Happy New Year Troop 169! ** Please keep an eye on your email – Mr. Fedina will let us know if we are cancelled due to weather or soldiering on.**

While the weather outside is still chilly, it’s never too soon to start planning Spring events.

Maybe a nice bike ride over the Hudson Valley?  Check out this Hudson Valley Bike Loop that takes you over both the Walkway over the Hudson and the FDR Mid-Hudson Bridge.

Want to try something outside the box?  How about an urban hike?  Check out Bryan on Scouting’s article about hiking The Big Apple (hikes can be applied towards both rank advancement requirements and the Hiking Merit Badge or done just for fun!).  For ideas for routes and things to see check out Free Tours by Foot and GPS My City.

For Scouts interested in combining camping with a Merit Badge, look into Steamtown National Historic Site and find a nearby campground.  Steamtown has Railroading MB workshops planned for Spring/Summer 2018 or, if enough Scouts are interested, can plan a MB Workshop just for Troop 169.

Scouts can also combine all of the above activities with a Geocaching expedition.  Visit Geocaching.com to see opportunities available.

 Alpine Scout Camp offers weekend Troop camping with a variety of activities including an Orienteering Course, a Geocaching Course, a team-building COPE course, and in June visiting Troops can use the pool as well.

And don’t forget the Merit Badge College on March 24 at Minisink Valley High School.  Lots of great opportunities for our Scouts!  Registration opens on February 1 at 6:00 a.m.  Scouts planning to attend should take a look at the offerings and plan to register early to avoid being closed out of their first choices.  Click on the flier to enlarge.

Remember – Troop 169 events should be Scout planned.  If you see something you would like the Troop to do, speak to the Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster to get it on the calendar.  Adult leaders are always available to help, but initiative must be taken by Scouts.