Families of troop 1907 !!!

Please allow me to echo a few of the sentiments from our fearless leader Mr Paul Cochran, regarding the Shakedown campout this weekend.

1.  It was a fabulous experience!  It was NOT EASY and your sons held up like Marines in that heat.  This was an opportunity for them to grow individually and pull together as a troop.  They are coming together, and they are understanding their roles and expectations, and it is great to see.

2.  Based on the results of our experience, I have no doubts about our being ready to handle the rigors of the jamboree with smiles on our faces and eagerness in our hearts.  We will have a tremendous experience in just over 40 days and it will be a lifetime memory to treasure.

3. Please encourage your sons to visit the jamboree website, especially under the "Activities" section and begin to plan out their 10 days.  We will help them with this, but they need to know what they want to do (and what's available).  What they put into their jamboree preparation from this point forward will make all the difference when they get there.  You will see a much larger focus of the upcoming bulletins on this topic.

Scouts! - Plan! Plan! Plan!  You'll be glad you did.

4.  My thanks to you parents for working with a difficult schedule for pick up time.  I recieved no complaints. We greatly appreciate your support, especially when events are sometimes ambiguous or even out of our control.

5.  Boys! Keeping drinking your water and keep spending time out in the heat (safely), to continue to accustom yourself to that 10 day stretch of heat we're going to get.  It will be hot at the jamboree!

6. Lessons learned (thorns and roses) - Continue to submit ideas on how we can make our experience at the jamboree better.  Remember to submit a solution with every problem you send in as well.

7. Patrols - continue to function via email and phone over the next month on at least a weekly basis to continue your preparations.  Patrol leaders make sure you make contact with every member of our patrol each week to ensure that preparations and adjustments are getting done.

Scouts - Check your emails DAILY from now until the jamboree.  When asked for information, please be prompt in your response.  If you don't have a response, respond anyway and let them know.

Hopefully you aren't asking yourself,"What do I have to discuss as a patrol?"  But if you do have this question, reach out to your senior patrol leaders, Alex, Robert, Jacob and David for help in this matter.  We'll make sure they can answer your questions.  All PLs and APLs should now have email and phone contact information for their patrols and the leaders.  If this is not the case, you need to let me know immediately so I can get you this information.

8. Finally my thanks to my 3 mentors - Paul, Bob and Kyle for teaching me the way scouting should be run this weekend, for teaching these boys how to run their own program, how to be prepared with the right equipment, and for being positive role-models.

I am privileged to be on the Jamboree Troop 1907 staff - the finest Troop at the 2010 BSA jamboree.

Sincerely,

Stephen Gassaway

1st ASM - Troop 1907

PLC Meeting Sunday 6/6 - 3:30 @ Calvary church (6-2-10)

Those who need to attend this meeting are the troop leaders, patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders. Hopefully you know who you are. If you are not sure if you should attend then please contact your SPL, Alex at 980-321-0400.

Jamboree Shakedown Weekend June 11-13 (updated 6-2-10)

All participants need to arrive out at Belk scout camp by no later than 1PM on June 11th.
Belk Scout camp location:
9408 Belt rd
Midland, NC 28107

For Driving Directions See:

http://sites.google.com/site/belkscoutcamp/

***Special reminder – We will be conducting swim checks at the shakedown. Please remember to bring your swim trunks to the shakedown. You cannot participate in jamboree water events without first having a swim check, and this is the only one we have scheduled, so don’t come unprepared.

Personal first aid kits due at the shakedown

All participants must carry a personal 1st Aid kit around with them at all times at the jamboree. Consult your Boy Scout Handbook for a suggested list of things to put in your kit. See the 2nd class requirement for building a personal 1st Aid kit. Your patrol leaders will be checking for this kit out at the shakedown and reporting this information in to the SPL, so please have it completed and on your person when you arrive.

Gateway Decorations are due at the shakedown

The following scouts have accepted the additional responsibility of building/bringing a gateway decoration to put on our cut-out of the state of North Carolina. Scout do not forget that you must also devise a way to fasten it onto the gateway structure. Thanks for your help!
Jacob – Wright Brothers plane
Jake – Lighthouse
Harrison – Basketball / hoop
Paul – BBQ Sticker
Alex – Racetrack
Cameron – Mountains
Will – Cardinal
Kole – Labels (We will assess this need at the shakedown)

Truck loading time for personal gear is 11:30AM on the July 17th

Mark your calendars. Make your preparations to put as much personal gear in your foot locker and load it onto the truck at this time. Remember that when we arrive at the jamboree, 40,000 people will be trying to fit into the same gateway at the same time (more or less). The less stuff we carry on to the bus the better, and the faster we get checked in. You must carry your picture ID with you on the bus. You will need it to get in to the jamboree. Don’t pack it on the truck!

