Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-07-23

• Campout today @ 4:15. Be at the church, bring a towel and your food assignment! #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-07-09

• BOR tonight starting 6:15. Everyone needs to bring their book!! #
• Communications Merit Badge clinic this Saturday at 8! This one is required for Eagle! Be There!!!!!! #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-06-25

• Scout Camp location change!!!!! Email sent, more updates to follow. Please stay tuned today!! #
• Location change is confirmed for Showlow. Revised meeting time: Tues 4:30AM. Bags due to my house TONIGHT! #

UPDATE: Citizenship MB Clinics @ Constitution Week USA

Parents,

The following Scouts have been pre-registered for the Constitution Week USA (Town of Gilbert) MB Clinics on September 15:

+J. Tho…—American Heritage
-D. Shu…—American Heritage
-B. Shu… –American Heritage

+J. (Woo…) – Citizenship in the World
-C. Smi…—Citizenship in the World
+B. Hew…—Citizenship in the World
-E. Jac…—Citizenship in the World

+T. Tho…—Citizenship in the Nation
+T. Jon…—Citizenship in the Nation
+T. Jud…—Citizenship in the Nation
+C. Bla…—Citizenship in the Nation
-D. Le… — Citizenship in the Nation
+D. He…—Citizenship in the Nation

If your Scout is not listed above, there is still time to pre-register before all the seats sell out for September 15th, however you will need to go to the following website to do so:

http://www.constitutionweekusa.com/cwusa/index.cfm/scout-clinic/

Continue reading “UPDATE: Citizenship MB Clinics @ Constitution Week USA” »

Troop 163 Leaders – Leader Specific Training

All Scout Leaders & Committee Members within Creekside Ward,

As we have discussed in our Key Scouters Meetings, and what has been announced in Round Tables throughout the year, this year BSA has made Leader Specific Training, along with Youth Protection Training, a requirement for all Key Scout Leaders in order to apply for Chartering for 2011. As previously announced, the indoor class trainings are being held on August 14th, and today, we now have links to the online application forms for the training being performed within our own District.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This training is required for you to continue in your Scouting Role in 2011.

If you are unable to make this date, please check the following link for alternate dates in Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix that you can attend:

Continue reading “Troop 163 Leaders – Leader Specific Training” »

Eagle Scout Project – Saturday, Aug 7

Troop 163 is proud to announce: Prospective Eagle Jarren is leading his Eagle Scout Project this Saturday.

Come to my Eagle Scout Project August 7th! I need as many people as possible to come, so put this date on your calendars. Your whole family can come and your kids can help too. We will be painting an iron fence and a house. Please bring a putty knife to scrape the old paint off.

Start time: 6:00am
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided!!

The project group will be meeting at 185 North Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85120-3970.

For more information, inquire at eagleproject-at-troop163az.org

Special BSA National Jamboree Broadcast

Saturday, July 31st, 2010, there was a special broadcast that was streamed LIVE from the National Jamboree in Virginia at 2:30pm Arizona time.  This BSA 2010 Centennial Celebration Broadcast can be seen here on Troop163AZ.org.

For more details, please click on the link above titled “Shining Light Across America“.

2nd Annual Opportunity to Attend Constitution Week

Troop 163 Scout, Varsity and Venture Parents,

Our 2nd Annual Opportunity to Attend Constitution Week is coming up in a month and a half! If your Scout is in need of either the Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, or Citizenship in the World Merit Badges, this is the perfect opportunity for him to obtain each of these Required for Eagle Merit Badges.

Also, if your son already has all three of these Merit Badges, he can also take the American Heritage Merit Badge.

Constitution Week Merit Badge Clinic
Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Departure Time: Meet at the Church Building at 5:30pm
Return Time: Between 9:15 – 9:30pm (Clinic is in Gilbert and ends at 8:30pm)
Tour Leader: Bro. Lane Smith – Scout Committee Chair
Cost: $5.00 (just like last year)

Continue reading “2nd Annual Opportunity to Attend Constitution Week” »

Troop 163 Quarter 3 Boards of Review

July 14 Silver Wolves Patrol Meeting

Parents,

Tomorrow nights patrol meeting will be a little different than normal.  I am asking that the boys bring their favorite board game.  If it happens to be a card game, that is fine too, but should include more than 2 people.  Please don’t send your son with cards and poker chips though – we’re not going to be learning the strategies of Texas Hold’em

Tomorrow night will just be a night the boys can come together, have fun playing some games together and continue with the camaraderie we developed on our Path of a Warrior hike.  We will be talking about next weeks activity of building our key holders to finish up the carpentry merit badge and reviewing the goals that each boy set for himself to accomplish by the next Court of Honor before the games begin.

Your boys have been doing a wonderful job, please join me in continuing to compliment them on their progress toward ranks and keeping their eye on the prize during the last month.

Please call if you have any questions at all!

Kyle D. Heward
Troop 163 Scoutmaster

Whew!

