December 2001 Patuxent Happenings Four months ahead December Cub Theme: Works of Art -------------------------------- 12 Roundtables, Glendale Fire House 7:30 PM 20 Holiday Party 29 to 6 International Event, 16 th New Zealand Jamboree, New Zealand January Cub Theme: Did You Get My Message ------------------------------------------ 9 Roundtables, Glendale Fire House 7:30 PM 12 Charter Turn-in, Holy Cross Lutheran Church 14 OA Chapter Meeting, Riverdale Municipal Ctr 7:30 22 Commissioner's Meeting, New Carrollton Municipal Center 7:30 24 District Committee Meeting, Holy Cross Lutheran Church 7:30 February Cub Theme: Our Native Peoples -------------------------------------- 2 Merit Badge Day: First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Personal Fitness 2 to 3 REI Land Navigation/Orienteering Course 8 to 10 Klondike Derby 11 OA Chapter Meeting, Riverdale Municipal Ctr 7:30 13 Roundtables, Glendale Fire House 7:30 PM 26 Commissioner's Meeting, New Carrollton Municipal Center 7:30 28 District Committee Meeting, Holy Cross Lutheran Church 7:30 March Cub Theme: Dollars & Sense -------------------------------- 9 Cub Scout Basic Training 9 Scout Master Fundamentals #1 11 OA Chapter Meeting, Riverdale Municipal Ctr 7:30 13 Roundtables, Glendale Fire House 7:30 PM 23 University of Scouting 23 Teen Labor Education Day - Saturday, March 23, 2002. 26 Commissioner's Meeting, New Carrollton Municipal Center 7:30 28 District Committee Meeting, Holy Cross Lutheran Church 7:30 30 Scout Master Fundamentals #2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ District Chairman: Stu Stern 301-464-1678 stuscout@erols.com District Commissioner: Pete Saderholm 410-451-4713 petegene@erols.com District Executive: Vincent Robinson 301-214-9182 vrobinson@boyscouts-ncac.org District Websites: http://www.bsa.net/md/patuxent http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org//district/patuxent/ Designate to the United Way/CFC #8046 To Subscribe to The Patuxent Post e-mail edition simply send an e-mail to chris.schwartz@ieee.org with the words SUBSCRIBE PAX POST in the Subject Line. Please send articles or items of interest at least 2 weeks in advance of the next round table. Use "Pax Post" as the subject. Pax Post is posted at http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/paxpost or http://www.geocities.com/paxmeritbadge/paxpost Adult Training & Events ======================= December 20 Holiday Party Commissioners and District Staff Holiday Meeting at Pete Saderholm's house. Bring a dish. Dress: No Uniforms. Check with Pete for directions ---------------------- December 31 Silver Beaver Nominations Due Nominations are due no later than December 31 for Silver Beaver (NCAC), District Award of Merit (Patuxent), and Unit Scouter of the Year (Unit Level- Awarded by Patuxent). Recognize the outstanding dedication of a friend in Scouting. Act now and secure an application from t he Marriott Scout Service Center or your District Executive and nominate a deserving volunteer today. Silver Beaver application is on Page 52 of the December 2001 Scouter Digest, online forms are at http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/resources/pdfs/merit.pdf , http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/resources/pdfs/silver_beaver_nom.pdf Also, remember that Patuxent District has also revived the Malcom C. "Skip" Popp award to be awarded to a scout or adult scout leader whose troop is in the City of Bowie. The Scout must render EXTRAORDINARY, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE to Scouting and his/her neighbor. "... to foster a tradition and spirit for the kind of service to scouting and love of neighbor that "Skip" Popp exemplified in private and scouting capacity." For details about these awards, contact our Patuxent District Leadership: Stu Stern, District Chairman - stuscout@mris.com 301-262-7177 Pete Saderholm, District Commissioner - petegene@erols.com 410-451-4713 Vince Robinson, District Executive - VROBINSON@BOYSCOUTS-NCAC.ORG 301-530-9360 ---------------------- March 23 University of Scouting The next University of Scouting classes will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2002. Due to an overwhelming response, they WILL be offering the new BALOO training course this year. Purpose of the University of Scouting Program: The University of Scouting is a supplemental training opportunity for all adult volunteer Scouters in the National Capital Area Council (NCAC). Four colleges support the program. The College of Commissioner Science is a primary vehicle for Commissioners