Scouts need an official ID for the Jamboree (6-2-10)

A Picture ID is required for the Jamboree! You may use your school ID, a driver's license, a passport card, or some other type of legal ID with the scout's picture on it. NCDOCT will issue you an ID card up to age 15 for $10. See here for details.
http://www.ncdot.org/DMV/other_services/general/pictureID.html

Plaque decorations (6-2-10)

Bring your plaque decorations to the shakedown. We will be collecting them and storing them with the Gateway materials between the shakedown and the jamboree.

Calendar information (updated 6-2-10):

June
6 – PLC meeting
11 - Shakedown Campout at Belk Scout Camp (Dates are June 11,12&13)
All participants need to arrive no later than 1 PM on the 11th
20 - Troop Meeting
July
17 – Loading the trailer with personal Gear (11:30 AM Belk Scout camp)
18 - Troop Meeting
25 - Departure for the Jamboree, TBA
Aug
4 - Return from Jamboree, Belk Scout Camp (approx 5PM)

Troop T-shirts and hats now ordered (6-2-10)

We are completing the order process for hats and shirts. We’ve got such a good deal that we are able to get all participants three activity shirts and a troop hat at no additional cost! We thought you’d like to know.

Money at the jamboree (6-2-10)

Scoutmasters will NOT be managing funds for scouts while at the jamboree. Please prepare your scouts with a suitable option that will work for you. Parents, your best options for kids to bring money to the jamboree is as follows:
1. A Debit card w/PIN#
2. A Jamboree Smart Bracelet
3. A Jamboree Smart Card
4. Cash - not recommended
Scoutmasters will NOT be managing funds for scouts while at the jamboree.

Troop Meetings are now mandatory! (5-7-10)

Per decree from Scoutmaster Paul Cochran, all scouts are required to attend all remaining troop meetings. You must seek approval directly from Mr. Cochran if you feel that your son will not be able to attend a meeting. In Paul’s own words, “There’s too much to do, and we’re running out of time. We need everyone there.”

Foot/Storage locker recommendations (5-7-10)

It comes strongly recommended that each participant has a storage locker in which he can keep his valuables and personal items. The locker should be lockable, sturdy and waterproof.
Walmart Contico Storage Locker $37
Beds, Bath & Beyond - Storage locker with wheels $69

Merit badges offered at the jamboree (4-29-10)

Plan ahead and decide what you want to get before you go. We encourage all scouts to earn at least one merit badge while at the jamboree. The classes will be taught by some of the most prominent men and women in their field. For instance, Space exploration might be taught by an astronaut.
Once you know what you want to take, review the requirements and get as much of the paper work done in advance as you can so that you can actually complete your requirements at the jamboree and get the official stamp on your merit badge card. Be sure to bring your blue cards signed by your home troop scoutmasters.
American Business, American Heritage, Archaeology, Archery, Architecture, Art, Astronomy, Automotive Maintenance, Aviation, Backpacking, Bird Study, Camping, Canoeing, Chemistry, Cinematography, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Climbing, Coin Collecting, Collections, Communication, Composite Materials, Computers, Cooking, Crime Prevention, Dentistry, Disabilities Awareness, Dog Care, Drafting, Electricity, Electronics, Emergency Preparedness, Energy, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, Family Life, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, First Aid, Fish and Wildlife Management, Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Forestry, Genealogy, Geology, Golf, Hiking, Horsemanship, Indian Lore, Insect Study, Inventing, Landscape Architecture, Law, Leatherwork, Lifesaving, Mammal Study, Medicine, Metalwork, Motorboating, Music, Nature, Oceanography, Orienteering, Personal Fitness, Pioneering, Plant Science, Plumbing, Public Health, Public Speaking, Pulp and Paper, Radio, Railroading, Reading, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Rifle Shooting, Rowing, Scouting Heritage, Scuba Diving, Sculpture, Small-Boat Sailing, Snow Sports, Soil and Water Conservation, Space Exploration, Sports, Stamp Collecting, Surveying, Swimming, Traffic Safety, Veterinary, Medicine, Weather, Whitewater, Wilderness Survival, and Wood Carving.