TROOP 3

Boy Scouts of America
Westark Area Council
Butterfield District
Fort Smith, Arkansas

Photo Album

2007-2008 Calendar

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Announcements:

05/01/08

Mr. Campbell has passed this website along to us regarding the 2010 National Scout Jamboree:  http://old.scouting.org/jamboree/2010/index.html - look for more information coming soon!

Another announcement from Mr. Schmalz regarding Wilderness Training:

June 2nd and 3rd is the rescheduled date for Wilderness First Aid Training. School will be out so we might be able to get more boys there for this training. We’re sure there might be some vacation already scheduled but this has turned out to be the best time we have to do the training. Philmont only requires one person to be trained but prefer that we have two trained. There are 12 spots that can be filled so if there are any boys that will be going to Philmont in the next 3 years this would be the perfect time to take it.  Class starts at 8 am and finishes around 4 pm on both days. We’ll either order pizza or sandwiches for lunch. Cost is $35.00

04/24/08

Announcement from Mr. Schmalz regarding Wilderness Training:

An unfortunate occurrence has happened with the Wilderness First Aid Training for this weekend. Johnny Martin has become ill so we will have to reschedule the training for another weekend. He gave me a few other dates that would work for him but they are few. May 3rd and 4th or May 31st and June 1st.  The time is getting very very short but he assures me that he’ll get us trained. I’m sorry for any inconvenience but it was not my doing.

Reminder that we will be having CPR class on May 12th for those going to Philmont and any others that might be able to take the class but the class is limited to 9 students (boy and adults).  It is my understanding the other scouts that will be at the meeting will be working on a few necessary First Aid or physical requirements for rank advancement.

Announcement from Mr. Harper regarding the Philmont crew:

May 19th - Scout and Philmont physicals during regular meeting time. We will go to either Dr. Flanagan's or Dr. Stilwell's office so that we can do all of them in the most efficient manner. If I have not given you a Philmont physical form I will have them there that night. I will let you know the exact location soon. If you want to do your own thing let me know and I will get you a form. If you already have your form be sure to bring it that night as we don't have very many extras and Philmont WILL NOT ACCEPT PHOTOCOPIES!!! 

May 30, 31, June 1 - Our last and only real shakedown hike WE NEED EVERYONE (philmont crew) TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. If you have a problem let me know and we will see what we can do. We will do a two night hike, at least 14-15 miles, rain or shine!!!!! We will get together and discuss menus and cooking for this trip.

04/08/08

Welcome to four new recruits that have just advanced from Webelos:
Trevor
Travis
Brian 
Alex

Court of Honor was held Monday, April 7th.  Merit badges and rank advancements were awarded:

Congratulations to all of these young men!

03/25/08

Float Trip is scheduled for April 18-20, 2008.  Attached is a copy of the information sheet that Mr. Wald passed out Monday night (note correct date is 2008!).  

Swim tests are going on Tuesday & Wednesday night of this week.  You need to test every year if you will be involved in any water trips (float trip, summer camp, etc.).

SGT. Johnny Martin will be giving a Wilderness Training April 26th & 27th.  He was at the meeting Monday night in order to find out how many adults and scouts would be interested in acquiring the American Red Cross Wilderness training. Unfortunately he does not know the exact cost of the training but he felt the cost would be around $35.  There are currently only 2 spots left.  Contact Duane Schmalz for more info.

“Philmont requires that at least one person, preferably two, (either an advisor or a youth participant) in each crew be currently certified in American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid or the equivalent* and CPR from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or the equivalent.  The American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid is a sixteen-hour course designed to help in situations when help is not readily available.  Several hours may be required for Philmont staff to reach a remote backcountry location after a message is delivered to the nearest staffed camp. First aid and CPR training will result in proper and prompt attention being given to injuries and/or illnesses. You must present current certification cards upon check in to verify this requirement.”

CPR training will be scheduled soon, but that training will only be no more than 4 hours

03/24/08

Another note from Mr. Harper regarding the Hike Outing this weekend:

OK, I messed up. The Devil's Den outing that Troop 2 had scheduled was last weekend so we are going back to our original plan for the 28th and 29th. We will meet at CTK bell tower at 5 pm and try to leave by 5:30 to go to Poteau Mountain and camp that night at the top of the ridge. On Saturday we will break camp and hike down to the falls and have lunch and then hike back out, returning to Fort Smith that afternoon. Everyone in Philmont crew will carry full packs, anyone else who wants to come can do whatever. Everyone is responsible for their own food on this outing. If anyone has questions you can call me on my cell 479-461-1953, Sorry for any inconvenience. Randy Harper

03/14/08

Note from Randy Harper:
Philmont Training Hike/Campout - I just spoke to Carder Ferguson with Troop 2 and we are going to go with their guys up to Devil's Den on March 28/29th instead of the Poteau Mountain location. They will camp Friday and Saturday nights, but we are still planning to hike on Saturday and come back to Fort Smith Saturday evening. If anyone wants to stay another night I am sure that can work. We just need to know by Monday 24th who is going to go for sure.

