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Check out the videos of the sledding trip from both the helmet cam and from the sidelines at http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4B318038DD40DA1C. Click on play all to see them all. Vote on the best crash in the comment section.

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Thanks to all the scouts and Pack 188 for helping out. We collected 1638 pounds of food for the Food Bank. That filled the flat bed trailer.

 

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Excellence and Leadership

This is a copy of my last Scoutmaster minute. It includes a challenge to the scouts. If you missed the Court of Honor please read it.

Excellence is doing your best. The first words of the Scout Oath says it all – On my honor I will do my best. Whether it's doing a service project or going on an adventure it's all about excellence.

The opposite of excellence is being average. Being average requires nothing more than doing the bare minimum required. Most of you know all about doing the minimum required in school. You go to class, the teacher tells you what to do, you do it. You're bored with it. You do the minimum required to pass a class or get a specific grade. You see, you can get straight A's and still not be excellent because you're just doing the minimum required. You're doing what you're told to do.

Excellence is going above and beyond the minimum required. Excellence is pushing yourself instead of letting someone else push you. Here's a quote about excellence: Excellence is

• caring more than others think is wise
• risking more than others think is safe
• dreaming more than others think is practical, and
• expecting more than others think is possible

Excellence is an attitude. Excellence comes from within. Excellence is setting your own minimum standard and not letting someone else set it for you.

Within Boy Scouts, it's sometimes hard to see where excellence is important. Excellence in tying knots? Not much recognition in that. Excellence in cooking? The girls aren't going to swoon over that. I'll tell you where the Boy Scouts can teach you about excellence like no other activity can. It's leadership. It's not just being an excellent climber, it's leading a summer of climbing events for the troop. It's mentoring younger scouts for their first year. It's being the Patrol Leader that has the best Patrol Weeks and helps his patrol members advance. It's organizing a high adventure triathlon: 100 miles biking, 38 miles rafting, 50 miles backpacking.

Besides creating more fun for the troop, leadership also has its rewards. Obviously, excellence leads to success. Success leads to recognition. There's also challenge and just finding out what you're capable of doing. Something else you might like to know is that girls go for guys with confidence, and leadership will teach you confidence. Of course, employers also go for leadership and confidence.

But I don't want to just talk about excellence and leadership. I want excellence and leadership. So, end of scoutmaster minute. Here's the challenge: I'm looking for a few good scouts. Scouts that want to be excellent leaders. Scouts that want to work on something that is beyond the minimum required. If you're interested then let me know. Before you do that there are two requirements:

1. You need a positive attitude. Anything is possible. If it needs to be done you'll figure out how to do it or you'll ask questions until you get an idea and then you'll try it. Mistakes are just an opportunity to learn. You'll encourage others to also succeed. On the other hand, if you need an adult to constantly nag you to get things done then this is not for you. If your mom or dad tells you you should do this, I don't want you. This has to be your idea. You have to want it.
2. You need to make enough time to get things done. You need 6-9 months a year where you can fairly consistently make it to all scout activities and find extra time to do some more on the side. So, if you have too many other activities going on, or you waste a lot of your time, then this is not for you. I still want you in the troop, you're still learning good stuff, but you should pass on this challenge.

Those are the only two requirements. You need to make time and you need to want to be excellent. As a group we'll take care of everything else. If you're not sure come and talk to me or put your name on the clipboard and write “maybe” next to it. I'll call you and we can talk. Don't be shy. Actually, you should be unsure of this. I'm asking you to take a risk. But part of leadership is confronting those fears of doing a lousy job. So start right now.

What you're going to do is fairly simple. You're going to pick something you want to lead. Then you're going to lead it. You can work in groups or by yourself. Along the way you're going to learn useful skills like setting goals, planning, communicating, and dealing with problems. A big part of this is that you're going to help each other succeed. You're going to coach each other. You're going to encourage each other. Even though you may be working on separate things, this is a team effort. There will be plenty of mistakes made by everyone. It will only work if every one of you brings a positive attitude and makes the necessary time.

