Scoutmaster Minute : 16-March-2025

Michael Speer

Greetings All,

I sincerely hope that everyone had a truly enjoyable and relaxing weekend filled with fun and memorable moments. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new scout families joining the troop. We’re thrilled to have you with us! Your involvement enriches our community and we look forward to sharing exciting adventures, building friendships and creating lasting memories together.

Please see below for important Upcoming Activities that you won’t want to miss:

  • Troop Meeting: March 17th 2025 at 6:45 PM. During this meeting we will be continuing our focus on winter merit badges and advancements providing valuable opportunities for skill development and growth. Following this we will have a special meeting dedicated to our exciting summer camp which will begin promptly at 7:45 PM.
    • Class A Uniforms
    • Sign up for Skills Campout
    • Sign up for Spring Camporee Campout
    • make payments for Summer Camp

Last Chance for these Summer Opportunities: Scouts only have a few days to take advantage of the following summer opportunities.  Both of the following have a deadline of March 31 to sign up.  Both camps require you be a First Class Scout.

    • Provisional Summer Camp at Camp Marin-Sierra.  If you can’t join us at Camp Royaneh in July, maybe you can consider participating in Provisional Summer Camp at Camp Marin-Sierra.  The camp is located near Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada, less than  2 hours from Sacramento.  Being a provisional scout means you will be assigned a regular troop for the week that is attending camp.  You will be without Troop 380 adults, but with qualified leaders from a welcoming troop.  The cost for the week is $695.00 but the troop is picking up half of the fee, so scouts will pay $350.00.  Brady Choe has already signed up for the week of June 29-July 5.   Please talk to Dave Ishikawa as soon as possible if you are interested.
    • Eagle Advancement Camp at Camp High Sierra.  This beautiful camp is in the Sierra Nevada near Long Barn, on Highway 108.  We attended camp in 2024 and loved the program.  The camp offers most of the Eagle Required Merit Badges and concentrate on completion of these badges.  Scouts are encouraged to enroll in four Eagle required badges and participate in other program.  Some special features include tye die shirts, welding, metal work, shotguns, rifle, archery, in addition to all the Eagle required merit badges.    Spots are filling fast for the camp on June 29-July 3, 2025.  The fee for the program is $650.00.  This includes merit badges, food, camping and if you wish a bus ride from San Jose to camp and return (optional).  Conner Perry and Noah Blanchard have signed up for this special week already.   Please talk to Dave Ishikawa if you are interested as the camp will be filled by next week.
  • Camp Royaneh: We are excited we are heading for Camp Royaneh during their 100th Anniversary Celebration.  We know summer camp is one of the most valuable experiences that a scout can participate in.  We are attending Camp Royaneh, near the Russian River, on July 13-19, 2025.  We still have a few openings for our week at camp.    Please see Dave Ishikawa if you would like to add to the list.  Remember we have camperships (financial assistance) available for families who may be facing challenges, but would like their scout to attend camp.  We will be having a special Summer Camp Meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025 starting about 7:45.  All Scouts and at least one parent of the scout attending camp is required to attend this meeting.  It will follow our regular Troop Meeting.   Attendance will be very important since we will discuss required forms, merit badge and program selection, transportation, what to bring and expectations.  Please let us know if you cannot attend this important meeting.
  • Russian River Excursion:  Scouts attending Camp Royaneh (July 13-19) and any scouts and adults may participate in a special Russian River Canoe and Camp Out on July 12-13, 2025.  We will take our canoes and kayaks to the Russian River and paddle from Miracle to Guerneville.  We will depart Sacramento early on Saturday, July 12th.  Canoers and Kayakers will pull out the canoes at the end of the day and move on to Camp Royaneh.  We will have a fabulous Bar B Que and stay overnight Saturday and greet the rest of the Troop on Sunday.    The troop will provide the extra meals of two lunches, dinner (BBQ) and breakfast Sunday morning.  We are also required to pay an extra night free to Camp Royaneh.  We will announce the extra fee of this excursion at the Summer Camp Meeting on Monday.  Please sign up at the Troop Meeting.

    All participants will need to take a swim check prior to camp to be part of the Russian River Excursion.  This includes adults wishing to participate in the float.  We will be scheduling a swim check at the Swimstitute in Rancho Cordova in April or May.  There will be a charge for the swim check.  We will also do some Second and First class swim requirements at the Swimstitute.  Stay tuned for details.

