Troop 132

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  • Home
  • About Troop 132
    • Calendar
    • Scoutmaster's Message
    • Troop Hall of Fame
    • Contact Troop
    • Meeting Location >
      • Concord Scout House
    • Troop Committee
    • Troop Documents
    • Troop Forms
    • Scout & Leadership Resources >
      • Electronic Device Policy
    • Thank you to Troop 10
  • Troop 132 Treks
    • Summer Camp
    • Photos from Past Trips >
      • Nantucket - May 2018
      • Maine High Adv - August 2018
      • Mt. Greylock - Nov 2018
      • Mt. Washington - Nov 2018
    • Trip Fact Sheets
    • Troop 132 Facebook
  • Troop Organization
    • Scout Leadership
    • Adult Leadership
    • Scoutbook
    • Links to BSA Sites
  • About Scouting
    • For Scouts
    • For Parents
    • For Webelos
    • Merit Badges
    • Advancement
    • The Scout Oath and Law
  • Trip Planning
    • Equipment Lists
    • How to Buy a Sleeping Bag
    • FAQs on Gear
    • Practice Knots
  • Christmas Tree Pick-Up
  • Covid-19 Safety Plan

Scoutmaster's Message

October 27th, 2018

10/27/2018

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Another quick, action-packed overnight adventure by the scouts of Troop 132.  Last weekend we ventured back to western Mass to challenge ourselves at RambleWild, where the scouts took on a variety of aerial obstacle courses.  Each course had unique technical challenges that tested the scouts both physically and mentally.  I have to say I was impressed by strength and courage that the boys demonstrated as they conquered courses which were set among the trees twenty to thirty feet up off the ground.  In the beginning, more than a few scouts were a little nervous to step out and confront the first obstacles.  As they progressed through each course, their confidence grew, and by the end, everyone was eager to find new challenges to explore.  It was especially gratifying to watch as the scouts encouraged and supported each other as they worked to overcome the obstacles facing them.

When our adventure at RambleWild was done, we found more adventures at a rustic campground, Privacy Campground, where we camped overnight.  It was a little rough around the edges with a rather eccentric caretaker. The highlights included:  a fallout shelter, a rotating tetter-totter (lots of whA-whOO!), a little trolley that crawled along at a pace that makes a snail look like a racecar (25 cents got you 30 minutes!), and some very pushy ducks who were looking for a hand out, and who were not shy about coming up and giving you a poke to get your attention.  For more details, I encourage you to ask the scouts.  I’m sure they would be happy to share their stories. 

The scouts did a great job of setting up camp, taking care of meals, and getting a fire started.  Sunday morning the boys were up early and had breakfast going at the crack of dawn.  They completely managed themselves and needed no direction from the adults.  Well done guys!

Thanks to Mr. Gekle for honchoing and organizing this trip.  Thanks also to Mr. Herrero, Mr. Pautler, Mr. Aibel, Mr. Botfield, and Will Duggan for driving and helping with logistics.
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Do a Good Turn Daily!

10/20/2018

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Unfortunately, the fall drop/swap was canceled. It would have been cold, wet, and hard to do this role and the town made the correct decision. We will have some more troop service projects coming. Stay tuned for announcements.

Be prepared this weekend and check the forecast. It could be some light rain and temps down into the 30’s as the days grow shorter. Be prepared means getting not only your personal gear but your patrol gear and spares. Be helpful to your patrol and I am looking forward to hearing about good meals prepared.

Note to Parents:
If you have questions about how the Troop runs things like Scoutmaster conferences, blue card process for merit badges, and planning for meals and equipment, my advice to you would be to ask your scout. The scouts have been introduced to these processes during meetings and they can ask their patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leaders, and the senior patrol leader if they are unclear. Our troop is boy-led and this empowers them to navigate through the Troop to get the answers they need.

