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April 2017 Newsletter: Scout Troop 622

The Scoutmaster’s Minute:

The Bridge Builder By Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man traveling a long highway, Came at the evening cold and gray, To a chasm vast and deep and wide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The sullen stream held no fears for him; But he turned when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide. 'Old man,' cried a fellow pilgrim near, 'You're wasting your time in building here. 'Your journey will end with the closing day; 'You never again will pass this way. 'You have crossed the chasm deep and wide, 'Why build you this bridge at even tide?' The builder lifted his old gray head; 'Good friend, in the path I have come,' he said. 'There followeth after me today, 'A youth whose feet must pass this way. 'This stream which has been as naught to me, 'To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be; 'He, too, must cross in the twilight dim: 'Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.' As boy scouts, the old man in the poem reminds us to pass on the spirit of scouting to those that follow.

Yours in Scouting, Scoutmaster Wood

BE PREPARED

Upcoming Events:

April 4: New Scout Orientation OA Elections at Troop Meeting April 7 - 9: Trail to Eagle Campout Moser Field April 9 - 16: Holy Week No Scouting Activities April 18: PLC Meeting Hike, Meeting Location TBD April 21 - 23: NYLT April 22: Hollidaysburg Veteran’s Administration Home for a patriotic puppet event April 22: OA Beaver Day at Camp K April 25: Hike, Meeting Location TBD April 28 – 30: Spring Backpacking Trip Old Logger’s Path

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April 2017: Weekly Meeting: Tuesday, 6:30PM – 8:00PM Weekly Meeting Location: Zion Church & TBD Hiking Locations Theme: Hiking/Backpacking Opening: Red Stag Patrol Service Patrol: Flaming Eagle Patrol Games: Nature Patrol

Important News:

Trail to Eagle Campout: We will be holding a Trail to Eagle Camping Event the weekend of April 7 -9. This camping event is meant to help our newest patrol, The Legit Llama Patrol, to work on skills needed to achieve the rank of Scout and begin to work on the requirements needed for the rank of Tenderfoot. Other Scouts who need to work on advancement requirements should plan to attend the Trail to Eagle Campout as well. Scouts will meet at 6:30PM at the Moser Complex and set up tents. We will have a cracker barrel that evening, so bring a snack to share. The other meals that weekend (two breakfasts, a lunch and dinner) will all be provided. The cost will be $10 per participant and can be paid either Tuesday at the Scout meeting or Friday when arriving. We should wrap up all events on Sunday, April 9th by 11AM. Scouts who need to leave Saturday evening to fulfill church obligations on Palm Sunday, (a Scout is reverent) should bring a note with them indicating the time that they will be leaving. Saturday’s activities should be completed by 8PM, for parent planning purposes. All Scouts in attendance should bring their mess kit, a water bottle, and their Scout books. (Scout books should be kept in a one gallon plastic storage or freezer bag to protect them from the elements. Please be sure your name is in your Scout book.) The Scouts should arrive in their Class A uniforms, but should bring Class B (Scout and Camp T-shirt) for other activities. Please come prepared for all weather conditions. We may even be taking a short hike over the course of the weekend. Older Scouts who would like to assist with teaching of skills and requirements should speak with Scoutmaster Wood or Assistant Scoutmaster Tim Catherman at the Scout meeting on Tuesday.

Expressions of Gratitude Thank you to the all the Leaders, Scouts and Parents who assisted with Scouting for Food. We were able to supply the Neighbors Helping Neighbors organization with over 30 grocery bags of food for sharing. Great job all! Thank you to the Scouts and Leaders who attended Program Planning and helped with planning our Scouting Activity calendar for the upcoming year. Thank you also for making our newest Patrol, the Legit Llamas, feel welcome and for assisting them to begin the Trail to Eagle. Thank you, Mr. Gregory Hayes, for once again coordinating the Hockey Game. All in attendance had a great time! Thank you to the Scouts and Leaders who joined the Cub Scouts at their Blue and Gold Ceremony. It was great to see a number of our Scouting family members welcome the Legit Llama Patrol into the Troop.

