BSA Troop 133

Troop 133 Committee Meeting - Sunday, May 31, 2009

rsjr@rochester.rr.com — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:46:00 GMT

B.S.A. Troop 133 Committee Meeting

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Present: Joanne Cooley, Jim D’Agostino, Jane Ehrmentraut, Ray Ehrmentraut,
Sherrie Maysick, Val Montagno, Lisa Mosbruger, Sherry Nau, Barb Pukos, Mike Terrell, Dave Yunker

The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Joanne Cooley at 6:35 P.M.

Minutes
The minutes from the April 26, 2009 committee meeting were approved.

Reports

Awards –
- Expect about 17 rank advancements and 28 merit badges earned by the upcoming Court of Awards.
- All scouts needing a Scoutmaster Conference and/or Board of Review for a rank advancement are expected to arrive by 6:00 PM for the June 7 troop meeting. The troop needs at least 5 adults to sit on the Board of Review. Contact Ray if you can help.
Court of Awards –
- The spring Court of Awards will be held June 20^th, 5:00 PM, at the American Legion on 450 Scottsville-Chili Road. The event will be in the main building on the second floor. A chicken dinner is planned. Each family is expected to bring one side dish and either an appetizer or dessert to share.

Eagle Ceremony –
- An Eagle Court of Honor date for Tom Kohlman is June 26th. All troop scouts are expected to participate and are expected to arrive by 6:30 PM. A rehearsal will be held on the evening on June 24^thalso at 6:30 PM. Both the rehearsal and Court of Honor will be held at the American Legion on 450 Scottsville-Chili Road, second floor of the main building.

Lion’s Club –
- Troop needs to submit for reimbursement of training funds, such as first aid, CPR, Junior Leader Training and Lifeguard training.
- Troop also needs to submit receipts for expenditures associated with the Scouting For Food drive.
- One of the Legion’s “Welcome To Churchville” signs needs bracing.

Eagle Projects –
- Ben Maysick has acquired paint and hopes to schedule a work session for his Sprucewood project on Sunday June 7^th.
- Justin Montagno has met with Eagle Advisor Bob Capurso regarding his project, which Bob approved. Justin will be attending the upcoming Lions Club meeting to provide budget & funding status.
- Recommendation from B. Capurso for the committee to discuss Eagle Project proposals in a “closed session” (without the scout) after they are provided all the data by the Life Scout. Scout can be notified at a later time of the committee’s decision regarding his project proposal.
- The troop will now make it a policy to get a copy of the final paperwork of all completed Eagle Projects prior to the scout attending an Eagle Board of Review with the Otetiana Council.

Fund Raising -
- The next troop bottle drive will be held this Saturday June 6^th starting at 9:00 AM. Meet at the Ehrmentraut Auto shop on 7365 Buffalo Road. All scouts and/or their families are expected to participate.
- Applebee’s Flapjack Fund Raisers have been scheduled for the next two years. Dates are May 23, 2010 (no dates in March were available) and Mar 27, 2011.

Scoutmaster Report -
- Still missing updated Medical Forms from 7 troop members. Scouts will not be able to participate in troop events without current Medical Forms on file. This is both a Otetiana Council and BSA requirement.
- Scout transportation to summer camp can be provided using leader vehicles, so no vehicle rental is needed. The committee has approved reserving $1400 to reimburse parents that transport scouts other than their own to summer camp. Pre-approval and receipts will be required. Should this amount not be adequate to cover the costs, the troop will need to ask for more funds from those families that did not transport their scout to camp.
- The committee approved sending a $100 deposit to BSA Camp Barton (Baden-Powell Council) for summer camp 2010.
- This past weekend’s Tour De Black Creek biking/camping event went well. Five scouts, 1 Cub Scout and 4 adults participated, and earned several prizes for the troop including a Dutch oven, a new grate for campfire cooking, a new Igloo cooler, and a new water filtration system from Katahdin.

Assistant Scoutmaster Report -
- Permission slips are due at this Sunday’s troop meeting for scouts planning to participate in the July 18-19 Civil War Re-enactment at the Genesee Country Museum.
- Meeting dues is pretty much up to date, a couple of scouts owe a few dollars. Note that all dues must be up to date to get approved for rank advancement.

