Boy Scout Troop 96

Jamboree is over...Scouts return home

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Created on Friday, 26 July 2013 11:29

Written by Pat Klemens

Late on Wednesday night (24 July), the 260 Scouts from the Northeast Illinois Council's Jamboree Contingent (including 17 Scouts from Troop 96) returned home from ten fantastic days at the Summit in West Virginia.  This was the first ever Jamboree at the Bechtel Summit Reserve and what an event it was.  Almost 40,000 Scouts, leaders and staff enjoyed this new premiere Scouting base.  We couldn't do all the activities, but we sampled a lot:  the archery course, the stand-up paddleboards, the waterfront obstacle course, rock climbing, scuba diving, pioneering, service project, ropes course, a rock concert, fireworks, patch trading, world record-breaking, meeting and patch trading with Scouts from all across the U.S. and foreign countries, mud slides…

Did Scouts stand in long lines? Yes. Did they get dirty? Yes. Did some miss out on doing things they had hoped to do? Yes. Did they dislike some of the food? Yes. Are their hiking boots so mud saturated they are unusable now? Yes. Did they have the best time of their short lives, and accumulate a ton of memories and skills that will stay with them forever? YES.

Check out the pictures on the BSA's Flickr site to get some idea of all that happened.

Can you tie this Knot?

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Created on Monday, 17 June 2013 15:38

Written by Super User

Scouts, can you tie this knot?  If so, get your whole patrol together and show me!

The first entire patrol that can tie this knot correctly (and tell me the name and when to use it) will get a prize for their kitchen box!

Programming and Sustainability Merit Badges

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Created on Friday, 19 July 2013 16:12

Written by John McCall

This week at the National Jamboree two new merit badges were released. 

Programming, will introduce scouts to the world of software coding, explore the many uses of computer code and explore various career opportunities in programming. 

Click here to view a pdf with the Programming Merit Badge Requirements. 

Sustainability, will become an Eagle required merit badge as an option to Environmental Science. Sustainability will involve conservation and stewardship of our natural resources. Requirements address consumption, conservation, recycling and reuse of all the things that we use in daily life, both natural and man made.

Click here to view a pdf with the Sustainability Merit Badge Requirements. 

MaKaJaWan 2013 going great

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Created on Tuesday, 09 July 2013 15:30

Written by Pat Klemens

Reports from the Great Northwoods describe a fast and fun start to camp.  Everyone is doing well and enjoying all that Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan has to offer. 

Wednesday AM Update: Nathan T, Anthony , David H, and Chris M presented the flags at this morning's East Camp assembly.

Wednesday PM Update: The troop was out working the Baden-Powell Service Project today.

Thursday PM Update: Working on Merit Badges, Trailblazer - and eating!

Check out the photos HERE.

June 2013 Big trip

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Created on Monday, 17 June 2013 09:20

Written by Pat Klemens

Troop 96 headed west on June 14 with 49 people traveling in six vehicles.  We had a fantastic trip.  Our first "scenic" destination was the Spam Museum (and gift shop!) in Austin, MN.  Who knew "real" Spam was so popular?  We then proceeded to visit, in order:  Wall Drug, Devil's Tower National Monument, the town of Deadwood, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Needles Highway, Jewel Cave, Minuteman Missile Site National Monument, the Badlands and Pipestone National Monument. 

Along the way, we had great campsites, amazing food, good times and lots of fun.  There was some rain (!) towards the end of the trip, but it's not a campout unless it rains, right?

 Next time, we want you to join us!

Click here to check out some of the photos.

Take the Challenge - Help the Victims - UPDATE 6-5-13

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Created on Monday, 17 June 2013 15:40

Written by Super User

Scouts, we learned that an enormous tornado system hit the area near Oklahoma City - not once but twice just a week apart.  These incredibly powerful storms wiped out entire communities. 

Read more: Take the Challenge - Help the Victims - UPDATE 6-5-13

Play to Win: Game Design Merit Badge Released

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Created on Wednesday, 08 May 2013 16:18

Written by Super User

Let me stop you right here. I know what you’re thinking, but, no, this is not a merit badge Scouts earn by playing video games.

Now that I’ve dispelled that common misconception, here’s the real story: Game Design merit badge — released today — teaches Scouts how to create, test, and refine a game from one of four categories.

Click READ MORE (below) for the complete list of requirements

Read more: Play to Win: Game Design Merit Badge Released