Monday January 20, 2020 the following classes were full in this years MBS:

AS OF 10:30 am

8 am Citizenship in the Nation
         Citizenship in the World
         Communication
         Cooking
         Vet Medicine

10 am  Electricity


1 pm   Citizenship in the Nation
           Communication
           Cooking
           Electronics
           Fingerprinting
           Fire Safety
           Geology


3 pm   Traffic Safety

IMPORTANT:


All boxes must be filled out including the special needs box to be able to place the order.  Please make sure you put No in that box for all attendees.  Sorry for the confusion.

2020 Troop 9 Merit Badge Seminar


Here is the link for the Eventbrite page.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-troop-9-merit-badge-seminar-registration-85405234355

2020 Troop 9 Merit Badge Seminar

We ​are ​very ​pleased ​to ​announce ​the ​Troop ​9 ​Merit ​Badge ​Seminar at Holy Cross School, Champaign, IL on March 6-7, 2020.  Registration will open on Monday January 20, 2020.

To view the class schedule click here.
To view the requirements covered in class, please click here.

Before registering please make sure that you fully read the guidelines below.

We ​are ​very ​excited ​to ​see ​you, ​ 

Troop ​9

We are excited to have EventBrite as our registration provider.  The new platform should help simplify the registration process.  You will need an EventBrite login to register.  You can use an existing EventBrite login or create a login at anytime before registration opens. 

Create an EventBrite account
Recommended prior to registration opening

1. Go to eventbrite.com
2. Click ‘Sign In’ in the upper right corner. 
3. Enter your email address and click ‘Get Started’.
4. Confirm your email, enter your name and a password. 
5. Click Sign Up. This will take you to the EventBrite main page and you will be signed in.

Before you register your troop
Before registering please read and understand the guidelines below.

To ​register ​your ​troop ​you ​must ​identify ​one ​person ​to ​register ​your ​entire ​group. ​ ​All ​fees ​will ​be ​combined ​and ​billed ​under ​this ​registration. ​ ​Only ​the ​adult ​designated ​by ​your ​troop ​​should ​register ​scouts ​for ​MBS. ​Parents ​should ​not ​register ​their ​Scouts ​independently. 

WHAT ​YOU ​NEED ​TO ​BEGIN: 
​1. Your ​Troop ​advancement ​contact ​name ​and ​email
2. Attending ​Scout ​names. ​ ​
    *Scouts ​must ​be ​registered ​with ​their ​actual ​names, ​NO ​NICKNAMES. 
3. Attending ​Scout ​age, ​rank, ​and ​if ​they’ve ​earned ​the ​First ​Aid ​merit ​badge. 
4. Attending ​Scout ​class selection
5. ​Attending ​adult ​names, ​cell ​phone ​number, ​email 
6. ​Attending ​adult ​class selections 
7. Attending ​adult ​volunteer names
8. Names of on-site ​adults ​who ​are ​not ​registering ​for ​classes ​or ​volunteering 

ADULT ​ATTENDANCE: ​Each ​Troop ​MUST ​HAVE ​AT ​LEAST ​TWO ​ADULTS ​registered ​and ​in ​attendance. ​ ​Scouts ​attending ​individually ​must ​have ​an ​adult ​registered ​and ​in ​attendance. ​ 

ADULT ​REGISTRATION: ​Any ​adult ​taking ​a ​class ​MUST ​BE ​REGISTERED ​with ​their ​troop. ​ ​This ​includes ​any ​adult ​taking ​the ​Adult ​CPR ​class. ​Class ​fee ​includes ​lunch. 

ADULT ​VOLUNTEERS: ​In ​order ​to ​follow ​BSA ​two-deep ​leadership ​guidelines ​in ​classes, ​we ​ask ​each ​Troop ​coming ​to ​the ​Merit ​Badge ​Seminar ​to ​REGISTER ​AT ​LEAST ​ONE ​ADULT ​LEADER ​to ​sit ​in ​on ​at ​least ​one ​class. ​ ​They ​will ​not ​be ​expected ​to ​assist ​in ​teaching ​the ​class, ​but ​will ​be ​there ​to ​provide ​an ​adult ​presence ​in ​addition ​to ​the ​instructor. ​ ​The ​registrar ​may ​designate ​themselves ​or ​register ​another ​adult ​as ​the ​volunteer. ​ ​Lunch ​will ​be ​provided. ​ ​Registering ​volunteers ​in ​advance ​helps ​us ​coordinate ​& ​communicate ​with ​them ​more ​effectively. ​ ​If ​a ​Troop ​has ​additional ​volunteers, ​please ​register ​them ​as ​well. ​ ​We ​thank ​you ​for ​your ​help ​in ​making ​the ​Merit ​Badge ​Seminar ​a ​success ​for ​the ​Scouts. 

