Shawnee Mountain Ski Trip

Put on your winter gear and Think Snow! Troop 49 will be running an overnight ski trip to Shawnee
Mountain in the Poconos (about an 1 hr 15 min from Oakland). Whether you are a seasoned skier
snowboarder or have never skied before, this is a wonderful opportunity to have some great winter fun.
If hitting the slopes isn’t your cup of tea, spend a day snow tubing, relaxing on the sun deck or doing
some shopping at the nearby outlets. There is something for everyone.

Update: 1/13/13 – the trip is “sold out”. See you on the slopes!

Payment page click here

The trip will run from the afternoon Saturday, February 9th to Sunday evening. With one lift ticket, you will be able to ski from Saturday 3PM-10PM and on Sunday all day until 5PM. We will be spending the evening at The Shawnee Presbyterian Church Hostel which is just a few miles from the mountain. This is an open floor (i.e. Sleeping bags) accommodation that also provides us with two bathrooms and showers as well as full kitchen facilities and TV.

The following is the price:

  • Lift tickets for both days and Hostel accommodation, Saturday Dinner and Sunday Breakfast: $50 for Scouts, $70 for non-scouts (an awesome deal)
  • Ski or Snowboard Rentals are $25 for the trip
  • Ski Helmets $12 for the trip
  • Group ski or snowboard lesson is $22
  • Lunch Tickets are available at $8/person
  • Snow Tubing – Available in 2 or 4 hour sessions with prices ranging from $15-$40 depending on time of day

• • • • •

breakdown:

Our plan is to offer the opportunity to complete the Snow Sports merit badge. More details will be provided in future.

Please note we are limited to 45 people in the Hostel so please sign-up early to guarantee you spot. Also, if the scout is a new skier/snowboarder and are unable to negotiate the trails and lifts on his own, a parent or guardian must attend the trip. Also if a sibling will be attending, a parent /guardian must attend as well.

You can contact Guy Dugas if you have any questions or concerns via email or phone at fetriman1@aol.com , 201-337-5709.

Follow this link to payment page (Payment due by January 15th) Payment

20130210-080105.jpg

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Common Oath and Law for Cubs, Boys, and Venturers

According to a recent article in Boy’s Life Magazine, the Boy Scouts of America’s Executive Board has approved a resolution to use the Scout Oath and Law in all programs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing.  The approved changes will begin for Venturers in 2014 and Cub Scouts in 2015.  read more

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Sustainability and Cooking become Eagle Required starting 2013/14

Sustainability, a new merit badge, will join Environmental Science as an interchangeable option pair Eagle-required badge after its debut at the 2013 jamboree.   Cooking will become Eagle-required as of Jan. 1, 2014.  The total badge count will remain at 21.  The elective badge count will drop from 10 to 9,with one spot replaced by cooking.

 

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Aviation Merit Badge / Morristown Airport Campout – Morristown NJ – December 14-15 2012

When:              Friday Dec. 14/15

Where:            Viacom/Paramount Pictures Aviation / 11 Airport Rd. Morristown, NJ, 07960

Directions:    LINK TO DIRECTIONS

Register:         LINK TO REGISTRATION

Payment:      LINK TO PAYMENT PAGE

How :              Meet at OLPH Friday Dec. 14 at 5pm and carpool down to the Corporate Hangar. Please see attached directions: Approximately 35 min. Drive.

Timeline:         Friday

  • Meet Mr. Fern at the Hangar (will need someone to coordinate at OLPH) Roll call at Hangar at 545pm, break into groups and carpool down to Airport operations at 6pm. View the various maintenance and fire equipment and take a tour of the Morristown tower if possible. (tower currently under construction)
  • Return back to Corporate Hangar around 730-8 pm and prep for dinner.
  • After Dinner/ clean up. View the Corporate aircraft and answer any questions to finish Merit badge.
  • Foam glider distance competition (if time permits)
  • Anything else we would like to do.

Saturday

  • Breakfast/clean up
  • Discuss anything we missed on Friday carpool back to Oakland between 10-12am.

