Boy Scout Troop 648 Scottsdale, Arizona

Greetings Troop 648

If your Scout needs the EAGLE required merit badge – Emergency Preparedness, the most challenging requirement is participating in an emergency drill. As you may recall, we have that opportunity this Saturday, November 14th in conjunction with a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) event that the City of Scottsdale is having. The following provides the final particulars:

When: Saturday, November 14, 2015

Time: 7:00am

Where: Thomas Hontz Training Facility, 911 N Stadem Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281

Other: Please print and complete the following two releases:

COS Photo Video Release

HARMLESS_CERT_ADEM1 SCOUTS(15-02) REV

Please note that adults are welcome to participate as well. Should be very informative and a lot of fun! If you would like to carpool, please meet at Blessed Sacrament, just outside our Tuesday night meeting room at 6:20am. Also, please let Kevin Weinhold know you would like to carpool. Kevin can be reached at kweinhold22@gmail.com. We expect the event to conclude around 1:00pm. 

Class B uniform is fine. We will be the ‘victims’ in the event and be made up by some make-up artists, so wear a work version of your Class B. Also, please pack a lunch and/or some light snacks and bring plenty of water.

If you have any questions, please contact Kevin or myself (602) 793-1058. If you can, please take advantage of this terrific opportunity.

See you on Saturday!

Scoutmaster T648

Greetings!

Based on the general consensus of the PLC, we have pursued and been granted a spot at Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island off the coast of California for summer camp in 2016. Our reservation falls during “week 5” which is Sunday, July 3 – Saturday, July 9, 2016.

Over the next week or so, I will put together an information package with more specifics about the logistical arrangements for the trip. I will also include more detailed information about the cost of camp. As has been previously expressed, Catalina is more expensive than our “average” summer camp, but it also provides some unique opportunities not available at other “on shore” camps. I will do everything I can to make this as economical as possible, but anticipate that it will be around $750-$775. I will have more detailed information on this soon. As usual, we will have fundraising opportunities throughout the year.

For the moment, I need to begin assembling an accurate projection of who plans to attend. Please email me if you definitely plan to attend (or if you definitely plan NOT to attend.) – If you are on the fence for whatever the reason, please let me know that as well. I have put in a place-holder count for our troop. While we have the option to add more spots, once the Catalina Ferry fills, they will not accept additional reservations. This further underscores the need for a good count. (Even if you have sent previous emails expressing interest, please email me again.)

I will provide more details about the programs at Emerald Bay in the coming weeks. There are a unique variety of great activities that should make for an enjoyable experience.

Thanks!

Mr. Benyi

Hello Troop 648

A quick reminder – if you are going on the outing next weekend (Nov 20-22) and will be bringing your mountain bike, please remember to bring your bike to the meeting tonight so we can check it out and make sure it is in fine working order. We can also make some repairs to any bike as well.

Thanks and see you tonight!

Scoutmaster T648

Hello Troop 648

I hope to see you all bright and early tomorrow, Saturday November 7 at Horses Help – located at 2601 E. Rose Garden Lane.

See you then!

Scoutmaster T648

Hello Troop 648

As a reminder, we have a very exciting new Eagle Project this weekend. Alex Demski has been working with the organization, Horses Help for a fantastic Eagle Scout service project.

The project will be held this Saturday, November 7th at Horses Help located at 2601 E. Rose Garden Lane. Alex has asked the Troop to arrive at 6:30 am. Food and Beverage will be provided.

Horses Help is a non-profit organization that teaches special needs youth how to ride a horse and uses the horses for therapeutic properties.

Alex has described the project as renovating a garden on the organization’s property. Specifically, we will be working on three different parts of the garden. One part will be leveling out a stone path to make it safe for all volunteers. The second is building a large trellis over a raised garden bed. The third part will be building a three section compost area.

Your help is needed… and the help of your family, friends, neighbors, and anyone else you want to invite. Many hands are needed. Please bring work gloves and send Alex an email to ademski17@brophybroncos.com if you are planning to attend.

See you this Saturday!

Scoutmaster T648

Hello Troop

A reminder that we have our regularly scheduled PLC meeting tonight at 6:00pm in our normal meeting room.

If you are leading a meeting in November, please come prepared to talk about the details.

See you tonight!

Scoutmaster T648

Greetings!

We will be holding a very important special Troop Committee/Parent Meeting this Tuesday, 11/3/15. We will be discussing very important business regarding the Troop, continuing on our subject matter from the September meeting. I strongly encourage all interested parents and committee members to attend.

