Red Lantern - March 2008

announcements

St. Pascal Men's Club Fish Fry Fridays - The Fish Fry Fridays continue through 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.

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.

Friends of Scouting Campaign - please turn in you pledge sheet - To get the 100% Participation Award, the troop needs to turn in a pledge sheet from each family - not a donation from each family. Please turn in pledge sheets to Ellen!

Welcome to new scouts that have joined Troop 294 in the last two weeks - Desmond B, Gaylen D, Eliot W and Jonas Bu. Other youth are visiting our troop and deciding if they will join our troop. Please introduce yourselves and take a moment to share information about the troop - make everyone feel welcome and show them what a great time they will have being part of Troop 294!

New Scout Recruitment: Now is the time to ask a friend to join Troop 294 - Recruit a new scout! Do you have a friend you think would have great a great time in Troop 294? Now is the best time to ask your friend to join!!! If you recruit a new scout (between now and the end of March) and they go to summer camp you will get a really cool recruiter patch. New youths must be in 5th grade or above.

upcoming troop calendar

3-Mar	7 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting, MB Session 4-3, Summer Camp deposit due
4-Mar	7:30 - 8:30 pm	Venture Crew - Meeting at Bakers Square
7-Mar	4:30 - 7:00 pm	St. Pascal Men's Club Fish Fry, volunteer opportunity
7-Mar	meet at 7 pm	Campout, Phillippo Scout Reservation, Ramsey Shelter
10-Mar	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting, MB Session 4-4
13-Mar	7:00 - 9:00 pm	Adult Leader and OA Roundtable
14-Mar	4:30 - 7:00 pm	St. Pascal Men's Club Fish Fry, volunteer opportunity
17-Mar	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting, MB Session 4-5, Red Lantern Reports due
22-Mar	noon - 6 pm	Venture Crew - Mall of America
24-Mar	tbd	Patrol Activities
30-Mar	after masses	Pack 294 Pancake Breakfast at St. Pascal's
31-Mar	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting, MB Session 5-1
1-Apr	7:00 - 8:00 pm	Venture Crew Meeting
4-Apr	meet at 6 pm	Campout, Fred C. Anderson Scout Camp, Peterson #1
7-Apr	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting, MB Session 5-2
10-Apr	7:00 - 9:00 pm	Adult Leader and OA Roundtable
11-Apr	meet at 6 pm	Venture Crew campout - adult volunteers needed
14-Apr	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting, MB Session 5-3, OA Elections, Sea Base Final $ Due, Red Lantern Reports due
19-Apr	9:00 - 11:30 am	Annual Earth Day Clean-up at Battle Creek Regional Park
21-Apr	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting: Scouting for Food Bag Distribution, All family members welcome to help, Drivers Needed, See Activities
26-Apr	10 am - 12 Noon	Scouting for Food Pick-up, Drivers Needed, See Activities
28-Apr	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting, MB Session 5-4

leadership

Senior Patrol Leader	Spencer P
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader	Gideon K
Historian	Andy M
Scribe	Calvin R
QuarterMaster	Peter M
Patrol leader	Charles P
Patrol leader	Ryan J
Patrol leader	Stephen K
Bugler	Adam S
Bugler	Stephen K
OA Representative	Open

reports

ASPL Report: Last week we went to a cabin at Fred C. Anderson Scout Reservation. We all had a blast! We went sledding and went to the waterfall and stream to explore. It was a blast! - Gideon K, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.

Hippos Patrol: The Hippos patrol includes Adam, Calvin, Austin, Andy, Ryan and Ignatius. We haven't done anything as a patrol yet. - Ryan J., Patrol Leader.

Random Quackers: Our new patrol is the Random Quackers. Our members are: Ian D., Ian B., Sal R., Caleb B., Zach W., Joseph M, Peter M, and Charles P. - Charles P., Patrol Leader.

Cough Drops Patrol: The Cough Drops Patrol consists of: Tyler E., Noah M-R., Gideon K., Danny M., Ian B., Spencer P., Andrew S. and Stephen K. As of now the only activities to report are the two new merit badges: Personal Fitness and First Aid. Everyone in my patrol either is taking Personal Fitness Merit Badge or already has it. - Stephen K., Patrol Leader.

Order of the arrow

OA Leader Report: The Order of the Arrow Representative position is now open. If anyone is interested in this leadership role please see Mike or Ellen.

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.

camping

We need a couple of adults to come along on our campouts and enjoy the adventure!!

March Campout: March 7 - 9 at Phillippo Scout Reservation..Ramsey Shelter..the departure time will be changed to 7 p.m. to allow for volunteering at the Fish Fry.

Weather and Packing for Camping: Another Reminder! Be prepared for cold weather. Layers underneath water repellant outer clothes.are a must! Hats and gloves/mittens, and boots for wet/snowy weather all are necessary.

Summer Camp at Tomahawk Scout Reservation planning is just ahead. Deposit of $25 is due March 3. A summer camp sign up sheet will be circulating soon. Adults will as usual be needed to attend to help as cooks, guides, merit badge record keepers and drivers to and from camp. Please help with the planning now - let us know your plans and how you can help! More info at upcoming troop meetings.

activities

Scouting for Food is April 21 and 26th - Mark your calendar now for the annual Scouting for Food drive April 21 and April 26. We need scouts and their families and friends to come and help collect food for local food shelters. Bob and Ricki M are have volunteered to coordinate this event. They need adults to drive and youth to be the legs of the operation. Please let them know if you can help.

Gateway District and Council Information

Are you interested in being on the Camp staff for a Boy Scout Camp? Ellen has camp staff interest forms for signing up

District and council activities and events that scout families might want to check out. We will not be doing these a as a troop activity. We will have fliers at the meeting and on the Troop 294 Web Site. Some of the activities are: Harlem Globetrotters Chalk talk, Scout Days with the Minnesota Twins, Scout Night with the Timberwolves.

merit badges

Merit Badge Sessions: Merit Badge Session 4 is underway: Physical Fitness led by Terry K and Connie E and First Aid led by Jim C. Both of these are required for advancement to Eagle. Merit Badge Session 5 will begin March 31.

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 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: Tuesday, March 6, at 7:30 to 8:30 Bakers square.

Mall of America - Saturday, March 22 from noon to 6 pm. Come join us for a little NASCAR ($10-20), Mini Golf ($10) and eating ($). We will meet at the Aeling's at noon and return at 6 pm. Andrew H is in charge. Let him know by March 19 if you are coming. We need a second adult to come along!!!

Venture Crew Campout April 11-13 - We have Peterson 1 Cabin at Fred C. Anderson reserved. We are having a birthday party for Yvette and Clare. The cost is $15. We will meet at the Aeling's at 6 pm on Friday and return on Sunday at 10ish. We need couple of adults to come along!!! Ellen Aeling is in charge; please let Ellen know by Tuesday April 8th if you are going. You must be registered crew member to go on the campout.

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