Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm
Location: Sycamore Valley Elementary School (map)
Attire: Class A
Webelos are invited to join us for an evening of fun as our scouts decorate their CO2 race cars for their upcoming race. We will also hold a special informational meeting for parents to learn more about our troop. This is a great opportunity to see if our troop is the right fit for your scout. We hope to see you there!
Find out more about bridging to Troop 805 from this flyer.
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged bridging, troopMeeting
Date: Monday, November 10, 2014 – This is a school holiday
Location: KTVU television station at Jack London Square in Oakland
Meet: 10AM Sycamore Park and Ride
Return: 2-2:30PM Scouts will be dropped off at their homes
Cost: $0
Attire: Class A
Required:
– Permission slip due November 4th, but turn it in ASAP
– Merit badge prerequisites as detailed below
Troop 805,
We have the opportunity for a private tour of KTVU television station at Jack London Square in Oakland. [everyone should now respond, “oo aw special!!!”] This includes watching a live broadcast of the noon time news. [everyone should now respond, “oo aw extra special!!!”] Space is very limited! We have room for one more adult/driver and nine (9) scouts. This tour is designed for scouts working on their Moviemaking Merit Badge.
Eat your lunch before or after the event. You may bring a snack to be eaten in the car.
Requirements:
- Turn in your permission slip as soon as possible. Your name will be added to the “pending approval” list.
- BEFORE scouts are approved to go, you MUST:
- Complete Moviemaking MB requirements 1, 2a, 2b, 2c, and 4. These must be written out on your MB worksheet with sufficiently detailed answers.
- In addition, you must have STARTED requirement #2d by planning your video project. This includes giving it some serious thought AND writing your plans down. However, it is NOT necessary to have completed the video project before going on the tour.
- Meet with Mr. Mahoney briefly to confirm that the above has been done. You will then be approved to go (based on first come, first serve).
- Any remaining openings may be filled by scouts that have already completed their Cinematography or Moviemaking Merit Badge.
Questions? Contact Mr. Rand Mahoney, cell: 925.899.3840, email: randmaho@pabell.net.
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged meritBadge
Date: June 21-27, 2015 (Sunday – Saturday)
Location: Camp Cherry Valley
Cost: $650 + $200 mandatory transportation cost = $850
Detail: Parents Info, Week at a Glance, Leaders Guide, Parking Instruction, Photo Albums
Required: Camp rservation form and Permission slip due October 28th, Parent’s Consent form
Timeline:
10/28/2014: Reservation form, permission slip, and 1st payment of $100 due
01/27/2015: 2nd payment of $200 due
02/24/2015: 3rd payment of $200 due
03/24/2015: 4th payment of $150 & $200 transportation payment due
05/19/2015: Mandatory parent meeting
06/21/2015: 4:00AM (Yes AM) Meet and depart from Sycamore Park & Ride
06/27/2015: 9-10PM Arrive at Sycamore Park & Ride
To Troop 805,
I was notified today that we are to submit our reservations and first payment to Cherry Valley by end of October otherwise we will lose our reservation. My apologies for the short notice.
For 2015, Troop 805 is planning to go to TWO summer camps:
- Camp Cherry Valley – June 21st – 27th
- Camp Wente – July 12th – 18th
Your scouts can attend either summer camps or BOTH. Please note, we may end up going to ONE summer camp only if we have a majority of the scouts choosing to go to only one camp. We will make our final decision once we know how many sign up.
Camp Wente Reservations will be coming shortly… please look for an email from me regarding that summer camp.
MY ASK:
If your scouts want to attend Camp Cherry Valley in South California (Catalina Island), I need you to do the following:
- Fill out the Camp Reservation Form
- Fill out the Camp Cherry Valley Permission Slip
- Staple a check made out to Troop 805 in the amount of $100 (first payment)
- NOTE: Total cost for Cherry Valley is $650 (this does NOT include ground transportation to Long Beach – we will figure that cost out later).
PLEASE RETURN the THREE items listed above to me no later than Tuesday, October 28th (PLC). This is very important. I need to make our first payment to Cherry Valley by October 31st otherwise we lose our reservation.
To help parents and scouts to compare between the two Summer Camps, I’ve included links to their 2014 Leader Guides…
In these guides, you will see the type of programs they offer. Camp Cherry Valley is famous for their water front and water activities. Camp Wente is known for their Merit Badge offerings…
For comparisons, Camp Cherry Valley is $650 (cost adjusted). Camp Wente roughly cost around $450 or so… NOTE: cost is adjusted to include troop level costs. In addition, transportation cost is not factored in.
