CPR/AED/First Aid (course fee $50)
Includes Adult/Child/Infant CPR and meets the VA State requirements for Daycare providers.
September 26, 2009 at Camp William B. Snyder
November 14, 2009 at Camp William B. Snyder
December 13, 2009 at Camp William B. Snyder
Register for Sept. 26: http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?orgkey=370&ActivityKey=626926
Register for Nov. 14th: http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?orgkey=370&ActivityKey=633601
Register for Dec. 13th: http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?orgkey=370&ActivityKey=633603
Back Country Outdoor Leader Skills (course fee $40.00)
This course is aimed at all adults working with older youth regardless of program (Venture Patrol, Varsity Scout, Venturing Crew, or Explorer Post)
Part 1 - Sat. 10/24 at Kings Landing Park, MD
Part 2 - Sat. 11/7, thru Sun. 11/8, at Kings Landing Park, MD
Register: http://www.doubleknot.com/registration/calendardetail.asp?orgkey=370&ActivityKey=638041
Wilderness First Aid (course fee $150)
Designed to meet the needs of the Venturing Ranger Program including the optional first aid requirements. Also, All Groups attending Philmont to Northern Tier High Adventure treks are required ti have one person complete this training prior to their trek.
October 30—November 1, 2009
Register: http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?orgkey=370&ActivityKey=626889
Monday, August 17, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
From the Troop Archives: Scout Sunday 2006
How many of these young men and adult leaders can you identify?
Mr. Campion (Cubmaster at the time) and some of the Cubs. Msgr. English in the background.
What a good looking bunch of guys!
Mr. Slagle says "What Me?"Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Leader Training will now be Required in 2010
From the Montgomery District Update (Aug. 2009):
Selected councils will pilot required training for all direct contact leaders in 2010. Plans are in development to require training for all direct contact leaders in 2011. Montgomery District needs your help in preparing to make training more readily available and to help expand our training teams. If you have an interest in helping train our leaders to insure a QUALITY PROGRAM at the unit levels, please contact John Dillon @ dillonjbep@aol.com or Mary Lou Gunderson at gmlgundersen@comcast.net
NATIONAL BSA TRAINING WEBSITE: The National BSA training website at www.scouting.org has been redesigned and is much more user friendly. To get to training information, click on volunteer, then training, and you will see the new and improved training resource page. You can also go directly to the on-line learning center at http://olc.scouting.org/
REPLACEMENT FOR NEW LEADERS ESSENTIALS: "This is Scouting" is now up and running on the Online Learning Center http://olc.scouting.org/ It is a 6 module training course that can be completed in about an hour. It replaces New Leader Essentials (NLE). New Leader Essentials has now been discontinued. References to NLE as a prerequisite to being a TRAINED leader should substitute "This is Scouting" as the new prerequisite.
NEW SUPPLEMENTAL ONLINE TRAINING COURSES: New supplemental training courses available now online include Interfaith Worship, Bullying, Leave No Trace and Disc Golf. They join Hazardous Weather, Youth Protection Training, Venturing Youth Protection Training, Fast Start Courses for nearly every unit leadership position, and more. Both Trek Safely (S76) and Climb on Safely (S74) are available for Scouter's to complete there, too. Both of these courses and the two Youth Protection courses have a two year shelf life. And even better, more new courses are in development. Check back often at http://olc.scouting.org/
PROGRAM FEATURES AND PROGRAM RESOURCES: Troop and Varsity Scout Program Features and Troop/Team Program Resources are all available through the web page and can be viewed and down loaded.
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT HAZARDOUS WEATHER TRAINING AND TOUR PERMITS: Hazardous Weather training is on the Online Learning Center at http://olc.scouting.org/. As of 1-1-09 it is required to be completed by at least one person in a unit for the unit to receive a tour permit. SCOUTPARENTS PROGRAM UPDATE: Scout Parent Unit Coordinator Fast Start is now on the Online Learning Center at http://olc.scouting.org/. For each unit to participate in the Scoutparents program they must designate a Scout Parent Unit Coordinator who will coordinate parent involvement in unit activities.
YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING, BALOO AND TOUR PERMITS: As of 1-1-09, all tour permits also require at least one person have completed Youth Protection Training (or Venturing YPT) within the past 2 years. BALOO is an additional requirement for issuance of a tour permit for a Cub Scout Pack camping event. Whereas Youth Protection Training must be renewed every 2 years, BALOO does not have a 2 year shelf life (it's for life until they tell us different!!@#!!).
