Boy Scout Troop 1001

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

The Scouts had a great week at Hale Scout Reservation in Talihina, Okla. They accomplished a lot at summer camp, have only a few bumps and bruises, and have lots of stories to bring home.

Our youth leaders did a fantastic job keeping 45 boys organized and safe for a week in the woods. Congratulations to our new senior team, TJ F., Ethan H. and Jack R., for their great success in this difficult job.

Our new Patrol Leader team also rose to this week-long challenge. Thanks go to Ben J., Andrew M., Skyler M., Richard R., Alex V., and Walker W. for keeping track of our boys and making sure they were safe, clean (mostly), and organized. They also taught our first-year Scouts how to make cobbler and quesadillas!

Each morning we woke to our bugler, Zack M., playing a lively Reveille. He was always up early and bugling on-time to make sure we didn't miss breakfast.

Our quartermasters, James M. and Stephen C., were on top of equipment needs. They are always the first to arrive and the last to leave. In spite of this demanding job they are always cheerful and never hesitate to get the job done.

I extend my sincere thanks to this great team. Their experience, maturity, leadership, and diligence kept 45 boys and 7 adults safe and engaged in their summer camp activities.

All the Scouts did an outstanding job with their classes at summer camp.

We had:

• Seven rank advancements
• 141 merit badges/rank classes completed
• 47 merit badges close to completion
• Two Paul Bunyan awards
• Two mile swimmers
• Two Wilderness First Aid certifications for adults
• Lots of Totin' Chips and Firem'n Chits
• Lots of adult leader training completed
• The honor of being chosen to perform our skit at the closing campfire
• Jack R.'s tent filled with large rocks to celebrate his birthday

Congratulations to all the Scouts and Scouters for such remarkable accomplishments!

This week wouldn't have been possible without the help of the adult leaders, the Freebird Patrol, who watched over the boys, attended to minor medical emergencies, taught cooking, washed 50+ uniforms, and kept the photos and emails uploaded to the web. Thanks to all who attended summer camp as well as those who couldn't attend but helped with all the planning, organizing, and paperwork required.

The youth and adult leaders will be getting together over the summer to plan the activities for the coming year. I look forward to a great year starting this Fall!

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Payette

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

In my first update as Scoutmaster I would like to express my sincere appreciation for Mr. Coon and his dedication to the boys of Troop 1001 for the past 3+ years. His efforts went well beyond the 1.5 hours each Monday night that most of us see him in uniform. Mr. Coon’s enthusiasm and vision for the scouting program will have a lasting effect on our Troop. I look forward to his continued guidance and mentorship.

Lexington recap

The boys had a wonderful time on the Lexington over the Memorial-day weekend. Their schedule was kept busy with tours of the ship, the Texas State Aquarium, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, a morning at the beach, and lots more. Troop 1001 had the very special honor of performing the flag ceremony during a patriotic evening colors program in which flags from all branches of the US armed forces were presented.

New youth leaders announced

Our spring COH was held on the Lexington hangar deck where TJ announced our new senior leadership team, as well as the scouts who will step up to be Patrol Leaders during summer camp. The new leadership team is:

• Senior Patrol Leader (SPL): TJ F.
• Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL): Ethan H. and Jack R.
• Troop Guides (TG): Alex O. and Ian S.
• Summer camp Patrol Leaders (PL): Ben J., Andrew M., Skyler M., Richard R., Alex VH., and Walker W.

Congratulations to all our new leaders. I know you will do a great job leading the troop. Always strive to set the right example by keeping servant leadership and the Scout Oath and Law foremost in your decisions.

Next meeting info

We will have a troop meeting Monday, June 1st, at 7:00 pm for those going to summer camp. Final paperwork, medical forms, and payments must be complete and turned in at that time. The scouts will go over the summer camp gear list and select patrols. Don’t forget to bring your handbooks so completed requirements can be signed off and recorded.

Patrol Advisors needed

We need more scouters to step up to be Patrol Advisors. This is an Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM) position involving the mentorship of an individual Patrol Leader and his patrol. The troop will provide training for this position. Being an ASM does not mean you are volunteering to be Scoutmaster. All “youth-side” positions are ASMs and we need at least eight ASMs for the Patrol Advisor role.

Flag Ceremony at Prairie Creek Elementary, 06/03

Troop 1001 has been invited to perform the flag ceremony during graduation at Prairie Creek Elementary. The ceremony will begin at 6:30 pm and we need five scouts to help out. Please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Payette

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

We had a great turnout for the Swim test last Monday night. Thank you TJ and Richard for managing the event so well.

