The PLC meet on Monday February 1.

We are looking for a solution to what we are going to do with the Ski Trip. Options include a day trip to Sugar. Or to go to Winterplace, and try to stay in the church again. Still the answer remains we don’t know.

Next Monday night will be the Court of Honor! If you would like to help set up please show up at Six pm.

The same night we are presenting the flag ceremony at the city council meeting and we need 6 to 8 scouts to help out there.

Scouting for Food is THIS Saturday, February 6. Please meet at the Church gym at 9:30 if you can help. Pack and Troop 8 are working to try to hit 2,500 houses…. In the past we have only done about 200 homes so we really need lots of people to step up and help in a big way. Class A uniforms are encouraged.

Scouting for Food will count as scout service hours.

The 100 years of scouting celebration has been moved, it will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3115 Providence Road just south of Sharon Amity at 3:00.

Scout Sunday is this SUNDAY at the 12:30 mass we need everyone to show up in Full Class A uniforms! Dress to impress! Fancy Shoes included.

On the 15th of February meeting we will be planning for the search and rescue camp out. The camp out is the following weekend. Remember to bring your compasses. And Learn how to use them the trainer will expect everyone to know how to use them. This meeting may go longer than normal.

Troop 8 is going to sea base in 2011. You must be 14 or older to go.

Attendance. Five patrols were represented at the meeting. Beaver, Phoenix, Party Kings, Dragons and Biscuits each had a representative. Three were missing.

YIS
Charlie Eaton
Troop Scribe

PLC Notes for December 2009
By Connor N., Troop Scribe

The troop PLC met Monday, December 7th, 2009. The first thing we talked about was Christmas tree sales for this year. It went as usual, with families coming in to get their trees, wreaths and poinsettias all morning long. However, in the PLC it was announced that we had a few scouts that were participating in their first tree sales, and they were confused. We hadn’t properly told them about what shifts are, what counts as a shift, and how many shifts were needed to go on the ski trip. It was announced at the November PLC that the consequences for not working enough shifts may include no rank advancement for a year. It was also mentioned that most of the customers got their tree in the morning and after about lunchtime on Saturday, not many people came to buy a tree. There was also a communication breakdown because on Sunday morning, all scouts were required to work the cleanup shift. On the bright side, we worked hard, and we should continue that in following years.
We got right down to business with the meeting plan. On January 4th, we will be further instructed on Leave No Trace principles. Because the February trip will be focused around map, compass and orienteering skills, that will be the instruction for the 11th. Mr. Spisak said that the man running the February search and rescue program will expect us to know without question how to orient and use a map. We also have some pretty cool games planned for the following weeks. THERE IS NO MEETING JANUARY 18th. Troop elections will be on January 25th.  As for February 1st, we will have another PLC meeting.
For all who worked enough shifts for Christmas trees, the Ski Trip to Sugar Mountain will be from January 29th to the 31st. The Catholic Jamboree and Seals Training will be on the weekend of March 19th to the 21st. For a lucky group of older scouts, the trip to the Naval Academy will be from January 15th to January 17th.
One more thing: On Christmas tree weekend, we earned an estimated $8000! Wow! That money goes toward campouts, gear, summer camp for financially unfortunate scouts, and many other things. Also, that money could amount to approximately 35,000 merit badges!

If you want to attend the Catholic Super Jamboree in March you must turn in your permission slip tonight or next week. Click here to download the form: catholic jamboree

PLC Notes for November 2009

By Connor N., Troop Scribe

The Troop 8 PLC met Monday, November 9th. We talked about the successful November Camping trip first. We camped at the Kings Mountain Battlefield. The SPL for the trip was Andrew Nielsen and the ASPLs were Kyle Fabian and Garrick White. They reported that there were changes on this trip, like Troop 8’s newly emphasized interest of cooking. In start, stop, and continue, it was said to continue battlefield trips! They work well for good camping with a built-in history lesson. We were told that we need better communication on the subject of meal planning, and we should have more structured patrol time in the meeting before the trip, and if you are going on the campout, ATTEND THE MEETING! This makes it easier for everyone. Also, our wood patrol boxes are a privilege that we are currently abusing by just throwing the gear in them.

The meeting plan for the remainder of the month is on November 16th, we will be instructed on the seven Leave No Trace Principles. On the 23rd, we will learn about the good skills of bear-bags and the three-pot method. The three-pot method was a big issue on the last trip, so hopefully it won’t be one anymore. On November 30th, We will be be given instruction on the art of Christmas tree wrangling (how to handle them) and some of the older scouts will teach some of the less common knots and lashings.

After the meetings were all planned out, the new-scout patrols got a check-up by Mr. Spisak on their overall status. On the subject of the Christmas Tree Sales coming up, it cannot be stressed more that EVERYONE needs to participate with this. It is our only fundraising in a bad economy. You have the opportunity to help by signing up to give out flyers at mass for the next couple weekends and to help unload, deliver, and clean up at the weekend of sales. Five shifts are required, and a shift counts as one mass, or one of four shifts at the sales weekend. Additionally, it is a fun weekend of camping outside the church and dodge ball!