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Events and News:

Troop OA Elections: The Order of the Arrow elections will be held on Tuesday, April 4 at the Scout meeting. Our Scout meeting will be held at Zion to accommodate these elections. We need to have as many Scouts at this meeting as possible. (50% of the Troop is required for an official election.)

We will be providing ballots to the Scouts and the ballots will include the names of Scouts eligible for the OA honor based on the OA eligibility

requirements. The Troop youth members will then vote on who they

believe best exemplifies the mission and purpose of the OA.

We will be reminding the Scouts that when they vote, they need to consider the mission and purpose of the OA and they need to think about which Scouts live the Scout oath and law every day, not just while at the Scout meeting.

The purpose of the OA, as Scouting’s National Honor Society: Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in

their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition.

Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout’s experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp.

Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation.

Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

Scouts may vote for all candidates listed, including themselves, or they may choose to vote for select candidates. A Scout may also choose not to vote for any candidates. It is the Scout's choice and who the Scout votes for is NOT to be discussed with other Scouts, as this is to be a private and anonymous decision made by the individual Scout without influence by others. This voting is also not meant to be a popularity contest. If a Scout has questions about the election or the requirements, they may discuss these questions with an Assistant Scoutmaster or the OA members overseeing this election on Tuesday evening.

Congratulations!

Macoy Auman

has achieved the rank of

Eagle Scout.

Committee Help Wanted: Parents, consider being part of our Troop Committee. We are always in need of willing volunteers to help with the events our Scouts participate in Please speak with Jeff Feerrar if you are interested in learning more. Thank you to the BSA lifeguards, Ryan Hayes and Christopher Dyer, for being at our Swim Event at the YMCA. Just a reminder that this training is offered at Camp K as part of the summer merit badge offerings and interested Scouts can speak with either of these Scouts to learn more about the training. The WRHS Concert Choir would like to thank all of our Scout family members who came out and supported the presentation of the musical Sister Act on March 9, 10, and 11. Some of our Scouts were involved in this musical and welcomed our support!

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Events and News:

Troop Orientation: The Troop will be holding an Orientation for new Scouts and their parents on Tuesday, April 4, beginning at 6PM. During this time, we will have Scouts, Leaders and Committee members providing an overview of the Scout Troop, our activities and important aspects of the Scout Handbook. There will be an opportunity for parents to ask questions and important handouts will be shared with those in attendance. This meeting should only be about an hour in duration, but it provides a better understanding of our organization and how you can help us and your Scout to be successful. Please plan to join us at this meeting at the Church.

Shale Road Directions: One of our Scout meetings this month will begin at the PPL site on Shale Road. We will be meeting at 6:30PM and leaving on a hike as soon as opening activities are completed. Our Scouts should plan on carrying their backpacks to help prepare them for upcoming scheduled hikes. Directions to this location: Beginning at the Turkey Hill on Route 54 in Turbotville, drive towards Washingtonville on Route 54. Turn Left onto Route 44 towards Exchange. About 2.9 miles from this turn, turn Left again onto Shale Road. (This is the first left after Fox Hollow Road.) Go 0.5 miles and park on the side of the road. There is a PPL Trail here that the Scouts will be hiking in preparation for Mid-State Trail. Scouts should dress according to the weather and wear hiking boots. Scouts should also bring their own water. Plans are still being discussed as to where the other hike for the month will take place. Listen for announcements at Troop meetings and watch for follow up emails.

Scout Volunteer Opportunity: We have been asked to once again participate in a Patriotic Puppet program with Kingdom Kidz Puppet Ministry. We will be taking only a limited number of Scouts to the Hollidaysburg Veteran’s Administration Home on Saturday, April 22. If you are interested in learning more about this great volunteer activity, please speak with Jeff Feerrar at an upcoming Scout meeting. Volunteers will be accepted on a first come basis. (We are also in need of another adult volunteer for this event…see Jeff.)