ADULT ​ON ​SITE: ​All ​adults ​must ​register. ​ ​Additional ​adults ​that ​will ​be ​on ​site ​but ​NOT ​take ​classes ​and ​NOT ​volunteer ​should ​register ​as ​an ​adult ​on ​site. ​ ​Lunch ​will ​be ​provided. 

WAITLIST: ​There ​is ​NO ​WAITLIST ​on ​classes. ​ ​Classes ​will ​continue ​to ​show ​in ​the ​​menus ​until ​they ​are ​full.  Registration closes February 17, 2020.

COST:
Adults attending classes: $30  (includes lunch)
Adults volunteering: $5 (includes lunch)
Adults not attending classes: $5 (includes lunch)
Scouts before Feb 17: $35
Scouts after Feb 17: $40
Lunch is included for all attendees

REFUNDS: Refunds are only allowed if an attendee cancels before February 17th by 11 p.m. either by accessing your account using your password or contacting troop9mbsreg@gmail.com by email.  A service charge of $5 will be deducted from the refund amount.  Refunds will not be allowed on registrations completed after February 17.

SUBSTITUTIONS: As in past years, in the event a registered Scout is unable to attend the MBS, another Scout from his Troop may attend in his place taking his classes.  Changes to the classes will not be allowed.

FRIDAY OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS:
Be sure to select the overnight option when registering
$5 per person
The school facility is available for Troops needing Friday night accommodations.
Bring your own sleeping gear.
Shower facilities are not available.
Breakfast is included.

MEALS:
A la carte Breakfast will be available Saturday morning
Pizza lunch is provided and included in the cost.
Additional lunch items will be available for purchase.

Troop 9 Merit Badge Seminar Registration Instructions

Registration opens Monday, January 20 at 6 AM.

Any registrations entered before January 20, will be deleted when the system goes live.

Sign In to EventBrite

1. Go to the registration page - the link will be posted at www.hctroop9.org.
2. Sign in using your EventBrite account
3. Click the Sign In button in the upper right hand corner of the page
4. Sign in using your EventBrite account

• The Sign In button will change to a little person icon
• You will be redirected to the Troop 9 MBS registration page when you are properly signed in.
• Your session is valid for 90 minutes.  Please make sure you have completed registration within that time.

Create Your Troop

1. Click on the Register button.
2. Create your group. 
3. Click the ‘Create your group’ button. 
4. Use your council name and troop number for the group name.
   
   *Format group name as: ‘Prairielands - Troop 9’.
5. Click ‘Create a group’ to proceed.

 

Select your Scout and Adult Tickets

These are your “spots” at the MBS.  You will select classes for each individual in following steps.  

1. Scroll through and enter the number of each type of registration (Scouts and adults).  *If you plan to stay overnight, use overnight ticket options (Scouts and adults). 
   *For adults taking CPR, use ‘Adult Leader attending CPR class’ ticket options.
2. When you are finished click ‘Checkout’ to proceed to class selection.  

Reminder regarding adult attendance:

• All ​adults must ​register if they are going to be on site. ​ ​
• Each ​Troop must have at least two adults ​registered ​and ​in ​attendance.
• ​Scouts ​attending ​individually ​must ​have ​an ​adult ​registered ​and ​in ​attendance.
• ​Any ​adult ​taking ​​class ​must be registered ​for the class. 
• Each troop is asked to register at least one adult as a volunteer.

Enter Troop Contact and Payment Info

1. Enter Troop contact information. 
   *This is your primary Troop contact for registration & payment questions and where we will send your troop advancement records.
   
   
   
2. Enter Payment method. - ‘Pay by Credit or Debit’ new this year!
   
   
   

Enter Attendee Info and Select Classes

1. Enter First and Last name - No nicknames or placeholders
2. Enter Troop Contact email (from above) - Do not enter individual personal email
3. Enter Council and Troop Number
4. Select class choices from dropdowns 
5. Enter special needs / dietary needs

NOTE:

• Eagle-required classes fill up quickly.  
• If you select a 4-hour class, select ‘None’ for the corresponding 10am or 3pm class. 
• Use the ‘Copy data from Other attendee’ dropdown option to speed up registration.  This will copy all registration information from another attendee in your group.  You will need to change First name, Last name, and class selections of the new attendee.