Hello Scouts and Parents,
Tonight, a plane load of World War 2 veterans and heroes, some with walkers and some in wheel chairs returned from a trip to Washington DC. They were in Washington to see the WW2 memorial built in their honor.
Troop 8 had the extreme privilege of representing the Boy Scouts at the welcome home ceremony at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Over 20 troop 8 scouts in uniform formed a tribute line with American Flags to welcome these heroes back home.
To say it was emotional is an understatement. The scouts performed flawlessly and as scoutmaster I was very proud. The scouts were videotaped by one of the news organizations, the boys were also thanked by former Senator Dole who was acting as a guide on the trip.
After the welcoming, numerous veterans and family members sought me out to says thanks for the boys being there. Most by the time they talked to me were emotionally spent.
To the scouts and parents who came tonight with their sons a heart felt thank you.
This was a service well done.
Mark Spisak
Scoutmaster Troop 8

Click Here to see Troop 8 participate in the Honor Flight return!

Hello Scouts and Scout Parents,
Here is a link to watch the video story behind the Honor flight the troop rendered honor guard service for last night. The scouts who attended may recognize some of these heroes.

To find out about the honor flight click here

Yours in Scouting
Mark Spisak

By Connor Nielsen, Troop Scribe

The Troop 8 PLC met Monday, October 12.   The first thing we talked about was the October Backpacking trip at South Mountain State Park.  Only 15 scouts went so we divided it up into two treks.  The older scout patrol went on a 12-mile loop and the new scout patrol and troop guides went on a 7-mile loop, stopping at South Mountain’s beautiful waterfalls.   What made this trip different from other backpackers is that the two patrols camped at different campsites five miles from each other.   Overall, it was a fun trip.

In start, stop, and continue the SPL for the trip, Brian Mulholland, emphasized that communication of this kind of trips is vital.   He brought along walkie talkies and said that they would have been good to have.   It was also mentioned that the leaders of the troop needed to have more control of their group.   We needed to stay together more and work on hiking skills, but we did have good backpacking skills!

We talked about the November trip, too.   Some of the older scouts said that they remembered the Guilford Courthouse trip a couple years ago, and it was agreed that we should do another battlefield trip.   The two options that were brought up were Kings Mountain Battlefield or Cowpens Battlefield.   If that doesn’t work out, then we will go to Camp Grimes for basic camping and backpacking.

One of the major things we talked about at the PLC was the meeting plans and instruction. We have five meetings before the next campout so there were lots of ideas for instruction.   On October 19^th we will practice tent setup with buddies.   We might throw in some surprises like blindfolding, too, so be prepared.   We will also do cleaning water purifiers because that was an issue on the trip and cold weather first-aid because it’s getting chilly!   On October 26^th, the instruction will be cold-weather clothes and supplies for cold-weather camping. The next meeting (November 2^nd) will be bear bags and stuffing envelopes for Christmas tree sales.   Hopefully, we will have a fun game involving bear bags. For the 9^th and 16^th, we will have instruction on the history of the battlefield and Leave No Trace.   Additionally at the PLC, Mr. Spisak talked about the importance of leadership in the troop and how they should know their jobs well.

To all scouts,

Make sure to pack your pack completely as though you were going on a backpacking trip ( in preparation of our backpacking trip this October) and bring them to this Monday’s meeting (Sept. 28).  We will be weighing packs on scales and be talking about other backpacking topics important for you to succeed.

We will also have our annual dodge ball game, in which we did not do at our last election.  An undershirt would be helpful to avoid wearing your class A during the game.

Thanks again,

Alvin Nugroho

Troop 8 SPL

By Connor, Troop 8 Scribe

At the Patrol Leader’s Council for September, one of things we discussed was Troop 8’s previous campout, a skills trip to Belk Scout Camp. One of the highlights of the experience was the attendance: Only 19 boys came. That might not sound like fun, but many said that it was the best trip they had ever attended. The main reason why was the emphasis of the patrol method. The patrol method is when patrols have separate campsites, cook together, a full duty roster is posted, and other ways to have a better camping experience. It was mentioned at the PLC that we should continue doing this at other campouts.

We woke up on Saturday, cooked breakfast, and participated in scout skills activities in the morning, Then, the adults gave each patrol ingredients for Beanie Weenies, and each separate patrol cooked them. In the afternoon, the new scouts were instructed on knife and knife sharpening skills, the middle and older scouts just chilled out, and we all shot archery. Then, we cooked for the adults and ourselves. Also, on Saturday night, the entire troop played Capture the Flag in the big field!

We also discussed was the necessity for communication on the subject of meals, bringing important gear, like water bottles, and selecting a campsite. Troop 8 should continue good cooking, the method of adults providing (not cooking) the food for lunch, and the patrol method.

From October 9-11, the camping trip will be backpacking. Yay! At the PLC, the possible place that will be going was announced. It is a loop on the Appalachian Trail called Mt. Rogers. It seems like a good place to go except for the length: it’s 17 miles long. Given the spots of conveniently placed shelters there would be either a 7½-mile option for the younger scouts and a 10-mile trek for the older scouts or a 3½ mile option for the younger scouts and a 14-mile trek for the older scouts. It was also noted that this is all on easy terrain. Mr. Nelson said he could also look at other places. The PLC has not officially decided one place for the October camping trip. The Patrol leaders talked about the trip for a long time at the meeting. The main instruction for the next couple of weeks will be themed around backpacking.