New Scouts campout

March 31st is the new Scout Camp out at Oak Mountain...uniform for all is red Troop T shirt and Scout shortsof long Scout trousers...Dress for the weather....Older boys should plan on being at the Hut at 8:00 AM if they are going to assist...the fees are $3.00 per meal for lunch, supper, and Sunday breakfast. If the Scout cannot stay through the evening they may leave at any time they wish.

We will camp at the Oak Mountain Primitive sites where we always camp in the past for this event (first right into the gated road past the Tranquility Lake turn in from the main road. You will have to call the Scoutmaster for the combination to the lock at 516-7161 if you do not come with the main party.

If Mr. Horn does not plan on taking the bus to the Air Show..we will take the bus to the new Scout camp out..if the bus will not be available, we will car pool to the new Scout camp out in individual vehicles.

The cost for the camp out (over nighter) is $11.00 ( $2.00 camp fee, and $9.00 for meals) Camp fee only for those staying overnight and $3.00 per mail for those not eating all three meals. Payable when we meet at the hut in order to plan for meals. We will return to the Hut around 10:00 AM or so April 1.

What the new Scout will he need: an extra pair of socks and clothed to sleep in in case he gets wet/dirty (two red shirts with his name/initials on them and all his Scout uniform parts)...he should sleep in dry clothes and not his uniform...He will be in the red shirt and scout shorts of long pants (zip offs preferred) all day and unless soaked or dirty will wear the as the uniform on Sunday.

He should be dressed for the weather, including a rain suit for rain and insulation from the cold...if predicted to be cool, he should have a sock hat or base ball style cap, gloves, and heavier outer wear in this ruck sack/duffle bag with his the rest of his gear..a backpack is not necessary for this trip or when we go car camping. his ruck sack/gear bag should be somewhat water resistant and sturdy to carry all his gear in prior to arriving so as to keep it together and to protect it from dampness or debris. If it turns out to be pleasant, then he need not wear the outerwear..if if turns cold or wet, he will be dressed for it.

He will need his sleeping bag, an air or foam sleeping pad to put his sleeping bag on in the tent. Don't bring a mattress for the Scout or leader that needs an air pump to blow it up..these are too big and uncompromising for space....it should be enough to carry on a back packing trip on his backpack....the tent will be provided by the Troop. As we continue to grow..leaders (and sometimes Scouts with the Scoutmaster's permission) are invited to bring your own tent...for this trip, there will be plenty of Troop tents...please refrain from using huge, electric or hand operated pump required mattresses...plan for backpacking size which will serve as an example for the boys. Plan on sleeping on the ground in your sleeping bag and sleeping pad..hammocks are not permitted for "leave no trace" reasons and cots likewise are not permitted to set the example for the boys..cots often punch holes in the tent floor.

Likewise, he and Dad/Mom will need a plastic plate or medium sized bowl with his plastic spoon and fork to eat with along with a hot/cold plastic cup to drink beverages with. He should bring his Scout Guide also as we will be going over it and it's purpose for his Scouting career. He will not be taking a shower..there are no facilities available.

Once we gather our gear at the Hut, the boys will make up an assignment list (duty roster) for the weekend as well as menu for lunch supper and breakfast. From the hut we will go to the Piggly Wiggley to buy our meals...then from there head out to Oak Mountain in our cars following the Troop Frank Tank (box truck)...If we have severe or forecasted wet weather we may not camp, but rather remain at the Hut for the Day w/lunch and dinner before leaving for he night (after a camp fire and flag ceremony as we would have normally at camp) to get all we need to accomplish (this is a worst case scenario) but there are many things we need to accomplish on this outing before summer camp (physical fitness test for Tenderfoot, cooking and meal preparation, sanitation, camp set up, camp take down, naming the patrol, making it's flag, coming up with it's yell/song, camp fire and flag retirement, and other Tenderfoot/Second Class/First Class requirements.

New Scouts in the Troop who have not been to summer camp the year before, who are older will be part of all of this, and will also serve as guides since they are becoming experienced campers already. Older Scouts and Dads on the trip will serve as guides and instructors.

As stated, we will shop for our meals in the AM. If you are coming out later and will not be there when we are preparing Saturday Morning (Mar 31) to assist later and want a to eat with us, I need to know for how many and for what meals so we can have a number to work with. Electronics will not be permitted in the camp site, including cell phones. As a Scout, a parent need not be present if we have enough vehicles for transportation...if the parent will not be present, we will need a completed copy of the BSA Medical form plus a copy of the family insurance card in case a trip to the emergency room is required.

So far I know that Mr. Brownbridge and his son Carl are coming for supper and breakfast..they will bring their own tent ( as you know a Scout may sleep w/a parent, but when we camp we sleep separately in the patrol fashion, except in this case when a parent son arrive late and we don't have space for the Scout with other Scouts.

