August Canoe Camping Information

Dear Troop 37,

I have reviewed/revised the canoe camping web page some. I have ten (10) scouts and four (4) adults going on this trip.  The scouts are:

1. Ben B.
2. Ben S.
3. Alec W.
4. Thomas C.
5. Alex C.
6. Jordan F.,
7. Zach A.,
8. Steve M.
9. Chris H.
10. Brandon M.

The four adults are:

1. Jay F.
2. Al C.
3. Jim S.
4. Gary B.

There is a lot of information on this web page. I have a “highlights section”, “canoe personal and crew packing list section”, “safety afloat and safe swim defense link for adults”, and a ‘canoing operational guide”.  For safety, fun and preparedness, parents and scouts should read the web page carefully.  For safety, fun and preparedness, parents and scouts should contact either Zach A. and/or me if they have any questions about this trip.

Checklist items for scouts include:

• Permission slips as usual from the Troop AND from the canoe livery company
• Arrange how you will pay the $60.00 canoe rental fee w/Ms. Janet S. (our treasurer) –from scout funds or personal check.  The troop has to give the livery company a check when we arrive.  Meals funding will be a separate issue.
• Reading up on how to canoe – reading the river, communications, rescue, strokes etc
• Know when to be at the church and be picked up at the church
• Meal plan, gear etc
• Confirming w/troop adult leaders that you are a BSA Swimmer.
• If you are over 16 years old and you are fishing then you need a license.

Thank you all for time and help making this a successful trip.  I’m sure I’m missing something or unclear about something.  Please let me know.  Since we’ve not gone canoing as a troop recently, this trip does not lend itself well to last minute planning and preparation.

Yours in scouting,

Individual fund balances on-line, news tips

New communication services for you

1. Scout fund balances: Ms. Stern put each Scout’s fund balance on-line for your convenience.

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Hey, I’m a techie. Hopefully these new online services will help keep you in touch with Troop 37 activities. I want to make it very easy for scouts, parents, adult leaders and friends to keep up with the troop.

Thank you for reading this far. YIS,

August outing: James River canoe/camping August 11-12

At Monday’s troop meeting I handed out a budget estimate as a reference for 1) Chincoteague for four days with sea kayaking, 2) Chincoteague for three days w/out kayaking and 3) James River canoing for two days. Basically, taking 10 scouts to Chincoteague for four days in two minivans would cost $124/scout not including incidentals. Taking 10 scouts to Chincoteague for three days in two minivans w/out kayaking would cost $65/scout not including incidentals. Going to Chincoteague for four days was expensive. Going to Chincoteague for Friday evening and Saturday for biking and swimming (without kayaking) was a long way to go (5+ hours one way) for a short period of time.

Therefore I discussed an alternative canoe camping trip with some parents, scouts and leaders that I could find. The canoe trip is only two days which is easier for people to reserve time for compared to 3 or 4 days. The canoe trip is only in Lexington which shorten the travel time and costs. The trip is on a river which limits opportunities to spend extra cash! The canoe trip comes in at about $70/person for transportation, rental, livery service, food.

I don’t believe we can pull of the Chincoteague trip. I believe our August trip should be the canoe camping trip for the logistical and financial reasons I intimated above.

I put canoe schedule information, river trip descriptions, canoe paddling techniques, canoe packing list suggestions, canoe group guidelines, livery company information on line at:

http://people.virginia.edu/~gfb7c/Troop37/August2007CanoeOuting.htm

I have reserved 7 canoes for 14 participants. I need to know if you are going by this coming Monday’s troop meeting (7/23). Patrol leaders call your patrol members. Parents and scouts please talk with each other. Please spread the word to our fellow troopers to read this email, read the web page and consider this trip. I will contact the canoe company this Tuesday, 7/24 and release any canoes that we do not need for our troop. After 7/24 I will gladly try to reserve a canoe but the canoe company may not have any.

All participants must be BSA swimmers. If you are not a BSA swimmer and would like to go then please let me know asap.

I’m sure that I missed something here or you have questions. Please do not hesitate to drop me an email or call 981.9530.

Thank you all for your consideration and keeping me posted with your plans.

Yours in scouting,

Gary

August Outing: Chincoteague August 9-12

7.18.07 update: This trip will have to be rescheduled with more advanced notice and planning at a later time.

A super trip to Assateague Island National Seashore and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Swimming, bike riding (option), soft ice cream, bird watching, sea kayaking (option) relaxation.

As always, our outdoor attendance information is on-line. Planning Information online.

Please let me know if you are going on the Chincoteague beach trip. I’d like to hear back from everyone with an answer please – 1) I’m going, 2) I’m not going, 3)I don’t know. I can’t be sure you received this message unless you reply. Adult leaders always wanted too.

July outing: Maupin Field Shelter, July 21-22

7.18.07 – Trip canceled due to low attendance.

Maupin Field shelter is only 2.1 miles in and 2.1 out. But with some local trail hiking from the shelter as a base camp we can meet the 5 mile minimum. The hike in has some elevation changes to break a sweat with nice views about half way in. Hiking time one way is just over 1 hour with a stop for water and the view. The drive is easy. The shelter will require field cooking, tents, pumping water. There are prepared campsites and few places where the older patrol can get away if desired. The area has a some local hiking so we can go without packs as time allows. There is a small clearing for tossing a ball and such. We can spread out in other words.

As always, our outdoor attendance information is on-line. Planning Information online.

Please let me know if you are going on the Maupin Field Shelter hike. I’d like to hear back from everyone with an answer please – 1) I’m going, 2) I’m not going, 3)I don’t know. I can’t be sure you received this message unless you reply. Adult leaders always wanted too.