On the agenda for Monday night's regular meeting at the TBC May 18 at 7:00pm will be our annual troop elections. All scouts who would like to be Patrol Leaders, Troop Guides or Senior Patrol leader should come prepared to speak. The PLC has decided that this year a scout must be present for the elections to run for office. The results will be announced during our trip to the Lexington during the Memorial Day weekend.

All scouts planning to attend summer camp should be registered at this time. If you have not registered and plan to go please contact Mrs. Van Hamme.

We have an Eagle candidate, Andrew B., preparing to execute his project. Please check with him on Monday night to see how you can assist.

Until I see you next Monday, do a good turn daily.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

The 2008-2009 Scout Season is rapidly drawing to a close which makes for a very busy time.

Thank you to all that lent a hand this past weekend at Cottonwood. Despite the poor weather we managed to keep our donations up. Thank you to Mr. Bryan and Mr. Carnes for their fantastic organization and planning for the event.

All Scout Show tickets or monies should be turned in to Mr. Saverline at this time. We had record sales this year. Thank you Mr. Saverline for helping the troop earn those necessary dollars.

Next Monday night we will be meeting at the Oak Point Recreation Center located at 6000 Jupiter Rd, Plano, TX 75074, (972) 941-7540 for our annual swim test. We will be forming up at 7 pm although the actual test will not begin until 7:30 pm. We will continue until 9 pm. Any scouts with school activities that need to arrive later than 8:15 pm may do so. Each scout planning to attend the Lexington trip or Summer camp should complete the test. Please wear class B shirts, a swimsuit and bring a towel for this event.

Scouts who need a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review should arrive in Class A uniforms and bring a swimsuit to wear after the conference or board. We will meet with you prior to your swim test.

I look forward to seeing you all for a fun time Monday night at the Oak Point Recreation Center.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

It has been a wonderful Spring; our calendars almost say May. Monday night, May 4 will be a combined Parents' meeting and scout meeting. The topics will be the upcoming Lexington trip to Corpus Christi on May 22-25, 2009 and Summer Camp the week of June 7-13, 2009 at the Hale Scout Reservation near Talihina, Oklahoma.

All scouts and parents of scouts attending either of these activities should plan to attend Monday night's meeting.

All monies or scout show cards should be turned in to Mr. Saverline at this time. If you have not yet turned in your money, please do so by this weekend.

This weekend is our semiannual Cottonwood fundraiser. We would like a minimum of eight adult volunteer hours per family. There is a lot to do on Friday all day as well as Sunday after 5:30pm by helping the artists load in and out. In between those times there is booth sitting, water sales and other ways to be of service. Not to mention getting the family out to see some fascinating art and hear some great music in the park.

Our Adult Quartermaster, Mr. Roberts, lost his mother recently. We send our prayers and sympathy to his family during this time of transition. Anyone who would like to make a memorial donation in his mother's honor please do so by check made out to Troop 1001 and give it to our Treasurer, Mr. Watts. We will be forwarding it to the Our Daily Bread ministry in Enid, Oklahoma.

I look forward to seeing you all at TBC Monday night.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

Our Spring hiking campout went well. The PLC reported that this was an exceptionally fun way to camp and plan to have more like it next year. Thank you to all the members of the adult Freebird patrol who helped make this a special memory for those that attended. A special thank you to Mr. Miller and Mr. Carnes for their sacrifice so the scouts could have a great time, and to Mr. Payette who got his first solo taste of supporting the best troop in the Circle Ten Council.

Happy Birthday to Nick S. I hope you enjoyed your Clif Bar cake and candle on the trail.

If you are a scout planning to advance rank at the Court of Honor you must complete your Scoutmaster Conference and Board of review by May 11, 2009. I will be available before the regular meetings if you contact me in advance to schedule a conference. Candidates for Star and above must formally schedule a board of review with the Committee Chairman, Doug Miller, in advance. Contact Mr. Miller to make an appointment.

We have a very busy spring so please mark your calendars now. We have six regular Monday meetings until our final outing of the year on the USS Lexington the weekend of May 22-25, 2009. We will hold our Spring Court of Honor on the aircraft carrier.

