Scoutmaster's Minute

16 August 2006

Hello friends of Troop 41-

It was a sudden reality check this week when I drove into Ockanickon Scout Reservation, and saw all the tents down in the campsites. While I knew the summer camp season was over, the visual shock brought home how quickly the summer has passed, and what a summer it's been!

Our week at camp was beastly hot with major thunderstorms (I still have trees down in my backyard from those storms). We both roasted and got flooded out in our site, and still had a great time! Our 17 scouts (plus our adopted provisional, Theo) earned on the order of 70 merit badges as well as participating in lots of camp activities. We didn't win the Water Carnival this year, but I attribute that solely to the folly of trying to put 4 scouts and a scoutmaster on one leaky raft. Pictures from Summer Camp are on the site and I'll gladly add any more that folks want to give me. At the end of the week I polled the younger scouts about where they wanted to go to camp next summer and it was unanimous that we should return to Ockanickon, so I've already made reservations for the week of June 24-30 in 2007.

Two weeks off from Summer Camp, and then 16 of us were away to Seabase for a Coral Reef Adventure! I can't say enough about how great this trip was, and I'm sure everyone will be discussing and hearing about it for the coming year. Ask me about the steak and lobster dinner while anchored in Newfound Harbor, watching the sun set! Sometime soon I'll get pictures online, and we'll be sure to arrange a presentation for the rest of the troop.

Enough about what has already happened -- we've got a busy year starting! Our first regular meeting of the year is September 5th, and only 10 days after that is our first camping trip, September 15-17 at French Creek State Park. In October we'll once again be helping with the Lenape District Webelos Weekend, this time as the service troop, handling organization, parking, and the campfire. Ockanickon staffers, I'm counting on you!

2007 promises to be a monentous year for Troop 41 for another reason. This year we will have several of the original members turn 18, and we're looking forward to several eagle ceremonies. While these are proud and happy occasions, we also need to step up our recruitment efforts for new scouts. Our current members have created a wonderful environment, and one of the premier troops in Bucks County Council. We need to work hard to make sure that legacy continues.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or problems, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Al Folsom

215-343-6851

alan@folsoms.net

Scoutmaster's Minute

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