Red Lantern - September 2009
announcements
Troop 294 Web site - The web site is a great resource and probably the most up to date information available. If you are wondering about - times to meet for an activity, or what to take on a campout or who is in charge of what - please, please, please - start with the troop web site. Mark M does an amazing job of keeping it up to date! You can also see the latest picture of troop activities.Check out the summer camp pictures.
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 that would include the troop, Crew 294 activities, Troop Fundraiser information or other troop related news please get this info to them. The Red Lantern is usually published the second week of the month, although this can vary a bit.
Adult Volunteers Needed: to help make this year a success for Troop 294! Volunteers are still needed to organize, supervise, and coordinate the events which make Troop 294 special for your youth. Openings include: Scoutmaster, Assistant Scout Leaders, Merit Badge Counselors, and Campout Chaperones. Many more positions have already been filled at the Adult Planning Meeting held in August. You can find the chart of volunteer opportunities on the Scout Website or call Mike and Ellen (738-9095) to see how you can help.
St. Pascal's Fall Festival and Spaghetti Dinner is September 27th from noon until 5:00 pm. Come join in the fun and support St. Pascal's. The Troop is running the prize table at the kid's games and we still need one or two more people to help out with the 2:30 to 4:30 shift. Call the Aeling's if you can help - 651 738 9095.
Heads up for the October campout - Families are welcome to come. Come for the day or for the whole time. This is over MEA weekend. We will leave on Thursday October 15 and stay until Sunday October 18 at Afton Alps State Park. We have the group site. We will be tent camping, the cost is $12 per person. There is a parking charge for each car per day - plan to carpool if possible. Sign up and pay by October 12. Adult Chaperones: Mike Aeling, Ellen Aeling, Maggie H and Tina L.
Troop Fund raisers are getting going - Wreath sales sheet will be passed out at the Fall Court of Honor on September 21 and youth can start selling right away. Mike Aeling 651 307 8237 is in charge. Popcorn sales - please do not start selling until October 3rd. Tina P is in charge. Gift wrapping at Gander Mountain - sign ups will start in a month. Anne R is in charge.
upcoming troop calendar
| 22-Sep | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Venture crew 294 - Cake frosting at the Aeling's |
| Sept 25-27 | meet at 5 pm | Order of the Arrow Fall Conclave - see below |
| 26-Sep | 9 am - 3:00 pm | Stephen K's Eagle project - see below |
| 27-Sep | noon - 5 pm | St. Pascal's Fall Festival - Come and support the church. |
| 28-Sep | 7:00-8:30 pm | Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's: Merit Badge session #1 begins: |
| 1-Oct | 7:00-8:00 pm | Adult Leader and OA Roundtable |
| 3-Oct | Popcorn Sales Begin - runs through November 6th | |
| 4-Oct | 12Noon - 4pm | Popcorn Sales at Gander Mountain, Woodbury |
| 5-Oct | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's MB 1-2 |
| 5-Oct | At meeting | Youth Leadership Reports are due to Anne R. |
| 11-Oct | After Mass | Popcorn corn sales, St. Pascals - contact Tina P |
| 12-Oct | 7:00-8:30 pm | Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's MB 1-3, Leadership Reports due |
| Oct 15-18 | leave at 6 pm | Campout at Afton Alps State Park |
| 19-Oct | 7:00-8:30 pm | Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's MB 1-4 |
| 24-Oct | 11 am - 5 pm | Popcorn Sales at Gander Mountain in Woodbury |
| 26-Oct | 7:00-8:30 pm | Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's MB 1-5 |
| 2-Nov | 7:00- 8:00 pm | PATROL ACTIVITY. Committee meeting at the Aeling's. |
| 3-Nov | Preliminary Wreath orders due to Mike | |
| 5-Nov | Adult Leader Roundtable | |
| 9-Nov | 7:00-8:30 pm | Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's MB2-1 begins |
| Nov 13-15 | leave at 6 pm | Campout at Fred C Andersen, Shelter #2 |
So What Happened at the Last Activity?
Report for the Munger Trail Biking/Camping trip in June '09!The scouts biked 94 miles and enjoyed the beauty of 3 Minnesota State Parks and the Willard-Munger trail. Here are some highlights from our visit...
Wednesday - Enjoyed a picnic lunch at Moose Lake State Park in the picnic grounds by the lake. Biked 31 miles to Jay Cooke. Stopped at the scenic bridge 88 feet above the rushing St. Louis River.
Thursday - Attended a naturalist program at Jay Cooke, walked on the swinging bridge. While geocaching, descended 150 steps for a breathtaking ground view look at the St. Louis (Odenberg Point). Found two geocache locations in Jay Cooke. After dinner, went back to the swinging bridge for more hiking, rock jumping, or fishing.
Friday - Biked 31 miles to Moose Lake. Stopped for lunch at TJ's country store and enjoyed root beer over ice with our picnic lunch. Taunted Ian Bu, the most experienced scout on the trip, with a lunch of two bread ends with a small piece of lettuce inside. He took the joke very well, and then ate a more substantial lunch.
Saturday - Biked 25 miles to Finlayson. (Shuttled scouts the next 5 miles to Banning by car.) Stopped for lunch in Willow River and met another local scout troop biking for the day. In the evening, went hiking along the Wolf Creek trail and found the waterfall at the end of the trip. Created a mini-boat and watched it go over the falls.
