Boy Scout Troop 1001

Hello Scouts and Scouters,

Our last meeting kicked off our Backpacking theme for this month. In preparation for our 5-mile hike and campout the Scouts learned about backpacking safety, gear, and packing. All the Scouts got lots of extra packing practice during the "backpack relay".

A few points to remember:

Cotton socks promote blisters. Two pair of wool hiking socks will do just fine for the campout. You can wear your cotton socks at night if you like. A good backpack is very important. A schoolbook backpack will not work. Your hips should carry the backpack, not your shoulders. You need a backpack with a good hip belt to support the load. The Troop has a few to loan out if you need one. It could rain. Bring rain gear and a pack cover (a garbage bag can be used to cover your pack, in a pinch). Some ponchos are designed to cover you and your pack.

Don't forget the "Ten Essentials"!

1. Map & Compass
2. Matches & lighter
3. Tarp/temp shelter
4. Whistle/signal mirror
5. Food & Water
6. Extra Clothing/sunglasses/cap
7. Headlamp or flashlight
8. Fire Starter
9. First Aid Kit/sunscreen
10. Knife or Leatherman (if you have your Totin' Chip)

Webelos Woods - This Saturday, 11/07

If you plan to help with the archery range this weekend and haven't signed up, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ASAP. The current plan is for Webelos Woods staff to meet in the TBC parking lot and leave by 7:00 am Saturday morning. You will return around 6:00 pm.

Flag Service Day - This Sunday, 11/08 - Do you know what the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is all about?

Veterans Day is our last Flag Service Day of 2009. This event is an opportunity to demonstrate Scout Spirit by helping our community celebrate Veterans Day while also earning money to help provide equipment, transportation, and the other ingredients that make up a fun Scouting program. Flags will be delivered Sunday, 11/07 at 2 pm and picked up Saturday, 11/14 at noon. Details are available in Flag Service: Veterans Day. Originally known as "Armistice Day", Veterans Day celebrates the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when the armistice ending the hostilities of World War I was signed at 11:00 am on 11/11/1918.

Next Troop Meeting

Our next meeting will be held 11/09 at 7:00. The entire meeting will be dedicated to building shelters. Pay close attention to this important skill. You will need it in a couple of weeks!

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Payette

Way to go Troop 1001! Your popcorn sales were incredible. Nearly half the troop participated with sales just above $9600. 28% of your sales goes directly to your account.

For those who still owe money, please pay at the next meeting,  November 2.

The popcorn will arrive on November 7 — all 155 cases. We need a few trucks or flat bed to pick it up. The council will assign our exact pick up time next week.

Please contact Ms. Kennedy at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 972.897.6108 if you can help.

Hello Scouts and Scouters,

We had a wonderful campout at Camp Simpson, OK. Somehow we managed to thread the needle again and had a beautiful, rain-free weekend. The camp area was very spacious and provided lots of potential for some serious Capture the Flag.

Some scheduling challenges forced the Scouts to rearrange their activity plan a little but they still managed to cover everything on their agenda. Campfire building went well, considering the damp conditions, and most patrols managed to “burn their string”. Congratulations to Jared C.’s patrol for winning the campfire competition.

Our training team continued to focus on Trail to First Class. Our Training ASPL’s goal is “First Class in the first year”. If you completed requirements during the campout make sure to have your Patrol Leader sign your handbook!

The Saturday Campfire went well with lots of participation from all patrols, including the visiting Webelos. The campfire was closed with a flag retirement ceremony. Thanks to Grady F., Ben J., and our OA Scouts for a putting on such a touching and respectful ceremony to honor our flag.

Our guest Chaplain, Wilten H., conducted a lively Scouts Own Service Sunday morning and had all the Scouts very engaged in his message. Thanks go to Wilten and also to Grady F. for developing the guest Chaplain program. It is off to a great start!

Congratulations to Alex V.’s patrol for winning Honor Patrol of this campout. Great work!

OA Leadership

It is with great pleasure that I extend my congratulations to Travis L. for being appointed to the position of Election Lead for the Yanush chapter of the Order of the Arrow. Chapter advisor, Paul S., stressed the importance of Travis’ role and that a Scout can not be elected to this position. Election Lead is a position of great responsibility and a Scout can only enter this role by appointment.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be held Monday, 11/02, at 7:00. In preparation for our November backpacking campout the Troop will cover hiking gear and how to pack for a backpacking trip. Future meetings will focus on shelter building and cooking over a backpacking stove. Make sure to wear your Class A uniform and bring your handbook.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Payette

Hello Scouts and Scouters,

After spending the last few troop meetings honing their fire building skills, the Scouts changed gears for last night’s meeting and focused on the promise of scouting – FUN! The Scouts practiced playing Capture the Flag in preparation for this weekend’s campout where CTF is one of the featured events.