Complete the Registration

When you are finished entering all attendees,  click ‘Place Order’ to complete your registration. 

2020 Ski Trip - Devil's Head Resort - February 14 - 16, 2020

Troop 9 and Troop 2019 are skiing at Devil's Head Resort in Merrimac, WI on Friday February 14 - Sunday February 16.  The trip is open to skiers of all levels and their families. Scouts will have the ability to learn their Snow Sports merit badge. Click to RSVP here. 

The cost of the trip will be $115 per scout and $125 per adult who ski.  This includes a 2 night hotel stay, ski rental, lift ticket, and lessons for those skiing.  It also includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday. We will stop on Friday night for dinner and lunch Sunday scouts will need to pay for those meals. (Each scout should plan to bring approximately $20 towards their own food.) The cost is $50 per adult for those not skiing.  If a participant does not stay 1 or 2 of the nights, the fee will be $20 less per participant for each night not stayed.

The trip will be a 4.5 hour drive from Champaign to Reedsburg, WI.

The troop will be staying in the Super 8 in Reedsburg, WI.  We will prearrange a set of hotel rooms and occupants for all participants ahead of the trip.  Typically we will appropriately assign four people to one room.

The troop will ski at Devil's Head Resort. This is about a 30 minute drive from the Super 8.

Contact Info:

Super 8 Address: Super 8, 1470 E Main St, Reedsburg, WI 53959
Super 8 Phone: 608-524-2888
Devil's Head Resort Address: Devil's Head Resort, S 6330 Bluff Road, Merrimac, Wi 53561
Devil's Head Resort Phone: 800-472-6670

Schedule:

Friday 3:00 PM - Depart from Holy Cross. Some drivers may depart later.
Dinner - Each vehicle will stop on their own for dinner on the way up. 8:30 PM - Arrive at Reedsburg, WI Saturday
Breakfast - Hotel will provide breakfast. 8:00 AM - Depart for Devil's Head Resort
9:00 AM - Lifts open
Lunch - Troop will provide lunch in the lodge. 5:00 PM - 8 hour tickets expire
5:30 PM - Travel back to the hotel
Dinner - Troop will provide dinner at the hotel.

Sunday Breakfast - Hotel will provide breakfast. 9:00 AM - Depart Reedsburg, WI Lunch - Each vehicle will stop on their own for lunch on the way back.
1:30 PM - Arrive in Champaign, IL

Menu:

Friday dinner: Eat on the road.  Participants should bring money to buy their dinner.

Saturday breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Saturday lunch: Sandwiches, chips, fruit, and drinks will be provided by the troop at the resort.

Saturday dinner: Pizza at hotel.

Sunday breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel or eat on the road.
Sunday lunch: Eat on the road. Participants should bring money to buy their dinner.

How to dress for skiing:

short-sleeve t-shirt
long-sleeve shirt
sweater
outer jacket / shell (something wind & water repellant)
wind / water proof pant
long underwear
full length socks
gloves

That will provide you with enough cover for any weather conditions.  I expect you will start out cold, but as the day progresses, you will end up in just your t-shirt under your outer shell.  Be prepared to adjust several times during the day.  You probably won't need the sweater at all during the day, but best to be prepared and you might wear it at the end of the day if everything else is soaked through with water.  Also, remove layers as needed to avoid sweating.  Anything getting you overly wet will make you cold and miserable.

Pants should be some sort of wind / water proof pant.  Long underwear can be worn underneath if you're cold.  Be sure to strip layers if you're too warm to avoid sweating.  On a warm day, I typically end up wearing just the wind/water proof pant.

Socks should be a single pair of full length (not ankle length) sport sock.  Don't double up, it only restricts circulation.  When you put on your boots, make sure there are no wrinkles in the sock.  Wrinkles also restrict circulation and can also cause muscle cramps.

Forecast is predicting very warm temperatures, so expect that whatever you ski in will be soaked at the end of the day.  Bring a full change of soft, comfy clothes to the resort to change into after skiing.

Finally, for new skiers, I recommend to bring a pair of "throw-away" gloves if this is your first trip.  Beginner slopes sometimes use a "rope-tow" to get skiers to the top and that will tear up gloves after a few hours.  Also, due to expected warm temperatures, I suggest everyone bring a spare set of gloves so you can swap if one pair gets soaking wet.

In general, wet clothes lead to cold bodies, and that's no fun at all.  Staying dry is essential to enjoying this outing.  Feel free to ask any questions.  The only dumb question is one never asked.

