Troop 398 News - Sept 15

September Camp Out
The Camp Out is this weekend, September 17th – 19th on the Duck River behind the Fish Hatchery near Normandy Dam. This is a great campsite that is located right next to the river. Cars can be parked within 100 – 200 feet of the campsite. We will take our canoes and see if we can catch any trout. We will cook by patrols with the scouts needing to pass off First or Second Class cooking requirements leading the effort. Mr. Harden will purchase the food for everyone.  We will have life jackets but bring your own fishing rods and tackle if you have it. Expect to get wet, so bring a change of clothes. We will meet at the Eagle's Nest at 5:00 PM on Friday. I have 8 scouts in need of a ride. Along with myself, Roger Hopkins, Vince Bailey and Hal Taylor indicated that they could carry passengers so we should be in good shape. (Roger, Vince and Hal, please let me know if you can't make it.) So far, we have a good turnout, 18 scouts and 15 adults. The cost for the campout will be $15. We plan to return to the Eagle's Nest  at 11:30 AM on Sunday.

Directions to Duck River (Fish Hatchery), Normandy, TN. There are several ways to get there. (See Brett Barrett's map whish follows)  My preferred route is to take Highway 231 South to Shelbyville.  Turn left (East) on highway 16/Alt 41 toward Tullahoma. Go approximately 8 miles and turn left (East) on Normandy Road. Go 5 - 6 miles and cross the railroad track at Normandy and turn left immediately on Frank Hiles Road. After a short distance, you will cross the bridge over Duck River. Look for an old store at the top of the hill on the left. The Trout Hatchery is across the road from the market. Just before you get to the market, look for a gate on the right.  The gate will be "false locked".  Open the gate and enter the gravel road. Ignore the "No Trespassing" signs. Close the gate and make it look like it's locked.  Proceed down the gravel road along the hatchery fence, it will curve around to the left behind the hatchery. You will see our cars parked just above the campsite.

Service Opportunity
WEBELOS Discovery Day is also this Saturday from 8:00 am to 12 noon at St. Mark's for Webelos and their families interested in learning more about Boy Scouting.  Boy Scout Troops are volunteering to set up a demonstration of camping/activities the Webelos can expect to do when they crossover to a troop. David Spivey is needing volunteers from our troop to run the tomahawk throw and demonstrate dutch oven cooking. Any scouts not going on the campout are encouraged to come over and help out. Service hours are approved for this activity.

Tom Falana
Tom has completed his 5th chemo session.  His second CT scan was encouraging – no new areas of cancer were present and the existing areas showed either no change in size or some showed a decrease in size. The risk of infection is keeping Tom from participating in troop activities for now.  We miss you, Tom ….

Troop Elections
We will have troop elections for Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders next week. We need as many as possible to attend.

Carpentry Merit Badge
Mr. Whitaker will have the first meeting for Carpentry Merit Badge next week at the troop meeting.

Popcorn Sales
The winner of the $25 Salesman of the Week Award was Mitchell Jacobs.  Mitchell turned in over $400 in sales.  That means he earned over $140 in commission plus the $25 award – congratulations, Mitchell!! We will award $25 weekly to the top salesman during the popcorn sales.

Adult Picnic
Adults, be sure to reserve Saturday, September 25th on your calendars. A cookout is planned at Gary Whitaker's house – come and enjoy the food and fellowship. Steaks will be provided for $5/person – bring a beverage and a side dish or dessert. If you have not signed up yet please Email me ASAP so we can get a good head count.

October Camp Out
Early registration for the Jamboree has been extended to September 24th. The registration fee is $15 if you sign up before Sept 24th. After that, the registration fee is $20. We will be attending the Middle Tennessee Council Jamboree on October 8 – 10 at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. They plan to have a Mid-way with activities and an Arena Show on Sat. night. Over 8,000 Scouts are expected to attend. A sign–up sheet is on the bulletin board or email me.

God and Country
If you are interested in working on your God and Country Award this fall, sign up on the bulletin board. 14 scouts have signed up. Send me an email if you are interested. The program will begin in October.

Murfreesboro Scout Shop News
Large shipment of merchandise...shirts/pants/patches/resource material has just arrived. If you have been waiting on uniform apparel or books, etc.,  they will be out and ready to sell at our regular store hours.