Unfinished Business -- None.

New Business -- Regarding the new troop web site (http://bsatroop133.terapad.com/):
> No last names should be published on the site.
> No financial information of either the troop or the individual scouts should be published on the site.
> Troop members should report any advertising they see that is inconsistent with the values of scouting.

The next committee meeting will be held on June 28, 2009 at 6:30 PM at the UC Church. There will be no meeting in July. The first committee meeting of the 2009-2010 scouting year will be held August 30^th at 6:30 PM. The first troop meetings will be Sep 13 and Sep 20, 2009.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 PM. The motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike Terrell

Be Prepared. For Adventure. For Life. May 2009, Vol. 1, No. 4

rsjr@rochester.rr.com — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:36:00 GMT

Vol. 1, No. 4

In this Issue:
Choosing a Tent
Proper Waste Disposal
Outdoor Essentials (Part 2)

Summer is coming, and with it endless opportunities for Scout adventures. So tune up the tent, review the best ways to deal with backcountry hygiene, and check the Scout Basic Essentials. Then hit the trail for magnificent times in the great outdoors.

Choosing a Tent

Tents come in many shapes and sizes. Follow these guidelines to find the one that's right for you.

The Seasons of Tents

Lots of tents are designed for three-season use -- spring, summer, and autumn. A four-season tent is built for any weather including the cold and snow of winter.

Tents for One, Two, Four and More

A two-person tent is often the best choice for backpacking and for patrol and troop campouts. You and a buddy can divide up the poles and pieces of the tent to share the weight in your packs.

Want privacy? One-person tents shed weight by being tailored to accommodate a single sleeping bag.

Tents large enough for four, six, or even eight Scouts might be perfect for district camporees and council camps. Too heavy to carry on your back, big tents are best for campgrounds that can be reached by vehicle.

Eureka! Timberline 2 Tent

Kelty^® Trail Dome 6 Tent

Tents for the Times

Long-distance backpackers on the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide Trails use ultra-light tents that shave ounces off pack weight.

Winter camping at Northern Tier High Adventure Base? The added weight of a four-season tent can make your nights cozy and calm.

Sometimes a lightweight tarp is all you need to keep the dew off your sleeping bag during a warm-weather campout.

Choosing and Using the Perfect Tent

1.Try It On
Set up a tent at your local Scout Shop and crawl inside. Is it wide enough? Long enough? Can you sit up? Does it feel like a place where you'd want to spend nights in camp and a few stormy afternoons?

2.Test It Out
Practice pitching your tent in your back yard or during troop meetings. That way you'll know just what to do when you reach a campsite.

3.Treat It Right
Tents are tough but not indestructible. Put a ground cloth underneath to shield the floor from moisture and abrasion. Leave your boots outside.

Shake any debris from your tent as you break camp. If it is damp, set up the tent as soon as you get home and store it only when it is completely clean and dry.

Why the Fly?

Most modern tents are made of nylon and most have a fly -- a tailored tarp -- fitted over it. The fly is waterproof while the tent body is not. Moisture from your breath passes through the fabric of the tent body, keeping the interior of your shelter dry. Raindrops will roll off the fly, keeping outside moisture away from you, too.

The Spitfire Tent

Spitfire 2 Tent

For more information on choosing the right tent, consult Be Prepared^® Hiking & Backpacking, DK Publishing Inc.

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Proper Waste Disposal

"Does a bear poop in the woods?" asks the Boy Scout Fieldbook. "Yes, it does," the manual answers, "and so do we."

If There's a Facility, Use It

Does your campground have restrooms with running water? Great. Where there is no plumbing, there might be an outhouse -- a small shelter with a seat featuring one or two holes over a deep pit.

Don't put anything into a latrine other than human waste and toilet paper. Trash needlessly fills latrines much too quickly. Food scraps and dishwater can attract animals, and that can be unhealthy for them.

No Facilities? Bury It

When you're on the trail or in a camp with no outhouse or latrine, find a secluded spot at least 200 feet from streams, lakes, and other water sources and use a trowel or the heel of your shoe to dig a cat hole about six inches into the soil -- the organic layer with microorganisms that can break down waste.

