Troop 504

North Amherst, MA

Established

in 1917

Copyright © 2010 Troop 504 BSA - All rights reserved.

• February 8, 2011- This Month's Troop Committee is on schedule for Feb 8th at 7:00 Pm at the Hadley Public Safety Comple Second Floor Meeting Room
• February 1, 2011- Our New Web Site is launched.
• February 26-27 - Wendell State Forest Campout.REPORT: Attending were Lucas Denit, Brandon Bushey, Zach Ellis, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Regan, Mr. Denit. The rain and melting snow of the days just before the trip were gone by Saturday morning. Everything was good and frozen with lots of snow on the ground. We sledded all our gear down to the campsite by Ruggles Pond, set up tents and cook area. Saw fresh tracks of raccoon, squirrel, and mouse or vole. Tested the ice for safety, and practiced throwing rescue ropes. Chopped a hole in the ice with axe and shovel %u2013 about 20 inches thick! Zack ice fished. Lucas, Brandon, Mr. Denit and Mr. Regan strapped/tied on snowshoes and hiked a couple of miles to Wicket Pond, practicing map reading skills. The troop- ade shoes did quite well, but we need to improve the bindings to keep boots from slipping around and out. We also tried out other snowshoes that people brought, including rawhide-webbed beaver tail ones with a good home-made binding from Troop 303. Snowshoes were really helpful as the snow was packed hard only in certain well traveled areas. We brought trail stove on the hike and cooked soup for lunch, with snacks, too. Mr. Denit put together a bow drill fire making set and began experimenting with it. Got smoke, but no fire yet. Supper was pork chops with made BBQ sauce dutch oven cooked, and veggies in foil packs. Desserts were dutch oven pineapple-upside-down cake, and cookies from a cardboard box oven Mr. Regan brought from Troop 303. All fantastic. Good, informal campfire. Lucas and Zack built a snow pit shelter with tarp cover, which Lucas slept in. We woke to about 3 inches of fresh powder which really made the woods look beautiful. Breakfast was dutch oven peach French toast. Excellent! We had Scouts Own service by the frozen pond. Then time to break camp and sled the gear back up to cars. Skiers were out and curious about us all weekend. The return trip downhill for a second load made for some good sledding! Thanks to Mr. Ellis for doing much of the trip organizing, and to Ranger Bryant Stewart of the State Forest who allows us to camp there., and really to all who helped by participating or supporting us. This was a great winter campout, just cold enough, and a real good experience. -LRD
• February 28 - Troop Meeting. REPORT: We met at the Rice family home in Leverett for a session in firebuilding. There were three stations: 1) Lucas Denit did one on a log cabin style fire lay; 2) Mr. Regan did one on starting a fire using a car battery; 3) Mr. Denit did one on fire by friction using the bow drill set. Smoke, but no fire yet. Announcements, and thorns and roses from Wendell campout. It was a damp, chilly night, perfect for firebuilding, and spirits were high. It was a really good meeting trying some new skills. Special thanks to the Jeremy and Mr. Rice and their family for opening their property to us, sanding the drive and providing wood! -LRD
• March 5 - Merit Badge University. Sign in Time at UMass Amherst Herter Hall ( just to the left of the Fine Arts Center) is 8:30 AM - Morning Classes Start at : 9:30 - 11:30 - Afternoon Classes Start at: 12:30 - 2:30 SEE: ASM Mr. Rice for Blue Cards for your badges. The list of Scouts / Badges signed up for :
• Harry Delmolino Environmental Science Personal Fitness
• Lucas Denit Citizenship Community Personal Management
• Michael DeUbl Personal Management Computers
• Nathan Ellis Entrepreneurship Salesmanship
• Tim Kosuda Citizenship Community Personal Management
• Nicholas Kosuda Basketry Collections
• Jeremy Rice Environmental Science Citizenship Nation
• Jeff Shepard Basketry Personal Management
• Ciaran Young Law Geology
• NOTE: April 2nd is the next and final session.