Here is the leader guide for Cherry Valley – scroll down to the bottom to see their program offerings:
http://www.sgvcbsa.org/files/downloads/camping/cherry_valley/CCV_2015/2015%20Cherry%20Valley%20Leaders%20Guide.pdf
Here is the leader guide for Camp Wente – scroll down to the middle to see their program offerings (MB list)…
http://www.wentescoutreservation.org/LeadersGuide_WSR_2015.pdf
I hope this helps in making a decision…
Thank you in advance for your help and again I apologize for this short notice. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Ray Chan
Troop 805 Scoutmaster
NYLT Course Director
925-548-6179 – Cell
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged summerCamp
Date: October 25-26, 2014 (Saturday – Sunday)
Location: California Cavern
Cost:
– Option 1 – Mammoth Caves Expedition – $120 for scouts or adults
– Option 2 – Trail of Lights – $50 adults, $44 scouts
Attire:
– Class A for travel
– Class B for Trail of Lights
– Old clothes for Mammoth Caves Expedition
Required: Permission slip and California Caverns waiver form
Detail Info: Expedition Checklist
Organized tour of the underground caverns and caves of California Caverns. Primary outing will be the Mammoth Cave expedition, a two hour tour walking, crawling and wiggling through natural passages which connect the 13 chambers of the cave. For those wishing a less challenging adventure, we will offer the Trail of Lights walking tour. This hour long tour explores many of the same cavern chambers and is a good introduction to spelunking. The second tour is offered contingent upon enough scout interest and adult support. We will end our outing camping overnight at nearby New Melones Recreation Area.
Participants on the Mammoth Cave expedition need to bring old clothes for the trek and a plastic trash bag to store wet clothes. The mud is somewhat resistant to washing and can ruin clothes. Participants on the Trail of Lights walk can wear class B uniform and boots. Please pack clothes and personal items in a sports bag rather than backpack. Bring a BAG LUNCH for Saturday afternoon. Patrols will need to plan menus for Saturday DINNER and Sunday BREAKFAST.
Important Dates:
10/14 (Tu) 7:00pm – Permission slip due at Troop meeting
10/25 (Sa) 8:00am – Meet at Sycamore Park and Ride, depart 8:30am
10/26 (Su) 1:00pm – Return to Sycamore Park and Ride (approx)
Bring:
– For Mammoth Caves Expedition: Old clothes for the trek, trash bag for wet clothes
– For Trail of Lights: Class B & boots
– All:
– Bag lunch for Saturday
– Sports bag instead of backpack
– 10 essentials and camping gears
For more information, contact the ASM in charge, Mr Carstensen at adcarsten@pacbell.net or (925) 999-9608.
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged spelunking
Date: September 11, 2014 (Thursday)
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm – Scout part of the Ceremony starts at 5:50pm sharp
Location: All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park, Danville (map)
Cost: $0
Attire: Class A
Required: Permission slip
On September 11, 2001, thousands of people lost their lives in one of the most infamous attacks on America. We will honor & remember them during San Ramon Valley’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. All uniformed Scouts and leaders are invited to participate in this meaningful patriotic ceremony. Scouts will parade holding American Flags at the All Wars Memorial. The entire family is also welcome to attend the ceremony.
Parking is available at both of the Monte Vista High School lots, located on Stone Valley Road, adjacent to the park. The event is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm. Bring water. Families should bring a blanket or chair to sit in.
(more…)
Posted in Activities, Service Project, Troop News
October 8th: Updated with Logistics info.
Date: October 10-12, 2014 (Friday – Sunday)
Location: Angel Island
Cost: $60
Attire: Class A for travel, Class B for hiking
Required: Permission slip
A two-night backpack camping trip on Angel Island, the weekend of S.F. Fleet Week. We’ll take a privately chartered boat (HyperFish) to ferry us from Jack London Square in Oakland to Angel Island on Friday evening, and hike to our campsite on the west shore of the island. We’ll hike Saturday morning, then watch the US Navy Blue Angels airshow in the afternoon, returning by commercial Blue & Gold Ferry service on Sunday.
This outing is limited to 20 participants. Participation will be on first-come, first-served basis (check in hand); however, priority may be given to scouts whose parents can provide transportation.
We will need six (6) drivers to take us to Jack London Square on Friday evening, and six (6) drivers to pick us up at Jack London on Sunday evening. Please volunteer on the permission slip.
Important Dates & Time:
09/16 (Tu) 7:00pm – Permission slip due at Troop meeting
09/23 (Tu) 7:00pm – Mandatory planning meeting 1 at Troop meeting
09/30 (Tu) 7:00pm – Mandatory planning meeting 2 at PLC meeting
10/10 (Fr) 4:00pm – Meet at Sycamore Park and Ride. Schedule is extremely tight. Arrive early if possible.
