May 1: Camp Emerald Bay Orientation

May 5: Whitewater Rafting

May 13: Swimming Merit Badge

May 16: Monte Bello Bike Ride, 5pm in lieu of Troop meeting

May 26: Oljato orientation meeting

May 27: Memorial Day Flag Placement

Scoutmaster Corner

Chris Webb christopherawebb@comcast

Edited from a report by Andrew Showalter, Troop Historian:

On Friday May 5, 36 Scouts and 11 adults traveled from Los Altos to Coloma for a weekend of camping and whitewater rafting.  The troop was fitted with gear and given instructions and were matched with guides for the rafting trip.  The water was running at 9,000 cubic feet/second, way above the normal 1,500 rate.   While there were a couple of nervous scouts, the trip went smoothly and the boats did well on Class 1 and Class 2 rapids.  A couple of Scouts fell out, but many more jumped out to swim in the water during calmer parts of the trip. The troop stopped for lunch along the bank with food brought along in the rafts.  After lunch, the guides gathered everyone and said that the younger and lighter Scouts could not continue due to the excessive water flow rate.  While these Scouts were very disappointed not to continue, Mr. Poppitz, made the best of a tough situation and took them to Sutter’s Mill where gold was first discovered in California and also worked with them on completing several scouting requirements. For those that continued, the second half of the trip was much more intense than the first part.  With rapids getting to Class 3+, we had to work hard to stay in the boat and keep them from flipping.  After returning to the campsite, we played games and sports including whiffle ball, soccer and cards. 

OK, me now…

Thanks to Ben Tice as the Scout-in-Charge, Tom Poppitz, Scoutmaster-in-Charge, with help from Brian Mellea and Peter Stanley, and the parents that drove and participated in the rafting.  Special thanks to Julie Showalter, who did a superb job as the Activity Coordinator making the reservations, arrangements and overall coordination.

This Tuesday

Main Troop -   

Continuing the Cooking Theme for May, there will be a presentation on stoves and stove safety, and then Patrols will be making popcorn.

First Year Program –

Scouts will be finishing their patrol flags and start working on the “Tenderfoot Challenge” that will continue through the next three weeks.

Green Bar –

You have the second Annual Planning Meeting this Friday, May 12, 6:00 – 9:30 pm, in the Youth Room.  Be sure you have completed your Major and Minor Activity presentation assignment for the rest of the Green Bar.

Memorial Day Flag Placement - May 27, 2017

Activity Coordinator: Nancy Webb

Click here to sign up

Details

Annually, Troop 33 Scouts, their families, and friends, join fellow Cub, Boy, and Girl Scouts from all over the Bay area to place an American flag at each of the 112,700 graves at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno in honor of the men and women who bravely served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.  There is no better way to start the Memorial Weekend than by participating in this solemn event while earning Service hours for your next rank and a commemorative patch. 

Agenda

We will assemble at the LAUMC parking lot at 7:00 AM and leave for the cemetery no later than 7:15AM.  A brief Opening Ceremony will begin at 8:30AM followed by the placing of the flags in our designated area. We will be back at LAUMC no later than noon.

Message from Troop Quartermaster

The troop quartermaster will be at the cage 7:15 to check in gear before the meeting on Tuesday (May 9th). Please return all patrol boxes and any other gear, from Pinnacles or otherwise, this week.

LAUMC Rummage Sale - May 15 to 20, 2017 - Volunteer Service Opportunity

Activity Signup page is here.

As a troop we would like to show support to the church that provides us with space for our equipment and our meetings. Here is a great opportunity to give back to LAUMC.  We have not quite figured out the days we will help, but refer to the Activity sign up page for the latest info.

Troop 33, the LAUMC Annual Rummage Sale is coming on May 19–20 and you can help on several ways.

