Scout Hut Work Day was a Success!

    Our Scout Hut Work Day was a huge success!  As Scoutmaster, I would like to thank our parents and leaders for participating but for each Scout that participated, I want you guys to know that you are truly fantastic!  We estimate that we split, moved and stacked about 3 cords of wood yesterday, power washed a good bit of the Hut, repaired our driveway drain and filled all the cracks in the garage floor and the back patio AFTER moving everything out of the garage and off the patio.  Ever worked so well as a team and none of it would have been possible without you.  Thanks to all for your excellent work!
 
Winding Stairs Campout Packing List
      If you are going on the Winding Stairs Campout, here is a minimum list of items you need to bring with you, in your pack, to the Troop meeting tomorrow evening.
 
Minimum Items in/on Your Backpack:
Sleeping pad (optional)
Pillow (optional; small backpack size ONLY)
Light sleeping bag or Blanket in a waterproof bag
Personal first aid kit
Two 1-liter water bottles (you will need 2 liters)
One complete change of clothes in a waterproof bag
Closed-toed Water Shoes
Swim Trunks
Small flashlight (with fresh batteries)
Toilet paper (partial roll)
Mess Kit (LIGHT bowl, cup, utensils)
Light (backpacking) towel and/or bandanna (optional)
Carabiners, tie-downs, rope to secure items outside backpack
Personal Items (toothbrush, glasses, sunscreen, etc.)
Rain cover (Lg. garbage bag works great)
    This is a minimum equipment list. You may bring other essential items but be aware of the amount of weight you would be carrying.  What you carry in, you must carry out.
   We will be doing a gear check tomorrow evening so come prepared.
Mr. Fowler

Meeting to Prepare for Backpacking:
     After a most excellent Kayaking/Canoeing campout this last weekend, we will begin preparing for our Winding Stairs campout in 3 weeks.  We will have a regular Troop meeting on Monday evening, April 26^th to fit packs and begin instruction on backpacking techniques.  Mr. Long has laid out a course of teaching for the next 3 Troop meetings that will help every Scout prepare for this adventure in the Arkansas mountains.
 
Patrol Cooking Gear Clean-up:
     Patrol Leaders and the two patrol members that volunteered to clean their Patrol cooking gear from the Beavers Bend campout, will meet at 6pm Monday, in the Scout Hut kitchen.  We really need to wrap up with getting our Patrol gear cleaned up tomorrow evening.
 
Scout Hut Work Day + Physicals, Saturday, May 1st
     This coming Saturday, we will need all Scouts to participate in our Scout Hut Work Day.  We have several projects to do:  Split and stack our wood from the recent tree cutting, fill concrete cracks in the garage floor, install new garage lighting, continue to organize our equipment, refit our patrol supply boxes and the list goes on.  While we won’t get it all done, hopefully with great Scout help, we can get a lot of it completed.  Showtime will be 0830 in work clothing; uniforms are not necessary.  Pizza for lunch.
 
Summer Camp Physicals, Saturday, May 1^st
     Dr. Bentley has offered to complete Summer Camp physicals this Saturday during the Work Day.  If you are going to camp in Colorado with us, this is the day to get your physical completed.  Starting at 0900, Dr. Bentley can complete 6 exams each hour.  We will have a schedule sign-up for Saturday at the Monday Troop meeting.
 
Troop Leaders Zoom Meeting, Thursday, 7pm
      Since we are having a regular Troop meeting this Monday, we will need to have a Troop Leaders Zoom meeting Thursday evening at 7pm.  We need to talk about Summer Camp, the Winding Stairs campout, Troop equipment needs and our upcoming Winding Stairs campout. 
This is an important meeting for Parents, please make time to attend this meeting.
Mr. Fowler

BECAUSE OF EXPECTED ROUGH WEATHER IN SE OKLAHOMA, WE ARE POSTPONING OUR DEPARTURE FOR BEAVERS BEND TO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.  WEATHER REPORTS OUT OF BEAVERS BEND INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLE TORNADOS.  NOT FUN TRYING TO SET UP CAMP IN A DRIVING THUNDERSTORM!
 
SATURDAY MORNING SHOWTIME WILL BE 5:30AM WITH A DEPARTURE OF 6AM.  Please be prompt as we will be on a tighter timeline and need to leave at 6.
Please eat before, bring your breakfast or bring a little money.  We will make one short stop enroute.
BRING CANOEING CLOTHES IN A TRAVEL BAG AS WE WILL LIKELY GO DIRECTLY TO CANOEING. 
The remainder of the trip should go as scheduled.
MR. FOWLER

Here are some reminders for the Beavers Bend Canoeing venture this weekend. 
Here is some gear that you will want to take for this campout:
 
Water shoes or Crocs
Longer quick-dry pants are suggested
Dry bag for on the water
Seat cushion for canoe
Travel bag with an extra change of clothing.  For after canoeing.
Jacket for evening wear – temperatures will be from 46° to 77° with cloudy skies. Dress for the weather.
 
Show Time is 4:45pm on Friday.  We need to depart by 5:30pm
Arrival at the Scout Hut on Sunday should be 11:30am
 
Mr. Fowler

Monday evening Troop Meeting, April 12th, 7pm, FCT 6pm

This will be a regular troop meeting this Monday. Much of it will be preparing for our Beavers Bend campout on the 23rd. First Class Trail will begin meeting at 6 pm for the next few months. Talk to Ms. Cece for what the FCT guys will be working on.  Mr. Fowler

Service hours opportunity

This Saturday, April 10th, we have an opportunity to get in some much-needed service hours. The service would count for hours toward rank and one of the ten activities required for First Class rank advancement. We're meeting Boyd Sanders at the Park headquarters at 8:15 AM. He will have the supplies ready for the boys. We'll be picking up litter along the shores if it's a small group or removing invasive vegetation if we have a larger group. We will break for lunch at 12:30 PM, so bring a sack lunch to eat before heading home. 

Thank you, Gabriel and Mrs. Simmons, for setting up this opportunity.

Mr. Rich Long