BSA Troop 12 News:
| links to past years | 2007 events |
| 2005 events | 2006 events |
| 2003 events | 2004 events |
April 2003
4/28 meeting was at Camp Arrowhead. The Scouts and leaders mowed and weed whacked the rifle range. Swept out the shelter and got it ready for use. We then ran the scouts through 2 rounds of rifle practice with the 22's. A nice night of shooting.
May 2003
5/5 meeting we planned for our trip to Wright Patterson Air Field in Dayton. We got the chuck boxes ready and made sure that we had cleaned out everything that we would need. Adults did paper work and troop business.
5/12 meeting we set up all the tents to separate the "good" from the "bad" and see what we had to take with us to camp. The scouts planned our meals with Mr. Anderson. The adults worked on medical forms and other paper work for the Dayton trip and Summer camp.
5/16-18 we went to Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton for "Scouting's 100th Anniversary of Flight". What a trip. 14500 other Scouts and leaders showed up too! In spite of the rain and crowds I think that I can say that we all had a good time. The Air Force museum is great. We all enjoyed the IMAX movies. The team building activities in the Pioneer section were fun and the drunk driving talk and video taught us all an important lesson - but lets face it the scouts enjoyed driving the golf carts through the cones while wearing the goggles that distort your vision to simulate drunk driving! And the funnel cake was good too. We ate well because of the cooking of master chef Kurt Anderson and all of his sou chefs! We learned to cope with rain in a camping environment. Not to mention that we returned with all of the scouts that we left with. What was it all about? Visit the 100th Anniversary of Flight - Camporee Program Information web page.
5/19 we assembled at the church to choose the merit badges that we will work on at summer camp. The adults (Kurt - thank you!) worked on the medical forms and other paper work. The scouts cleaned the pots and pans from our trip and packed up some of the (now dry) gear that we'd left to dry out on Sunday. A lot of "4 square" was played.
June 2003
6/2 The troop met at Beech Fork Lake on the dam side (corps of engineers side) at the shelter on the far side of the marina. We had 3 canoes (from the marina's rental fleet) and one inflatable canoe. Each scout logged an hour of canoe time. Many scouts took the opportunity to swamp or roll the canoe in spite of the overcast sky and the cool water temperature. Father Frank manned the grill and roasted the hot dogs & buns. The scouts alternated football with canoeing and dining. The highlight for me was when I walked under a tree and was attacked by a bird! All in all, quite an evening.
6/9 We met at the church. We held a "cross over" ceremony and welcomed a new scout into the troop. Welcome Matt! After this we worked on our knot tying skills. Bowline, clove hitch, taught line hitch and square knot were discussed. This was followed by knot tying competitions among the scouts!
6/16 Meeting at the church, we discussed the items that a scout should bring on a hike and then we worked on our map skills. We all used a compass to plot a course using a topographic map. The scouts also discussed planning for the hike (we leave at 8AM and return at 3 PM) and played a little championship 4 square.
6/21 Seven intrepid scouts began the hike, only 6 finished. Where where you? We worked on compass skills and tried to study our skills at reading a terrain map. At the 1/2 way point we stopped for a picnic lunch beside a cool stream. We slogged thru mud and bushwhacked around or over storm toppled trees. At this point we really had to use our map reading skills to relocate the trail after storm toppled trees blocked and erased the trail for at least 100 yards. Kind of a true test. All had packed adequate water supplies and no one got dehydrated. We saw many deer trails. Fun. Good times.
6/23 Several of our Tenderfoots and Second Class scouts had a scout master's conference and then sat before their boards of review. These scouts advanced to Second Class and First Class ranks. The formal awarding will be at the SUMMER/FALL scout court of honor. I'm proud of these boys. Several other older scouts had their scout master's conference. They will sit before the senior members of the troop committee and have their board of review in August. This will be a serious event. You will be expected to demonstrate your scout skills that were required for advancements to earlier ranks. I will try to get Michael or Steven M (former troop 12 scouts, both eagles) to brief you on what to expect. I'd recommend that you review your scout skills during the month of July.
July '03:
7/7 Kurt Anderson led the troop meeting as ASM. The scouts and leaders prepared the items that we would need to take to camp and set them aside for easy packing.
