Camping Trip - Nov 14-15

Troop 905 will be taking a backpacking trip the weekend of Nov 14-15th. The exact spot hasn't been determined yet, but we will pick something that will serve as a warm-up for the boys - 3-4 miles and out, probably nearby in GSMNP.

The troop will provide tents & stoves - if your scout does not have a backpack or an adequate sleeping bag, please let Matt or Mark know ASAP so we so can make arrangements to find equipment.

We will be meeting at our normal time at the Cherokee Youth Center this week, Thursday Nov 5th.

No Scout meeting this week

There will be no Scout meeting this week (Thursday, Oct 22nd) - unfortunately, none of our Adult leaders will be able to make the meeting. We will resume our regular schedule next week, Thursday Oct 29th!)

Meet at 9am for Campout

One last reminder - meet at the Cherokee Youth Center at 9am tomorrow morning (Sat, Sept 26th) for the campout. We're going hiking, planning future activites, tubing, and maybe working a little on camping merit badge and Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class and 1st Class activities.

See you there!

Permission Form for Deep Creek

Here is a link to the permissions form for the Deep Creek camping trip this weekend.

Camping at Deep Creek this coming weekend

Troop 905 will hold our summer planning campout at Deep Creek Campground (in the National Park just outside of Bryson City) this upcoming weekend. The Scouts will be planning future trips and activities for the next several months at this campout, so if your Scout wants input into what we will be doing, it is important that he be there!

Once camp is set up on Saturday, we will take a hike to view several of the area waterfalls. On Sunday, weather permitting, the boys can go tubing on the creek.

We will also collect signed permission forms prior to leaving. All scouts must have one. Matt will have permission forms for the Scouts on Thursday at our regular meeting, please be sure this makes it with your Scout Saturday morning!

When and Where:

• Meet at the Cherokee Youth Center at 9am on Saturday (Sept 26th)
• Pick up your Scout at the Deep Creek Campground on Sunday around 3:00 pm. Bring dry clothes, as your Scout will probably be coming off the creek from tubing.

What to Bring:

• Standard camping gear (the troop will provide tents, stoves and other cooking gear.)
• Enough money for snacks and tube rental (there are a couple of stores that offer ice cream/etc... just outside of the campground). Tubes are usually $5 or less, depending on what vendor we use.
• Raingear
• An additional set of shoes to wear in the creek (please do NOT send your Scout with only one set of shoes to get wet)

Food - Will Arneach is responsible for buying the menu that the Scouts have planned for the Wolverine Patrol. All Scouts attending will be responsible for reimbursing Will for the food expenses. Going forward, the food purchase for camping trips will be rotated to a different Scout for each camping trip. Please let the Scout do the selections and purchasing of food so that they will gain the experience - you can give suggestions, but let them actually pick the food items out at the store.

Camp Daniel Boone - This Sunday!

Summer camp at Camp Daniel Boone (CDB) starts Sunday!

• Permission Form
• Equipment List (What to Bring!)
  
• Health Form
• Merit Badges offered at CDB (Please look thru this, some merit badges have additional fees or prereqs!)
  

Here are the most important things to remember:

1. We will meet at the Cherokee Youth Center at 1pm on Sunday, June 21st. Please be on time!
2. All scouts attending will need a current health form that is filled out. No Exceptions. We will collect the forms before leaving. I still have forms for the scouts who attended last year, which are still good.
   
3. We will also collect signed permission forms prior to leaving. All scouts must have one.
   
4. Fees for the camp are $195. Please bring cash - we will need to collect the camp fees before leaving. All scouts must pay before we leave!
   
5. There are additional fees for some merit badges for materials, including Basketry, Leatherwork, Indian Lore, Woodcarving, Space Exploration, Pulp and Paper, Rifle and Shotgun - usually a maximum of $10-$15. Horsemanship and Animal Science are $40, and are held offsite during the evenings at Stockton Farms. Although these are pricey, Horsemanship and Animal Science are excellent programs. Please review the Merit Badge information with your scout prior to camp.
   
