Winter camping trip, Jan 19-20

Hi, all,

Snow, ice, and cold temperatures mean only one thing: Winter has arrived! And it’s time to think about winter camping!

Coming up in our next troop outdoor event is a winter camping trip to Hidden Valley, NH, January 19-20, 2008. Too much snow, and you can do some sledding and snowshoeing! Too much ice, and ice fishing will be a lot of fun! There will be activities for everyone, scouts and adults!

That is the Martin Luther King’s long weekend, and so you can spend your Sat.-Sun camping (one night only), and still have Mon. to relax (or do your homework)!

Attached is the information and sign-up sheet. Please let me know if you are interested in going. Email me if you have any question.

I am also looking for an experienced adult leader who can lead the group at the camp. If interested, please let me know asap.

Franco Wong
Winter camp coordinator

DOWNLOAD INFORMATION AND SIGN-UP SHEET HERE

(Note responses are due by Jan 3)

UPDATE 1/21/08:  CAMPOUT PICTURES CAN BE SEEN HERE

High Adventure Night for Parents and Scouts (and other stuff)

Hello All,

The Thurs Dec 20th troop meeting is for both parents and scouts to attend. The meeting will be devoted to presentations, slides shows, information and Q & A on High Adventure activities, Scuba certification, and a bit of Winter camping prep. Pls see below and the attached flyer.

Parents and scouts are encouraged to come to the meeting on time (7:30PM) at the usual place. (Wilson, Pls ask service patrol to come early to set up chairs etc..)

Also attached is a “Cook-a-ree settle-up” form for anybody who is owed a refund, or owes money to the troop as a result of the cook-a-ree being reduced from 2-days to 1-day and held on Sunday.

Thanks, and see you all on Thurs

John Woodhouse
T160 Committee Chair

DOWNLOADS:
Cook-a-ree settle-up form
High Adventure Night flyer

LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD SCOUTS
(and Leaders)

At the December 20th Troop 160 meeting a presentation and slide show will highlight the BSA’s exciting High Adventure Bases. Anyone interested in the best Boy Scouts has to offer, including parents, should attend.


NORTHERN TIER NATIONAL HIGH ADVENTURE, BSA

Ely, Minnesota
http://ntier.org/index.html

The Northern Tier High Adventure Base near Ely, MN is your entry point to the incomparable Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Quetico Provincial Park. At the base you will be equipped with all the gear and food you need for an 8 day canoe trek into some of the finest wilderness canoeing in North America. Your trip will include opportunities for fishing, chances to observe wildlife and unforgettable scenery.

PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH, BSA
Cimarron, New Mexico
http://www.scouting.org/philmont

Philmont Scout Ranch, the Boy Scouts of America’s premier high-adventure base, challenges Scouts with more than 200 square miles of rugged New Mexico wilderness. 11-day backpacking treks, horseback riding, rock climbing, gold mining, high altitude camping, and mountain hikes over 11,000 feet offer young people many ways to experience and enjoy this legendary country called the “Scouting paradise”.

THE FLORIDA SEA BASE: SCUBA, BSA
Islamorada, Florida
http://www.bsaseabase.org

A week at the Seabase Scuba program’s very well equipped dive base in the Florida Keys typically includes a training tank dive and 9 open water boat dives on the best coral reefs in the lower 48 states, including a night dive. Seabase can support as many as 15 crews at a time from all over the country. Crews usually number about 8 including 2 adult leaders. While the program is designed for entry level divers, you will become an experienced open water reef diver by the end of the week. All candidates must be above the age of 14 and certified open-water divers. (Note that the Troop can arrange training courses if enough Scouts are interested.)

No meeting tonight, 12/13

I am going to make the call without further delay.
There is snow in the air and it is just 12:30 PM. I have checked the weather radar and the storm is moving in as planned. Up to 10 inches of snow will fall between 3 PM and midnight. Even if it starts later than planned or ends earlier than planned, our meeting time is right in the middle of that window.
Lexington town buildings will shut down at 3 PM and a snow emergency is in effect.
I realize we had a lot planned for tonight, but we will have to put it off a week. Stay warm!
-Hank

Possible snow emergency, 12/13

Scouts are intrepid. We all know that. But we pay attention to safety. We also know that since we live close to the seacoast, weather forecasts can be wildly inaccurate.

However …

I just got home to find that the forecast is for 6-10″ of snow starting in the afternoon and lasting several hours. Visibility at times will be near zero and driving will be treacherous according to the forecast.

The troop will make a call on this as early as possible, but don’t expect firm word until 2 PM at the earliest. An e-mail will be sent to the lists and a notice will be posted on the Web site.

We will also pay attention to what the schools and Town does about their buiildings and we will seek advice from them on whether to call the meeting off.

Stay tuned.

-Hank

(Note: The Troop generally meets when Lexington public schools are in session — school status can be found at http://lps.lexingtonma.org/snow/ which is also linked in the sidebar of the Troop site. The early dismissal decision is what’s calling for a little extra thought on our part. — Barry)