Newsletter: February 15, 2021 |
Hi Everyone,
I think we made the right call to postpone the Cooking Skills Outing this past weekend. It was cold and snowy, and it would have been hard to concentrate on cooking under the conditions. Stay tuned for a new date when the weather settles down a bit. Next up on the calendar is the 10-Mile Hike at Waterfall Glen. Details are below. We have some additional dates for your calendar below.
Enjoy the snow and hopefully we will see you on the hike.
- 10-Mile Hike at Waterfall Glen FP – Saturday, February 27
The Troop will continue to work on the Hiking Merit Badge and enjoy a 10-mile hike on Saturday, February 27th. We will hike the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve Trail in Darien, Illinois. We will meet at the Trailhead Parking Lot located on Northgate Road at 9:00AM. Take I-294 south to I-55 southwest (towards St. Louis), exit I-55 at Cass Ave South. Northgate Road is the second street on your right after the exit ramp.
The Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve surrounds the Argonne National Laboratory, was home to early Indian settlements, and contains a tiered waterfall built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Parents are welcome to join us on the hike.
In order to maintain social distancing, Scouts must be dropped off by a family member or parent at the Northgate Road Trailhead Parking Lot at 9:00 AM and picked up at the same location at 3:00 PM. Please: Do not make plans to carpool with other families! We are making every effort to respect all aspects of distancing in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. Violations of this Troop policy will make a Scout ineligible for future Troop activities. We are working very carefully to schedule great activities that keep everyone safe. Your cooperation is needed and appreciated! Thank you.
This is a loop trail. We expect to complete the hike by 3:00 PM. Also carry a day pack with at least 3 liters of water, hand sanitizer, a sack lunch, and snacks to enjoy on the trail. Hikers should also dress in layers for the weather - including rain gear, bring a compass, sunglasses if it is a bright sunny day, and wear sturdy boots or shoes. You will not be allowed to hike in gym shoes. Please confirm that you will be hiking with Mr. Pelrine by Wednesday, February 24th. Bring the signed Permission Slip with you on the 27th.
- Tips for Winter Hiking
The basic gear for layering up for in cold weather includes the following:
- Cold weather accessories:
- Insulated gloves
- Warm hat
- Neck gaiter or scarf
- Warm face mask
- A base layer: this layer is worn against the skin and should wick away sweat. Consider a polyester or wool material that retains heat but not moisture.
- A mid layer worn over your base layer; this is your insulating layer. Often this is a fleece jacket with good insulation, and lined walking pants.
- A shell layer: this layer is worn over other clothing and protects you from wind and moisture, such as rain jacket and wind or rain pants.
- No cotton ever: cotton retains moisture and can make you cold once you perspire or become wet. Do not wear any cotton when hiking in cold temperatures.
- Wear wool socks and bring an extra pair: thick insulating wool socks will keep your feet warm. Bring an extra pair along too in case your first pair gets wet.
- Covid Safety Update – January 2021
The Pathway to Adventure Council has issued new instructions for safely conducting Troop activities. There is now a Covid checklist that every participant in a Scouting activity must complete with a parent before each activity. We have put the Covid Checklist on the Troop homepage and in the Resource Center.
We have added a check-off on the Troop permission slip that lets parents confirm that their Scout is following the Covid Checklist. When you are signing the permission slip for an activity you will need to check off on the permission slip that your son is compliant with the Covid rules.
All of these rules are designed to keep our Scouts, parents, and leaders safe. We need your cooperation in order to keep the Scouting program going while we work our way through the pandemic. We appreciate your cooperation.
Please feel free to reach out to me (pelrine.john@gmail.com or 773-206-7160) with any questions you might have.
- Upcoming Activities
See the Calendar page for highlights of upcoming activities.
- Zoom Troop Meeting – Monday, March 8 – 7:00 PM – Mark Your Calendar!
We have scheduled a special Zoom Troop meeting in order to conduct the annual Order of the Arrow election and to hear information about summer camp at Owasippe.
If you are thinking about going to summer camp you need to join us on Zoom for this meeting.
- Who Needs a Green Troop Jacket?
The parents of a Troop alum have given us a rarely worn green Troop jacket to give to a Scout who would like to have one. It is a size large. If you are interested, and if you do not already have one, let me know and I will get it to you.
- BSA Health Forms for 2021
Please check your email for the note about BSA health forms. They are due back to the Troop by May 31, 2021. Questions can be directed to Pete Stolarski at stolarskip@att.net.
See you soon!
