1995/96
May 30, 1996
Mountain Biking Trip: We are meeting at the Scout House Saturday morning (June 1) at 6:30am. We need to meet that early so that we can get in a full day of biking at Mount Cranmore. The cost is $55, which includes $40 for rental of a bike and lift ticket. After biking, we will head to Bretton Woods to swim at the Sports Lodge, and then go out for pizza, before settling down at the Lee's condominium for the night. On Sunday, we'll head home after breakfast, arriving back in Weston at about Noon. The boys will be dropped off at their homes. Permission slips need to be signed when the boys are dropped off on Saturday morning. This should be a lot of fun. Mount Cranmore has trails of all levels of difficulty, including a very easy trail off the backside that goes all the way down the mountain. Thus, riders of all abilities should have a good time. Weather is supposed to cooperate, too.
May 15, 1996
Environmental Science Merit Badge: Mr. Petcavage will be at our next meeting and in all likelihood also at our June 3 meeting. Be sure to review the last newsletter to see what you need to complete for these meetings. Everything will have to be done by June 3 in order to qualify for the badge by the June 17 Court of Honor.
It's Official: Our new council name is the Knox Trail Council. The new council officially adopted the name at a recent meeting. The name is a reference to General Knox, who in the winter of 1775-1776 managed to haul artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga over 300 miles of snow to the hills surrounding Boston. The artillery played a big part in persuading the British, who then held Boston, to withdraw from the city. General Knox hauled the artillery through the towns making up our new council, hence the council name. Weston has a memorial to General Knox in town center. He was a colorful figure (see below).
May 12, 1996
Swimming Merit Badge: We will join John Fortini to complete Swimming Merit Badge at the Weston Middle School on June 6 to finish Swimming Merit Badge. Those boys who went to Babson a few weeks ago, and were unable to finish all of the requirements for the badge, will have this evening to do so. Any boys who did not get to Babson, and want to work on the badge, should come also. There is a chance that you could finish everything in one evening.
Fishing a Big Success: Seven boys and their fathers (three father/son pairs from Troop 157 and four from Pack 152) went fishing on Saturday on Nonesuch Pond. Lots of fish were caught! Large mouth bass, crappies, and various sunfish. Mike L. and George L. both caught two species, qualifying them to complete Fishing Merit Badge. They cleaned and filleted a Sunfish, which George cooked to perfection that afternoon. Everyone had a good time. We'll do this again next year.
May 8, 1996
Fishing on Nonesuch Pond: Our fishing trip is this Saturday, May 11. We'll be fishing on Nonesuch Pond. We'll be joined by several 4th grade Webelos scouts and parents from Pack 152. We'll meet at Camp Nonesuch at 9:30am, and complete the day's activities at 3:00pm. Drop off and pickup will be at Camp Nonesuch. A permission slip for this activity is attached. Please use this slip, rather than the one earlier sent, as it includes a waiver for both Rivers School and Camp Nonesuch. Bring the permission slip with you on May 11. Camp Nonesuch is reached by taking Route 30 west, and taking the first left turn after entering Natick. That road takes you under the turnpike, and the entrance to Camp Nonesuch is the first left after emerging from the underpass. Bring your own fishing equipment, sunglasses, and bag lunch. Adults and boys over 15 years of age need a fishing license, which can be obtained at Town Hall (during regular business hours, Monday to Friday) or at some sporting goods stores (e.g., Natick Outdoor Store, 38 North Avenue, in Natick center). Given the large number of fish in Nonesuch Pond, it is likely that anyone interested in obtaining Fishing Merit Badge can catch the required two species of fish, and then learn how to clean and cook one of them.
April 28, 1996
Spring Camporee: Record attendance and performance. The Troop 157 "Trailblazers" had perfect scores on their campsite and dinner meal--venison stew prepared in a dutch oven on the fire--and on orienteering and fire building (from flint and steel). We got docked a few points on trail-in inspection (we did not all know who had the first aid kit) and bench building (we used square lashings everywhere, instead of some diagonal lashing). Thirteen boys and three adults participated. We also had two Webelos scouts from Pack 152 (Brooks D. and Jesse L.) and their fathers (Jed D. and Neil L.). Austin S. and Peter W. were tapped out for OA. Weather was rainy Friday night, but cleared for a perfect sunny Saturday and Sunday.
April 23, 1996
Spring Camporee is this weekend, April 26-28: See the April 23, 1996 newsletter for details. There is no meeting on April 29. Our next meeting is May 6, at which we will try to complete Safety merit badge with Mr. Kennard.
April 8, 1996
Swimming: We are meeting at 6:30pm (instead of 7:30pm) on Monday, April 8, in order to go swimming at the Norumbega Council swim night at Babson College Pool. Bring a swim suit and towel, and, if you want to work on Swimming merit badge, a pair of cotton pants and button-up-the-front shirt (both will get wet).
March 17, 1996
Environmental Science Merit Badge: Mr. P. will begin instruction on Environmental Science Merit Badge at tomorrow night's meeting. This badge promises to be pretty interesting. You get to pick your own 10 acre study area somewhere in Weston, and visit it several times to make observations. Mr. P. will have maps with him tomorrow night, to help everyone choose their own area. The next thing we'll do is get together for a field outing in April, at which Mr. P. will show us how to do the inventoring and field observations on our own 10 acre study areas.
