Boy Scout Troop 1001

Philmont 2010 Crews: Back Country Advanced Training is this weekend, February 26-28, 2010. We will depart from TBC Friday, 2/26/2010 at 7:00 pm sharp and return Sunday between noon and 1:00 PM. Transportation is being provided by the advisors. Make sure you eat dinner before you arrive or bring along food to eat on the road and please be on time.

Oski's Crew (619-D1): Shakedown at TBC on Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Bring your pack and gear, check the BAT manual if you don't know what to bring.

Ethan's Crew (619-D2): Shakedown at TBC on Friday at 6:00 PM. Bring your pack and gear, check the BAT manual if you don't know what to bring.

Contact me if you have any questions,
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Update February 14, 2010: 

Please be at Trinity Bible Church parking lot by 6:15 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 for transportation to BAT class at the Dallas Elks Lodge with one of the crew advisors. We will return to TBC around 9:30 PM.

Update February 11, 2010:

The BAT classroom session scheduled for tonight has been postponed until Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 due to the weather. Please watch this web site for an update on group transportation.

We had a very productive meeting on Sunday, thanks for getting your son there. We split the guys into 2 crews for the trip at Sunday's meeting, selected Crew Learders and started the process of selecting itineraries for each crew. The crew lists are below, the name in bold is the Crew Leader. We also distributed a health form to each boy, please make sure to keep track of this form as we don't get any extra copies and the Philmont Health Department is very picky about only accepting their form for the current year. It is a 3 page connected sheet printed on both sides. The completed and signed health form is due back to me or Mr. Reisinger by May 2, 2010.

We are starting Backcountry Advanced Training this Thursday 2/11 Tuesday, 2/16 from 7-9 pm. Please have your son at TBC by 6:25 if you want to take advantage of the advisors for transportation, we will return around 9:30. Please stay tuned to this web site for a group transportation update.  The class meets Tuesday 2/16 and Thursday 2/18 at the Dallas Elks Lodge, the weekend campout is Feb. 26-28 at Camp Meisenbach. There is more information and links on this web site, click the High Adventure link . Your son will need to bring payment ($25) for the class to the meeting this week.

One final important note, the next payment of $285 is due next Monday Feb. 15, 2010. The Troop is required to make a payment to Philmont this month, so we need to make sure all boys Philmont accounts are paid up.

Thanks for your support, and please let me know if you have any questions.

Kirk McClure

Crew meeting this Sunday, February 7, 2010 from 1:30 - 3:00 PM at TBC. Agenda: Crew Leader selection, Trek Selection, Distribute Health Forms

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There is a lot of information in this announcement, please read carefully and let me know if you have any questions. Attendance at all events is expected.

The next Philmont payment of $285.00 is due to the Troop Treasurer by February 15, 2010. Please make sure to meet this deadline. The final payment for Travel and crew related items will be due on April 15, 2010, the amount will be announced at a later date (appox. $250).

All crew members are required to attend the North Trails District Backcountry Advanced Training course. Information and online registration is available at this link: http://www.northtrail.org/data/backcountry_advanced.php. Please register by January 30, 2010.

Philmont Crew Meetings:

• Sunday Feb. 7, 2010 1:30-3:00 PM, Trinity Bible Church, Crew Leader selection, Trek Selection, Distribute Health Forms
• Thursday Feb. 11, 2010 7-9 PM, Dallas Elks Lodge, Backcountry Advanced Training – 6:30 - Meet at TBC for ride sharing
• Thursday Feb. 18, 2010 7-9 PM, Dallas Elks Lodge, Backcountry Advanced Training – 6:30 - Meet at TBC for ride sharing
• Sunday Feb. 21, 2010 1:30-3:00 PM, Trinity Bible Church, Stoves, Cook Dinner, Clean-up, Final Trek Selection
• Sunday Apr. 11, 2010 1:30-3:00 PM, Trinity Bible Church, Dining Fly Setup
• Sunday May 2, 2010 1:30-3:00 PM, Trinity Bible Church, Map and Compass orientation, Final Gear Check, Health Forms Due back to Mr. Reisinger
• Monday Jun. 14, 2010 7-8:30 PM , Trinity Bible Church, Final Pre-trek Meeting with parents

Philmont Crew Shakedowns:

• February 26 - 28, 2010, Camp Meisenbach, Athens, TX - Backcountry Advanced Training Campout
• March 26 - 28, 2010, Camp Wisdom, Dallas, TX - COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) and Crew shakedown
• May 7 - 9, 2010, Cross Timbers Trail, Whitesboro, TX - Crew Shakedown

Tentative Travel Dates:

• Thursday Jun. 17, 2010 Early AM, Trinity Bible Church, Depart for Philmont
• Thursday Jul. 1, 2010 Evening, Trinity Bible Church, Return from Philmont

Last month we concentrated on recruiting boys for the Philmont crews and were pretty successful, we currently have 19 boys on our roster. This month I'd like to focus on getting caught up with the payments. The payment schedule that was presented at the kick-off meeting is below:

• $335 due now
• $285 due 2/15/2010
• approx $250 for travel due 4/15/2010

Please have the initial $335 in to me or Mr. Watts by our Monday Nov. 16th, 2009 Troop meeting. If there is an issue with this date, please contact me directly via email.