• March 7 -Troop Meeting. REPORT: Senior scouts taught the knots and lashings needed to construct a tripod. Each Pthen built their own tripod. They were built with a rung near the bottom on each side, which had to suport the patrol members. Each patrol succeeded in doing this, though both had room for improvement. The Parrot Patrol was judged the winner, being a bit better constructed. Mr. Regan conducted our annual Order of the Arrow election as we had the required 50% members attending. Of those scouts eligible, those elected were Harry Delmolino, Tim Kosuda, and Michael deUbl. Congratulations! We also had a visit from Mr. Al Sax. He was dropping off a donation of his son, Miles, Troop 504 uniform. Miles was SPL about 12 years ago, when Mr. Bill Hart was scoutmaster. Father and son both went to Philmont with the troop. Miles now works in an arboretum in Boston, a continuation of his interest in nature while in scouts. Mr. Sax reminded us what a historic troop we have. -LRD
• March 8 - Troop Committee Meeting. 7:00pm, Hadley Public Safety Building
• March 10 - Metacomet District Roundtable. 7:00pm, South Deerfield Elementary School. REPORT: Iwould like to thank the following people for attending the district round table on Thursday, 3/10/2011 in South Deerfield, to represent the Troop. The meeting was actually a little less organized than the last few round tables, but this was primarily due to the addition of a presentation by the Council President and Vice-President regarding financial information. Attending the meeting were: Steve Ellis, Ned Young, Lyle Denit, Lucas Denit, Russell Kosuda. -RK
• March 12-13 - Troop Leader Training. Run by Troop 303 of South Hadley (Brian Regans troop). At Camp Fr. Friel (just up the road from Chesterfield Scout Reservation) since there is a nicer cabin there. SPL Lucas Denit says: I sent out an email a couple of weeks ago about a leadership campout at Chesterfield with Brian Regan and Troop 303, and this is just a follow up. We need to find out who will be going soon, so let me know ASAP. Everyone should really go to this. I let you guys know about this a few weeks ago and it has been mentioned several times since. It is the weekend of the 12-13, and we will be in a cabin and they will even cook for us. I hope everyone can make it. Thanks. Brian Regan says: This is really good for all of the youth leaders from APL right to JASM, so please consider it. Will be both fun and informative. Troop 303 needs to know who will go by Monday night. Dont miss it! REPORT:I want to congratulate (and you can also) the following boys who successfully completed a Junior Leaders Training session held in Chesterfield this weekend. This training session was presented by Council Executives and Troop 303 to work with older scouts that are moving into or are already in troop leader roles (Patrol Leaders, Asst. Patrol Leaders, Senior Patrol Leaders, Asst. Senior Patrol Leaders, etc). I received very good feedback from the adult organizers and presenters regarding the boys from Troop 504. The following scouts attended the training and received certificates of completion: Nathan Ellis, Tim Kosuda, Mike de Ubl, Luke Webb. -RK
• March 14 -Troop Meeting.
• March 21 -Troop Meeting.
• March 26-27 -Campout at Chesterfield Scout Reservation. At the Troop Committee meeting on 3/8/2011 I have volunteered to organize the details of the weekend (which I will send out later this week). But here are the basics for planning purposes:- March outing will be at Camp Chesterfield (Ecology Cabin).
• - Two arrival times will be used if there is interest:
• o Friday evening (3/25/2011) arrival (leave from Troop hall at 6:00 pm or meet at Camp Chesterfield).
• o Saturday (3/26/2011) morning arrival (leave from Troop hall at 8:00 am) or arrive at Camp Chesterfield at 9:00 am.
• - Friday evening activities will include:
• o Simple dinner (pizza on the way up, or hamburgers and hotdogs after we arrive)
• o Choice of sleeping outside in tents or inside of cabin (holds 14 people).
• o Evening snack and movie presentation.
• - Saturday and Sunday activities may include:
• o Variety of cooking activities (over campfire, on stoves), with the menu created by the adults (details to follow). Could include doughnut making, deep fried chickens, new dessert recipes, etc.
• o Tent setup for Saturday and Sunday sleeping
• o Continuation of Fire Building meeting from a few weeks ago (and Wendell State forest). Building different types of fires, starting fires with wooden bow, etc.
• o Launching of some or all of the model rockets created by the Scouts back in Dec/Jan.
• o Pioneer project (8 ft tower?) using material from the camp.
• o Potato gun target practice.
• o Hikes around the camp to explore different areas.
• o Evening campfire and/or movie presentation
• Ned Young has volunteered to be one of the adult leaders for this trip (thanks Ned!!). I will be attending on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but I will need to step away sometime on Saturday for a family obligation.