The annual Rummage Sale is just around the corner, and the Los Altos United Methodist Women and Starfire Singers are ramping up to get ready! Creekside Center will be filled with bargains for adults and children, and the Youth Room will feature a large selection of antiques and vintage collectibles. This is your opportunity to clean out your closets and garages and donate useable items, then pick up new-to-you bargains. Profits from the sale will support local, national and international missions of the United Methodist Women and assist our Starfire Singers youth choir in covering the costs of their summer tour.

Would you like to help? Here’s how:

DONATE to the sale. Bring your treasures to Creekside on Tuesday, May 16, or Wednesday, May 17. If you have larger furniture items in good condition, a pick-up can be arranged within 5 miles of the church. Contact Patricia Parfett (650-906-6265) to schedule. If you can’t donate on those dates, contact Karen Van Buren about scheduling an early donation. Donations of handled grocery bags or other large shopping bags are also needed.

VOLUNTEER to work before or during the sale. It’s fun! People of all ages can help sort, price, and sell. You don’t need to preregister to help sort and price items; just show up on Monday through Thursday, May 15–18, and we will find a place for you. Lunch and snacks will be provided. We will schedule helpers for Friday and Saturday during the sale. Contact Kay Zitzner if you are willing to work one or more shifts as a cashier or some other needed position.

SHOP at the sale on Friday, May 19, 8:00am–5:00pm and Saturday, May 20, 9:00am–2:00pm. Categories will include men’s and women’s clothing, children’s clothing, kitchen, home, office, garden, sports, books, artwork, games, toys, and more!

Note: The troop is working on an organized effort to assist with volunteering for the sale we will get the info into the next blast and at the next meetings.

Web Site info: https://laumc.org/annual-rummage-sale/

Emerald Bay Campers: Mark your calendar for May 1, 7:30pm

Mark your calendars for the orientation meeting on May 1, 7:30pm in the Creekside room at LAUMC. This important meeting will cover all of the logistics of our trip to the camp, and is mandatory for all campers who have not previously attended Emerald Bay.

Join us for camping and hiking in Yosemite!

Amy Mendenhall amylmendenhall@gmail.com

• We're going Labor Day weekend (September 2-4)

• Families and siblings are welcome (although we'll give preference to scouts)

• We have secured campsites for 90 participants, so we hope to accommodate all that are interested.

• We're *not* leaving on Friday night with everyone else in the Bay Area.  Instead, we're leaving early on Saturday morning, Sept 2, and returning Monday Sept 4.

• There will be time for everyone to do two day hikes before coming back on Monday

• Experienced scouts, instead of hiking Half Dome, will be able to hike Cloud's Rest, an epic ridge that looks down on Half Dome or another hike such at Mt. Dana, yet to be determined.

Why

• Tuolumne Meadows is in the high country of Yosemite National Park. More info here.

• it is much less crowded than the valley and a totally different experience than the valley, if you have not been before it is worth coming up to see why we visit the park each fall.

Sign up here

Annual Planning Meeting # 2

What: 2nd Annual Planning Meeting

Where: Youth Room at LAUMC

When: Friday May 12 @ 6pm to 9:30 - dinner will be served

Who: All Green Bar

This is the second session in our annual planning process. All of the green bar members have been assigned trip ideas both major and minor to present at the meeting.  They will be presenting and determine the schedule for next year.

If you are a green bar member and cannot make the meeting please contact Mr. Webb and William Stanley to determine who will present your material.

REMINDERS

Attention all Oljato Campers — Mark Your Calendar for May 26, 7:30pm

David Louie dlouie_aia@yahoo.com

Mark your calendars for the Camp Oljato orientation meeting on Thursday, May 18, 7:30pm in the Creekside room. This important meeting will cover all of the logistics of our trip to the camp, and is mandatory for all campers who have not previously attended Camp Oljato.

One Spot Open

We have just one spot open for this year’s camp which runs from Sunday, July 2 to Saturday, July 8.  If you’re interested, please contact David Louie immediately (dlouie_aia@yahoo.com), sign up and download forms at Troop 33’s Camp Oljato activity page, and submit Shooting Sports Waiver and Activity Consent with payment at this Tuesday’s meeting.

