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