Based at Glenview Community Church, Troop 156 has served its community for more than 50 years. As one of the largest and most active Boy Scout units in Northeast Illinois, T-156 has a proud tradition of excellence. In the past five years alone, the Troop has produced 35 Eagle Scouts.
This is a "boy-led" Troop with emphasis on developing leadership ability and other other important life skills and values. The patrol method is an important part of the program and outdoor adventures, service projects and special events are scheduled year-round. It's not uncommon to have as many as three different activities the boys can choose from each month. Troop 156 is also proud of it's diverse culture with many different races and religions represented.
Currently Mr. Paul Bauerschmidt serves as Scoutmaster, supported by a team of 35 trained adult volunteers serving as Committee Members and Assistant Scoutmasters. Mr. Mark Demsky is the unit's Committee Chair.
Let me wish you a belated Happy Thanksgiving. As I was considering what to write for this week’s eBlast, I found myself riffing on the idea of drawing turkeys. I figured that a turkey is appropriately seasonal and is a suitable subject for a note dedicated to outdoor activities. And, after all, anyone can draw a turkey. Right? It just takes a hand and a drawing utensil.
Then it occurred to me there can be so much more to making art in the outdoors. Just think of James Audubon or Ansel Adams. So, yes, anyone can draw a turkey, but how can you depict the outdoors with a camera, with colored pencils or a pen? How do you feel when you are outdoors? How can you represent that feeling in visual media?
Sure, Scouting is about knots and tramping through the woods, fire-building and camping, but it is also about confidence and leadership and self-expression. How can you use art to express yourself? How do you see the world around you? What does it mean to you? How can you share that feeling with others?
HAVE YOU NOTICED?
We are coming to the end of the fall Scouting season. With the Court of Honor coming up on December 17th, it is important to keep in mind that now is the time to wrap up your work on rank advancement. If you are ready for a Scoutmaster Conference, Office Hours on December 3rd will be the time to have your conference. Send a note to Mr. Bauerschmidt (paul@bauerschmidt.com) in advance of the meeting to reserve a spot. To schedule your Board of Review (required for every rank except Scout), be sure to send a note to Mrs. Dickinson (jcdawd@gmail.com) to ask for a Board of Review at the December 10th Office Hours (after having completed the Scoutmaster Conference on December 3rd).
QUESTION TIME
Q: What do you call an Eagle Scout with a crew cut?
A: A bald eagle.
BY DEFINITION
Dreary: (1) Often associated with gray, cold and rainy weather. (2) Can be seen as a cause of weakness and depression. For example: “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary.” (3) Essential to appreciate fully the wonder of a bright, sunny day. (4) A tremendous opportunity to get the rain coat out, layer up, don a pair of boots and get outside. As in: The dreary weather caused the First Class Scout to initially conclude that he was going to stay inside for the day, but then he considered all the gear that he had that would make it fun to be outside. He suited up and headed out.
It occurred to me this week that as much as I go on about getting outdoors, I need to provide some new activity ideas. So, here goes.
I would like to give you three sets of coordinates:
42.078634,-87.797343
42.073409,-87.811391
42.068669,-87.833468
Can you plug these coordinates into Google maps and find where each is? (Hint: they are all in Glenview and, my guess is that you have been to each.) Second, can you plan a hike from your house (or another point that may be somewhat closer) to one of the locations? Third, complete the hike with a buddy (you know, like a friend or relative). Finally, when you get to the location, take a picture and send it to me (mwarnsman@yahoo.com) to claim your prize.
Now, if I were you, I might consult the weather and find a nice sunny day on which to complete your hike, but then again, it might be that much more fun to bundle up in layers and rain gear to complete the hike on a wet and miserable afternoon. It is up to you. All I can do is wish you luck in finding that buddy to go on the hike with you when it is cold and rainy.
FOR THE WIN
You know what I learned while I was preparing the coordinates above? There are actually three ways to write longitude and latitude. The numbers above are shown in “decimal degrees.” The other two types are “degrees, minutes, seconds” and “degrees, decimal minutes.” Can you write the coordinates above using those two alternative notations?
QUESTION TIME
Assistant Scoutmaster: When I was young, my parents told me that if I made ugly faces my face would stay that way forever.
Life Scout: Well, at least you can’t say that you weren’t warned.
BY DEFINITION
Wind: (1) Cooling in summer and chilling in winter. (2) Can be highly variable in speed and direction. (3) Often a harbinger of a change in the weather. (4) A great reason to wear a Covid mask in winter. As in: Wearing a mask during the summer had been a real pain, but the Star Scout could definitely see its advantages as he leaned into the north wind sweeping across the parking lot as he headed into the store.
The 2020 Wagon sales have come to a close but online sales can continue through year end.
Troop 156 still has a small amount of unsold popcorn for purchase. The Troop will absorb the cost if they remain unsold so please take a look and reach out to me if you are interested in any of these items.
Given the new COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates, we are calling a special meeting of the PLC this Sunday, 11/15, from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, in order to update our Troop meeting plans through December. PLC members will be sent the Zoom login instructions by Scoutmaster Bauerschmidt. Please plan to attend.
By now, you have heard the (lousy) news that the Troop is suspending in-person activities for the remainder of the year. However, I am sure that while the Troop is not going to meet in-person, that does not mean that you won’t go outside.
My question for you is: will you go outside as a Scout? We often think of Scouting outdoors as campouts or hikes or group service projects. Running around outside by yourself or with a friend or two is a lot of fun, but is it Scouting? Of course, it is.
Haul out that handbook of yours and find a requirement that you can complete on your own outdoors. How about identifying signs of 10 wild animals (and taking a picture of each – Second Class requirement 4)? Or, using a GPS device (you know, like a smart phone) to follow a route (First Class requirement 4b). Or, identifying or showing evidence of 10 native plants (and take a picture of each, First Class requirement 5a).
Sure, the Troop is not going to meet in-person for a while, but that does not mean that Scouting is going to come to a stop. Not at all. I would like to encourage you to get outdoors and create a Scouting adventure of your own.
NOT OUTDOORS, BUT
It is somewhat outside the purview of this, your official outdoor activities eBlast (otherwise known as the weekly “hey ho” note), but I would be remiss if I did not remind and encourage you to take part in Troop office hours from 7-8:30pm each Thursday night (Thanksgiving excepted, of course). After all, you will want to get sign-offs for all of those requirements that you are completing. Right?
QUESTION TIME
Q: How do you make a hot dog stand in the middle of the woods?
A: Steal his chair.
BY DEFINITION
Resilience: (1) The ability to bend without breaking. (2) The unofficial 13th point of the Scout Law [Editor’s note: I just made this up, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?]. (3) Maintenance of purpose during a period of uncertainty. (4) Of great value in today’s times. As in: The Scout was really disappointed that the Troop was not going to meet in person due to the Covid pandemic, but he was determined to show resilience by maintaining a positive attitude and continuing to work on the requirements for his next rank.
