Trail Life Parents,
As we approach the final stretch of our Troop season, we have a bunch of upcoming events and activities, and you're not going to want to miss them! There is so much to discuss, so I'll break it down and give you the highlights first:
- Sespe Creek this week— Are you coming?
- Next Meeting— May 7th- Pinewood Derby Car building — at Royal High School
- NEW MEETING for a Pinewood Derby Car racing event - May 14th
Sespe Creek This Week (Thursday -Saturday)
Sespe Creek is one of our troop favorite "High Adventure" backpaking trip, and it's coming up in just a few days. Though this event is free, we need to know who's "in"—so we can caravan and send you some other important details to prepare for this trip (If you've already registered to tell us your coming— you're set!) RSVP to tell us you're coming here »
We've got a great resource over in our Knowledge base with a full packing list for Sespe (and other backpacking trips. Sespe has no pit toilets or bear boxes— so those items listed for each category will be required. See the Pack list here
Sespe Hiking Plan:
- Thursday - May 2nd @ 10am - Meet at NewHeart for Caravan
- Drive to In-N-Out in Ventura for an early lunch (and to avoid needing lunch on the trail)
- Caravan into Sespe Creek Piedra Blanca Trailhead and hike in (hike should take a few hours)
- We will camp near "Bear Creek" primitive campground on the Trail on Thursday and Friday nights.
- We will hike out after Breakfast in the mid morning on Saturday.
- (For those keeping track, you'll need: 2 Dinner meals, 2 Breakfast meals, and One lunch for the Trail)
(For those going emergency contact information, and Beacon tracking information will be provided for family members to track our progress.)
Next Meeting— May 7th- Pinewood Derby Car building — at Royal High School
Our next troop meeting on May 7th will NOT be at NewHeart...nor will it be at our regular time. One of our incredible Trail Life Dads— Mr. Sorenson — who is the woodshop teacher at Royal High School, has opened up the Royal woodshop to us to build our Pinewood derby cars!
While we will have access to the bandsaws and all tools— this does present some "issues" we need to be aware of. First— we will need 1:1 Dad supervision or help for the boys working on the tools— we don't want any accidents or horseplay while in the shop. Second— we will not all be able to arrive and work at the same time in the shop. For this reason, we will have Staggered arrival times for the various patrols— and we're aiming to get each patrol in and out in about 30 minutes.
Derby Kits are provided. All cars will be built from the same "Basic" pinewood derby car— but you can customize to your hearts content. That will require that you...
Make a plan. I would suggest you and your Trailmen sketch out some ideas of what you'd like the shape of your cars to be after fabrication...that way you can maximize your time in the woodshop.
Show up at your scheduled time ready to work. Note— the woodshop is in the rear of the campus...arrive a few minutes early to your scheduled slot so you are ready with your patrol.
Arrival Times at Royal High School
- ALPHA Patrol - 6:15 - 6:45pm
- BRAVO Patrol- 6:35 - 7:05pm
- CHARLIE Patrol - 6:55 - 7:25pm
- DELTA Patrol - 7:15 - 7:45pm
- ECHO Patrol - 7:35 - 8:05pm
Note— we will not have a regular troop meeting otherwise on May 7th...this meeting at Royal to build our cars will supersede it.
(For those unable to make it to Royal High School to build your cars— Mr. Hornbeck has offered to open his home woodshop if you need more time or help— please contact Him for details)
Meeting location: Royal High School, 1402 Royal Ave, Simi Valley, CA 93065
New meeting for a Pinewood Derby Car racing event - 5/14/2019
To allow us a full time of racing— we will have an additional meeting 1 week after our building party— on May 14th at NewHeart. We will gather as Integrated Patrols, and will participate in the race— so bring your cars. We should have a fun time together in some friendly competition between the boys, and patrols. 6:15pm will be our start time.
After these meetings, we will have just one final meeting on May 21st (looking at Hobbies, and then our end of year Awards Ceremony will happen on June 4th.
Soon, we will be posting all current steps earned (for Woodlands) and Badges earned (for Navigators/Adventurers)...when that list arrives, please be sure to check it to verify attendance— but also get any Family Home Activities (make up steps) completed before our final troop meeting of the year on May 21st.
Have a great day— and we'll see you on the trail!
- Brian Fox
Troop Lead (Institutional Head)