Other Service Opportunities
The Salvation Kettle Craft Fair (Individual participation) -- Saturday Sept 25, 2010 will need boys that are strong enough to help the participants carry their fair goods to their booths.  They initially thought that the boys needed to be15 years old, but there is a teacher on our Board that says boys as young as 12/13 can help carry boxes, etc.

Time they need them: (so far)
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Public Lands Day (Troop participation)
Once again, Troop 398 plans to participate in the clean-up of the shores of Percy Priest Lake on November 20th at the Smyrna Air Base. 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Adult Training
A big At-A-Boy and Thank You to Brett Barrett and Jon Siler who gave up last weekend to take the Rappelling Certification training at Camp Boxwell and Stone Door.  Thanks to them we will be able to plan to go rappelling in the near future.

The next Rappelling Certification Weekend is 4 October 22nd, 23rd & 24th, 2010 (Fri. & Sat at Boxwell & Sun. at Stone Door. Glenn Lanier is planning to attend. Anyone else who is interested, see Mike Warren. The troop covers the cost of the training.

The next Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills—OLS is November 12th-14th, 2010 at Parish Wilderness Reservation. The troop will reimburse the $40 cost of the training.  Registration form is at MTCBSA.org---click on  to volunteers--click on Training.

University of Scouting is January 22nd, 2011. Registration starts October 1st, 2010.  More information to be available at the October Roundtable.  

MTSU Boy Scout Football Game:
 Special Scout ticket price ($8.00 per ticket ) for the November 13th, 2010 MTSU vs. North Texas game. Scouts participate in the opening on the field. Half time is a salute to armed service/veterans. A flyer will be on the bulletin board.  If two adult leaders plan to go, we'll make it a troop event.

KEY DATES
2010
Sept 17-19        Troop Camp Out - Duck River Patrol cooking, canoeing & fishing
Sept 17-19        OA Fall Fellowship – Boxwell Reservation –Members register online at www.wa-     hi-nasa.org
Sept 18             Webelos Discovery Day – St Marks 8 AM to Noon
Sept 25             Adult Picnic – Gary Whitaker's House
                        The Salvation Kettle Craft Fair  Saturday
Sept 25, 2010 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM &  4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Oct 8-10            Council Jamboree Wilson County Fair Grounds in Lebanon
Oct 10               Nashville American Heart Assn Walk at Vanderbilt Volunteers needed to hand out drinks, etc.
Oct 15-17          Bell Buckle Craft Fair – Troop Fund Raiser
Oct 22-24          Adult Rappelling Certification Weekend
Nov 5-7             (Tentative) Troop Camp Out – Backpacking - ???
Nov 7                 Murfreesboro American Heart Assn Walk at MTSU Volunteers needed to hand out drinks, etc.
Nov 12- 14         Adult Outdoor Leader Training (OLS) at Parrish Wilderness Area
Nov 13               Scout Day MTSU vs North Texas 2:30 PM Kickoff $8 tickets
Nov 20               Public Lands Day Trash pick up along the shore of Priest Lake.
Dec 4                OA Winter Banquet
Dec 17-19         (Tentative)Troop Christmas Camp Out – Short Mountain
Dec 26-31         Winter Camp at Boxwell Reservation – Adults & Scouts, see the Scoutmaster if interested

2011
Jan 2                Polar Bear Plunge 9:30 – 10:30 AM at SportsCom
Jan 21-23          District Winter Camporee at Camp Tubbs
Jan 22               Adult University of Scouting
Jan 30               Tennessee Tech Merit Badge University
Feb 5-6             Super Bowl Sunday BBQ Fund Raiser
Feb 26              MTSU Merit Badge University
May 20-22         Adult White Water Training Weekend # 1 Boxwell Reservation
Jun 3-5              Adult White Water Training Weekend # 2 Hiwassee River
                        Order of the Arrow Spring Ordeal
Jun 12-18          Summer Camp – Camp Stahlman, Boxwell Reservation
Jun 19-26          (Tentative) – High Adventure - Key West  Sailing
July 29-31         Youth White Water Canoe/Kayak School – Hiwassee River
Aug 12-14         Troop White Water Camp Out Hiwassee River