Swimming: Two boy scout swimming sessions are on the calendar, at which you can earn Swimming Merit Badge. We are going to attend one of those sessions (Monday night, April 8, 6:45-8:30pm) instead of our regular meeting that night. The other session is from 3:45-5:30pm on Saturday, March 23. Both are held at the Babson College Pool, off Forest Street in Wellesley (not the Babson Recreation Center Pool, which is off Grand Avenue). Cost is $2 per session. Bring a an extra pair of cotton pants and a shirt that buttons down the front if you want to work on Swimming Merit Badge. That clothing will get wet! To get the merit badge as part of this program, you need to attend both sessions, but arrangements will be made for a third session following April 8 for those who need it to complete the merit badge.
March 10, 1996
Our spring advancement program is in high gear! Mr. K. will be instructing on Safety Merit Badge at tomorrow's meeting. This will be the first of probably three sessions with Mr. K. Mr. P. will begin a series of meetings on Environmental Science Merit Badge on either March 18 or March 25.
March 4, 1996
Next troop meeting is Monday, March 11. Troop committee meeting scheduled for March 13 has been postponed to March 20. Photos of our 2nd ski trip have been added to the 1995-96 Events & Photo Album page.
February 13, 1996
This past Monday's meeting was cancelled, owing to the large number of boys not expected to attend. Our next meeting is Monday, February 26. See you there! Photos have been added to the 1995-96 Events & Photo Album page.
February 5, 1996
The first of our two ski trips is this coming weekend, February 9-11, 1996. We will be leaving from the Scout House at 5:30pm on Friday, spending Friday and Saturday nights at Hutman's Cabin, in Jackson, New Hampshire, and skiing nearby at Attitash on Saturday and Sunday. The cost will be $120, which will cover most food, lodging, lift tickets, and rentals. If you bring your own ski equipment, the price is $100. You will need additional money (about $20), or your own bag lunches, to cover dinner on the way up Friday night, lunches at the ski area on Saturday and Sunday, and a snack on the way home Sunday afternoon.
You will need to bring a sleeping bag, and a foam mat or air mattress. The cabin is heated with a wood stove. There is no running water, and so everyone should bring 2 liters of water with them on Friday; we'll refill the bottles at the ski area on Saturday. Toilet facilities are an outhouse. Be sure to bring the cold weather items from the troop's packing list. Pack your gear in a backpack, as it is a short, but significant, hike up the hill to the cabin from the parking lot.
Anyone renting skiis will need to have a rental form signed and dated by a parent. The forms will be available at the meeting tonight, and when we meet on Friday afternoon. You will also need to have a parent sign and date the attached permission slip.
If your going, and did not say so at the meeting on Monday night, please let Mr. Lee or Mr. B. know, and direct any questions to them, also.
January 25, 1996
Mr. W. has had to cancel Friday evening's meeting, but will be at the Fire House all day on Saturday and Sunday, and can meet with the boys taking Emergency Preparedness at any time those days. Just call the Fire House before going in. An effort is being made to organize a specific time on Saturday and Sunday.
January 21, 1995
Seven boys turned out for the second meeting with Mr. W. on Emergency Preparedness merit badge on Sunday. Next meeting with Mr. W. is from 7-8pm this coming Friday, January 26, again at the fire house in Weston center. Bring your "emergency pack" and the Mobilization Plan (which will be worked out at Monday's meeting). Come even if you missed Sunday's meeting, as Mr. W. can make arrangements for a further meeting at which you can make up what you missed.
January 19, 1996
Meeting with Mr. W. for Emergency Preparedness merit badge is this Sunday, January 21, at 7:30pm at the fire house in Weston center. Try to have everything ready for Mr. W. so that you can pass the merit badge at that meeting.
January 11, 1996
Operation Polar Bear organizers cancelled the weekend, in view of the storm expected Friday night, which they felt would produce conditions too severe for some scouts to handle, as well as poor driving conditions for scouts driving to Nobscot from large distances. It's real unfortunate, as I know that Troop 157 was prepared. But we'll be out in the snow in a month up at Hutman's Cabin, and if there is interest in learning how to pitch and sleep in tents in the snow, we can do that in the vicinity of Hutman's.
Still no word on the schedule for meeting with Ed W. Stay tuned.
January 10, 1996
Ski trips are on for Feb 9-11 and March 1-3. At Wednesday's meeting, there was a good show of interest in both trips, and a decision was made to go to Wildcat on the second one, and to include cross country skiing on at least that trip, perhaps using the 8 mile trail down from the top of Wildcat to Jackson Hole.
Polar Bear is a go for this weekend. Eight scouts and three adults are headed out. We leave at 7 am on Saturday morning. Boys can join us late if you let us know when. Mr. S. is leaving at about 6 - 6:30pm on Saturday, and will be taking 3 boys home with him that have other commitments.
The schedule for meetings with Mr. Walker on Emergency Preparedness will be posted soon. All working on this merit badge need to complete the requirements now so you will be ready for those meetings. Plan is to schedule them between now and our next meeting on January 22.
Open House is our next meeting, January 22. We can expect to have several prospective new members at that meeting. Let's all turn out to welcome them.