MAD TRAPPER'S CAMPOREE

February 4-6, 2011

"The Frozen Wild West"

This is the 34th annual Mad Trapper's Camporee. This year's activities revolve around the theme "The Frozen Wild West". Saturday's activities are all outdoors until the evening formal campfire. After Sunday's Scout's own (which will be led by our troop) the whole camp gets together to participate in a wide game planned and delivered by the Venturers doing service at the camp. The event culminates with fantastic snowshoe trophies for the best patrol cometitors in each event. This is a challenge camp, an important opportunity for our scouts.

Scouter Katie will attend the next planning meeting for Mad Trapper's Camp on November 17th. The camp is very popular and fills up quickly. As such, the registration deadline for scouts wishing to attend is Monday, November 15th. Scouter Katie must pay the registration fees ($45.00 per participant) on November 17th. We hope to be able to offset that cost with money from the casino funds. We are not asking for payment on the 15th, just the names of scouts who will be attending.

Please email Scouter Katie by November 15th to confirm your scout's attendance.

Sincerely,

Katie McDonough

Troop Scouter

Lake Miquelon Hike, Investiture and Feast

October 16th, 2010

195 Ridgewood Scouts and 88th Polaris Scouts

This Saturday Scouts from the 195th Ridgewood and 88th Polaris troops, along with family and friends will come together for a brisk hike, hot cooked-by-scouts campfire food and a special lake-side investiture for our new scouts and leaders.

Fee: $15.00 per participant

Start time: 10:00 am at Minchau parking lot. Parents are responsible for bringing their scouts to the event, or arranging transportation for them. This is a full uniform event; scouts not in uniform will not be permitted to participate in the investiture ceremony. Family and friends are warmly invited to participate in the hike, camp out and investiture. This is an entirely outdoor event, so participants must be prepared for cold, rainy weather. Scouts need to dress in layers, so that they can adjust to changing temperatures.

Scouts must bring the following:

• a good lunch to bring on the hike; if you'd like some hot soup, bring a packet and we'll boil water during our lunch break (so don't forget your mug)
• warm layered clothing (hat or tuque, gloves, sweatshirt and/or vest, windbreaker or warm jacket, long underwear)
• rain gear
• mess kit including mug
• sunscreen
• knife (for scouts with their knife permit)
• flint (for scouts with their fire permit)
• plastic grocery bag
• hiking boots (running shoes will be acceptable, but hiking boots are better)
• warm socks
• knapsack to carry their gear
• two full bottles of water
• paper and pencil
• any personal items (no electronics) that you feel you may need

For scouts and/or friends and family who can't join us for the hike, they are welcome to come for the campfire and investiture. This address: http://www.albertaparks.ca/pubsandmedia/maps/MiquelonCampgroundTrailMap.pdf will take you to a map of the park. When you drive past the Permit Booth continue on just past the Park Centre and turn left into the Day Use parking lot. Park in the further parking lot. Walk toward the beach. If you arrive after 3:00 pm you will see our flags flying and will find at least one of our leaders waiting to welcome you.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Yours in Scouting,

Scouter Katie

Troop Scouter

SEPTEMBER 25, BOTTLE DRIVE

195 Ridgewood Scouting Bottle Drive

September 25th at Minchau School Parking Lot

Starts at 9:30 AM...goes all day...

It's our first fundraiser of the year and everyone's participation is expected. This is a full uniform event. It's also a rain or shine event so everyone must be prepared for cold, windy and even rainy weather. Hotdogs, hot chocolate, cookies and fruit will be offered for lunch. Parents are asked to bring their vehicle registration and insurance and be prepared to drive youth to and around their assigned routes. Parents should also think about protecting the inside of their vehicles with tarps, as bottles and cans are STICKY!

October 2nd...Let's Get Lost (or at least very confused)

The Corn Maze Challenge

Saturday, October 2nd Scouts will work together in teams to try and beat the Edmonton Corn Maze. Teams will also challenge each other to see who can bring the most food for the Food Bank.

