Cookeville, Tennessee

Meeting tonight at 7:00 @ D1A. Mr. Dan Fenlon will be at next weeks meeting to discuss the eagle scout service project process. Everyone needs to have a copy of their work book on hand to follow along with the discussion.

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Troop 234 at Merit Badge Univ - 2011

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       LATEST HAPPENINGS AND UPCOMING EVENTS - CLICK FOR INFO WHEN UNDERLINED          


MESSAGE FROM SCOUT MASTER MARK

"I need the commitment of at least one Assistant Scoutmaster for each monthly event or we will not be able to have an outing per Scout policy. So.....I need to know from each of you your participation on the outing for May. Please contact me."

Preparing for Philmont! FUNDRAISING!

We are: Crew 711-J-06 (Troop 234) Philmont Contingent! Troop 234 will be raising funds for our trip to Philmont this July. On April 20, 2011 Chick-Fil-A will be donating a portion of their profits to our Crew. Everyone who eats dinner from 5-8PM will be helping our crew raise money. A table will also be set up in support of our Philmont adventure.

We will also be selling Boston Butts, Racks of Ribs and Smoked Turkey breasts on May the 7th. We will be circulating graphics of our project across town at many, many businesses as well. More information will follow on this important upcoming fund raiser.

Preparing for Philmont! December 2010 at Big South Fork.

Troop 234 hiked the short 3.6 mile Middle Creek Nature Trail. It was spectacular. The photographs are in our gallery. The boys enjoyed exploring the many rock formations on what turned out to be a great trip. We camped at Pickett State Park. The Winter warning left us alone in the park. Once we finished the hike in near perfect weather we arrived back at camp as rain set in. The heavy rain continued thru the evening. This did not hamper our troops enthusiasm for dutch oven fun with cherry cobbler and our all time favorite western beans. The weather continued to deteriorate thru the evening with sleet starting at midnight. Heavy winds pulled 2 foot tent pegs out of the ground. I had never camped in this kind of wind before. You could hear the straight line winds approach camp some ways off and listen it move across the region after it had hit the camp. Sunday morning was a sight to behold. Photos of our blown down campsite are in the gallery. The troop was encouraged to show scout spirit by breaking camp in blustery windy weather. Anyone can camp in sunny weather! Troop 234 can flourish in any weather! Everyone pulled their weight packing up in good time. Breakfast was cooked in the heated bath house. Omelets in a bag were just awesome. Snow continued to fall as over an inch was on the ground by the time we pulled out of the park. Roads were slushy but not slick at this point in time. We beat the bad weather home early Sunday morning.

WHAT A RIDE! Virginia Creeper Bike Trail November 5-7, 2010.

Troop 234 drove to White Top Mountain to camp and bike the 34 mile Virginia Creeper trail. Go to VA Creeper to take a look at the trail. This is the most visited Bike trail in the US. Part of its frequent use is that the first 17 miles is all downhill! We arrived Friday night late at Creeper Trail Campground in White Top to 2 inches of snow! The campground is located at around 3,500 feet of elevation. The troop experienced setting up camp in the snow along with cold weather camping both Friday and Saturday night. Camping Friday night and Saturday took temperatures at this elevation into the teens.

This trip completed some of the requirements of Cycling Merit Badge. The first half of the trail was in snow while the lower elevations were rural farm land. Most of the final 17 miles involved peddling with the last 5 miles a gentle uphill grade. We experienced one flat tire and one off trail experience but the day in the cold clean air of Virginia was spectacular. The drive is 5 hours and the cost was $30.00 including shuttle back form Abingdon, VA. We took our own bikes to save money.

FALL IS THE TIME FOR HIKING! Elkmont Campground October 15-17, 2010.

Troop 234 camped at Elkmont Campground in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Our purpose for the adventure was to complete the 20 mile day hike required for hiking merit badge. The boys chose the Little River tail for their extended day hike. The boys say evidence of wild hog proliferation and one black bear on their hike. 20 miles in a single day stretched all our endurance. The group camp at Elkmont is one of the most pristine of any park I have visited.

The boys had a great time and learned firsthand what camping in Bear habitat is all about. The little river trail was the site of a human bear fatality several year ago. Elkmont polices the campground daily for compliance of the parks bear precautions. Fines can be as much as $75.00 for improper food storage at your site. One back country campsite was closed due to "aggressive bear activity." We carried bear mace but did not encounter any challenges along the trail or at night. Drive time was about 3 hours and cost around $25.00 per scout.

CANOE SCHOOL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! The Hubert Bennett Jr. Canoe School on the Hiwassee was August 20 - 22!

Troop 234 attended the annual Upper Cumberland District Canoe School on the Hiwassee River. The scouts have earned their Canoeing and White Water merit badge over the last month. Encourage your scout to turn in to me the paperwork they have in their possession.

Who was Hubert Bennett Jr.?

Hubert was an Eagle Scout from Troop 108. As a Boy Scout he participated in the National Jamboree in California in 1954. He was a founder of the Friends of Scouting of the Upper Cumberland, as well as one of the founders of the Canoe School that is held each year on the Hiawassee River. He was the organizer of the food for Canoe School and was kindly referred to as the "Food Lion" by the scouts. Through the Friends of Scouting of the Upper Cumberland, he was also the main source of funding for the canoes and trailers, as well as providing the place of storage for the canoes. Hubert Bennett Jr. passed away on January 26, 2008. He is sorely missed.

LATEST UPDATE FROM SCOUT MASTER MARK

We will continue to work on advancement with some boards of review coming up in the next few weeks. The boys worked off 9 merit badges at camp along with 3 boys moving up at least one rank. The boys are collectively working on Citizenship in the Community as well. GOOD JOB SCOUTS!

Troop 234 will be working on Canoeing & Camping Merit Badges!

We will be working on Canoeing and Camping merit badge simultaneously as a troop over the next months. As it stands now we should finish up Canoeing merit badge the end of August and camping by the end of the year.

Summer Camp! Standing Stone State Park Hike! Frozen Head weekend!

If anyone has any pictures from these trips - or any fun stories - let the webmaster know and they'll be posted! t234.webmaster@gmail.com

The winter camporee was a success:

Troop 234 attended the Upper Cumberland District Winter Camporee the weekend of February 26-28. A good time was had by all! Pictures from the weekend will hopefully be posted soon!

Merit Badge University:

Tennessee Tech University held their annual Merit Badge University (MBU) on February 13th. This annual event allows Scouts to work on and complete a merit badge of his choice in a singe day if the prerequisites are completed prior to the gathering. Scouts must be at least at the first class rank to attend MBU.


 



 


"Scouting is a man's job cut down to a boy's size."

Robert S. Baden-Powell - founder of Scouting


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