That being said, you can reach me in person anytime before or after meetings, at events, camping, or by email or phone. I’m usually the last one to leave the Troop meetings and I usually have time to answer any scouts questions. As a general rule, we try to schedule Scoutmaster conferences on camping trips, on service projects (if we have breaks), and finally on Tuesday’s before or after Troop meetings (not during Troop meetings). The scouts need to be engaged in the Troop meetings with their patrols/Troop and if they are seeking personal advancement during a Troop meeting, then they miss out on either working with their patrol or helping the leadership obtain the goals of the meeting. There is always time, the scouts just need to plan ahead (Be Prepared) and sometimes they might have to wait. The scouts can also contact me by email at scoutmaster@troop132.com or text me 978 697-2730. If the scouts need to contact me via email or cell phone, they need to copy a second adult (parent or Curtis Gekle at committeechair@troop132.com). I will also post a whiteboard at each meeting where the scout can put their name on a board if the need a SM Conference. The Blue cards need signatures, the assignment of a merit badge counselor, and the finalization with the advancement chair to record the badge.

Lastly, one of the roles for our Troop Committee Chair is to field any parent concerns and questions and Curtis Gekle is always readily available via email (committeechair@troop132.com) to set up a time to talk.
If you have any questions please let me know. Glad to help, but it first starts with empowering your scout too self-advocate.
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Remember ….do your good turn daily!

10/13/2018

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Thanks to all the scouts and leaders for a terrific Eagle Court of Honor for Will and Michael. For anyone who missed it, there will be another Eagle Court of Honor on Saturday, November 24 for Aiden and Justin.

Last Saturday Jacob held his first session to help the Lincoln Council of Aging with technology and intergenerational interaction. He was well prepared, trained the scouts in advance and hosted a nice session. We do need more people to come to take advantage of this opportunity. The next session will be held on Saturday, December 2.

Next weekend is Ramblewild and camping in the Berkshires. You have until Tuesday to signup. The Tuesday Troop meeting will be for planning meals and equipment.  

Make sure you bring your books to the Troop meetings and work with your patrol leader to sign off on your earned skills and let them know what you need and want to do. Every month you have an opportunity to learn new skills and put them into action.
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Remember ….do your good turn daily!

10/6/2018

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We had a good productive Troop meeting this week where the scouts focused on knots. Ben Clarke and Ben Sprague did a nice job with teaching the Troop and preparing skits for campfire programs. We have campfire programs for all our camping events and this is what the PLC planned. Nice job.
New leadership -  SPL Nick, ASPL’s Kevin and Ben are off to a good start.
Special thanks to Miles Inman and Will Duggan to responding like Minutemen to the call of duty to lead the town meeting for the flag ceremony. On short notice, which was due to some miscommunication issues, they responded and got this off with help from SPL Nick. Nice work again to the scouts who jumped in to serve their community when asked.

This weekend we have two more opportunities for scouting. Jacob Anthony will need scouts to help on Saturday afternoon and please plan on coming to an Eagle Court of Honor on Sunday at 3 pm at the Scout House. Will D and Michael Flannery will be honored by the Troop and this will certainly inspire others to say, ‘yes I can do that’. These two young men put in many, many, hours for our troop. At camp, on service projects, leading, and helping others. They went often times well beyond the call. Please come to celebrate and congratulate them
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October 01st, 2018

10/1/2018

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Congratulations to all of the scouts who earned various merit badges, ranks, and awards this past Tuesday. It is always a pleasure to recognize their accomplishments!

Just a quick thank you to the Troop for your recognization at the Court of Honor. That was a real surprise and so kind of the Troop. The card was great, the plaque is amazing and the kind words were humbling. It has been a real pleasure to serve the Troop and this gives me a boost like an energy bar along the trail.  We have great kids and great parent suppor

PS:  Please join us on October 7 (2:50PM at the Scout House) as we recognize that efforts of two Eagle Scouts (Will Duggan & Michael Flannery).
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