I'm not expecting that many of you can do this. A lot of younger scouts are not mature enough and a lot of older scouts don't have the time. Out of a troop of 66 I'd be content if 3 or 4 of you can handle this challenge. Usually I only see one scout in the troop trying to be excellent, and that's usually the SPL. I'd be very happy if a dozen of you could do it. If half of you can do this, then I'll invite the Chief Scout Executive of the entire Boy Scouts of America to see the best troop in the country, and trust me, he'll want to see this. Most of you are capable, but I don't know how many of you can handle the challenge.

So, that's the challenge. You know, I don't have to do this. There are things I must do as Scoutmaster but this isn't one of them. I am taking a risk. I probably am dreaming more than others think is practical, I probably will expect more from you than others think is possible, and I probably also care about what scouting can do for you more than others think is wise. But my goal is simple. I just want you to understand what “On my honor I will do my best” really means.

Questions? Ask Mr Rosing.

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Scouts, please remember to bring one item for the Klondike stew. Suggestions include "a can of corn", "can of mixed vegetables"  This food is in addition to the meals planned last Tuesday.

The guidelines for Klondike stew contributions are the following:

1. Ingredients MUST be pre-chopped or cut BEFORE delivery to the culinary wizards at Klondike City Lodge  NO LATER THAN 9:00 AM Saturday.
2. USDA inspected meat products only please.  Don’t clean out your freezer of last year’s big-game!
3. Please deliver the ingredients to the Klondike City lodge BEFORE 9:00 AM on Saturday.
4. Please provide enough ingredients for your entire patrol, plus at least one loaf of bread per patrol!

For complete guidelines of the Klondike stew, view the district event:
http://longspeakbsa.org/CacheLaPoudre/events/klondike.html#Klondike Stew

 

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Scouts, if you have never attended a Klondike Derby, you MUST bring all of your gear for Klondike to the next Troop meeting, this Tuesday, February 1st.  The winter camping check list can be found in the Calendar event, click here to view the check list. If you do not bring your gear, you may not be able to attend the Klondike.

If you attended the Pre-Klondike campout out last weekend but have never attended a Klondike, YOU STILL NEED TO BRING all of your gear on Tuesday.

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Klondike - February 4-6th

Please register for the Klondike on the website.  Patrol leaders, check out the events posted on the District website and start talking to your patrol members. http://longspeakbsa.org/CacheLaPoudre/events/klondike.html

Permission slips for both events are attached to each event in the calendar.

If you are unable to login to the website, contact Chris Roth for your username or password at chris@rothfam.com or call Chris at 204-1111.

 

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Pre-Klondike overnighter - January 22nd

The Pre-Klondike overnighter will be at BDSR.  We will leave Saturday evening at 6:00 pm, just after dinner and return Sunday morning.  This is your opportunity to test your winter gear before attending Klondike.  There will no meals prepared at this overnighter, we will return Sunday morning, eat when you get home or bring a cold breakfast.  More details will be announced at the Tuesday meeting.  Please register for this event on the website, or email Chris Roth at chris@rothfam.com or sign up on Tuesday.

Klondike - February 4-6th

Please register for the Klondike on the website.  Patrol leaders, check out the events posted on the District website and start talking to your patrol members. http://longspeakbsa.org/CacheLaPoudre/events/klondike.html

Permission slips for both events are attached to each event in the calendar.

If you are unable to login to the website, contact Chris Roth for your username or password at chris@rothfam.com or call Chris at 204-1111.

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Uniform -SCOUTS MUST BE IN CLASS "A" UNIFORMS AT ALL TIMES.

Here is a gentle reminder for Merit Badge University classes starting this weekend. The classes will start at 8:15am on Saturday, January 15th at the Ft Collins Front Range Community College (Corner of Harmony and Shields).

Scouts need to arrive by 8:05am to allow time getting your books and getting situated before your class starts. They should bring something for note taking as well, pencil/pen and paper etc.

Check your email for a list of classes registered for our troop.

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Uniform -SCOUTS MUST BE IN CLASS "A" UNIFORMS AT ALL TIMES.

Here is a gentle reminder for Merit Badge University classes starting this weekend. The classes will start at 8:15am on Saturday, January 8th at the Ft Collins Front Range Community College (Corner of Harmony and Shields).