Sunday - Wished Mike and Alan a Happy Father's Day and headed for home. Paula M, Rita S, Alan H
September campout - Did you know if a bird is laid on it back - it will just lie there quietly? It won't fly away, it won't move, it is so confused by being it that position it just lays there quietly until it gets flipped over. And then it will fly away, pretty darn mad! At the campout, this past weekend, 18 members of Troop 294 got to see this first hand. The volunteers from the Warner Nature Center spent an hour showing the scouts dozens of different kinds of birds that had been caught in their banding nets. The birds were banded and then released. Many of our youth held the birds for release. Ask your scout- how the birds were caught, and held until banded and let go safety? Ask your scout - why a woodpecker can hammer its head against a tree all day and not turn its brain to jelly, and just how does the woodpecker get those grubs out of the trees? Ask your scouts - why the bar owl has one ear lower than the other?
We also had a hike through the bog, rode on a solar powered pontoon boat, pulled out buckthorn and went dip netting. It was a great campout!
Summer camp - There are 142 pictures of summer camp out at the troop web site - check 'em out!
Troop 294 Patrol News
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. Patrols were formed at Summer Camp. Leadership Reports are due October 5th. One of the main responsibilities for a Patrol Leader during his leadership is to organize a patrol activity that takes place outside of the regular meeting schedule. This can vary from a group movie to an outdoor activity. It must be held before his leadership term ends.leadership
| Senior Patrol Leader | Adam S |
| Assistant Senior Patrol Leader | Charles P |
| Historian | Ricky L |
| Scribe | Andrew H |
| QuarterMaster | Ben L |
| Patrol leader | Joseph M |
| Patrol leader | Ryan J |
| Patrol leader | Matt M |
| OA Representative | Open |
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is Scouting's National Honor Society. Its purpose is: To recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, to develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit, to promote Scout camping, to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.Order of the Arrow (OA) Fall Conclave September 25-27 - All OA members of the troop are invited - Congratulations to the scouts called out (nominated) to the Order of the Arrow at summer camp. Congratulations to Connie E, Desmond B, Jonas Bu, Regis H, Ben L, Danny M, Andy M and Matt S, they were all called out at summer camp. All OA members of Troop 294 are invited to the Fall Conclave. Registration and fees should be sent directly to the Council office. Fellowship and service begins Friday at 6:00 pm and goes to Sunday morning. This is not a troop campout, but Mike Aeling can carry 6 people in his car, and will be leaving for Fred C. A at 5 pm (this is a change in time from what was published in August Red Lantern) - from the Aeling's house. If you would like to ride with him call and verify there is space for you. All ordeal candidates and members of OA should have received information about the conclave in the mail. Questions call - Chapter Adviser Michelle Pitheon.
Campouts
October Campout: October 15-18 at Afton Alps State Park. Adult Chaperones: Mike Aeling, Maggie H and Tina L.November Campout: November 13-15 at Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp - Shelter 2 - Adult Chaperones: Mike Aeling, Anna B-R and Tina L 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.
Activities
Fall Popcorn Fundraiser. The Popcorn Sale is from October 3- November 1. Selling popcorn to your friends, family and neighbors is one way for Scouts to earn camp credit to help pay for summer camp and other activities. This fund-raiser is used solely for youth activities; with each sale, the scout earns about 1/3 (credited to the youth's camping account). Several opportunities to sell popcorn are on the scout calendar and signup sheets will be available at the Troop Meetings. Please look over the dates and sign up. Scouts may also check out popcorn using the "show and deliver option". Tina P is Sale Coordinator this year. Feel free to call her with questions or concerns.See upcoming Red Lantern Issues for more activities and fundraising opportunities.
Merit Badges
Merit Badges: Check the Scout Handbook for MB requirements for advancement to Eagle Scout or check the troop website at www.troop294.net for more information on specific merit badges and requirements. Merit Badge Session 1: Citizenship in the Nation, taught by Paula M and Bill D and Emergency Preparedness, taught by Jay S. Each is required for advancement to Eagle Scout.Merit Badge Sessions for the remainder of 2009-2010 - Merit Badge Sessions have been requested by the youth. Help is still needed for leading these merit badge sessions. The following sessions still need leaders: Camping, Reading, Engineering, Collection, Graphic Arts, Space Exploration, Model design and building, and Metal work. If you are willing/able to help out with any of these please let Mike or Ellen know.
Additional Merit Badge Options: 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.Cake frosting for the cake walk at the St Pascal's Fall Festival - We will be frosting cakes and eating one on Tuesday September 22 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at the Aeling's. Bring some decorations for the cake.
Adult Advisors: Amy Bu or Ellen Aeling 651 738 9095
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.Northern Star Council News
The Northern Star Council is our charter organization and supports Troop 294 in many ways! The Council runs many metro area events open to Scouts and their families throughout the year. Check out the website at www.northerstarbsa.org for more information and upcoming events.Stephen K's Eagle Service Project
Saturday, September 26, 2009WHAT: Landscaping around a VFW monument. We will be removing sod and planting perennials and bulbs.
WHERE: Highland Park, St. Paul, MN. This monument is in the median of Edgcumbe Road, east of Hamline. This is just north of the Frisbee Golf picnic area. See map on troop 294 web site.
WHY: The monument is unattractive and people are not being drawn to it. Landscaping and perennial plantings will make it more noticeable and bring attention to Veterans of Foreign Wars.
WHO: YOU!
WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
WHAT TO BRING: Work Gloves Comfortable Work Clothes appropriate for the weather Gardening Tools: Garden Rake, Garden Hoe, Shovels, Trowels
NOTE: Mark your tools for easy identification.
FOOD: YES! Lunch will be served! You won't go hungry.
R.S.V.P.: Please call me to let me know you can help! Also to let me know what kind of tools you are bringing!
Map to this project: See Troop 294 web site
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