Troop 24 is planning a family ski outing on Saturday, February 26, to Sunburst Recreation in Wisconsin for Skiing, Snowboarding, and/or Tubing from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We will leave from RPC at 7:00 a.m. (2 1/2 hours drive), participate in snow sports at Sunburst, and stay overnight at Camp Matawa cabins (YMCA camp close to Sunburst). Dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday will be provided at Camp Matawa. We will return to RPC around noon on Sunday, February 27.

This event is open to all scouts and their families. Webelos 2 scouts are welcome with an Akela. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some winter fun and work on a merit badge. Cabin space is limited so sign up early if you want to stay overnight. Families can make this a day trip if they cannot stay overnight. Please register each person individually.

The BSA requires scouts to wear helmets while skiing, so the cost of helmet rental is included in the prices listed below.

Costs per person:

Ski rental, lift ticket, lesson, and helmet $45;

Snowboard rental, lift ticket, lesson, and helmet $60;

Cabin with meals $60.

Tube rental is also available. For scouts who may get tired of skiing, or who don’t want to ski or snowboard, we suggest that they bring cash for tube rental: 2 hours @ $16 or 3 hours @ $20.

Our leader in charge will be Bruce Robertson. Questions? Contact Bruce at brobertson5152@aol.com or Dawn Gmitro at dmgmitro@aol.com.

Register here: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/01/ski-trip-form-2/

Troop 24 is planning a day outing to Bemis Woods on February 12, 2011, to participate in the Des Plaines Valley Council Klondike Derby. Scouts will meet at RPC at 7:15 a.m. and return the same day at approximately 4:00 p.m. The Derby this year will feature scout skills as well as games and contests. Each patrol should be ready for fun and challenges.

The cost will be $8 and a can of non-cream soup (to be dumped into a communal pot for “garbage can soup”).

We will be looking for drivers. Since this outing is close, drivers do not need to stay. If you can drive, please indicate the appropriate information with your son’s registration. Adults are welcome to stay and participate. If you would like to participate, please register and pay for yourself separately from your son.

Please remember you must register on the Troop online form AND pay (preferably using the online WePay system). If your son is not registered, he will not show up on the roster. Register here: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/01/klondike-derby-form/

Contact Dawn Gmitro at dmgmitro@aol.com with questions.

The Cub Scouts are requesting assistance from a couple of Boy Scouts (8th grade or older) for their Pinewood Derby on Saturday, January 29. One scout is needed for a 1:00-2:00 shift, and another for the 2:00-3:00 shift (or until the race is over). For scouts who need service hours for rank advancement, this activity will count.

Scouts who plan to attend Philmont, and parents of those scouts, should attend the Philmont planning meeting on Thursday, January 20, at 7:00 in the Westminster Room (downstairs across from the Social Hall). The first payment of a $100 deposit will be due at this meeting.

Scouts will have two opportunities to complete Boards of Review before our next Court of Honor (to be held on March 17). Boards will be held on January 27 and February 24. Please discuss with your scout his progress toward his next rank advancement. Before a scout has a Board of Review he first needs to ask for a Scoutmaster Conference. Over the past several months we have scheduled Boards of Review for several scouts who did not show up when scheduled. A scout should request to be assigned a Board of Review, and come to the meeting dressed in full uniform with his book.

DATE CORRECTION: At the Troop meetings on January 20, February 10, and February 17, scouts will be working on the First Aid Merit Badge with Asst. Scoutmaster, Dr. Stephanie Lanken. The First Aid merit badge is one of the mandatory badges required for an Eagle Scout (21 total required). The Troop works on this badge once a year, so this is the best chance for 6th graders (or any scout who has not yet earned it) to complete the merit badge. If you need this badge, please make every effort to attend these three meetings.

Don’t forget – Everyone who plans to luge MUST have a signed waiver and copies of an insurance card (front AND back). If you did not drop these off to Dawn by 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning, bring them when you drop off your scout and give them to Ray Rogers. Scouts will not be allowed to luge without these items.

Congratulations to our newest Eagle Scout, Cody Vitek!