I will be handing out MBU class pamphlets at the entrance area next to the parking lot, where you will be getting classroom directions as well. 

Scouts need to arrive by 8:05am to allow time getting your books and getting situated before your class starts. They should bring something for note taking as well, pencil/pen and paper etc.

Check your email for a list of classes registered for our troop.

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Just a reminder that the Christmas tree pick up is this Saturday, January 8. We will meet in the Linton parking lot after MBU (around 12:45) for a quick lunch (provided by the troop) and then head out into the neighborhoods to pick up the Christmas trees. Trees are brought back to Linton and loaded on a large trailer to be taken over to the recycling center. Expect to be completed in about 3 hours. Scouts can wear class A or B uniforms. They should bring gloves and water.

The permission slip can be found here. I will also have some at Tuesday’s meeting. If you already filled out one for the envelope drop off, you don’t need to fill out another unless the insurance info has changed.

We will need adults with pickups and trailers to pick up the trees from the neighborhoods. If you have an SUV with a hitch, we could also use that – we should have some extra trailers. Please bring rope/tie downs/etc. if you have them.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Ray Gasser
 

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Please read all of this. It has important information about our next campout, service project, and fundraiser. Click on the "read more" tab to see the rest. Parents, there is information on how you can help and how you can learn about cold weather camping. Scouts, there are fun things listed. Also, for this weekend's campout to Curt Gowdy we are meeting at 4:30 and not 4:00.

Our first campout next year is Klondike (first weekend in February). This is a campout where Being Prepared is important to having a lot of fun. There's nothing better than playing in the snow all day, assuming you know what you're doing. So, for parent of new scouts, there is a presentation Dec 14th to explain in as much detail as you want the kind of gear that's needed. Scouts, there will be a fun version of the same presentation on January 4th. To help ease you into this, we will also have a one night campout January 22nd so you can try it out and figure out if you have everything you need.

Our next service project is assembling candles (Dec 14th meeting). This is also tied to the Christmas party and white elephant gift exchange. How long do you think it takes to assemble 10,000 candles and holders?

Our next fund raiser is Christmas tree pickup. On the 7th we need lots of adults to help assemble fliers. On the 11th we'll be handing out the fliers. On January 8th, right after MBU, we'll be picking up the trees. Scouts will typically make $40-$50 if they show up for everything. We need them the most on the handout.
 

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Current list of ideas for a 2011 high adventure trip:

-Green River canoing from Green River (city) to Mineral Bottom
-Green River canoing from Mineral Bottom to the Colorado River

This is a beautiful area and we've done this before. Challenges: right now nobody can get to Mineral Bottom (the road is washed out, google mineral bottom road closure for an incredible picture). Hopefully it will be fixed by the time we would need it. We also need to find canoes as we can't use council canoes on moving water.

-Canoe Yellowstone lake.

Looks beautiful. We'd have to put in for a permit in March and we might not get it. Other challenges are we need to have knowledgeable adults. The weather can be a challenge. Mosquitoes. We can use Council canoes.

-Canoe/kayak Lake Powell.

I poked around on the web and this looks fun. Canoing slot canyons, rock formations, you can get to places inaccessible to ski boats/house boats. Although having a ski boat join the group could be fun. Challenges are getting from Bullfrog to a good start point, need to bring a potty. Also might want to consider renting sea kayaks. But we can use the Council canoes.

-Bike part of the Maah Daah Hey trail in North Dakota.

This is the longest single track mountain bike trail. Technically not difficult but lots of hills.  

http://www.traillink.com/trail/maah-daah-hey-trail.aspx
http://www.mdhta.com/info.htm

 -Bike part of the Cowboy Trail in Nebraska. This is a rails to trails conversion. Might be able to carry all of our own gear. Starts in Valentine Nebraska, which is right next to the Niobrara River which is beautiful. Could include a two day canoe trip with this. Would have to find canoes.

Bike part of the Katy trail in Missouri. The whole trail goes from Clinton Missouri (near Kansas City) to Saint Louis. This is a mtn bike/hybrid trail.

-A back packing trip.

Since one group is already doing Philmont I'm not sure about this, but it is an inexpensive trip. Need some ideas.