Troop 353 Putnam Valley

For those of us who are curious and want a head’s-up regarding our summer Adirondack Trek, attached is the schedule provided by Summit Base. Also attached is the list of recommended personal gear.

Should you have any questions, please direct them to Mr. Anthony Polidoro or Mr. Bud Flanagan, our Troop leaders who will be going on this adventure.

Sunday:
1:00pm: Participants arrive and check in with Summit Director at Summit Base office. Please pre-arrange early arrivals with our Trek Coordinator. Your group will be introduced to your guide who will show you to your site to drop off your gear. It is strongly suggested that the entire group arrives close to 1pm to allow sufficient time for preparation.

1:00pm to 5:00pm: Swim tests and medical reviews should take no longer than two hours. Your group and your guide will then begin equipment “shakedown” where your guide will cover proper packing techniques and also point out any items that may best be left behind. Organized and efficient groups will possibly have time to take part in our on-site high adventure activities with their guide.

5:00pm: Your group will return to their site to set up camp and prepare for dinner.

6:00pm: Dinner will be served in the Butler Pavilion at Summit Base.

After dinner your group will finalize distribution of group gear and food (supplied by Summit Base). You will have time to relax, get to know your guide and discuss the upcoming adventure.

One group leader and the guide will meet with the Summit Director and turn in unit rosters, wilderness swimming permission slips and review the group’s account. Any last minute itinerary and/or transportation changes will be addressed.

Monday:
7:00am: The group must have all equipment packed and loaded into the vans and trailers for transport to breakfast. Arrive early; packing and loading equipment takes time.

7:10am: Breakfast will be served in the Newton Dining Hall in Camp Buckskin.

7:30am: Your group will depart for your drop off location. Departure time may vary slightly depending on the trek chosen.

Friday:
10:30am-12:00pm: Your group will be picked up at your finish point and will be provided with lunch on your ride back to Summit Base.

12:00pm-6:00pm: The group will arrive at Summit Base and your guide will show you back to your site where a post trek “shakedown” of equipment will occur. Once equipment details have been completed your group is free to relax until dinner.
Hot showers are available.

Other high adventure activities may be available depending on your return time.

6:00pm: Dinner will be served in the Butler Pavilion at Summit Base.

7:00pm: After dinner, one leader must meet with the Summit Director at the Summit Base office to review the trek. A review of the group’s account will occur with any final payments due at this time. The group may wish to partake in some additional high adventure activities located at Summit Base or attend the campfire program at Camp Buckskin.

Saturday:
8:00am: Breakfast is served at Newton Dining Hall in Camp Buckskin on your way out of camp.

If your unit plans to leave Summit Base prior to Saturday breakfast please, please notify the Summit Base Director in advance.

Summit Base Personal Gear Guide

Our final Troop meeting is Tuesday, June 9th. This permits those students who have final exams and regents enough time to study hard and do their best!

On Saturday, June 13 - Closing ceremony for the Cub Scouts, Pack 53 will be held
- Scoutmaster O’Grady has recommended scouts who are looking forward to this event, give their name to our Senior Patrol Leader Anthony, so there is an accurate headcount
- Bring your own dinner to cook. It can be over an open fire or a camp stove - bring what you wish to eat.
- You are permitted to arrive in the morning, set-up your tent and leave if you have other obligations, i.e. sports. Those who have the whole day, may assist in the building and design of the bonfire or enjoy a hike. Bring a football or frisbee.

Our canoe trip scheduled for July 26, 27 and 28th
The prices for scout reserved equipment is as follows: a Canoe = $26, a Kayak = $28, a Raft = $28. You MUST wear the provided life vest at all times on the river. The camping site has been reserved and paid for by our Troop. The Troop is collecting $10 per person to offset the cost of food for this outing. Please give the family name and number of people coming to our SPL Anthony.

Pool/Pizza Party - Tuesday, July 7th at Mr. Gibb’s House
The Pool Party is a chance for all of our Troop to unwind after a long school season. This also permits Mrs. Gallo to get all the necessary forms together from the parents for summer camp. Please make sure your medical forms are up to date and have been signed off by your doctor. Any person (scout or leader) taking medication, MUST speak with Scoutmaster O’Grady.

Manitoga District Spring Event
Saturday, April 25, 2009

George Washington Bridge/Palisades Hike

This particular event is going down in the record books of our Troop as being the hottest hikes in our recorded history. The evening weatherman confirmed the temperature hit 90-degrees in Alpine, New Jersey – the final point of our hike.

We met at the VFW at 8:00AM. Thanks to Scoutmaster O’Grady we had a mode of transportation to bring our Troop to the foot of the George Washington Bridge.
At the base of the bridge on the New York side, we met hike organizers and they described the hike and various points of interest along the way.

The bridge was spectacular! The haze in the air made it impossible for us to see the Statue of Liberty from mid-span, but the skyline was breathtaking. We met scouts from different Troops all excited to see where the trail led. Blue flowering groundcover, violets and yellow daffodils covered vast areas were we walked. We crossed small streams by way of wood planked bridges and viewed distant sights across the Hudson from vantage points at the edge of sheer cliffs. We also had turkeys greet us at an overlook. I would say we had a good day.

Thank you Mr. Davidson for being there for us. He traveled alone the whole day and made sure we were safe and hydrated. The hike was two-miles on the bridge and 10-miles of trail, but Mr. Feuerstake and his hand-held GPS unit calculated we walked more than thirteen (13) miles. Way to go!

I am proud of our scouts who hiked the GW Bridge to Camp Alpine. I wish more scouts had come. I appreciated each and every word of encouragement from Mr. & Mrs. Feuerstake and Mr. Davidson, which helped every one of us complete this hike.

Thank You!

REMEMBER: This Tuesday Council re-scheduled their Summer Camp slide show for us to view. Parents please come and see what Curtis S. Read Boy Scout Reservation has to offer your son.

Also, Mr. Davidson has informed me he received a box containing our Class B red T-shirts. I look forward to see everybody on Tuesday.

During our Tuesday, April 21st meeting we were to have a guest speaker from Council present a slideshow on Curtis S. Read Boy Scout Reservation. Unfortunately he was detained in another meeting and was unable to come. We have rescheduled for next week, April 28th.

Those boys in attendance were our SPL Anthony, Andrew, Will, Travis, Patrick, Cody, Chris, Shane, Mark, David and Jelani. A number of our scouts currently working on their Eagle Required Merit Badge – Environmental Science took a short hike into the woods at the Park with Mr. Gorniak to complete some of its requirements. A number of older scouts, who already have the Environmental badge, assisted Chris reviewing requirements necessary to move up in rank.

Manitoga Spring District Event

Palisades Hike:

This Saturday, those boys and parents who have signed up, are to be at our VFW at 8:00am for transportation to the foot of the George Washington Bridge for this hike. The weatherman is proud to say the weather will be gorgeous. Please make sure you dress in layers, the bridge can be windy, and especially early in the morning; towards the afternoon we are looking for temperatures in the 80’s. Make sure you carry with you an adequate amount of water to stay hydrated and you spray your pants/hiking boots with tick repellent. Carry a small backpack with you lunch and snacks and to stow your layers when it gets too warm.

REMINDER:

Sunday, May 3rd - our Clean Up of the VFW starts at l:00pm. Please bring your gloves and rakes, if possible. Once completed we will go to the Middle/High School and pick up road side litter as we do our part in the beautification of our community and Earth Day. A list is posted for your signature to participate. This can be used as community service time, necessary for rank advancement.