Parents,

Now that we’re back and contemplating showers and naps (and not necessarily in that order), I want to personally that each of you for your continuing support of our Scouting program and this past week’s event. Your son’s have reported they enjoyed themselves even through the challenges of the trails they covered. I personally witnessed a change in them throughout the week, resulting in a spirit of unity by the week’s end.

I hope your son remembers this experience in the future when he faces more challenges, realizing that if he endures to the end of whatever the trial may be, he will make it to the end of that “trail” as well and be stronger.

- Lane
Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Just a quick update …

Parents,

Just a quick update … the boys are doing really good.  Monday, the most challenging day, the boys painfully made 13 miles.  With Scouts not fully used to their packs or shoes, some delays occurred which depleted resource, causing the Troop to pull together to overcome the obstacles they faced.  Scheduled to be in Horton Spring by 5 or 6pm MST, they finally made their destination around 11:30pm.  During those hours, support team members were in constant contact with the group, monitoring their progress.

Tuesday, the Troop was pulled off the Highline Trail.  By giving them the time for the needed rest in the morning, the group set out on the Horton Creek Trail around 10:30 and arrived at Tonto Creek around 1pm, having hiked 3.5 miles.  After a quick light lunch, the boys wanted to make a visit to the Fish Hatchery, after which, all were transported up to the Rim Road (FR-300 a.k.a. General Crook Trail).  There, plans were changed to having one static base camp, and having the group take daily hikes out of that camp to make their 50 mile goal.

Continue reading “Just a quick update …” »

Wanna See Your Scouts?

Well, the Scouts of Troop 163 made it to See Canyon Trailhead in about four hours this morning.  They had a decent break at See Canyon as they had lunch at the trailhead, got their feet checked and re-fitted their backpacks.  Just before 1pm, they headed up the switch-backs on their way to Horton Spring.  As of a few minutes ago, (4:15pm MST) they are about 1.5-2 miles out of Horton Spring, so they are making good time.  Once there, they only have 38 miles to go to their final destination on Saturday.

See where they’ve been: http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=665023

More to come!

Fire Restrictions on the Highline

FYI … Fire Restrictions are now in place for all of Tonto National Forest.  This means we will not be able to have a campfire or use charcoal.  However, all gas stoves are able to be used.

For more information, please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/news/2010/100608.shtml

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-12

• Integration with troop163az.org is happening!!!! Hold onto your hats! #
• Highline Trail Progress Page Updated: http://www.troop163az.org/highline-trail-progress/ #
• Pack inspection went great! Don't forget to get your letters in and be at the church at 6:30 for final check in this Saturday! #
• Mali and Junior are on board! They have confirmed they will be joining us on our Path of a Warrior hike! #

Final Inspection & Load Up … Tomorrow Night!

Troop 163 Parents,

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow night we will be meeting at the Church House for final inspection and loading your Scout’s packs and drop bags into the trailer.  That will be at 6:30pm.

At 7:00pm, we will have a short meeting with your Scouts and YOU.

Thank you for all your support in helping your Scout prepare for this activity!

Highline Trail Weather Forecast Posted

Although rain is in the forecast for the Highline Trail this week, we’re look at clear skies next week when our Scouts will be out on the trail.  Nice thing with the rain, the streams may be flowing and the temperatures will be lower.

Please check out the Highline Trail Weather Page for a day-to-day forecast of the weather at each of the major points along the trail.  As we get closer to the weekend, I’ll update as necessary.

Independence Day Program

When: July 3, 2010 @ 7:30am
Where: Queen Creek East Stake Center
On Combs Road, between Kenworthy and Schnepf

Creekside Ward Independence Day
Pancake Breakfast and Celebration Event

Our Scouts will participate in kicking off our Independence Day Celebrations early Saturday Morning (July 3rd) with providing a Flag Raising Ceremony.  All our Scouts are expected to be present for this event as the Honor Guard, and those in full uniform will be able to participate as our Color Guard.

We are asking that your Scout arrives at the Stake Center at 7:00am so as to prepare for the ceremony prior to our Ward members, Family and Friends arrive.  We will commence with the ceremony right at 7:30am.

Continue reading “Independence Day Program” »

Special Parental Invite

Parents,

We are extending a special invite to have you join us on Wednesday’s Pack Inspection at the Church. This will be a perfect “networking” opportunity to see what others may be packing and get a better understanding of what and what not to bring and how the gear would be used.

So … if you are able to make it, we’d love to have you be there with us on Wednesday.

Take care and thank you for your support!

Keep Your Pants On …

Parents,

Something to be aware of as your Scout is packing his bags … between Hatchery Trailhead and Washington Park Trailhead, though Hell’s Gate (the Dude Creek fire area), there is a lot of Manzanitta and Thornbush overgrowth.  It is highly recommended that your Scout packs pants or hiking Gaiters for Tuesday and Wednesday’s segments, otherwise he may end up really scratched up.