Boy Scout Troop 648 Scottsdale, Arizona

Happy Holidays everyone. I hope finals and Holiday shopping is over or close to over, and that everyone can start enjoying the season. It’s a great time for reflection and showing appreciation. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to all the Scouts, Families and Adult Leaders that have worked so hard to made the Troop such a success this year. You all truly epitomize the the work ethic of the Scout Oath.

On an administrative note, we will be having our next meeting (1/8/19) off-site at Ski-Pro Phoenix Store (2110E Camelback Rd Phoenix, AZ 85016) at 6:30 PM. We will be able to hold a brief PLC Committee Meeting just before that, at the store, starting at 6:00 PM. Hope to see everyone then.

On a Merit Badge note, there has been a request for First Aid Merit Badge class either during the Holiday break or just after for a handful of Scouts. If you are interested in this Eagle required Merit Badge, please e-mail me so that we can decide which time frame fits best for everyone – hornetdermdoc@gmail.com

Mr Blair

Scoutmaster Troop 648

There will be a PLC Meeting tomorrow at 6:00 PM in the usual meeting room. The presence of the Serpent Patrol Leader and Raptor Patrol leader is mandatory. If unavailable, then a representative from your patrol needs to be at the meeting. All other Pateol leaders are encouraged to attend. Also outing leaders for this past Camp Outing and January’s outing are required to be there. See everyone tomorrow.

Mr Blair

Troop 648 Scoutmaster

Greetings!

This is a reminder that we will be holding our quarterly Parent & Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 12/4/18 at 7pm. The meeting will be in the conference room at the north side of the CCC campus. We will be discussing summer camp, recharter, and other troop business.

All interested parents and committee members are invited to attend!

Thanks,

Mr. Benyi

Here are some of the links to our upcoming Merit Badge Clinics (all of these will fill up fast!):

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019InsectStudyMB (Insect Study Merit Badge – Multiple Days) – Butterfly Wonderland

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019MammalStudyMB (Mammal Study Merit Badge – Multiple Days) – Odysea Aquarium

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019PlumbingMB  (Plumbing Merit Badge) – January 27^th) – PIPE and UA Local 469

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019automotivemb (Automotive Merit Badge) – February 9^th)

https://mim.org/events/boy-scout-badge-day-feb-9-2019/ (Music Merit Badge) – February 9th) – MIM

*SAVE THE DATE* Rifle Shooting Competition – February 16^that the Heard Scout Pueblo Camp

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019surveyingmb (Surveying Merit Badge) – March 17th) – United Surveyors of Arizona and Survey Innovation Group

*SAVE THE DATE* UAT STEM Merit Badge Day – March 30^that University of Advanced Technology in Tempe (At least 5 Merit Badges)

 

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019shotgunmb (Shotgun Merit Badge) – April 27^th)

 

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019riflemb (Rifle Merit Badge) – April 27^th)

https://scoutingevent.com/010-septplumbingmb (Plumbing Merit Badge) – September 29^th) – PIPE and UA Local 469

https://scoutingevent.com/010-septweldingmb (Welding Merit Badge) – September 29^th) – PIPE and UA Local 469

*SAVE THE DATE* Grand Canyon Council BIG Merit Badge Expo – October 4^th-6^th at the Heard Scout Pueblo Scout Camp (At least 35 Merit Badges)

 

Look for upcoming Model & Design, Aviation, and more Merit Badge Clinic Dates

Mr Blair

Troop 648 Merit Badge Coordinator

Any scouts that haven’t been cold weather camping are encouraged to bring their gear tomorrow to the meeting.  Keeping warm during the night is the big difference between a good cold weather outing and a “learning experience”.

We can look at your sleeping bag and pad as well as discuss layering at night.

See you tomorrow.

Mr. Carson

Here are some of the links to upcoming Merit Badge Clinics (all of these will fill up fast!):

 

https://scoutingevent.com/010-dec1mammalstudy (Mammal Study Merit Badge – December 1^st) – Odysea Aquarium

https://mim.org/events/boy-scout-badge-day-dec-1-2018/ (Music Merit Badge- December 1^st ) – MIM

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019InsectStudyMB (Insect Study Merit Badge – January 26^th) – Butterfly Wonderland

https://scoutingevent.com/010-2019PlumbingMB  (Plumbing Merit Badge) – January 27^th) – PIPE and UA Local 469

https://scoutingevent.com/010-janweldingmb (Welding Merit Badge) – January 27^th) – PIPE and UA Local 469

https://scoutingevent.com/010-citinnation (Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge-March 9^th ) – Arizona Capital

*SAVE THE DATE* UAT STEM Merit Badge Day – March 30^that University of Advanced Technology in Tempe (At least 5 Merit Badges)

https://scoutingevent.com/010-septplumbingmb (Plumbing Merit Badge) – September 29^th) – PIPE and UA Local 469

https://scoutingevent.com/010-septweldingmb (Welding Merit Badge) – January 27^th) – PIPE and UA Local 469

*SAVE THE DATE* Grand Canyon Council BIG Merit Badge Expo – October 4^th-6^th at the Heard Scout Pueblo Scout Camp (At least 35 Merit Badges)

Mark Blair

Troop 648 Merit Badge Coordinator

Attention Troop 648.  We have a Troop Activity Meeting this Tuesday – Just before the regular meeting.  We will meet at the usual meeting room, and we will meet at 6:00 PM.  Those who should attend are any interested adults with upcoming events they are responsible for, and any other adult with a nosy personality.  See those interested tomorrow.

Mark Blair

Troop 648 Scoutmaster

What a great trip we had this Veteran Day Weekend.  We ventured down to Roper Lake State Park for some beautiful (and a little cold at night) weather, fishing (no fish were harmed by Troop 648), Canoeing (Dylan Carson survived his canoe experience), and a great campfire and Flag Retirement Ceremony (Just be thankful that your retirement ceremony wasn’t like the Flags that we set ablaze this weekend).  Big thanks to all those who pitched in and helped out – Aidan Brown for organizing the outing, Quentin Komar for leading the Outing and being the Scout in Charge, and our Adult leaders:  Dr Komar, Mr Barone, and all the way from Tucson, Mr Copley.  Here are some pictures of the outing.  Here’s hoping that those who did can do it again, and those who couldn’t can do it next time.

We were very honored to have Phoenix Fire Captain Dana Medlin present at this past week’s meeting.  Captain Medlin has been a firefighter for 30 years.  He has worked in NC, Ok, Texas,  and Arizona and currently is a Captain with The Phoenix Department. Captain Medlin became involved with Arizona Search Dogs 12 years ago. He became interested after having the opportunity to work with Search Dogs during the Oklahoma City bombing and knew immediately it was something that he wanted to be involved with.
Arizona Search Dogs is a nonprofit (501c3) organization that trains, certifies, and developes Canine Search Specialist teams to be mobilized with Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces and to assist state and local jurisdictions in urban and wilderness search and rescue activities.  Captain Medlin has had 3 dogs live with him and currently has 2 dogs named Rainy and Elvis.  Captain Medlin has been deployed to disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Ike.  At the meeting Captain Medlin brought with him Rainy and Elvis, and he discussed canine training, why canines are so important for the fire department, how the dogs work, disasters he’s been to and much more.  Also, the dogs demonstrated what they’ve been trained to do.