News and Events
If you want a CD copy of any pictures of these events contact Jeff Brazle.
14 BOYS ATTEND SUMMER CAMP
This year we attended Camp Mt. Run for summer camp. As in the past the boys did outstanding. There were 14 boys attending this year. The boys earned a total of 24 merit badges. With Clay Hertenstein as the big winner completing 4 merit badges. The 5 younger scouts attended a trailblazers program working on their requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. Four of the 5 earned the Leatherwork merit badge. Unfourtantly one of the boys was sick the day that they did this merit badge. Tyler Brazle and Garrett Dixon participated in C.O.P.E. course where they learned that the trust of others will get them threw just about anything that they do. Clay Hertenstein and Tyler Brazle participated in The Iron Man competion on Friday with Clay placing 3rd and Tyler placing 4th. Tyler Brazle and Travis Mills worked on the requirements for Life Guard. Pictured - Back Row L to R - Travis Mills, Jeff Hanna, Tyler Brazle, Jeff Brazle, Clay Hertenstein, Don Gallice, Mike Dixon and Bill Mauk. Middle Row L to R - Garrett Dixon, Mike Hollen, David Gallice, Lucas Dixon and adam Hite. Front Row L to R - Jermiah Neely, Matt Hollen, Brad Lucas, Cory Dutrow, Tyler Rydbom, Wesely Mauk and Alec Bowers.
Troop Visits Washington D.C.
On June 19th the Troop #29 took a trip to Washington D.C. for a day sight seeing. The troop started with a tour of The East Wing of The White House. This was a once in a life time tour with todays security due to the war. After the tour of the White House the Troop viewed many of the different monuments in Washington D.C. They saw the Lincoln Memeorial, the Veitnam Memorial, The World War II Memorial, and many more. The trip then contunied by visiting the Air and Space Museum. The final stop was Arlington Cementery to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soilders. It was a very long and enjoyable day for all. There were a total 35 Scouts, Parents and Syblings who made the trip. See the pictures on the Picture page.
Troop gets upclose with PSP Helocopter
Helecopter Pilot Sargent Fox with the PA State Police gave Troop #29 an upclose look at one of the State Police Helocopters that are located at the Blair Couty Airport. Sargent Fox flew the helo from the Blair County airport and landed in a field located at the Pinecroft Fire Hall. Sargent Fox showed the boys how many of the safisticated electronics worked on the Helo. He showed them the FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) System and how he can find diffrent things using the system. He told the boys a story of being able to see the light of a doorbell from a distance of 5 miles using Night Vision Goggles. He explaind why there are 2 wire cutters on the front of the Helo. The boys learned that the Helo is equiped with a search light that has 60 million candle power to light up an area to help with search and rescure and to light up an area for the police on the ground to help caputre bad guys. He also explained that the light can burn you if you are to close when it is on. Sargent Fox gave the boys the opprotunity to get their photo taken sitting in the pilot seat of the Helo. He explained what is requried to become a pilot for the PA State Police and that he can land the Helo and arrest someone just like the Troopers on the ground can. The Troop thanked Sargent Fox and watched him take off. Sargent Fox then buzzed the field where the boys were on his way back to Blair County Airport. Some of the Pinecroft Community came to see what was going on and were also treated to the same tour of the Helo that the Troop was.
Bellwood Sportsmans Turkey Shoot
Monday April 2nd, the Bellwood Sportsmans Club invited the troop to participate in a turkey shoot. There were 14 boys who attended the event. The boys were instructed on range and gun safety and shot against each other for scouting related prizes. While the adults shot for the traditional meat prizes. The Sportsmans Club allowed the boys to shot free. There was much fun to be had by all. As the boys learned gun safety and had a great time participating for the prizes. The boys were also invited to participate in the Clubs upcoming Hunters Safety course. This is the 6th year that the Sportsmans Club has invited the boys to participate in a turkey shoot.