John Pelrine
Scoutmaster, Troop 965
I think we made the right call to postpone the Cooking Skills Outing this past weekend. It was cold and snowy, and it would have been hard to concentrate on cooking under the conditions. Stay tuned for a new date when the weather settles down a bit. Next up on the calendar is the 10-Mile Hike at Waterfall Glen. Details are below. We have some additional dates for your calendar below.
Enjoy the snow and hopefully we will see you on the hike.
- 10-Mile Hike at Waterfall Glen FP – Saturday, February 27
The Troop will continue to work on the Hiking Merit Badge and enjoy a 10-mile hike on Saturday, February 27th. We will hike the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve Trail in Darien, Illinois. We will meet at the Trailhead Parking Lot located on Northgate Road at 9:00AM. Take I-294 south to I-55 southwest (towards St. Louis), exit I-55 at Cass Ave South. Northgate Road is the second street on your right after the exit ramp.
The Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve surrounds the Argonne National Laboratory, was home to early Indian settlements, and contains a tiered waterfall built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Parents are welcome to join us on the hike.
In order to maintain social distancing, Scouts must be dropped off by a family member or parent at the Northgate Road Trailhead Parking Lot at 9:00 AM and picked up at the same location at 3:00 PM. Please: Do not make plans to carpool with other families! We are making every effort to respect all aspects of distancing in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. Violations of this Troop policy will make a Scout ineligible for future Troop activities. We are working very carefully to schedule great activities that keep everyone safe. Your cooperation is needed and appreciated! Thank you.
This is a loop trail. We expect to complete the hike by 3:00 PM. Also carry a day pack with at least 3 liters of water, hand sanitizer, a sack lunch, and snacks to enjoy on the trail. Hikers should also dress in layers for the weather - including rain gear, bring a compass, sunglasses if it is a bright sunny day, and wear sturdy boots or shoes. You will not be allowed to hike in gym shoes. Please confirm that you will be hiking with Mr. Pelrine by Wednesday, February 24th. Bring the signed Permission Slip with you on the 27th.
- Tips for Winter Hiking
The basic gear for layering up for in cold weather includes the following:
- Cold weather accessories:
- Insulated gloves
- Warm hat
- Neck gaiter or scarf
- Warm face mask
- A base layer: this layer is worn against the skin and should wick away sweat. Consider a polyester or wool material that retains heat but not moisture.
- A mid layer worn over your base layer; this is your insulating layer. Often this is a fleece jacket with good insulation, and lined walking pants.
- A shell layer: this layer is worn over other clothing and protects you from wind and moisture, such as rain jacket and wind or rain pants.
- No cotton ever: cotton retains moisture and can make you cold once you perspire or become wet. Do not wear any cotton when hiking in cold temperatures.
- Wear wool socks and bring an extra pair: thick insulating wool socks will keep your feet warm. Bring an extra pair along too in case your first pair gets wet.
- Covid Safety Update – January 2021
The Pathway to Adventure Council has issued new instructions for safely conducting Troop activities. There is now a Covid checklist that every participant in a Scouting activity must complete with a parent before each activity. We have put the Covid Checklist on the Troop homepage and in the Resource Center.
We have added a check-off on the Troop permission slip that lets parents confirm that their Scout is following the Covid Checklist. When you are signing the permission slip for an activity you will need to check off on the permission slip that your son is compliant with the Covid rules.
All of these rules are designed to keep our Scouts, parents, and leaders safe. We need your cooperation in order to keep the Scouting program going while we work our way through the pandemic. We appreciate your cooperation.
Please feel free to reach out to me (pelrine.john@gmail.com or 773-206-7160) with any questions you might have.
- Upcoming Activities
See the Calendar page for highlights of upcoming activities.
- Zoom Troop Meeting – Monday, March 8 – 7:00 PM – Mark Your Calendar!
We have scheduled a special Zoom Troop meeting in order to conduct the annual Order of the Arrow election and to hear information about summer camp at Owasippe.
If you are thinking about going to summer camp you need to join us on Zoom for this meeting.
- Who Needs a Green Troop Jacket?
The parents of a Troop alum have given us a rarely worn green Troop jacket to give to a Scout who would like to have one. It is a size large. If you are interested, and if you do not already have one, let me know and I will get it to you.
- BSA Health Forms for 2021
Please check your email for the note about BSA health forms. They are due back to the Troop by May 31, 2021. Questions can be directed to Pete Stolarski at stolarskip@att.net.
See you soon!
John Pelrine
Scoutmaster, Troop 965