Boy Scout Troop 648 Scottsdale, Arizona

Hello Troop 648,

I want to put in one e-mail some updates and information for those not available to receive it this weekend from the PLC Retreat. As you all are aware the next group of leaders have been selected and met this weekend to plan the Troop’s next year (October 2019 – September 2020) of fun and exciting camp outings and meetings ( A huge thanks to Mr. Benyi for planning, organizing and executing the weekend – not to mention the ice cream Saturday Night). Those have already been uploaded to Scoutbook (Thank you Dr Komar). I will have those outings and Meeting Months available tomorrow night on the white board at the meeting.

Since we had a PLC Meeting Sunday Morning, we will not be having one tomorrow night. Also since we had an adult/leader meeting Sunday (Also known as the Troop Activity Committee Meeting – TAC Meeting) we will not be meeting next Tuesday.

A big thanks goes out to the Scouts from last week’s meeting who went above and beyond the call of duty and helped us move all of our Troop Meeting gear to our new and improved meeting place. Which leads me to my next announcement…..we have a new and improved meeting place. Tomorrow’s meeting will be held in “The Forum”. This is the building that our previous meeting place was held (South side of the CCC Campus), but in the “South” room. The meetings will be held there….until we need to move again (which shouldn’t be for a long while).

Here are some quick items that were discussed at the PLC Retreat:

We are going to continue the Patrol method and Meeting assignments (this will be posted all year)

We are going to work on the Chain of Command in the Troop.

We are going to start including time for Patrol competitions and points awarded to the winning patrols, as well as points for attendance at meetings, outings and service events (10 points to Gryffindor!!!!!)

There will be a trial of a “No Cell Phone Policy” for meetings and outings as directed by your leadership Council

Thanks for making it all the way to the end of these updates. Thanks again for everyone that was involved and look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Mr Blair

Troop 648 Scoutmaster

Greetings!

I hope everyone has had a great summer! This is a reminder that following the annual Patrol Leader’s Council Retreat this weekend, we will have our wrap-up Troop Activity & Parent Meeting from roughly 8:30am-9:30am at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, this Sunday. (August 4) Any parents and/or leaders wishing to attend are welcome. The PLC scouts should have the calendar together for the 2019-2020 scouting year and this will be the first opportunity to see what is in store for the coming year. I won’t know our specific room number until we get checked in, but Dr. Blair or I can confirm the location this weekend.

Thank you,

Jacob R Benyi, Committee Chair

ATTENTION CAMPERS!!!! Below is the information for the upcoming outing at Slide Rock. Please let Ian Achor know if you have any questions.

Another successful trip to Camp Geronimo by Troop 648.  This year, we had 18 scouts participate in summer camp north of Payson.  

It was a bit of a crowded one at Geronimo, over 900 people. We managed through long lines for swim tests and dinners with great patience and the camp was quite efficient after the first day.

We had site 5, which was new for our troop.  This wasn’t too far from the center of camp, but we were up a hill and slightly back for a fairly isolated camp.  

Our scouts completed a plethora of merit badges.  This may have been the best completion percentage for merit badges in over 10 years! That merit badge work, along with their Big-G Gold award effort, kept the camp clean by a lack of scouts except at night. 

We had five days of perfect camp inspections and another Big-G Gold award for our troop.  We had one of our younger scouts finish the “I DID IT ALL” challenge.  We worked hard on our service project and represented our troop well at our flag ceremony.

Mr. Cole reported that it was one of the few Thorns and Roses for summer camp at Geronimo that he’d ever heard scouts bring up thorns about being too cold overnight without there being rain! Don’t think that’s anything to worry about now that they are back in the Valley of the Sun.

Just a friendly reminder that there is a TAC meeting this Tuesday at 6:00 at CCC. All adults that have been involved in recent outings and those for upcoming events/outings are encouraged to attend. Thank you.

Scoutmaster Troop 648

I know everyone is still on a Camping high from Geronimo, but I hope you’ve rested up this past weekend to be ready for the PLC Meeting and Troop Meeting this week. The PLC Meeting will be at 6:00PM at the Teen Center on CCC campus. Lead by your fearless leader SPL Ian Achor, and supported by your “officially trained” ASM Dr Jon Komar. Troop meeting will be relight after at 7:00 PM. Have a great week and a wonderful 4th of July and I’ll see everyone next week.

Mr Blair

Scoutmaster Troop 648

Troop 648,
A friendly reminder that tomorrow is our Summer Court Of Honor. Let’s show up in big numbers to support and congratulate all the Scouts who have worked so hard to receive these Merit Badges and Rank Advancements.

Pirates,
Please have a couple volunteers available to help to set up around 6:30. I will be there around 6:00 to set up.Thanks

Mar Blair
Troop 648 Scoutmaster

Just a friendly reminder that this week’s TAC meeting will be at 6 PM at the new Troop Meeting room (Teen Activity Room). Lots to discuss as the Scouts head out to Summer Camp in a couple weeks

Also, this Tuesday is the week before COH. A lot of requests for Boards if Review coming up. If you’re available please plan on attending the meeting to help facilitate the advancement and Merit Badge requests. Thanks in advance

Mr Blair

This last weekend, 11 scouts in our troop headed up to the rim to beat the heat (well… usually we’d have to beat the heat). Our destination was Willow Springs Lake for a canoe outing.

We found a nice spot off the Old Rim Road on Friday night. Camp was setup fairly quick. Some of our older and “wiser” scouts decided to see if it would really be cold at night in hammocks.

On Saturday, after a breakfast of bacon and eggs for our troops, we headed to the lake. Canoes were taken off the trailer and off everyone went.

The wind was blowing a bit, so most of us headed up wind to have an easier paddle back. Some of us went exploring a peninsula, some of us found a geocache across the lake and some of us tried to combine fishing and canoeing with no success, unfortunately. We regrouped a bit after noon and refueled on sandwiches.

A vote was taken and we decided to head back out to the water. Some of our group decided that they were going to brave the chilly waters and have some fun jumping off the rocks. Hard to believe but we have video evidence. The adults would have jumped in as well but someone had to supervise.

After a bit, it was decided that we’d head back to camp. A few of the scouts made the short trip to the edge of the rim before dinner.

After dinner, we had a nice warm fire where we enjoyed for the most part just staring into the fire and relaxing.

We want to thank Sean and Eric, our youth leaders, who ran such a great outing. We’ll definitely be back again in the not to distant future.

Just a friendly reminder that this week’s PLC meeting will be held at 6:00PM at our new meeting room (Teen activity Center). Dr Komar will be filling in for me, and our new SPL Ian will be leading the meeting. PL’s – Make sure your Patrol is represented if you are unable to attend. Have a good week, and I’ll see everyone next week.

Mr Blair

Scoutmaster Troop 648