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')