Red Lantern - March 2010

announcements

A warm welcome to all the new Scouts that crossed over on February 25th. Jonah R., Taylor M., Fernando K, Luke M., John K., Charles H., Jonathan K. and Austin F.. Welcome to the Troop!

Two Camping payments are due Monday, March 22. - Down payment in the amount of $25.00 for summer camp at Tomahawk Scout reservation and payment for Starcamp $32 ($25 for the event and $7 for food see attached flier for Starcamp).

March 29th at 7:00 pm is a meeting for the parents and adult leaders of Troop 294. All parents should attend if possible. We will be meeting at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Address is: 1730 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55106. Phone number: (651) 774-9617 - We will discuss the adult leadership transition - we are still in need of a Scoutmaster.

The scout meeting on April 5th is a visit to North Star Scouting Museum - On Monday, April 5th, we will be visiting the North Star Scouting Museum. The address is: 2640 7th Avenue East, North St Paul, MN 55109 (651) 748-2880 - Please meet there. All Scouts and their families are invited to visit this museum.

Men's Club Fish Fry come and have a great meal at a great deal - (Feb 19 thru March 19.) The St. Pascal Men's Club holds their Fish Fry every Friday in Lent. Come, help out and support them. The Men's club would like 4-5 Scouts and family members to come and help out each Friday. The St. Pascal Men's Club provides monetary support (thru wreath sales at their Christmas tree lot and help the troop buy equipment) for our troop's activities. Please support their efforts in this fundraiser coming and by bringing all your family and friends to the dinners.

Troop 294 needs an adult or two to run the Silent Auction at the Court of Honor on May 24th - The silent auction is a big event for the scouts. The boys have been collecting scout bucks all year for it. We have a number of donated items. We need a volunteer (or two) to take all the donated items, set up and run the auction.

Exciting News!... The Troop 294 website is still number one when it comes to search engines! Entering "Troop294" into Google, Ask, Bing, Yahoo, AltaVista, Dogpile, Lycos, Kosmax and Duckduckgo positions our site right on top - a great place to get noticed. In fact, on average about 42 visitors browse our website each day.

Adults need to help with summer Camp. Summer camp is July 3rd to July 10th, 2010. Believe it or not, we need to start planning for the week already. We need 5 - 10 adults to run summer camp. Adults, If you are planning to be at summer camp for all or part of the week, please email Mike Aeling at maeling@troop294.net with what dates you will be there and if you want to work in a specific area - kitchen, 1st year scouts, merit badges or others.

Anne R. is the editor of the Red Lantern and Mark M. is the webmaster of the Troop web site - If you have information like patrol activities, youth leadership reports, Eagle project fliers, Pack 294 activities - including the troop, Crew 294 activities, troop fundraiser information or other troop related news please give this info to them. The Red Lantern is usually published the second week of the month, although this can vary a bit.

Parents - We have a door bell - The doors to St Pascal's will be locked between 7:30 and 8:00 pm, on Monday nights. We have a wireless door bell that we will put at the outside door near the gym.

E-mail addresses - If you are not receiving email please send an e-mail to ellen@troop294.net and to Anne R. We will get you added to the list.

upcoming troop calendar

15-Mar	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 4-4
19-Mar	4:30 - 7:00 pm	Men's Club Fish Fry
March 19-21	Leave at 7 pm	Campout at Phillippo Scout Reservation - Seeonee Shelter
22-Mar	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 4-5
26-Mar	4:30 - 7:00 pm	Men's Club Fish Fry
26-Mar	to be announced	Fundraiser - Pick up strudel
29-Mar	7:00- 8:00 pm	NO SCOUT MEETING- All troop Parents and adult leaders Meeting
5-Apr	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout meeting Visit to North Star Scouting Museum (St Pascal's is closed)
8-Apr	7:00-8:30 pm	Adult Leader Roundtable
12-Apr	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 5-1 begins and Articles for Red Lantern are due - please e-mail to Anne R.
April 16-18	Leave at 6 pm	Campout at Fred C. A. Scout Camp - Peterson 1 Shelter
19-Apr	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 5-2

To see our troop calendar through summer camp Mouse over "Calendar" above, Click on your selection.

Troop 294 Patrol News

Leadership

Senior Patrol Leader	Charles P
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader	Darius M
QuarterMaster	Matt S
Historian	Anthony M
Scribe	Eliot W
Patrol leader	Joseph K
Patrol leader	Spud B
Patrol leader	Ben P
Patrol leader	Andrew H
Patrol leader	Jonathon K
Bugler	Open Position
OA Representative	Open Position

Den Chiefs: Ian Bu.: Pack 217 Webelos II Den Chief, Caleb Bu.: Pack 217 Wolf Den Chief, Jonas Bu.: Pack 217 Tiger Den Chief

ASPL: No report submitted

Leroy Jenkins Patrol: This is the month my patrol and others are doing patrol activities. Some patrols are basketball, skating and watching a movie. All scouts are doing merit badges. Some merit badges are communication and citizenship and the World. Many Eagle Scouts were at the Eagle Scout ceremony. Joseph K.