Troop T-Shirt Sales: Orders are now being placed for activity T-shirts and Sweatshirts with the Troop. Scouts can choose from short or long sleeved t-shirts, a sweatshirt or a wicking shirt. All shirts are available in green with yellow printing. The wicking shirts are also available in grey with yellow printing. The deadline for ordering is Tuesday April 18th. Shirts will be delivered to the Scouts at a future meeting and these shirts can be worn to Scout activities calling for Class B uniforms. (Work days, camp, etc.) If you have questions, please see Assistant Scoutmaster Gregory Hayes with any questions. Money is due when orders are placed and Scouts may use their Scout accounts. BSA Nametag Orders: Nametag Orders are underway. Each nametag costs $3.00. Nametags are a required part of the Scout uniform for Troop 622. Scouts can order extras to sew inside of jackets or sleeping bags. The order deadline is Tuesday, April 25. See Assistant Scoutmaster Hayes for an order form.

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Events and News:

Logger’s Path Hike Plans: Troop 622 is beginning to plan their annual spring backpacking weekend. It is scheduled for the weekend of April 28 through April 30. We will meet on April 28th at Zion at 5:30PM and leave by 6PM. We will NOT be stopping at Sheetz, so participants should either eat before they leave or bring something easy with them to eat. We will be driving straight to the Logger’s Path Trailhead to camp on Friday night. The hikers should be prepared to feed themselves breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. They should bring their own water as well. We plan to arrive back at the church early Sunday afternoon. Now is the time to start to train and organize your gear for this trip. If you need any assistance in setting up a training schedule or getting your gear organized, the Troop has a lot of experienced Leaders/Scouts who can provide information. There will be a parent/Scout meeting scheduled before the trip. We will review at the Scout meetings information on what to pack, food to buy, what to wear, etc. Scouts should plan to attend the meetings on April 18 and 25 with their gear packed. In this way, older Scouts and leaders can review the gear and make sure that new Scouts have all the essentials for the upcoming hike. Signup sheets for the Logger’s Path hike will be at the weekly meetings and online. In addition, there are plans underway for a longer backpacking trip scheduled for later this summer; more information about this hike will follow.

Church Clean Up Day: There is a scheduled workday to assist Zion with cleanup of their property on Saturday, May 6. We will begin at 8AM and Scouts should come in work clothes. We are usually done by noon. The members of the congregation appreciate the assistance of our Scouts with this event and it is a great way to thank our Chartered organization for all that they do to support our organization. Please plan to attend. Many hands make for great teamwork.

OA News: Spring Pow-Wow is scheduled for May 19-21. Early registration deadline is Friday, May 8th. Cost is $20 if paid by May 8th, $25 after that date. The theme is America, so bring your flags, and your red, white and blue and celebrate our country. The Lodge Activities Committee has planned an exciting weekend for all Lodge members with great food, interesting training sessions, patriotic games and much more. Plan to join us for this fun weekend. Plans are also underway for our Section Conclave. This annual event is a gathering of six lodges from the Northeast Region Section 4A for fellowship, completion and fun and will be held at the Elk Lick Scout Reservation. Watch for more information coming soon. Or, join us at Roundtable and learn all about the OA activities being planned for the upcoming months.

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Events and News:

Camp T-shirts and Gear: We will once again be pre-ordering Camp K gear for Summer Camp. Payment is due when ordering. Pre-ordered gear will be distributed at Camp. If you do not pre-order, you may purchase a Camp T-shirt from the Camp store while visiting Camp; it may not be the same color as the pre-order. Pre-ordering guarantees that the size you want is available to you. T-shirts can also be pre-ordered for family members or Scouts who are not attending Camp. These gear orders will be distributed at the first Scout meeting after Camp. The sign-up sheet to order t-shirts will be available at the Scout meetings through April 25. T-shirts are available in sizes: Youth Small through Youth Large for $14; Adult Small – Adult XL for $16; Adult 2XL and Adult 3XL for $18. In addition, Camp K is offering other merchandise (sweatshirt, hats, and tumblers); all can be preordered. Forms for pre-orders will be available at the Troop meetings through April 25. Payment is required when ordering. Please contact Nick Craig or Lori Dyer if you have questions.

