Many Thanks!

Troop 16,

After a very successful Survivorman Challenge, I wanted to thank all of the Moms for allowing their sons and husbands to participate in this weekend’s event, despite it being Mother’s Day weekend. It is one of Troop 16’s preeminent events, and could not happen without all of the support we received. A special thank you to Mrs. Baldwin, Mrs. DeHaas, Mrs. Keeling, and Mrs. Veto for participating in the event.

I hope that your boys came back with many fun stories of the event. But most of all, I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Mr. Abell

Survivorman Training and Info

It is time to fine tune your Survivorman skills in preparation for this weekend’s challenge. Remember the team with the most capable guys will have the opportunity to complete the most challenges in the most ways, and will get the most points. Will your patrol be ready?

LEVEL 1: Be prepared. Bring a daypack with your 10 essentials and your normal camping gear - AND DON’T FORGET YOUR SCOUT HANDBOOK! Check out the Gear Info tab for more info.

LEVEL 2: Here is a link to all of the information, a list of items the challengers can and cannot bring, and training that was provided to the Level 2 Participants. Level 2 Information and Rules

LEVEL 3: Here is a link to all of the information and a list of items the challengers can and cannot bring. Level 3 Rules and Information.

REMINDER: Temperatures are going to be in the mid-50’s for a high with rain showers throughout the weekend; and lows will be in the mid-30’s. Please come prepared for the weather. We go, rain or shine.

Northern Tier Sign-up Now Online

It’s time to think about High Adventure 2013!

Troop 16 has reserved two crews (eight people each) at Northern Tier High Adventure Base from June 11-19, 2013. Effective with the appearance of this post at 7:00pm on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012, the sign-up is available on a first come, first served basis (with exceptions as noted in the official web page).

Northern Tier is focused on providing boy scouts and adult leaders with the opportunity to canoe in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota.

To sign up, click here.

SURVIVORMAN Challenge Now Posted

The internationally recognized Troop 16 SURVIVORMAN Challenge is coming May 11-13, 2012. The sign-up and information pages have now been posted, and it is time to sign up.

This year, we are changing the challenges yet again. The Level 1 Challenge will be our First Year challenge, and will include Trail to First Class Challenges at each point on the map. The Level 2 Challenge will bring all of the gear back to the crash site, but it will be up to each patrol to determine what is important and what is not for their survival. They will also face a variety of survival challenges along the way, and will have to get rescued by the County Search and Rescue teams that will be on-site. We will also have Search and Rescue planes in the air, searching for the teams, as a training exercise. The Level 3 Challenge for our Staff Patrol Members and Junior Assistant Scoumasters, will imitate a car crash and survival/hike out situation with limited food and no shelter. Participation in this event is limited to the first 16 boys that sign up.

Parents and Scouters: We need you! To pull this campout off, we need at least 20 adults to sign up to help in base camp, at Command Posts, as judges out in the field, and as rovers. No experience needed. We will train you. Ideally, we will have 24+ adults on Saturday and Sunday.

Click here to find out more and to sign up.

Click here to read all about the history of the T16 SURVIVORMAN Challenge.

Parker Days Fundraiser Sign-up

The sign-up pages for Parker Days are now available online. Follow the Parker Days link to the information page, and then select the shift links and sign up!

Please remember, this is a MANDATORY fundraiser. Every scout is expected to work at least one 4 hour shift.

In total, we have 262 4-hour shifts available. So, we need over 3 shifts per scout. How do we get there? Parents and siblings over age 10 can work, too. No experience needed. Please just sign up and help us out for a shift or two. So come and make a family day of it. Help us for a few hours and then ride the rides on us.

Boys that work more than one shift are eligible for either 4 hours of community service hours (for high school or rank advancement) or a free unlimited ride pass for the Carnival, at their option.  Parents and siblings that work 2 or more shifts will also get a free ride pass, if they would like one.

Sign up now!

