All Scouts and families
I need more scouts and adults to sign up Sunday for Harvest Fest!
All I have is one scout signed up.
Tom Sharp

Harvest festival Sunday October 30 at thee church from 3-6pm. I need scouts and families to help park cars. This is a fun activity with food and games. Hours count for service hours for rank advancement.
Tom Sharp
Charter Organization Representative

The boys of Troop 287 had  a grand time paddling, floating, and swimming down the Green River near Moab, Utah. It was certainly hot during the middle of the day, but massive canyon walls and peaks occasionally provided shade. Jumping into the river off large boulders became an instant hit as well.

Mud – it was everywhere – for a lot of boys, that was a bonus ‘fun’ feature.

At the end of the trip, we camped with another Boy Scout troop* and had a nice campfire program and ate wonderful chocolate brownies made by Mr. Ullmann in the dutch ovens.

Overall, spirits were high, the rigor was just right, and it’s safe to say all had a great time and experience.

We’ll certainly have more photos to show at the next court of honor.

Hello everybody! This is just a reminder to all those who signed up for my Eagle Project. My first work day is tomorrow, April 26, at the church. We will be working inside the barn. The work day will go from noon to around four thirty. Snacks and beverages will be provided, but not meals. We will call parents when the work day is over. If you cannot make it to my Eagle Project, please call me to let me know. Thanks!

-Ben Swanson

This Saturday, Troop 287 will be doing a preparation campout to learn some basic skills and begin completing requirements for rank advancement.

Cost:

$5

Scout can pay cash, check (made out to Troop 287), or use money from their Scout funds, if they have a sufficient balance.

Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast will be provided. Boys should bring their own lunch on Saturday. Extra snacks are fine. We’ll probably be doing s’mores Saturday night, as well.

Parent Permission:

Please download, print, complete, sign, and bring the parent permission form:

> BSA Parent Permission Form (PDF)

Time:

11 a.m., Saturday, April to 11 a.m., Sunday, April 12. Just one night.

Things for Scouts to bring:

• #1 GOOD ATTITUDE!
• sleeping bag, rated 20 degrees or better/lower
• sleeping pad or cot
• pillow
• pajamas
• Scout Handbook
• Pen
• Small notebook that fits in pocket
• pocket knife
• metal or sturdy plastic plate
• metal or sturdy plastic spoon and fork
• metal or study plastic drinking cup
• Rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Hiking boots or closed-toe hiking shoes (no flip flops, sandals, or
• Durable shorts
• Durable pants
• Durable, warm socks (and maybe an extra pair)
• Scout Class A shirt (for evening ceremony)
• Scout Class B shirt (and maybe an extra shirt)
• Hoodie
• Personal hygiene (toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitation wipes, deodorant)
• Broad-brimmed hat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hand kerchief
• small, personal flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
• Roll of duct tape (for repairs)
• Roll of clear packing tape (to protect Fire N’ Chit and Tote N’ Chit cards)
• Dryer lint (to practice fire starting)

Use a permanent marker or tape to identify their belongings.
Pack in a backpack or large bag or plastic container bin.
Scout can consult his Scout Handbook for anything we might have committed on this list.

ALSO: IF YOU HAVE SOME FIREWOOD YOU CAN SPARE, BRING THAT, TOO!
Discarded 2x4s (non-treated) work great if you find some lying around.

The troop provides tents, cooking stoves and utensils, tarps.

Agenda:

• Camp setup: What goes into choosing a camp site? What and where do we set up first?
• Knife, ax, and saw safety: Tote N’ Chit Training and cards
• Fire safety: Fire N’ Chit Training and cards
• Game time
• Work on advancements (study for Scout rank)
• Scoutmaster conferences for scouts who are ready to advance
• Cooking and 3-pot cleanup method
• Campfire
• US Flag Retirement ceremony
• Breakfast and cleanup
• More rank advancements

Call ASM Swanie if you have questions (719-963-5645).

Due to few boys signing up, we are canceling snow caving and the boys may look to plan a different trip in April.

February 8 is Scout Sunday and there are two services (9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.) the boys can attend at Wilson United Methodist Church, our troop charter organization and meeting place. Please arrive 20 minutes before the service to help with greeting church members at the door. Scouts are required to wear full class A uniforms with kerchiefs and nice slacks.

Scout Sunday is a tradition in scouting to demonstrate Reverence, one of the points of the Scout Law. Every year, the troop can show our appreciation for having Wilson Church charter our troop and provide us a place to meet and keep our supplies. It’s also a chance for us to demonstrate that we’re an active organization doing good things in the community.

