As we reflect on 2020 and all the unprecedented challenges we faced, let’s celebrate a Scout Year adjusted for the ever-changing limitations.

We enjoyed a successful Pancake Breakfast and completed one camp-out in March just as the pandemic loomed, then zoomed through the Spring to find ourselves at Camp Tesomas in July.

We enjoyed an outdoor Court of Honor, a Scout Cabin camp-out, river-paddling on the Kankakee, hiking and orienteering at Waterfall Glen, and seed-planting in the woods along the Scout Cabin grounds.

With several outdoor weekly meetings scattered throughout the Fall, and three Scouts achieving the Eagle rank.

With the promise of vaccine distribution, let’s look forward to larger outdoor gatherings again, and increasingly traditional Scout outings in 2021.

Happy 2021 to All!

Congratulations to Troop 24’s newest Eagle Scout, Harry Adami.

Our last meeting of the year will complete our Forestry/Conservation theme with a panel of esteemed Forestry experts, including Troop 24’s very own Eagle Scout, Erik Hartwig. Zoom details to follow.

Some possible questions for the panel are listed below.

If you want to take a look at the Forestry merit badge, click here … and to sign up for the December 19th seed-planting outing, click here.

If we’re lucky, with promising developments in 2021, we’ll have opportunities to enjoy many forest canopies next summer and fall.

Finally, if you want to prepare a musical video contribution for the Cantata residents, see the December 14th email for instructions on sharing it, by Friday the 18th if possible.
• Why are forests important?
• What types of forests are there?
• Do we have enough forests?
• What are the main human uses of wood in the United States? Globally?
• What are the best practices for maintaining recreational forests?
• What are the best practices for growing timber forests?
• What is the greatest challenge to forests? In the U.S.? Globally?
• Have you dealt with trying to protect forests from non-human threats–e.g. insects (emerald ash borer), forest fires, hurricanes, invasive plant species?
• Can you recommend any resources (books, websites) for Scouts interested in forests?
• What is your favorite type of tree, and why?
• What can people do to help trees and forests?
And for the Eagle Scouts …
• Do you use things you learned in scouting in your work?
• Did you earn the Forestry merit badge?

We have collected oak, walnut and sycamore tree seeds and are going to plant them in a socially distanced way along the Des Plaines River. Bring your mask, warm clothing and the desire to give these seeds a chance to become tomorrow’s trees.

Where: Scout Cabin, Outside
When: Saturday, December 19, 2020, 10:00AM-11:00AM
Who: You!

Given current restrictions on gatherings, participation will be limited to 8 Scouts.
Please sign up HERE.

I am looking for 2 adults to sit on an Eagle Board of Review on Thursday, December 17th at 7:00 PM.  Current Eagle Scouts who are 18 are encouraged to volunteer.  Sitting on an Eagle Board it is a very rewarding opportunity to be a part of a Scout’s final step to achieving the rank of Eagle. No experience is necessary.  If you have not sat on an Eagle Board previously I can provide you with resources to familiarize yourself with topics that are discussed at the Board.  Additionally, the Board is run by our Council Representative.

If you are interested please email me at dmgmitro@aol.com.

Thank you,

Dawn Gmitro
Troop 24 Eagle Committee

Having enjoyed last week’s trivia game, we’ll continue our Forestry theme tomorrow and prepare for the panel of experts who will join us on December 17th. So bring your ideas for questions and points of discussion!

Some rank requirements that can tie into this theme are below, in case that helps inspire you. And if the merit badge sounds interesting, you can click here to review its requirements.

We’ll also have another break-out room for our Scouts working on Scout rank.

Finally, click here to sign up for a Christmas Carol for our video-compilation, and be on the lookout for an email from Scoutmaster Lauger with the Zoom login code for tomorrow’s meeting.

• Tenderfoot 4b – describe common poisonous or hazardous plants; identify any that grow in your local area.
• Tenderfoot 5c – explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night.
• Second Class 1b – explain the principles of Leave no Trace and tell how you practiced them on a campout or outing.
• Second Class 3c – describe some hazards or injuries you might encounter on a hike and what you can do to prevent them.
• Second Class 4 – Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, or mollusks) found in your local area.
• First Class 1b – explain each of the principles of “Tread Lightly!” and tell how you practiced them at a campsite or outing.
• First Class 5a – identify or show evidence of 10 kinds of native plants found in your local area.
• First Class 7e – develop an emergency action plan for your home that includes what to do in case of fire, storm, power outage and water outage.
• First Class 9b – investigate an environmental issue affecting your community.

TROOP 24 CHRISTMAS CAROL VIDEO

While we can’t provide in-person holiday merriment to the residents of Cantata this year, we can give them a virtual musical gift.

So, dust off your instruments, tune up your voices, find your carol books, and consider contributing a song to our Troop Anthology.

You can use your preferred device to create your video, of course – and feel free to introduce yourself and family members joining you and introducing your song selection. Be festive!

Finally, ensure that a parent is in the video with you, in accordance with Youth Protection guidelines.

We’ll provide details about submitting your song for the compilation later. Until then, click HERE to sign up to provide a song!

DECEMBER 3RD TROOP MEETING – VIA ZOOM AT 7:00 PM

As we return from our Thanksgiving celebrations and continue our Zoom meetings, we’ll move into a Forestry theme for the month of December.

To prepare for an eventual expert panel, we’ll touch on some or all of the requirements below, so check your books to see if you need to fulfill any of them.

We’ll also brainstorm questions for the Forestry panel, and play a Forestry-themed trivia game.

Finally, be on the lookout for an email from Scoutmaster Lauger with the Zoom log in code.

Related requirements
• Tenderfoot 4b – describe common poisonous or hazardous plants; identify any that grow in your local area.
• Tenderfoot 5c – explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night.
• Second Class 1b – explain the principles of Leave no Trace and tell how you practiced them on a campout or outing.
• Second Class 3c – describe some hazards or injuries you might encounter on a hike and what you can do to prevent them.
• Second Class 4 – Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, or mollusks) found in your local area.
• First Class 1b – explain each of the principles of “Tread Lightly!” and tell how you practiced them at a campsite or outing.
• First Class 5a – identify or show evidence of 10 kinds of native plants found in your local area.
• First Class 7e – develop an emergency action plan for your home that includes what to do in case of fire, storm, power outage and water outage.
• First Class 9b – investigate an environmental issue affecting your community.

It is time to renew your BSA scout membership. The cost for 2021 is $90 per scout. This amount covers fees our troop must pay per member to the BSA National and Council Offices. Please pay online as soon as possible.

Scout Dues Form

In the past Troop 24 has subsidized the cost of BSA dues for our adult volunteer leaders. A fee is required for each member, including our Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters and Troop Committee Members. This is a considerable cost to the troop. Please consider making a donation to our troop, so we can continue to subsidize our leaders who volunteer so much of their time. Thank you for your support of Troop 24!

Donations for Adult Membership Fees