Here is a quick schedule review:

• Mon Apr 13 - Troop meeting: Shooting Sports (BB Guns & Archery), preceded by Personal Management MB at 6 pm
• Wed Apr 15 - Road to Eagle meeting for Star and Life Scouts and their Parents
• Mon Apr 20 - Troop meeting: Totin' Chip, preceded by Citizenship in the Community MB at 6 pm
• Sat Apr 25 - Trash Bash (service hours)
• Mon Apr 27 - Troop Meeting: Capture the Flag
• Thu-Sun April 30 - May 3 - Cottonwood Arts Festival
• Sat May 2 - Scout Show
• Mon May 4 - Troop meeting: Leadership discussion, plan for elections
• Mon May 11 - Troop meeting: Elections & Parent Meeting for Lexington Trip (this may swap with the May 18th meeting)
• Mon May 18 - Troop meeting: Swim test for Lexington and Summer Camp (off site)
• Fri-Mon May 22-25 - Lexington Trip
• Sun-Sat June 7-13 - Summer Camp

We have a busy Spring planned. Please stay tuned to the troop newsletter and web site for details and updates.

I look forward to seeing you all at the church on Monday night.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

  Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

Drivers are needed for our campout this weekend.

Our Wilderness Backpacking campout is this weekend. We will meet in the TBC parking lot Friday at 5:30 and leave by 6:00. Make sure to bring your permission slip and food money if you haven’t already done so.

We do not have enough seats to transport the Scouts to and from McGee Creek State Park this weekend. If any Scouters are able to drive and have room for Scouts please contact Rick Goad at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ASAP. There will be a base camp where those who don’t want to hike can camp Saturday night.

Last night’s meeting was a busy one with final preparation for our Wilderness Backpacking campout. The Scouts practiced cooking on backpacking stoves and prepared a smorgasbord of entrées, side dishes, and desert. Beef Stroganoff, Chili Mac, Jamaican BBQ Chicken, and Chicken Ala King were just a few of the savory treats the Scouts prepared, while our SPL team made Chocolate Strawberry Crunch for desert. These dishes are lightweight and easy to cook on the trail. Most patrols are planning to prepare this type of food at camp.

All Scouts should make sure they are ready for a 5-mile backpacking campout. If you don’t have a proper backpack there are still a couple you can borrow in the Scout room. A school book backpack is not appropriate. See the gear list on the permission form for this campout. As Ethan, Jack, and TJ demonstrated, it is essential each Scout has:

• A good backpack
• Wool socks (cotton can cause blisters)
• Rain gear (poncho, at least)
• Water bottle
• Good shoes
• Your medication!

Each Scout will carry part of his tent, food, and cooking equipment. Make sure there is some room left in the backpack for this patrol gear. Personal gear should be light. You will be carrying your pack for 2-3 hours.

The Scouts will camp at "base camp" Friday night. Saturday morning they will cook breakfast and also prepare lunch to take with them on the hike. They will have lunch on the trail and expect to be at their wilderness campsite in the early afternoon, where they will set up camp and have the opportunity to learn about water purification and filtration. Saturday’s dinner and Sunday’s breakfast will be prepared at the wilderness campsite. After breakfast we will break camp, hike back to base camp, and head home.

This promises to be a fun-filled weekend with lots of opportunity to get some advancement requirements signed off. See you there!

Yours in Scouting,
Assistant Scoutmaster Payette

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

Our next meeting is Money Monday! Please bring $10 along with a signed permission slip if you plan to attend the Wilderness Hiking Campout at McGee Creek State Park in Oklahoma the weekend of April 3-5, 2009. The next meeting's topic is a review of the use of lightweight camping stoves. All scouts attending the campout will need a backpack, rain gear, water bottle and a good pair of shoes for the hike. Try to borrow gear before you buy new equipment for this campout. Monday's meeting will be a good time to ask around.

Scout Show tickets are on sale now. Each scout has been asked to sell a minimum of 10 tickets and there is no maximum. One-half or $50 will go to the scout's own account and the other $50 will be used to defray the cost of building a new pavilion for our trailers. All Scout Show ticket money must be turned in by Monday, April 27th.

The pavilion has been designed by Mr. Reavis and will be used for outdoor activities throughout the scout season, in addition to housing our trailers. Scouts that sell 10 or more tickets will have their name engraved on a plaque to be mounted in the new pavilion. Family donations will also be accepted for the pavilion fund. Please help out with this exciting project.

The Citizinship in the Community merit badge class will begin at 6:00pm on Monday with the regular meeting at 7:00pm. I look forward to seeing you all next Monday night at TBC.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon