NYLTC, Backpacking

The NYLTC, National Youth Leadership Training Course, is being offered its usual twice a year in the Council. It' s focus is youth leadership for Scouts who have been to one summer camp, 13 years old, and a First Class Scout. It is an excellent program for an older Scout who has been to summer camp several times, earned most of his merit badges, is a Star or Life Scout and thinks "he has heard it all,"
isn't going to camp to be a life guard for the Troop, doesn't want to work as a Counselor in Training or a Counselor at Camp.

Graduation from the Course is a strong resume item along with his membership in the Order of the Arrow, leadership positions in the Troop, and earning his Eagle.

The cost is $210.00, but if the Scout "has been active" with the Troop, will "run" for Senior Patrol Leader, and will remain "active" with the Troop, as decided by a committee of the SM and ASM's, the Troop will underwrite 50% of the cost.

There are two courses: One at Camp Westmoreland May 30-June 5 and one at Camp Jackson July 18-24, 2010. Each session is limited to 48 Scouts.

Applications are available at the Scout Service Center. There are only 48 participants per course.

Adult Training: If you are an active leader with us..please sen an email to Mrs. Kidd indicating the training and certification you have picked up as a leader. As recently indicated, the Council's records are not complete and we need to assist with this requirement as well as have a good idea of where we are ourselves....thanks in advance....

You can buy a BSA license plate at the Scout Service Center for a $50.00 Deposit. The Council office will handle all the footwork required,

The Greater Alabama Council is partnering with the Salvation Army Food Bank for collecting non-perishable food items and distributing the same. If some one in the Troop would care to coordinated this for the Troop, we would appreciate it by contributing to a worthy cause.

Finally, The Alabama Adventure and the GAC are offering a Scout Day April 30-May .
We won't make this a Troop event, unless some one volunteers to serve as a coordinator for us by calling Ms. Carol Ashworth at 969-4250 for more details. Individual families are welcome to participate.

The up and coming back packing trip April 23-25 at Savage Gulf, TN. This is a regular back packing site for the Troop over the years. In the Spring, this area of TN it is quite beautiful and refreshing. Savage Gulf, Stone Door, Fiery Gizzard are located just north of Chattanooga.

All the older Scouts, with their leaders, will be hiking about 8-10-12 miles and will need a backpack (not a day pack), compressible sleeping bag, foam or thermarest, with all the necessary personal gear ( two, 1 Qt drinking bottles) as we have in the past. The troop provides all the required camping gear (tents, water purification (pumps are individually optional) and cooking stoves.

The Phoenix patrol, and their leaders, will not need a back back (unless you have one), but will need an individual day pack to carry his lunch, a water bottle (2 recommended) and small/other necessities for a 4-6- 8 mile day hike in the same area.

The Phoenix patrol will prepare and eat backpacking meals, but will use the Park base camp as our tenting area on both nights. The Venture Patrol will talk to back packing requirements and clothing for all on Monday the 19th. All going on the trip will have to be present for packing gear and loading on Thursday (22nd).

Thanks for all your support and encouraging attendance. On behalf of our Charter Organization, the Bluff Park United Methodist Church, and the entire Troop Committee, have a happy Easter weekend.

YiS dan s

"Delivering the Promise"