Food arrangements are up to the individual scout. We will not cook as a patrol. All Philmont crew members need to carry their full pack on Satuday's hike. Be sure to bring rain gear and plenty of water. We will meet Friday evening at First United Methodist Church and car pool up there with Troop 2. Meet at 5:30 pm and plan to leave by 6 pm. Should return to FS Saturday by around 5 pm.

For more information, Contact Mr. Harper.

Float Trip dates are set for April 18-20.  Watch for more details.

03/03/08

Roddy will also be looking for a couple of adults to help on the nights of the checks.

02/11/08

The Eco Challenge, which was rescheduled from December, was a great success the weekend of February 1st - 3rd.  About 15 scouts had fun mountain biking, repelling, cooking and camping at Shores Lake.

Training will be starting for the Philmont Trip that the older boys will be taking this summer:

Saturday March 1st - Meet at the beginning of the bike trail at Ben Geren Park at 8 am. Bring pack loaded with as much weight as you care to carry. We will hike the trails around Ben Geren and maybe make a loop around part of Fort Chaffee. Plan to hike about 3 hours or so and have lunch out there. Bring sack lunch to eat on trail. Should be finished around noon. 

Friday March 14/Saturday March 15 - Meet at bell tower approximately 4:30 to 5 pm. We will drive about 45 minutes down toward Waldron and make camp on Poteau mountain. Saturday morning we will break camp, load packs and hike down to an are know as "Robber's Cave" (not the one in Oklahoma) and back out again. Should return to Fort Smith by about 3- 4 pm Saturday. I know that is the beginning of spring break so anyone with plans to leave town I understand but hope everyone can make it. This is a good little hike as it drops about 1000 feet and then you have to come back out. We will eat a trail breakfast that you provide and trail lunch Saturday and sack lunch Friday evening. WE WILL NOT COOK AS A CREW SO YOU WILL PROVIDE YOUR OWN FOOD FOR THIS OUTING. WE WILL CARRY FULL PACKS ON SATURDAY FOR TRAINING PURPOSES. Let me know if anyone needs tents for this outing. Plan to share a tent with someone. 

Either March 28,29,30 or April 4, 5, 6 - There is no school on Friday either one of these weekends. We need to do a full fledged two night hike. Am not sure where we would do this or exact timing but would like to leave Fort Smith early on Friday so that we could hike a good bit on Friday, camp, hike Saturday, camp and hike out to a pickup point on Saturday morning. We will need to meet and plan some menus and pick a good 20 mile or so hike.  

01/06/08

Meeting location has changed back to Knights of Columbus effective with the 01/07/08 meeting.

12/13/07

The Eco Challenge scheduled for this weekend has been postponed because of the high probability of cold and WET weather. Mr. Willis plans to watch the weather and look for a more suitable date. 

The next troop meeting will be January 7th. In all likelihood, we will resume meeting at Columbus Acres and the Patrol Leaders will call all the scouts in early January. 

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Gary Campbell

12/10/07

The Eco-Challenge campout is scheduled for this weekend (December 14th - 16th) at Shores Lake.  Attached is the flyer that was handed out at Monday's meeting.  Be sure and dress WARM - snow is in the forecast!

Trapper's Rendezvous in Kansas is scheduled for mid-January.  Plan on taking trade items and have a great time!

Pictures have been added to the photo album from the backpacking trip that the troop went on in November.

11/05/07

The hiking campout trip will be November 16th - 18th.  The boys will spend the night at Cove Lake Friday.   They will then hike towards Mount Magazine, spending Saturday night on the trail.  Attached is a suggested personal equipment list.  If you are planning on going on the hike, please bring your PACKED backpack to next Monday's meeting.

The annual Eco-Challenge campout at Shores Lake is scheduled for the weekend of December 14th - 16th.  Webelos are encouraged to join the scouts and activities include mountain biking, repelling and orienteering.

The Popcorn Prize Extravaganza is scheduled for Monday, November 12th.  Mr. Willis reports that we sold over $4,400 of popcorn during October.  He will also be distributing popcorn to anyone who has not picked up their order.

