Troop Happenings

 Hey all, we’ve got a lot going on the next couple weeks, so I thought that I would send out a quick note about what we’ve got going on:

A big shout out to everyone that attended the Trail to 1^st Class meeting yesterday! We got a bunch of requirements ticked off, and everyone is a bit closer to earning their next rank! For those newer boys working for their Scout badge they will also need to do two other small things at home. Please let us know when they have completed their Cyber Chip https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/cyber-chip/grades-6-8/ and the little Pamphlet at the front of the Scout Handbook (Protecting your Scout from Child Abuse). If this is completed before Friday we may be able to get them their Scout badge at Monday's Court of Honor.

 

Tomorrow we’ll be at the National Advanced Driving Simulator in North Liberty.  Please be prompt, and have your Scout in their Class A Uniform. If you haven’t already gone over the Traffic Safety merit badge prerequisites, you can find them at  http://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/tsmb/

On Friday the 27^th, we have been asked to be the Honor Guard to present the flags at the Hearlander’s Hockey game in Coralville. I need to know which Scouts will be participating in the Honor Guard by Tuesday so we can go over expectations. Full Class A Uniform with Uniform Pants are required. All Scouts will need a ticket to enter. Tickets can be purchased at https://offer.fevo.com/kalamazoo-wings-4cznhud-4daabc5?fevoUri=kalamazoo-wings-4cznhud-4daabc5%2F

On Monday Jan 31^st, we will have our Court of Honor to celebrate all of our Scouts and their hard work over the past 8 months. We will also pass out Popcorn Prizes.

At Court of Honor we will need to have our deposits paid for Summer Camp and High Adventure.  For Summer Camp/High Adventure anyone can go, but we need to know very soon.  We will need a $150.00 per person deposit paid at the COH on the 31^st.

On Feb 1^st we will need to sign everyone up for the Merit Badge University in Monticello on April 2^nd. We need to sign up as a Troop. Merit Badge classes can be found at: https://www.meritbadge.info/MBN2/eventdetails.aspx?id=45FE368E-717E-4036-9FA5-3119962840DE   Please let our advancement team (Matt, Jen or Juerg) know which merit badge your Scout would like to sign up for. Email troop advancement at: t212.advancement.chair@gmail.com  

Choices can be found at 

Thanks all, and we’ll see everyone here soon!

YIS,

Doug

2021 Memories With Troop 212

Scouts have had an unprecedented year in 2021 pressing on in spite of COVID restrictions.  Troop 212 planned many outdoor activities including sledding, hiking, bicycling, and holding meetings outdoors. There were some bumps in the road as some places closed to Go-See-Its but we still managed to go a few places and have a great time at summer camp!  For a look back on our year enjoy this slideshow created by Forrest Estes, one of our Life Scouts. Thanks Forrest for all the hard work putting this together!

Going Going Gone!

 We haven't had a Troop auction for 2 years now so some don't know anything about it.

It's a great time for where you get to spend hundreds of dollars on camping stuff, Scouting items, toys and candy. For the parents it's also great because it doesn't cost them a penny. 😁

Scoutmaster Notes - Hiking to Philmont

 Hey all, be prepared is the Boy Scout Motto as we all know. For all of you going on the Philmont trek (and any others that want to join along), we will be doing at least two-three practice hikes per week from now til August 4^th when we depart on our grand adventure!!!

I’m not going to lie, last night going three miles with a 50 lbs. pack was tough. Now with both Crews are doing at least one 10+ mile hike (my crew is doing a 13 mile day, and Dawn’s crew is dong four 8 to 11 mile hikes all in a row), if you are not hiking 20 plus miles a week for the next 5 weeks, YOU and the REST OF YOUR CREW might be in trouble!!!

 

We will have another practice hike  next Wednesday the 30^th at 6:00.  Please let me know if you can be there!

 

On Monday, July 5^th, we will have a Crew meeting for all Scouts going to Philmont in place of our regular Troop meeting. Please bring your entire pack with all of your gear for a gear check. If you have not got all of your gear together, please check out the what to bring section in https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-Guidebook-To-Adventure.pdf It is located on pages 20-25.

 

As always, please let me know if you have any questions at all, and we’ll see all of you here very soon!

Scoutmaster Doug

2021 Scout Camp Reflection (6/21/21 Meeting Notes)

Report from Howard H. Cherry Scout Camp

 

Most Important: No one died! Yay!!!

What were some of your favorite activities?

Rifles - Favorite of 4+ scouts

Climbing Wall

Adrenaline rush

C.O.P.E.

Eagle quest

Swimming

Playing bs card game at night

Merit badges

Meeting other scouts/small world

What things could have been better for next time?

The hike down/up to rifles

Do more merit badges in a day

Latrines were terrible

Spiders (Were they not big enough)

Time between classes (more time needed to get across camp)

Food quantities inconsistent (Not enough at beginning, too much at end)

More showers, 1 didn’t work. (First time girls were there?)

Butterfly attacks! They were like tiny kamakazes!

Make sure we are more consistent. Better flow

Would you change what you packed?

Flip flops for showers (Mentioned several times!)

