Noreast District BSA

Everyone make plans to attend the Noreast District Banquet on April 10 in DeLeon!!!

Chris Bell has submitted the following on the district website for discussion. Comments may be added at the end of the story. Thanks!

It is the intention of the Order of the Arrow to completely renovate the Gee Lodge at CBG I would welcome all District Board members input as we move forward with this project

In the early 1800’s a unique breed of man explored the mountains and rivers of the American West. The Mountain Men trapped the beaver, hunted bear and buffalo, and learned the skills of woodcraft from the Native Americans. The highlight of each year was the Rendezvous, where trappers and explorers would gather for a celebration of the years’ success, to trade skills and stories, and to prepare for the coming year.

Varoooommmm! Gentlemen, start your engines! The District Pinewood Derby meet is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, at the DeLeon Civic Center. Registration begins at 10:00. Please see the attached flyer for details.

The Boy Scouts are now a century old, and still going strong! Stephenville Scout Units kicked off the 100 Years of Scouting with a birthday celebration on Monday, February 8, 2010. Units, along with cub packs, leaders, parents, and community members all celebrated with cake, punch and scout fellowship. As a bonus, everyone was proud to welcome and be introduced to the new Scout Executive from Abilene, Mr. David Angle.

The celebration was the first step in the many activities planned for this historic year of scouting. To quote Sir Robert Baden-Powell, "There is no teaching to compare with example." So, in the spirit of example, we will go forth in 2010 to show the world what scouting has to offer, while enriching all our own lives, and the lives of future boy scouts to follow.

Happy Birthday, Boy Scouts, and many more to come!

Check out this story, it has real merit! Merit Badges, that is! Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 20, 2010 and join us for the 19th annual TSU Merit Badge Seminar, sponsored by Tarleton State University and Texas Trails Council. The event will be located at Tarleton State University located off West Washington Street in Stephenville. Check in at 8 am in the Fine Arts Center and classes are scheduled to start at 9 am. Registration fee is $25, but there is a $5 early bird DISCOUNT if paid before February 15 so get those registrations in to the council office!

Take a look at the photos from the Outdoor Fun and Son Cub Camp held at Camp Billy Gibbons on October 3 and 4. It was a wonderful success and will be something that the cubs and their parents will remember long into their days of scouting!

Click on the picture below to view a slideshow of the event. You can click on || to pause the slideshow.

This was sent from council on Tuesday, November 17..........

Summer Camp

Scout leaders,

We have been discussing summer camp issues for a long time, and believe that the best route for us, at this time, is to have only one organized summer camp opportunity, at Camp Billy Gibbons. We hope to use Billy Gibbons for staff training the week of June 6-10, and have camp for the boys the week of June 13-19, 2010. We are still looking at having volunteer staff and volunteer merit badge counselors, volunteer cooks, etc., to help offset the high cost for paid staff.

Local scouts broke new ground in September when they mentored a potential new Scout Unit from the Rock House group in Stephenville. Eleven scouts and 6 leaders from Troop 18 of Stephenville participated in a camp out at Promontory Park at Lake Proctor. Fourteen Rock House clients along with Bill Joe Averitt, their prospective Scout Master and 2 other Rock House staff members were in attendance at the first Noreast District venture into a new realm of scouting. It is the intention and desire of the directors of Rock House to create a scouting unit for Rock House clients to experience scouting and learn life skills associated with the scouting experience. These potential scouts will always have their own staff in attendance at any Scouting events. Trained scout leaders and personnel will offer additional guidance to the new troop by serving as instructors or teachers in the ways of scouting.

For this event, the groups came together Friday night , Sept. 18, to set up camp and enjoy a "Cracker Barrel" supper. Saturday morning dawned with a group breakfast followed by orientation about the camp kitchen under the dining fly. The prospective scouts learned about the Chuck Box and it's contents and how organization plays an important part in being prepared for camp cooking. They also learned how to properly clean and store an "Iron" skillet, then to wash dishes using a series of wash buckets with clean, cleaner, cleanest water to obtain the desired results. Under the leadership of Scout Master, Mike Beverly, the potential new scouts were given an introduction to some of the basic scouting skills. After breakfast, participants were divided into 3 groups and scouts from Troop 18 demonstrated skills from First Aid, Fire Building, and Knot Tying. Lunch time brought hot dogs and chili, followed by a hike in the surrounding area where native plants, animals, and animal tracks were identified. Along the way, a service project of trash pick-up was launched to pay homage to the "leave no trace" principle of scouting. After a full and active day, Dutch Oven Pizzas were on the menu for supper. Everyone was allowed to express their individuality and create their own masterpiece in the pizza preparation and then were assisted with baking in 6 hot dutch ovens. Rock House members returned home after supper late Saturday evening while scouts from Troop 18 broke camp on Sunday. A fine time was had by all, and everyone is looking forward to more interaction with the new Unit as it progresses in Scouting. For more information pertaining to the creation or progression of the new Unit, please contact Mr. Les Zimmerman, District Executive.