DX Army Patrol: In February our patrol had a patrol activity. We had a hockey/Wii party. We had a lot of fun. Most of the kids ended up playing more hockey than Wii. Andrew H.

Black Dragons Patrol: No report submitted

The Papayas Patrol: During the February campout we went sledding and had fun exploring the wilderness. For my patrol activity we went and saw "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief". Only three people came. It was fun anyway. Ben P.

Atomic Bombs: Hi, I am Jonathan K.. The Patrol Leader for the Atomic Bombs. We just became Boy Scouts. Here are our names: Jonah R., Taylor M., Fernando K., Luke M., John K., Charles H. and Austin F. We crossed over on February 25, 2010. It was fun! I can't wait until our first camp out. And this is the Atomic Bombs signing off.

Attention Parents: Responsibility for Advancement: Leadership positions are required for advancement. Your sons have signed a contract addressing what each youth needs to do to get credit for their leadership position. Discuss these commitments with them.

Campouts

T-2 High Adventure Program Summer Camp at Tomahawk Scout Reservation has been expanded again to accompany those Scouts looking for High Adventure. A new pilot program called "Advanced Skills Expedition" has been added. This focuses on climbing, sailing, and kayaking. You must be 14 years of age or older and interested in learning advanced skills. Please check out the other two T-2 high adventure options: In Camp Experience and Out of Camp Experience. Contact Mark at mmccabe@nsbsa.org with any questions about this program!

March Campout March 19-21: Because of the fish fry we will leave St Pascal's at 7 pm. Meet in the lower Conway parking lot. We will be at Phillippo Scout Reservation - Seeonee Shelter

April Campout April 16-18 at Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp - Meet in the lower Conway parking lot we will leave at 6 pm. - Peterson 1 Shelter - ADULT CHAPERONE'S NEEDED!

May campout STARCAMP May 21- 23 - Mark you calendars. Meet in the lower Conway parking lot we will leave at 6 pm See Attached Flyer. Since this is a council event, payment is due soon. We will be collecting $32 at the meeting on March 22nd. ADULT CHAPERONE'S NEEDED!

Weather and Packing for Camping: Weather can change quickly at this time of the year..be prepared for inclement/cold weather. Layers underneath water repellant outer clothes are a must! Hats and gloves/mittens and boots for changeable conditions are also necessary. Scouts and parents please stop and think before you head out on a camping trip - DO I HAVE WHAT I NEED TO HAVE A GREAT Warm WEEKEND??? On the campout, everyone will be out of door on Saturday for more that 6 hours hiking and exploring. For camping lists please check out the troop web site (Mouse over "Information", Click on "Camping - What to Bring")

Fundraising Strudel Fundraiser
March 15th - Fundraiser ends.  Hand in money and order forms at scout meeting.
March 26th - Pick up strudels at St. Pascal's (time to be announced at a later date)

Please have people write checks out to Troop 294.  Money needs to be handed in at the time order forms are turned in, it works best if people pay you at the time of their selection.  Remember these are frozen strudels, so make room in your freezer and be ready to deliver ASAP. If you have any questions, please call or email Rita S.

Merit Badges and Religious Award

Merit Badges: Check the Scout Handbook for MB requirements for advancement to Eagle Scout or check the troop website for more information on specific merit badges and requirements.

Merit Badge Session #4: Started February 22 ends March 22 The Merit Badges being offered are: Citizenship in the World - taught by Anna B.-R. Communications - taught by Maggie H.
Merit Badge Session #5: Starts April 12th The Merit Badges being offered are: Graphic Arts: taught by Ellen Aeling Aviation: taught by Jay S. Plumbing: taught by Ron M.

Additional Merit Badge Options: Did you know Vertical Endeavors teaches Climbing merit badge? Youth have the opportunity to pursue other merit badges through the Northern Star Council and the Northstar Museum of Scouting. Check out these websites through links from the Troop 294 website. Scouts pursuing Merit Badges outside of Troop 294 should talk to Mike or Ellen first to confirm need and approval.

Venture Crew News

Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women, 14 (and have completed 8th grade) through 20 years old.

REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE: Questions - call or email Amy Bu. Meetings are held on the following Tuesdays at the Mounds Park UMC from 6:30 - 8:00 pm (Earl & Euclid) March 23 Bring a friend!

Troop 294 Website

Check it out! Mark M. does a wonderful job of keeping the website updated daily so everyone can keep current on all Troop 294 activities. The yearly calendar, the latest issue of the Red Lantern, pictures, and lots of information and links can be found. You can email your pictures, ideas, Eagle Scout projects, etc to: webmaster@troop294.net.