to continually refresh and strengthen their knowledge in a concentrated, challenging, and systematic fashion. New Commissioners are provided challenging and progressive learning opportunities beyond basic training; more experienced Commissioners are offered advanced experiences with subject matter at several levels. The College of Adventure (Varsity, Venturing and Exploring), College of Boy Scouting and College of Cub Scouting offer Unit and District Scouters enhanced training opportunities beyond Basic Leader Training. Scout Leader Training Teams will find challenges among the courses offered. Location: To be determined. Registration: Download the complete University of Scouting course curriculum and general information. This document is in PDF format and you will need Acrobat Reader to view or print it. http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/training/pdfs/uos.pdf There will be a short opening ceremony for all participants. Also plan to attend the closing ceremony at days end. These informational and meaningful sessions will give a boost to your already uncontainable enthusiasm. Basic Schedule: Participant specific personal schedule to be provided at check-in. 7:30-8:15 a.m. Check-in/Registration 8:30-9:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony 9:10-4:00 p.m. University Courses (Check personal schedule for course times.) 4:10 p.m. Closing Ceremony NOTE: For all College Degree Programs — The Dean of the College where the degree is being earned must approve waivers of requirements or substitutions. http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/training/university/index.html Upcoming Events --------------- 21st Century Wood Badge Spring Course: May 3-5, June 7-9 Fall Course: Sept 13-15, Oct 11-13 21st Century Woodbadge is open to all Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout adn Venture Scout Leaders who have completed the Basic training for their registered position in Scouting. Cub Leaders must have completed New Leader Essentials, and then the position specific training for their position. Boy Scout and Varsity leaders must have completed New Leader Essentials, the position specific training and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. Woodbadge for the 21st Century has no "invitation" requirement if you have completed the basic training requirements. For more information, fill out the coupon on page 25 of the Dec 2001 Scouter Digest from NCAC, or send your name, address, telephone number and district to: NCAC; Woodbadge 2002; 9190 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814 Scouting Events =============== December 29 to 6 International Event, 16 th New Zealand Jamboree, New Zealand International Event: 16 th New Zealand Jamboree, Meet the Challenge, Mystery Creek, Hamilton, New Zealand Dec. 29 2001 - Jan. 6 2002 Information: Mr. Warren Dennis, Jamboree Manager, P.O. Box 1006, Cambridge, New Zealand E-mail: manager@jamboree.scouts.org.nz Visit their web site at jamboree.scouts.org.nz The Jamboree Program Team are scouts who are involved with the planning and preparation for the Jamboree from start to finish. Up to 5,000 ten to fifteen-year-old scouts are expected. Activities include: Scouting skills, Climbing, Sailing, Hiking, BMX cycling course, Orienteering, Amateur Radio activities, Two Lakes Challenge, Bridge over Snake Gully, Battle of the bulge, Motor Bikes and Mountain Biking, Roller Blades, Scooters, Skateboards, Radio Control Cars, Model Railways, and Bike Bungling. Overnight off site activities are available for a fee. International Scout Camp, Belgium International Scout Camp Camp de La Fresnaye, Belgium (Federation des Scouts Catholiques) The campsite of La Fresnaye is mainly designed to accommodate Scout/Guide groups or other youth associations, tents or in chalets (without beds). Groups are independent, but all groups must help to maintain shared facilities. Swimming pool, tennis courts, games, etc. Campsite Information: Camp de La Fresnaye, Prins Boudewijnlaan 1, B - 1653 Dworp, Belgium Tel: (+32.2) 380 12 91 Fax: (+32.2) 380 77 35 Contact Information: Jean-Paul Mariotte, c/o Camp de la Fresnaye, Heidebloem 1, B - 1653 Dworp, Belgium Tel: (+32.2) 380 12 91 Fax: (+32.2) 380 77 35 ---------------- February 2 Merit Badge Day: First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Personal Fitness Merit Badge Day for Communications, Family Life & Personal Management Date : Saturday February 2, 2002 Time : 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Location : St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church, The