Bring rain gear instead of having to use a trash bag. Not very fashionable, but at least it was Thrifty!

Bring more $$. Spent a lot on cream soda and sugary treats at the Trading Post.

Lots of magic cards bought too!

Flip flops at pool, burning feet!

Better socks

Goggles for pool

Overpacked clothes

Hiking stick was helpful

Sweatpants for comfort

USE the bug spray

More $$$...cream soda...yummmm

What did you do at summer camp you never thought you could do?

Shot a bullseye with an arrow 

Climbing on telephone poles and other scouts had my lives in my hand. Trusted others.

Climbing wall trust

I was responsible for other scouts lives

Taking leaps of faith in depending on others

Swamp a canoe. Swimming that far. Stepped on a fish. 

Got a new merit badge.

Finally learned how to dive, never thought I would

Shot a rifle 

How did you change while at camp?

Better leadership skills

I can survive without an Xbox all day

Became a more responsible person.

Getting over fears

Being a nice person to everyone

Parents say I'm quieter...I lost my voice.

KUDOS!!

Nobody took electronics! No one looking at phones! (You won’t remember the Minecraft video you watched 20 years from now)

Staff working until 11pm then up at 5am

No mosquitos!

Troop leadership belly flop contests

Flexibility and perseverance by leadership and scouts in rolling with the COVID changes.

Strongest link award goes to Ivan A. for showing some of the most improvement over the week and being helpful throughout camp.

You guys lived up to thoughtful gentlemen! And represented us well!! ~ Scoutmaster Doug

Why should I go to camp?

It's FUN!!

Because...YES!

It's Faaaaaantastic!

Terrrrrrrrific!!!

Grrrrrrrrrroovy!!!!!!!!!

And

ALL!

DAY!

LONG!!!!

Thank You Staff, Leadership & Parents!

Note from Doug 6/19/21

 Happy Saturday everyone!

I wanted to congratulate all of our Scouts who did such a tremendous job at summer camp up at Howard H Cherry  his week!

Thank you to all the adults that help make this possible (Eric, Juerg, Shawn, Jason) and a HUGE thank you to Steve W for doing al of the admin work!

The Scouts had an amazing time, and we couldn’t do it with out all of the amazing leadership that are adults provide our guys!

To wrap up camp and turn in tents, this coming Monday the 21st, I would like to have a summer camp follow up meeting for all of the boys that attended camp to attend. This is to see what they learned, how they grew, and how we can better prepare for next time.

I would also ask if I could have a couple parents say a little bit after and conduct a 1st Class Board of Review for Kyle M before he leaves for California.

Please let me know if you can make it and will hopefully see everyone that attended summer camp on Monday night.

YIS,

Doug

Howard H. Cherry Scout Camp

 Troop 212 has had a wonderful week at Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation.  The   boys have stayed active and combated the heat at the many water spots around camp.  The Trading Post has been one of the favorite stops for soda, ice cream, and games.  Gaga pit and swimming at the pool are some of the busiest stations during free time.  As the week winds down they are looking forward to Parents Night and heading home in the morning.

Camp Update

 Hey all, just a quick note that 9:30 is when we will be able to leave camp on Saturday.

Also, to put many minds at ease, with the potential for severe weather tonight, there are multiple storm shelters strategically placed around Scout camp for everyone to use in the event of bad weather. They may be hot, stinky (because of the Scouts) and loud, but they are safe and the songs that are sung in there will stick with them for the rest of their lives!

 

Thanks all, and thank you for being able to roll with the punches on this, everything this year is different, and many times the staff is having to make decisions on the fly, so they, (and I) appreciate your understanding.

 

Stay cool (and DRINK WATER-GLUG, GLUG, GLUG!)

Camp Wakonda

 Hello Mother,

Hello Father, 
Here I am at

Camp Wakonda,

Now, how many of you sung that in your head as you were reading it???

Here is the song is the entire song to bring a smile to your face!

https://youtu.be/XFkcDWDGkTo

Now with that, here is an update from camp:

Things are good.

No one has died!

I’m very proud of all of our Scouts, they have done amazing well so far, have gelled as a team, and have exceeded our expectations! Our PLC has done an fantastic job of showing good leadership and have been exhibiting the best traits that a Scout could offer to their friends, and I am very impressed with everyone!!!

Family night is now going to be on Friday, so anyone that would like to go to Our Scout camp to visit, you’re more than welcome to come up for the evening.

I know that there has been some folks asking if they can grab their Scout early, and the answer is yes. So if you want to come up to family night and grab your Scout, please let Eric know. 

With that being said, any Scouts leaving early will have to give up their free time Friday morning to pack up their tent and make sure everything is in order to depart early. Also, we can’t leave just a couple Scouts to clean up the camp site, so unless you really need to pull your Scout out early, please be considerate of the other Scouts and Adults left at camp when making this decision. 

A huge thank you to Eric, Juerg and Sean, for being up their to guide our guys so far, and to Steve Woodward for making everything leading up to this so easy! A Troop is as only as strong as the parents that step up, and we are truly blessed to have so many amazing parents making our Scouts journey possible!

Arrival at Camp

 Our scouts are all set up at summer camp and ready for an exciting week!