Here is the set of animal tracks Hank was describing- this photo was taken on the Winter campout at Hidden Valley.  See if you can tell what happened.

-will
> In the meantime, remember that snowy weather is the best time to find out what is living around and maybe even under your house.  Take a walk around your house and look for tracks in the snow.  Your Boy Scout Handbook has some common tracks and there are numerous online sites which will help you identify what you are seeing.  Try to figure out what the animal is doing.  One person told me about seeing widely space tracks in the snow–a squirrel most likely.  Then there was a brushed up place in the snow and no more tracks.  What happened?  Probably a hawk swooped in and found his supper.

My Yahoo e-mail is going crazy again so I am sending this from my Gmail account.  And I may be duplicating what the SPL has already sent out–my apologies if that is true.

The big thing for the meeting tomorrow night is that even if school is canceled, I would really like to see the QMs..  We need to get stuff ready for the trip.  And if the QMs could show up a little early, no matter what, that would help.  The stuff is laid out ready to pack, but we need to fill a few things and then actually pack the stuff.  If possible, it would be nice if the QMs could show up around 6:30 PM.  Of course should the snow be really heavy or travel conditions are dangerous, then we will make other plans.  Safety first.

Anybody going on the trip needs to have their pack checked if you didn’t go through that last week.  So bring it.  If you don’t want to take it home, you can always leave it at the Scout Room ready to go on Saturday.

In the meantime, remember that snowy weather is the best time to find out what is living around and maybe even under your house.  Take a walk around your house and look for tracks in the snow.  Your Boy Scout Handbook has some common tracks and there are numerous online sites which will help you identify what you are seeing.  Try to figure out what the animal is doing.  One person told me about seeing widely space tracks in the snow–a squirrel most likely.  Then there was a brushed up place in the snow and no more tracks.  What happened?  Probably a hawk swooped in and found his supper.  The brushed up places was from his wings.  Mice, moles, voles, shrews, and other small furry animals love spaces like the ones under porches.  Look carefully.  Larger animals like rabbits and ‘coons are also pretty common.  Every time I drive or walk by our Scout meeting place late at night, I see a rabbit on the side lawn between the church and the parish hall.

-Hank Manz

Update: Due to the Merit Badge University being held on Saturday, March 6th, we have changed the date of the first session for the Environment Science merit badge to Saturday, March 20th from 9:00 am- 12:00 noon.

See all details below.

Gerry Abegg has offered to lead a group of scouts in earning their Environmental Science merit badge (Eagle required)  Here are the details:

Prerequisites:  must be First Class Rank or higher; must have completed one “nature” related merit badge; must have a desire to engage in a demanding but interesting merit badge (in other words- a learning experience where participation, enthusiasm, and homework are required).

When:  a total of 4 sessions- the first session will be held Saturday, March 6th from 9:00 am- 12:00 noon at St. B’s.    A second meeting (probably during a Thursday evening scout meeting); a 2-3 hour nature hike (sometime in April), and a final Saturday session in late April or May.  A timeline worksheet will be provided at the first session.   You will be performing experiments and field observations, as well as conducting research and preparing reports/paperwork.

Interested?:  If so, I will have a sign-up sheet available at the Thursday scout meetings (please sign the sheet rather than informing me of your interest via email).

I am also working at identifying an optional merit badge (primarily for those scouts under first class rank- but available for anyone who is interested) to begin on Saturday, March 6th as well; same time/ same location.   Stay tuned for details……

YIS-
David M. Gambone

Hi everyone,

The annual Troop 160 Family Ski Trip will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010, which is the weekend after the February School vacation week.

This year we are going to Waterville Valley Ski Resort in Waterville Valley, NH.  Waterville Valley has 52 trails for DOWNHILL SKIING and SNOWBOARDING, 5 terrain parks, a 400-foot Superpipe, a vertical drop of 2020 feet, and over 70 kilometers of CROSS-COUNTRY trails.  Everyone in the family is welcome! Waterville Valley has great snowmaking capability and they do an excellent job of keeping the trails covered.  This is a great opportunity to get the whole family out for a day of fun in the winter sun!

If you need to rent equipment, there are two options.  You can either rent at Waterville Valley for the Group Rate and pick up your equipment there on the morning of the trip. Or, you can arrange to rent your equipment the day before the trip at Sports Authority in the Woburn Mall.  Note that helmets can only be rented at Waterville Valley.  Please see the attached Group Rates Form for more details.

This year we are again counting on parents to drive and offer rides to others where space is available.  It’s a really fun day trip so I hope we can have a great turnout this year.  I have attached a Flyer, Permission Slip, Group Rate Form, and Rental Form (this is necessary only if you are renting equipment at Waterville Valley).  Please bring all forms and payment to the Troop Meeting either tonight or next week, which is the last meeting before February School vacation.  Or, you can mail forms and payment to me at:
35 Ledgelawn Ave, Lexington, MA 02420.

I will be at the meeting tonight to collect forms and payment, and to hand out hard copies of all forms to those who need them.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thanks,
Margaret Stebbins
Ski Trip Coordinator

Click here to download flyer and  forms.