Again the caveat: If you are not there in the AM at the Hut and plan on coming out late to eat with us..I need to know n order to buy your meal(s)...If you want to use a Troop tent to spend the night and will not be there in the AM for planning before we leave, I need to know so I can have tents on hand to use.

We are planning on a return at around 10:30 AM or sooner..If the boys want to have an additional stop at McDonalds at the OakMtn exit, we will stop so they will need breakfast money..if not we will come straight to the Hut.

Special note: In order to be a registered leader in this Troop, each parent must have completed the BSA Youth protection course to be submitted along with your transfer registration form for entering Scouting from Cubs. You can do this in a few minutes by going to Scouting.org and under leader training, take the course, print the certificate, and give it to the Scoutmaster for submission w/your registration. This will not be required for this trip due to short notice, but you will have to have it complete to be registered in the immediate future and future trips.

Same of the BSA Physical..it should be completed for the Scout as soon as possible and definitely if you will not accompany him on a trip..it is mandatory for summer camp. The form is available on the Troop web site at: bluffparktroop21.org.

Final Special note; The Troop is going canoeing on the Cahaba River in May...in order to canoe he and the parent will have had to pass the BSA swimming test as written in the BSA Scout book Guide....we will talk to this at the camp out as to when we can get this done in order to participate. Perhaps a YMCA Pool...

Welcome again to the Troop....by this time next year..all of these new requirements and policies will be old hat.

Troop News

Excepting the wind and rain during Saturday's dinner and into the late evening at Sweetwater Lake, the weather was excellent for the backpacking trip on the Pinhoti Trail this last weekend.....we were able to test the new tarps and the individual new back packing tents against wind and rain..all worked well. pictures of the camp out are posted, thanks to Mr. Simon, on the Troop Web site.

Those Scouts wishing to earn the backpacking, hiking, and camping merit badges should read the requirement posted on meritbadge.com, as well as reading the merit badge books coverning the same.

Those Scout present and who worked with the Scoutmaster for the Second and first class compass and map requirements, met the requirements on the the trip.

The meals prepared by all the crews were excellent and exceeded expectations thank to Scout and Leader preparations for the weekend...the trek was be fastest we have ever hiked it in many years with more Scouts and leaders than ever before..there were no blisters, unprepared, or over burdened Scouts due to the Troop preparation, leader, and older Scout mentoring.

March 26: The Scouts should be dropped off at the Bluff Park United Methodist Church Reid Crotty Fellowship Hall at 6:45 in Class A Plus uniform, including sash, for the Pack 321 cross over of WEBELO II's to Troop 21. There will be an Order of the Arrow ceremony by S and S Hardy, along with M Gunn and other members to make it memorable with native American Indian drums and regalia. The ceremony will last about forty five minutes and Scouts can be picked up at 7:45 PM....at wherever you dropped him off.

March 26: There will be a Troop Committee meeting at 8:00 PM at the Hut.

March 31st is the new Scout Campout at Oak Mountain...uniform is red Troop T shirt and Scout shorts...Dress for the weather....Older boys should plan on being at the Hut at 8:00 AM if they are going to assist...the fees are $3.00 per meal for lunch, supper, and Sunday breakfast. If the Scout cannot stay through the evening they meay leave at any time they wish. We will camp at the Oak Mountain Primitive sites where we always camp in the past for this event (first right into the gated road past the Tranquility Lake turn in from the main road. You will have to call the Scoutmaster for the combination to the lock at 516-7161 if you do not come with the main party. If Mr. Horn does not plan on taking the bus to the Air Show..we will take the bus to the new Scout camp out..if the bus will not be available, we will car pool to the new Scout campout in individual vehicles.

The cost for the campout (overnighter) is $11.00 ( $2.00 camp fee, and $9.00 for meals) Camp fee only for those staying overnight. Payable when we meet at the hut in order to plan for meals. We will return to the Hut around 10:00 AM or so April 1.

April 1..Anniston Air show..if enough people show up at the Hut at a time to be announced the they will leave (Mr. Horn) at a time to be announced once he finds out who is going..you or the Scout has to call Mr. Horn to make a reservation and to calculate numbers for fuel on the bus if we take the bus on Sunday Morning to get to the Air Show. If you don't call, he will consider you not going...If he has enough numbers and the bus is available, he will take the bus..if not enough numbers and the bus may not be available, he will take cars.

D Lepianka will also be doing his Eagle Project on March 31st as described in earlier memos. Sam hardy will be working on his Eagle Project on April 7, as described in earlier memos. More information to follow on both. Who should show up? All Scouts, especially Scouts not present for recent Troop activities..these count as service hours for rank advancment and knowledge of what is expected on Eagle Proects.