Troop 398 News - Sept 3

Popcorn Sales
Monday night, Mrs. Hopkins orchestrated a lively kick off for our popcorn sales campaign this fall. This is your best opportunity to make some serious money toward that high adventure trip you want to take or backpack or any other scout related expense. Scouts keep all the profit from their sales – 35% (37% if our Troop sells over $17,000). In addition to council awards, Troop 398 Awards include:

Highest Sales - Free summer camp campership
Second Highest Sales - $ 100 cash
Weekly Top Seller - $25 to your Scout Account (5 chances to win)
Participation Drawing – Two tickets to a Titan's Game

Get your info and order forms from Mrs. Hopkins at the next troop meeting or contact her at janiehopkins@comcast.net

Scout Shop
The Scout Shop will be CLOSED on Sat. Sept. 4th and on Mon. Sept. 6th in celebration of the Labor Day Holiday.  We will be open this week through Friday Sept. 3rd from 1 to 6 PM.  We will not reopen until Tues. September 7th at 1PM. 

Thank You
Once again, thank you for the many expressions of sympathy and support that Karen and I have received following the passing of my mother, Lillie Warren.  Several have asked about the memorial service.  It will be held at 2:00 PM this Saturday, September 4th at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. An opportunity for fellowship will follow the service.

No Troop Meeting on Labor Day, Sept. 6^th
Meetings will resume on September 13.

October Camp Out
We will be attending the Middle Tennessee Council Jamboree on October 8 – 10 at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. They plan to have a Mid-way with activities and an Arena Show on Sat. night. Over 8,000 Scouts are expected to attend. The registration fee is $15 if you sign up before Sept 10th. After that the registration fee is $20. Since we will not have a meeting before the 10th, please email me if you plan to attend.

Here's the flyer from council:  Don't miss being a part of history as 8,500 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers, along with family members experience the fun and adventure of the 2010 Council Jamboree. Scouting is 100 years old and has impacted many youth over these 100 years. This Jamboree will offer Cub Scouts new and exciting opportunities to experience the adventure of games, displays, hands-on activities, BB and Archery Shooting and much more. Boy Scouts will have the opportunity to experience competition on several different Scout games and contests, displays, shotgun shooting, and learning opportunities. Venturers will experience programs design for today's teenager.

DATE: October 8-10, 2010
LOCATION: The Ward Agricultural Center / Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, TN.
COST: The registration fee is $15.00 per Scout if paid by Friday, September 10th. After September 10th the registration fee is $20.00 per Scout. NO FEE will be charged for leaders, parents or siblings.

FOOD OPTIONS:You may bring your own food or purchase food at very reasonable prices at the Jamboree ! Tom's Blue Moon BBQ, Papa John's Pizza, and Big Poppa's (hamburgers, chicken tenders, french fries) will be in the Jamboree Food Court and open beginning on Friday, October 8, at 4 p.m. and will serve until Saturday at 7 p.m. A limited breakfast menu will also be available. Additionally, the TWO Middle Tennessee Council Trading Posts will offer ICEES, soft drinks, water, gatorades, and candy. We encourage you to support the businesses that support us ! Additional information on menu items will be available on this site in mid – September.

REGISTRATION: We encourage leaders to register your group together. Please check with your unit leader prior to registering individually.

God and Life (Country) program
"A Scout is Reverent." All Scouts show this by being faithful in their duty to God. Some go further and give special service. This can qualify them for a religious emblem. Such an emblem is not a Scouting award. It is conferred on a Scout by his religious leader. Each faith has its own requirements for earning its emblem.

This fall, St. Mark's will offer this program to scouts who are interested. All faiths are welcome. Starting date will be announced later. Reply by email if you are interested

So far the following scouts have signed up:  Benjamin Barrett, Spencer Beckman, Josh Meter, Sean Walker, Madden Pack, Jared Dix, Cristian Quiterio, Michael Zietz and Luke Clement.

September Camp Out
We're heading back to our "secret" campsite on the Duck River September 17 -19. Time for some trout fishing and canoeing.  Mr. Barrett will help you work on Fishing Merit Badge. We'll be cooking by patrols, so those of you who need to pass off on cooking requirements need to be there. Check in with Mr. Harden if you want to work on cooking requirements.  Email me if you want to attend or sign up at the troop meeting on Sept 13th.