ONE OF THE BEST TRAINING RESOURCES FOR ALL BOY SCOUT LEADERS HAS BEEN UPDATED: The centennial edition (12th) of the Boy Scout Handbook is now available. It features a mixture of parts of many of the early hand books with a 21st century flair. The handbook features chapters on Leadership and Leave No Trace, which both are firsts. There will be a supplemental 100 year timeline book with the first printing and a mini-book with the rank requirements that is pocket size. A website will provide in-depth information on many subjects.
TRAINING RECERTIFICATIONS: Training courses that require people to be re-certified include BSA Lifeguard (3 years), Paddle Craft Safely (3 years) Swimming and Water Rescue (3 years) Climb on Safely (2 years) Trek Safely (2 years) Safe Swim Defense (2 years) Safety Afloat (2 years) Camp Visitation (2 years) Chain Saw Safety (2 years) National Camp School (5 camping seasons) Youth Protection Trainings/Venture Leader Youth Protection Training (2 years).
You should note that I have taken some of the on-line learning modules. They are not difficult and most importantly, you do learn. It is my opinion that one of the better ones is the Hazardous Weather. Even Mrs. Barone learned a couple of things.
Selected councils will pilot required training for all direct contact leaders in 2010. Plans are in development to require training for all direct contact leaders in 2011. Montgomery District needs your help in preparing to make training more readily available and to help expand our training teams. If you have an interest in helping train our leaders to insure a QUALITY PROGRAM at the unit levels, please contact John Dillon @ dillonjbep@aol.com or Mary Lou Gunderson at gmlgundersen@comcast.net
NATIONAL BSA TRAINING WEBSITE: The National BSA training website at www.scouting.org has been redesigned and is much more user friendly. To get to training information, click on volunteer, then training, and you will see the new and improved training resource page. You can also go directly to the on-line learning center at http://olc.scouting.org/
REPLACEMENT FOR NEW LEADERS ESSENTIALS: "This is Scouting" is now up and running on the Online Learning Center http://olc.scouting.org/ It is a 6 module training course that can be completed in about an hour. It replaces New Leader Essentials (NLE). New Leader Essentials has now been discontinued. References to NLE as a prerequisite to being a TRAINED leader should substitute "This is Scouting" as the new prerequisite.
NEW SUPPLEMENTAL ONLINE TRAINING COURSES: New supplemental training courses available now online include Interfaith Worship, Bullying, Leave No Trace and Disc Golf. They join Hazardous Weather, Youth Protection Training, Venturing Youth Protection Training, Fast Start Courses for nearly every unit leadership position, and more. Both Trek Safely (S76) and Climb on Safely (S74) are available for Scouter's to complete there, too. Both of these courses and the two Youth Protection courses have a two year shelf life. And even better, more new courses are in development. Check back often at http://olc.scouting.org/
PROGRAM FEATURES AND PROGRAM RESOURCES: Troop and Varsity Scout Program Features and Troop/Team Program Resources are all available through the web page and can be viewed and down loaded.
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT HAZARDOUS WEATHER TRAINING AND TOUR PERMITS: Hazardous Weather training is on the Online Learning Center at http://olc.scouting.org/. As of 1-1-09 it is required to be completed by at least one person in a unit for the unit to receive a tour permit. SCOUTPARENTS PROGRAM UPDATE: Scout Parent Unit Coordinator Fast Start is now on the Online Learning Center at http://olc.scouting.org/. For each unit to participate in the Scoutparents program they must designate a Scout Parent Unit Coordinator who will coordinate parent involvement in unit activities.
YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING, BALOO AND TOUR PERMITS: As of 1-1-09, all tour permits also require at least one person have completed Youth Protection Training (or Venturing YPT) within the past 2 years. BALOO is an additional requirement for issuance of a tour permit for a Cub Scout Pack camping event. Whereas Youth Protection Training must be renewed every 2 years, BALOO does not have a 2 year shelf life (it's for life until they tell us different!!@#!!).
ONE OF THE BEST TRAINING RESOURCES FOR ALL BOY SCOUT LEADERS HAS BEEN UPDATED: The centennial edition (12th) of the Boy Scout Handbook is now available. It features a mixture of parts of many of the early hand books with a 21st century flair. The handbook features chapters on Leadership and Leave No Trace, which both are firsts. There will be a supplemental 100 year timeline book with the first printing and a mini-book with the rank requirements that is pocket size. A website will provide in-depth information on many subjects.