• Brian Regan has volunteered to be at the outing later in the day on Saturday.
• If there are other adults that are available, please send me an e-mail. This is a great opportunity for adults with less camping experience to get involved as the cabin (and its bunks and heater) will be available.
• I plan on contacting each family directly (via phone) this week while on the road to get confirmation that they will be attending. - Russell Kosuda
• March 28 - Troop Meeting.
• April 2 - Merit Badge University, Part 2.
• April 4 - Troop Committee Meeting
• April 9 - Hadley Mothers' Club Recycling Collection. REPORT: Thanks to Mr. Dave and Mrs. Suzanne Waskiewicz for coordinating this, and to scouts Harry Delmolino, Lucas Denit, Brandon Bushey , Patrick Keegan, Matt Waskiewicz, and adults John Delmolino, Lyle Denit for picking up and handling materials.
• April 11 - Troop Meeting. Hi everyone. As the weather gets warmer, we will be starting a new theme for our troop meetings based on nature. Since it is forecasted to be very warm tomorrow, we will be spending most of the meeting outside. It might cool off some by evening though, so make sure to dress accordingly just in case. Hope to see everyone there, Lucas Denit
• April 14 - District Roundtable. 7:00pm, South Deerfield Elementary School REPORT:
• - Russell Kosuda, Lyle Denit, and Joe Case attended from Troop 504.
• - The Spring Camporee scheduled for May 21-23 is very likely cancelled. The Troop that was going to sponsor (Troop 57) is not able to fulfill their commitement and Camp Chesterfield is not available. There is a very slim chance that someone will step in to organize with 4 weeks to go, but not likely.
• - The Fall Camporee is scheduled for Oct 14-16.
• - For the 2012 Troop registration all adult leaders will need to have the Youth Protection Training completed (good for 2 years).
• - May 6-8 is the Order of the Arrow ordeal for new members. Our troop recently elected Harry, Tim and Mike, so they should pencil in these dates.
• - Beaver Day (work day) at Camp Chesterfield is June 4th. The Troop should send a group up for the day to help get the camp in shape.
• - June 10-12 is the Order of the Arrow Conclave (big gathering of Order of the Arrow lodges).
• - Lots of discussion about Star, Life and Eagle projects that we hope to be incorporating into our program in the coming months.
• - Pride (gas station) Triple Rewards and Instant Rollback cards to help benefit the Western Mass Council. I will have information and forms at the next Scout meeting. Basically you can signup to have a discount card (like Stop and Shop) and/or a debit card for gas. After using the cards 5 times, Pride will donate $5.00/$10.00 to the council.
• Thanks%u2026Russell
• April 18 - School Break - NO TROOP MEETING
• April 30 - May 1 - The New Britain Rock Cats BaseballGame and Campout. We need to know as soon as possible if you are interested in attending, along with the number of people attending. Any questions, please call or e-mail us (Dan: sghort200@gmail.com or Bethany: bethanyjacques@gmail.com). Thanks! -Dan Jacques
• May 6-8 OA Ordeal Weekend.
• May 7 - This spring our Community Service work will be doing Trailwork on Larch Hill to help out the Hitchcock Center. They need Scouts to help clear debris off trails, add gravel and repair boardwalks and decking. The work will start at 12 o'clock and go until 5 p.m. Scouts should bring leather gloves, wear work boots and bring water and sunscreen. (I'll figure out lunch.) Troop 504 has put in many hours maintaining other Amherst trails. This is important and fun work that involves dirt. So come prepared to work hard and drag a (willing) parent along too. Email me back (janetmcgowan30@comcast.net) as soon as possible to tell me you can make it. ( If you have a baseball game -- come for part of the time.) Community service is a great part of Scouting -- it's how Scouts give back to the people in their towns. See you on May 7th. - Janet McGowan, Community Service Coordinator for Troop 504
• May 20-22 - Metacomet District Camporee. Details TBA.
• May 29 - Memorial Day Parade in Hadley.
• May 30 - Memorial Day Parade in Amherst.
• June 10-12 - Order of the Arrow Conclave. Chesterfield Scout Reservation. Hosted by our Pocumtuc Lodge.
• June 13 - Court of Honor
• June 17-19 - OA Ordeal Weekend
• June 25-July 1 - National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). Chesterfield SR.