Carpentry Merit Badge
Mr. Whitaker will be convening this class very soon. This is a historic merit badge that is only being offered this year.  You need to be 13 years old or First Class to participate. Email if you are interested.  So far the following scouts have signed up:  Josh Meyer, Sean Walker, Ross Hopkins, Michael Daniel, Justin Siler, Matt Fowler, Cristian Quiterio, Spencer Beckman, Michael Zietz, Mitchell Jacobs.

Winter Camp
In years past, we have not attended Winter Camp as a troop due to Christmas Season commitments.  Boxwell Winter Camp has become increasingly popular over the years.  I will post a sign-up sheet to identify those adults and scouts in our troop who might be interested in participating this year. No one will be held to this commitment, but if there is enough interest, we will pursue registering as a troop. Camp dates are December 27 – 31, 2010. Camper fee is $90 if a $30 deposit is paid by Nov. 12 or $105 after Nov. 12. Balance of fees are due by Dec 2nd.

Dear Scout Leader: Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge is proud to have the opportunity to serve the Middle Tennessee Council by hosting Winter Camp 2010. This will be our 10th year of a very successful, educational, fun and growing Winter Camp. Our theme this year will be Hawaiian Vacation. Some of our activities will include a Dutch Oven Cook-Off competition for both Scouts and Scouters. This year at Winter Camp we are offering the Duty to God program. In addition, Scout Leaders will have a morning at the COPE course, an update on the Latimer High Adventure Base, and a Question and Answer session with our Scout Executive, Mr. Hugh Travis.

We will offer merit badges that are not usually offered during Summer Camp making this a truly unique aspect of Winter Camp. The scouts will have many to choose from and should be able to find more than a few to motivate their interest. On top of having these merit badges, we will have afternoon activities that will help the scouts build their team working skills, and most importantly, give them a chance to have fun.

Winter Camp is truly a unique opportunity that should be taken advantage of by every scout and having attended Boxwell Reservation during Summer Camp knows how much fun it can be. The scouts are given a chance to see and experience Boxwell weather, activities, training, and over all camp atmosphere in an entirely different way from Summer Camp. We are sure that any scout attending Winter Camp will not be disappointed with their experience. Just ask one of the hundreds of satisfied campers we have had in past years. So, grab your Hawaiian shirt, surf board, flip flops and join us for a Hawaiian Vacation!

KEY DATES
2010
Aug 31                          Troop 398 Recharter date
Sept 6                           Labor Day No Troop Meeting
Sept 10-12                    Adult Rappelling Certification Weekend
Sept 17-19                    Troop Camp Out - Duck River Patrol cooking, canoeing & fishing
Sept 17-19                    OA Fall Fellowship – Boxwell Reservation –Members register online at www.wa-hi-            nasa.org
Sept 25                         Adult Picnic – Gary Whitaker's House
Oct 8-10                        Council Jamboree
Oct 15-17                      Bell Buckle Craft Fair
Nov 5-7                         (Tentative) Troop Camp Out – Backpacking - ???
Dec 4                            OA Winter Banquet
Dec 17-19                     (Tentative)Troop Christmas Camp Out – Short Mountain
Dec 26-31                     Winter Camp at Boxwell Reservation – Adults & Scouts, see the Scoutmaster if interested

2011
Jan 21-23                      District Winter Camporee at Camp Tubbs
Jan 30                           Tennessee Tech Merit Badge University
Feb 5-6                         Super Bowl Sunday BBQ Fund Raiser
Feb 26                          MTSU Merit Badge University
May 20-22                     Adult White Water Training Weekend # 1 Boxwell Reservation
Jun 3-5                          Adult White Water Training Weekend # 2 Hiwassee River
                                      Order of the Arrow Spring Ordeal
Jun 12-18                      Summer Camp – Camp Stahlman, Boxwell Reservation
Jun 19-26                      (Tentative) – High Adventure - Key West  Sailing
July 29-31                     Youth White Water Canoe/Kayak School – Hiwassee River
Aug 12-14                     Troop White Water Camp Out Hiwassee River