– Will Mawhiney 719-362-6909

Tuesday, November 4, the boys will be bowling at Bear Creek Lanes, 6-8 p.m. Bring $10 for shoes and bowling. Wear class B uniforms. Meet at Bear Creek Lanes.

The scout leadership of BSA Troop 287 will be doing their annual planning meeting on Saturday, November 8, 1 to 3 p.m before we pick up flags for Veterans Day. Boys should bring their own water and snacks. The scouts will be deciding on outings for the year and summer camps they want to do. All scouts, adult leaders, and parents are welcome to attend. Members of the PLC are required to attend.

If you have ideas for outings, merit badges, or other events, let your scout leaders know so they can bring those ideas to the meeting.

This Saturday, June 28, 2014, the boys of Troop 287 will be doing a one-night prep campout to have some fun and get ready for summer camp. We’ll start at 1 p.m. at Wilson Church and stay the night up by the barn. Eat lunch beforehand. The boys will be working on several summer camp re-requisites along with earning their Fire N’ Chit and Tote N’ Chit. Friday night is hobo dinners. Boys will prepare their own hobo dinner at home and bring it with them to cook Saturday night. The boys will shop for and prepare Saturday night’s dessert and Sunday morning’s breakfast. We’ll be doing a 5-mile hike Sunday morning and should be done before noon. Cost is $6 per scout.

Scouts should bring sleeping bag, sleeping bad, a change of clothes, PJs, hygiene kit, personal eating utensils, poncho, good hiking shoes/boots, personal pocket knife (they’ll be learning how sharpen and care for them). Bring firewood, if you have some. The boys will be learning how to properly build, start, and extinguish fires in the metal fire bins.

For the hobo dinners, the boys need to be able to explain the basic food groups in their Scout Handbooks and include them in their meal. Here are some ideas for hobo dinners:

http://queenbeecoupons.com/foil-packet-meal-recipes-foil-packet-cooking-for-camping-grilling/

Tuesday, May 20 is our Court of Honor. Scouts are to wear full class A uniforms with kerchiefs and merit badge sashes.

Dinner will begin at 6 p.m.

Just a friendly reminder for parents to please attend this coming Tuesday’s summer camp parents’ meeting:

Tuesday, Apr 29, 7 p.m. Wilson United Methodist Church.

ALSO: we’re still in need of another parent attending camp for half of the week … either the first or latter half. Please let us know if you’re interested. We’re confident there is no cost for you to attend and stay at camp. But we will need help with transportation.

Right now, the only adult leader going for the entire week is Assistant Scoutmaster, Chris Swanson. Our Charter Org Rep, Tom Sharp has agreed to go to camp for either the first or last part of the week. But, we’ll still need another adult, 18 or older, to attend for the other half.

For all parents of scouts attending 2014 Summer Camp at Camp Jeffries (part of Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, Fort Collins, CO), there is a parent meeting night scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 at Wilson United Methodist Church (where we meet for Troop meetings). At this meeting, we’ll discuss a variety of topics:

• payment information
• merit badges/activity information
• medical forms
• camp t-shirts
• supply list
• camp and visitor information
• swim test
• any special needs

This meeting is very important for parents of first-time campers. This will be a good time to come with all of your questions about camp and what’s expected of the boys to prepare for camp.

Camp website: http://camps.longspeakbsa.org/bdsr/

For those working on the Aviation Merit Badge, please meet at the church this Sunday, 3/16, at 12:15 pm. Mr Ullmann and Mr Woodard will be driving to the boys to the Colorado Springs airport for a 1:00 presentation in the air traffic control tower.

The boys of Troop 287 are going to Monarch Ski Resort on SUNDAY, March 2 (not Saturday). Boys are to meet at Wilson church parking lot at 6 a.m. with ski gear. This is an all day trip. Bring your own lunch.

Pre-purchase your ski pass at King Soopers.

Bring your own or rent your own skis and bring them. We won’t be renting at Monarch. You can go to Golf & Ski on Academy to rent skis.

Save your receipts to get reimbursed from your scout account.

The boys of Troop 287 will be going to Shotz Lazer Tag & Billiards for game night on Tuesday, March 4. Shotz Lazer Tag & Billiards is located at 4474 Austin Bluffs, Colorado Springs. Bring $8 for 1 hour of play!

Visit: Shotz Lazer Tag & Billiards website

Scott reads the scripture

In honor of our charter organization, Wilson Ranch United Methodist Church, the boys of Troop 287 participated in Scout Sunday at both the 9:30 and 11:00 services. Michel S. read the scripture at the 9:30 service. Scott J. read the scripture at the 11:00 service.

We had a nice attendance that was undoubtedly well received by the congregation. Thanks, Wilson Church, for giving us a place for our scout activities and meetings!