What to bring:

• Change of clothes
• Warm socks (2 pair)
• Weatherproof jacket
• Gloves
• Warm hat
• Long underwear
• Winter boots
• Ski/snow pants
• Swimsuit
• Sunglasses/goggles (Watch for sales at Dick's!)

Spring Camporee 2019

Explore the enchanted forests of mystic Piatt County as you battle for victory in the Prairie Fire District Fantasy Quest Camporee.  Test your Scout Skills using teamwork and determination in challenging activities around Lodge Park.

Permission slips are required and are due at the meeting on Tuesday, April 16.

Fee is $20 per person and includes event fee and meals.

Friday April 26, 2019

3:00pm    Meet at Holy Cross

3:30pm    Depart for Lodge Park

4:00pm    Arrive Lodge Park

4:30pm    Set up camp

6:00pm    Make dinner

9:00pm    Cracker Barrel

10:00pm  Lights out

Saturday April 27, 2019

7:00am   Make breakfast

8:30am   Opening

9:00am   Competition starts

12:00pm  Make lunch

1:00pm  Continue competition

5:00pm  Make Dinner

7:00pm  Skits and Closing Campfire

9:00pm  Capture the flag

10:00pm  Lights out

Sunday April 28, 2019

7:00am  Make breakfast

9:00am  Break Camp

• Scouts should pack for the weather; wear layers if it will be cool.
• Pack into a backpack for this outing
• Use this packing list to ensure your Scouts is prepared

WE NEED HELP!

• We need Scouts Life Rank and above to run activities at the Camporee.
• We need adults to help supervise events and help with general operations.

Please RSVP for your Scout, your self, and to sign up to help using THIS SIGNUP LINK.

Please download and print the permission slip linked HERE.

Forest Glen Day Hike

Lookout Tower Here We Come!

Troop 9 is hiking at Forest Glen Preserve to test our orienteering skills and enjoy some beautiful scenery!  We will hike using map and compass and the orienteering training Mr. Amacher has been providing in Troop meetings.  After we successfully navigate the trail, we feast on grilled hot dogs!!!

Permission slips are required and are due at the next meeting on Tuesday, March 26.

There is no fee but please be sure to RSVP so we can Be Prepared!

Saturday March 30, 2019

8:00am    Meet at Holy Cross

8:15am    Depart for Forest Glen

9:15am    Arrive Forest Glen

9:30am    Orienteering Hike

3:00pm    Hot dog lunch

4:00pm    Depart for Holy Cross

5:00pm    Arrive at Holy Cross

• Scouts should dress for the weather; wear layers if it will be cool.
• Scouts should wear proper footwear: comfortable broken-in hiking shoes or boots.
• It will be muddy so plan on getting dirty.
• Scouts should bring the 10 Essentials as listed in their Handbook packed in a day pack.
  (Do NOT use drawstring backpacks)

Please RSVP using THIS SIGNUP LINK.

Please download and print the permission slip linked HERE.

Update 3/27/19

Rain or Shine: What to bring? What to wear?

The hike will take place rain or shine unless there is threat of dangerous thunderstorms.  We may hike an alternate orienteering course closer to home if conditions are too poor at Forest Glen.  We will make that decision on Saturday morning.  Everyone should still arrive at Holy Cross at 8:00am.

The Ten Essentials
We talked last night about the Scout essentials found on page 283 of the Scout handbook.  These items should be packed in a small or standard sized backpack and brought to every outing.

1. Water Bottle (2)
2. Extra clothing (extra socks for day hike)
3. Sun Protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
4. First Aid Kit
5. Rain Gear (lightweight rain coat and rain pants)
6. Flashlight and/or headlamp
7. Trail Food
8. Map and Compas
9. Matches and fire starters
10. Pocketknife

Layer Up For Comfort
Layering is a good idea in all weather conditions.  For hiking, a good layer system includes:

Clothing:

• Base Layer: Synthetic undergarments: compression shorts and shirt (underarmor type)
• This layer helps wick moisture away from the skin AND helps prevent chafing on long hikes
• Mid Layer: long sleeve t-shirt or button up shirt, jeans or Scout pants
• NOTE: shorts are OK as long as proper footwear and socks are worn - see below
• Insulating layer: fleece pullover or hoodie, fleece pants
• Optional for cool to cold weather
• Outer Layer: Rain coat or jacket, rain pants
• Lightweight and easy to carry

Footwear:

• Socks Base Layer: synthetic athletic socks
• Socks Outer Layer: thick long synthetic or wool hiking socks
• Shoes / Boots: comfortable shoes or hiking boots that lace up snug and can get dirty and wet (preferably water resistant)