In place of our usual Thursday troop meeting, there will be a Court of Honor on May 2nd, starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Riverside Presbyterian Church Social Hall. Scouts who wish to participate as color guard, candle lighters, etc. should arrive at 6:45 p.m.

In the Boy Scouts of America a court of honor is a troop activity where scouts and their families come together to get their awards, and have a good time together. It is important for the scout’s family members to be there for their scouts receiving his rank advancement, merit badges, and other awards.

Troop 24 holds two Courts of Honor each year–one in the fall and one in the spring. We expect that all scouts participate in these events, unless there is an unavoidable conflict. Scouts should dress in full uniform, including their scarf and merit badge sash (if they have one). Please no jeans or athletic apparel.

We also ask that each scout have at least one parent or grandparent present. Parents as well as scouts come forward when rank advancements are announced.

We need refreshments for the reception after the ceremony. Noretta Griffin will be coordinating this, but we need volunteers to help set up and clean up. If you can volunteer or bring food, please e-mail Noretta at jasonandcorky@comcast.net.

Robert M. will have two upcoming workdays for his Eagle Project, and is seeking help from Troop members. This is the information for his rescheduled workdays, since bad weather forced cancellation of his original workdays.

Project Summary:
Across the street from Riverside Brookfield High School there is the Zoo Woods forest preserve. On the northern side of these woods there are a series of deer exclusion cages which protect plants from being eaten by deer. These cages are in disrepair due to damage from fallen limbs as well as deer. Robert’s project will involve clearing out debris from around the cages (large branches, other plant matter as well as garbage) before installing new cages and planting plants within these new cages.

The work days for Robert’s Eagle Project will be May 10th and 11th. The shifts will be 2 hours each. On Friday, the shifts will be 4:00 – 6:00 PM and 6:00 – 8:00 PM, and on Saturday the first shift will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the second shift will be from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and the third shift will be from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Robert is looking for about 5-6 scouts and two adult volunteers per shift.

Sign up to help HERE

Safety concerns:
The scouts will need to wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, closed toe shoes (preferably boots as the shoes will get muddy). In addition, Robert will send a follow up email a few days before the project in which he will send the scouts/adults the waiver that they will need to sign as well as any other updates. In order to do this please provide an email address which you check regularly when you sign up as a volunteer.

Ryan L. is working on his Eagle project, collecting gently used sporting goods to redistribute to needy kids in the Chicago-land area. The items will go to the Sports Shed, which makes it possible for kids to have positive alternatives to gangs, violence and drugs through organized sports. They provide quality sports equipment to schools and other athletic programs in under-resourced communities.

Ryan asks that troop members and their families look through their things and find items to donate to this worthy cause.

Ryan will have a collection bin available at the May 2nd Court of Honor, so scouts and their families can drop things off when they attend that ceremony. There will also be a bin at the North Riverside Rec Center and the Riverside Library. Thank you for supporting Ryan’s Eagle Project!

Horses, Bonfires, & Hayrides!

In May, Troop 24 will be camping at the Millbrook Horse Ranch, where Scouts will have the opportunity to earn their Horsemanship merit badge!

This is a great campout for SOOOOOO many reasons!

• We get to set up camp ON the ranch!
• Millbrook has a HUGE fire area so we can make awesome bonfires. Is anyone getting hungry for S’Mores???
• Saturday Scouts will work on the elusive Horsemanship merit badge. This is one of the more challenging merit badges to get, so here’s your chance!
• Saturday evening hayride.
• The ranch is only an hour south of Riverside so travel times will be short!

When:        May 10th – May 12th

*Scouts will meet at RPC at 4:15pm for a 4:30pm departure.

*Scouts will return Sunday, early afternoon.

-We will text/email with ETA. Scouts may also call when they get close to Riverside

Price:        $140.00

*This includes the merit badge class, trail rides, hay ride, bonfires, food, and travel.

Registration:    Will close Sunday May 5th, 11pm.

ALL SCOUTS Register HERE

Horseback Riding ADULTS Register HERE.  (Yes even parents & leaders can ride horses!)

Non-Horseback Riding ADULTS Register HERE

For those of you who would like to get a jump start on the merit badge, please see below

1. You may find the merit badge worksheet is HERE. It’s always a good idea to print this and bring it on the campout.
2. HERE is a slide show with information needed to complete the merit badge.
3. THIS is a link to information about additional horse breeds.

If you have any questions please email Troop24Events@gmail.com.

First Aid Month – BLOOD TRAUMA!

On Thursday, we will finish our First Aid month with Dr. James Doherty, Head of Trauma Surgery at Advocate Oak Lawn.

It’s a fun, engaging session with hands-on wound-packing and tourniquet-applications, so be ready to show Dr. Doherty Troop 24’s Scout Spirit!

SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCES and BOARDS OF REVIEW for rank advancement.

NOTEWORTHY NOTICES:

PARENTS: A Camp Tesomas Overview/Q&A session will take place at this meeting. This meeting is for all parents of scouts attending or considering Summer Camp this year, and is especially important for parents of scouts who have not been to Summer Camp with the Troop previously.

Registration for Tesomas 2019 is now available! Click HERE for details. Bring your check for $300 made out to “Troop 24” to the troop meeting. Hand in your Summer Camp Merit Badge Schedule at the troop meeting, or email choices to Mrs. Lach at clach@northpark.edu.

SPRING COURT OF HONOR on MAY 2nd!

HORSEBACK-RIDING OUTING, Millbrook, IL, May 10-12: details coming soon!

SERVICE PROJECTS: remember, all ranks have a Service requirement!

The Hofmann Dam River Rats Annual Spring River Clean-Up, Saturday, April 27, 2019, 9 am to noon.

Riverside Lions Club, Annual Chicken Dinner, Sunday, April 28th noon to 5pm.

Click HERE for information on both opportunities.

First Aid Month – Outdoor Skills

***MEETING AT THE SCOUT CABIN***

On Thursday, we will collaborate with Dr. Ozga, Ms. Klotz, and youth leaders to EDGE* our way through First Class requirements 6e, 7a, b, c and d, culminating with Patrol-based skill-checks.
… rescues, injuries, heart attacks …

Those of you who have mastered these skills will act as 1) coaches for the younger Scouts; 2) “victims” where appropriate.

Study up, if you have a few moments!

*EDGE: Explain/Demonstrate/Guide/Enable

FOR SCOUT-RANK SCOUTS ONLY: Tenderfoot Fitness 30-day skill-check [Req 6c].

We’ll complete the “Crossover” Scouts on May 9th.

NOTEWORTHY NOTICES:

We’ll enjoy guest trauma surgeon Dr. James Doherty’s “blood trauma” workshop on April 25th.
Registration for Tesomas 2019 is now available! Click HERE for details. Bring your check for $300 made out to “Troop 24” to the troop meeting. Hand in your Summer Camp Merit Badge Schedule at the troop meeting, or email choices to Mrs. Lach at clach@northpark.edu
Scoutmaster Conferences / Boards of Review on April 25th. Please fill out a request form on our troop website (upper right hand corner).
Spring Court of Honor on May 2nd!