We'll meet at the entrance to the corn maze at 12:00, scouts will join their teams (which will have been decided earlier) and will head into the maze.

If every one gets out, we will celebrate with a hot dog roast at our reserved fire pit...assuming that a scout with a fire permit can light the campfire for us. Any scouts who don't find their way out of the maze will be saddly missed...

This is a rain or shine challenge. Scouts will need to be prepared for cold and or rainy weather and bring appropriate clothing (rain gear, umbrella, good walking shoes or hiking boots, hat, sunscreen, full water bottle, paper, pencil and a knapsack to carry it all in). If it is raining badly we may have to cancel the campfire at the end. This is a full uniform event; because this is a team exercise scouts will show their unity by wearing their uniforms.

Parents and syblings are welcome to attend. Please let us know how many people will be coming so we can bring enough hot dogs. The cost of the event is $5.00 per scout, $10.00 for each additional sybling or parent brave enough to go through the maze.

Parents will be expected to take and pick up their scouts if they are not staying. Scout leaders will not provide transportation. Check out the Edmonton Corn Maze Website for directions: http://www.edmontoncornmaze.ca/.

See you there...or not, if I get lost.

Scouter Katie

Scouts...New Year--New Challenges!

First Scout Meeting of the Year

Let's get started! The first meeting of 195 Ridgewood Scouts is on Thursday, September 16th at Jackie Parker Park on 50th Street just South of Whitemud and in front of the Millwoods Golf Course. Let's meet where the Scout flags are flying.

It's a full uniform event: second and third year scouts need to wear their shirts, neckers, sashes and epaulettes; new scouts need to wear their shirts (no neckers, sashes or epaulettes).

Parents need to attend and need to stay for the evening. Why? We are going to be talking about our short term and long term plans. The meeting starts at 6:30. New scouts and their parents will be finished at 7:30. 2nd and 3rd year scouts and their parents need to stay until 8:00 to talk about Golden Arrow Camp and the chance to become Assistant Patrol Leaders.

I can't wait to see you then!

Yours in scouting,

Troop Scouter Katie

Family Banquet

This Saturday (May 8, 2010) is Family Banquet from 4:00 to 8:00 at Hillview Baptist Church, 253 Woodvale Road West, just North of 38th Avenue. It's a potluck and silent auction, so bring a dish, an empty stomach (or several empty stomachs if lots of people are coming) and your wallet! It's also the night that awards and letters of recognition are handed out. We hope to see you there! If you are helping to set up, feel free to arrive sooner.

Advancement Ceremonies for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts

This Wednesday we will hold advancement ceremonies for Beavers swimming up to Cubs, ceremonies for Cubs walking up to Scouts and ceremonies for Scouts going up to Ventures. There will also be an investiture for a new Cub.

This is a full uniform event, including sash. Scouts are asked to arrive on time, so that the ceremonies can begin promptly. Parents of youth moving up are encouraged to not only remain, but bring other family members (like grandparents) and their cameras.

Scouts are reminded to bring their scout trucks, which can be put on display then packed to go to Fort Edmonton Camp. Also there is no troop meeting on Thursday (we'll be busy packing for camp.)

We look forward to sharing these scouting milestones with you on Wednesday.

Yours in Scouting,

Katie McDonough

Fort Edmonton Camp

Fort Edmonton Camp is almost here! All three patrols will be in attendance, along with 2 third year cubs, Scout and Cub leaders and brave parent helpers. We will also be camping with the 88th Polaris troop--another excellent chance to link with fellow Scouts. This is the first time our troop has attended this camp, so your patience and understanding are appreciated in the case of unexpected changes or 'hiccups'.

Please plan to meet at Minchau at 6 o'clock in the evening on Friday and be prepared to drive your scout to Fort Ed from there. It hardly feels like camping as we're not even leaving the city. Pick up will be at Fort Edmonton Camp as well, at around 2:00 Sunday afternoon. We'll be able to contact you by phone as not even my phone should be out of range at Fort Ed!