Breen Room (located below the church), 114 St. Mary's Place, Laurel, MD 20707-4098 Uniforms : Scouts should wear their uniforms Bluecards : All Scouts should provide a blue card signed by their Scoutmaster. Contact Tim Looney at jtlooney@hotmail.com or 301-805-1352 for an appointment and let him know what badges you are prepared to work on. Walk in appointments are welcomed, but scheduled appointments will be taken first. Email or calls with the time of your appointment. To earn the merit badge the following requirements need to be completed prior to the merit badge day: Communications : all, Family Life : all, Personal Management : all Scouts interested in starting any of the merit badges are welcomed, but need to make an appointment. Please let me know that you just starting the merit badge. All Scouts are expected to have read the merit badge books for the merit badge they want to work on. Requirements and workbooks: http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/MBDays/feb/index.html or http://www.geocities.com/paxmeritbadge/MBDays/feb/index.html ---------------- February 2 to 3 REI Land Navigation/Orienteering Course Are you getting ready for a high adventure trek this summer and want to brush up on your land navigation skills? If so, you need to attend REI's Land Navigation class, Saturday and Sunday, February 2-3. This comprehensive course teaches all the necessary map and compass skills. The first day is spent in intensive classroom exercises concentrating on map reading interpretation, position plotting, compass fundamentals, declination and azimuth. The second day is spent in Prince William Forest Park, primarily off trail, engaging in practical navigation exercises of increasing complexity. The course fee is $85 and includes workbook text, course materials, compass, map, grid reader, and lunch on Saturday. This course fills up quickly, SO CALL REI NOW at 703-379-9400 to reserve your slot. This is the very best land navigation training that I have ever taken (sorry Ranger School) and now serves as the basis for our crew's land navigation program. ---------------- February 8 to 9 Klondike Derby Klondike Derby - "Valley Forge Freedom Fighters". Feb 8-10, 2001 at Cedarville State Forest. Patch Design Contest ends Nov 14, 2001. Troops are requested to sponsor a skill station, adults are needed to work at stations for cubs, webelos, and scout stations. Forms will be at Roundtables. Register by Jan 9, 2002. Wheels on sleds are recommended but not required.Point of Contact: Leeann Banes, 301-805-0031 FAWN777@AOL.COM Coordinators: Lead Leeann Banes Webelos: Ray Moore Cubs: Nick Dunton Tigers Ed Partington Cooking advisor: Tom Wertz -------------------- March 23 Teen Labor Education Day - Saturday, March 23, 2002. Annual Teen Labor Education Day. The workshop will enable the scouts to fulfill many of the American Labor Merit Badge requirements in one day. Saturday, November 3, 2001 and/or Saturday, March 23, 2002. See http://www.angelfire.com/bsapax or http://www.geocities.com/paxmeritbadge -------------------- Upcoming Baysox Scout Night Dates Set Baysox Scout Nights for 2002 have been announced! The first is Saturday April 6th and we have order forms available now to order tickets. Copies will be available at Roundtable. The two sleepovers will be June 21st and August 2nd. Tickets for each of those will open up the day AFTER the previous Scout Night. For more information, please contact: Donald Gakenheimer; Theme Night Coordinator; Bowie Baysox; 4101 NE Crain Hwy; Bowie, MD 20716; 301-805-6000 x300; dgakenheimer@baysox.com Cub Events ========== Upcoming April Pinewood Derby Time is approaching for the annual Patuxent District Pinewood Derby that will be held at the end of March or beginning of April. The Date/Time and Location and printed copy of rules and forms will be available at the December Roundtable. They will also be readily available online and via email. Emails with questions and offers to help can be sent to Lenny Wertz at juslenny@hotmail.com 1) The 2002 Derby will be held at theBeltway Plaza Center Court on the 13th of April. 