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In addition to collecting the yearly Hallmark Keepsake Beagle Scout Snoopy ornaments that are released each year, I also collect a few Star Wars ornaments. I do not collect many of the Star Wars Keepsake ornaments due to the price of them, but I do collect the less expensive Hallmark ornaments that are found at Walmart. Imagine my surprise this year when I found not one, but two Beagle Scout Snoopy ornaments at my local Walmart!

The first one, seen above, features Snoopy in a canoe. By the smile on his face you can tell he is enjoying his leisurely ride across the lake or down the river. The colors are sharp and it is well designed. And it is larger than the Keepsake ornament yet costs less which I found interesting. This was on sale for $9.48.

The second one, seen below, features Snoopy as he repels down a mountain side. At least I think he is repelling. It is another great looking ornament that had to become a part of my collection. This one was a little more expensive at a cost at $12.98. I bought two of each ornament.

I have never seen The Beagle Scout ornaments at Walmart stores in previous years. If this has been going on for awhile I guess I am missing some that I may need to find. But I have a feeling these were released this year to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of this Beagle Scout first appearing in the iconic Peanuts comic strip, just like the new balloon during this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. Maybe, if these sell well, we will continue to see new Beagle Scout ornaments each year.

Have you seen these two decorations in your local Walmart? Did you buy them for your tree, or do you need to run out to find them? I did notice them for sale on the Walmart website also, if you do not have a store near you.

Christmas is nearly here which means that Hallmark has released their new 2023 Beagle Scout Snoopy Ornament. This year’s ornament features Snoopy making pancakes for Woodstock and his fellow Scouts over a campfire. It is a great looking ornament. It is nicely detailed, but it is not very large.

The cost of the ornament is $18.99 (USD). It can be found in Hallmark stores and in their online store at https://www.hallmark.com/ornaments/keepsake-ornaments/the-peanuts-gang-pancake-pals-ornament-1899QXI7049.html

I really do like the design of the ornament. My only gripe is that they did not make it bigger. And that the cost of the ornament is a bit expensive. I guess Hallmark knows that there are people like me who collect them and charge accordingly.

Do you collect these yearly? How many do you own? I am only missing the earliest couple of them.

(The pictures have been used from the Hallmark website.)

The Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 performed two skits during the Buckskin closing campfire at Many Point Scout Camp on July 22, 2022, to the enjoyment of the audience. This one, The Radio Airwaves skit, depicts what could happen if your radio stations keep overlapping each other on the way to camp.

This skit has been a favorite of the Scouts of Troop 68 since we first saw it performed at a campfire program in the 1980s. It is a timeless skit that allows five five to participate in the performance.

When I began this blog I was the scoutmaster of Scout Troop 68. I spent over 30 years in that position. At the end of 2001 I retired from that position but stayed on as a committee member. I have enjoyed working with the Scouts for over 40 years.

Since I stepped down as the troop’s scoutmaster the troop has has four men fulfill that role. As 2021 came to a close our current scoutmaster decided to step down. Unfortunately, no one stepped up to take on the challenge. We currently have a small troop so there is not a large pool of parents to ask.

The year was coming to an end, and without a scoutmaster Troop 68 may come to an end after 41 years of continuous existence. Was it time for the Scout program to come to an end in Melrose?

A part of me thought it may be time to let the program come to an end. After all, if no one wanted to step up to the role then we could not have a troop.

But part of me did not want the troop to end. I have invested over 40 years into the local program. It would be a shame to see it end.

In December 2021 we held a parents meeting. We needed someone to fill the role of scoutmaster. Would someone step up to take the position? Or would Troop 68 come to an end? A name was needed on the recharter at the end of the month.

You have probably guessed that my name went into that slot. During the December parents meeting, after no one offered to take it over, I offered to take on the role for one year, but there were going to be a few changes that I felt would be needed.

I held a short meeting with the Scouts after the meeting with the parents. After all, I did not want to take the position if the Scouts had any issues or concerns. They all seemed to be on board with me taking on the role.

After a decade away from the role I find myself back as a scoutmaster once again. While the program is still the same there has been a few changes to the policies that adults need to follow. I have taken some of the online training to make sure I am ready for the role once again.