Court of Honor was held Monday, November 5th.  Merit badges and rank advancements were awarded:

Congratulations to all of these young men!

10/22/07

Meetings will be held in St. Boniface's Parish Center on the Northeast corner of the campus until further notice.

We will not be participating in the Belle Point Rendezvous as originally planned due to too many schedule conflicts.  Instead, Mr. Campbell has invited the boys to his home at 1:00 on Saturday to sell popcorn in the neighborhood.  At 3:00 the boys will return to cook dutch oven stew, cornbread and cobbler.

An overnight hiking trip is schedule for the weekend of November 16th.  More information will be coming soon.

10/18/07

Patrol Roster has been updated with new assignments.

10/15/07

The meeting on 10/22/07 has been moved to St. Boniface.  

Ethan T. will be working on his Eagle project on Saturday, October 20th.  He will be at St. Scholastica from 10am until 2 or 3pm working on a flower bed.  He will provide burgers or sandwiches for helpers.  Take the first drive north of Rogers Avenue and follow it around - he'll be off to the right.

Troop 3 Popcorn Group Sales:  
Come "hang out" at Academy Sports this Saturday, October 20th from 11am - 3pm.  Academy Sports will graciously allow us to sell for 4 hours - work all 4 or come for as long as you can.

We will also be selling popcorn after all Christ The King Masses this weekend.  Times listed are 20 minutes after the start of each Mass.  
            Saturday, October 20th    6:20pm
            Sunday, October 21st        9:20am
            Sunday, October 21st        11:50am

More information has been received about the "Belle Point Rendezvous IV".  Sounds like a lot of fun - old fashioned PIG roast, chili, beans and cornbread for lunch.  Competitions include

Other events include:

Here are links to more information:  Belle Point Rendezvous IV Competition Information   and   flyer from Mike Kremers - Camporee Chairman

10/08/07

Scouts will be helping to park cars at the Oktoberfest on October 12th and 13th from 5pm until 8:30pm.  Attached is a document with more information

Will Y. will be working on his Eagle Scout project Tuesday, October 9th, from 4:30pm until dark at the Knights of Columbus playground, with dinner being provided at McDonald's following the work.  Please come help him finish his project!

Mr. Willis has arranged for the scouts to sell popcorn at Academy Sports on Saturday, October 20th for about 4 hours - make plans to help out.  He is also talking to a few other merchants in the area.

There will be a hike coming up in November - stay tuned for more information as it is available!

10/01/07

Mr. Willis has handed out the popcorn forms.  Popcorn sales are a great way to earn scout bucks.  Scout bucks can be used to pay your way for registration, summer camp and other troop activities.  Sales also provide Troop 3 with funds needed for equipment, patches, and general costs of running our program.  Boys will receive 20% of their total sales in scout bucks.
Please use the take order method for family, friends and neighborhood sales. All take order forms must be submitted by October 29, 2007.  

09/17/07

More information and a permission slip for the Kibler Campout is attached.

Trail's End Popcorn Sales will start soon - be thinking of who you can sell to!

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS:

Paul K. will be refurbishing a prayer garden at St. Boniface on the corner of North B Street and North 18th Street.  He is also planning to paint a room in the basement of the school and painting the bike rack.  Wear work clothes, bring a shovel, and gloves may be needed.  Water will be provided and Geno's Pizza will be served for lunch.  September 15th & September 22nd; 8am - 12pm.

Will Y. will be repairing/painting the playground at Knights of Columbus.  The originally scheduled date has been postponed due to a conflict at the grounds.  New date will be announced.

09/10/07

The Skills campout will be September 21-23 in Kibler, AR.  We will learn knot tying, lashing and cooking skills.  Meet at the Bell Tower at Christ The King at 5:00pm Friday, September 21st for 5:30pm departure.  Bring a sack lunch for Friday evening and the patrols will cook all meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast.  The scouts will return around 10:00am Sunday.  

Welcome to new scout Joseph S.

I have just found additional information for the Belle Point Rendezvous IV "The Gathering".  Looks like it's going to be a LOT of fun!

08/27/07

The Troop 3 Kickoff was well attended - we missed those that could not be there.  Our first meeting of the year will be September 10th at Columbus Acres and the first campout will be a Skills Campout the weekend of September 21-23 in Kibler, AR.

Many merit badges were awarded to those that went to summer camp and others that had completed requirements:

Two scouts also received rank advancements while at summer camp:

Congratulations to all of these young men!

