June 2008 News
Committee Chair’s Corner
Summer is knocking on our doors, indicating another school year has come to a close. I would like to thank all of the leaders and parents who gave of their time to help make this program exist. Without you, the events would not have occurred. Troop 401 has a scouting program due to Volunteers like you. Thank you.
Troop 401
runs a year round scouting program. Although we do not have weekly meetings,
the scouts can have regular Patrol Meetings. The Troop also has events
scheduled for the summer. The Troop will be marching in the 7/4
parade, but will NOT be running an event at the Midway this year. This
has been a difficult event to man, so the Troop Committee decided not to
provide this as a fundraising opportunity for the Troop and boys. The scouts
will be attending Summer Camp 7/6 to 7/12. Then the Troop Canoe Trip will
take place in August. Watch for messages from the Scoutmaster,
Have a great summer and see you at the next event.
Scoutmaster’s Minute
We have reached the last month of our scouting year. The participation in outdoor events has been way up this year and I look forward to that continuing in the future. I do, though, believe our skill planning did slip a little this year and we will be making some changes next year to improve troop meetings and bring them to the level of our outdoor programs.
In past years June has marked the completion of our activities for the year but I’m happy to say that is not quite true this time around. We have planned some events this summer that should keep us progressing as a troop. The hiking club will continue to operate through the summer with hikes and backpacking trips. We also have a large group heading to summer camp and a canoe trip planned for August. I would also like to offer the scouts working on first class an opportunity to work with me this summer to tackle the requirements you have left to do with a goal of rank completion for September. So let me know if you are interested.
I was very excited about the outcome of the Frank Daley campout. The new patrols worked great together and indicated, what I had hoped, that the restructuring would provide a solid foundation for a strong troop. Last September we got off to a slow start with the organizational changes but I feel we are now positioned to hit the ground running next fall.
I want to thank everyone that has helped us make Troop 401 a quality program. A lot of hard work and time go into it and I know the boys appreciate it as much as I do.
Have a great summer,
Scoutmaster Ken
Training Opportunities
· Powderhorn training – July 11 -13th and 18-20th at
· Wood Badge training – September 12-14th, 26-28th (leadership skills course recommended for all Scout positions)
You can obtain applications and more information from Troop Training Chair, Robin Rich or from the DWC web page (www.nhscouting.org).
Upcoming Events
June
23 – Court of Honor & Eagle Court of Honor
July
6 – 12 – Hidden Valley Summer Camp
18 – 20 – Backpacking Club - Howl at the Moon Backpacking Trip
26 – Hiking
Club - Little Monadnock & Rhododendren
27 – August
2 –
31 – Tentative date for August Committee Meeting
August
TBD (1 – 10) – Camp Whip O Will Clean up
2 – Hiking Club – Waterfall Hike - TBD
8 -10 – Rolling Rapids Canoe Trip
13 – Roundtable
16 – Hiking Club - Full Moon Night Hike – Pack Monadnock
TBD – Welcome Back Family Picnic
25 – Annual Troop Ice Cream Social
September
9/13 – Hiking Club - West Rattlesnake
TBD –
Return to
Announcements
Court of Honor
June 23rd marks the date of the Troop’s next presentation of all rank advancements and merit badges earned since the last Court of Honor. In addition there will be an Eagle Court of Honor where Jake Therrien will be presented his Eagle rank. All families are asked to bring a finger snack food for the reception following.
2008-09 Activity Planning Meeting
The annual planning session for next year’s troop activities was held on June 8th. Several great ideas came out of the meeting and the scheduling of those ideas is currently in the works. The troop can expect one campout per month (except December) and a few new activities in addition to several of the familiar troop outings. Sledding, fishing, a cooking contest and orienteering at American Stonehenge are a few of the new things that you’ll see on the upcoming schedule….some of these may be combined with campouts.
Thanks to the Scouts that attended and worked together to come up with quality event ideas.
As always the Scouts depend on parents and leaders to make arrangements and/or organize each activity. The schedule will be available at the Ice Cream Social on Monday, August 25th…..please step forward and volunteer.