Refill the hole with soil after you're done, and replace pine needles, twigs, or other ground cover.

Can't Bury It? Pack It Out

If the agency managing the area you're visiting says you need to carry out everything you bring in, look on it as an engineering challenge, a fine adventure, and a Good Turn for the environment.

Boaters running wild rivers often carry rocket boxes -- ammunition boxes lined with plastic bags for containing human waste. After putting a toilet seat atop the box for comfortable use, the box can be sealed and taken by raft to the next night's campsite. The filled plastic bags must be properly discarded at the end of the trip.

Mountain rock and snow can make waste disposal complicated, especially on crowded routes. Climbers reaching some high camps on Mt. Rainier in the Washington Cascades find outhouses with seats opening over big plastic barrels. When the barrels are full, National Park Service helicopters lift them off the mountain.

No helicopter? You can use a Pack-It-Out Kit that includes a sheet of paper with a target drawn on it. After depositing waste on the paper, carefully stow it in a small paper bag containing a handful of cat litter.

The bag can then be placed in a length of lightweight plastic pipe that, with a lid at each end, will be easy to pack out of the backcountry. (Check the BSA Fieldbook for full instructions.)

What About Toilet Paper?

Ask local land-managers how to dispose of paper when there is no latrine.

Some will instruct you to bury it well enough so that animals won't dig it up. Others will suggest putting it into a self-sealing plastic bag and packing it to the trailhead. That can be especially important on winter campouts when the ground is frozen and covered with snow.

Three Rules for Staying Healthy

The Fieldbook gives three rules for staying healthy, especially after relieving yourself outdoors:

1. Wash Your Hands.
2. Wash Your Hands.
3. Wash Your Hands.

Soap and water will do the trick. So can waterless hand sanitizers.

For more information on proper waste disposal, consult Chapter 9, "Hygiene and Waste Disposal," of the BSA Fieldbook, Fourth Edition.

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Outdoor Essentials (Part 2)

The April Be Prepared^® newsletter explored the first five of the BSA's Outdoor Essentials -- items to carry on every Scout adventure -- Pocketknife, First Aid Kit, Extra Clothing, Rain Gear, and Water Bottle.

This month's newsletter reviews the final five -- Flashlight, Trail Food, Matches and Fire Starters, Sun Protection, and Map and Compass.

Flashlight
	A flashlight can show you the way home if you're caught on the trail after dark. The Mag Lite Flashlight doesn't weigh much and casts a strong beam. Headlamps will leave your hands free as you set up camp, read a book, or respond to late-night emergencies.

Trail Food

The energy boost of a trail snack can power you through any outdoor activity. Easily-packed possibilities include trail mix, nuts, energy bars, dried fruit, and hard candy.

Matches and Fire Starters
	Lighting a fire can liven an evening in camp, especially if the weather turns bad. A butane lighter stowed in a plastic bag is an ideal flame source. So are wooden kitchen matches in a waterproof container. Practice kindling campfires where they are permitted, and you'll be ready to build a blaze in an emergency.

Sun Protection
	Enjoy the outdoors, but guard against harmful effects of solar radiation. Sunscreen can shield your skin from burning. Lip balm containing sunscreen will help guard against damage. A broad-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants will deflect the sun's rays. Protect your eyes with sunglasses, especially when travelling on snow.

Map and Compass
	Knowing where you are going is important. Knowing how to get back home again is vital. In unfamiliar country, you'll always want to have a map and a compass to show you the way. As you travel in areas you know well, a compass in your pocket means you can have fun taking bearings, orienting your map, pinpointing your location, and becoming a master at charting routes.

For more information on proper waste disposal, consult Chapter 11, "Gearing Up," of the BSA Fieldbook, Fourth Edition.

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Be Prepared. For Adventure. For Life, April 2009 Vol. 1, No. 3

rsjr@rochester.rr.com — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:28:00 GMT

Troop 133 Committee Meeting Minutes - April 26, 2009

rsjr@rochester.rr.com — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:45:00 GMT

Home

B.S.A. Troop 133 Committee Meeting

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Present: Jerrett Allen, Bill Brunelle, Joanne Cooley, Jane Ehrmentraut,
Ray Ehrmentraut, Dawn Finewood, Jeff Finewood, John Kircher, Colleen Kurdziel,
Bill Montagno, Justin Montagno, Val Montagno, Joe Montesano, Lisa Mosbruger,
Ron Rugelis, Robert Sengillo, Mike Terrell, Mary Urban

The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Joanne Cooley at 6:35 P.M.