SCUBA High Adventure - Your input needed

Troop 16: We need your input. You wanted a SCUBA High Adventure, and we have begun planning one. It will involve: certification classes, a pre-certification dive, and a high adventure trip centered on a SCUBA dive trip to Mammoth Crater, UT.

Originally, we had planned to do the high adventure trip during Fall Break, 2012, but several people have stated they cannot make it then, but would be interested in a Spring Break, 2013 trip instead. We need your input.

Please review the information on the SCUBA High Adventure web page, and then give us an indication of when you would like to have the trip by signing up for the appropriate trip. Click here to go to the SCUBA web page.

Troop 16’s Next High Adventure Awaits!

Troop 16 has begun to plan a trip to Northern Tier National High Adventure Base for June, 2013.  To complete our planning process, we need to get an idea who is interested in this trip, so we have posted basic information, and an interest-only sign-up page.

Northern Tier is one of 3 (soon to be 4) National High Adventure Bases. It is dedicated to canoeing adventures in the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Northern Minnesota. Canoe across hundreds of lakes, catch Walleye, Northern Pike, Sunfish, and Crappies. See the majestic Loons that are Minnesota’s State Bird, and the unofficial state bird, the mosquito. And if you have been to Philmont and Sea Base, complete your Triple Crown!

Click here for more information, and to sign up for this exciting adventure.

Swimming Merit Badge

We are offering a group swimming merit badge beginning in December.  Please email Mrs. Denton at dentonpl@aol.com to confirm your interest in participating. Some of you have already started this merit badge. Please email Mrs. Denton  to let her know if you are interested in completing the requirements you still need, in a group class.  Please let her know ASAP if you are interested.  Class size is limited.  (Adults, Mrs. Denton needs your help.  The more adults that help, the larger the class she can offer.  She needs some in the water and some poolside and in classrooms.)

*Please note that this is not a swimming class.*  Do not sign up for this merit badge until you can swim.  You must be proficient in the front crawl, back crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke and elementary backstroke.  You will also have to do dives from the deck and tread water while removing your street clothes.  Please review the requirements at www.meritbadge.com.

We will have the dry portions of the badge on 11/29 and  12/6 beginning at 6:00 pm at PUMC. You probably will not need to come to both sessions, so email her which class you would like to attend.  But it would be wise to start on 11/29 if you can, in case you need  to attend both sessions to complete your requirements.  We will have the wet portions at PRC on 12/4 and 12/11 with a makeup/retest on 1/8/12; times to be announced soon, but plan on afternoons.

September High Adventure Sign-up Now Posted

Calling all Scouts (Age 13 and First Class or Higher) and Scouters!

The sign-up for the September High Adventure trek over Segment 7 of the Colorado Trail has now been posted.

This will be a backpacking high adventure trek from Frisco to Copper Mountain, and will be a great test run for those planning to go to Philmont next year. The two day trek is about 14 miles at high altitude.

To find out more and sign up, click here.

SIGN-UP REQUIRED for Smokin Brew BBQ Labor Day Weekend

HERE WE GO!  THE SMOKIN’ BREW BBQ FUNDRAISER is ours again this year.  Labor Day Weekend is less than 2 weeks away and so is another chance to show Parker what Troop 16 is made of! 

The Smokin Brew BBQ event starts for Troop 16 from 3pm on Friday, 9/2 to noon on Monday, 9/5. This provides scouts and scouters an opportunity to earn just under $8 per hour for their scout account!  We need all available scouts, parents, and siblings to step up and help out!  And feel free to sign-up for more than one shift if you want.

We’re working in shifts, as usual, and the time worked will translate into money earned going directly into the scout accounts or community service.   Please Click Here to Sign-up for a Shift.  You will need to be Logged On in order to sign-up.

We will meet at the Parker Station Parking Lot near the Dumpsters!

Thank you to Daniel Faust for his willingness to arrange and coordinate this event for our troop! 

We need an adult and two or more scouts that can pick up and deliver the barrels on Friday, and can return the barrels on Monday morning, as Mr. Faust will be out of town that weekend. So, if you can do this, please click here to email Mr. Abell and Mr. Faust.