TRAINING RECERTIFICATIONS: Training courses that require people to be re-certified include BSA Lifeguard (3 years), Paddle Craft Safely (3 years) Swimming and Water Rescue (3 years) Climb on Safely (2 years) Trek Safely (2 years) Safe Swim Defense (2 years) Safety Afloat (2 years) Camp Visitation (2 years) Chain Saw Safety (2 years) National Camp School (5 camping seasons) Youth Protection Trainings/Venture Leader Youth Protection Training (2 years).
You should note that I have taken some of the on-line learning modules. They are not difficult and most importantly, you do learn. It is my opinion that one of the better ones is the Hazardous Weather. Even Mrs. Barone learned a couple of things.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Troop 466 in the News
We had a short announcement in this week's parish bulletin:
Boy Scout Troop 466 would like to congratulate the Scouts who participated in the Ohiopyle State Park trip in early August. Almost all of the Scouts earned the Geology, Forestry and Climbing Merit Badges, totaling 27 completed. We also would like to thank all those who kept us in their prayers during this trip.
Hope that all of you who were unable to make it this year, join us the next time. It was a great trip!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Catholic? A Scout? Check this out...
Interested in learning what Catholic awards and achievements you can earn?
Want to know what is happening for Scouts who are Catholic?
Then go the the National Catholic Committee on Scouting website!
Want to know what is happening for Scouts who are Catholic?
Then go the the National Catholic Committee on Scouting website!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Gohsen Not the Site for Jamboree
From the Montgomery NewsFlash dated Aug. 4, 2009 (eNews from Montgomery District - NCAC):
We regret to inform you that the Boy Scouts of America has decided to withdraw its interest in Goshen Scout Reservation as the permanent site for the National Scout Jamboree. The BSA identified too many potential obstacles in developing the Goshen site to its fullest and is pursuing other venues.The National Capital Area Council will continue to support the outstanding outdoor programs offered at Goshen Scout Reservation. This process has identified many areas that offer great potential in strengthening our service to youth. Goshen Scout Reservation will continue to serve as our council's classroom for character far into the future.
Bill Hagerty, Chairman National Jamboree Task Force and Al Lambert, NCAC Scout Executive
We regret to inform you that the Boy Scouts of America has decided to withdraw its interest in Goshen Scout Reservation as the permanent site for the National Scout Jamboree. The BSA identified too many potential obstacles in developing the Goshen site to its fullest and is pursuing other venues.The National Capital Area Council will continue to support the outstanding outdoor programs offered at Goshen Scout Reservation. This process has identified many areas that offer great potential in strengthening our service to youth. Goshen Scout Reservation will continue to serve as our council's classroom for character far into the future.
Bill Hagerty, Chairman National Jamboree Task Force and Al Lambert, NCAC Scout Executive
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
New Boy Scout Handbook Available
There is a new Boy Scout Handbook (12th edition) that the scout shop put out on the shelves this week. It has the new requirements in them including reference to the new 2009 eagle project workbook by the correct number.
"The 12th edition of the BSA Handbook has been completely redesigned. New features include bubble tags that alert readers where they can go to the internet to find additional information about certain subjects. Updated graphics and a whole new look make this edition the perfect companion for Scouting's 100th Anniversary celebration."
Visit your NCAC Scout Shops in Bethesda, MD or Springfield, VA or on line at http://scoutstuff.org/
"The 12th edition of the BSA Handbook has been completely redesigned. New features include bubble tags that alert readers where they can go to the internet to find additional information about certain subjects. Updated graphics and a whole new look make this edition the perfect companion for Scouting's 100th Anniversary celebration."
Visit your NCAC Scout Shops in Bethesda, MD or Springfield, VA or on line at http://scoutstuff.org/
PLEASE NOTE: The current version you have is fine. You do not have to go out and purchase the new one unless the one you have is in very bad shape. You can easily download any changes from the web and include them in the book you have. If you do decide to purchase a new one, do not throw out the old you. You need to keep the advancement records in it.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Ohiopyle 2009 Memories...
Scouts, Scouters & parents,
The week long trip to Ohiopyle State Park was fantastic and a great time was had by all. 10 scouts (Nathaniel, Aidan, Ian, Alastair, Tyler, Stefan, Nathan, Christopher, Cade, & Joseph) and 5 adults (Mr. Cowhig, Mr. Incognito, Mr. Weston, Mr. Barone & Mr. McCormick) attended the campout.