I recently received a mailing from Scout Direct that offers holiday discounts on ALPS Mountaineering gear (Send me an email if you want a copy of the sale prices). The prices are very competitive and the gear is good quality (gear pictures and descriptions are at www.alpsmountaineering.com). You must register as a Scout to receive the price, but it is well worth the effort. With the holidays approaching, this is a great opportunity if your son requires any gear for the trip. Let me know if you have any gear specific questions.

The adult advisors are currently attending the Backcountry Advance Training course (the crews will attend next Spring) and are working on dividing the boys into 2 crews. We will also be scheduling the shakedown hikes and crew meetings for the next 7 months. I hope to publish the schedule before the end of November.

Please let me know if you have any questions,

Kirk McClure
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The presentation from the Philmont informational meeting held September 28, 2009 is available here.

Philmont Preparation

Wednesday September 16, 2009 – 7 pm at REI's Dallas Location

Outdoor outfitter REI has assembled a staff of former participants and leaders to present this information to the leaders, scouts and parents. Details at this link.

Troop 1001 Philmont Presentation

Monday September 28, 2009 - 7 pm at Trinity Bible Church

Please join us for an informational meeting about the Philmont Scout Ranch from the perspective of a Scout, Adult and Staffer. Information will be focused on Troop 1001’s 2010 trek. Parents and participants are encouraged to attend. Additional information about Troop 1001’s treks in 2010 can be found in Philmont Treks 2010.

Troop 1001 Has 2 Philmont Crews for Summer 2010!

Our Trek dates are June 19, 2010 to June 30, 2010 plus travel and pre/post trek activities.  Based on past experience, expect to depart Richardson on June 17, 2010 and return on July 1, 2010.

The Troop has 24 total available slots in two separate trail crews.  Each crew's minimum size is 7 participants and maximum size is 12 participants.  Each crew must have at least two adult advisors (one must be over 21 years of age).  Each crew can have a maximum of four advisors over the age of 21; however our Troop's philosophy has been to encourage the crews to include as many boys as possible.  The crews must have a majority of youth participants (a 7 member crew can only have 3 adult advisors).  We plan to organize one crew for a challenging itinerary (50-60 miles) and the other for a more strenuous itinerary (70-90 miles).

Youth participants MUST BE 14 YEARS OF AGE BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 - NO EXCEPTIONS - Philmont's rule.  Adult participants can be as old as they like on September 1, 2010 - as long as they carry their share of the load. Last summer an 81 year old grandfather from Boston completed a trek with his son and grandson! (See story here)

As with the 2008 Philmont expedition, each crew must have one person certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.  All adult advisors must complete Youth Protection Training in 2010.  All participants must have a complete physical in 2010 prior to participation.  Philmont Scout Ranch requires participants to meet height/weight and Blood Pressure guidelines that are explained at this link.  This is usually more of an issue for adults than boys, but be aware that being outside the guidelines will keep you from getting on the trail and there are no refunds. 

There will be four Philmont shakedown events between September 2009 and June 2010 as well as monthly crew meetings outside the normal Troop meeting for team building and preparation.  The Backcountry Advanced Training course presented by the North Trail district will be included in the shakedown schedule. Attendance at all events and meetings will be expected. 

The Philmont trek fee is $620.00 per person (youth or adult).  A $50.00 deposit can be paid now and is due by September 15, 2009.  A $285.00 payment is also due by September 15, 2009.  A second $285.00 payment is due by February 15, 2010 to complete the Philmont fee.  There is also a Transportation and Activity fee which will probably be $200 - $250 and will be due by April 15, 2010.  If cost is an issue, there are scholarship opportunities available, applications are required by December 2009.    

For many Scouts, completing a Philmont Trek is an adventure with memories and friendships that last a lifetime.  As a parent, you may notice a more self-reliant and confident young man returns home from the trek.  Participant applications and other information will be posted on Troop1001.org as it becomes available.  Please contact Kirk McClure or Mike Reisinger now to express interest or with any questions.

Be prepared!

• Packing List
• Itinerary
• Schooner Conch Pearl - Scout Information
• Florida Keys marine weather
• Islamorada weather
• Key West Weather and radar

 

 

Florida Sea Base Crew SLS062108A departs Friday, June 20 and returns Sunday, June 29.  The first and last nights are spent at a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. The second and second-to-last nights will be spend in the dorms at FSB. The rest of the time will be spent aboard the Schooner Conch Pearl or diving beneath her.

Scouts, you will be working the rigging on this trip and our captain recommends you brush up on your clove hitch, bowline, square knot and cleat hitch. Anyone for a one-handed bowline?

The principles of Leave No Trace apply on this trip, as does the Outdoor Code. Here is an excellent illustration of why never to touch coral, even lightly, and here is the accompanying story. 

  More Links:

• Florida Sea Base home page
  
• FSB Guide Book
  
• Schooner Black Pearl Conch Pearl - Our liveaboard vessel. See also their BSA page and FAQ for helpful hints.
• Scuba Toys - Certification classes and dive gear
• Scuba BSA Award Guide and Application