Sign Up for Merit Badges Now

All Scouts attending Oljato this summer need to sign up for merit badge preferences as soon as possible.  Please immediately go to this link below and pick up to four preferences for the merit badge classes you’d like to take at camp.  

Note that many of the merit badges have prerequisites which must be completed outside of camp to complete the merit badge, and that not all merit badges available are appropriate selections for camp.  The prerequisites are at this link here. You will also get an Oljato T-Shirt in the size you want if you fill out this form.  Please do this immediately!  Any questions on Merit Badges, please contact Mr. Pampeyan (craig@pampeyan.com)

Last Payments Due This Tuesday, May 2nd

David Louie will be collecting forms and contacting scouts with info on missing forms and outstanding payments. Payments should be submitted to Julie Bergwerk.

Monte Bello Mountain Bike Ride - May 16. Signups Open

Reminder: Want to complete the Swimming Merit Badge before camp this summer?  

Join us for a workshop:

When: May 13, 2017 11:00am-1:00pm

Where: Elks Lodge, 4249 El Camino, Palo Alto

Who: All Troop 33 Scouts who can complete BSA Swimming Requirement

Cost: $5

Activity Coordinator: Kimberly Dickerson kvdickerson@gmail.com

How: Click here to sign up

Details:  The Swimming Merit Badge workshop is open to any scouts who can complete the BSA swimming requirement:

• Jump feet first into water over the head, level off, and begin swimming.

• Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: side, breast, trudgen, or crawl. Swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke.

• The 100 yards must be completed without stops and must include at least one sharp turn.

• Rest by floating…Long enough to demonstrate ability to rest when exhausted.

Please note that this merit badge workshop is not a swimming lesson!  In addition to the BSA swimming requirements, scouts will need to swim 150 yards (6 laps using freestyle, backstroke, sidestroke and elementary backstroke) and demonstrate various floating and diving skills.  If you need swimming lessons for any of these strokes, please contact Kimberly Dickerson for some suggestions.

Reminder: Philmont 2018 Interest Sign-Up is Open

• Age limit (prior to participation)

• Scouts must be at least 14 years of age OR

• Scouts must be at least 13 years of age AND completed 8th grade

• See Philmont Crew Requirements, requirements cannot be relaxed.

• Scouts must be First Class or higher by June 1, 2018 (Troop 33 requirement)

• Must be in top physical condition 

• Must meet Philmont health/medical requirements

• Must be able to carry a 30-40lb backpack 5-14 miles a day for 12 days at 6,500'-12,441' over rugged terrain for a total of 50-75 miles

• Must participate in a physical training program 

• Must participate in 4 mandatory shakedown outings (1 day hike and 3 backpacking trips) 

• Must attend all monthly planning meetings 

• Must meet with Scoutmaster and be approved

NOTE: First-come, first-serve pending Scoutmaster approval.  $100.00 deposit required when signing up.

NOTE: Preference will be given to uniformed adults, the activity coordinator, committee members, and then other adults.

Sign up at this site:  https://sites.google.com/a/troop33.org/www/activities/2018/philmont_2018

Reminder: Sign-ups are open for Camp Oljato!

Details here

Dates 7/02/17 - 7/08/17

Cost $500 through March 31; $515 April 1 through June 10.

We have space for 50 Scouts and 6 adults.

Payment schedule.

Payments must be made by these dates to hold your spot. There are no refunds.

January 31, 2017 - deposit $100

March 31, 2017 - balance of camp fees $400 (early bird)

April 1 – June 10, 2017 - $415

http://www.pacsky.org/Camps/Oljato

For questions on an activity or event, contact the activity owner listed. As an activity owner to have your items included in the T33 Weekly blast, please submit them to Sundeep Gupta sundeep.gupta@gmail.com by 5 pm Sunday for the following week’s edition.