Troop,

It’s time for some backpacking!

April 8-10 we will be backpacking the Lost Creek Wilderness. We have two routes set up for those of varying skill levels. The 10-mile trek is a great beginner trip where you can learn and practice backpacking skills. The 20-mile trek is for those who are looking for a bit of a challenge or trying to push themselves in preparation for the big Philmont trip in June. These will both be thru treks and we will really need some parent participation to drop us off on Friday evening and pick us up on Sunday afternoon. Because of limited space, we are limiting adult participation unless we have an excess of drivers that will allow us, extra attendees. This signup will close Tuesday 3/29 to give us time to prepare. Please commit early so we can figure out logistics.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-lostcreek

So here is the route. We will discuss the plan over the next couple of meetings. Despite having two routes the Troop will start together, be camping together Saturday night, and crossing the finish line together on Sunday morning.

Let’s get some!!!!!!

Mr. Petree

This weekend we had a great time in Penitente Canyon. In addition to the normal camping, hiking, and scout skills we practiced, the young men provided some service to the Bureau of Land Management by building and installing two benches as well as went outside their comfort zone to learn dutch oven cooking and have a dessert competition.

Installing these benches required the Scouts to carry in all tools and materials including lumber, concrete, water, shovels, etc into the canyon by scout power. They then selected the locations, cleared brush, dug the holes, assembled the benches, mixed the concrete, and installed them.

The dutch oven cooking was a huge success. All delicious! No burnt or undercooked deserts. Shout out to the Senior Patrol for their winning Dutch Oven Pineapple Upsidedown Cake! Mmmmmmmmm!

I forgot to add this tot he last post, but it is really important!

Make sure you navigate to the San Isabel SR website in the last post and download all the required medical forms for your Scout. There is a red banner to click on which will guide you to exactly which forms are required. Your Scout will require an annual physical at the minimum, but may need a few additional documents. In the past, the BSA Medical Forms were required to have the immunizations actually filled out on the form. A stapled copy of the Scout’s record was not sufficient. So, Just be aware that you may have to hand jam some of that data.

Please schedule early if your Scout’s physical is or will be greater than one year old at the time we go to camp in July!!

Dan

Troop,

Below is the website for summer camp forms and documents. There are a lot of resources on this website, to include what merit badges entail and what are offered. I’ve included the merit badge “Scout Schedule” so you can print it out and bring it to a meeting in the next few weeks. Just read and follow the directions on the form.

I will input all of your MB choices when the website opens up on April 28th. So, that is your deadline to get me your choices. Of course, the earlier, the better.

I will also have a contract document at the meeting tomorrow night to hand out to those of you who have not already signed up and paid for camp. It just states the non-refundable policy and the payment schedule (ask your parents to bring their checkbooks!!!)

A little bit of insight on the offerings: In the past four years of summer camp attendance, I have come to realize it is better to go for the merit badge work in leiu of the Rank Advancement options. Scouts will earn their ranks within the troop, but may not have the opportunity to do some of the merit badge options. So, if you are wieghing Rank Advancement vs. Merit Badges, I would suggest going with the Merit Badge choices.

Troop,

We need a few Scouts to perform Color Guard and serve as ushers for this ceremony. 6-7:30pm on Sunday, 13 March, at 5375 Centennial Blvd. Here is the sign up for that (Class A with MB Sash):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4AADA829A7FE3-color

Troop,

If you are attending this campout we need to know ASAP by signing up below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-penitente

Remember that there is prep work and arrangements that have to be made like grocery shopping, ensuring everyone has a ride, and that we bring the appropriate troop gear.

It is going to be a great time and there is an opportunity for getting some service hours for rank advancement.

As of right now we only have 6 Scouts signed up.

Mr. Petree

Troop,

Our game night meeting 3/8/2022 will be held at Altitude Ninja Gym • 750 Garden of the Gods Rd, Suite 125, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. Their open gym time is from 6:30pm-8:00pm and the cost is $15 per participant. Siblings (and adventurous parents) are welcome to attend. All participants must fill out a waiver at the link below prior to showing up. Attire for this function will be athletic clothing and shoes.

https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5d7ba4f1e9ad5/web/

Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. Prepare to have some fun and work up a sweat!