Minutes
The minutes from the March 22, 2009 committee meeting were approved.

Eagle Project Proposal
Life Scout Justin Montagno presented his Eagle Project proposal of remodeling the Churchville Lions Club closet storage facility. It will involve covering the outside walls with T1-11 and to stain it once installed. Shelving will be added to the inside. The estimated cost of materials is $850. Justin’s plan is to solicit building supply companies for donations. The project was approved by the committee.

Reports

Awards –
- No new information.

Court of Awards –
- C. Kohlman has reserved the American Legion for the spring Court of Awards for June 20^th, 5:00 PM, with a chicken dinner planned.

Eagle Ceremony –
- An Eagle Court of Honor date for Tom Kohlman is June 26th. A rehearsal will be held in the evening on June 24^th. All troop scouts are expected to participate.

Lion’s Club –
- Troop leadership will be attending the April 28^th Lions Club meeting to present the troop charter. In addition, M. Terrell and scouts Nathan Nau and Alex Pukos will attend to give a presentation on the 2008 canoe trek.

Eagle Projects –
- Ben Maysick is expected to restart his project on the shed at Sprucewood soon.
- Justin Montagno presented his project idea to the committee (previously noted).
- Jon Mosbruger has met with Village of Churchville leadership regarding a possible project idea.

Fund Raising -
- Applebee’s Flapjack Fund Raiser was considered a great success. V. Montagno will attempt to reserve a date in the same timeframe for next year.
- M. Urbon reported proceeds of $1576 in candle sales, with $640.25 of this amount will be credited to the accounts of the scouts that participated.
- D. Finewood will work with Wendy’s to learn about their fund raising opportunities and bring the information back to the next committee meeting.
- The next bottle drive will be held on June 6^th starting at 9:00 AM. Stay tuned for more details.
- The troop will have the same amount of booth space at the Churchville Country Fair, to be held the weekend of Aug 15-16, 2009. Scouts and their parents will be asked to work shifts during the fair.
- R. Ehrmentraut will work with the Village of Churchville regarding troop participation in the Churchville Walk About event.

Scoutmaster Report -
- 40 scouts and adults participated in the April 24-26 campout at Letchworth State Park. 35 participated in the white water rafting event, with 13 scouts expected to earn the White Water Rafting Merit Badge.
- 13 scouts have signed up for the Rock Climbing Merit Badge session at Rock Ventures.
- 17 scouts are signed up for summer camp, to be supported by 8 adult leaders.
- Goal is to train two active leaders in First Aid each scouting year. Three adult leaders were recently recertified in CPR, one adult leader was recently recertified in First Aid.
- The troop is requesting that a separate check be used for each event when paying a scout’s participation fee.
- Scouts Steve Urbon and Dan Lehman are signed up for Junior Leader Training (JLT).

Assistant Scoutmaster Report -
- Environmental cleanup date is this Saturday, May 2nd. Meet at 10:00 AM at Sprucewood on Park Road Extension (behind Churchville Elementary School) and expect to work 3 hours.
- Waste Management will be conducting an open house at the Millseat Landfill on July 30th. They are asking for scout support to help serve ice cream during the hours of 4:00-7:00 PM.
- P. Doyle is managing rank advancement for new scouts, with the goal to have all new scouts to the rank of Tenderfoot by the June Court of Awards.

Unfinished Business -
- None.

New Business -
- The Troop has been invited to participate in the Memorial Day & Village Bicentennial Parade on May 25th.

The next committee meeting will be held on May 31, 2009 at 6:30 PM at the UC Church.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 PM. The motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike Terrell
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Troop 133 Committee Meeting Minutes - Mar 22, 2009

rsjr@rochester.rr.com — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:44:00 GMT

Home

B.S.A. Troop 133 Committee Meeting

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Present: Bill Brunelle, Joanne Cooley, Jim D’Agostino, Jane Ehrmentraut, Ray Ehrmentraut,
Dawn Finewood, Beth Flanders, John Kircher, Mike Kurdziel, Val Montagno, Joe Montesano,
Gary Mosbruger, Sherrie Maysick, Sherry Nau, John Rabideau, Ron Rugelis,
Robert Sengillo, Mike Terrell, Mary Urban

The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Joanne Cooley at 6:35 P.M.

