BSA Troop 373 Smoke Signals

NOVEMBER 2003

SMOKE SIGNALS NEWSLETTER

by Richard Earle

The Scouting Program

Our Troop is celebrating 25 years at Homestead Elementary School. We have many traditions and lots of great Scouting experiences. Many Scouts before us have followed the Boy Scouts of America fundamentals and guidelines to achieve their goals and dreams. We all look forward to the fun, adventures and lasting friendships provided by our committed Scouts and Adult volunteer leaders. Thanks to everyone for making Troop 373 what it is today.

Scouting is a values-based program with its own code of conduct. The Scout Oath and Law help instill the values of good conduct, respect for others, and honesty. Scouts learn skills that will last a lifetime, including basic outdoor skills, first aid, citizenship skills, leadership skills, and how to get along with others. For almost a century, Scouting has instilled in young men the values and knowledge that they will need to become leaders in their communities and country.

Boy Scouts is a boy-led, boy-run organization, but the boys must be trained to be leaders. One of the Scoutmaster's most important responsibilities is to provide the direction, coaching, and training that empowers the boy with the skills he will need to lead his troop. Scouting's value to young people is clear, but the advantages of Scouting are not limited to boys. Adults also develop leadership and physical skills with every training experience.

Scouting provides many opportunities for young men ages 11 through 17 to help plan and participate in rugged outdoor adventures. From day hikes to camporees and summer camp, the troop plans activities that match the interests and abilities of the Scouts. Older Scouts may participate in high-adventure programs such as rock climbing, rappelling, and whitewater rafting. Younger Scouts may attend summer camp and learn teamwork within their patrol and troop. Summer camp blends fun program with advancement requirements to reinforce skills learned throughout the year. In Scouting, fitness is fun with a purpose.

The Boy Scouts of America provides recognition for Scout achievements. The advancement program allows Scouts to progress from rank to rank. A fundamental purpose of advancement is the self-confidence a young man acquires from his participation in a troop. Requirements serve as the basis for a Boy Scout's rank advancement. The four steps to advancement are learning, testing, reviewing, and recognition. Many Scouts have been introduced to a lifelong hobby or rewarding career through the merit badge program. Merit badges help Scouts develop physical skills, social skills, and self-reliance.

Scout-age boys experience dramatic physical and emotional growth. Scouting offers them opportunities to channel much of that change into productive endeavors and to find the answers to many of their questions. Through service projects and Good Turns, Scouts can discover their place in the community. Many Scouting activities allow boys to associate with others from different backgrounds. The religious emblems program offers pathways for Scouts to more deeply understand their duty to God. The troop provides each Scout with an arena in which to explore, to try out new ideas, and to embark on adventures that sometimes have no design other than to have a good time with good people.

Patrols are the building blocks of a Boy Scout troop. A patrol is a small group of boys who are similar in age, development, and interests. Working together as a team, patrol members share the responsibility for the patrol's success. They gain confidence by serving in positions of patrol leadership. All patrol members enjoy the friendship, sense of belonging, and achievements of the patrol and of each of its members.

Troop 373 has lots of traditions and we want to continue to provide a quality Scouting experience for our Scouts and their families. Please get involved by participating in as many of the activities as your schedule permits. Please volunteer for being involved in the Troop leadership, lead trips, conduct quality Troop meeting programs, join the Troop committee volunteers or just continue to support the Troop so it can stay active, healthy and fun for everyone. Thank you for your support of the Scouting Program.

Senior Patrol Leader:	Jeff T.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders:	Eric S. Trevor J. Matt W.
Historian:	Will M.
Librarian:	Kyle B.
Quartermaster:	Ryan S.
Scribe:	Philip T.
Chaplain’s Aides:	Eric J. Pete W.
Bugler:	Jimmy M.