6. If your scout wants any spending money, please make sure they take some - there is a camp store and snack bar. $20-30 dollars is plenty. Please make sure your scout has some spending money, so the adult volunteers don't turn into the Troop 905 Loan Company ;-)
7. Scouts must have a uniform (they aren't allowed into the dining hall without it). Scouts must be in uniform when we drive to camp
   
8. Make sure your scout brings his Scout Book!
   
9. Please pick up your scout at the Cherokee Youth Center on Sat, June 27th at 2pm.
   

Court of Honor (with Pictures)

The Troop held our Court of Honor at the Cherokee Youth Center. Rank advancements and Merit badges were awarded.

You can view pictures here!

Note - click on a thumbnail to see the full sized picture, then move your cursor to the right or left side of picture and click to get to the prev/next pictures)

The following Rank Advancements were awarded:

Tenderfoot - Watson Harlan
Second Class - Sam Arneach and Dylan Thompson
First Class - Vance Tyson and Will Arneach

The scouts were awarded a wide variety of Merit Badges, including Archery, First Aid, Aviation and a whole bunch of others.

Court of Honor

Troop 905 will hold a Court of Honor this Thursday, June 18th @ 6pm at the Cherokee Youth Center. Troop members will be awarded rank advancements and merit badges that they have earned.

We'll be having a potluck dinner - Hugh Lambert will be providing a meat dish for dinner (lasagna or some other goodie!). Please bring either a vegetable disk or dessert.


We've got a lot of badges to award. Hope to see everyone there!

Music Merit Badge - Anyone interested?

Considering how many of our Scouts play in Band, the Music Merit Badge is a natural. Please contact me (Mark Tyson - mtyson@gmail.com) if your scout would be interested in earning the Music Merit Badge, and I'll sign up to be a counselor.



Here are the requirements:

1) Sing or play a simple song or hymn chosen by your counselor using good technique, phrasing, tone, rhythm, and dynamics.. Read all the signs and terms of the score.

2) Name the five general groups of musical instruments. Create an illustration that shows how tones are generated and how instruments produce sound.

3) Do TWO of the following:

a. Attend a live performance, or listen to three hours of recordings from any two of the following musical styles: blues, jazz, classical, country, bluegrass, ethnic, gospel, musical theater, opera. Describe the sound of the music and the instruments used. Identify the composers or songwriters, the performers, and the titles of the pieces you heard. If it was a live performance, describe the setting and the reaction of the audience. Discuss your thoughts about the music.

b. Interview your parents and grandparents about music. Find out what the most popular music was when they were your age. Find out what their favorite music is now, and listen to three of their favorite tunes with them. How do their favorites sound to you? Had you ever heard any of them? Play three of your favorite songs for them, and explain to them why you like these songs. Ask them what they think of your favorite music.

c. Serve for six months as a member of a school band, choir, or other local musical group; or perform as a soloist in public six times.

d. List five people who are important in the history of American music and explain to your counselor why they continue to be influential. Include at least one composer, one performer, one innovator, and one person born more than 100 years ago.

4) Do ONE of the following:

a. Teach three songs to a group of people. Lead them in singing the songs, using proper hand motions.

b. Compose and write the score for a piece of music of 12 measures or more.

c. Make a traditional instrument and learn to play it.

d. Catalog your own or your family's collection of 12 or more compact discs, tapes or records. Show how to handle and store them.

Swine Flu outbreak at CDB

Before everyone gets this second hand, there has been an outbreak of Swine Flu at Camp Daniel Boone this week. It appears that several scouts from a Florida troop were infected before they came up to CDB. The Heyward County health department has been very proactive, taking the temperature of everyone at camp and isolating anyone with a raised temperature. Most of the outbreak was limited to the single troop, with one exception. It appears that everyone is going to be ok, the effects were minor.

Here's a link to a news article about the outbreak

I'll post any additional information as I learn more

- Mark

Scouts to appear at Cherokee Tribal Council meeting

We are asking all Scouts to attend the Cherokee Tribal Council meeting on July 9th, making a short presentation. This is intended to raise awareness with the Tribal Council about scouting activities in Cherokee (Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts).



