Once again, the PLC has made their wishes known. Thanks to our SPL for gathering ideas and presenting to the adults at the fall Committee mtg. While the Troop Committee recommended against a 3+ hour drive each way to Indiana for canoeing, we still found plenty of fun closer to home.
Fire – an essential element of spring camping in Chicago!
Here’s the plan for winter/spring 2019:
Sat, Jan 5 – Family Ski Trip to Lake Geneva T-79 Families and Scouts can sign-up for this event and coordinate their own logistics with fellow T-79 Scouts and families. This event is organized by the Indian Trails District.
Sat, Feb 2 – Klondike Derby This is the official winter sled racing day we’re targeting and it’s all about having lots of snow! Location changed to Camp Reinberg in nearby Palatine with the Indian Trails District.
Fri, May 3 thru Sun, May 5 – Tent Camping, Challenge Course & Zip Line at Camp Shaw. With 110 acres of land, open fields & wooded areas for tenting, Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see offers a variety of activities. We’re setup for tenting with a pavilion nearby for the usual camping, cooking and having a great time in the outdoors. We’ll also test our skills on a challenge course, and experience the thrill of Camp Shaw’s zip line. Of course we’ll find a way to include a Cinco de Mayo theme!
Check your schedule and save the dates! Also posted on the Troop calendar.
Member of our Google Group? Click here for more photos of previous events.
What happens when you combine pizza with the classroom talents of a seasoned college lecturer applied to the BSA’s formal leadership training? You get Troop 79’s latest edition of Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops, or “ILST” for short. Here’s the official course description on the BSA website:
“The purpose of the ILST course is to teach Scouts with leadership positions about their new roles and how to most effectively reach success in that role. It is intended to help Boy Scouts in leadership positions within their troop understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. ILST is the first course in the series of leadership training offered to Boy Scouts.”
Mr. Barich teaching teamwork
A classroom of eager students joined Assistant Scoutmaster Mr. Barich on a Saturday in December for the course. While the temperature outside was sub-freezing, the energy inside was high. More than just sitting and listening, ILST allows the Scouts to put the concepts into practice. How better to learn than with your friends? And plenty of pizza….
Perhaps this is a slight exaggeration… But still, one can dream.
Found yourself up a creek in the Boundary Waters at Northern Tier without a paddle in 2018? Or maybe you’ll miss the boat to Sea Base St. Thomas in 2019? Well, then perhaps it’s time to consider the wifi-free high adventure of Philmont in 2020.
Troop 79 has scored two crew spots for July 17 – 31, 2020. Plenty of time to get fit, ’cause it’s no joke. Ready to haul around a backpack on foot for 50-75 miles? How about loading it with 30 lbs+ of food, water & gear? Then tilt the landscape up to over 12,000 feet? Now we’re talking!
In addition to ten full days camping and cooking in some of the most beautiful backcountry imaginable, other possible highlights are:
Climbing 12,441 foot Mt. Baldy
Horseback riding
Rock climbing / rapelling
Learning about indigenous cultures
Assisting in conservation projects
Experiencing an old west chuck wagon dinner
and much more!!
Interested? Well, you’ve gotta be registered with the BSA, meet Philmont height & weight guidelines and be at least 14 years old by July 17, 2020. Several adult advisors will also be needed, with special training requirements that must be met. Cost is still to be determined, but expect to spend about $1,750 per attendee. Signup will open in late spring 2019 for active members of the Troop.
