We are once again gearing up for Summer Camp at Daniel Webster Council’s (DWC) Griswold Scout Reservation in New Hampshire. We will be at Camp Bell the first week (August 6 – 12) and Hidden Valley the second week (August 13 – 19). There are several new and exciting programs going on this year! One is the SPOKE program for Scouts 14 years old and up that involves kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking or rock climbing. More information to follow. Summer Camp packets should be distributed some time within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, please be aware of the following:
Monthly Archives: January 2006
Ski trip to Gunstock, February 11
The annual Troop 160 ski trip to Gunstock Mountain in New Hampshire will be held on Saturday, February 11th, 2006. Gunstock offers 45 trails for DOWNHILL SKIING and SNOWBOARDING, 50 kilometers of CROSS-COUNTRY trails, 7 chutes for TUBING, and is known for its “guaranteed” Learn-to-Ski program. All equipment is available for rental: skis, snowboards, cross-country skis, snow blades, boots, & helmets. Everyone in the family is welcome! This is a great opportunity to get the whole family out for a day of fun in the winter sun.
Pack check for Parker Mountain, January 12
There will be a pack check at this Thursday’s meeting for the upcoming camping trip. Pack checks are a time when scouts bring in their packs filled with the items that they will be bringing on the camping trip to be inspected by older more experienced scouts. As this is the Donkey and Gecko’s first ever Troop 160 Winter camping trip, this pack check is absolutely necessary for those scouts. As well as being extra prepared for the camping trip, bringing in your packed bag fulfills a requirement for the (eagle required) camping merit badge as well as a requirement for 1st or 2nd class. In order for this trip to be a success, it is necessary to bring the proper gear to stay warm.
When you are packing your bag, work from your scout handbook as well as what Mr. Griffiths spoke about at the last meeting. Even though we will tell you what you are missing, the more complete your gear is the better. Again, this pack check is stressed for the younger scouts in the Donkey and Gecko patrols, however, if you don’t fall in that group and want to bring your pack in… do it.
–SPL Joey
Trog talk, January 26: Hiking the Appalachian Trail
UPDATE: We learned a lot from this talk — find Scoutmaster Hank Manz’ summary here.
Hiking the 2,172.6 mile Appalacian Trail from Georgia to Maine is one of the world’s ultimate backpacking experiences. Join us at the Troop Meeting on Jan 26, 8:00-8:30pm for an entertaining presentation of Trog’s 2003 adventure hiking the AT. Family and friends are invited.
Learn about how to pack EXTREMELY light. Learn about “trail magic”. Hear about the word-of-mouth communication network that forms among through-hikers along the 2000 mile trek.
Parker Mountain Campout, January 14-15
Remember, the Parker Mountain snowshoeing/winter sports trip will be January 14-15, 2006 (Martin Luther King weekend). The calendar from this fall says January 14-16, but it’s been shortened. If you haven’t turned in your permission slip, be sure to do it at the Court of Honor.