All of the scouts received at least 2 of 3 merit badges there (forestry, geology & climbing) and the trip included many other activities:
We went to the natural waterslides at Ohiopyle and at first thought that it would be too rough going down. But just after a few minutes, the scouts were going down head first! Ask them about the chest bruises some of them got! Plus, the water was a "warm" 52 degrees-- suitable for numbing up any pain.
All the scouts took merit badge classes and went rock climbing and rappelling ("rap-pelling", for Joseph) inside the caverns. That first step off the ledge from about 40 feet up was probably the most difficult part. But after 3 go-arounds, all of the scouts and Mr. Cowhig were "pros" at it.
The lower caving that same day was perhaps even more fun. Nothing like being a mile below ground with a headlamp on and trying to maneuver through crawl spaces only a skinny 10 year old could fit through! Definitely not for the claustrophobic! The scouts took it as a challenge though and did just great. No one got injured too badly (again only some minor bruises).
Thankfully we had scheduled our trip early enough because they have now completely closed off lower caving to groups because of the white-nosed disease that is killing off tens of thousands of bats.
On Tuesday, we went whitewater rafting on the Lower Youghiogheny River. In my boat, both Aidan and Joseph flipped off into the water on a relatively mild rapid and had to be pulled in. I think Beans also flipped off of his boat during a rapid-- but I think everyone managed to say inside of Mr. Cowhig's boat. We had a very interesting cold cut sandwich lunch and soon afterwards, jumped off a 20 foot rock into the river just for fun. This was so much fun that we have to come back and do it again!
We visited (George Washington's really tiny) Fort Necessity on Wednesday and learned a lot about the French and Indian war. It rained pretty much all morning and all day, so it was good being indoors. For lunch, some of us went to Nate Dog's for some really tasty hotdog's. Nate Incognito has a nice green tee shirt from there as a souvenir.
On Friday, we topped off our stay with a long 10 mile, 5 hr hike through the state park (the first 2 hours of it in the pouring rain). And were reminded of a few things: (1) don't ever forget to bring a water bottle; (2) waterproof hiking boots do much better in the rain than running shoes; (3) always wear wool (not cotton) socks; (4) pizza at Fox's in Ohiopyle at 4pm is really, really delicious, especially when you missed lunch! (5) finishing 8 large pizzas for 12 starving people.... no problem.
Everyone had a blast. We cooked up some really great meals (headed again by our master chef, "Beans" Rogers) and despite a wet and soggy 3 days midweek (it just isn't a Troop 466 campout without lots of rain, right?) we managed to really enjoy our time there and had some very memorable moments.
Ask us sometime about: the black bear visiting us the last night we were there; cumin french toast and moments before young Christopher's first step off the ledge during rappelling.
I've managed to snap a few photos of the trip and you can view them on my Smugmug page by visiting: http://lenincognito.smugmug.com/Groups
I have a few more pics to add (from disposable cameras during our whitewater trip and lower caving) later this week.
Well.... I just thought I'd tell you about some of the details as I know when you ask your son, "how was the trip?" the answer you get is, "good". "What did you guys do?" Answer: "Stuff". Hopefully now, you can ask them to fill-in some of the details that went on.
I would like to thank the Scouts for working together extremely well as a team in taking care of both cooking (we love our Dutch ovens!) and KP, setting up and taking down tarps, and especially to our older, experienced scouts in looking out for and teaching our younger scouts the things they need to learn and advance.
Many thanks to Mr. Castell for making the camping arrangements and reservations for us; to Mr. Barone for transporting a lot of our gear to-and-from Ohiopyle; to Mr. Weston and Mr. McCormick for their valuable assistance throughout the entire week and most especially, to Mr. Cowhig for helping with just about every aspect of the trip. He has been instrumental in making our Troop's campouts very enjoyable and memorable and he's done many, many hours of "behind-the-scenes" work to make this (and our Goshen/Bowman campout) very, very successful. My sincere thanks ti him.
To attest to that, the scouts have received an average of 10 merit badges just this summer alone!! That's pretty darn amazing!
Well.....sorry for the long email.
Be on the lookout for many more Troop 466 trips, especially our NYC hiking trip in the fall!
Yours in Scouting,
Len Incognito
Scoutmaster, Troop 466
St. John the Evangelist Church
Silver Spring, MD
The week long trip to Ohiopyle State Park was fantastic and a great time was had by all. 10 scouts (Nathaniel, Aidan, Ian, Alastair, Tyler, Stefan, Nathan, Christopher, Cade, & Joseph) and 5 adults (Mr. Cowhig, Mr. Incognito, Mr. Weston, Mr. Barone & Mr. McCormick) attended the campout.
