Our annual Deep Sea Fishing trip is scheduled for the weekend of June 1st! Sign-ups can now begin by e-mail or at our next troop meeting. This year we will once again be fishing with Captain Dick’s out of Murrells inlet. This is very close to Huntington Beach State Park where we will be camping. Details below.

When: Friday, June 1st – Sunday, June 3rd
Meet: Friday (Time TBD), FYI – school is out for the summer by this date
Where: Tent camping will be at Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, SC
Charter: Captain Dick’s in Murrells Inlet @ Crazy Sister Marina
Food: Individual. Each scout will be responsible for their own meals similar to backpacking
Cost: $33 for scouts, $44 for adults (includes camping fees and everything needed for fishing)

Friday: Leave the church parking sometime TBD (earlier the better). Drive to Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet eating dinner along the way. Set up camp in the primitive camping area (maybe in the daylight!). See attached map of the state park. Drive time will be about 4 hours. We do have reservations this year for Camp sites P001 and P002.

Saturday: Wake up and eat breakfast being ready to go about 7am. We’ll drive over to Captain Dick’s at the Crazy Sister Marina (5.3 miles). Boat leaves at 8:00am. Fish all morning and arrive back at dock about 12:30pm. We’ll pack our fish on ice and bring them back to camp for a fish cleaning demonstration and training by a couple of our expert fisher-scouts. Alex Michaeli, you up for teaching?

Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Maybe fish could be on the menu?

Surf fishing and fishing along the jetty (a nice long walk) is possible. Anyone 16 years and older will need to have a South Carolina saltwater fishing license which can be purchased online. We also have the beach so close you can smell it.

Sunday: Wake up, eat breakfast, pack up, and head home. I estimate our arrival time to be 2pm back at the church.

Helpful Links
Camping: http://www.huntingtonbeachsc.org/
Fishing Charter: http://www.captdicks.com/HeadBoat.html
Possible Driving Route: http://maps.google.com/maptocamp

Fish on!
Gary LaFleur

This is a friendly reminder that you only have two weeks left to turn in your medical forms, merit badge sign-up forms, and final payment for summer camp.

Also, we will be having a summer camp open house on Tuesday, May 22nd at 7 pm at Grace Presbyterian Church. This meeting is open to all Scouts & Parents but I especially encourage all new Scouts to attend so that you can be prepared for your first summer camp with the Troop.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks

Todd Whitaker
T250 Summer Camp Coordinator

http://www.bsa250.org/troop250/

For those of you that are going on the Stone Mountain campout  May 4th – 6th, I thought you might enjoy this video.

The good stuff starts around the 55-second mark.

Hope you have a great weekend.

YiS,
R. Mercer
Scoutmaster
Troop 250
SR-1019

We are once again offering troop t-shirts just in time for camp.

The shirts will be identical to the shirts we ordered last year and will feature the BSA logo and the text: Troop 250 Fort Mill, SC, screen printed on the left chest. $35 gets you 5 shirts in the colors below.

You don’t have to be going to camp to order, but please order and pay by the May 14th meeting. Make checks payable to BSA Troop 250 and include your choice of size in the memo line.

I’ve made a slight change to the shirt colors. A different shade of blue will allow us to expand the range of sizes. The shirts described below are now available in youth sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL and adult sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL.

Gildan 6.1 oz 100% cotton is preshrunk for active comfort and easy care. This shirt is sized larger than a 50/50 to compensate for what little shrinkage might occur.  It features durable double stitching throughout for the highest in quality.

See Paul Smith for orders and questions.

Paul Smith
Committee Member – Treasurer | Troop 250
www.bsa250.org/troop250

This email is a follow-up communication regarding the Summer Camp update presentation at April 9th Troop meeting. For those who were not at the meeting Monday night, please first carefully read the “Summer Camp – April Presentation.pdf” document. Please take note of the three key actions in the presentation which are due no later than May 14th. Also included as attachments are the sign up forms for the base camp merit badge program, Claytor Lake merit badge program, and the MB descriptions.

As a reminder, first year Scouts will participate in the Brownsea Island Program and do not need to sign up for merit badges.

More details coming soon regarding a date for summer camp open house in May for all Scouts and their parents but especially the new members to the Troop.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks

Todd Whitaker
T250 Summer Camp Coordinator

Summer Camp – April Presentation

Merit Badge Descriptions

MB Schedule & Map

CLAB 2012 MB

The Eagle Court of Honor for Sam Foster, Zack Faulkenbury & Michael Wagner is Sunday, April 15 at 2:00. Please join us as we celebrate these 3 Scouts reaching Scouting’s highest achievement.

For the ceremony, we need 3 Scouts for the color guard and 1 Scout for lighting the candles. Email me if you’re interested in participating in the ceremony.