Also, attending a government meeting is one of the requirements for the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge, which is one of the merit badges on the Eagle required list.

Please mark your calendars!

No Scout Meeting this Week!

Due to the Youth Center being closed, Troop 905 will not have it's regularly scheduled meeting this week, Thursday, June 4th.

Some ideas Hugh passed along

Robin and I have some wonderful ideas!!!!!

1- We’d like to get the scouts to go in front of the july Council and just introduce ourselves(and the scouts as well), tell them what we are all doing, and just to let them know they have scout troops here in CHEROKEE!!!

As long as it's not when a bunch of us will be in Idaho, that's excellent! We want the cub pack too!

>>>>>>>>2- We’d like for the boys and girls to get together and do something for the Fair this year – on childrens day (usually wed) we’d like the troops to perform, cherokee dances and maybe learn and sing a few cherokee songs (amazing grace….. etc…) they could work with Bo and see if he’d sing for them… we could get Chey and Ashley to be the dancer leaders – as both are in the drama this summer and are doing the same dances(all summer long)

I think this is excellent! A Boy Scout Indian dance team that has Indians! What a concept!!!! I think it's fine. It could also turn into a Ventrue patrol for the troop- a way to keep older boys active.

By the way, the new Council Executive, Council President and the Council Commissioner will be speaking this Thursday at the Cataloochee District Roundtable (held at First Baptist Church in Sylva, by the old post office at 7pm). Since the youth center is closed this week I didn't know if we'd have a meeting or not. If we do I'd like at least one adult from each unit to attend. If we have to cancel the meeting then I can attend.

Also, our District Exec Bill Lawrence is writing a grant proposal to the casino for us (well, mostly us I think) for jambo fees, camp fees, equipment, etc. Thank you Bill!

First Class

Congratulations to Will and Vance, for completing the requirements for First Class!

The badges will be officially awarded at the Troop 905 Court of Honor on Thursday, June 18th (the Thursday just prior to going to Scout Camp). Other rank advancements, plus earned merit badges, will also be awarded at this time. Be sure to mark your calendar.

At the Scout meeting next Thursday (June 4th), the scouts will hold elections for Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, as well as a Librarian and Historian/Scribe. Please make sure your scout attends.

Board of Reviews on Thursday

All Scouts - be sure to wear your uniforms and bring your books to this week's (May 28th) Scout Meeting! We will be conducting Scoutmaster Conferences for those ready to advance to the next rank, as well as Board of Reviews.

We will also be having a Court of Honor on Thursday, June 18th. Details will be posted soon.

New Week for Camp Daniel Boone

The date for Troop 905 to attend Camp Daniel Boone this summer has been moved to June 21st - 27th. Originally, we were scheduled for the previous week.

Here is information on what Merit Badges will be offered and when. Please have your scout review this list prior to the Troop meeting this week, so that we can register the boys to get the classes they desire. Each scout going to CDB should try to focus on at least 2 of the merit badges required to get Eagle rank.

Schedule for District Canoe Trip

Here is the information for the District Canoe Trip this weekend. Hugh will update everyone on when/where to meet in Cherokee. The Tyson's will meet at the campsite.


FRIDAY

DIRECTIONS TO THE CAMPSITE:
Take Hwy 28 north from Franklin to Lost Bridge (concrete bridge crossing river on left about 11-12 miles out of Franklin, see link for Google Map - it's called Stiles on the map), turn left and go across the bridge then turn left again. Follow for about 1 ½ miles to the Donaldson property then bear left onto the Donaldson property when gravel road makes a sharp right. There will be signs to follow.

Upon arrival at the camping area, check in with the canoe float staff tent for camp site assignment. Please bring a copy of your attendance roster for turn in to the Canoe Float Staff.

MEALS:
Please plan on eating supper before you come or packing a sack dinner.

CRACKER BARREL:
The Cracker Barrel will be available for all adult leaders, Senior Patrol Leader, and BSA Life Guards.


LEADER’S MEETING:
There will be a leader’s meeting on Friday evening to make a last check on preparations and to review Safety Afloat principles. Please bring a copy of the health forms for each of your scouts.