Troop Take Tour of Smith Transportation
There were 14 Boys from the Troop who took a tour of Smith Transportation as part of the Truck Transportation Merit Badge. Requirement #4 requires the boys to visit a truck terminal. The begining of the tour was of the facilities that Smith provides for their drivers. They included an area to relax and watch TV, use the internet, sleep, shower and get a meal. Then the boys were shown what Smith Transport calls "The War Room". This room was full of computers and projection sceens. Smith uses this room to track their trucks by GPS, track fuel usage for the company, track the load of each truck by contents and follow real time weather conditions. Then it was off to the Board Room where the boys were awed by the table being made from an actual flatbed trailer complete with working lights. Then the boys learned when and how Smith Transport got started and how it has grown over the years. The next part of the tour was of Smith Transports driver training facilities. The boys learned that Smith Transport can conduct training from this room and link to other training facilities in other states. This saves the company money in travel expences by not having to have drivers come all the way to Roaring Spring to complete training. The next part of the tour was of the maintanece facility for the trucks and trailers. The boys were then shown one of the massive wearhouses that Smith Transport has. All the boys got to climb up into one of Smith's newest over the road trucks.
Advancements and Merit Badges
Troop 29 currently has 3 Eagle Scout Projects in progress. Josh Davinsizer has completed his project and is awaiting his final Advancement Board of Review. Jeff Stuby has completed his project and still needs to complete 2 Eagle required merit badges. Andrew Brazle is about half way done with his project. We also, have 3 boys who are ready to present their projects to the Council Board of Review. These boys are Adam Hanna, Brad Rydbom and David Gallice. That makes 6 Eagle Scout Projects this year.
Fourteen boys from the troop have completed the Truck Transportation Merit Badge. At the April 16th meeting 14 boys finished up the Truck Transportation Merit Badge. The boys that completed the merit badge are Alec Bowers, Mike Hollen, Matt Hollen, Brad Lucas, Brad Rydbom, Lucas Dixon, Garrett Dixon, Clay Hertenstein, Wesley Mauk, David Gallice, Tyler Rydbom, Adam Hanna, Cory Dutrow and Tyler Brazle.
Congradulations to these boys on furthering their Scouting experience.
Troop Welcomes New Scouts
Monday Feburary 26th Troop 29 welcomed five Webelos into the Boy Scout Ranks. During the Crossover Ceremony Scoutmaster Jeff Hanna and Asst. Scoutmaster Jeff Brazle replace the blue Webelos epplets with red Boy Scout epplets. This is done while bridging over so that there is no break in the Boys Scouting adventure. The boys crossing over enter a crossover bridge as Webelos and exit as newly inducted Boy Scouts. The boys who crossed over are Alec Bowers, Cory Dutrow, Brad Lucas, Wesly Mauk and Tyler Rydbom. All five have earned the highest rank in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light, and join the Troop with the rank of Scout.
Troop Mayors Bucket Brigade Station
Troop 29 participated in this years Webelos Klondike Derby by acting as the Mayor for the Bucket Brigade station. There were a total of 8 Troop members who took turns grading the Webelos. The Troop graded the Webelos on their ability to lash/tie three eight foot poles together and use the poles to retrieve a bucket of water at a distance of 15-17 feet. The Webelos were also graded on the ability to work together as a team, if a patrol leader took charge, requesting permission to enter the station and if they completed the task of retrieving the bucket of water without spilling it. The Webelos had 20 minutes to complete this task.
Troop members participating were Andrew Brazle, Adam Hanna, Ryan Carney, Tyler Brazle, Clay Hertenstein, Mike Hollen, Matt Hollen and David Gallice. Thank you to these scouts for giving up a Saturday to enable the Webelos of Chief Logan District to have a quality event to showcase their scouting skills.
