Troop 12 Framingham: Catchalot tomorrow

Friday, June 15, 2012

Catchalot tomorrow

On Saturday morning at 7AM we are to meet at the shed, we will ride our bikes around some of the roads and trails in the Miles Standish State Forest, which is located in south eastern Massachusetts, near Plymouth. Please let me know if you don’t have a bike or if you don’t want to ride for some reason. We will return to camp for lunch. You will need to bring your own lunch. In the afternoon, we will paddle our canoes in the camp’s lake. We will practice our paddling techniques and how to empty a canoe if it gets filled with water. We will probably spend a lot of time in the water. Scouts will get the opportunity to tip over canoes and then demonstrate how much buoyancy remains, even though there is water in the canoe. Everybody will be wearing PFD’s whenever we are on the water. The intent of this trip is to help scouts gain confidence in handling a canoe and dealing with emergency situations. Please remember to bring your own bag lunch for Saturday.

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Scoutmaster Message!

Eagle Scouts – we have a number of older Scouts that are pursuing the Rank of Eagle Scout. This is the pinnacle of Scouting and it requires a lot of work and perseverance. Please be prepared to help out when they need assistance.

That was a lot of information to put into one newsletter. The intent was to show that Troop 12 is a very active troop. Adventure, however, requires adult supervision, so I am urging parents to play an active role in the troop. We always need adults to help out on trips and activities. Who knows, you might even have fun? My philosophy is that Scouting teaches your sons valuable skills and ideals that will be used long after they graduate from Scouting. I also believe that learning outdoor skills at a young age encourages them to appreciate our natural surroundings and resources and to participate in family outings and camping trips. I have many fond boyhood memories of my time in Scouting. Times might have changed and technology has affected the way that our modern youth amuse themselves. However, we must never let physical activity, respect for country and others, and a love of the outdoors go out of fashion. We can make a difference in the lives of our young people. We can also have fun doing it.

God Bless America – Please remember the victims of the September 11^th attacks on our country and their surviving families and friends. This was an attack on the values of all civilized nations. People from many countries lost their lives as a result of those attacks. Scouting is a true worldwide organization that pledges respect for all others, no matter your country or religion. Scouting organizations in every country share a common mission. Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting over 100 years ago, once said that he thought that Scouting would end the need for wars. Speaking as a man who spent most of his adult life in the military and fought in many battles, this might appear to be somewhat naïve and inconsistent with his military experience. He put a high emphasis on self-respect, self-reliance and respect for others, which are timeless values that should never be allowed to go out of favor. He tried to do his best daily. We should do the same. Perhaps the world would be a lot better place if more people followed his example and the ideals of Scouting.