We will gather at Blessed Sacrament at 7:00pm for the start of the Troop meeting. We will then relocate the parent meeting down the street to Chaparral Christian Church at around 7:15pm. (6451 E Shea Blvd) – I would like to meet first at Blessed Sacrament, but anyone needing to join late can find us over at Chaparral. (Call or text me and I can give you directions as needed.) The parent meeting will end ahead of 8:30pm so we can return to Blessed Sacrament for the conclusion of the Troop Meeting.

We will still hold the regular quarterly Troop Committee meeting on 12/1/15.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards,

Mr. Benyi

Hello Troop 648

We have a very exciting new Eagle Project upcoming. Alex Demski has been working with the organization, Horses Help for a fantastic Eagle Scout service project.

The project will be held on Saturday, November 7th at Horses Help located at 2601 E. Rose Garden Lane. Alex has asked the Troop to arrive at 6:30 am. Food and Beverage will be provided.

Horses Help is a non-profit organization that teaches special needs youth how to ride a horse and uses the horses for therapeutic properties.

Alex has described the project as renovating a garden on the organization’s property. Specifically, we will be working on three different parts of the garden. One part will be leveling out a stone path to make it safe for all volunteers. The second is building a large trellis over a raised garden bed. The third part will be building a three section compost area.

Your help is needed… and the help of your family, friends, neighbors, and anyone else you want to invite. Many hands are needed. Please bring work gloves.

See you on the 7th!

Scoutmaster T648

Hello Troop 648

Mr. Clapp has offered up a Citizenship in the Community merit badge opportunity. The merit badge is primarily ‘self-guided’ in that the Scout will do most of the work on his own, while checking in at various times with Mr. Clapp as he completes requirements. Mr. Clapp will be at this Tuesday’s, October 13th Scout meeting to speak to any Scout interested in working on this Eagle required merit badge.

One of the more challenging (though rewarding!) requirements of the merit badge is that the Scout must complete eight hours of community service. I know for a few Scouts that there is no school tomorrow and for some, next week is fall break. Kelly Hart was presented with an opportunity over the weekend for any interested Scout to provide assistance to an organization, Be Kind People Project. The Be Kind group is working with the Governor’s office on a significant initiative with school aged children (see their Mission below). The opportunity is tomorrow, Monday October 12, from Noon – 4:00pm. The Scouts will be helping with some of the marketing and PR tasks and will be working inside. The office is in the area of 32nd Street and Camelback. Kelly has offered to be the parent required to stay for the full four hours. Scout should be in Class B uniform.

Sorry for the late notice, but if your Scout is interested in this community service opportunity for his Citizenship in the Community merit badge, please contact me today. You can reach me at (602) 793-1058 or dmcfetters@gmail.com.

Thanks and have a great Sunday!

Scoutmaster T648

The Be Kind People Project Mission:

The mission of The Be Kind People Project is to initiate positive social change in schools, to improve the learning environment for enhanced student achievement, to significantly ameliorate unwanted behavior issues-often manifested or interpreted as bullying, and to provide a comprehensive and culturally relevant framework for responsible and enduring youth development.

Because meaningful character education is an essential pillar of effective social, emotional, and academic learning, The Be Kind People Project equips students with tools that help them understand, link, and apply strong personal character values with academic achievement, teacher appreciation, civic responsibility, creative expression, and exercise. Students are provided with an experience-based learning approach that directs the development of solutions and skills so they will understand what TO do instead of what NOT to do and learn how to form healthy and responsible relationships, to accept accountability for decisions, words, and actions, and to form respectful and considerate interaction and communication with other people.

Hello Troop 648

We are looking to get some feedback regarding our 2016 Summer Camp program. Specifically:

• June vs. July
• Would you consider Emerald Bay (Catalina Island, CA) with a price range about $850 (plus extra for the PADI SCUBA certification, program if your Scout chooses to do that). Click here to read more about this camp.
• Slippery Falls, OK with a price range around $600 (we would need to fly and drive to camp). Click here to read more about this camp
• Note that we will have quite a few fundraising opportunities for your Scout(s) to raise money for camp.

Please forward this email to me with your response by this Thursday, October 8th. You can simply respond with something like the following:

June/Emerald Bay or June/July/either

Also, let us know if either month is a 100% no go for your Scout.

This is not necessarily committing your Scout to Summer Camp, but please don’t respond if you have a 0% chance of going to either or if this doesn’t apply to you.

Thanks

Scoutmaster T648