Webelos Klondike
On Saturday Feburary 24th the Panther Patrol of Pack 28 competed in the Webelos Klondike Derby, their final event as Cub Scouts. This was the second year that the patrol had competed in the Webelos Klondike Derby. As first year Webelos they placed third. This year they were determined to finish in the top 3 again. By their scores from station to station they knew that they should place but had no idea that they had acquired enough points to win the Klondike Derby. With a total of 110 points up for grabs the Panthers finished with 94 points. The Patrol also took second place for the Best Looking Sled. On Monday Feburary 26th five of the six Webelos are expected to cross over in to Troop 29. They are Alec Bowers, Cory Dutrow, Brad Lucas, Wesly Mauk and Tyler Rydbom. All five have earned their Arrow of Light and will join the Troop with the rank of Scout.
Congratulations to Troop 29's Dragon Patrol for taking 1st Place overall in this years Cheif Logan District Boy Scout Klondike Derby. They competed against 22 other Patrols form 17 Troops within Chief Logan District. There were 8 stations consisting of Skeet Shooting, Soil and Water Conservation, Lashing, First Aid, Firebuilding, Obstacle Course, Compass/GPS and Lunch Preparation. Each station had a total of 20 possible points and 10 points for lunch. With a possible 150 total points for the Klondike Derby the Dragon Patrol accumulated a total of 135 points. Over the past few years the point difference between the top three teams has been 1 or 2 points. The Dragon Patrol blew away the competetion this year with a 10 point lead over the second place team. Patrol members (LtoR) Matt Hollen, Jerimiah Neely, Brad Rydbom, Andrew Brazle (kneeling), Clay Hertenstein and Mike Hollen.
GHOST BUSTERS DO IT AGAIN !!!!!
Congratulations to Troop 29's Ghost Busters Patrol for winning the Best Sled Award at this years Chief Logan District Boy Scout Klondike Derby. As they went from station to station the Ghost Busters sled wowed everyone with rotating blue lights and an array of running lights. But, the best part was the air horn that blasted as they left each station announcing that they were ready for their next mission. The Ghost Busters Patrol has won the Best Sled Award for 4 out of the last 5 years. Patrol Members (LtoR) Tyler Brazle, Josh Lightner, Ryan Carney and David Gallice. Not Pictured Garrett Dixon and Lucas Dixon.
TROOP 29 IN MOTION !!!!!
For the summer of '06 the troop decided to not attend summer camp but instead decided to take on the 184 mile C & O Canal with their bicycles. The trip started at Swains Lock north of Washington D.C. The day of arivial the boys and adult leaders rode south on the Canal to Great Falls then back. The Troop camped at Swains Lock for the night then the next morning, day 1, began their trip north. They rode 53 miles from Swains Lock to Antietam Creek to camp. At Antietam Creek, day 2 of the trip, the Troop had planned to take a detour to Antietam Battle Fields, but with the heat being the hotest of the summer and the Battle Fields in the open, it was decided that the day would be used for resting and relaxing in the Potomac River. On day 3 the Troop set off again riding 30 more miles to Williamsport, MD. At Williamsport, the Troop was treated to hot showers at the local swimming pool, the first of the trip. The Troop also enjoyed the swimming pool as a way to cool off in the heat. The town of Williamsport was very nice to the Troop allowing them to camp for the night at the local park. They also left a restroom open for the Troop to use while camping. Day 4, off again. The trip continued with another 41 miles of riding to Little Orleans Camp Ground. Day 5, was suppose to be a day of rest and down time at Little Orleans Camp Ground. But with the threat of bad weather for day 6, it was decided that the Troop would finish the last 43 miles a day early to beat the weather. So on day 5 the troop continued their quest to complete the 184 mile trip. Even though all were tired the Troop took long enough to pose for a picture. Sitting (LtoR) Cory Kerns, Lucas Dixon, Mike Hollen, Josh Davinsizer and David Gallice. Kneeling (LtoR) Mike Dixon, Garrett Dixon, Tyler Brazle, Adam Hanna and Ryan Carney. Standing (LtoR) Don Hollen, Clay Hertenstine, Andrew Brazle, Brad Rydbom, Don Gallice, Jeff Hanna, Jeff Brazle, Josh Lightner, Travis Mills and Henry Davinsizer.