Red Lantern - January 2008

A Red Lantern Image

Announcements

January Campout is January 4-6 - come and have a blast!!! See flier

Troop 294 Winter Court of Honor:Monday, January 7 at 7 p.m. at St. Pascal's. Invite your families for this quarterly recognition ceremony. Merit Badges and Rank Advancement will be awarded. So to the scouts hoping to advance - now is the time to finish those requirements and schedule a board of review! Refreshments will be served. See flier

Friends of Scouting Campaign Kick-Off. Friends of Scouting (FOS) is the annual Boy Scout fundraiser, which directly sustains the year-round activities of the Northern Star Council which supports the volunteer leaders who deliver the scouting program to its youth members. Without FOS we would not be able to have all our great weekend campouts or weeklong summer camp.

The annual Friends of Scouting presentation will be made at the Winter Court of Honor. Let's try for 100% participation!

Leadership elections and Leadership training for new leadership elected on January 14th Elections of new leadership will be Monday January 14th. Leadership training will be on January 20 at 4-7 pm at the Aeling's. This is required for youth elected to leadership positions on January 14th.

St. Pascal Men's Club Fish Fry Fridays - Here is another opportunity for Troop 294 to show our sponsoring organization our appreciation. The St. Pascal Men's Club holds their Fish Fry every Friday in Lent (February 8 thru March 14). Scouts are needed to bus tables; troop parents are needed to supervise the scouts and help bus tables or fill in as needed. Other family members are welcome to volunteer as well. Please plan ahead now to help. The March campout will have a 7 p.m. departure to allow all scouts to volunteer and still go camping! The St. Pascal Men's Club provides monetary support for our troop's activities. Please support their efforts in this fundraiser by volunteering and by bringing family and friends to the dinners.

Upcoming troop calendar

Jan 4-6 meet at 6 pm Campout, Phillippo Scout Reservation, Snelling Shelter
Jan 7 7:00 - 8:30 pm Winter Court of Honor
Jan 8 7:30 - 8:30 pm Venture Crew Meeting at Ellen Aeling's House
Jan 10 7 - 9 pm Adult Leader and OA Roundtable
Jan 14 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's: MB 3 Begins, Leadership Elections, Sea Base Payment # 4 due
Jan 18 7:15 - 11 pm Venture crew Ice Skating at the Roseville Oval
Jan 19 tba Cub Scout Pack 294 Pinewood Derby
Jan 20 4 - 7 pm Troop 294 New Leadership Training - mandatory for new Leadership
Jan 21 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting: MB 3-2, meeting at the Aeling's
Jan 26 all day Gateway District Merit Badge Day - pick up a flier for more info.
Jan 27 noon to 7 pm Venture crew skiing at Wild Mountain
Jan 28 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's: MB 3-3
Feb 1-3 meet at 6 pm Campout, Fred C. Anderson Scout Camp, Valley View Lodge
Feb 4 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting, MB Session 3-4
Feb 5 7:30 - 8:30 pm Venture Crew Meeting at
Feb 7 7 - 9:00 pm Adult Leader and OA Roundtable
Feb 8 4:30 - 7:00 pm St. Pascal Men's Club Lenten Fish Fry Fridays Begin, Youth and Adults needed to volunteer
Feb 11 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting, MB 3-5
Feb 15 4:30 - 7:00 pm St. Pascal Men's Club Fish Fry - volunteer opportunity
Feb 18 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting, MB Session 4-1 begins
Feb 22 tbd Council Bu Hill Lock-in
Feb 22 4:30 - 7:00 pm St. Pascal Men's Club Fish Fry - volunteer opportunity
Feb 25 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting, MB 4-2
Feb 28 7 - 8:30 pm Scout Meeting, MB Session 4-1 begins
Feb 29 4:30 - 7:00 pm St. Pascal Men's Club Fish Fry - volunteer opportunity

Troop 294 patrol news

New leadership elections will be held at the January 14 meeting. Leadership positions are required for advancement. If you are interested in a leadership position, please talk to Mike.

Parent Note regarding Troop 294 Patrol Leadership Responsibility for Advancement: Your sons who are selected for leadership roles will sign a contract addressing what each youth needs to do to get credit for their leadership position. Sit down and discuss these commitments. Encourage and support them in fulfilling their leadership roles and finishing their duties. But remember, it is their responsibility to complete their contract.