All of the scouts received at least 2 of 3 merit badges there (forestry, geology & climbing) and the trip included many other activities:
We went to the natural waterslides at Ohiopyle and at first thought that it would be too rough going down. But just after a few minutes, the scouts were going down head first! Ask them about the chest bruises some of them got! Plus, the water was a "warm" 52 degrees-- suitable for numbing up any pain.
All the scouts took merit badge classes and went rock climbing and rappelling ("rap-pelling", for Joseph) inside the caverns. That first step off the ledge from about 40 feet up was probably the most difficult part. But after 3 go-arounds, all of the scouts and Mr. Cowhig were "pros" at it.
The lower caving that same day was perhaps even more fun. Nothing like being a mile below ground with a headlamp on and trying to maneuver through crawl spaces only a skinny 10 year old could fit through! Definitely not for the claustrophobic! The scouts took it as a challenge though and did just great. No one got injured too badly (again only some minor bruises).
Thankfully we had scheduled our trip early enough because they have now completely closed off lower caving to groups because of the white-nosed disease that is killing off tens of thousands of bats.
On Tuesday, we went whitewater rafting on the Lower Youghiogheny River. In my boat, both Aidan and Joseph flipped off into the water on a relatively mild rapid and had to be pulled in. I think Beans also flipped off of his boat during a rapid-- but I think everyone managed to say inside of Mr. Cowhig's boat. We had a very interesting cold cut sandwich lunch and soon afterwards, jumped off a 20 foot rock into the river just for fun. This was so much fun that we have to come back and do it again!
We visited (George Washington's really tiny) Fort Necessity on Wednesday and learned a lot about the French and Indian war. It rained pretty much all morning and all day, so it was good being indoors. For lunch, some of us went to Nate Dog's for some really tasty hotdog's. Nate Incognito has a nice green tee shirt from there as a souvenir.
On Friday, we topped off our stay with a long 10 mile, 5 hr hike through the state park (the first 2 hours of it in the pouring rain). And were reminded of a few things: (1) don't ever forget to bring a water bottle; (2) waterproof hiking boots do much better in the rain than running shoes; (3) always wear wool (not cotton) socks; (4) pizza at Fox's in Ohiopyle at 4pm is really, really delicious, especially when you missed lunch! (5) finishing 8 large pizzas for 12 starving people.... no problem.
Everyone had a blast. We cooked up some really great meals (headed again by our master chef, "Beans" Rogers) and despite a wet and soggy 3 days midweek (it just isn't a Troop 466 campout without lots of rain, right?) we managed to really enjoy our time there and had some very memorable moments.
Ask us sometime about: the black bear visiting us the last night we were there; cumin french toast and moments before young Christopher's first step off the ledge during rappelling.
I've managed to snap a few photos of the trip and you can view them on my Smugmug page by visiting: http://lenincognito.smugmug.com/Groups
I have a few more pics to add (from disposable cameras during our whitewater trip and lower caving) later this week.
Well.... I just thought I'd tell you about some of the details as I know when you ask your son, "how was the trip?" the answer you get is, "good". "What did you guys do?" Answer: "Stuff". Hopefully now, you can ask them to fill-in some of the details that went on.
I would like to thank the Scouts for working together extremely well as a team in taking care of both cooking (we love our Dutch ovens!) and KP, setting up and taking down tarps, and especially to our older, experienced scouts in looking out for and teaching our younger scouts the things they need to learn and advance.
Many thanks to Mr. Castell for making the camping arrangements and reservations for us; to Mr. Barone for transporting a lot of our gear to-and-from Ohiopyle; to Mr. Weston and Mr. McCormick for their valuable assistance throughout the entire week and most especially, to Mr. Cowhig for helping with just about every aspect of the trip. He has been instrumental in making our Troop's campouts very enjoyable and memorable and he's done many, many hours of "behind-the-scenes" work to make this (and our Goshen/Bowman campout) very, very successful. My sincere thanks ti him.
To attest to that, the scouts have received an average of 10 merit badges just this summer alone!! That's pretty darn amazing!
Well.....sorry for the long email.
Be on the lookout for many more Troop 466 trips, especially our NYC hiking trip in the fall!
Yours in Scouting,
Len Incognito
Scoutmaster, Troop 466
St. John the Evangelist Church
Silver Spring, MD
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