Mr. Petree

Our next campout is coming up March 11th-13th. We will be visiting Penitente Canyon, which is located on the West edge of the San Luis Valley (the largest alpine valley in the world, and home to the Great Sand Dunes). Penitente Canyon is a lesser-known Colorado gem that was revered by the early settlers of the Valley and is now appreciated for its mountain biking, rock climbing and general beauty. We will be CAR CAMPING in the beautiful BLM campground at the mouth of the canyon surrounded by trails and endless rock outcrops to explore. 

We have arranged to do a BLM-led service project on Saturday, installing a park bench in the canyon (sounds fun), so you can earn the service hours you need for your next rank. Otherwise, we will spend time exploring the maze of rocks and ponderosa pine forest, discovering a piece of Colorado history, roasting marshmallows over the fire and working on rank advancement. 

Families are welcome to join us. Campers should expect cold nights, with low temperatures in the ‘teens and “warm-in-the-sun” days, so you’ll need a good sleeping bag and tent, but also sunscreen.
We will plan on leaving from the church no later than 5pm and returning in the afternoon on Sunday. It’s about a 3-hour drive. We have reserved campsites.

Sign up below or use the Activity Sign Up tab!!!!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-penitente

Mr. Anderson

Troop,

I know it’s the first meeting after a campout, and that means GameNight, but we are gonna hold that over until the 3/8/22 gathering. Tonight we will have some fun with a patrol activity though.

Being the first meeting of the month we will be having our monthly uniform inspection. Get ’em all ready and look your best.

In addition, and part of the reason we are flip-flopping game night, we will be doing campout prep for our March camping trip to Penitente Canyon which will be coming up quick in the month this go-round. It will be March 11-13. More details to follow.

Come dressed for success and ready to have fun and create a great plan.

Mr. Petree

Troop, check out the opportunity below, this is a quick turn around for information, so read it closely. If you want to participate, I will collect your information tomorrow night and pass it on to the guy who is running this thing (Dan Usiak). He needs your information before Thursday this week in order for you to be able to participate. I will just need your name, age, and phone numbers to give to the guy.

The event takes place on March 12th, so plan accordingly.

Dan

Troop,

Here is the plan for this weekend for all you hard chargers that are not swayed by a little chilly weather.

We will meet at the church at 5:00pm and load up the gear we prepared on Tuesday evening. We will be camping just north of the intersection of Hwy 50 and Old Monarch Pass Rd. Saturday we will snowshoe the Old Monarch Pass Loop from either the parking area or perhaps our campsite depending on how adventurous we are feeling. I’m sure there will be plenty of snowball fights, sledding, and snow shelter building. Oh… and campfires to stay warm. With below freezing temps during the night bringing in lots of water may be a futile attempt. Be prepared to melt and purify snow. Sunday morning we will fuel up with breakfast and pack up and plan to be back at the church about noon.

Can’t wait!!!!!!

Mr. Petree

Troop, save the date! March 13, 2022 is when one of our more recent Eagle Scouts will be holding his Award Ceremony.

As you know, Eagle Rank is the pinacle of a Scout’s career. To emphasize this, we hold a separate Award Ceremony for that acheivement, outside of our normal Courts of Honor. Kobe Olson, who came to our troop during COVID, was able to finish out his project and earn his Eagle Rank.

We will hold his Award Ceremony on March 13. We will need to provide the Color Guard for this event.

More details to follow!

Dan

Troop,

In preparation for the snowshoe campout, we will be discussing winter weather camping gear, first aid, and going over final preparations tomorrow night. If you are going on the campout, please make sure you bring your gear to go over. If you are missing anything it will be identified then, so you can get it packed and have a much more enjoyable trip.

If you don’t have snowshoes, Please let your SPL and SM know and we will see if we can get you a set of loaners. If not, you may need to source your own.

Now here is the gear list…..

Personal Gear

• Backpack
• 0*F Sleeping bag
• Sleeping Pad
• Day Pack
• Mess Kit ( Cup, Bowl/Plate, Utensels)
• Hygiene Kit
• First Aid Kit
• Fire Starting Kit
• Navigation Kit
• Water Bottles
• Knife
• Flashlight/ Headlamp
• Clothing
• Snow Shoes
• Trekking Poles

Optional

• Sleeping Bag Bivy
• Sleeping Bag Liner
• Sled
• Snow Shovel

When it comes to clothing, remember layers and only synthetic fabrics and wool.