For all T250 Eagle Scouts attending the Court of Honor, the Scoutmaster is asking you to wear your Eagle Scout neckerchiefs.
R. Mercer
Scoutmaster
Troop 250
SR-1019

We have two new Eagle Scouts in the Troop. Congratulations to Austin Bowman and John Costa for passing their District Eagle Board of Review Monday night.

YIS,

Mr. Dasher

Troop 250 Scouts,

I’m having my second Eagle Project workday Saturday, April 14th, from 9:00am – 3:00pm at the Hunters Run Greenway in Tega Cay. (From Tega Cay Drive take a left onto Shoreline Drive, then go to the first street on your left – Hunters Run Drive. Take a left onto Hunters Run Drive a drive about .25 miles until you get to the open Greenway.) We will be working on the right hand side of the road.

VOLUNTEERS are NEEDED to accomplish a variety of tasks in building a new trail. Please bring your gloves and we’ll share the tools. Please wear close toed shoes (preferably boots).

If you can volunteer for Saturday, please send me an email so we can set up work teams and arrange for the proper tools to be available to each team.

Water and lunch will be provided but you might need to bring your own water bottle.

Leaders:

The council is putting on a NRA Shotgun Instructor’s course the weekend of April 20th at Camp Bob Hardin.

I just found out that they are in need of two more participants. I believe the course runs $72 which is a very good price for this course. Includes your meals and lodging.

If interested, please let me know. It sure would be nice to have a couple other leaders certified for this Merit Badge. As of now this troop does very little in the way of shooting events.

For those in law enforcement, a gun is NOT a weapon per BSA policy!

Let’s go shooting!

Yes, the rumor is true. I’m certified as a NRA Rifle Instructor and a Range Safety Officer. Sure would like to add Shotgun and Pistol to my resume! Funny thing is the Instructor can not act in dual capacity (ie. Range Safety Officer) so it does take two to run a shooting event! I know at least one other leader is a certified Pistol Instructor but Boy Scouts can’t shoot pistols only Rifles and Shotguns!

The organizers have reached out to Troop & Crew 250 for some volunteers for the day of the event to help with directing parking, supervising jumpy houses, blowing up balloons, cleaning up trash, greeting people at the entrance, working the raffle station, helping the bands set up and tear down, etc. There will be adult committee members assigned to each task.

If you do participate, please do so with a scout buddy and/or parent. Be sure to get a signed note for an event official telling us how many hours you worked.

I would like to introduce a couple of activities coming up after the Whitewater Trip (April 13th). If you are 13 or older and would like to participate in the whitewater trip, this may be your last chance to sign-up and pay. Please see Mr. Hudson’s recent e-mail posts for more information.

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Coming up on the weekend of May 4th, we have a troop campout to Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina. This may be the first time our troop has been to Stone Mountain for a weekend camp out. The park offers 21 miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, great views from the granite dome, and fishing. This camp out will be open to grub patrol cooking but any older scout wishing to bring his own “backpacking” meals may do so. Please check out the following web site for additional information on the park: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/stmo/main.php

This trip will be tailored to the scouts that sign up for the weekend. As we see who is interested, our Youth and Adult Leadership will work out a fun activity schedule to match. Advancement opportunities will be made available as needed. Sign-ups are now open. Cost will be $15 for scouts and $20 for adults. For anyone bringing their own food, the cost will be $5 to cover the camping fees.

What: Troop 250 Campout

When: May 4th – 6th

Where: Stone Mountain State Park

Why: Fun, advancement opportunities, hiking, site seeing, relaxing

Cost: $15/scout, $20/adult, $5 if bringing your own food

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Coming up on the weekend of May 11th, we have a troop backpacking event at Crowder’s Mountain State Park. This is a scout favorite and an opportunity to get a taste of backpacking. Other opportunities offered during this trip include rappelling, rock climbing, orienteering, and hiking. No grub masters this time; each individual will be responsible for packing and cooking their own meals. More information will be available on backpacking, cooking meals, and climbing/rappelling during upcoming troop meetings. For more information on Crowder’s Mountain State Park, check out their website: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/crmo/main.php

This trip is open to all scouts. Sign-ups are now open. Cost is FREE to scouts and adults.

What: Backpacking/Rock Climbing/Rappelling

When: May 11th – 13th

Where: Crowder’s Mountain State Park

Why: Backpacking, Hiking, Climbing, Rappelling, Orienteering

Cost: FREE (But bring your own food)

www.lakewyliepilot.com/2012/04/03/1485146/scout-takes-on-clarifying-lake.html

Scouts,

Next Sunday, March 25th, will be a fitness check for the Personal Fitness MB. For a lot of the Scouts taking the MB, this will be the final required fitness check. To finish the MB, the completed MB worksheets and a meeting with the MB counselor to review the requirements are both required.

