Newsletter: February 3, 2021 |
Hi Everyone,
Pandemic or no pandemic, we had a very productive January. We gave service to the parish by taking down the Christmas creche at church, hiked 12 miles on the North Branch Trail, and held an outdoor skills day at Bunker Hill.
While following all of the Covid safety protocols, we want to maintain our momentum in February. We have planned 2 activities in the coming weeks – another hike and a cooking skills day. Both are described below.
We are working on additional outdoor opportunities as we move toward spring. Stay tuned for more outings to come.
- Cooking Training Outing – Saturday, February 13 – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM - Bunker Hill Grove 2
We have planned a camp cooking rank and merit badge program that will allow every Scout to complete at least one rank or merit badge requirement. We will need a firm commitment from every Scout who wants to attend so we can bring enough gear and maintain social distancing.
Pandemic or no pandemic, we had a very productive January. We gave service to the parish by taking down the Christmas creche at church, hiked 12 miles on the North Branch Trail, and held an outdoor skills day at Bunker Hill.
While following all of the Covid safety protocols, we want to maintain our momentum in February. We have planned 2 activities in the coming weeks – another hike and a cooking skills day. Both are described below.
We are working on additional outdoor opportunities as we move toward spring. Stay tuned for more outings to come.
- Cooking Training Outing – Saturday, February 13 – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM - Bunker Hill Grove 2
We have planned a camp cooking rank and merit badge program that will allow every Scout to complete at least one rank or merit badge requirement. We will need a firm commitment from every Scout who wants to attend so we can bring enough gear and maintain social distancing.
Please send me a note by February 9th to let me know you are attending.
There will be Zoom meeting on Wednesday, February 10 to plan for the day – menus, shopping lists, gear, etc. Please keep next Wednesday night open so you are ready for Saturday.
There will be Zoom meeting on Wednesday, February 10 to plan for the day – menus, shopping lists, gear, etc. Please keep next Wednesday night open so you are ready for Saturday.
The chart below shows the requirements that each Scout can earn that day.
| Rank/Badge | Requirement | Scouts Needing |
| Tenderfoot | 2a - Assist in preparing one meal | Javi, Maghnus, Cillian |
| 2b - Safe cleaning | ||
| 2c - Importance of eating together | ||
| Second Class | 2d - Lightweight stove | Javi, Maghnus, Cillian, Matteo, AJ |
| 2e - Cook breakfast or lunch on a camp-out | Jimmy, Jonah, Chris, Anthony | |
| Cooking MB | Cook 2 camp meals | Colin, Aiden, Carter |
| Cook Dutch oven, foil | ||
| Cook a dessert | ||
| Cook 2 trail meals and a snack | ||
| Abdominal thrust | ||
| Camping MB | Cook 1 breakfast, 1 lunch & 1 dinner | Shawn, Ethan, Luke, Owen |
| At least 1 must be a trail meal using a lightweight stove |
- 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
Mr. Gulliford sends this useful information about cold weather hiking from the Ice Age Trail Alliance:
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
Mr. Gulliford sends this useful information about cold weather hiking from the Ice Age Trail Alliance:
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.
- 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