Clothing

• Base Layer (moisture wicking top and bottom underwear)
• Mid Layer (Top and Bottom Synthetic insulating layer)
• Shell (Waterproof/Wind Proof outer protective layer)
• Warm Hat/Beanie
• Face Gator/Scarf
• Gloves/Mittens

Camping and cooking will be done by patrols. You guys should already have your meal plans figured out. We will load up troop tents and patrol boxes so we don’t have to do that Friday.

If you have not signed up and are planning on going, do so immediately or your patrol may not have you accounted for in the food shoping list. Adults… as normal we are on our own.

Brrrrrrrr. Cannot wait!!!!!

Mr. Petree

Troop,

Troop,

The signup is out for the February Snowshoe Campout (Sorry it’s a bit late, but Signup Genius issues… am I right?!?!?)

The intent is to camp and snowshoe in the Alma/Hoosier Pass area. (If they have enough snow… I’ve been monitoring it closely) Plan B will be Old Moniarch Pass. We will meet up at the church at 5:00 pm Friday evening and head out after we have the patrol gear loaded up.

Once we arrive we will set up camp and get a roasty toasty fire going and enjoy the evening. Saturday we will strap on our snowshoes and do some exploring. Sunday we plan to be back to the church around noon so you can impress your families with the stories of your adventures and that camping odor.

Please signup so we can make the proper arrangements and make sure everyone has a ride.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8A828A4FD0-snowshoe

If you plan on attending this outing make sure you bring all your personal gear to the meeting on 2/22/2022. We need to make sure we all have the proper gear. 0*F sleeping bags are a must for this adventure.

Mr. Petree

Just a reminder for any scouts that haven’t already done this, join the troop discord server. It’s free. There you can message any other scouts in the troop individually or in group messages. Sign-ups and announcements are often posted on the server before the troop website. It can be installed on most mobile devices and computers. Parents are also welcome to join but most just use their son’s account. You can join with the link below.

https://discord.gg/xb3rczvv63

-Austin Petree

I am excited for our chili cook-off at the Court of Honor on Tuesday! I should have clarified in my previous post that the expectation is that the Scout makes the chili. There are cash prizes involved, so tell them to get cooking! If they are not interested in preparing chili you are welcome to just bring a few sides instead.

Please use this link to sign up both for your attendance and for dinner.

Date: February 15, 2022

Time: 5:30 set-up; 6:00 dinner (and judging); 7ish awards

Location: Wilson Church

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DACAE23A6F5CF8-court

Troop,

Tonight a couple of Scouts and I will be late to the meeting as we will be at Pack 166’s Bridging welcoming a couple of Webelos that you all impressed over the past couple of meetings and will be joining our troop. Great Job!

Your ASPL the young Mr. Geren McGuire will get your meeting all kicked off.

Tonight we will work on getting those last-minute advancement items crossed off the list before next week’s Court of Honor. If you need a Scoutmaster Conference (Axel and Miles) please speak with your ASMs Mr. Holpuch, Mr. Anderson, or Mr. Gilkes and I am sure they will be happy to assist. If you need a Board of Review, please talk to Mr. McGuire and see if the Committee can get you in.

As always there will be a fun Patrol Activity!!!

The rest of the troop and I will meet you mid-meeting when we are done with Pack 166 and start discussing this month’s Snowshoe Camping Trip. We will get menus done and discuss gear preparation. All attendees on this winter adventure will need to bring their gear in for the meeting of 2/22/2022 so we can make sure everyone is prepared for some awesome winter camping and adventure.

See you all tonight!

Mr. Petree

Okay… Maybe that’s a little out of date. Make sure your uniform is current.

Tonight we will be having a uniform inspection in preparation for next week’s Court of Honor.

We will be trying some new Scout related games and activities

In addition, you may have the opportunity to finish up that last requirement or two. Come prepared. Bring your books, merit badge packets, etc.

We will likely have a few Weblos visiting tonight. Let’s show them what Troop 287 is all about.

The PLC would like you to bring in any patrol flag materials. We may not work on them tonight but will start to compile them.

Our February Court of Honor will be a chili cook off! Please use this link to sign up both for your attendance and for dinner. This is such a great opportunity to celebrate all that the boys have been working on!

Date: February 15, 2022

Time: 5:30 set-up; 6:00 dinner (and judging); 7ish awards

Location: Wilson Church

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DACAE23A6F5CF8-court