Troop 734 - Hilliard, OH

• Tonight’s program Patrol: 12-Gaugers; Scout skills: food storage (advanced anti-raccoon strategies)
• Next week’s program Patrol : Taco Bellers; Scout skills: knots & lashings; PLC
• Upcoming events:
  • Commmittee Meeting – Aug 19.
  • Adult-led Campout – Sept 25-27.
  • Fish & Wildlife Management merit badge at the Zoo – Oct 11.
  • Marengo Caves – Oct 16-18.
• Announcements:
  • Thanks for everyone who helped with the race this weekend.  We’ve also been asked to work a race this upcoming weekend – it’s a 10K / 5K in Westerville.  Watch your email for an announcement about this, and see Mr. Cooper if you’re interested in volunteering.
  • We had a great rappelling campout this weekend – congratulations to everyone who attended.  We may have an opportunity to rappel again at a location in the Hocking Hills on a vertical that’s about three times larger than the hill we rappelled at Falling Rock.
  • Reminder: there’s a new Scout handbook taking effect on Jan 1, 2010.  Whichever rank you’re working on at this time will have to be completed under the 2010 requirements.
  • Reminder: Please let Scott Lane know asap if you’re interested in the Fish & Wildlife merit badge class at the Zoo.
  • Thanks to Colin O’Connor who stopped in to remind us how important our Scout skills really are.  He shared a great story about a time he was able to use his First Aid skills.

• Tonight's program Patrol: Wolves; Scout skills: safe hike, safe swim, and safety afloat.
• Next week’s program Patrol: 12-Gaugers; Scout skills: tbd
• Upcoming events:
  • Climbing and Rappelling Campout – Aug 14-15.  Be sure to click the link for info about this campout, including a VERY IMPORTANT SCHEDULE CHANGE!
  • Columbus 1/2 Marathon & 5K race – Aug 16.  This will be a large-ish race, and we’re looking for at least five Scouts to work the race.  Please contact Mr. Wobser if you can help.
  • Adult-led Campout – Sept 25-27.
• Announcements:
  • The zoo is putting on a class for the Fish & Wildlife Management merit badge again on October 11.  If you’re interested, please contact Mr. Lane – we have to be signed up by September 29, and these classes frequently fill up quickly.
  • There’s a new Scout book out!  Along with the new book come new requirements, and these will take effect on January 1, 2010.  Please note that whatever rank you’re working on as of this date will have to be completed using the new requirements, so if you’re close to completing an advancement, you might want to work to get it complete under the existing requirements so you don’t have any extra surprises!

• Tonight’s program Patrol: ; Scout skills: 
• Next week: Dime-a-Dog Night with the Clippers at Huntington Park.  Please wear your Orange class “B” shirt if you’re coming.  Mr. Graves will be in the parking lot at Church at 5:00pm with tickets, and he’ll leave here around 6:15.  Gates open at 5:35, and the game starts at 7:05.  Parking could be a bit of a trick, so carpooling is encouraged.  We’re going to be in sections 30 and 31 in left-center field, and we’ll be facing the sun for a bit, so bring a brimmed cap and/or shades.
• Upcoming events:
• Dublin Irish Festival 4 Miler – July 30 (wear Green)
• Whitewater Rafting – July 31 – Aug 2.  Parents who aren’t attending should be sure to sign a release and send it with your rafter.  Rick’s leaving 11-12 on Friday, but there will probably also be at least one additional group going.
• Ohio State Fair 5K – Aug 1 (meet in front of Crew stadium).
• Dime-a-Dog Night – Aug 2
• St. James Church Brat Fest – Aug 7 – Aug 9.  We’re close to fully-staffed – thanks to all who volunteered, and please don’t forget when you’re supposed to work!
• Beerathlon 5K at Buffalo Wild Wings on Bethel – Aug 8.
• Pack 148 pool party – Aug 8.  If you’re not helping at the Brat Fest, Pack 148 could use your help.  In addition, if you’ve got a partial on swimming merit badge, Mr. Peasall can help you wrap up your remaining requirements at this event.
• Climbing and Rappelling Campout – Aug 14-16. Note the new date for this campout! We had to change weekends in order to have access to a rappel-master.
• Columbus 1/2 Marathon & 5K race – Aug 16.

"A former Microsoft CTO and an astrophysicist who worked on the Strategic Defense Initiative are collaborating on a system that kills mosquitoes with lasers to prevent the spread of malaria."

We need one of these before we go to Northern Tier.  Seriously.  I'm talking Canoe-mounted Weapons of Mosquito Destruction.

• Tonight’s program Patrol: Pedros; Scout skills: undetermined;
• Next week is our Court of Honor – be sure to click the link to see important information about this event!
• Upcoming events:
  • Committee Meeting – July 15
  • Canoing Day Trip - moved to July 24-26 – was July 18
  • Columbus Intn'l Triathlon at Antrim Park – July 19
  • Court of Honor – July 20.  Be sure to click the link for important information about the Court of Honor!
  • Canoeing Campout – July 24-26 (tentative)
  • Whitewater Rafting – July 31 – Aug 2.
  • Dime-a-Dog Night – Aug 3.
  • St. James Church Brat Fest – Aug 7-9.  See additional info in the link.
• Announcements:
  • As noted above, we’re no longer doing a canoeing day this weekend.  Instead, we’ll do something next weekend (July 24-26) at Burr Oak.  Still to be determined is whether it’s a day trip or a “normal” campout, so stay tuned for more information.
  • Thanks to all the Scouts and parents who helped with Cub Scout day camp.  Please keep your eyes open for info on the Shooteree, coming up in September – they Cubbies are sure to need more help!

