Based at Glenview Community Church, Troop & Crew 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 the Troop has produced 20 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.
In addition to the traditional Boy Scout Troop, there is also a Venturing Crew for high school age men and women. Many of the "V-crew's" activities involve high adventure skills such as rock climbing or wilderness camping.
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.
Now that we are in the month of November, it is time to start thinking about 2020. No, not eyesight, of course, but rather the jam packed Troop calendar that is coming together for next year.
There are still a few details to be worked out, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t start planning. After all, I can guarantee several things. First, the weather is going to be cold. Second, you are going to want to eat. Third, there is going to be plenty of time to work on advancement.
We all know that you do not need the precise trip details to get working on those things.
For example, when it comes to being prepared for the cold weather we all know that an extra piece of gear or two could be just what you need. Last I heard, Santa Claus was really into cold weather. That piece of gear that you want could be just the thing to put on your Christmas list. Besides, if you don’t come up with something, chances are that Santa is going to default to (wool) socks. Surely, you can get something better than that on the list.
As for food, what better way is there to spend all of those days off of school than putting together menus with help from the Internet (with parental permission, of course) or books from the library (I know, I know, books are so passé, but, you know, they still have their uses).
Speaking of books, you need to go no further than your Scout handbook to put together an advancement plan.
Just think of it, you can be prepared heading into the new year. What a concept!
GOING AND DOING
Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? And, finally, did you know that it is the Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC) which answers these questions when it comes to campouts?
Now, I know that you trust the members of the PLC to make good decisions on your behalf. But I bet that they would appreciate your input. Do you have a good idea (or even half of an idea)? Well, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it with your patrol leader. And, importantly, be prepared with an explanation as to why your idea is a good one.
Oh, and by the way, if you are one of the aforementioned patrol leaders, it is your responsibility to ask for ideas and, when they are offered, ensure that they get full consideration.
Not every idea is going to be accepted. It might be impractical or it might be too similar to another trip that the PLC has planned. The goal here is not to have an idea accepted, rather it is to contribute fully to the trip planning process. Chances are that from many good ideas will come one great idea and we all know how much we enjoy great campouts.
QUESTION TIME [Especially for those heading out to Philmont next summer.]
Q: How can you stop a snake from striking?
A: Pay it decent wages
BY DEFINITION
Sunset: (1) When the sun disappears below the horizon. (2) One measure for the end of the day. (3) Changes every day unless one lives on the equator. (4) An imperfect basis for negotiation in the Chicago area. As in: The Tenderfoot Scout rued the summer day when he negotiated a bedtime of sunset. By November, his parents held all the cards as the sun was setting at 4:30pm.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect. At last week’s Cool Card training the weather was cold. So, here is my question for you: were you cold? If your answer to this questions is “yes” or even “kind of” the good news is that you know just what to do. As you rotated through the stations, you learned about things like layering and wearing a hat. You learned about cooking winter meals that were hot, easy to prepare and straightforward to clean up afterwards. You learned about the importance of a multi-part sleep system that would keep you warm through the night.
The whole point of Cool Card training is to give you the knowledge that you need not just to stay warm one evening, but to stay warm throughout a winter campout. Because, you know, if you are miserable on a campout, it is not just you who is miserable. Misery can be infectious, ruining the camping experience not just for you, but those around you. That is why I was delighted at the cold weather for Cool Card training. It left no doubt as to why the training is important.
A THOUGHT
I get it. It is tempting to hibernate for the winter. What with central heat, comfy chairs and, of course, the soft glow of one screen or another, why would anyone want to venture outside? I mean, it’s bad enough that attending school requires one to venture outdoors. Why would anyone want to go outside willingly?
Here is my challenge for you. Can you come up with ten reasons why you should go outside during the winter? Now, no cheating. Walking from the house to the car or the car to the school doesn’t count. I am talking about ten reasons why you should go outside just for the sake of going outside. How can you have fun outside during the winter? What can you get done while you are outdoors. Where can you go (on foot)? What can you discover?
Don’t let winter cramp your style. Get out there. Live a little.
QUESTION TIME
Q: Where is it best to find books about the trees at camp?
A: A branch library.
BY DEFINITION
Gray: (1) A little bit of black and a little bit of white. (2) A cool, rather uninspiring color. (3) A type of long line (see: West Point). (4) The color of the sky on a sun-free day. (5) An element of a winter campout. As in: It did not take long for the snow around the fire pit to become a shade of gray as the dark ash mixed in with the white snow.
On Saturday, November 23, Troop 156 will be participating in the Northwestern football game by holding the giant American flag for the National Anthem as part of the pre-game ceremonies. Participants will then stay to watch the Northwestern Wildcats take on Minnesota's Golden Gophers. Scouts and their family members are invited to attend.
The cost per person is $50 per ticket for a "corner" seat. Registration and fee is due by Sunday, November 17 to Scoutmaster Bauerschmidt. A flyer and registration form for this event is attached.
Scouts, you don't want to miss this Thursday's Troop meeting!
To help us celebrate Veterans Day this week, Mr. Ptak has arranged for 3 military veterans who each fought in a different war to come and talk to us about their experiences. Let's make sure to impress them by wearing your full Class A uniform (a uniform inspection will be held).
Also on Thursday will be a Camper's meeting for all those Scouts going on the Climbing Lock-In that weekend. If you are attending that trip, please make sure to attend.
It is just about this time of year that I would start writing about Winter MaKaJaWan. This is a trip that the Troop likes to make to MaKaJaWan over the four days between Christmas and the New Year's holidays.
Here's the thing. There will be no Winter MaKaJaWan trip this year. Last summer's storm damage was just too great. The camp remains closed.
What this means is that the 2020 trip is going to be epic. So, does it really take 14 months of planning? Actually, it may. The thing is that you need to be First Class or above to go on the Winter MaKaJaWan trip.
Let me ask you a question. Are you First Class or above? If you are, you can chill out and wait for the flyer that will come out at this time next year. However, if you are not First Class or above, what is your plan to get there? It takes time, but as I said, you have time.
Trust me, you will not want to be looking at that Winter MaKaJaWan flyer next year wishing that you could go - but being unable to do so because you have not achieved First Class. Give a gift to your future self, put together that plan.
SOGGY, WET MESS
What makes a soggy, wet mess sad? When that soggy wet mess is a Scout Handbook. It is often a good idea to bring your handbook along to campouts so that you can complete and have requirements signed off. The challenge is that campouts are not always conducive to paper-based media. This is where a book cover or large plastic ziplock bag comes in handy. On the next campout, don't forget to ensure that your book is well protected. AND, from time to time, it is a good idea to take a picture or make a photocopy of the sign off pages in the back so if something does happen to your book, you do not lose those important records.
QUESTION TIME
Q: What insect is known to say grace before meals?
A: A praying mantis.
BY DEFINITION
Hiking boots: (1) A key piece of camping gear. (2) Made of leather and rubber. (3) Together with the right socks, used to protect the foot and ankle. (4) Purchased from a store (please note: there is no such thing as a hiking-boot fairy. (5) Expensive. As in: The First Class Scout was looking forward to buying a new pair of hiking books. He knew that a good pair was going to be costly, but he had mapped out a plan to earn part of the cost on his own.
