Congratulations to our newest Eagle Scout, Derek Johnson!

We need 3 “older” scouts (1st Class or above) to man a station at the Klondike Derby on January 23. We have an excellent team of scouts from Troop 24 ready to compete, but in order to run the event, the Council needs us to man one of the stations.

From Wikipedia: A Klondike derby is an annual event held by some Boy Scouts of America and Scouts Canada districts during the winter months and is based on the heritage of the Klondike Gold Rush. BSA units have been running Klondike derbies since 1949.

The event varies by district, but the typical Klondike derby consists of several stations where patrols/units must test their Scoutcraft skills and their leadership abilities, earning points towards a total score.

The unit must transport their gear on a homemade sled pulled by the Scouts.

Please sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2016/01/klondike-derby-station-form-1-23-16/

How well are you prepared for cold weather and possible adverse conditions? Are you able to brave the elements? Test your skills with games and challenges at this year’s VT Klondike Derby-Iditarod. Scouts will meet at RPC at 7:45 on Saturday, January 23. We will travel to Bemis Woods (one block west of Wolf Road on Ogden) for a day of outdoor winter fun. We will return at approximately at 3:00 p.m. The cost of this activity is $7.00 per scout PLUS a can of non-cream-based soup. (The best lunch you’ve ever had at Soupy Smith’s Saloon!) Don’t miss out on this exciting winter outing. Are you up for the cold weather challenge? Space is limited!

Scouts sign up here.
Leaders and drivers sign up here.

Pack 24 is requesting assistance from Troop 24 boy scouts to help run the annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday, January 30, in the RPC gym. There will be four 45-minute shifts beginning at noon, with 3 scouts needed for each shift. The last shift may go for an hour, depending on the timing of the race. You can sign up for more than one shift, but you must sign up for each shift separately:

12:00 – 12:45
12:45 – 1:30
1:30 – 2:15
2:15 – 3:00
3:00 – 3:45

All boy scouts who help will receive a free lunch or snacks, which will be served by the girl scouts of Troop 657 in the Social Hall. You will also receive service hours.

Please report for your shift 5 minutes BEFORE your scheduled start time. See Mr. Jerz for instructions when you arrive.

The Three Fires Council is hosting a Merit Badge University on Saturday, February 20, in Elmhurst, at York High School. Many, many merit badge courses will be available. Registration just opened and can be found at https://scoutingevent.com/?MBU2016. Courses fill up quickly, so register soon.

This is the same weekend as the Cascade Mountain Ski Trip.

Getting ready for spring? Cleaning your closets? Troop 24 will be collecting gently used clothing and shoes for kids and teens in February and March. Begin saving your outgrown items now. The clothing will be donated through Messengers of Peace and the shoes through Soles for Souls.

Troop 24 has several fun outdoor adventures planned for January & February. Although registration for the Muskegon Luge outing is closed, it’s not too late to register for the Klondike Derby on January 23, always a fun event, and one that every scout should do at least once!

More information about Klondike can be found here:
http://troop24riverside.com/2016/01/klondike-derby-iditarod-saturday-january-23-2016/

Mark your calendars for February 27-28 and sign up for Skiing/Snowboarding at Sunburst Recreation in Wisconsin and hotel overnight. This outing is suitable for beginning skiers, as well as those who have never skied before. Lessons are highly recommended. We will spend Saturday participating in snow sports and then stay the night at a Country Inn & Suites hotel with a indoor swimming pool. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some winter fun and work the Snow Sports merit badge.

Scouts can attend on their own or the whole family is welcome to take advantage of the group rates and join us. Families may choose to make this a day trip or stay overnight; all single scouts should plan to stay overnight.

Saturday, February 27 – Sunday, February 28
Saturday Itinerary
Depart: RPC 7:00 a.m. (2.5 hr drive)
Ski or Snowboarding: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Lessons: 10:30 a.m. (not required, but strongly recommended for new skiers)
Dinner break/hotel check in: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Night time tubing: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Swimming (optional): 9:00-10:00 p.m.

Sunday Itinerary
Continental Breakfast: 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Depart Hotel: 9:30 a.m.
Arrive Home: Return to RPC @ ~ 12:00 noon

Menu of Costs per person:
The BSA requires scouts to wear helmets while skiing/snowboarding, so the cost of the helmet rental is included in all the prices below. For those who have their own ski/snowboard equipment – see pricing that does not include equipment rental.

Ski rental, helmet, lift = $53 (includes tubing in the evening)
Snowboard rental, helmet, lift = $53 (includes tubing in the evening)
Ski or Snowboard lesson $10
Shared Hotel w/meals* = $35 (4 scouts per room)
Family Hotel w/meals* = $120 (2 queen beds)
* Meals include Pizza dinner and hotel complimentary breakfast.  Everyone will need to bring either money or sack lunch for Saturday lunch at the Sunburst Chalet.

Leader in charge will be Bruce Robertson. For questions contact Dawn Gmitro.

Scouts, Adults, AND Siblings, sign up here:  http://troop24riverside.com/2016/01/ski-trip-sunburst-2016-form/

Deadline for sign-up: February 12, 2016