Please join us for the summer, 2009 Court of Honor at Prairie Oaks Metro Park. This will be a cookout as we've done in years past.  Please be sure to wear your full uniform, and note the time -- we'll meet at 6:00 pm (earlier than usual, awards @ 7pm).

This meeting will be a pot-luck style family picnic in the first shelter at the main entrance- 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, Ohio 43162 (aka Rt 142 West Jefferson Exit).  Parents & Siblings are invited & encouraged to attend. 

The troop will provide drinks and hamburger and hot dogs.

Patrol Responsibilities:

• Taco Bellers: Side Dish
• Wolves: Side Dish
• Froggies: Desserts
• Jalapenos: Side Dish
• Pedros: Desserts
• 12 Gauge: Side Dish

A note about advancement: 

Any scouts who have completed their Scoutmaster Conference for rank advancement and would like to complete their Board of Review so they can receive their new rank at the July 20 Court of Honor need to contact Cary Kolker, Troop Advancement Chair or Ron Cooper, Assistant Advancement Chair. Members of the Troop Committee will be available for Boards on Monday, July 6 but these must be scheduled in advance, so scouts need to contact Cary or Ron this weekend after returning from summer camp. Boards need to be completed two weeks prior to the Court of Honor to allow sufficient time to obtain awards, print programs, etc. Please do not wait until the meeting on the 13th to request a board if you want to receive your new rank at the July 20 Court of Honor.

Map of Prairie Oaks:

• Tonight's Program patrol: Froggies; Scout skills: knots & lashings.
• Next meeting will be July 13 (one week after we return from summer camp).  Program patrol: Pedros; Scout skills: buddy system, WOMD, and carries.
• Upcoming events:
  • Summer Camp - June 28 - July 4 (see notes below!)
  • Canoing Day Trip - July 18
  • Whitewater Rafting -1 July 31 - August 2
  • St. James Church Brat Fest - August 7-9
• Announcements
  • If you'd like to work at the Franklin County Fair in the Historical Society village, they need help with security.   Shifts will be 1-4 or 4-7 during the Franklin Coutny Fair --  July 18 - 27th.  You'll get free admission, but you'll have to pay for rides, food, and so on.  If you're interested, please see Cheryl.
  • Summer camp stuff (we're less than a week away!)
    • Tent assignments were recorded tonight.  If you weren't at the meeting, please share your plans with Mr. Hansford.
    • Merit badge selection -- you should have communicated this to Mr. Bryan prior to tonight.  If you haven't yet done so, please take care of this ASAP!
    • Now is a great time to get a haircut prior to camp -- you'll be much more comfortable with short hair (not that we're naming any names)!
    • Things you should think about packing:
      • Class-A uniform.
      • Class-B uniform shirts (we'll have a color for each day).
      • No open-toed shoes or flip-flops!
      • A bottle or camel-bak for water -- this is really important!  We're going to work hard to keep people hydrated all week.
      • Toiletries and supplies for showering.
      • Button-up shirt and long pants if you're doing the swimming and lifesaving merit badges (shoes, also for lifesaving).
      • Bring your Scout book.
      • If you have prerequisites to bring, don't forget them.
    • Put your initials or name on absolutely everything you can - especially your uniforms!
    • We're meeting Sunday in the Wal-Mart parking lot across from Burger King at noon, and we're leaving at 12:30pm.  Please show up in your Class-A uniform!  Please eat before you arrive, because we won't be eating lunch at camp.
    • It might be a good idea to review the helpful information on the web site about how our camping trips run.
  • Whitewater - money is due **tonight**!  This is always an outstanding time, so if you couldn't make it this year, we'll look forward to seeing you next year.

• Tonight's program Patrol: Taco Bellers; Scout skills: knots & lashings.
• Next week's  Froggies; Scout skills: safe hike, safe swim, and safety afloat.  Class-B shirt color is BLUE.
• Upcoming events:
  • Citizenship in the Nation - June 17 (final class)
  • Committee Meeting - June 17
  • Summer Camp - June 28 - July 4
  • Canoing Day Trip - July 18
  • Whitewater Rafting - July 31 - Aug 2
• Announcements:
  • Mrs. Kirke still needs medical forms for summer camp -- ASAP!
  • If you're going on the tour of the television station trip, please see Mrs. Kirke to confirm details.
  • If you have your summer camp transportation release forms, please get these to Mr. Bryan.
  • Get your merit badge list emailed in to Mr. Bryan, please!
  • Thanks everyone for coming to the Island Getaway!  If you didn't make it, your weekend probably didn't look like this:  ---->