2) Anyone interested in helping with the operation of a really fun event, please contact Lenny Lenny Wertz Scoutmaster BSA Troop 746 Greenbelt, Maryland Patuxent District Pinewood Derby Crew Chief -------------------- Upcoming May to October Parent/Son Weekends The Parent/Son Camping program is designed to give a Cub Scout or Webelos Scout and his adult partner an opportunity to spend a fun-filled 24-hour period together in the outdoors. During this 24-hour period, they will learn more about each other by working and playing together within a planned program of activities. The weekend program begins on Saturday about 10:00 AM with check in and site set up. You bring a sack lunch with you, set up your tent, and get ready for the opening ceremony and Flag Raising at 12:15 PM. This kicks off a fun filled afternoon of activities for all. A staff of volunteers will be on hand to assist and guide you through this adventure. They will also offer safety guidelines and train you in new or old skills in everything from handicraft projects to sports, archery, BB shooting and campcrafts. This experience will offer a great evening meal (cooked by the program staff) and an exciting campfire that will allow your Scouts and you the opportunity to become "Showmen" in your own right, by performing skits, songs and cheers. You then get to enjoy the peaceful night sky as the sounds of nature lull you into a restful night of sleep in your tent. Sunday morning we will provide you with a continental breakfast served by the staff and a non-denominational religious service. Then it is on to cleaning up your gear and campsite, a game or two, site inspection and closing ceremony. Everyone is ready to depart for home by 11:00 AM and you will take with you a great experience shared together. Space is limited: 96 pairs per weekend. Cost is $60.00 per buddy pair and is NON REFUNDABLE. The fee includes patches and T-shirts for each camper, crafts supplies, meals, etc. The dates and locations are: May 18-19, 2002, Rosaryville State Park, Prince Georges County, Maryland June 1-2, 2002, Claude Moore Farm, Ashburn, Virginia August 3-4, 2002, Camp William B Snyder, Haymarket, Virginia September 14-15, 2002, Izaak Walton League, Poolesville, Maryland October 12-13, 2002, Camp William B Snyder, Haymarket, Virginia Details and signup forms are on the NCAC Homepage: http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/camps/weekend.html http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/camps/ctg/p-sweek.html NEWS ==== Good Backpacking Gear Ideas for Christmas from ALPS Mountaineering Looking for good backpacking gear for Christmas? ALPS Mountaineering markets performance oriented packs, tents and sleeping bags. Because Boy Scouts are one of their target customers, ALPS Mountaineering will offer to any established scout unit a discount of 45% off of their retail prices. For example, their #1 selling Red Tail internal frame pack sells for $169 and compares in its features and performance to other national brands like Gregory, Kelty and Mountainsmith packs that retail for $250. With the scout discount of 45%, the Red Tail comes down to $92.95, about 1/3 the cost of national brands. For additional information, go to their web site at www.alpsmountaineering.com or call them at 800-344-2577. -------------------- Leave No Trace Trainer Certification Course This past weekend, seventeen Venturers from Venturing Crews 310, 682, and 1519 along with eighteen adults from ten different crews and troops completed the Leave No Trace Trainer Certification Course at Camp Highroad, Middleburg, VA. Sponsored by Crew 682, the course focused on the principals of LNT and provided participants to practice various teaching techniques. At the conclusion of the course, the participants were teamed together to present a 10-minute class, which was critiqued by the group. The course was the idea of Mr. Pete Seidler of Crew 682. He was ably assisted by Mr. Eric Buckland and his son Andrew of Crew 682, and Peggy and Johnie Simpson. The course was an example of what can be done by combining the efforts and talents of several units. The energy level and synergy displayed at this course was outstanding. We encourage other units; crews, teams and troops to combine their assets for exciting program and learning opportunities. Thanks Pete for a job well done! ---------------- Woodbadge Award to Hugh Gribbin Hugh Gribben, ADC-Central Area, will be awarded the Woodbadge Beads for Commissioners' is going to be presented at the January 22, 2002 Commissioner's Meeting. Hugh is a Fox. Congratulations Hugh! -------------------- Merit Badge Lists have been updated Check the Merit Badge Website for your troop at http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/#trooplist or http://www.geocities.com/paxmeritbadge/#trooplist. The district file appears here for downloading. "Troop only" files are also included. The Troop only files are password protected. If you have forgotten your password email Chris Schwartz chris.schwartz@ieee.org