations for the 2nd week in July, starting with Crooked Creek, and working down the list if they’re full that week.

• Tonight’s program Patrol: Flaming Jalapenos; Scout skills: knots, knots, and more knots.
• Next week’s program Patrol: (tbd); Scout skills: (tbd)
• Upcoming events:
  • [R]Communications Merit Badge class – Feb 2
  • [R]Communications Merit Badge class – Feb 9
  • Skiing / Tubing – Feb 12.  Click the link for more info (new tonight), including updated costs!
  • [R]Communications Merit Badge class – Feb 16.
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 2 – Feb 20.
  • Pack 148 Blue-Gold Banquet – Feb 20. Volunteers needed - please click the link for more info, and see Mr. Hansford if you can help.
  • Skills Campout – Mar 12-14.
  • Merit Badge College 2010 - Session 3 – Mar 27.
• Announcements:
  • In May (14-16), we’ll be doing a horseback riding campout at Marmon Valley Farm, near Mad River Mountain.  As indicated in the notes from January 18, we asked for a commitment from Scouts tonight, and Mr. Bryan is turning names in to the camp tomorrow.
  • Mrs. Kirke conducted some Junior Leadership Training tonight for our SPL and Patrol Leaders.
  • Brendan Pearsall is participating in the 30-hour famine, and he’d like your help.  The 30-hour famine is a youth movement that’s raising money to support starving children throughout the world.  It is said that 23,000 children die each day from starvation and hunger related illnesses.  Brenden’s youth group is supporting these children through the Word Vision foundation which will spread your donations throughout the devastated countries worldwide.  For a $30 donation, you can support one child for a whole month.  If you’d like to help these children, see Brenden at the next Troop meeting.
  • This Sunday (Feb 7) is Scout Sunday.  We have been asked to hand out bulletins for the 9:30 service at St. James (our sponsor).  We're looking for volunteers to help with this.  Scouts should be in full, class-A uniform.  If you can help, please let Mr. Martin know.
  • The Council asked Scott Lane if he could round up some volunteers to help on the shooting range for the upcoming Maple Syrup Festival.  If you can help, please let Scott know.
  • If anyone’s interested in the DVD photo slide show we had running during last week’s Court of Honor, please let me know.  If there’s enough interest, we’ll look at burning a few copies.  Most likely, we’ll ask for a small donation to the Troop to defray expenses.