10/10 (Fr) 4:30pm – Drivers take Scouts to Scott’s Seafood at Jack London Square (Google directions)
10/12 (Su) approx 2:30-3:00pm – Return trip begins at Angel Island – Look out for email on Sunday for arrival updates
10/12 (Su) 4:40pm – Drivers pick up at Scott’s Seafood at Jack London Square
10/12 (Su) 5:30pm – Return to Sycamore Park and Ride
Bring:
– Tent parts assigned to you!
– Sack dinner
– Layers – it can be windy and cold on the bay. A lightweight waterproof, windproof shell is an excellent idea!
– Lightweight binoculars (optional)
– Lightweight camp chair for the 4-hour airshow (optional)
– Playing cards etc, for passing the time (optional)
– 10 essentials and camping gears
Logistics
Drivers:
Drivers must take scouts and backpacks. I have therefore utilized all drivers to include capacity for equipment, and in the event of unplanned emergencies or equipment failure. Here are the day / family driver assignments, and the number of scouts you have told me you can carry. If your situation has changed or this is impossible for you, PLEASE NOTIFY ME IMMEDIATELY.
Friday: Aidan (4), Andre (4), Chris (4), Eric (5), Ethan (7), Jared O (5), Owen (4)
Sunday: AJ (4), Jared O (5), Jared Q (3), Jimmy (6), Justin (3), Lucas (4), Matthew (6)
Friday: (All Families)
Drivers (and all families) will meet at the Park & Ride Friday at 4:00 sharp. Please arrive early if possible. Our schedule is extremely tight. We have to distribute some equipment and food, get it packed in backpacks, get it in the cars, drive in Friday evening traffic through the maze to Jack London Square in Oakland, find our boat, board a boat, motor to Angel Island, disembark, hike a mile in, and set up camp – hopefully still in some daylight. (Don’t forget a sack dinner.)
I will have driver packets with driving information for all drivers on Friday, but essentially, we are going to Scotts Seafood at Jack London Square. Here is a link with location and driving directions. http://www.scottsjls.com/location.html. Please familiarize yourself with them in advance so we have smooth sailing on our way to the waterfront. 🙂
Sunday: (All Families)
Unfortunately, we will not know what time we will need to be picked up at Scott’s Seafood until sometime around 2:30 or 3:00, when we return to the docks on the island. We do not know (and can’t know) whether we will be able to take a direct Ferry back to Jack London, or whether we will have to go first to San Francisco, and take a different Ferry from there. We therefore have a fairly large swing in possible arrival times at Jack London, from about 4:00 to 6:00 – “ish.” For non-driving families, that puts our arrival at Park & Ride likely somewhere between 5:00 and 7:00 (ish). When I know more on Sunday afternoon I will email all of us. Thank you for your patience and being on “standby” for our transportation and pick up. I would be more precise if I could.
Scouts:
You have been assigned, and taken home, split portions of tents. If you unpack and repack your pack, DO NOT FORGET TO PACK ANY TENT PARTS. The tents will not work without all their parts. Your patrol will have a very cold, windy set of nights in the open on the bay, and you will not be popular at all! 🙂
Each patrol will need to bring whatever cooking equipment/utensils it needs for your planned meals (and no extra equipment). Generally, this means selecting a large pot and lid from a red kit (and perhaps a serving spoon from a green kit) for the whole patrol, and bringing your personal mess kit, but it depends of course on what you have planned for meals. Each patrol will have to arrange to get what it needs from a patrol quartermaster this week, so we have it packed at the Park & Ride. We will distribute stoves and fuel at the Park & Ride.
Consider bringing lightweight binoculars if you have them, and a camp chair if you can carry it. The airshow is four hours long, and we will likely find a good spot somewhere within a mile of camp and set up for the afternoon to watch. The hike into camp is one mile, with some short, moderate climbing. Consider your comfort hiking versus your comfort sitting. Consider also cards, etc. for passing the time. Camera? Cell phones are permitted on this special outing for photography only – and of course for posting videos or texting pictures with cool blue jets in them to your buds and making them jelly. (Using phones for games will result in confiscation and return (sadly) at the end of the outing.)
Weather:
The weather looks outstanding:
– Friday Night Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
– Saturday Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
– Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
– Sunday Sunny, with a high near 74.
With that said, we are right on the water, and fog is damp and cold and can make you quickly miserable. A lightweight waterproof, windproof shell is an excellent idea (as well as being one of the 10 essentials).
That’s about it! I am SOOOOOOOO excited! (I love air shows and the Blue Angels!) I hope you are too.
For more information, contact the ASM in charge, Mr Gary at todd@thegarys.net or (925) 518-9896.
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged backpacking, camping