For Life Scouts (and parents of Life Scouts), here is an updated list of Eagle Advisors who are available and eager to work with you on your trail to Eagle:

The Arapahoe District of the Boy Scouts will hold its annual Winter Konderee Campout February 20 - 22, 2004. It will be a more traditional Klonderee and will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies – SNOW MOUNTAIN RANCH, Granby, Colorado. This Friday thru Sunday event will test the Skills of the Scouts in keeping warm, eating well, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and Winter Camping at its best. We will bring our Troop large white canvas tent for shelter and a meeting place. Group Patrol food will be organized and maybe it will get below zero degrees so we can earn the Denver Area Council Polar Bear Club Patch. There will be patrol/Troop contests between us and other Troops. There will also be a human Sled race (like a dog sled but powered by Scouts…._) This means we need to make our racing sled. Anyone have old snow skis we can use for the runners??? Sign-up for this winter event will be at the Court of Honor and the Tuesday night Troop meetings.

The Troop wants to thank the Entin Family for their generous donation of a 14 foot “Lido” Sailboat. This will start a new Sailing Program for the Troop where the small boat sailing merit badge will be able to be taught at Cherry Creek Reservoir or Chatfield Reservoir. This boat will hold about 4 Scouts/adults and has two sails (main sail and a jib). Scout volunteers are needed to help paint the trailer and get the boat ready for some fun Scouting outings. Several adult leaders have showed interest in helping out but more are always welcome. Please contact Scott Christian at if you can help.

The following article was run in the August 18, 2003 issue of the Lac du Bonnet Leader, a newspaper with circulation that covers the Bissett, Manitoba, Canada area:

Bissett is home to one of five national adventure centres, two in Canada, belonging to the Boy Scouts of America. “It’s been a fantastic place to maintain a business during the summer time,” Doug Hirdler, general manager of the Northern Tier National High Adventure program of the Boy Scouts of America, said of the Bissett community, where the base camp was first established in 1974. The camp is nestled on the north side of town and boasts a main lodge, equipment storage, cabins, washrooms and even a sauna. Participants eat meals at the local restaurant and hotel before being flown out to the wilderness. They also eat meals locally when they return. Arranging their own travel and supplying personal items and sleeping bags is all that is required of campers. Once they arrive in Bissett all the equipment they need for the wilderness canoe trip is supplied. “Participants in our operation spend very little time in either one of the bases, they spend most of the time out in the wilderness,” he said. “One thing that’s just super, every one in town, we get along really well,” Hirdler said. Staff at the two Canadian sites, Bissett and Atikoken, Ontario are members of Scouts Canada, Hirdler said. Matt Smith is in his fourth year with the program and one of 16 staff members. Smith is camp director, so he is responsible for the overall running of the program. Smith outlined several routes used by participants once they are out in the wilderness. “Everybody goes out on the trail on a rotating bases, we pretty much everyday have somebody flying in or out, or both,” he said. Groups range from 9 to 11 people and are accompanied by an Interpreter. “Interpreters are people who go out sort of like guides,” Smith said. Candace Vinke, of Winnipeg, is the chief outfitter, responsible for ordering food and maintaining the equipment. Danielle Stiles, of Thunder Bay, runs the Trading Post and souvenir shop. The beauty of the landscape and camaraderie between campers were highlights for Darrell Jones, of Centennial Colo., an assistant scout master with participants from Colorado. “It was awesome,” he said, returning after nine nights canoeing in the wilderness. “It’s hard work. Everyday we’re up by 5:30 a.m. or 6 a.m. We stop for lunch everyday, otherwise we are either paddling or portaging. Twenty-two kilometres is the most we did in one day,” said Trevor Jones, one of the participants. “I saw lots of wildlife like a black bear and lots of wild eagles,” said Jonathan Adkins, a participant. Many participants return to the Bissett site several times during their scouting careers, Smith said. Groups are equipped with a satellite phone for emergencies, while on a trip. “Otherwise they’re on their own,” Hirdler said. “These kids have had an amazing experience, not many in the world get this. It’s awesome,” said Kevin Korn, an assistant scout master from Colorado. Close to 800 participants will attend the program at Bissett over the summer, Smith said. Along with the Northern Tier bases at Bissett and Atikoken, BSA has another base at Ely, Minn., and two other high adventure bases include a sailing and scuba base in Key West, Fla. and a ranch in Philmont, New Mexico. Each group of participants are mostly from the United States, but Canadian Scouts and Girl Guides have participated in the program, Hirdler said. Members of BSA can apply for the program once they turn 13. Phone lines are opened for one day and scouts apply. “They make sure they are near a phone on that day,” Hirdler said. Phone lines opened April 1, 2003 for the 2004 season, he said.

