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Welcome to Troop 149's Web site!

 Family outing to Starved Rock meal planning At Tuesday's troop meeting

About Us

Important Troop Information  —   Interesting Scout References  —  Order of the Arrow  —  High Adventure

What's New

Important Troop Information (Top)

Interesting  Scout Reference (Top)

High Adventure  (top)

Boundary Waters

Philmont

Troop 149 Philmont pages

Sea Base

Troop 149 Sea Base Crew 2008  (top)

What's New (Expanded)   (top)

New Owasippe legends, Ballads & Vignettes Songbook (top)

For several years I have been working on compiling stories, songs and skits heard around the campfire or ringing off the dining hall walls at Owasippe Scout Reservation for ninty-five seasons. Owasippe, America's oldest and largest Boy Scout camp, has been sold pending the outcome of the Chicago Area Council's application to rezone the land. That request is pending a decision of the Blue Lake Township government. It is my hope that this songbook can help in some way to keep the long standing Scouting traditions from this historical camp alive, because once it's gone, there will never be another camp like it... ever. So I ask each of you who download this songbook to share it's legends, ballads and vignettes with your scouts and scouters around your campfires. 

Cooking With Cardboard Box Ovens (top)

Cast iron Dutch Ovens aren't the only way to bake pizza, cakes and pies. You can build an inexpensive camp oven out of a simple cardboard box and aluminum foil.  How?   Follow this link for instructions: Cardboard Box Oven (PDF)

We made a few ovens at the Aug. 16 meeting and then cooked up a storm at August 23. We were all eating pizza, cookies and cinnamon rolls. Remember your ovens when planning for the September outing at White Pines State Park. Think of all the nice goodies you can cook up for a cracker barrel on a cool autumn night!

New Navigation Buttons on Parents & Scouts Pages (top)

New navigation buttons to the Camping & High Adventure Tips & Tricks page and the Patrol Roster Page have been added to the Scouts page. Also buttons for the Troop 149 Email Lists, Troop 149 Roster and Troop 149 Advancement Status pages have been added to the Parents page. The buttons that link to pages in the password protected area, the rosters, advancement report & list pages, require you to enter the ID and password in order to display. See your patrol leader or one of the adult leaders for the ID and password.

Important Information

New BSA Fieldbook & Companion Website (top)

The new, fourth edition paperback is now available.  The BSA Fieldbook is an excellent manual for experienced scout who want to improve their camping skills and knowledge. The quote below from the Scout Stuff website gives a more detailed description of the book.  A unique aspect of this edition is the creation of a companion website.  The Fieldbook Companion site maintains references to organizations, books and other sites where Scouts and Scouters can find additional information to fine tune their outdoor interests.  The soft cover book should be available at local Scouting Supply Retailers.  The spiral bound and hard cover editions, including a cowhide and faux leather ("faux" is French for "false") covered versions, will be available later this spring.

(P.S. I plan on purchasing one.  When I do, I'll bring it to our troop meetings.   I'll also try to remember to bring several old editions of the Fieldbook to a future meeting for those interested in seeing what they've looked like in the past.   I even have a copy of the Fieldbook my father used when he was a Boy Scout! - Mr. Vannerson)

"The 4th edition of the BSA Fieldbook is a comprehensive reference for Boy Scouts, Venturers, unit leaders, trainers, and other outdoor enthusiasts with intermediate and advanced outdoor skills."It's divided into four sections: leadership and trek preparation, leave no trace, trek adventures, and appreciating our environment. The book features more than 600 full-color photographs of the great outdoors and more than 200 informative graphics. The Fieldbook's 34 chapters cover a range of outdoor skills, including critical issues like backcountry hygiene and waste disposal, navigation, and monitoring weather, as well as high-adventure possibilities like caving, sailing, and ski-touring. Safety in the outdoors is also a focus of the new edition, featuring chapters on search and rescue, extreme-weather traveling and camping, and watercraft adventure safety.

Several special editions of the Fieldbook will be available in March, including a hardbound edition, a spiral bound edition, and two limited editions—one bound in genuine cowhide and one in faux leather. Watch for upcoming details."

Merit Badge Counselor Opportunities (top)

Troop 149 is fortunate to have a fairly extensive list of merit badge counselors for our boys. But we could always use more, and you can help.  You don't have to hold a committee position or be an Assistant Scoutmaster in order to help.  All you need is experience or expertise in one of areas where a merit badge is offered and willingness to share that with our youth.  Take a look at our list of merit badges with no counselors and our list of active counselors (Requires password, see a troop leader or ask your scout!) to see if you can help with any of badges offered. Contact or Merit Badge Counselor Coordinator to learn how you can sign up.

Raptors Presentation Follow Up (top)

On Feb. 17, 2005 we had an excellent presentation by Mrs. Linda Breuer from Barnswallow, a non-profit organization she runs to help rehabilitate injured raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons & owls).   If you'd like to contact Mrs. Breuer to learn more about Barnswallow or if you need to report an injured bird, you can reach her at 847.487.3606 or by email.  Remember, never try to approach or capture an injured bird yourself.  Not only is it dangerous, it's also against the law.  Mrs. Breuer is a licensed profession who is trained on how to properly handle these beautiful creatures.

This page was last updated on 05/15/13 11:20 AM.