In a way I am looking forward to taking on the role for a year, but I also realize I am not as young as I used to be. While I am still dedicated to the program I am not interested in participating in 100 percent of the activities anymore. Parents are going to have to step up to help.

I am looking forward to the year of 2022. I hope we have enough help to make it a great year for the Scouts of Troop 68.

My collection of Scouting themed items is already large enough after 40 years of collecting. Very seldom will I buy a collection of items online to add to my collection, so you could say I was surprised when I broke down and bought a boxful of stuff from an online sale. There were a few items I wanted that were in that lot and the price was very reasonable so I thought “why not?” and hit the BUY button. I was quite pleased when it arrived.

This box contained all kinds of Scouting memorabilia. It contained Cub Scout and Boy Scout items. There were plenty of pins and patches. It included some uniforms parts and even a cap. There were also a couple handbooks which are always nice to add to my collection.

The video can be found on the Melrose Scouting Productions channel on Youtube. It can also be watched here.

I have been collecting Scouting memorabilia for over 40 years and I thought it might be fun to share some my Scouting collection with you. I have been writing down ideas for several videos featuring different parts of my collection. From patches and uniforms parts, to handbooks and novels, even movies and plush animals. I believe there may be something of interest in this series for anyone involved with the Scouting program.

This episode, the first one, features the committee and scoutmaster handbooks I have collected. There are even a few scoutmaster minute booklets. As I was going through the book I discovered a couple with a special tie in to our home troop. You can watch the video here:

These videos will be posted on Youtube on the Melrose Scouting Productions channel. Be sure to subscribe and click the notification bell you that you know when new videos are added.

He has been hiking, and climbing, and canoeing, and many other things. Scoutmaster Snoopy and his Scout Troop of Woodstock and his friends have been depicted in many Scouting activities in the annual Hallmark ornaments over the years. In 2021 they have decided to relax.

This year’s ornament depicts the famous Beagle Scout and his friends relaxing in a pool of water at the end of a great day at camp. When I first saw this I did not really care for it but the more I look at it and think about it the more I like it. This also represents a great part of the Scouting program, kicking back and enjoying life.

I picked up two of these ornaments today, one to keep in the box and one to hang on the tree during the holiday season. It is a great addition to the collection of Scoutmaster Snoopy ornaments I have collected for over a decade.

The ornaments are now on sale at your local Hallmark store. They are $17.99 each. They can also be ordered online at https://www.hallmark.com/ornaments/keepsake-ornaments/the-peanuts-gang-taking-a-dip-ornament-1799QXI7305.html

Do you plan to pick one up for that Scout in your household? Do you plan to add this to your own collection?

The camp rouser song states, “Many Point Scout Camp. That’s the place to be. It’s where the best of Scouting is, and that’s the place for me.” Six Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 discovered how true those words are when they spent the week of July 4th at the camp and had a great time.

The Scouts were kept very busy at camp. In the morning they would work on advancement and earn merit badges. In the afternoon they participated in troop activities around the camp. All program areas were open in the evening so the Scouts were able to choose how they wished to spend their time.

The beach and aquatramp were very popular during the hot days. The two climbing towers were also a favorite of the Scouts. A visit to the camp’s museum and 100 foot high fire tower, followed by a round of disc golf, kept the troop busy one afternoon.

Other activities included the archery, rifle, and shotgun ranges, nine square and Gaga ball games, DELTA team building challenges, and the favorite greased watermelon competition. Three of the older Scouts were able to participate in the camp’s ATV program one afternoon.

Attending the camp were Troop 68 members Austin E., Emmett M., Ethan Z., Logan R., Isaiah G., and Noah Z. Adults leaders were assistant scoutmaster Steve G. and committee member Matthew Z. Steve B. also attended for a few days.

The Scouts may have had a fantastic time while at camp but they were ready to return home on Saturday and relax for the rest of the weekend.

The Scouts had a blast during the DELTA team building exercises, and even surprised the camp staff with their problem solving skills.

The Scouts were all smiles after climbing to the top of the 100 foot fire tower and looking above the tree line.