Minutes
The minutes from the February 22, 2008 committee meeting were approved.

Reports

Awards –
- ~14 scouts have earned a rank advancement to date.
- Expect that 5 scouts will complete the Swimming Merit Badge soon.
- ~4 scouts have earned the Communications Merit Badge.

Court of Awards –
- C. Kohlman has reserved the American Legion for spring Court of Awards for June 20^th, 5:00 PM, with a chicken dinner planned.

Eagle Ceremony –
- A tentative Eagle Court of Honor date for Tom Kohlman is June 26th. All troop scouts are expected to participate.

Lion’s Club –
- Will be supporting the Scouting For Food drive this Saturday, March 28^th, more info below.
- Will be sponsoring an Environmental Cleanup day with the support of scouts, more info below.
- Troop leadership is invited to the April 28^th Lions Club meeting to present the state of the troop. It is expected that R. Ehrmentraut will represent the troop at this meeting. In addition, M. Terrell and scouts Nathan Nau and Alex Pukos will attend to give a presentation on the 2008 canoe trek.

Eagle Projects –
- Ben Maysick is expected to restart his project on the shed at Sprucewood soon.
- Justin Montagno is pursuing a project working with the Lions Club.

Fund Raising -
- Applebee’s Flapjack Fund Raiser is this coming Sunday March 29^th at the Gates Chili Ave restaurant. Proceeds from most of the ticket sales have been collected, ~25 tickets still out. Committee discussed possibilities of a 50/50 raffle during the event. It was dismissed due to concern of violating the rules of scouting. Will have birdhouses for sale. One tip jar will be used, provided by D. Finewood. Each scout will to assigned a role. Some parents offered to bring Class B t-shirts for the new scouts (that their scouts have outgrown).
Note – All scouts and parents are expected to arrive at the restaurant by 7:30 AM!
- M. Urban will provide packets to the scouts for the candle sale at the flapjack fund raiser.
- B. Flanders is managing fund raising via collecting recyclable print cartridges, cell phones, batteries, iPods, digital cameras, etc. This is a ‘no cost to the troop’ option. The committee approved that 100% of the proceeds go to the scout’s account that turned in the items. Please turn in all items to Beth.

Scoutmaster Report -
- 5 Webelos scouts from Pack 156 crossed over to Troop 133. The troop has crossed over 13 new scouts this year.
- 13 scouts are signed up for summer camp. 7 adult leaders are also planning to attend, with 2 splitting the week. The troop will cover the cost of 4 leaders, the remaining three will pay the ‘extra leader’ fees.
- The troop is requiring the new BSA medical form for all scouts, we are asking that all forms be turned in by May 1. Please turn is a copy of your medical insurance coverage card with the medical form.
The new form can be found on the Otetiana Council’s website here: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34414.pdf. Scouts that have not turned in a medical form by May 1^st will not be able to participate in troop events after that date until the form is received.
- Looking to restart woodworking this Thurs evening (3/26).

Assistant Scoutmaster Report -
- Scouting for Food will be held this Saturday 3/28. It will be held at 140 E. Buffalo St. (the old Barnard’s garage on the corner of Rt 36). Scouts Justin, Nathan and Matt Brunelle are expected to arrive by 9:00 AM. Mr. Brunelle is looking for two more scouts to help setup at 9:00. All other scouts are expected to arrive at 10:00 AM. The Lions Club food cupboard is empty and they plan to provide food baskets for Easter, so there is a big need for our support. The Lions Club will provide hot dogs and rolls for participants, troop will provide all other drink, plates, napkins and condiment needs.
- Spring cleanup date is planned for May 2nd. Meet at 9:00 AM at Sprucewood and expect to work 3 hours.
- Waste Management will be conducting an open house at the Millseat Landfill on July 30th. They are asking for scout support to help serve ice cream during the hours of 4:00-7:00 PM.

