December Pioneering Campout Recap

Three 15 foot lashing towers.  First Blue Nose of the Scouting year.  Excellent food, nice job cooking.  A great hike.  The December pioneering campout, run by Greg Hannon with help from Mr. Starrett, Mr. Casalino, and Mr. Hannon, was a huge success.

All 33 scouts returned home tired but (finally) warm.  Most followed instructions and brought clothes and gear to comfortably survive the 10° night.  Those who didn't (and you know who you are!) would do well to read the troop's cold weather camping suggestions and gear list (click the link) before next month's Mission Impossible.

Tim Carr deserves special recognition for camping toasty warm for two nights under nothing more than a tarp shelter.  It can be done!

Thanks to Mr. Casalino for two great adult meals and an top notch cracker barrel.  Even Will Oliver was satisfied!

Scouts Summit Highest Peak in Connecticut

November 7-8, 2009 campout.  Backpacking on the Appalachian Trail to Bear Mountain near Salisbury, Connecticut.

(Scouts write the article...)

"How to Build a Better Boy"

Excellent article for parents and adult leaders from Scouting magazine.

Scout Rank Advancement Requirement Changes

(from the November-December 2009 Scouting Magazine)

The new edition of The Boy Scout Handbook carries several rank requirement changes that go into effect January 1, 2010.  If a scout is working out of the old edition of the handbook, he may continue using those  requirements until he completes that rank. Then he must move to the new edition.

Ventures: Winter Conquest of Mount Washington

Click title to see John Conard-Malley's raw footage from the Ventures' February 14-16 summit of Mt. Washington.  Life list accomplishment.  Studs.