Leadership

Senior Patrol Leader Ian Ba
Asst Senior Patrol Leader Spencer P
Historian Joseph M
Scribe Sal R
Quartermaster Noah R
Patrol Leader Charles P
Patrol Leader Danny M
Patrol Leader Ignatius B
OA Representative Tyler E

Reports

Jacksons: No report received. Members: Ian Ba, Ian Bu, Peter M, Joseph M, Nick P, Sal R, Ian D, John H, Andrew H and Zach S. - Charles P, Patrol Leader.

Tator Tot Patrol: Members: Caleb Bu, Ryan J, Andy M, Calvin R, Adam S, and Austin W - The last patrol outing we had was game night. ˙We made jokes and played Super Smash Brothers Melee. The last troop meeting, we went sledding at battle creak and ate lots of good food. Happy New Year from the Tator Tots. Ignatius B, Patrol Leader.

Red Balloon Patrol: No report received. Members: Spencer P, Andrew S, Noah M-R, Stephen K , Matt P, Gideon K, Jimmy S, Eddie S and Tyler E. - Danny M, Patrol Leader.

ASPL Report: Always a big deal and a way to give a little help back, the Scouts look forward every year to helping out the Men's Club with the unloading and setting up of the Christmas Tree Lot on Ryan Field. With all the St. Pascal's Men's Club does for the scouts, it is a privilege to help them out a little every December. Currently in progress are two of the hardest and most needed merit badges a Scout can get: Personal Management and Emergency Preparedness. The Scouts who went on the November campout said it was a lot of fun although it wasn't quite late enough for the bid downfall of snow. - Spencer P, ASPL.

Order of the arrow

OA Leader Report: Hello every one for OA, I have this news: the youth leader college is on April 12. I need people to help with this event, so give me a call or catch me at the meetings. I'll need to know who is going to help me 2 weeks in advance of the April event. So I leave you with this information and I will let you know if any thing else come up. -Tyler E, OA Representative.

The Order of the Arrow is Scouting's National Honor Society, Its purpose is to: 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.

Camping

January Campout Jan 4-6, Phillippo Scout Reservation, Snelling Shelter. Bring winter clothing/gear!

Weather and Packing for Camping: Remember to pack appropriately. Winter weather can be changeable and the right clothing is necessary for you to feel good and be able to stay outdoors - the whole point! Be prepared for cold weather. Sub zero weather requires layered shirts/bottoms, long underwear and especially outer layers which are water repellant. A dry change of clothes, hats and gloves/mittens, an extra pair of shoes and boots for wet/snowy weather all are necessary. Bring extra SOCKS, lots of them! For a complete packing list Click Here: Winter Camping

Activities

Troop 294 Fundraising: Thank you to all who have participated in the Fall Fundraising through Popcorn Sales, Wreath Sales and Gander Mountain Gift Wrapping. Results are being finalized and will be posted in the next Red Lantern.

Merit badges

Merit Badge Sessions: Merit Badge Session 2 class work is all done. Ellen Aeling is teaching Personal Management and Dave Ba is teaching Emergency Preparedness. Both of theses merit badges have work that need to be done outside of the class work. Merit Badge Session 3 begins January 14 Both are required Merit Badges ' Camping will be led by Jim Chastek and Citizenship in the Community will be led by Jim R.

The Winter Court of Honor is scheduled for January 7 - so time is short -but you can do it! Finish the badges you have been procrastinating over! Keep in mind how busy the holidays get and finish up those requirements now. Plan ahead to schedule your reviews in time to receive your awards at this next Court of Honor.

Gateway District Merit Badge Day - Jan 26th - Troop 817 is hosting a 'Meet your Merit Badge Counselor' day. If you are interested in one of the following Merit badges Citizenship and the Community, Citizenship and the World, First Aid, Family Life, Chemistry, Crime Prevention or Electricity you may want to check this out. We will not be going to this event as a troop. Fliers are available at the court Honor or ask Ellen to e-mail you one. Merit Badges are a fun way for youth to learn and grow confident in many areas.

Merit Badges are required for advancement and specific badges are required for advancement to Eagle. Check the Scout Handbook for MB requirements for Eagle Scout or go to www.meritbadge.com for more info on specific merit badges.

Venture crew 294 news

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

Venture Crew Meeting: January 8 at Ellen Aeling house

Crew Activities In January - ice skating on the 18th and skiing on the 27th
Jan 18 7:15 - 11 pm Venture crew Ice Skating at the Roseville Oval - Jenny A is in charge. Cost is $9 for admission and skate rental.
Jan 27 noon to 7 pm Venture crew skiing at Wild Mountain ' Ellen Aeling is in charge. Cost is $17 for a chair lift and $24 to rent skis or Snowboard. This is limited to 12 people maximum so sign up soon.

Adult Advisor: Ellen Aeling, (651) 738-9095.