Scouts and Cubs need to BE PREPARED for cold, rainy weather. Hiking boots, and rubber boots, long pants and rain gear (rain coat and pants) are a must, because we won't be quitting just because of a little rain--or even a fair amount of rain. It's just not the pioneering way. That being said, a sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen must also be brought to camp, as we hope for warm sunny weather. Sleeping gear is the same as for Viking Camp--temperatures overnight can still be very nippy (by which I mean below zero). And bring your campfire blankets, there will be a campfire (without actual 'fire') on Saturday night.

Scouts should also remember to bring their scout trucks to the swim-up, walk-ceremony on Wednesday, so that I can pack them for camp.

Camp should be awesome!

Scouter Katie (Also know as 'Sharp Shooter Kate, Terror of the Wild West')

Bottle Drive this Saturday

Just a reminder that this Saturday, April 24th, is the spring bottle drive. Please bring your trucks and desire to drive around Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Visit the calendar for further details. And remember, this is a mandatory event.

THE VIKINGS ARE COMING! THE VIKING ARE COMING!

The Vikings are coming! Well, actually we're the ones BEcoming vikings.

On April 9-11 Scouts who are up for the challenge will head to Ernest Poole Camp to be transformed into Vikings. Seeing as many of our Scouts (you know who you are) are already Barbarians, the change won't be too dramatic. Personally I'm looking forward to letting my moustache grow so that I can braid the ends in Viking fashion. :)

This camp is being hosted and planned by the same Venturer companies who brought us the Zombie Apocalypse in November 2009 so we can expect the same fabulous activities and challenges we barely survived in the fall.

Parents considering allowing their Scouts to spend the weekend running around the woods learning how to sack and pillage will need to keep in mind the following:

• This camp is in the beginning of April, so Scouts will need to BE PREPARED FOR EXTREME TEMPERATURES. We will be sleeping in tents and there are no warm spaces to heat up if you get too cold. If we discover that a Scout has not packed the gear necessary to keep him or her safe and warm, that Scout's parents will be called and asked to come and pick up their darling popsicle. More details about gear and clothing to follow soon.
• Leaders are no longer able to transport Scouts to camp; we simply don't have the space to pack equipment and youth. Parents will be expected to make plans before the night of camp to get their youth to Camp Poole. More details to follow.
• We have not yet heard what the camp fees will be. Likely about $20.00. As soon as I know, I'll pass on that information too.

Scouts should start practicing yelling, bashing things, and singing inspiring fighting song to battle sea monsters. And I expect everyone else's moustaches to be as long as mine.

Troop Scouter Katie

Other wise know as: Morag the Fearless, Crusher of Men's Skulls. ARRRRGGGGG!

Outdoor Investiture for Hope March 25, Mundare Sausage pickup

March 25th will be a special night for scouts because we are finally going to invest Hope as a Scout. She's been such a great addition to our troop and she fit in with us so quickly that we forgot she was new. I keep thinking she's been around forever!

But she hasn't, and so this is our chance to really welcome her to the 195 Ridgewood Scout Troop. This ceremony will be extra special because we will be doing it outdoors...regardless of the weather. This means I expect Scouts to be dressed in FULL UNIFORM and to be dressed WARMLY. Yes, this means LONG UNDERWEAR!

We can't go inside, even if we want to...so dress warmly.

We'll also be at Bisset, so we can't have a campfire (drat) so Scouts will be short that evening: 6:30 until 7:30. Enough time to PICK UP YOUR MUNDARE SAUSAGE ORDERS and have the investiture. Parents are invited to stay and participate in the investiture. Whether or not parents wear their long underwear is entirely up to them. What can I say? I only get to boss around the Scouts!

Troop Scouter Katie

Congrats Luke and Nick!

Just wanted to congratulate Luke for his 2nd place trophy and Nick for his 3rd place trophy at this year's Kub Kar and Scout Truck Rally. Everyone's trucks were really terrific; apparently Luke and Nick's trucks were terrific and terrifically fast.

Don't forget we all get a chance to race our trucks again this spring at the Fort Edmonton Camp March 1-April 2nd. Well, I shouldn't say we.. I don't get to race a truck, 'cause I didn't make one...I guess that'll teach me!