Advancement Chair Transition: We asked for volunteers, and we have one! Thank you to Mike Yohn for volunteering to learn the Advancement Chair position. Scouts may now request Boards of Review with either Mike Yohn or Michelle Carroll. And Scouts may turn blue cards into either Troop Committee member. Mike is learning the position from Michelle and is excited to have the opportunity to learn something new. We anticipate a smooth transition and expect Mike to be trained fully by the time resident Camp begins.

2017 Camp K Advancement Schedule: The 2017 Camp K Advancement schedule has been shared with all Scouts. Registration does not open until May, but Lori Dyer will begin accepting these forms from Scouts on April 4. Scouts will be registered for Camp merit badges in the order that she receives the forms. All Scouts are asked to mark a first and second choice for each period. Confirmations will be sent to the Scouts after registration.

Wood Badge: Advanced Leadership Training for Adults wishing to EXCEL in Scouting, in the Community and in their Careers. Our Council will once again be offering this ultimate leadership training program for audult leaders of the Boy Scouts. Dates are August 25, 26, 27, 2017 AND September 16, 17, 18, 2017. Attendance at all three days both weekends is required. Both sessions will be held at Camp K. Participants will take part in numerous presentations, discussions and activities that explore and advance a wide range of leadership philosophies and tools. We have had several of our Assistant Scoutmasters take part in this program and all believe the program do be beneficial. A non-refundable registration fee of $50 is required to enroll. The total cost of the program is $270, but our Troop does assist with the cost of this training. Please consider enrolling. For more information, speak with one of our Assistant Scoutmasters who have been participants or to review the application, please see Lori Dyer.

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Troop Contacts: Scoutmaster: Craig Wood

Email: gcwood@ptd.net Phone: 570-538-9008

Senior Patrol Leader: Caiden Henley Troop Committee Chair: Jeff Feerrar

Email: feerrar@windstream.net Advancement Chair: Michelle Carroll - Email: mlctlc92@ptd.net Michael Yohn – Email: mmyohn@windstream.net Scout Account Information: Norm Craig,

Email: n.craig.61@gmail.com Requests for Scout Account balances may be emailed to Norm; he will make every attempt to respond within 48 hours.

Board of Review: A Board of Review can be scheduled by contacting Mike Yohn or Michelle Carroll, Advancement Chairmen. Boards of Review need to be pre-scheduled to help with planning and resources. Boards of Review are scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise announced. The next Board of Review is planned for Tuesday, April 25. Please contact either Michael or Michelle to schedule in advance. Please remember that a Scoutmaster conference must be completed before a Board of Review is scheduled. Scouts may ask any of the Assistant Scoutmasters for a review for rank. Physical Forms can be turned into Candice Henley at the Scout meetings. The BSA recommends that everyone who participates in Scouting events have an annual medical evaluation by a certified and licensed physician. These are also required for Camp K. The Troop Calendar and other important documents can be accessed online at our Troop website. Check out the website for links to forms and details about upcoming Scouting events.

Future Events: May 5-7: NYLT May 6: Church Clean Up Work Day May 16: PLC Meeting Committee Meeting May 18: Roundtable Meeting May 19 – 21: OA Spring Pow Wow May 21: Gospel Show Soup & Sandwiches at Zion May 26 – 29: Roadside Rest Fundraiser May 29: Memorial Day Parade June 3 -7: Kayak Trip June 5 – 10: Turbotville Carnival Fundraiser June 18 – 24: Camp K Summer Camp