Troop Committee News
Many Thanks
After 20 years of Scouting, and the proud parent of 3 Eagle Scouts, June Porbunderwala will be retiring as the Troop Committee Secretary. Mrs. Porbunderwala has been the Troop Committee Secretary since 1994 (ish.) (Her original application was lost in the first church flood so we don’t have official records to confirm her membership…and she isn’t sharing.) She has been a guiding light for the last 14 (ish) years for our Troop. Starting in Cub Scouts and then on to Boy Scouts, her scouting knowledge, training and experience has made her a valuable asset to the Troop and the hundreds of youth that we have served. She has helped the Troop guide 24 Eagle Scouts. She has seen 5 Scoutmasters, 2 Charter Representatives, and countless Assistant Scoutmasters and Committee Members come through Troop 401.
On behalf of Troop 401, we would like to thank her for her dedication and commitment, above and beyond the call of duty. The imprint she has left with all of the youth and adults that she has helped, directly or indirectly, will have impact that will last many lifetimes. We will miss you Mrs. Porbunderwala. A Million Thank Yous!
Welcome
Troop 401 would like to welcome and thank Peggy Meighan, who has agreed to take on the position of Troop Committee Secretary. Her son Conor and husband Ed joined the Troop in February when they bridged from Pack 401. She has volunteered for many things at the Pack level and she is ready and prepared to jump right in at the Troop level.
We thank you for volunteering for this important job with the Troop Committee. We look forward to working with you and thank you for your valuable
time.
Focus Change
The Troop’s Outdoor Activities Chair, Kevin Seeley, has recently decided to move from being an assistant scoutmaster to putting more focus on outdoor activities and on the Troop Committee. He will still be able to teach the skills, just not sign off the scouts books.
Fundraising Chair
In addition, Kelly Seeley has agreed to take on the position of Fundraising Chair. This means that she will know of the Fundraisers but WILL NOT be running all of the fundraisers. We will still need your help. Many thanks Kelly.
Summer Committee Meetings
The Troop Committee does not normally meet in July and due to scheduling issues the August committee meeting will not be held on the second Thursday of August. It has been tentatively scheduled for Thursday, July 31st.
All parents and leaders are encouraged to attend the Committee Meetings to share your ideas. We will return to our regular, second Thursday of the month meeting in September.
Add to your calendar now!
The Annual Troop Ice Cream Social is Monday August 25th at St. James. Scouts and their families are invited. You may bring a friend to see if they are interested in joining Scouts.
You will receive a postcard this summer. Be sure to check your mailbox and ask a friend to check us out!!!!
Arrowhead District Roundtable
There will be no meeting in July. The next meeting will be the second Wednesday in August, the 13th. All Leaders are strongly encouraged to attend.
Summer E-mails
Occasionally
the Troop is presented with an opportunity to attend an event or gifted tickets
to shows. The fastest way to get the word out is through the Troop
Summer Merit Badge Work
All of the scouts are encouraged to work on Merit Badges this summer. School work and activities are not occupying all of your time. Projects can be done and adventures can be planned to meet the requirements of many Merit Badges. See the Scoutmaster or the Advancement Chair, Mr. Volante, for a current list of Merit Badge Counselors so that you can get started. Don’t forget to get your Blue Cards and talk with the counselor before you start the Merit Badge
Camp Whip O Will
The Troop is
scheduled to perform our Community Service at Whip O Will from August 1st
to the 10th. We need adults to cut the grass, weed wack, and scouts to stack the wood in the axe yard and pick
up downed branches and secure fire pits. This is an area we have used
throughout the year and we need to help maintain it. The Troop Committee will
choose a particular date for the clean up. If you are unable to attend on this
date, please let Mrs. Kofman know when you are available. Watch your
Thank you in advance for your time and work to help maintain this local and convenient location.
Rolling Rapids Canoe Trip 8/8 to 10th
The final
sign up date for the 2nd Annual Troop Canoe trip is Monday, June 23rd.