  • Skills Camp Out: March 21-23, 2024.  Skills camp is coming up next weekend.  Tomorrow’s troop meeting is the last chance to sign up. Don’t miss out on the chance to sign up for the skills campout before it’s too late. The departure time from  Nyecon Inc. (3780 Happy Lane)  is set for 5:00pm on Friday evening, and we will be heading to Folsom Lake State Park. Make sure your scouts pack a dinner for Friday so they can enjoy a meal during the journey. This annual event is the perfect opportunity for our scouts to hone their skills. The older scouts will take on the responsibility of teaching the younger ones, passing on their knowledge and expertise. Thanks to the hard work of Drew Walters, Nate Roth, and Nathan Davis, we are well-prepared for what is shaping up to be an exciting weekend. Prepare yourself for a memorable camping trip filled with delicious food, exciting activities, and valuable lessons.
  • Columbia Sportswear Company Employee Store:  Each year Troop 380 is offered entry into the Columbia Sportswear Company Store in Richmond and Union City (new store).  Only individuals with access passes are allowed to shop at the store.   The entire store offers 40% off of retail pricing you would find in regular stores.  The shore carries Columbia, Sorel, Mountain Hardwear and prAna lines of clothing, shoes, and camping gear.  The passes are good for up to 4 guests.  Our passes will expire on March 23, 2023 so you only have one week to take advantage of the discounts.  This is a great day trip, especially the Richmond store since it is right next to the Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront National Historic Park.  The museum is free of charge.  Many of our scouts have participated in the Junior Ranger Program.  There are also wonderful bike and hiking trails in the area.  Also the SS Red Oak Victory Ship is located nearby. It is a great visit (admission is charged, check the website).  Pick up a pass at the troop meeting as this will be the last meeting they will be available.
  • Three Rivers District Awards Night:  Please join us to pay honor to our Three Rivers District Award recipients on Thursday, March 20th, at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, 2401 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento.  The district will be presenting special awards to Matt Okamoto (District Award of Merit), Bruce and Carol Nye (Family of the Year),  Tim, Guiliane, and Nicky Belt (Family of the Year), Becky Walters (Scouter of the Year), Robert Mills (Scouter of the Year), and Jim Buell (Phil Bollhoefer Spirit of Scouting Award).  Also the district will present  Charlie Cuttle, Martin Long, Joshua Walters, and Tyler Woodhull with a special Three Rivers District Eagle Pin in honor of being part of the Class of 2024 Eagle Scouts. Many of your Scouters will be also recognized for their work with the district.  Your support at the Awards Night will be much appreciated.  Sign up at the Troop Meeting on Monday.  There is no charge for this event, as the Troop picked up the registration fee.  We will also have an after Awards Night get together for our award recipients and guests.  See you on Thursday!
  • Three Rivers Spring Camporee: April 4th-6th, 2025. We are eagerly anticipating this exciting district campout where troops and patrols will compete against each other. As we prepare for this event, our troop will focus on practicing the various activities during our upcoming meetings. This campout is a great opportunity for us to bond as a team and showcase our skills in a fun and competitive environment. We are looking forward to the challenges and adventures that await us, and we are determined to give our best effort to succeed. We are excited to see how each member of our troop will contribute to our overall success and how we will work together to achieve our goals.
  • Spring Court of Honor: Monday, April 28th, 7:00 PM. Parents and Scouts, mark your calendars for a memorable evening dedicated to recognizing our progress and achievements following the Winter Court of Honor. Anticipate a delightful surprise awaiting all those in attendance. Ensure you do not overlook this essential gathering celebrating merit badges, promotions in rank, and the presentation of well-earned awards!
  • Camp Cards: These $5.00 cards are a simple and hassle-free way to raise funds for our scout group. By selling each card, you will receive a generous 50% credit towards your scout account, which can help cover expenses for upcoming activities and events. This year’s card showcases popular stores making it an attractive option for potential buyers. To get started, simply reach out to Tim Belt to collect your packet of cards and begin fundraising today.

Yours in Scouting,

Michael Speer

Scoutmaster T-380

(916) 236-8938

Related Posts