This Week: At this week’s meeting Scouts will continue planning for the Year End Camp Out and Court of Honor. There will be meal planning as well as rank advancement skills planning. Scouts needing rank advancement skills that are best earned at campouts (i.e., fire building) should come prepared with a list of skills they would like to cover at this campout. Also, Scouts should come prepared to spend some time reviewing completed rank advancement requirements and getting their handbooks signed. If you need a Scoutmaster conference, let Mr. Fedina know. If you need a Board of Review, let Ms. Pallone know. Please let them know prior to the meeting so they can be sure to get everyone scheduled and done.
Year End Camp Out Information: Friday, June 16th, 6pm, to Sunday, June 18, 9am. Cost is $20 per Scout; please make sure you are signed up and paid by this week’s meeting. This is a combined cabin/tent camping event. Scouts needing Tent Camping nights for rank advancement should bring tents (weather permitting).
Court of Honor: Saturday, June 17. Potluck: Time TBA (will be in the afternoon). Followed by the Court of Honor and then “Let’s Make a Deal!” Please see Linda VanDunk to sign up for the pot luck or check out our Sign Up Genius: https://tinyurl.com/COH-Potluck
Summer: Summer schedule is still pending, we’ll get it out as soon as we have it.
We are trying to schedule a swim test at the Middletown YMCA for Scouts going to Summer Camp. When that is scheduled I will let you know. Having the swim test done before arriving at camp expedites check-in. Even if a Scout is a non-swimmer, that needs to be signed off on by a BSA/Red Cross certified lifeguard. Also – don’t forget to work on Summer Camp Prerequisites! Click here for a summary of prerequisites: prereqs
So what should Scouts do while on Summer Break? Keep working on Rank Advancement Requirements and Merit Badge Requirements. An easy thing to work on over the summer is knots! Remember, Scouts can work on rank advancement requirements in any order (the actual ranks must be EARNED in order, however). So Scouts can work on knots from all ranks during the summer. Below are the required knots for each rank and links to one of my favorite knot tying websites.
Tenderfoot:
Show a practical use of the TWO HALF-HITCHES KNOT http://www.animatedknots.com/roundturn/index.php and the TAUT LINE HITCH KNOT http://www.animatedknots.com/midshipmans/index.php.
Second Class Scout:
Demonstrate how to tie the sheet bend knot http://www.animatedknots.com/sheetbend/index.php. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.
Demonstrate how to tie the bowline knot http://www.animatedknots.com/bowline/index.php. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.
First Class Scout:
Discuss when you should and should not use lashings.
Demonstrate tying the timber hitch http://www.animatedknots.com/timber/index.php and clove hitchhttp://www.animatedknots.com/cloveend/index.php.
Demonstrate tying the square ( http://www.animatedknots.com/lashsquare/index.php ), shear ( http://www.animatedknots.com/lashshear/index.php ) and diagonal (http://www.animatedknots.com/lashdiagonal/index.php) lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together.
Use lashings to make a useful camp gadget or structure.