Katie
Troop Scouter

Hey! Where am I going this week?

Hey! Where am I going this week?

Well, if your name is Jason, Sheldon or Mitchel, you should be at Scouter Willie's garage finishing your trucks for the Kub Kar Rally this Saturday.

If you are any other scout you should be at Bisset School with Scouter Phil and Scouter Katie. You need to bring your Scout book and your Voyageur or Pathfinder award booklets as this will be an opportunity to get some stuff done. I expect there will be a certain amount of running around at some point too, so don't forget your indoor running shoes.

Speaking of stuff not to forget...check out the additional information in the calendar about this Saturday's Kub Kar Rally. If you have any other questions, you can ask on Thursday.

See you!
Scouter Katie
Scout Section Head

More sausage! Mmmmmmm.....

Here's another opportunity to raise money for scouts with a Mundare sausage order. This fundraiser is optional. The sausage order will be handed out to scouts on March 4th and MUST be back by the next Thursday (March 11th); late orders cannot be accepted. Your sausage order will need to be picked up on March 25th, time and place have not been confirmed yet.

Hungry Scouter Katie
New Scout Section Head

Fort Edmonton Camp

Dates: April 30th to May 2nd

The Scouts voted to attend this camp, and we are all really looking forward to it.

The Camp is located at Fort Edmonton Park which in the middle of Edmonton. Fort Edmonton is a living heritage museum and is important that we use the utmost care not to damage any buildings, displays or site amenities.
The camp is open to all Registered Scouts and third year Cubs. It is a perfect camp to bring those Cubs who may be thinking of joining the Scout Troop in the fall. The activities are an excellent mix of activities from the early 1900’s and today. Each Patrol participates in six program blocks – Saturday 4 and Sunday 2. The activities they are involved in are based on the choices the Scouts made at registration time.

I need to know by no later than March 11th, which Scouts will be attending. Committee members or parent helpers may also attend, but make sure to let us know so that you can be registered.

We take our own tents and food; most of the events are run by other scout troops and by venturer companies and rovers.

I've heard great things about this camp from other Scouters as well as some words of warning with regard to weather. If the weather is particularly bad on the Friday night, the Scout leaders will likely choose to send all the scouts home (to sleep in their warm, dry beds) and we'll come together early Saturday morning to be down there before opening ceremonies. But we'll worry about that when the time comes.

Scouter Katie
New Scout Section Head

Kub Kar Mega-Rally will be a sight to see this year!

Kub Kar Mega-Rally 2010 is exciting this year!
March 6, 2010 at 9:00am - 5:00pm
New venue: Northlands Expo Center

Sponsored by Beaver Hills, this event is for all Cubs and Scouts in the Northern Lights Council. An event of this magnitude has not been held in years so plan to attend! Parents and friends of all race participants are invited to attend as well as the general public.Some of the highlights of this event:-dozens and dozens of new tracks will ensure all participants get to race more often with less waiting between heats-electronic timers on all tracks will keep track of race results-hundreds of prizes-this will be a donation drop-off location for the Edmonton Food Bank so please bring a non-perishable item.

Due to the contract obligations with Northlands; No outside food or beverages will be allowed. So lunch will be provided with the kub kar registrations costs.

Sleeping under the snow and lighting fires in garbage cans...

Hey Scouts,

Winter camp was a blast!

Thanks to all the leaders and parents who made winter camp possible. A special thank you goes out to the Scouts and Leaders from the 88 Polaris who came and joined us. It was great spending time with you and thank you for all your help and enthusiasm.

Personally, I was really proud of our four super adventurous scouts (Sarah, Mitchell, Brandon C. and Luke) who slept the entire night warm and snug in our fantastic quinzee! I was also really proud of all the other scouts who worked so hard building the quinzee--even though you weren't going to be able to sleep in it. That's the kind of team work I really like to see.

Building a quinzee was one of my dreams. Is there any special thing that you'd like to do in scouts? If you do tell us and we'll see if we can make that dream come true for you.

Scouter Katie