7/12-7/20 Summer camp at camp Chickahominy. Their facilities are quite nice. 15 scouts and 5 leaders spent the week at camp. 4 scouts took the RAP (revolutionary American program) with trips to Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg. 2 Scouts earned their climbing merit badges on the climbing tower and 2 scouts participated in COPE. Other boys worked on merit badges. 2 scouts participated in the first year scout program. We brought back 31 completed merit badges and several partials which we will have an opportunity to finish here at home. Troop 12 took 4th place in the "War Hammer Race" - a scout skills competition. The troop leaders let the camp staff win the volleyball contest 2 games to 1. It was 3 out of 5 and the camp counselors were tired so ... Many fine looking baskets were made as well as other objects de art. Scout master Anderson perfected his Dutch oven peach cobbler and won the scout masters cook off (tie for first) with Mr. Lavalley - the meal was roasted Jackanape ( boy scoutese for pork loin). The boys did several campsite improvements: created a gate and boundary to the camp, set up laundry lines, dug a new fire pit, erected tarps for shelter. In spite of some rain we had a nice camp. No mammal in tent or site incidents occurred. All enjoyed the trip to Water Country USA. The "Hubba Hubba" Highway was the favorite new attraction - a fast rather then a lazy river. We ate well in the chow hall but enjoyed Mr. Anderson's night time treats from the Dutch oven as well. Stories were told around the camp fire. The scout masters broke more lantern globes through clumsiness then the boys did with the football. Our scout skills improved. All in all, a nice camp. The scouts earned 31 merit badges - and this was with 4 boys in RAP (an all day program worth only one badge), 2 boys in COPE (a great half day program that earns one no badge) and 2 boys in climbing (a half day event for one badge)!
August '03
8/11 - 10 Scouts and About 5 leaders met at the shelter out at Beech Fork Lake by the dam. Scouts fished and canoed. The leaders conducted a weenie roast. A nice evening of still water paddling and scout spirit. Thanks to the Dads who cooked and the mother who sent side dishes - mmm, mmm. We even got to see the fish feeding frenzy down by the marina dock. A nice evening at the lake.
8/17 - 6 scouts and 3 leaders met at the church and drove to "CLASS VI" white water near Fayetteville. We enjoyed a "duckie" trip down the upper New river. The water was high. All the rocks were underwater but there were many standing waves. Save for a lone leader the rest of us were in 2 man duckies for this wet and rollicking ride! We swam in between rapids. We played king of the raft while standing on the bottom of an over turned duckie. And we got to ride a school bus not once but twice! Too Cool. The feel of the pull of the river as one enters an rapid needs to be experienced. it is too hard to describe. See you next year?
8/22-23 The scouts and leaders roasted a pig for the local BSA council's kickoff event. Ah, cooking with fire. Thanks to Father M for his assistance with the carving of the pig. Thanks to eagle scout and ASM Stephen M for his preparation of the pit and procurement and handling of the pig. Thanks to Eric and Kurt, and all of the others who helped us do a good turn and feed the council. Scouts worked on their emergency preparedness merit badge. Thanks to Jeff S and Mark S and Josh M for assisting them. The troop leaders accepted an award for the troop at the council meeting. Our troop had an afternoon shotgun and rifle shoot. And by the way, on Saturday - the weather was great. pictures from the pig roast camp out (thanks Father Frank!)
September '03
9/8 - Monday meeting. The scouts and leaders planned the troop activity schedule through November. We talked about what we'd done this summer and congratulated Max on his outstanding performance at the Scout shoot last weekend. Max got a blue ribbon (1st place!) in the shot gun shoot. Not bad for one of our newest scouts! Several older scouts divided up into small groups to work on helping teach the new scouts the requirements that they will need to become tenderfoot rank. A few scouts up for advancement to Life met with Mr. Maniskas. Other scouts cleaned equipment in the scout closet.
9/13-14 - Council Aquatics camp. This is like a 2 day summer camp. Scouts can earn up to 3 merit badges! Primarily aimed at the older scouts it offers water merit badges: canoeing, rowing, motor boating and water skiing. Several other land based badges were offered for the younger scouts such as forestry and fishing. Jeff L and I took 2 first class scouts and 2 new scouts. I know that we earned 5 merit badges and 5 partials. That's 2 for each of the younger boys and 3 for the older boys. The partials are either minor or requirements that take a certain amount of time (longer then a weekend) to complete. This was a great event. The weather was perfect for boating. And at 5PM when they opened up a swimming area those of us not at merit badge class enjoyed a dip in the lake. Breakfast Saturday included eggs, sausage, gravy, bread (for sandwiches) - dinner included steak. At lunch on Saturday campers viewed the Sun's lower atmosphere in H-alpha light. Troop 12 set up and operated 3 telescopes Saturday night for the Mars gaze. Big thanks to scout Ryan for his help with this event.
