Ready for another hike? If so, follow the link and sign up for the San Jacinto Hike!! Details are on the google form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HUYmuvsECCSEtPpkIdvwplJS4RH8iSJKmGUmKaPC4lA/viewform
What a great weekend for the Troop! We took 19 boys out to the Barstow area and had a great time. Special thanks to Angela Bermudez who organized the trip for the troop. The boys camped through two very chilly nights (below freezing Saturday night as evidenced by the water bottle that had frozen) and all seemed to have a great time. With a good mix of work and play the boys prepared for Camporee. Some of our newest members got their first chance to cook in a patrol (and to clean... ). Of special note was the Polar Bear patrol who managed to actually bring AND EAT some vegetables. They were rewarded for their healthy choices with some Dutch oven chocolate cake. We also had a few parents come along for the ride for the first time and altogether the outing was a great success! Be sure to check out these pictures (courtesy of Dieter Kutz 339 Eagle Scout!) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kutzweb/sets/72157640436301115/
we've been doing a lot of prepartion for summer camp. Patrols have been formed for the most part and we have 19 boys going to Catalina along with many adults. It should be a great week and there should be many memories as well as photographs!
This past Sunday we had a great chance to go sailing at the Newport Sea Base!! Special thanks to Susan Brodeur for helping coordinate the trip. We had a nearly full crowd with 6 scouts and 5 parents! We took a "three hour tour" and the weather was nearly perfect. Pictures can be found here: https://plus.google.com/photos/108952340958984799312/albums/5898273972402306241?authkey=CMDv-d_fgYbVtgE
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO THE NEWPORT SEABASE!!!
Thanks to all the parents who went hiking, especially Ms. Brodeur! We don't get many Mom's out on the trail for overnighters, though I do think Wes was the luckiest in that regard!! Thanks also to Mr. Nomura for driving up early with the first group.
The hike was a good challenge for these young boys (and for most of us OLD boys - except for Mr. Nguyen who I'm pretty sure packed about twice as much gear as anyone else, showed no signs of fatigue, and was still willing to take more!! Do I hear rumors of him having bionic / cyborg powers?).
We had 18 people on the hike 12 scouts and 6 adults! We saw an owl, heard rumors of a black bear, saw the pack mule train, and enjoyed phenomenal weather! ASM Harold Orlando brought his son ASM Mike Orlando to help (both eagle scouts if I'm not mistaken). Mike serenaded us a bit with his Ukelele, which was awesome. We're looking forward to hearing more at Summer Camp!!!
While we did not have much planned aside from eating and enjoying the outing, or ASM in charge was very helpful in communicating various tasks to the troop (cleaning up after meals, organizing impromptu games, cleaning camp before departure, etc.) Also, our two oldest scouts did a great job leading the younger scouts back down the hill from camp on Sunday. It was good to see them upfront and leading the younger boys. It was all we adults could do just to keep one of us close to the lead group of boys.
I suspect we'll have many more adventures together and look forward to them all!!! Here's a link to the album I created for the weekend's activities - https://plus.google.com/photos/108952340958984799312/albums/5874726143440066545
Thanks to the help of all the boys who volunteered this weekend at the Youth Expo at the OC Fair Grounds! Your service helped raise much needed funds to operate the troop!! Well done!!! (Special thanks as well to the parents and most importantly Bob!!!)
Had a blast with the special Skunk Cabbage Patrol this past Saturday!
Seems like the boys are well aware of conventional wisdom (don't eat yellow snow). I'm thinking next time we need to campout in the snow!
As you approach the rank of Eagle, you may find yourself more alone in your journey. Many boys will drop from site and vanish from scouts. The same thing happens in leadership of any type. In the end, you'll have accomplished more than most, but you won't do it in a flock. Chickens may flock, but Eagles never do.