Troopin' Along Newsletter  BSA Troop 33  April 2000  

 

April Activities
What is a spelunker??? Our boys will explore with some on the next camping trip on April 28-30 
at a cave near Spring Valley Minnesota.  We will have our own cave-certified spelunkers help 
us explore over 10 miles of mapped routes in the privately owned Spring Valley Caverns.  It'll 
be exciting to see first-hand many of the different formations found deep underground.  
Campers should be at the church by 5:30pm Friday night.  More detailed information will be
given out at a Monday meeting.  Two or three adventuresome parents are needed for this trip --
to help, please call Dave Moore or John DeWerff.

 

May Activities
Troop 33 College Scholarship applications are due by May 7th.  Each spring at the Court of 
Honor, a Scout is awarded $1,000 scholarship for post-high school education.  All active Troop 
33 Scouts who are sophomores to seniors with a B average may apply.  If you are interested 
in receiving this award and have not received an application in the mail, please contact 
John Sierk (822-9455)or one of the Scoutmasters.

 

Camporee on May 19-21 at Camp Stearns near Annandale.  A great time to enjoy spring camping 
with other troops.  Last chance to complete camping requirements before the June Court of Honor 
for rank advancement.  We'll compete in several Scout skills with other Troops, so brush up and
be ready to help your Patrol win!  Leaving Friday night and returning early Sunday afternoon. 
Details will be handed out at a Monday meeting.  We are also looking for some parents to camp
with us this weekend.  Please call Dave Moore or John DeWerff if you can help out. 

 

Camp Ajawah work days are May 13 and May 27 (both Saturdays).  Please join us in getting the 
camp ready for summer.  Workers of all ages and abilities appreciated.  A wonderful time 
to see the Camp if your son is thinking about going this summer. You are welcome to come for 
all or part of the day; starting about 9 AM and wrapping up about 3PM.  Painting, raking, 
carpentry, cleaning and fixing of Camp facilities is what is on the agenda.  On May 27th we 
will be setting up the large tents and putting in the dock.

 

Please mark your calendar
June 5 - Court of Honor Family Night Dinner and Award Ceremony for all Troop 33 and 100 
Scouts and families.  This is a pot-luck dinner, so plan to make or pick-up your favorite 
main dish, salad or desert to share.  Please bring enough for 12 servings.  Dinner will start 
at 6:30, followed by a Court of Honor and Eagle Ceremony.

 

June 9-14 Houseboat Trip to Voyageurs  So many boys signed up we rented an additional 
houseboat.  Around 38 people will have a great time on this adventure!  The Scouts on the 
planning team will all the details set up.  More information will be sent out to those who
have signed up and paid their money.  This will be a fabulous trip.

 

Summer Camp.  It's time for Scouts to sign up for summer camp at Ajawah!  There are 2 two-
week  sessions, July 16-28 and July 30-August 11.  (Sisters may attend the girls
sessions, June 18-30, and July 2-14, which will give them two more weeks away from their 
brothers!)  Two weeks may seem like a long time, but it gives kids enough time to adjust, 
make friends, and have fun.  Ajawah is a great place to work on Scout advancment and really
get to know the other boys in the Troop.  Experience outdoors at it's best! The Ajawah program
is fairly simple; kids live in big pyramidal army type tents on raised wooden platforms, and 
sleep on cots.  Many meals are served in the mess hall.  Occasional campouts and canoe trips 
add challenge and variety.  We are on a lake with a shallow beach and a diving float.  Red 
Cross swimming classes, boats, canoes and a couple of sailboats make the water front a fun 
place to be.  We play a lot of games, make craft projects, have campfires and cookouts, and 
learn about the out-of doors.  Our Scoutmaster, Dave Moore, is the camp director and 
counselors are high school and college-age Scouts who have grown up at the camp and in 
Troop 33 or 100.  They want to give younger kids the same wonderful experience they were 
given.  Former Ajawah campers say that this was one of the most important and lasting 
experiences of their childhood.  Cost is only $325 for two weeks (13 days actually, 
Sunday afternoon through Friday evening, when there is a program for parents).  The Ajawah web
site is at www.ajawah.org 

 

Welcome to....
Michael Anderson, Isaac Dayton, William Dolezal, John Foster, John Henry, Luke Holifield, 
Jack Johnson, David Knosalla, Matt Krass, Erik Linnes-Bagley, Charlie Martenson, Alex Minge, 
Colton Mollerud, Luke Ordoyne, Lukas Schmitt, Alex Schwab, Phillip Schwartz, William Schwartz,
Jack Sullivan, Jon Theisen and Ian Veitch!  Michael is a First Class Scout and the other boys 
are all Webelos who are joining or visiting the troop.  If we goofed and missed a new Scout, 
we will make good in the next newsletter.

 

New Webelos continue to join.  This is a good time of the year for new Scouts to join, because
they will be able to go to spring campouts and summer camp at Ajawah.  If your son has a 
friend or you know of another boy that would enjoy and benefit from Scouting, have them visit 
a troop meeting with your son.

 

New patrols.  We have established 2 new Patrols for Scouts who recently joined Troop 33.  The 
Troop Guide for the Deformed Frog Patrol is Chris Rodman.  This patrol is made up of former 
Pack 46 Webelos and their friend Colton Mollerud.  The Troop Guide for the Grunts Patrol is 
Casey McCallum and includes Webelos from Packs 88 and 98 and other eager new Scouts.  These new 
Patrols did great at the Waligazhu competition.  Keep your eyes open for these Scouts at the 
Spring Camporee, they are ready and able to challenge many of the older Scouts.

 

Information Packet.   An outstanding Troop 33 Information Package is now available and covers  
everything from our history to information on the Scoutmasters to the 1999 annual report plus 
helpful information about advancement, schedules plus much more!    - check it out next time 
you are surfing!  

 

Troop 33 Committee Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month.  Typically they are held 
in the basement of Westminster Church at 7PM.  All parents are invited to attend.  Contact 
John  deWerff (936-7652) the committee chairman with any questions.

 

Troopin' Along Newsletter * BSA Troop 33 * April 2000
If you did not receive a copy please contact Mike Bono at 377-0139 or e-mail him at 
"michael.bono@network.com".  

 

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