The following is an email we received regarding one of our scouts:

I thought you might like to hear how Tim was able to successfully apply some of the skills he learned from his First Aid Merit Badge class.  About a month ago, he was out on a boat on Lake Champlain with another 13 year old and two 11 year olds and those boys' father.  While the boat was passing under a low bridge on a causeway, the 13 year old unexpectedly stood up.  His head hit the bridge, then it was pushed back against the boat's console.  His head was cut and was bleeding profusely.  There was no first aid kit (they had only had the boat a few days and hadn't thought to get one).  The father initially tried putting his hand over the wound, which didn't help.  The two younger boys were very upset at the situation, but Tim stayed calm and, on his own initiative, grabbed a couple of t-shirts.  He used one on the wound, and the other to cushion/stabilize his friend's head.  He continued doing that while they returned to their dock.  The cut required 9 stitches, but fortunately, there was not a more serious head injury.

This is an excerpt from a thank you note Time received from the boy's parents:  "I just wanted to thank you, again, for all of your help during Alex's accident.  We really appreciate your jumping in there to help and your level headedness.  I'd hate to think how things might have turned out if you hadn't thought to put a t-shirt on Alex's wound.  Or, if you were queasy at the sight of blood…."  So fortunately, "all's well that ends well" – and they now have a first aid kit on board.

March Campout

March 27 -29, 2009

Camp Carpenter

Friday, March 27, 2009

We were the Stupid Moose Patrol (Jona, Ryan, JP and Kyle) led by Mr. Arico and Mr. MacDonald (aka Mother Goose).  We left from Learning Adventures next to Memorial School due to a school function.  We arrived on time at Camp Carpenter and were met by Mr. Hambleton, the camp Ranger.  He told us to be aware of ticks as they are out pretty heavy this time of year.  Also our site neighbors an area that is frequented by deer.

We proceed to set up camp which took no time at all.  The Stupid Moose patrol elected to camp together in a four man tent.  Ryan worked on building the camp fire for the night so we could all stay warm, as the chill of the night air set in.  Ryan was also the ring leader in getting the patrol to perform skits.  The first skit was performed by Ryan, JP and Kyle, which involved a mugging.  Mr. MacDonald, not wanting to be left out, joined Ryan and Jona for another skit.  JP and Kyle performed the Honey skit.  Mr. Arico just sat on the log and enjoyed the imagination and creativity of all.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Sleeping on a platform was not fun for Mr. Arico and he could not wait for first light.  Similar to other campouts, Mr. Arico was first up and started breakfast for the adults.  Ryan was next up and quickly wanted to start a fire to stay warm.  Shortly after everyone began to rise and the days events had begun.

After breakfast the Stupid Moose patrol attached the flag pole to the Chocorua sign using a taut line knot.  Jona then led the patrol in a proper flag ceremony.  The patrol was now ready for its next task, which was performing a service project for the camp.  In speaking with Mr. Hambleton he had indicated the winter was rough and much tree debris had fallen, especially after the ice storm in December.  Since we were staying at Chocorua, we elected to clean the site and stack wood that had been cut into smaller pieces. 

After the service project, the patrol had determined that they wanted to go on a hike.  Armed with a two way radio, and a grilling by Mr. Arico on what to do if anyone gets hurt, what trails we were going on and etc., we left for a hike around the lake.  During the hike we changed our patrol name several times from The Canine Patrol to the Sound Four Patrol and back to the Stupid Moose.  While we were gone Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Arico also repaired one platform that had been damaged by a fallen tree and another platform that need added stability.  Mr. MacDonald also made notches in some of the logs and made benches to be used by the Cub Scouts using the site this summer.

After lunch we went down to the playing field where Mr. Arico and Mr. MacDonald set up a circular compass course to work on our compass skills.  The object of the first game was:  first scout to complete three correct compass sequences wins a large chocolate bar. However each scout had to finish their three sets in order to get a much smaller chocolate bar.  It was funny to see the start of the game when Mr. Arico called go.  Each Scout started running to their first marker crisscrossing in the open field.  At one point it looked like Ryan and Jona were on a collision course, but they missed each other by a few feet.  The results of the game were as follows:

1^st – JP
2^nd – Ryan
3^rd – Jona
4^th- Kyle (What was really cool was the older scouts teaching and helping Kyle finish)

The next game was a team event in which the patrol needed to work together on finding two complete sequences.  The patrol agreed on a game plan and calmly went on completely their task earning them a bag of M&M's to share.  The rest of the day was free time and we elected to go for another hike out to Pirate's Cove. 

Jona had set-up the camp fire earlier in the day and lit it once it had gotten late enough.  After dinner the patrol conducted a proper Flag Retirement Ceremony.  Jona called the patrol together and explained to the patrol what we would be doing and the significance of this ceremony and the respect that must be shown during it.  Mr. MacDonald started the ceremony by reading a passage that highlighted the fact that the flag of the United States is an honored symbol of our nation's unity, its hope, its achievements, its glory and its high resolve. 

Jona proceeded to read "I am your Flag".  Upon completing the reading, Jona indicated that, "Our flag has been used so much, that it is no longer a fitting emblem to display, so we are respectfully burning it."  Jona then called up one scout at a time and they were handed one stripe from the flag.  After each stripe was placed in the small but modest fire, Jona read a small phrase or passage that was relevant to our nation.  The blue field was the last to be placed in the fire by Mr. Arico.  The blue field is indicative of God's heaven under which we fly and the stars signifying 50 unified states.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

It started raining about 5:00 AM.  Again Mr. Arico was up first with his tent down and his gear in the Troop trailer.  The rest of us followed suit and we were lucky that the rain was not heavy as we broke camp to make our way back home by 9:30 AM.

Lessons Learned:

1.  It is important to have good working equipment, especially during the compass exercise.
2.  It is important to stay properly hydrated
3.  It is important to bring a small pad of paper and pencil
4.  Never leave a box open when finished, it might fall on the ground
5.  If Mr. MacDonald is on the trip be ready to: (a) Have your picture taken, (b) If you have a tick on you, it will be removed with pliers and pins and (c) if you want really strong coffee he will make it. 
6.  If Mr. Arico comes on the trip: (a) ask him to make either his pumpkin or apple crumb cake in the dutch oven and (b) be prepared

Christine Hall and John Arico were honored with the Massabesic District Award of Merit.
Congratulations and thank you to both for your hard work for Scouting and Troop 5.

Troop 5 was also recognized as a Unit of Honor (for the 4th time in the last 5 years) and is one of
only four troops in the district to receive this honor for 2008.

Mark your calendars

Saturday April 18 - Pasta Night – Rotary Fund Raiser

This is one of our big fund raisers of the year.  We would like to invite members of the Pack & Troop to join us for an all you can eat Pasta night at the Bedford High School.  The cost is $10 per person.  We will have live music and beverages.  Dinner served between 5 and 8 pm. 

Saturday May 16^th – Bedford Road Race

·         The Pack & Troop have helped with this event for a long time and it is greatly appreciated.  Last year the Pack was at the finish line handing out water &  popsicles and the Troop manned a water station along the race route.  

On December 22nd, JP Arico was recognized by the Daniel Webster Council for being the top popcorn seller in the District.  JP sold $3,311 in popcorn which ranked him second in the state behind a fellow scout from the North Country who sold over $5,000 in popcorn. 

Congratulations to Jonathon Harris who was our participation raffle winner of the pair of Celtics tickets.

All Scouts selling popcorn will have 5% of what they sold added to their scout accounts in lieu of prizes this year.