Troop 12 Leadership (as of 9/13/04)
SPL - Ryan Lavalley
ASPL - Nate May
Quartermaster: Max W Chaplain: JR Figler Librarian: Josh P
Historian: Christian R Scribe: Justin B Troop Guide: Eric S
OA Rep: Woody L
Patrol 1: PL: Spencer S APL: Woody L PQM: TBA
Patrol 2: PL: Rob A APL: Logan W PQM: TBA
Patrol 3: PL: Art R APL: Vincent D PQM: TBA
The Patrol Leaders Council: the PLC consists of the Senior & Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, the 3 Patrol Leaders, the Troop Guide & the Troop Scribe. So our current members are:
October '03
10/3-5 - Camp out at Cape Coalwood in Coalwood, WV for the "Coalwood Days (aka Rocket Boys) Festival" LINKS: (1)Coalwood Festival info. (2)Coalwood page. Wow! How do you describe this one? 7 leaders and 11 scouts headed out for Coalwood on Friday. Father Frank went first as the advance guard to select a camp site while it was still light. We arrived at about 11:30 PM. But not until after we'd gone to War. We hadn't intended to go to War but we did. Fortunately we returned from War will every one in fine shape. Now see our pictures from the Coalwood camp out.
We set up camp in the dark and got to bed. Our tents were in good shape - which was a good thing as it rained off and on all night. But we were bone dry.
For breakfast, The scoutmasters ate like kings thanks to Mr. Anderson. The boys ate sausage English muffins ... and polished off our eats. Father Frank worked with the boys for the rest of the early morning, building their rockets for their space exploration merit badges. The rocket club also showed us their launch gear. Then about 10 Am the crowds descended and we were engulfed by tourists. The Scouts and the members of the rocket club launched rockets (the club launched them and the scouts fetched them ... well they ran in the woods and played in the creek too (the scouts) - amazing how much coal they found in the creek). About 2PM chef Anderson grilled up some dogs and we fed the troop and the rocket club. The "Coalwood Days Festival" wound down about 4 PM but a visit by "O'Dell", one of the "rocket boys", was a nice treat. He is a big "scouter" with 2 sons who are both eagle scouts. He spent time with the troop and was pleasant to be around. O'Dell had all of the scouts take this pledge "On my honor, I will do my best, to become an eagle scout." Several scouts also met the shuttle astronaut who was in attendance. Justin met Homer Hickham's mother.
After he left the boys occupied their time by: looking for lost rockets, exploring the woods and stream, collecting/chopping wood and building a fire. Yet, they still found time for soccer and football. I felt proud when our fire "took". The wood was damp and I was impressed that the boys "scout skills" enabled them (with Mr. Pitanello's [former scout , current leader] guidance) to make a fire that kept us warm all night. Mr. Springer had brought his 10x20' shelter which allowed us to have a nice dry/shady area. But what truly amazed us was when he drove into town with our trash and returned with out it. For dinner we were treated to Father Frank's barbeque chicken (the best in the world) and sides of mashed potatoes and baked beans. We were very proud when Mr. Anderson (troop chef) earned his "chicken chit" after training under Father Frank. After dinner the scouts relaxed around the fire. Sleep came early to all concerned.
Sunday after breakfast - and the last of Mr. Pitanello's coffee - Father led us down to the launch rail where we attended our first ever scout church service at a launch pad. Then we launched the rockets. 7 boys flew rockets and recovered them twice as required for the merit badge. And this was something of a miracle given the small size of the launch recovery area. Eric flew his with a "C" motor (4x the power of what we had been using) and recovered it! You should have heard the cheers. This was followed by policing the site, final pack up and some last minute "brain ball". We followed US 52 all the windy way home from Welch to Huntington. it was a nice blue sky day - a great day for a ride in the country - now if only the road could be straight. We left scouts and came back rocket boys.
10/13 - We met at the church. The older scouts worked with younger scouts on the knots required for tenderfoot rank and on safety rules for axes and saws. Scoutmaster Smith made sure that the gear in the chuck box was clean after the last camp out. Older boys received pre board of review instructions from Scoutmaster Maniskas. 2 boys had scoutmaster's conferences. We are working hard to get our newest scouts their tenderfoot rank. Older scouts are practicing their scout skills as they get ready for their board of review for their next rank advancement. Ropes were whipped and fused by tenderfoot candidates.
