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.
I attended the 2001 National Jamboree as a scoutmaster for one of the two troops from our council. I had a great time and had great Scouts participate in my troop. It was an excellent experience. This video brings back a few memories from that experience. Did you attended the 2001 National Jamboree?
Those of you who read this blog know I like collecting the Hallmark “Beagle Scout” Snoopy ornaments that come out annually. I have been collecting them for years. Unfortunately, it seems that Hallmark is the only company that is making any Peanuts/Scouting related items. At least, I have not seen anything out there for sale.
In addition to collecting Scouting related items I also collect Star Wars toys and items. I few years ago I began collecting the Funko Pop Star Wars bobble head figures. That collection has grown too fast! I do enjoy them and I think Funko usually does a good job of capturing the various characters in their Pop style.
This morning (Monday) I received an email from the Funko company of some new figures that would go on sale today, in time for the Christmas holiday. Imagine my surprise when I discovered one of those figures was a “Beagle Scout” Snoopy with his pal Woodstock. I immediately went to the website to discover I could not find the Pop figure. I went back to the email and discovered they only went on sale at 2:00 (Central Time). Arrrgh!
As 2:00 approached I started checking in to the website. I did not want to miss out on this special sale. I have missed out on other special sales so I made an extra effort to make this one. At 1:55 I was able to get on, find the Snoopy figure, and place my order! In fact, I ordered two of them. One I could open and the other leave in the box. I was a happy camper.
What do you think of this Funko Pop bobble head figure? Is it something yoou plan to add to your Scouting collection?
Update: Well, this figure did not last long on the Funko website. One week later it has been removed. I hope you were able to order one for yourself.
Melrose Troop 68 Scout meetings have been put on hold as social distancing has become the new normal as the virus moves across the nation and the world. While I feel sorry about meetings and activities being cancelled for the next month I feel worse about the high school and college students and athletes whose activities and games have been cancelled for the year. While I understand the need for social distancing I often wonder if things could have been handled differently. But that is just my opinion.
Meanwhile, Scout Troop 68 is trying to work their way through this new challenge. Troop meetings have been cancelled. Our March outing was cancelled, as was the March court of honor. The patrol leader council meeting has been postponed. The council’s Ripley Rendezvous has been rescheduled for later this year.
The troop has their spring pancake and sausage breakfast fundraiser, which was planned for March 29, put on hold. Due to state government regulations and the American Legion not being available anymore it will probably get cancelled.
The troop committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, was conducted in a new format. It was the first time in my forty years of being an adult Scout leader that the committee met online for a video chat conference. We held a second online meeting on Monday, March 23.
Today, March 28, I plan to try an online meeting with some of the newest members of Troop 68 to work on their Scout Rank requirements. On Monday, we are going to hold an online troop meeting and try to get the Scouts started on a couple different merit badges.
Of course, we are all frustrated with the current restrictions but we understand why they are in place. My fear is that if this lasts too long we may start to lose membership in Scouting. Online sessions may work fine but they cannot really replace a troop outing or outing. Hopefully this will soon pass as we can return to Scouting as it was meant to be.
A group of parents held a few meetings during the end of the year 1979. Their purpose was to plan the beginning of a Boy Scout Troop in Melrose, Minnesota. The community did have a troop earlier that decade but it had disbanded when it lacked adult volunteers. This new troop committee was to form a new troop with new boys and have a troop for the current Webelos to graduate into.
John Schofield became the scoutmaster during the November 28th troop committee meeting. Another gentleman may agree to be the assistant scoutmaster. The troop committee had six members. The VFW Post 7050 was asked to be the charter sponsor. (They accepted the sponsorship.) It was decided that a troop rally would be held on Monday, December 10.
The committee met again on December 6. The new scoutmaster reported on his training sessions. The district executive reported that he would be going to both grade schools in town to talk to boys and their parents about joining the Scouting program. Four names were discussed for potential assistant scoutmasters. It was also noted that there was a zero balance in the funds left over from the old troop. However, five tents and some cooking pots had been found.
The Boy Scout rally on December 10, 1979, was well received. Sixteen boys and their parents attended the meeting. Registration was paid through February 1981. Melrose had a Boy Scout Troop once again!
The troop has had seven scoutmasters during the past 40 years. John Schofield was the first. He was followed by George O’Brien, Don Gibson, Steve Borgerding, Mark Ettel, and Jim Engelmeyer. Dave Norling is currently holding the position of scoutmaster. There has been several people who have served as assistant scoutmasters and dozens of parents who have served on the troop committee. Without all these dedicated adults the troop would have been disbanded once again.
There has been hundreds of boys involved in the program during the four decades. Twenty five Scouts have earned Scouting highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout. The troop has been to a week long summer camp 39 times (only missing the first year), Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico six times, attended the 2001 National Jamboree, and attended a few other Boy Scouts of America high adventure bases. The troop has an outing planned nearly every month.
Melrose Area Scout Troop 68 currently has 15 members. Five Webelos Scouts from Melrose Area Cub Scout Pack 68 will be joining the troop in February 2020. The Cub Scout Pack has also been operating for over 40 years.
It appears that Melrose Scout Troop 68 will be around for years to come. The Cub Scout pack is doing well and will provide Webelos Scouts to graduate to the troop. The troop leadership is doing well, but can always use more help. Yes, it looks like Troop 68 will be around for awhile yet and who knows, maybe we will be celebrating an 80th anniversary down the road.
The Bottomless Lake song may have been new to the Boy Scouts at this Many Point Scout Camp summer camp campfire, but they sang good and loud by the end of it.
Boy Scout Troop 68 of Melrose holds two meal fundraisers each year. The spring meal is usually a pancake and sausage breakfast that includes scrambled eggs. The fall meal has been a spaghetti supper for the last few years. The troop does well with both fundraisers and is able to keep up with the yearly expenses.
The 2019 spring breakfast fundraiser takes place this weekend at the Melrose American Legion. The parents will be working in the kitchen while the Scouts take care of the tables and the dishes. I will probably do the same thing I have done for the last thirty years, pour coffee, visit with the people who come by for breakfast, and keep an eye on the Scouts to make sure they get their work done.
Another of the jobs I have, and one that I really have made my own, is to create a table top display for the meal. I began to take items out last night to prepare for Sunday’s meal. As you can see from the picture I will have both Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting items in this year’s display. The Cub Scout Pack has been doing well and I wanted to include something for the elementary aged children.
One item not shown in the picture is the patch blanket I plan to hang. I may even bring both of them. I do have clothing racks that work very well to display them. Add in a few photo albums and I think there will be enough Scouting memorabilia for families to view.
How often do you set up a Scouting display in your community? What do you include in it? When do you set it up? Leave a comment and let us know about it.
This is a Boy Scout leader's point of view and thoughts on over 36 years as a Boy Scout Leader and scoutmaster in central Minnesota.
This blog also serves as the home of the "Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast" which features Scouting related videos, and the "Around The Scouting Campfire" audio podcast.