Unfinished Business -
- The troop is still looking to complete a service project for Waste Management.

New Business -
- None.

The next committee meeting will be held on April 26, 2009 at 6:30 PM at the UC Church.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 PM. The motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike Terrell

Home

BSA Troop 133 launches New Web Site

rsjr@rochester.rr.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:09:00 GMT

BSA Troop 133 launches a free website powered by Terapad.com (http://www.terapad.com/) today featuring online shopping, forums, image gallery, event calendar, blog, and more.

BSA Troop 133 can be accessed at http://bsatroop133.terapad.com/.

Vol. 1, No. 3

In this Issue:
Finding The Pack That's Right For You
Happy Feet
Outdoor Essentials (Part 1)
Go, Enjoy, And Leave No Trace!

To Receive Future Editions, Please Confirm Your Subscription

The "Be Prepared" newsletter is sent once a month containing news, tips, and other useful information about Scouting and the outdoors. If you wish to continue receiving this free newsletter, please opt-in on your Subscription Center page. If you do not check the box to receive this newsletter, this will be the only edition you will receive unless you opt-in at a later date. We at Scoutstuff thank you for your continued patronage and look forward to serving you.

Finding The Pack That's Right For You

Any backpack you consider should have a padded waist belt, otherwise your shoulders will bear all the weight and that can get really old really fast.

Frame the Choice

Decide on an external or internal frame.

An external frame pack is terrific for most backpacking, especially on open trails. In hot weather, air movement between the pack and your back can help you keep cool.
An internal frame pack features a frame structure stitched inside the fabric bag. The pack will ride closer to your back for better balance while cross-country skiing, scrambling on mountains, and traveling over rough ground.

Kelty® Yukon 2900 Backpack

Venturing 60L Backpack

Pick Your Pockets

Think about how you like to organize the contents of a pack, then choose one which has pockets that match your needs. Some packs have inside compartments for sorting your gear. Others have none. There might be exterior pockets for stowing water bottles, a map and compass, a first-aid kit, and other items you'll want in a hurry.

Lift That Load

You wouldn't buy hiking boots without trying them on. That's good advice when shopping for packs, too. Hoist the backpacks of other Scouts during troop hikes and campouts, and notice how each pack feels. At your council's Scout Shop, put weight in the packs that interest you (clerks might allow you to use rolled up tents for ballast), then swing each onto your shoulders and tighten the belt. The right pack will rest easily on your hips.

What You Carry Matters

A pound that's not in your pack is a pound you don't have to carry. Make a list of what you take as you hit the trail. When you return, check off any items you didn't use and consider omitting them next time.

Of course, what matters most is that you get outdoors for plenty of hiking and camping. A good backpack makes that easier, but even if you roll your gear in a blanket and toss it over your shoulder, you're going to have a lot more fun on the trail than if you had stayed at home.

To Top

Happy Feet

Got happy feet? Then you'll never notice them during rugged outdoor travels, and that's good. A couple of blisters, though, and the sad state of your heels and toes can suck the joy right out of your day. Preventing blisters is easy with a little planning ahead of time and some common sense while you're on the move. Here's how.

Before a hike, get:

Footwear That Fits - Boots and shoes for hiking need to be the right size. Wearing new footwear around home breaks them in before you're on the trail.

Socks That Absorb - Expert hikers wear heavy socks over thin liner socks. Made of material that wicks away moisture, the liner socks protect your skin if your feet slide a little inside the heavier socks. Carry spare socks, too, so you can change out of those that become damp with sweat or rainwater, or soaked as you splash through puddles and streams.

Armor That Protects - Have a history of blisters? Use moleskin before a hike to shield tender places on your feet. Some hikers have good luck protecting healthy skin with duct tape, too. The slippery face of the tape slides against boots and reduces friction.

While you're on the trail, follow:

Three "No Blister" Rules

These simple rules guarantee almost no blisters:

1. Check for hot spots!
2. Check for hot spots!
3. Check for hot spots!

Stop often, take off your shoes and socks, and examine your feet for redness or tenderness. Those can be warning signs that a blister is starting to form. Reinforce hot spots with moleskin and you'll have a good chance of stopping blisters before they can stop you.

