Boy Scout Troop 1001

Is your Scout in the seventh grade or greater? Is he interested in trekking Philmont Scout Ranch sometime during his Scouting career? If the answer to both questions is yes, then you and your Scout should attend an important meeting where we must make a decision that will affect Philmont opportunities for all 1001 Scouts for the next three years. The meeting will be held Monday, February 9, 2009, at 6 pm at TBC.

Troop 1001 is in the enviable position of having won too many Philmont slots for 2010. Besides having drawn two hiking treks for 2010, we have also recently won the lottery for a Cavalcade, or a trek on horseback, in the same year. Unfortunately, Philmont rules will not allow us to keep both the hiking treks and the Cavalcade. Importantly, regardless of which we choose, Troop 1001 cannot again apply for Philmont slots until 2012. So the choice we make will affect the opportunity available to older members of the troop.

Come to the meeting to learn more about both kinds of Philmont treks and to weigh in on which the troop should choose. Scouts in the seventh grade and above and their parents are encouraged to attend.

Once a year, our whole troop worships together at Trinity Bible Church on the anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. All uniformed Scouts and Adult Scouters sit together in the reserved pews in the front right-center section; non-uniformed family members may accompany the scout in the reserved pews or  wherever you want. Our troop will be recognized in front of the whole Trinity congregation. Pastor Jeff Miller will also present the God and Country Award to Travis K., Nick S., Kevin M. and Ryun H.

Arrive at 8:45 am and go straight in to the Sanctuary; we will not form up or try to enter as a group. We will stand and repeat the Scout Oath and Law but we will not have a flag ceremony. The service will end at 10:15 and you may leave, or stay and socialize, or visit any of Trinity’s youth or adult Bible classes (see any of the Mohn or Frank families for information) in the second hour.

Questions: Grady Frank 972-658-0103

Please update your calendars. The Camporee Prep campout for February has been been moved out a week and a day to work around a number of schedule conflicts. The new schedule is 8:30 am Saturday, February 21 to 5 pm 6 pm Sunday, February 22. Note the Saturday departure and the late Sunday afternoon return.

Saturday will be devoted to rank advancement activities, geared toward those who have not reached First Class. The primary focus of the campout, preparation for Camporee, will take place Sunday. The location of the campout, Myers Park, formerly the Collin County Youth Park, near McKinney, has not changed.

More details regarding the campout will be forthcoming as the date approaches.

We currently have two treks scheduled for Philmont in 2010. That’s 12 persons per trek, with preferably 2 adults and 10 scouts per trek or 24 total people. Scouts must be in 7th grade THIS YEAR to participate.

However, Troop 1001 just won the 2010 Philmont Cavalcade lottery!

A Cavalcade is Philmont on horseback, and because it is selected by a lottery system, it is a rare occurrence. As a troop we must decide NOW if we want to drop the two treks in favor of the cavalcade (15 persons total), or drop the cavalcade. We will discuss this at the committee meeting Monday night, and possibly come to a decision, so if you have interest, either contact me prior to the meeting money night, or be at the committee meeting.

More information:

Philmont Cavalcades are similar to regular expeditions except that, instead of hiking, crews ride horses through the rugged mountain wilderness like the famous trappers who first explored the West.

Eight-day Cavalcades with 10 to 15 people* per crew are offered on specific dates each summer. The final day of the Cavalcade is spent in competition at an equestrian gymkhana.

For the safety of the rider and the horse, there is a 200-pound weight limit for all riders.

Because of the popularity of the Cavalcade program and the limited number of horses, a drawing will be held each January for crews that have expressed a desire to participate in summer Cavalcades. A group may not participate in consecutive years.

To participate in the drawing, notify Philmont in writing. Successful groups will be notified in February by mail and will receive a reservation form that must be approved by the local council. The reservation will remain effective for 30 days, pending receipt of the reservation fee ($50 per participant) and approved reservation form. If the crew should number fewer than 10, the Cavalcade will be charged for 10 participants. The maximum number of crew members is 15.

Troop 1001 will be camping at Erwin Park, McKinney Texas, for Orienteering and Derby Day on the weekend of January 30-February 1, 2009. Scouts should be at the church parking lot no later than 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening in Class A uniform. We will be returning about 12:45 p.m. Sunday to the hospital parking lot across Campbell Road.

Troop 1001 is planning a fantastic trip for the weekend of May 22-25, 2009 to Corpus Christi, where we will  be eating and sleeping aboard the WWII air craft carrier USS Lexington. While on board the ship we will watch a movie in the ship's Mega Movie Theater, have guided tours, evening events, and our Spring Court of Honor.  We will also be visiting the Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History and the Texas State Aquarium.

The cost of the trip is $125 per person after a subsidy of about $70 by the troop and includes Lexington accommodations, bus transportation, all the activities and meals. The ship has a snack bar, vending machines, game room, flight simulator, and gift shop available at your own expense. The full payment and a signed permission form are due no later than March 2, 2009. Yes, that's March, not May. If financial hardship would prevent a scout from attending any Troop 1001 activity, see troop committee chairman Doug Miller or treasurer Terry Watts to make alternative arrangements.

For more information, see this flyer, the detailed itinerary, the Lexington brochure, and the following Web sites:

• The USS Lexington Web site
  
• The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History Web site
• The Texas State Aquarium Web site

Parents are encouraged to attend a meeting to learn about the May trip to the USS Lexington at Corpus Christi. The meeting will be held concurrently with the regular troop meeting Monday, January 19, 2009, 7-8:30 pm. Parents will learn details of the trip, including cost and schedule. In particular, the sign-up deadline, which is quite early, will be explained.

Each scouting family is encouraged to send an adult representative.

Trinity work day, Saturday, January 24, 2009, 8 am-Noon. Qualifies for rank advancement service, God and County service project, and Honor Society community service requirements.

All Scouts and adults (even if you are not a registered Scouter) who can attend, meet in the west parking lot and look for Grady Frank for assignments.

Wear work clothes, closed-toed shoes, jacket/hat per the weather, and bring work gloves. Bring rakes, brooms, shovels. Sign in and out with Mr. Frank to get credit for your service hours. In case of rain, your choice—you can earn your hours doing indoor work in the church, or you may leave. Questions: Grady Frank 972-658-0103.