Past newsletters are archived at the troop's website http://www.biztaxpros.com/troop804. There have also been a few helpful links added to the website regarding advancement and safety.

During the last few meetings (25 September, 2006; 02 October, 2006; and 09 October, 2006) the Boy Scouts did the following:

…At the beginning of each of these meetings the scouts enjoyed some outdoor activities. For one such activity (which actually lasted throughout the whole meeting) the boys worked together in a team-building exercise called "talisman" during which the scouts had to solve a logistic/physical problem. All boys had to cross a "toxic" area, and in order to be safe, a talisman had to be carried across on each trip. The rules were that the talisman could not be tossed, and each boy could only carry the talisman once in one direction. The answer took the entire meeting to discover, and it involved the carrying of some people by others. It was a nice break not to have to address any business-type issues for the whole meeting. It was interesting and fun to witness the boys thinking about how to work as a team to solve a rather complex problem.

…The first October meeting began with a fun outdoor game called "SPUD," and the second with some free-style dodge ball of sorts.

…The first aid requirements for the Tenderfoot rank were discussed at each meeting, as were the ideal contents of a troop first aid kit.

…A 50 mile hike led by Assistant District Commissioner Hearn was announced. This is a "First Class" hike, meaning that the boys will be working toward their First Class Rank while away. Any participants must be at least Tenderfoot rank to attend.

The "show and sell" part of the popcorn sale came to an end last Monday night. All leftover popcorn and collected money was taken in, and the sale was a rather large success. There are a few boys who are still hotly competing for the official Boy Scout and Cub Scout awards which will go to the top selling Scout and Cub. They are doing so by collecting even more sales on their order forms.

Please continue to sell pancake breakfast tickets as well. This fund raiser is picking up steam. Remember that we will need boys to participate in making and serving food at the church on 21 October, 2006 from about 6am to 12pm. More specific times will be announced.

The Tiger Cubs' theme through the end of October is "shipbuilders," and they are getting ready for their Raingutter Regatta. This is a fun project for which the boys build and paint their own sailboats. We are in need of two ten foot lengths of raingutter, closed at each end, and we are currently seeking the donation of such.

The Tigers played a fun game called "Walk the rope" which is similar to walking the plank but with a much shorter fall! (Cubs are blind-folded, spun around by their parents, and then walk in their stocking feet along a 12 foot length of rope. Two cubs at a time race to see who can reach the end of their rope first. They also sang a corny little song (to the tune of "My Bonny") about Cub Scouts getting lost at sea without their trusty compasses.

Cub awards this month were:
Austin Salveson: Arrow Point, Fitness
Bryan Vojnar: Bobcat, Fitness
Jonathan Freeborough: Fitness, Handyman
Walker Phillips: Bobcat, Fitness
Jacob Fry: Bobcat

The Webelos den worked on leather neckerchief slides during one of their past their meetings, and the Tiger den completed another "go see it" activity at the DeLand public library during one of their meetings.