Please make sure you are signed up as all logistics and supplies will be based
on the count as of June 23rd. Scouts and Leaders, please see the
activity coordinator,
The trip
will be August 8th-10th on the
Please see Mr. Seeley for the State Park contact info for reserving a spot for families that would like to attend.
This fall our
Troop has the honor of planting a 14-19ft American Liberty Elm in
Hiking Club & Backpacking Club
Backpacking Update: The Howl-to-the Moon backpacking two-night trip will be in
July along the Monadnock-Mount Sunapee trail. We will depart on July 18th
and return on the 20th with MOON-BURN. It will be a bit less
aggressive than the
Mark your calendar with the following hiking/backpacking dates. Please forward any hiking trail suggestions to Mr. Seeley at kseeley2005@yahoo.com.
Hiking Club
7/26 – Little Monadnock & Rhododendren St. Park
8/2 – Waterfall Hike – TBD
8/16 – Full Moon Night Hike – Pack Monadnock
9/13 – West Rattlesnake
Sept – Nov Fall Hikes TBD
Backpacking Club
7/18 – 20 – Howl-to-the Moon 2 night trip –
Full Moon! – Monadnock/Sunapee Trail
Congratulations
Order of the Arrow
Congratulations to Joel and James for being elected to enter Scouting’s National Honor Society – The Order of the Arrow.
To be eligible a scout must be a registered member of a troop, hold the rank of at least First Class and must have experienced fifteen days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election. After a scout meets these requirements, he must be elected by his troop which is exactly how Joel did it.
The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is to:
- Recognize Scout campers the best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives
- Develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit
- Promote Scout camping
- Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
National Youth Leadership Training
Congratulations to Matt S. and Tyler for being selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Training this summer. The program is an exciting, action-packed week long event designed to provide the participants with leadership skills and experience they can take back to their troop.
Matt and Tyler will learn what a leader must be, what he must know and what he must do along with a clear focus on HOW to do it. Just imagine what great things the Senior Patrol will accomplish next year after all that empowering training.
Community Service
Library Book
Once again
the Scouts of Troop 401 came through for the library’s book sale. Several
Scouts attended both the set-up on Thursday, June 5th and the take
down on Sunday, June 8th. Special thanks to the
The participating Scouts were: Brendan, Paul, Tyler, Jacob, Logan, Andrew, Matt S., Jackson, Bailey and Holden.
Adopt a Road & Church Cleanup
On Friday, May 16th the Scouts of Troop 401 could be seen toting brooms and garbage bags in a major cleanup effort. The Troop participants, which included adults and siblings, left the Troop’s assigned road and St. James Church a lot cleaner.
Thanks to Matthew B., Eric, Jackson, Casey, Brendan, Holden, Robert, Bailey, Nick, Austen, Conor, Paul, Matt S. and Andrew for their wonderful efforts.
Fundraising
Grocery Receipts
Please continue to save your Shaw’s receipts over the summer. The Troop has received over $500 from all the receipts that YOU have brought in!!
Mrs. Prive will be ready to collect your summer receipts in September!
Popcorn Sales
Popcorn sales sheets will be available on August 13th. Although Scouts can sell popcorn until November, the District encourages Scouts to get out and complete their selling before school starts. The District is asking that each Scout sell enough popcorn to fill one page of sales. Instead of selling to family, friends and neighbors this year, consider going to an upscale neighborhood (with a parent). Matthew B. did this last year and was VERY successful with his sales.
Popcorn sales are a great way to put dollars in Scout Accounts and the troop also benefits. Mrs. Beck will be contacting the Scouts in August to arrange distribution of the sales sheets and info. Thanks to Mrs. Beck for organizing this event, she did a fabulous job last year!
Past Events
Joe English Hike and Backpack Practice
Heald Tract Backpacking Practice/Hike
A very warm day greeted Brendan, Robert and Logan and the Sherpas on a hike past a backwoods cabin, abandoned town and beaver-pond filled pastures. They sweated with their packs on a humid morning and had to stop for ice cream on the way home to recover.
