Mt. Monadnock

Please Respond and Reserve your place NOW to AlanPonanski@comcast.net for Troop 8's Mt. Monadnock hike at BSA Camp Wansocksett, Jaffrey, NH over the Columbus Day Weekend beginning on Friday, October 8, 2010 at approximately 6PM through Sunday 12PM on October 10, 2010.

Troop 8 was fortunate to reserve the popular Waterfront Cabin at BSA Camp Wansocksett during the Columbus Day Weekend peak fall colors. There are 40 miles of hiking trails, a visitor center, a campground, camp store, bathrooms and shower facilities.

Reserve Now, as space is limited at 30 campers at the Waterfront Cabin located at the base of Mt. Monadnock!

The Details:

1. Alan Ponanski and Doug Bonoff, Ass't Scoutmasters will lead the weekend event. Mr. Bonoff is a veteran hiker who has led many recent Troop 8 hikes at Mt. Katadin, Maine; the Wilderness Trail in the White Mountains, NH, and hikes up Mt. Monadnock, NH. Mr. Ponanski recently led a Boy Scout crew on 63 mile backpacking trip through the Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico; a Troop 8 canoe trip down the Delaware Water Gap, and a winter cabin campout at Deerlake Scout Reservation.

2. The reservations were made through the Nashua Valley Boy Scout Service Center at (978) 534-3532 at a troop cost of $105.00 for the weekend use of the Waterfront Cabin at Camp Wanocksett.

3. The Waterfront Cabin has bunks, electricity, fire detectors and a wood stove. Cabins are equipped with fire extinguishers for emergency use only. No outside firewood can be brought to Camp Wanocksett because of the infestation of Asian Longhorn Beetles in central Worcester County which cause significant damage to hardwood forests. However, there is an ample supply of locally cut firewood available at the camp for the use of weekend campers.

4. Use of the waterfront requires prior approval as well as an adult trained in BSA's Safe Swim Defense Plan.

5. Troop 8 must check-in and check-out with the Ranger or CampMaster before entering or leaving camp.

6. A tour permit and parent permission slips are required and the troop is responsible for insurance.

7. Troop Adult leaders who can supply transportation, please state your capacity to transport other scouts/equipment.

8. Troop adult leaders supplying motor vehicles will meet to receive Troop 8 scouts/equipment and caravan from our VFW location in East Hampton at 4PM on Friday Oct 8 to the Camp Wanocksett, Dublin Road, Jaffrey/Dublin NH arriving sometime after 6PM. For those leaving later on their own, the directions are to follow Route 124W from Jaffrey Center and look for sign, Mt. Monadnock State Park, or Dublin Road. Turn right and go approximately 3.8 miles, entrance is on the right, just past Thorndike Pond.

9. Troop 8 will hike Mt. Monadnock , elevation 3,165 FT on Saturday morning. In event of rain on Saturday, we will hike early Sunday.

10. Menus and meals will be prepared by patrols, especially younger scouts who need to pass cooking rank requirements. Cost for food and gas per camper will be determined later in the coming weeks.

11. The Senior Patrol Leader and the Patrol Leader Council needs to plan camp/cabin activities which may include Troop 8 Jeopardy!, map/compass challenge and board games.

Court of Honor

This years fall Court of Honor will be held at Devil's Hopyard in East Haddam. It will be a cam pout starting friday night September 17th to Saturday the 18th. The boys will spend Saturday preparing the meal as well as participating in a Pioneering project. Family and friends are invited for dinner Saturday night at 5:00 and the COH will begin at 7:00. Scouts and their families will leave immediately after the camp is cleaned and the gear is packed. I hope to see you all there. Any questions please feel free to contact your SPL Andy Harazim.

Chester Fair Parking

I'd like to share with you an email we received from our contact at the Chester Fair.

"Congratulations on conducting a great Fair parking event! As wild a time as it can be at times, I think that it went extremely well."

Kim Price

I too would like to thank all who participated in continuing to making this one of our most successful fundraising events. We were paid enough this year to give each worker approximately $9 per hour. The money will be placed into their scout accounts and can be used for summer camp, uniforms, equipment, and Troop events.

September Court of Honor - 9/17-19

The September Court of Honor will be the weekend of September 17th. Anyone who is ready for a rank advancement (and most of the new boys are probably ready for Tenderfoot) must schedule a Scoutmaster's Conference with Mr. Long (267-7394) no later than Sept. 6 and a Board of Review with Mrs. Long no later than Sept. 7.

Completed merit badge cards, signed by Mr. Long, must be submitted to Mrs. DeMore by Sept. 7.

Just Reminder

Leaders meeting Thursday August 19th at 7:00 at the VFW.

It's Popcorn Time!!

Mrs. DeMore will attend the August 10th meeting to distribute popcorn order forms. Selling popcorn is important because it generates income for the Troop to carry out our activities and income to the Council to serve our Troop. Most important, however, is that the Troop splits the profits with you - approximately 16% of what you sell goes into your account to be used for any expenses, like summer camp.

There have been some changes for this year, including:

• Better prizes - Walmart gift cards are available at every level (beginning with sales totaling $250) and Amazon gift cards are available if you sell $450 or more, and the gift card values have increased!
• Better flavor (and they've changed the butter flavor ingredients so your house won't smell anymore)!
• Environmentally friendly packaging - no more tins!
• Marshmallow blaster cross-bows available to everyone who sells $600 or more - to be demonstrated on Tuesday!

You can begin selling tomorrow. Forms and order money collected are due back to Mrs. DeMore by November 9th.

Find out more at http://www.trails-end.com/trailsend/scouts

Reminder

Just a reminder we are having a guest on Tuesday. you will need to wear your Class A's.