Patching the Damage

Despite your best efforts, a shoe can rub you the wrong way until a hot spot turns into a blister. Take action the moment you notice it.

The classic treatment is to cut moleskin into the shape of a donut and fit the bandage around the blister. That takes pressure off of the injury so that you can continue hiking.

Gel bandage pads such as Spenco^® 2nd Skin^® can be placed directly over a blister. Used alone or with moleskin donuts, gel bandages offer sterile protection and relief from friction.

If you need thicker padding to protect a serious blister, stack additional moleskin donuts on top of the first one. Or cut a corner from a closed-cell foam sleeping pad, shape that into a donut, and fit it around the injury.

To Top

Outdoor Essentials (Part 1)

For some it's a hiking stick that has set the pace for dozens of backpacking trips. For others it might be a special camp mug for that perfect cup of cocoa, or an old broad-brimmed hat with a hawk feather tucked under the band.

Everyone has an idea of what they can't do without when they take off on an outdoor adventure.

The BSA has a list of items, too-the ten Scout Basic Essentials. Carry them every time you hit the trail and you'll have what you need for making the most of your time in the woods.

The first five Scout Outdoor Essentials are a pocketknife, first-aid kit, extra clothing, rain gear, and a water bottle. (Check next month's issue of "Be Prepared" for a discussion of the rest of the list.)

Pocketknife
	The classic all-purpose camping tool includes a can opener, awl, and screwdriver along with one or two sharp blades.

First-Aid Kit
	A personal first aid kit has supplies you can use to treat blisters and other minor wounds, and to be ready to help if more serious situations arise. Of course your kit is only as useful as the knowledge in your head. Passing the first aid rank and merit badge requirements builds a good foundation for being prepared to act effectively in emergencies.

Personal First-Aid Kit The Boy Scout Handbook recommends that personal first aid kits include:
___Adhesive bandages	6
___Sterile gauze pads, 4-by-4-inch	2
___Adhesive tape	1 small roll
___Moleskin, 3-by-6-inch	1
___Soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel	1 small bar or travel-sized bottle
___Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin)	1 small tube
___Scissors	1 pair
___Tweezers	1 pair
___Disposable non-latex gloves*	1 pair
___Mouth-barrier device for rescue breathing	1
___Pencil and paper	1
* Use medical gloves from your first aid kit to protect yourself whenever first aid emergencies involve blood or other body fluids.

Extra Clothing

A few layers of clothing in your pack allow you to adjust what you're wearing to meet changes in the weather, both hot and cold.

Rain Gear
	Carry what you need for the worst conditions you expect. A rain jacket and rain pants are good for almost any season. Add gaiters to keep rain, mud, and snow out of your boots. A poncho can shield you from mild rain, though it tends to blow around in the wind.

Water Bottle

Drinking plenty of fluid helps your body fight off heat exhaustion and heat stroke when the sun is beating down, and hypothermia during days that are chilly or cold. Carry the water you need in one or more plastic bottles that fit neatly into outside pockets of your pack. If you take draw water from lakes, streams, or other untested sources, purify it before drinking by adding tablets, by using a filter, or by boiling.

	Go, Enjoy, And Leave No Trace!
You've found the perfect backpack, protected your feet from blisters, and loaded up the Scout Basic Essentials. Follow the principles of Leave No Trace and you can be sure you're also conducting every Scout adventure in ways that respect the environment, protect wildlife, and do no harm to the land. The Boy Scout Handbook, Fieldbook, and other BSA literature offer detailed discussions of Leave No Trace principles. Here's a quick review:
	*Plan Ahead and Prepare*
Research your destination. Know the regulations and be ready when you get there.
	*Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces*
Stay on trails and use existing campsites whenever you can.
	*Dispose of Waste Properly*
There are safe ways to get rid of dishwater and human waste. Use them.
	*Leave What You Find*
Future visitors will want to enjoy the same environment you do. Help them out.
	*Minimize Campfire Impacts*
Follow local guidelines on when and how to use open fires. Camp stoves are always a good option.
	*Respect Wildlife*
Give animals the space and quiet they need to stay safe.
	*Be Considerate of Other Visitors*
A Scout is Courteous and Kind. Be aware of others on the trail and in campgrounds, and show them that Scouts know how to behave.

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