April 2...All Troop and patrol quartermasters report to the Hut at 6:30 PM to take down and stow our backpacking gear....all patrol leader, asst Patrol leaders, Senior and ASPLs attend the Troop PLC starting at 7:00 PM for about an hour at the Hut to plan out April's activities.

Troop composite pictures will probably be delivered April 9 at the regular meeting.

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"

Troop News

The Eagle Court held yesterday for the Debalsi's and the Youngs was well attended. Congratulations again to both families for the achievement. Thanks also to Mr. Morrow, Mr. Madison, Mr. Elmore, Mr. Paul Young, and Mr. Simon with all other attending leaders for it planning success also.


Tonight is a regular meeting on the new daylight savings time which is also a change of uniform for the Troop...The khaki shirt doesn't have to be worn a regular meetings until the time change again in October. Uniform for meetings in Spring and summer and early fall are Scout Shorts, Scout socks, and the Troop red "T" shirt or any other Scout "T" shirt he wants to wear.

Tonight's meeting will be Troop elections for all responsible leader leadership positions for the next six months start at the coming Court of Honor (April 30). We will also have the Order of the Arrow elections tonight, so we need more than 50% of all the Scouts present.

Following the elections, we will hit on more backpacking subjects such backpacking stoves...a continuation of tent set ups...and some more back packing meal presentations by Mr. Camp. Also..Mr. Stocks will explain the the New GAC Scout Discount Card Program to all in attendance. Finally, Mr. Gunn will be giving the Scoutmaster's minute in ending the meeting.

We had a great turnout as expected for the Vulcan Merit Badge Day at Cantebury Methodist..all thanks to Mrs. Cathy Kidd's coordination and planning...Also thanks to Mr. Branin for teaching the Camping merit badge and for Mr. Cole teaching First Aid...there were about 20 boys from the Troop in attendance..one of our best for attending numbers....Thanks to Mrs. Kidd again, this was the third Merit badge Day the Troop took advantage of giving the possibility for the attending Scouts to earn 6 merit badges beginning in January to the present.

Summer Camp fees will be coming up shortly as will be announced by Mr. Simon..We will also start collecting his annual BSA physical (2012) now and until we leave for camp, so please schedule the completion of that form also with your pediatrician..The form is available on the Troop Web site.

Also...Sea Base fees for this year are nearly complete for most participants, thanks again to Mrs. Kidd for her persistence in planning the trip for us...

Mr. Hardy is still collecting monthly fees for the Trip to Yellowstone...If the Scout is attending the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOA) at the University of Michigan with us this summer..the first or second down payment is due this weekend at the American Indian Seminar at Camp Comer ($200.00).

The fee for the Backpacking Trip to the Penhoti is $25.00....If you are not going to be present on the 19th (Monday) but he is coming on the trip, please bring a check, cash, or WePay deposit for the amount to Mr. Elmore tonight as we will again be taking a headcount to see who is coming on the Trip..including leaders...if you or the Scout cannot be there tonight..make sure his patrol leader knows so we can count heads for attendance.

The Troop meeting scheduled on the 19th of March will serve to hit on final backpacking topics and hands on again w/backpacking tents set ups, stove handling, gear necessary, and meal planning for the trip.

All attending the trip are required to attend the Troop quartermaster night meeting (uniform not required) on March 22 in order to pack all the Troop backpacking gear. He will need to bring his ready to go personal backpack to load the Troop gear into it for the Trip. We will leave the pack overnight, packed in the Troop Trailer to expedite our leaving on the 23rd. . We then meet next at the Hut at 5:00 PM on Friday March 23 returning around 2PM or sooner on the 25th. The uniform for the Trip is Troop red "T" shirt and Scout socks and shorts. He will change into his back packing clothes/gear Saturday morning when we get up, leaving his uniform on the bus to change back into when we return on Sunday and head home...he should wear back packing clothes on the trail..not his Scout uniform. This way he will have dry clothes on the way back to Birmingham on the bus.

Thanks for all your support and please encourage attendance to night for Troop and OA elections.

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"

J McKinney Eagle Project this Saturday

· The project is a the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Building at the Bessemer Airport which is off Morgan Road about two miles from I459.
· As you come up to the gate at the airport, if no one is there to meet you, simple press the call button at the gate and say you are going to the CAP building. They are expecting us. As you enter the gate, go to the LEFT past The Hanger restaurant staying to the left as much as possible. The CAP will be on the left at the end of the next plane parking tarmac.
· The time is anytime this Saturday morning March 3rd for those that come. We will be there from about 9 am till done or about 3:00 pm.
· LUNCH ( Cheese Pizza and soft drinks) will be provided but the scouts may want to bring some water
· We will be doing various projects but the only tools needed would be a shovel and/or metal rake if you have one. Work gloves would be a good idea if you have some as well.
· Inclement weather reschedule if necessary will be the next Saturday March 10th