Two important items to relay this glorious evening before the big heat arrives in full force this weekend (a trip to the lake, anyone?). First and foremost, congratulations to our newest Eagle Scout – Cullen becomes Eagle #51 in T648’s highest honor roll. WoW! Second, if you are at least Second Class and are interested in the Eagle Scout required Personal Management Merit Badge (and who amongst teenaged boys isn’t interested in managing oneself into more money?), please join us tomorrow in the East Hall at 6PM before the Court of Honor as we get the 3+ month long merit badge kicked off in style.
6 Jun
The Great (heat) Escape!
Hello Troop 648
A few reminders:
- PLC tomorrow night (June 7) – please meet at 6pm in the regular meeting room.
- Troop Committee meeting with a emphasis on summer camp tomorrow night (June 7), 7pm, Main Conference room.
- Mr. Cole will be starting a new session for the Personal Management Merit Badge. This is an Eagle required MB. Please meet at 6pm on June 14th in the East Hall.
- Court of Honor – June 14th, 7pm. We will be meeting in the East Hall. If you have rank advancement or MBs to turn in, June 7th is your last day in order to have it presented in this COH.
- Willow Springs campout wrap up:
An amazing trip this weekend in the mountains! From a beautiful campsite on the bluff overlooking the forest below (thanks Mr. Komar and Quentin!), to canoeing, swimming, fishing, great food, campfire, four rank advancements(!) and an escape from the heat! What more could you ask for? Oh, yes. How about watching two bald eagles soaring above?! Yep, a perfect weekend for the Scouts and Scouters of T648.
Yes, it all fit!
Oh brothers!
A successful First Class Board!
Enjoying the cool pines
Day camp
A most comfortable sleeping spot
General (Q) Washington ready to lead the troops!
See you soon!
Scoutmaster T648
29 May
Parent/Committee (Summer Camp) Meeting
Greetings!
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend. I want to take a moment to remind everyone that we will hold our usual quarterly Troop Committee/Parent Meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. The meeting will be at 7pm at Chaparral Christian Church in the conference room at the same time as the regular troop meeting.
We will briefly cover some committee business, but the primary item on the agenda will be Summer Camp. Since we are going over to California, I will have a number of things to review with everyone; I strongly encourage all scouts attending Emerald Bay to have at least one parent attend this meeting.
Have a great Memorial Day, and I will hope to see everyone on the 7th.
Thanks,
Mr. Benyi
29 May
Swimming Merit Badge Opportunity
Hello Troop 648
We will be conducting a Swimming Merit Badge class this Tuesday, May 31 from 1-4pm at Cactus Pool (northeast corner of Cactus and Scottsdale road, entrance to park is off of Cactus).
If your Scout does not have this Eagle Required merit badge and he is available, it is highly recommended he join us. Additionally, if your Scout does have the Swimming MB and is going to summer camp, he can join us any time from 1-3:30pm for a summer camp swim check.
If your Scout is going to join for the Swimming MB, a few things to do BEFORE Tuesday:
Read the Swimming MB Book – if you don’t have the book, I found this on line. From the Merit Badge book, please have your Scout compete the following (the number listed is the Requirement number):
- Be prepared to discuss
- Be prepared to discuss
- Will be completed at the pool if your Scout has not already completed (we will complete both Second and First Class reqs).
- Per the requirements, please have your Scout bring – shoes, socks, swim trunks, long pants, belt, and long-sleeved shirt. All of this will be getting wet.
- Will be completed at the pool
- Will be completed at the pool (bring a personal flotation device IF you have one. If you don’t have one, no worries)
- Will be completed at the pool
- Will be completed at the pool (if your Scout has a SCUBA mask, snorkel and fins, please bring. If not, no worries)
- Will be completed at the pool
- Please have your Scout research and write out their answers for 10a, 10b and 10c
Don’t forget to bring your Scout book! There are a few requirements in Second Class and First Class that we will be working on and that can be signed off in your Scout’s handbook if they haven’t completed already.
