On My Honor: June 2011

28 June 2011

Cold Mountain

Our trip to Cold Mountain was great! This was the first backpacking trip for several of the scouts and we did have some initial issues but we got them worked out and everyone survived. It was the first time that many in the group had been to Shinning Rock or Cold Mountain and I was glad to be there to share the experience with them. Although the hiking was difficult at times, the experience was worth the effort. I already can't wait till the next time I get to stand at the top of Cold Mountain with a group of new scouts!

15 June 2011

Backpacking trip

Our backpacking trip is just a couple of days away and I’m sure everyone is getting excited. I know that I am! Backpacking is one of my favorite things to do. There is something about getting away from everyone else and being on the trail.

As I said on Monday, you will need to pack as light as possible. The more you carry the more difficult the trip will be. We are only going to be camping overnight and will only have to take enough food for four meals. Your meals should consist of high energy food that only needs to have hot water added. We will have some camp stoves on the trail and will be able to heat water for cooking and cleanup. Don’t forget to carry enough water for drinking and for cooking. There are not a lot of water sources on the trail that we are going to be on. Also carry some high energy snacks like “gorp” or energy bars. I am including a list of suggestions:

Breakfast Backpacking Foods

· MaltOMeal® (add raisins for more bulk)

· rice (add raisins and dried milk)

· granola (with dried milk)

· fruit cocktail (small cans)

· pancakes (need small pan,spatula, low-heat option on stove, lots of fuel, syrup in small container)

Lunch Backpacking Foods (many of these items are great for quick no-cook breakfasts)

· bagels (cream cheese)

· Pita bread

· Logan Bread

· granola bars

· candy bars

· dried fruit

· GORP (nuts, M&M’s raisins, yogurt peanuts, crackers, dried fruit, etc)

· Pringles

· crackers (the dense kinds at health food stores)

· Wheat Thins

· Cheeses (string cheese, blocks of mozarella, etc)

· Tuna (sold in pouches now)

· lunch meat

Dinner Backpacking Foods

· Cup O Soup

· Cup Noodles/Ramen

· Lipton Rice or Noodles

· vegetable soup

· potatoes and gravy (3-5 minute gravy mix)

· potatoes and peas

· couscous with dried veggies

· ramen with dried veggies

· spaghetti with dried veggies(use 6oz

· can of tomato paste to make sauce)

· burritos(toritillas, refried beans, cheese, peppers, salsa, onions)

· canned soups, etc (if you don’t mind the weight)

You may want to contact others who are going to coordinate your meals or you may just want to bring along enough for yourself. Just be sure to bring along your mess kit!

If you have additional questions, feel free to give me a call.

Let your parents know that we will be hiking the Ivestor gap trail to the Art Loeb trail near Shinning Rock. From there we will continue to Deep Gap and stay there for the night. Saturday morning we will hike to the summit of Cold Mountain and then down the Art Loeb trail to Camp Daniel Boone for our pick up.

See you at the Church parking lot around 9am on Friday morning.

10 June 2011

TLT Rescheduled

Just wanted to remind everyone that the Troop Leadership Training scheduled for this weekend will be rescheduled. You will be informed of the new date as soon as we are able to get a good day for everyone. This weekend just has too many conflicts and I want all or our troop leaders to be able to attend.

08 June 2011

Boy Scout Saves Life

I was on the internet this evening and ran across this video. It's worth watching. This could be you some day!

http://video.foxnews.com/v/983873720001/boy-scout-saves-family/?playlist_id=86856

07 June 2011

Summer Camp Merit Badges

June 2011 Court of Honor

Our annual troop election was held at the end of May and our new Patrol Leaders Council was sworn in during our Court of Honor. Levi Hendricks was elected to be the new Senior Patrol Leader. We also went from two patrols to four patrols with the leaders of those patrols being Bryce Burgess, Jax Daughty, Riley Haney, and Chris Skinner. The patrols have a lot of work to do as they pick out their patrol names, patrol yells, and design their patrol flags. The Senior Patrol Leader and the Patrol Leaders will have to appoint assistants to help them along with various other troop and patrol positions. There is plenty of responsibility to be shared by all the members of our boy led troop. Congratulations to our new Patrol Leaders Council as they step into their roles and prepare for their upcoming Troop Leadership Training.

Flag Retirement

In honor of Memorial Day and all the brave men and women who have given their lives for this great country of ours, we had a flag retirement ceremony at the Scout Hut.