Troop 55
First Class Trail
Newsletter

Week of March 1, 2021

TROOP 55
Twin Bayou District
Sam Houston Area Councilwww.troop55.org | troop55htx.com

FOR FIRST CLASS TRAIL SCOUTS

Troop 55 Virtual FCT Meeting

When: Tuesday, March 2, 7:00 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 921 8069 3001 Passcode: patrick

First Class Trail Patrol Breakout Meeting during Troop Meeting: 
Review of Virtual Camp Out on February 27-28, 2021

First Class Trail – Physical Fitness Tenderfoot Part II/Second Class Part I

When: Sunday, March 7, 2021 (1-3pm) 
Where: Memorial Park Timing Track (located across from Tennis Center) – click for map

Signup is required: SIGNUP HERE

FCT Requirements:
TF-6a Physical Fitness Test Part I (or Part II)
– Pushups
– Situps
– Back-saver Sit and Reach
– 1 mile walk/run
TF-6b Develop and describe a plan for improvement in each of the activities listed. Keep track of your activities for at least 30 days.
SC-7a After completing Tenderfoot requirement 6a, be physically active at least 30 minutes eat day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep track of your activities.

Below are the following cooking related requirements that can be completed at home during a Troop Virtual Campout.

• TF-2A (assist with preparation)
• TF-2B (safe cleaning)
• SC-2E (plan according to MyPlate guidelines & cook a breakfast or lunch)
• FC-2A (plan according to MyPlate guidelines a breakfast, lunch and dinner that requires cooking at least two of the meals)
• FC-2B (budget)
• FC-2C (cooking gear)
• FC-2D (safe handling, storage, disposal)
• FC-2E (cook the meals, supervise cleanup)

You should discuss your menu with your parent(s) to make sure it is feasible for your family.  For example, Beef Wellington may be too challenging.  It will be a good idea to learn to cook meals that you personally enjoy eating so that you will know how to cook it for yourself in the future.

Here are the steps:

• Read all the FCT requirements listed above in detail
  
• Send your PASM a menu of 4 meals (Saturday Breakfast, Saturday Lunch, Saturday Dinner and Sun breakfast) and one hearty snack.  Design the 4 meals so that 3 of them will be cooked.  The snack is not listed as a requirement but it is always necessary on a campout.  Often you will come back to our campsite starved after doing an outdoor activity.  Each meal must adhere to the MyPlate Nutritional Guidelines – include a protein, carbohydrates, and a side dish portion of a vegetable or fruit.  It can also include dairy as a protein.   Note: “side dish portion of a vegetable” means more than 1 leaf of lettuce on a hamburger.
  
• You may also want to include a dessert for Saturday.  The dessert can be a gooey peach cobbler, decadent bananas foster, tempting baked cookies, refreshing Jello, or something simple like fruit, Oreos, ice cream, S’mores, etc.  This is optional but it does enhance the meal experience for your guests.  Feeding people can be much more than just providing food.  Providing good food AND a good experience can build great scouting memories for your patrol.

• After your PASM approves your menu, you can develop a shopping list.  The list should be detailed enough so that you can give it to someone to shop for you.  Include specific quantities such as 2 tomatoes, 1 dozen eggs, 1 pack of spaghetti noodles (16 oz), 1 pound of ground beef, 1 pack of bacon, 1 bag of Caesar Salad mix, 1 loaf of bread, 1 bottle of vanilla extract, etc.

• After you list all the items to purchase, go onto one of the local grocery websites (HEB, Krogers, etc.) and find out how much each item will cost.  For each campout, the Grubmaster traditionally collects $15 cash from each person in the patrol who is planning to eat at the campout (FCT Scout, Troop Guide, PASM).  Thus, try to spend about $15 per person.  If you plan to feed your family of 4, you should spend around 4 x $15 = $60.  If you go over $15 per person on an in-person campout, it’s ok but you may have to be prepared to personally cover the difference.  You will not have to purchase or budget for oil, salt, pepper, seasonings because they are in our Patrol’s Action Packer (the plastic bin full of cooking gear and cleaning supplies).  If you already have an ingredient such as milk at your house, include the item on your shopping list, budget for it, but do not actually purchase it.

• Go shopping and save the receipt to finalize your actual budget.

• Take photos and/or short videos of EACH meal: prepping, cooking, the final meal on a plate, and cleanup.  YOU MUST DO THIS FOR EACH MEAL to receive full credit.  Send your PASM the photos/videos all together after the campout ends.  If you send them to them during the campout, they might lose track of it.

• While eating each meal, ask for feedback from your family.

• When it comes to cleaning, you don’t have to personally clean everything yourself.  But according to the FC-2E requirement, you must SUPERVISE the cleaning.  To simulate cleaning at an in-person campout, help your patrol ‘assistants’ (family members) set up and use the 3-pot method (read page 308 in your Scout Handbook). Your dishwasher can function as the final sterilization pot.