Mr. Fern will be speaking about the exciting field of Aviation and all the sciences that encompass it, giving scouts an opportunity to earn the Aviation Merit Badge.  In our troop meeting on Thursday, December 6th we will review the Merit Badge workbook.  Please bring this worksheet with you to the hangar. This is a private facility which is completely secure. The property has a field for which those that would like to camp outside in tents for advancement requirements can do so weather permitting OR you may sleep inside on the warm hangar floor. We will have the troop trailer on site for cooking equipment.  This is a great opportunity for those looking to achieve the cooking requirement for advancement.  It will be Dinner on Friday and breakfast on Saturday. Please RSVP by Dec. 5 so that we have an accurate headcount for breaking down into patrols and giving those that will be cooking a week to prepare.  Please keep in mind that this is a place of business, so scout, please act responsibly. No running as there is numerous pointy objects on these aircraft. Mr. Fern will give a safety briefing prior to entering the hangar.

Costs per person:  See Payment Page for total costs.  No Cost if just visiting the airport on Friday. 10$ if staying overnight for Dinner/Breakfast

SIBLINGS:  No siblings

 

Uniform:

Class A required for Friday.

Please have a snack prior to coming down on Friday as we may be eating dinner around 8pm.

 

What to Bring:

 

  • Camping gear –  For those that are planning to camp outside for requirements, please bring: Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, mess kit.  Otherwise, you may sleep in the warm hangar with the aircraft.
  • NOTE: Read “Cold Weather Comfort” on the Pathfinders website for those preparing to sleep outside.
  • https://www.thepathfinders.org/information/documents/coldweather.html

 

More Information. 

 

Please begin to look over Merit Badge Prerequisites 1A-E, 2F and 5.   http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Aviation

We will accomplish items 2B and 4A at the hangar as well.   Please bring your Aviation merit badge work book that you started on Dec. 6. Meeting to the hangar so that you can work on it Friday night.

We will be handing out Foam plates and instructions on Thursday Dec. 6th for item 3B “Build a model FPG-9”  FPG=Foam Plate Glider. Go to http://www.modelaircraft.org/education/fpg-9.aspx for instructions if you would like to have fun prior to the meeting. We will be having a flying competition at the hangar on Friday after touring the Airport.

Looking forward to seeing everyone, If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Dan.fern@viacom.com or 201-832-2967 cell

YIS  ASM  Mr. Fern

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US Naval Academy Jamboree – Annapolis, MD – Jan 18-20, 2013

2013 Annapolis USNA – NESA Jamboree – January 18-21, 2012

LINK TO REGISTRATION

LINK TO PAYMENT PAGE

Each January, the 400+ Eagle Scouts who attend the United States Naval Academy (USNA) host an invitational jamboree.  Troop 49 has been invited to attend the 2013 program.  This is a rare opportunity for scouts aged 14 & up to visit the campus of the United States Naval Academy and spend a day with the Midshipmen who are the future officers of the Navy.  The program includes the offering of merit badges in the “STEM” category (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics).  In addition to the merit badges, scouts will get the opportunity to participate in training sessions, view displays, and tour the USNA.

We will be departing Oakland just after schools get out on Friday, January 18th and travel nearly five hours to Letts YMCA camp near to the USNA, where we will camp (cabin).  We will depart no later than noon Sunday, and likely earlier.

Meals:

  • Friday Dinner – on the road (highway rest area)
  • Saturday Breakfast – in camp (light cooking – hot water only)
  • Saturday Lunch – King Hall, the USNA Mess Hall.  (Unique experience: see here for more info)
  • Saturday Dinner TBD (local restaurant or prepare our own dinner in camp)
  • Sunday Breakfast – in camp (light cooking – hot water only)
  • Sunday Lunch – on the road (highway rest area)

Cost:

  • $60 – Payable to Troop 49 for your attendance and includes Jamboree Fee, 2 night cabin, Saturday lunch.
  • $40 – Cash needed for meals

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Wreath and Roping Sale

Troop 49 is selling Christmas wreaths and pine roping. Scouts, attached is a copy of the wreath sale files. Any questions about this should be referred to Mr. Kozak. He can be reached at mkozak@optonline.net or 201-739-2511.