Four scouts from Troop 373, Will M., Taylor H., Peter W., and Seth O. enjoyed a six night five day stay at Camp Chris Dobbins from June 15-21. Since our troop wasn’t there, Will, Taylor, Peter, and Seth joined Super Troop. Super Troop had nine scouts from several different troops. Though overall everyone enjoyed their experience, one of the less enjoyable things was the 5:50 reveille every morning.

At Chris Dobbins each scout picked three merit badges to work on for one hour each morning. After lunch all scouts got free time to catch up on merit badges, have fun, or even take a nap. During camp there was also a competition among the different troops. This competition was called the Dobbins Cup. Every day there would be a different set of clues laid out that led you to the Dobbins Cup. Each day the troop that found the cup first gained points towards winning the cup. Also part of the competition for the cup was a huge relay race that stretched across the whole camp. In this race everyone showed their skills in everything from knot tying to tomahawk throwing. Super Troop did not do very well in the relay but it was still very fun and one of the many highlights of Camp Chris Dobbins.

Troop members and Siblings of 373 drove to the four corners area for an adventure backpacking into the Havasupai Indian Village. Hiking to the village Supai and on to our campground was 10 miles. We enjoyed the incredible scenery, fascinating abandoned Gold mine, and wonderful pools of Blue -green water. We also visited the water falls all along Havasu Creek all the way down the canyon to the Colorado River. Havasu Falls at 120 feet was incredibly beautiful and Mooney Falls was incredibly powerful and awe inspiring at over 200 feet high. This truly is a Garden of Eden in the middle of the dry Grand Canyon.

Twenty Five Troop 373 Scouts and Adults camped out at Fullenwider Farms east of DIA Airport for the once every four year Denver Area Council Camporee. We had our large canvas white tent which held almost all of the Scouts. It was known as the party, card playing, talking, having fun tent. We stayed up late talking and having fun. There were Troops from all over the Denver Area Council camping out with us. Scouts, Webelos, and Cubs totaled about 6500 participants. We arrive Friday night in time for dinner and a beautiful sunset. Saturday we woke up and enjoyed breakfast before we spent the day exploring the many events and activities that were brought in for our enjoyment. We made candles, branded leather, listened to stories about the old west, watched Indian dances, enjoyed seeing many old western artifacts and costumes. We even played old Scouting games from over 90 years ago from England. The big event was the Saturday night concert and laser light show. We heard lots of jokes and songs and enjoyed the views of the mountains from the eastern plains. Since we were close to DIA we also watched lots of the airplanes coming and going. We enjoyed the friendships and activities at this cool camporee. See you in 4 years….

GROCERY CERTIFICATES

Troop 373 scouts can earn 5% back of King Soopers Grocery Certificates purchased through the Troop. For every $100 in grocery certificates you purchase, $5 will go into your Scout account.

If you purchase just $100 a week, you'll earn $180 for your scout account in 9 months. That's enough to pay for scouts’ summer camp in most cases.

Certificates are available at all Court of Honors and during the first 15 minutes of most weekly Troop meetings at Homestead Elementary.

ADVANCEMENT PROCEDURES

Just a reminder for the Scouts from Advancement Chair, Christy Porter:

· Tenderfoot, 1st and 2nd class scouts must check in with the advancement chairman, Christy Porter, to record their advancement.

· Star, Life, Eagle, please remember to:
Schedule your scoutmaster conference, call Troop Committee Chairman, Bruce Porter and ask to be placed on the troop committee schedule. Please remember that the troop committee only meets on the second Monday of each month. Plan ahead!