Suggest your Scout come dressed in a swimsuit, also bring a towel, a hat, sunscreen and water to drink.
If you have any questions – dmcfetters@gmail.com. Also, if you are planning to attend, please let me know. Thus far, I have Ian, Eric, Sean, Zach R, Tanner, Aidan, Marshall. Cameron and Michael will be there for swim checks.
Again, if you are going to Summer Camp, this is a great opportunity to save time and hassle by completing a swim check here. It does not take long and you can come and go anytime between 1-3:30pm. Everyone going to camp must complete a swim check. If you can’t join us on Tuesday, you will be able to do the swim check at Emerald Bay.
If you are willing to help (adult or scout) on Tuesday, please let me know. Would be great to have a couple adults to help.
I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Scoutmaster T648
27 May
Honor U.S. Soldiers and Their Families
Hello T648,
A reminder that we will be placing flags at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona tomorrow. Please meet by the flagpole at 6:30AM. We have a few seats in our car if there is anyone who would like to ride with us.
If you would like to meet at Chop and Wok for breakfast after, we should be there around 8:30am. It is a dive-bar type place with lots of games to keep kids entertained and reasonably priced (most breakfast options are $6 or $7. The fare is all-American (not Chinese) food. They serve eggs, pancakes, french toast, bacon, sausage, hash browns, home fries, etc.
Please join us for a very rewarding and fun morning!
Doug & Karin McFetters
c. 602.793.1058
25 May
Hello Troop 648,
Please Help Honor American Soldiers and Their Loved Ones – Saturday, May 28th
6:30am to 8:00am (est.) Please meet other troop members & friends near the flagpole.
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
23029 N Cave Creek Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85024
Class A Uniform
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. Currently, there are around 60,000 interned at the cemetery. Please help honor those who have done their duty for our nation and for our freedoms. Join T648 and other patriots at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona this Saturday, May 28th. Together we will place American Flags at each gravesite to honor our fallen heroes and their loved ones.
After the flag placing, please join us for breakfast at Chop and Wok. The restaurant serves reasonably priced all-American breakfast food.
Chop and Wok
10425 N Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
If you have any questions, please contact Doug McFetters at 602.793.1058 or Karin McFetters at 602.524.9595.
See you on Saturday. Thank you!
Doug & Karin McFetters
22 May
Tuesday, May 24 Troop Meeting Info
Quote of the Month- “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.†Maimonides
Hello T648,
We have an exciting troop meeting planned for this Tuesday, May 24th. Scouts will learn how to properly clean a fish. Then they will have an opportunity to gut, fillet and cook tilapia. To be better prepared for this meeting, Scouts should watch this short You Tube video.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday! If you have any questions, please drop us a line (pun intended).
Christi Warner Beyer and Karin McFetters
May Meeting Mentors
16 May
Weekly Troop Meeting, May 17, 2016 – LOCATION REMINDER
Hello Troop 648,
A reminder that our troop meeting on Tuesday, May 17th will be held at Desert Sportsman- Arizona’s Premier Fly Fishing Store. Kyle Bourassa, an experienced outdoorsman, will give a lively presentation on fly fishing.
16 May
Zachary Harper – Eagle Project – Saturday, May 21
Hello Troop 648,
(From Zachary Harper)
On Saturday, May 21 we will be working at Beyond Autism School for my Eagle Scout Project. This is a non-profit organization that helps teach autistic kids education and life skills.
We will be updating the landscape and installing an irrigation system. Please meet at the school at 6:30am. We are hoping to be finished around 11:30am.
The school is located at 12209 N. 65th Place – 1 block east of 64th and just north of Cactus. Please bring shovels, pick axes, gloves, rakes, wheelbarrows, a wide brim hat and plenty of sunscreen!
Any questions, please contact Zachary Harper at 602-349-1891.
Thank you.