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October 2012 – Kittatinny Backpacking

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October 19-21, 2012

*Please sign up by October 11, 2012*

Click here for sign up form

Backpacking on Appalachian Trail along Kittatinny Ridge

This will be a backpacking trip along the beautiful Kittatinny Mtn. Ridge. The majority of the trip will be on lightly rolling terrain which makes it a good trip for scouts of all experience levels (including beginners).  The approximate length of the trip will be 15 miles and will end at the Delaware Water Gap. The route also offers a couple of bailout points for beginners if they are unable to complete the trip. This trip should offer beautiful autumn views as the majority of the route is at an elevation of 1500 ft.  We will enter the Appalacian Trail at the intersection of Millbrook Rd in Blairstown, NJ and end approximately 15 miles South at the Delaware Water Gap.

Trip Plan

Friday

4:00 PM  Depart promptly from OLPH. The drive to the trailhead is off of Millbrook Rd in Blairstown, NJ and is approx. a 1 hr 15 min. drive from Oakland.

5:30 PM Begin Hike approx. 2-3 miles to campsite.

Saturday

10:00 AM

Depart Campsite and hike approx. 7 miles to 2nd campsite.

Sunday

8:00 AM

Depart campsite and hike approx.. 5 miles to Delaware Water Gap and meet carpool prior to Noon.

Cost

The good news is that the trip at this point should be free as we won’t be using any group campsites.

Cooking/Food

Each scout will be responsible to bring  their own food, water and supplies. We will discuss this at a future planning meeting.

Gear

Frame backpack – The troop has two new Kelty backpacks that are available for scouts use on first come, first served basis.  Contact Mr. Dugas to reserve them.

Lightweight gear is required, as outlined in the gear presentation for the December Trip.

Siblings

No siblings allowed on this trip

Transportation:

We will need volunteers on Friday and Sunday to provide transportation to and from the trailheads in Blairstown and Delaware Water Gap

RSVP

RSVP on Troop website by October 11, 2012

Guy Dugas SIC

201-337-5709

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Shop Rite Gift Cards

link to order form

Orders for the ShopRite card fundraiser are due to Mr. Dugas on the last day of each month. The order form is on the home page under “Information”. The form contains all the information to get started. Let’s start building up those scout accounts for all the great trips planned for this coming year!

Contact Mr. Dugas if you have questions

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September 2012 – Pine Barrens / Mullica River

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Our first trip of the season will have us enjoying a canoe trip adventure down the Mullica river in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.  We will depart from Oakland on Friday evening September 14 about 5:30 PM (time is tentative) and return home late Sunday afternoon, September 16. (Monday the 17 is a school holiday).

Registration for the trip will close Tuesday evening, September 4 so that we have time to complete patrol assignments and plan the trip.

Cost of the trip is $40.00, and includes canoe, paddle, and PFD, 3 meals Saturday and breakfast and lunch Sunday.  Scouts will be paired 2 per canoe.  All participants on this trip are required to pass (or have passed) the BSA swim test and have BSA medical forms on file with the troop.  Depending on registration, we may need to give scouts priority and limit parent participation.  I will keep everyone posted on the status as we get close to closing.

Unique gear needs will be minimal, and will be published soon.  A backpacking sleeping bag with stuff sack will be very helpful, which most scouts already own, as would a dry bag for it.  A garbage back can suffice, but a dry bag would be far better.  Dry bags are available at Wal-Mart for less than $20, and will last for many trips.  The super-duty (super-expensive) type is not required, and is actually awkward due to the stiffness of the material they are made from.  You simply require something sealable to manage the water which inevitably makes its way in to the canoe.

Call me with questions at (201) 410-7903

Mr. Burns

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August 2012 – Floodwood Mountain Reservation

 

Floodwood 2012 was a great experience. The Pathfinders sent three crews throughout the Long Lake and Saranac Lakes region. What did you like best about the experience?

Trip Reports go here…

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