You are invited to help make history and be a part of a 100th Anniversary Wood Badge Course offered in the Texas Trails Council. Wood Badge for the 21st Century is an advanced adult leadership training program for all leaders involved in the Scouting program including Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity, Venturing, District and Council positions. Course dates are February 26,27, & 28 and March 26,27, & 28. Early bird registration special of $195 if paid by December 15, 2009 (regular registration is $215). A $50 transferable (but non-refundable) deposit is required at sign up.

A whopping 61+ members were in attendance at the Noreast District Appreciation dinner and meeting held on Wednesday, August 19 in Stephenville. The event was spearheaded by Les Zimmerman, District Executive, and was held to applaud and congratulate the scouting volunteers in the district for their commitment and support to scouting. It was also an opportunity for everyone to meet and become acquainted with the committee members who represent the district to the Texas Trails Council.

After dining on a grilled hamburger supper, a short presentation was given by members of the District Committee to outline plans for the direction of the district, to provide the organization for this direction, and to offer information and support to the volunteers who are on the front lines of scouting.

Pat Demetruk, District Chairman, along with Program Chairman, Jeff Shelton, provided details as to the resources on hand for all volunteers along with a breakdown of district board members who will assist by providing guidance and support. Members were also advised of the decision to split the District Commissioner position into two distinct sections. Jeff Justice was introduced as the new District Commissioner for the scouting division and Lora Lewis will step in to serve as the District Commissioner for the cubs. This was done to better serve the needs of the units. It is the intention of the district committee to improve and extend scouting at the local level by bringing forth the tools needed to do so, and encouraging everyone to participate and take an active role to advance the efforts of the district.

To begin these efforts and reiterate the commitment to provide information to all, the meeting was organized with various tables stationed around the room providing handouts and examples of the resources that are available to members. An inspiring and informative presentation was given by Leslie-Rahye Strickland to start off the campaign for popcorn sales. She provided information and ideas to energize and invigorate a program that can provide financial means for scouts and units. Members were officially introduced to the new district website and were encouraged to log-on and become registered users. Ruby Sturmer, new webmaster for the district, gave a brief overview of the features of the site and the potential it has for distribution and consolidation of information. Information was distributed to help with submission of event details and photos to be included on the website.

The Noreast District members were happy to welcome the new Area Director from National, Mr. Rob Hofmann. He presented an overview of the Wood Badge experience and encouraged everyone to be a part of the advanced leadership training program. Adding their support as representatives from Texas Trails Council were Council Board members Larry Smith, Pat Leatherwood, and Blair Haynie.

Thanks to everyone who planned and worked to make the event such a success and especially to Pat Leatherwood & the guys who slaved over the grill to produce the wonderful burgers that everyone enjoyed & to the countless number who cleaned everything up afterward so we could “leave no trace”. Thanks to Gifford TV & Electronics in Stephenville for providing the big screen TV for the presentation and for always being there to support scouting in a big way. Thanks also to the Granny Clark Restaurant in Dublin, HEB food store, F&F Flooring, Lori Lewis, Pat Dematruk, Denise Stewart, and Les Zimmerman for the food and program materials. (Event Photos - thanks J. Justice.)

You are going to love this! If you haven't already been there, check out the new link to the West Texas Scouting History website. It is chocked full of great historical information & lots of neat photos and pictures in relation to Texas Trails Council, both past and present. Be prepared....to spend some time browsing this wonderful website; it contains 500 pages on the history of Scouting here in West Texas! Thanks to Richard Iley and Greg Simmons for bringing this awesome site to our attention.

Top 10 Reasons Boys Like Scouting

• Hanging Out
• Extreme Adventure
• Water Fun
• Summer Camp
• Getting Outside
• Sports
• Games
• Cool Gear
• Building Stuff
• Great Grub

Top 10 Reasons Parents Like Scouting

• Acceptance
• Activities
• Sociability
• Learning
• Development
• Leadership
• Safety
• Parenting
• Single Parents
• Value