A calendar for the 2007-2008 scouting year has been made and is attached as a .pdf file.  Mr. Campbell informed us that the dates were not set in stone, but should be close to actual.

08/20/07

***  Troop 3 Kickoff  ***

06/30/07

Westark Area Council Fall Camporee - October 26-28th, 2007
Click here to see flyer

06/18/07

Court of Honor:

Grant H - Camping Merit Badge
Paul K - Life Rank
Jesse M - Tenderfoot Rank
Chris S - Life Rank
Will Y - Personal Management Merit Badge
Matthew S - Scout Rank

06/08/07

Summer Camp News:  A mandatory parent meeting is schedule for July 9th at 7:00pm at Columbus Acres.  The boys will be drawing for their tent choice. The meeting should only take about 30 to 40 minutes but it is important.

    Physical Form

    Camp Merit Badges 

06/04/07

The caving trip has been postponed due to conflicts in schedules.  It will be rescheduled at  a later date.

Camp deposit of $100 is due now.  The balance of $100 is due by June 25th.

05/14/07

Information for the Caving weekend is attached.  There are three tours at Blanchard Springs.  The scouts will have their choice between these tours.  

05/07/07

Work continued on the Orienteering Merit Badge.

The caving weekend has been moved to the weekend of June 9th.

04/30/07

Court of Honor:

Tyler R - Citizenship in the Community MB 
Grant H - 2nd Class Rank 
Tony Y - Star Rank 
Charles W - Star Rank

Congratulations to these boys!

    Parents met to gather information about Summer Camp.  Summer Camp will be July 15th - July 21st, 2007 at the Hale Scout Reservation in Talihina, Oklahoma.  There is a lot of information about the camp at www.halescoutreservation.org .  (Be sure to watch the promotional video - it made me want to go and do some of that fun stuff!)   This is a GREAT opportunity for the boys to earn fun merit badges - like snow sports (snow skiing on soap flakes!), horsemanship, wood carving, etc.  The Soaring to Eagle class is highly recommended for first or second year scouts.  Check out the link and decide what looks good to you.   
    Duane is also looking for "leaders" to help out during the camp for the full week or a portion of the week.  We need 3 leaders at the camp during this week.  Below is more information for the leaders.
        Summer Camp info
        Summer Camp Leader info

More pictures have been uploaded from the float trip.  See the pictures

The caving weekend has been postponed due to a conflict in the current date.  It will possibly be the first or second week in June.

04/23/07

Orienteering Merit Badge starts 04/30/07 - remember to bring your compass.  See the link below for more information.

Parents need to attend on 04/30/07  for information regarding summer camp.

Some of the photos from the float trip have been posted to the photo album.  If you have pictures and need help uploading them, e-mail me at troop3fortsmith@sbcglobal.net.  Tracey

04/16/07

Summer Camp Meeting

A parents meeting for New Boy Scouts that will be attending Boy Scout Camp this summer will be April 30^th during the regular Scout Meeting at Columbus Acres. Date for Troop 3 to attend Hale Scout Reservation camp, which is located at Talihina, Ok, will be July 15^th to July 21, 2007. This is a great opportunity for YOUR Boy Scout to earn merit badges to help him to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Every merit badge is one step closer for him and everyone will count.   If you have any questions, please call:

Duane Schmalz – Summer Camp Scoutmaster – 462-9209
Roddy Yates - Summer Camp Coordinator – 462-6439
Gary Campbell - Troop 3 Scoutmaster – 783-0030

Orienteering Merit Badge begins April 30th.  Click on link for more information.

Info about the Caving weekend will be coming soon!  Reserve the weekend of 5/18 - 5/20 for a boy scout campout!

04/09/07

Parent Meeting - April 30th, 2007 for information about summer camp.

Website has been updated - please send suggestions to Tracey Shultz at troop3fortsmith@sbcglobal.net .

Canoe trip to the Buffalo river planned for April 20th - 22nd, 2007.  A sign-up sheet was passed around for those planning to go.  Food cost is $8 and will need to be paid by April 16th.

BSA Swim Tests were done last week.  If you still need to take the test, contact Roddy Yates at 782-6351.

04/02/07

BSA Swim Check    -    April 4th & 5th, 2007   6:45 - 7:30pm
    (Marvin Altman Fitness Center Visitor Consent Form)

Troop 3 Float Trip    -    Buffalo National River    -    April 20th - 22nd, 2007

Last updated  05/01/2008

Boy Scout Troop 3    -    Fort Smith, Arkansas    -    Copyright 2007