For the Scouts that need more than 1 fitness check to complete the badge, other make up dates will be announced later.

A Whitewater rafting trip is currently scheduled for April 14, 2012 per T250s Activity Calendar. MINIMUM AGE FOR THIS EVENT IS 14 PER RAFTING COMPANY

This year’s trip will be on the Chattooga River on the SC/GA border. The river has been described a wet, wild and remote! It will be an all day trip with lunch provided. Camping will be a the Oconee State Park. The park is 7 miles from the white water providers site.

We’ve managed a great discount off regular rates of 25%.

Cost to raft all day: $71 per person

Cost to camp: $ 3 per person

$74 per person THIS IS A VERY GOOD PRICE!

Food: either patrol camping or backpack style

Gas: $?? per person

If interested, please see Mr. Lafleur to sign up

DUE TO RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS WE WOULD LIKE FIRM NUMBERS NO LATER THAN MARCH 19th.

For those of you who signed up and/or need to complete the outdoor shelter component of the Wilderness Survival merit badge we will be constructing these shelters this weekend (Saturday, March 10, 2012). The details are listed below:

Day: Saturday

Date: March 10, 2012

Meeting Place: Mr. Hudson’s house

Address: 2988 Eppington South Drive

Fort Mill

Meeting Time: 4:30pm

What to Bring: BSA Medical Form

Sleeping Bag (optional)

Dinner for Saturday night (Backpacking Style)

Warm Hat

Water (need to stay hydrated)

Personal Hygiene items

Flashlight

I have 40 acres of undeveloped land behind my house in which we will venture into and find a suitable place to construct shelters while observing leave no trace to the best of our abilities. You will have until dark to complete your shelter for your overnight living accommodations!

Plan on an early departure Sunday morning (around 8am) so you will not need to bring breakfast. As of now looks like they are calling for a low of 46 degrees and no rain. All the better! but as we all know weathermen aren’t 100% reliable.

PLEASE CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING VIA RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL.

Mr. Hudson

Next Monday, at the Troop Court of Honor, we are going to take a few minutes to ask for your help. In addition to your continued volunteer support, there is a need to support the Palmetto Council through cash contributions. Troop 250 has had a long history of strong participation in the Family Friends of Scouting Program.

Anything you pledge will be appreciated and help the program stay strong for our scouts. This program is extremely versatile in working with you to pay your pledge in just about any manner that suits you: check; credit card; time payment; deferred payment. In the event you cannot make the CoH, please fill out the attached pledge sheet and mail it to me, I will see the funds get to the council, the Troop is credited with your donation, and you get your recognition award.

Jeremy Roberts’,

Jeremy Roberts will be starting my Eagle Project soon. He will be painting a retaining wall at St. John’s Methodist Church located at 130 Tom Hall Drive in Fort Mill. The church is located across the street from the Fire Station and the Post Office in downtown Fort Mill. He will be painting the retaining wall on Sunday, March 4 from 1:30 to 4:30 and then the following Saturday, March 10th from 8:30 until 2:30, he will be planting 12 trees along the newly painted retaining wall.

He will need 10 to 12 volunteers for both days. If you can help on Sunday the 4th at 1:30 – or Saturday the 10th at 8:30 that would be great. If you can help with both – It would be greatly appreciated.

Volunteers will need to bring work gloves, shovels, post hole diggers (only on the 10th when we will be planting the trees) and any other useful equipment and wear boots if possible, but at least closed toe shoes. Please wear old clothing on the day that we will be painting. A personal water bottle would be a good idea, but water and food / snacks will be provided at the project site.

Please let him know if you will be able to help with his project and when you will be able to help.

Harrison Lancaster’s,

A reminder from the Troop meeting on Monday – Harrison is having his first Eagle Project workday Saturday, March 3rd, from 9:00am – 3:00pm at the Hunters Run Greenway in Tega Cay. (From Tega Cay Drive take a left onto Shoreline Drive, then go to the first street on your left – Hunters Run Drive. Take a left onto Hunters Run Drive a drive about .25 miles until you get to the open Greenway.) We will be working on the right hand side of the road.

VOLUNTEERS are NEEDED to accomplish a variety of tasks in building a new trail. If you have tools, please bring shovels, metal rake and any kind of pruning/lopper tools you have. If you don’t have these, please bring your gloves and we’ll share tools. Please wear close toed shoes (preferably boots).

If you can volunteer/supply tools for Saturday, please send him an email so we can set up work teams and arrange for tools to be available to each team.

Water and lunch will be provided but you might need to bring your own water bottle.

He hopes to see many of you Saturday. If you have any questions or need a ride please send him an e-mail at, lancaster5@comporium.net.