Troop 2 Weekly Update

Reminder - Annual Flag Retirement Ceremony & Turkey Dinner is this Saturday, November 16, 2013

Place: Valley Pines Campground, 505 Grove Street, Norwell
Hosted By: Troop 2 Weymouth
Sponsored by: The Weymouth Heights Club

Schedule of Events
12:00 PM: Start time
1:00 PM: Turkey Dinner
2:00 PM: Flag Retirement Ceremony – David Chase, Troop 2 Scoutmaster

Note:

All Scouts MUST wear their uniform shirts, neckerchief, and slide for the ceremony, and can change into street clothes afterward.
Bring your own chair
Parking is limited, please carpool if possible
Please feel free to bring non-alcoholic beverages

The most direct route to Valley Pines is to take RT-53/Washington St, Turn left onto Grove St, the gate is on the left side at 505 Grove St, Norwell, MA - If you reach Holly Berry Trail you have gone too far.
Please drive slowly in the dirt road into the campground.
A $5.00 fee per vehicle will be collected at the Valley Pines gate to help offset the cost of the meal.

This is also an overnight campout for all Scouts. 

Families should bring folding chairs and non-alcoholic drinks (we will have water). Families can arrive any time after 11 AM.  We ask families to leave before dark, so we don't have to worry about cars and kids in the dark. 

Scouts should bring their typical overnight gear and leave it in the cabin.  

Scouts should pack and plan to cook dinner, in case we don't have leftovers.  

Scouts should arrive at Valley Pines by  9 AM, to help prepare for the dinner and Flag Retirement Ceremony.  

Pickup on Sunday is the typical 8am-9am timeframe - Scouts should not leave without checking with Scoutmaster David Chase first.

1. Upcoming Dates

Sunday, 11/17 - Ad Altare Dei, 12:45 - 1:45 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center

Monday   11/18 - Meeting at the Clubhouse - Drumming at 7 PM, meeting at 7:30

Wednesday, 11/20 – Cub Scout Pack 2 Pack Meeting, First Church (scouts are encouraged to attend Pack meetings)

Saturday 11/23 – Weymouth Heights Club Fundraiser – Comedy Night, Weymouth Elks. Tickets are $20.00 per person, and all proceeds help support our sponsor and continued use of the clubhouse and equipment.  Please see our Scoutmaster, David Chase for details.

Sunday, Nov 24th,  6-7:30 Ad Altare Dei at the Clubhouse

Monday   11/25– Gym Night & Troop Committee Meeting, First Church 8 PM- all paperwork and payment of annual registration fees for 2014 are due at this event.

Reminder - annual registration fees for Troop 2 are $100.00 per scout, $50.00 per adult, and are due at the end of November.


2. Our annual Ski Trip will be held at Shawnee Peak, Maine, from Friday evening, 1/10 - Sunday 1/12. Cost will be $150.00 per skiier ($40.00 for nonskiiers).
This event books fast, and we will have a waiting list available.
We also need a few adults to help with cooking and transportation, carpooling, etc.
New this year, families are encouraged to join us for the weekend to take advantage of the group skiing rates. All are welcome for dinner on Saturday night at the Shawnee Peak House.
Scouts will stay at the Shawnee Peak House, and families can arrange accomodations neaby - a suggestion is to check the Pleasant Mountain Inn in nearby Bridgton, Maine, or accomodations
in North Conway NH which is less than 15 miles away from the mountain. 


3. Guidance for Adults Interested in Leadership Positions

Adults are encouraged to register with BSA and participate in the troop to help the Scoutmaster provide a meaningful, coordinated program to the scouts.

Proper training is critical to ensure the success of our programs.  The following training is required for any adults volunteering for the leadership team. These 6 courses serve as the BSA credentialing component. All Assistant Scoutmasters must complete this training to join the leadership group.

The first 5 courses below are available online through Myscouting (you will need your BSA Personal Identification number, also called the PID in some materials, in order to log in). These courses can be taken at any time. Each lasts around 40 minutes. Please print the certificates at the end of each unit to ensure BSA properly records completion.

Youth Protection Trained - Explains BSA policies and precautions to protect youth from harm and protect adult volunteers from getting into potentially improper situations - ONLINE      

Fast Start - A quick introduction to Scouting for all adult leaders - ONLINE      

This Is Scouting - An introduction to the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. - ONLINE

Hazardous Weather - Planning and decision making regarding weather for a safe outing.     Effective January 1, 2009: To get a tour permit, at least one leader on the trip must have completed this training. - ONLINE

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat - Safe Swim Defense training covers the basic principles that units must follow to ensure that they're running a safe aquatics program. Swimming events require leaders who are trained in the eight points of Safe Swim Defense. 

The Scoutmaster 1,2,3 course is an in person class, regularly offered as a three-morning course during Merit Badge University or as an all day session. Scoutmaster Basic 1,2,3 Trained  provides training on how to operate the Scouting program, geared for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters.

As a leadership team we work closely to stay on the same page and work together for the scouts. My expectation as Troop Committee Chair is that the team functions as a unit, under David's leadership and guidance and in support of his program, plans and activities. In every case, all adult volunteers in the organization are expected to follow the scout oath and law, as well as all safe scouting directives.

If you’re interested in participating as part of our leadership team, please see our Troop Committee Chair, Mr. Brian Chase.