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.