SATURDAY LEADER'S MEETING
There will be a short leader's meeting to make a last check on preparations for the Sunday float.

SATURDAY

MEALS:
You will need to plan on eating breakfast in your campsites and being cleaned up and ready to go by 9:00 at which point we will leave for the put in at Iolta Bridge. Lunch is a sack lunch that you should have packed after breakfast. Lunch will be eaten on the river at around noon. Dinner will be in your campsite at 5:00 PM


FLOAT PLAN:
The put-in for Saturday will be above Iotla bridge across from the dumpsters so we will need to travel together to the put-in. Travel south on 28 towards Franklin, turn left on Sanderstown Road and park in the gravel lot on the right.

For belongings including lunch, we suggest a strong water proof container with a clamp-on lid or a tight seal bag. Tie the container into the canoe with a piece of line. Do not use the painter that is tied to the bow or stern for this purpose. Garbage bags are not recommended since they tear easily and are not water proof.

The next stop will be around 12:00 for lunch. Plan on using an area north of the McCoy bridge on the left for your lunch stop. Please remember that most of the property on either side of the river is private. One of the points of the Scout Law is that a Scout is Clean. Please leave your lunch site cleaner than you found it and carry out all trash.

You should reach the campsite by 2:00 or 3:00 PM. We will have vehicles to take drivers back to Iotla bridge to pick up your vehicles.


VESPERS:
Vespers will be held at 7:30 PM. A Scout is Reverent. All scouts and scouters are encouraged to attend.


CAMPFIRE:
The campfire will start after vespers at approximately 8:00 PM. Each troop or patrol will be expected to present a skit and a song at the campfire. Please let the Campfire Chief know what you will be doing.


FREETIME:
There is some free time built into the schedule. This is a good time to get some merit badge instruction. Let our staff know. The Little Tennessee is also a very good river for fishing so feel free to do that, but remember you must have the appropriate license.

SUNDAY

MEALS:
Please plan on breakfast in your campsite and a sack lunch for on the river.


CAMPSITE CHECK OUT:
Campsite inspectors will be by between 1300 and 1400 to check your campsite. We are camping on private property and we need to leave it better than we found it.


FLOAT PLAN:
We will put-in at approximately 9:00 AM at our campsite. We plan to be at the take out point by 12:00 or 1:00 PM. We will eat lunch at the take out point. During this float there is a class 2-3 rapid on the river so we need to stop and scout the river for the best route to take.

Scouts need swim test prior to Canoe Trip!

Important Note! Scouts who wish to Participate in the District Canoeing Campout on the Little Tennessee River on May 16-17 MUST first pass the Boy Scout Swimming Test. So far I know that Will, Sam and Vance have passed. If your scout has not, please contact Mark (mtyson@gmail.com) so that we can arrange a swimming test at the Ginger Lynn Welch complex before the trip. The swim test is described in the First Class section of the Scout Book - the Scout must swim 75 yards (3 laps of the pool) using one of several possible strokes, and then the final 25 yards (1 lap) using backstroke. Then, they must demonstrate floating.

If any Scouts need to pass the 2nd or 1st Class swim requirements, also let Mark know, so that we can incorporate that along with the Swimming Test.

Sam, Vance and Will complete 1st Class swimming requirements

At our last meeting, held at the Ginger Lynn Welch pool, several Scouts completed the 1st Class swimming requirements. To do so, they had to pass the BSA Swimmer Test (4 laps of the pool using various swimming strokes, and floating). We also reviewed lifesaving techniques (Reach, Throw, Row, Go).

The boys demonstrated how to do a 2 man rescue, with a "Rescuer" (swimmer) and a "Line Tender". After tying a loop using a Bowline knot, the rescuer swam out with the rope over his shoulder and swam around the person needing to be rescued. The idea was to circle the victim with the rope, so they would grab it, rather than the person trying to save them.

Once the victim grabbed onto the rope, the 'Tender' would pull them into safety. The Scouts practiced and demonstrated this technique multiple times. For our other scouts needing to complete this requirement, the technique is descibed in the 1st Class section of the Scout Book.