Frank Daley Campout –
The Troops annual weekend at Wasserman might have been dampened by the threat of rainy weather but that did not stop a large group from Troop 401 from having a great scouting weekend. A variety of activities helped some to complete advancement while everyone got to compete in a one-pot meal contest.
Mount Barrett Backpacking Trip
A warm,
humid day greeted Brendan, Max, Matthew B., Logan, Jackson, the Seeleys and the Volantes
with heavy loads for overnight backpacking on the mountain top. In
addition, Nick and Dad and Mr. Landry with the rest of the Landry boys came to
hike in and out on this very rigorous hike. All involved have a lot to be
proud of and the sore muscles to prove it. We liked the hike so much we
missed the shelter and ended up hiking down then up
Mr. Milton’s Recipe Roundup
Troop 401 Twinkie Cake
This is an old troop 401 favorite. It's a cake that needs no cooking but is great for a group. It won an inter-troop dessert competition. As you can tell from the title its basis is hostess Twinkies.
(2) Boxes of Hostess Twinkies
(12) Vanilla pudding snack cups
(1) Container of Cool Wip
(1) Bag Heath Bar Crunch pieces
(1) 9x14 aluminum pan
Line the bottom of the pan with Twinkies cut in half length wise, next comes a
layer of vanilla pudding. Then sprinkle half the Heath Bar Crunch. Next comes
another layer of Twinkies, again cut length wise, then layer on the cool whip
(don't use canned whip cream, it won't work. On top of the Cool Whip sprinkle
the rest of the Heath Bar Crunch. Cover the pan and refrigerate for at least two
hours. If you can't refrigerate, place in a cool shady place to store until
dinner.
Don’t forget your submissions for the Troop Cookbook. Please submit any and all of your favorite camping recipes. These can be using Dutch ovens or not. Please submit them to troop401news@yahoo.com!
Troop Birthdays
Troop Birthdays for July and August are:
Sid 7/5
Joel 7/6
George 7/17
Austen 7/18
On Being a Scout….
Dutch Ovens and other cast iron griddles and pans are easy to take care of. If treated properly, they will last years and can be gifted to your Grandchildren. The main problem you need to guard against with cast iron is rust. Yes rust, anytime cast iron gets wet, from washing, night time dew and rain, they will start to rust overnight. They need to be stored in a dry place.
Once you finish using your cast iron, you need
to wash it with steal wool. NO SOAP. Soap will strip the seasoned patina off
the iron. Use just hot water, scrub with the steal wool, dry it off then wipe
down with cooking oil. Vegetable oil works well. Once you have done this, put
the pan back into the fire until it heats up and smokes. This will season the
pan and it will be ready for the next use. I always season my pans even when
they are brand new, and already seasoned. The factory oil is not always the
best. Since I am not used what they use, I prefer it not be in anything I eat.
If you season your pan at home, wash and oil your pan then put it in a
pre-heated 400 degree oven for 45 minutes. Use oven mittens as the pan will be
hot, well 400 degrees, right?
The griddle is treated the same way, with a twist. Once you have finished
cooking turn the heat up to medium, get a cup of water, hot mittens and a
4" putty knife. Once the griddle heats up pour the water on the griddle
and scrap it with the putty knife. Watch out
for the steam you don't
want to get yourself burned. Once it is clean, wipe off the residual bits with
a towel or paper towel. The griddle has been steam cleaned and sanitized. Next
wipe the griddle down with oil all over it. Let it sit on the heat so the oil
can set in. Then turn the heat off and let the griddle cool off. You are now
ready to use it next time. The oil not only seasons the griddle but also
partially protects it from water.
If your Dutch Oven or cast iron starts to rust wipe it
down and re-season.
Yard sales are a great place to get cheap cast iron. People see it rusted and
throw it out or put it in the yard sale real cheap. Once you follow the
seasoning instructions it will look brand new.
-Mr Milton.
Newsletter Contact
Kelly Seeley, Newsletter Coord., 424-0734, troop401news@yahoo.com