Troop 55 First Class Trail
Newsletter
Week of February 22, 2021

TROOP 55
Twin Bayou DistrictSam Houston Area Council
www.troop55.org | troop55htx.com

FOR FIRST CLASS TRAIL SCOUTS

Troop 55 Virtual FCT Meeting

When: Tuesday, February 23, 7:00 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 921 8069 3001 Passcode: patrick
First Class Trail Patrol Breakout Meeting during Troop Meeting: 

Cooking Intro
• Instruction on how to use MyPlate or the current USDA nutritional model on selection food for campout, and how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
• Plan and Prepare for Virtual Camp Out on February 27-28, 2021

CAMPOUTS

FCT Virtual Campout  – FCT & FCT Advanced Patrols

When: February 27-28, 2021
Where: Backyard camping at Home

Campout Schedule and Requirements:
Saturday, February 27
9:30 am Virtual Flags (Atomic Blackbirds Patrol)
2:00 pm Virtual FCT Meeting
• Safe Swim Presentation
• Cooking Presentation and Demonstration
7:00 pm Virtual Campfire (Blue Phoenix Patrol)

Sunday, February 28
9:30 am Virtual Scout’s Own and Closing Ceremony (Swordfish Patrol)

Full Details

FCT Requirements During Virtual Campout:
FC-2a Help plan a menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner, and that requiring cooking at least two of the meals. Tell how the menu includes food from MyPlate or the current USDA nutritional model and how it meets nutritional needs for the planned activity or campout.
FC-2b Using the menu planned in First Class requirement 2a, make a list showing a budget and the food amounts needed to fed three or more youth. Secure the ingredients.
FC-2c Show which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.
FC-2d Demonstrate the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Show how properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish.

Annual Swim Test

All Scouts and PASMs need to pass the annual swim test, regardless if you passed last year. This is required to participate in any water activities.

When: Sunday, February 28, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Bellaire Family Aquatic Center, 7001 5th St. Bellaire, TX 77041

 SIGN UP FOR SWIM TEST HERE. To address COVID concerns, Scouts must sign up for a specific time slot. 

FCT Requirements During Annual Swim Test:
SC-5b Demonstrate your ability to pass the BSA beginner test: Jump feet first into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 fit on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, the return to your starting place.
SC-5c Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects.
FC-6a Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test.
FC-6e With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as victim and as rescuer.

First Class Trail – Physical Fitness
Tenderfoot Part II/Second Class Part I

When: Saturday, March 7, 2021 (1-3pm) 
Where: Memorial Park Timing Track (located across from Tennis Center)

Signup to ensure COVID-19 Protocols:
https://www.troop55htx.com/first-class-trail/fct-sign-ups/?sheet_id=14

Requirements Covered:
TF-6a Physical Fitness Test Part I (or Part II)
– Pushups
– Situps
– Back-saver Sit and Reach
– 1 mile walk/run
TF- 6b Develop and Describe a plan for improvement in each of the activities listed. Keep track of your activities for at least 30 days.
SC-7a After completing Tenderfoot requirement 6a, be physically active at least 30 minutes each day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep track of your activities.

Map of Memorial Park:
https://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/visit/map-directions/

FOR FIRST CLASS TRAIL SCOUTS

Troop 55 Virtual FCT Meeting

When: Tuesday, February 16, 7:00 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 921 8069 3001 Passcode: patrick
First Class Trail Patrol Breakout Meeting during Troop Meeting:

Intro to Hiking
TF-5a  Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Use the buddy system while on a troop or patrol outing.
TF-5b  Describe what to do if you become lost on a hike or campout.
TF-5c  Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night.
Plan and Prepare for Brazos Bend State Park Campout

CAMPOUTS

Brazos Bend State Park  – FCT & FCT Advanced Patrols

When: February 19-21, 2021
Where: 21901 FM 762, Needville, TX 77461
SIGN UP HERE – deadline is February 16

FCT and FCT Advanced: In the Doubleknot registration form, when you get to the question “Which campout program are you attending?” Select “FCT Patrol Camping” There will be no Troop-provided transportation.  Each scout/family must make their own transportation arrangements for driving to and from the campsite.  There will be no patrol-prepared food.  All scouts must bring their own food and food preparation gear.  The Troop will only arrange for boiling water.

Campout Schedule and Requirements:
Schedule can be found at the following link:
https://www.troop55htx.com/february-2021-fct-campout/

Requirements:
Compass Work
SC-3a   Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Use a map to point out and tell the meaning of five map symbols.
SC-3b   Using a compass and map together, take a 5-mile hike.
SC-3c   Describe some hazards or injuries that you might encounter on your hike and what you can do to prevent them.
SC 3d  Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without
using a compass or an electronic device.

Wild Animal Identification
SC-4    Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, or mollusks) found in your local area or camping location. You may show evidence by tracks, signs, or photographs you have taken.

Native Plant Identification
FC-5a  Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your local area or campsite location. You may show evidence by identifying fallen leaves or fallen fruit that you find in the field, or as part of a collection you have made, or by photographs you have taken.

Tread Lightly!
FC-1b  Explain each of the principles of Tread Lightly! And tell how you practiced them on a campout or outing.

Knot Tying – Tenderfoot Series
TF-3a  Demonstrate a practical use of the square knot.
TF-3b  Demonstrate a practical use of two half-hitches.
TF-3c  Demonstrate a practical use of the taut-line hitch.