Silver Palm

It’s an outstanding accomplishment when a boy is awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. It is widely known that this is the highest rank a Boy Scout can attain and is the goal to which all of our Scouts aspire. What isn’t as widely known is that there are additional awards that can be earned even beyond that of Eagle Scout – Eagle Palms. It is with great admiration that I offer my sincerest congratulations to Ian S., who has earned his Bronze, Gold, and now Silver Eagle Palm. This is truly a rare accomplishment and is a testament to the spirit and character of this remarkable young man.

Campout this Friday – 10/23/09

This Friday we leave for our fire building and CTF campout at Camp Simpson in the Arbuckle Mountains of southern OK. This will be a fun campout where the scouts practice fire building, spend time on Trail to First Class requirements, and play Capture the Flag. If you weren’t at the meeting Monday please contact your Patrol Leader ASAP to make sure you are on the roster for this campout. As always, make sure you have turned in a permission form, money for food, and bring your handbook! See links on this page for details.

Webelos Woods – We need Scouts to staff the archery range

We need Scouts to help staff the archery range at Webelos Woods on 11/07. We will leave from TBC early Saturday morning and return that evening. This is a fun event, an opportunity to give back to scouting by helping the Cub Scouts, and also counts for Service hours.

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you can help.

No regular Troop meeting Monday, 10/26.

There will be no meeting Monday 10/26. The PLC will still meet, as usual, and the Geology Merit Badge class will be held at 6:00. The next regular meeting is November 2.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Payette

Parental involvement in Boy Scouts is important to the success of the Troop as well as each of the boys. There are several ways parents can be involved in Troop 1001. We are currently looking for Patrol Advisors, a back-up Secretary, an Advancement Coordinator, and a back-up Recruiting Coordinator. If you would like more information about any of these positions, or if you would like to volunteer, please contact our Troop Committee Chairman, Doug Miller.

Thanks to the following parents who have recently stepped up to fill positions:

• Uniform Closet Coordinator: Deborah Stephens
• Flag Days Coordinator: Russell Haas
• Public Relations Coordinator: Georgia Kruse
• Popcorn Kernel: Patty Kennedy

Hello Scouts and Scouters,

Fire building

This week’s meeting was dedicated to building campfires in preparation for our October campout. In spite of the damp conditions most patrols successfully built their fires without using matches and were able to burn a string suspended above their fires. This is the same building and lighting process that will be used at Camporee. A little more practice at the October campout and all patrols should be in good shape with this important Scouting skill. Congratulations to Walker’s patrol for being the first to burn their string!

October Campout is almost here – October 23-25 – New location

Our October Campout is coming up in just over a week. Watch this site for details. Our current plan is to camp at Camp Simpson in the Arbuckles of southern OK. We will be practicing our fire building skills and hope to have time to work on other Trail-to-First-Class requirements as well. As always, bring your books so you can get requirements signed off.

No disposable plates, cups, or utensils

Each Scout should always bring a cup/plate/fork/spoon for meals on a campout. As mentioned on each permission form, these should NOT be disposable. In keeping with our obligation to be good stewards of our environment and the spirit of Leave No Trace practices we will enforce this policy and NOT provide disposable eating gear. Make sure to bring your non-disposable eating gear beginning with the October campout. If you can’t provide your own non-disposable gear let your Patrol Leader know before you leave for the campout.

Popcorn Orders and money due Monday, October 19

Don’t forget to bring your completed popcorn take-order forms and money to the meeting on Monday. The Popcorn Kernel will be on hand to collect these.

Next meeting is Money Monday – October 19. Please arrive by 6:50 so our meeting can start promptly at 7:00.

Our next troop meeting will be held Monday, 10/19 at 7:00 pm. This is Money Monday so remember to bring your signed permission forms and $10 for campout food. In addition to menu planning, the Scouts will be playing Capture the Flag. Please wear you Class B shirt under your Class A so CTF teams can be formed with Class A/Class B uniforms. As always, bring your handbook.

YiS,
Scoutmaster Payette

Are you interested in earning the Geology Merit Badge? If you toured Longhorn Cavern during our February 2008 trip to Austin, you have already met some of the requirements. Ms. Brooks is offering a class to complete the rest. The class will be held 6-7 pm on three successive Mondays, October 19 through November 2. Note that the class will be held October 26 even though there is no troop meeting on that date. If you were not on the Longhorn Cavern trip, Ms. Brooks will still help you earn the badge.

You do not need to sign up in advance. Just be at TBC at 6 pm on Monday, October 19, 2009. You may learn more about the Geology Merit Badge at http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Geology. The page includes requirements and a worksheet.