Red Lantern - November 2009

announcements

St. Pascal Men's Club Tree Lot Set-Up - Plan to help out the Men's Club, our sponsoring organization, to unload trees and set up the for their annual tree-sale fundraiser. Scouts and Adults are needed to help: Nov. 21 @ 9:00 a.m. "strong-armed" scouts and adults for unloading; Nov. 28 @ 12 Noon "every willing body" for set-up.

Please, Please Consider taking Boy Scout Leadership training this week - This week our district is offering Assistant scoutmaster training. We need 2-3 adult to step and take this training. The training is Tuesday night and Saturday. The flier is attached at the end of this Red Lantern. If this training does not fit your schedule please talk to Mike or Ellen Aeling we can get you info on other training session. As a couple of our assistant scout master move on we need to have new adults trained. Our Scouts deserve trained leaders!!

Wreaths Delivered - The wreaths should be arriving this coming weekend, but Mike and Ellen Aeling will not be available to distribute until Monday Nov 23rd. We will send out an e-mail to the troop with more info after they arrive. Mike Aeling is Coordinator - 651-738-9095. Youth will also have the opportunity to sign up for scheduled sales shirts after St. Pascal Masses. Maggie H and Tina L are in charge of selling wreaths after masses on Dec 6th and 13th.

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.

2010 Registration: Registration fees will be collected December 7th at the scout meeting. Fees this year are $25 per scout. Scouts that request Boys Life Magazine will receive it at no additional cost. This magazine has articles about scouting that apply to all age groups and has been shown to help keep boys interested in scouting. Please remember to bring your $25 registration fee this day.

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.

We have lots and lots of people that have signed up to help with the troop, there are still a few opening especially we need adults on campouts - but we are in pretty good shape. Attached at the end of this Red Lantern is the latest volunteer list - please check it over and make sure there are no errors and help out where you can. Email - Ellen at ellen@troop294.net if you find error or can help out or have questions.

E-mail addresses - If you are not receiving email please sent an e-mail to ellen@troop294.net and we will get you added.

upcoming troop calendar

21-Nov	9:00 AM	Christmas trees delivered - Help needed with trees at St Pascal?s
23-Nov	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal?s MB 2-3
26-Nov		Thanksgiving
27-Nov	7:30 AM	Gander Mountain Gift Wrapping begins
27-Nov	12 noon	Set up Tree Lot up - Help needed with trees at St Pascal?s
30-Nov	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal?s MB 2-4
3-Dec		Adult Leader Roundtable
4-Dec	leave at 6 pm	Campout at Phillippo Scout Reservation ? Ramsey Shelter
6-Dec	after masses	Sell Wreaths
7-Dec	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal?s MB 2-5 and Boards of Review
13-Dec	after masses	Sell Wreaths
14-Dec	6:00-8:15pm	Christmas Party - GreenMill (I94/Century), Pizza and Swimming
21-Dec		NO MEETING
28-Dec		NO MEETING
4-Jan	7:00-8:30 pm	Winter Court of Honor
12-Jan	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal?s - Starting new Merit Badges

troop 294 patrol news

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.

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	Tristen L
Bugler	Open Position
OA Representative	Open Position

Da Boss Patrol: Members: Charles P., Peter M., Sal R., Gideon K., Daniel M., Stephen K., Tyler E., John H., Regis H., Darius M., Andy M., and Joseph M. This month we had our patrol activity on the 2nd of November we went to the Woodbury Theater. At the theater we saw the Stepfather. Darius M., Danny M. and I attended. We started the Personal Finance merit badge and the Camping Merit Badge. - Joseph M., Patrol Leader.

Patrol Pet Rocks: For our Patrol Activity we played video games at my house on the Wii and Game Cube and we had a lot of fun. Submitted by Ryan J.

Navy Seals: Our last camp out was also fun. We went on a very long hike learning to do compasses. Our group got lost at the very end. It was very cold sleeping in tents but still had fun. Me and a few others from Navy Seals went on a small hike to the beach. Mr. Aeling also on another hike & I heard they had fun. Navy Seals patrol night was at the x-arcade in North St. Paul. At first we were in the arcade room and we played some games there. X-arcade is video games that you use to exercise with like the Wii and more advanced. After that we went down to the gym and played lightening with the basketballs. At the very end it was me & Ben P facing off 10 times in a row. It was very fun night and wish everyone could have made it. Submitted by Tristen L

ASPL: Hello everyone.we have had another successful month of scouting. We have finished up Citizenship in the World and Emergency Preparedness. We are starting Camping, First Aid and Personal Management merit badges. We also had some fun patrol activities including movies and video games. Let's have another good month of Scouts. Submitted by Charles P.

camping

December Campout: December 4-6 at Phillippo Scout Reservation - Ramsey Shelter - ADULT CHAPERONE'S NEEDED!

January Campout: January 15-17 at Phillippo Scout Reservation - Radisson Shelter - ADULT CHAPERONE'S NEEDED!

November Campout this past weekend was fantastic - What a beautiful weekend! 20 scouts and 6 adults enjoyed Fred C. A. We popped popcorn, and had home made chocolate cake. We climbed the bluff and explored the caves. Everyone one played laser tag (even the adults). Ellen never did figure out all the buttons on the laser tag guns. Luckily Ryan is an expert at them. Paolo an exchange student from Guatemala came along and learned about camping in the "cold". Thank you to the adults that came along and made the campout a breeze - Anna B-R, Greg R, Tina L, Ama A, Mike and Ellen Aeling. Thank you to the drivers - Dave L and Lucy M

And the October campout was pretty darn amazing - October 15 -18. We went for a long weekend to Afton State Park. Twenty to 25 scouts (depending on the day) and 7 adults had a great time hiking along the river, and exploring the ravines leading down to the river. We got the foot ball stuck in the tree several times. Several scouts went on an orienteering course to finish a requirement for advancement. We made fresh pizzas in the Dutch ovens and pudgy pies over the open fire. At night we played keep away with a 2 foot long light stick. Thank you to the adults that came along and made the campout a fun time - Maggie and John H, Tina L, Ama A, Tom Borgstrom, Mike and Ellen Aeling.

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

Scout Christmas Party - The 2009 Scout Christmas Party will be held on December 14th. Save this date on your calendar! More information to follow shortly.

Gift Wrapping at Gander Mountain -The Gander Mountain Gift Wrapping schedule is full! Please check the Troop Website to check it. Please double check your dates and times. If you cannot make a shift, call Anne R right away to find a replacement. Remember to practice wrapping and SMILE! A page explaining wrapping at Gander in at the end of this Red Lantern

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 #2: Started November 9, 2009 The Merit Badges being offered are:

Personal Management - taught by Sharon M
Camping - taught by Mike M
First Aid - taught by Jim C

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.

Protestant Religious Award - Sunday, November 22nd: 5-6:30 pm ..for those that are interested in working on the "God & Life" Protestant Religious Award. We are meeting in the Youth Room of the Mounds Park Church. Join us for a meal afterwards. Call Eric Bu.

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.

Adult Advisors: The Bu's phone or email and Ellen Aeling 651-738-9095

Saturday, November 21st: Sculpture Gardens at the Walker Art Center. Meet at 1 pm at Mounds Park United Methodist Church (Earl and Euclid).

REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE: For time - call or email Amy Bu

December 8; December 22; January 12; January 26; February 9; February 23; March 9; March 23

December 18th may be a progressive dinner

Look for more details on Snowshoeing and a Camp-out during Winter Break!

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.

northernStar 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 http://www.northerstarbsa.org for more information and upcoming events.