10/20 - we met sat the church. Eric S met with the Star and Life candidates to help prepare them for their board of review. Adult leaders and older scouts worked with the tenderfoot candidates on knots. First class scouts and leaders worked with the tenderfoot candidates on physical fitness (10b requirement). Others tackled the scout closet. At the end all present worked on knots.
November '03
11/03 - Meeting in the Friendship Hall we gathered for our COURT OF HONOR. Adam and Matt were awarded their tenderfoot rank, Spencer and Robby made second class, Justin and JR and Matt M made first class, Woody made Star, and Chris M is our newest Life scout! Awards were presented for: the 100th anniversary of flight, the 2003 patrol challenge at Camp Arrowhead (of the trust fall fame), Summer camp at camp Chick, Council Aquatics camp, and a troop award received at the August council kickoff. Adam and Matt received their toten chips and their fireman's chit. And ASM Kurt Anderson received his "chicken chit" earned on the Cape Coalwood trip. It has been a busy year!
11/10 - Met at church. Prepared to go on the camp out. Held a ceremony to induct 4 new scouts into the troop. Handed out a scout book. Read from the scout book.
11/14 - rain raises the level of the mighty Mud River closing off the way into camp. Our pre thanksgiving camp out was not to be.
11/15 - 16 scouts attended the Thanksgiving day cook out in the woods. Several families and dads went as well. We worked on the Space Exploration merit badge with Father Frank. This covered the book/classroom work. All scouts still need to write a report and a few need to build, launch , and fly a rocket. Rick McComas and I took the scouts on their emergency prep drill but the drill was led by 4 of the scouts working on that merit badge (Jon, JR Wade, and Justin). We searched for "Timmy" the missing scout from one end of camp to the other. We searched in a line guided by the E prep scouts using flags, radios and shouts to guide the troop through the woods. After the scouts found "Timmy" they splinted his broken leg, and then carried him back to camp on a make shift stretcher. Thanks to Dave for his help with this too. Thanks to Eric and Stephen Maniskas who provided "Timmy" - a large and heavy boxing/punching bag. We put up two shelters beside the fixed one at the "Bent Pine" camp site (the recent flooding made Riverbend a little too muddy for our tastes) and braved brief rain and cool and later cold temperatures. Several games of Football were played. Wood was chopped with an Axe (Conner, Max and others). Thanks again to Rick McComas our axe instructor du jour. A fire pit and a cooking pit were dug. Thanks to the scouts. The scouts made a fire with wet wood. Kurt Anderson laid down about 100 lbs of Charcoal (under cover of a shelter to protect it from the rain) for our "pit oven". Chef Anderson prepared our feast with assistance from Sou Chefs Jeff Lavalley, Dave, Eric Spinger, Rick McComas, Father Frank and Tom Jung. Father was also the chief fire tender. Father was chief turkey carver assisted by the Assistant chief carver Kurt. Our meal included - Pit roasted: turkey, ham and Yams (doused with butter and sprinkled with brown sugar - mmm, mmmm); beans with bacon and mashed potatoes cooked over the coal fire; Cranberries cooked with loving care by Kurt; deep fried turkey; Jeff's famous gravy; peach cobbler and apple crisp from the Dutch Oven. We ate like kings. The cleanup crew raced the sun to the horizon and then met back at the church to stow the gear (I'm pretty sure that this is an eagle requirement.). An excellent event. Thank you to the crew that made this event happen.
11/24 - 14 scouts gathered at the church for the elections. Candidates were nominated and then elections were held.
Election results from 11/14/03 meeting are in. The newly elected troop leaders will take office at the meeting on 1/5/03.
SPL - Vince D ASPL - Chris M PL - Matt M, Ryan L, and JR F.
Quartermaster: Michael P Chaplain: Nate M Librarian: Jurt J Historian: Eric S Scribe: Justin B
These scouts will provide our troop with leadership during the first half of 2004. Congratulations. We will reorganize the patrols. Once this has been accomplished (either in December or January) the patrols will elect their respective APLs.
If you are missing events you need to follow the web site or contact your patrol leader or an adult leader to find out what is going on!
December '03 - I was was AWOL, so the reports are brief.
12/1/04 - worked on advancements. I believe that Father Milanese met with the boys and worked on the the Space Exploration merit badge.
12/8/04 - distributed popcorn, worked on advancements.
12/17/04 - packaged cookies and other baked treats. Delivered these to the Ronald McDonald House at Cable Huntington Hopital and the Hospitality House at St. Mary's Hospital.
So what did you do this weekend? Did I mention that it was cold? Did you eat as well as we did? Exercise?