The AntHill Times

June 1997

Upcoming Events for June & July

Theme: Leadership Training

2 Jun
Meeting
9 Jun
Pool Party/Last Meeting
13-15 June
Junior Leader Training
20-22 June
Paddle-Rama
7 July
Summer Camp Parents' Meeting
13-19 July
Summer Camp
21 July
High Adventure Parents' Meeting
26 July - 3 Aug
New River High Adventure


June 9 is New Date for Pool Party

Dig out your swimmies, goggles and bathing suits. Yes boys and boys, it's the Annual Troop 5 End-of-the-year Pool Party. This year's party is being brought to you courtesy of the P family. Please note that this date is a change from the original calendar for the year. Next Monday's pool party will also be the last scout meeting for this season.

Scouts should arrive at 7:00 in full swimming regalia and plan to be picked up by parents at 9:00. Pizza, provided by the troop, is the customary culinary faree.


Flower Sale Day Thanks

Once again, Betty and Company have pulled off the almost inconceivable. They picked, sorted, loaded, unloaded, dispatched and delivered over $11,000 of flowers last month.

This herculean task was made possible with the help of Jeff and Margaret, Doug and Kathy, Walt and Kathy, Gary and Elsa, Debbie, Loraine, Marie, Pat, George, Nancy and her father Bill, Jackie, Paul, and Judy.

Food to feed the hungry masses was provided by Mary, Karen, Lynne, Margaret, Diana, and Nancy. Special thanks to Larry for loaning the trailer, and to Claire for the signs. Several scouts who also stayed after school until mid- evening to help included Jonathon, Mike, and Paul.

Of course, none of these great feats ever succeeds without the outrageous manhours put in by Wendell, Chad. Todd, Brian, or Jeff.


The Wildwood Saga Part II

by Dan

It was a warm, sunny, Saturday morning with two possibble omens. One, it was warm and sunny for a camping trip; and two, Steve was LATE! This could prove interesting.

This return trip to Wildwood was completely planned by Mike, and John. Their patrol and some other scouts were invited along.

We arrived at the shore on time, gott our wrist bands, and were off to the rides. Well, itt didn't happen quite that quickly, but you get the idea. By 6:00pm we met again at the campsite and got our tickets for teh barbecue and into line for dinner. Then we noticed that the line was a mile long (no kidding). A few of us brighter scouts (me) decided it was worth it to just go to McDonald's instead. Then it was off to the rides again.

We met back at our campsite at midnight when the rides closed. Then for some dim-witted, completely stupid reason, we wandered the boards barefoot. You can smack us now (we stepped in all the gum, ice cream, and soda that was ever spilled there). Back at the campsite, a few of the slower scouts (including me) decided to sleep under the stars. It was cool.

In the morning, we woke up, saw a mile-long line for breakfast and said, "Oh Well". We waited 45 minutes for donuts. After packing up, we rode the rides and met at 2:15. Three scouts who shall remain nameless... OK, it was Andrew, Mike, and John (good leadership) came in late. They had to clean tents. But we made it back to the church on time.

Hopefully, Wildwood will have enough time to prepare for troop 5 again.


Family Picnic Fun

Before your summer gears up with surfing, and sailing, save a spot on your busy calendar for the First Annual Troop 5 Family Picnic. The gala event is being planned for sometime over tthe Labor Day weekend at a local park to help kick off a new season of Scouting. The official Troop 5 Game Committee is busy planning activities and competitions for all age levels. Wheelbarrow races, watermelon speed spitting contests, tug of war - WOW!, how much fun can one picnic have? Anyone with a super idea or just a yearnin' to help out, please give Paul a holler.


June Camping Trip is Paddle-Rama

The few, the proud, the WET will be heading up River Road to Tinicum County Park, near Upper Black Eddy on the Delaware River. There they will participate in the Bucks County Council Paddle-Rama and undergo council wide canooe training.

The Troop will leave by 6:30 pm on Friday, June 20. The return on Sunday, June 22 will be late since the event is not over until 4:00pm. So plan on the Scouts being back to the church at about 5:00 pm. As in the past on this trip, adults are free and encouraged to attend.


Junior Leadership Training Corps

The newly-elected Senior Patrol Leader, the ASPL, and all the Patrol Leaders are required to attend the JLC Training at Ockanickon on the Weekend of June 13-15. There is no charge for this event.


The Newly Elected

The suspense has subsided, the votes have been cast and counted. And the winners are...

Alex will be the 1997-1998 Senior Patrol LEader, Paul will be starring as the executive officer. Other supporting cast members include Jim as ASPL for Camping, Jon as ASPL for MEetings, Mike as ASPL for Special Projects and Colin as ASPL for Staff. The Patrols also voted for leaders fro next year. The Scorpions elected Andrew "Flower Sale Man", the Buffalo Patrol elexcted Andy, and John was elected as Patrol Leader of the Eagles. The Jaguar Patrol will be electing a leader tonight because of some absences last week. Congratulations and good luck to the new Leadership Corps.


Allaire Camporee and Rock Climbing Trips

The camporee trip on May 2-4 was lots of fun despite the rain on Saturday. The train ride on Sunday more than made up for the deluge the day before for the few Troop 5 attendees. Although the troop did not participate in the "Hobo" theme dress up, chad was rumored to have been considered for a prize (in normal attire).

The four participants in the recent rock climbing trip were John and Stephen, Andrew, and Phil. Leadership for the trip included Jeff, Chad, and B.


Order of the Arrow Work Weekend

By Todd

This past weekend, May 30-June 2, four of Troop 5's scouts completed their Ordeal weekend. They were Andrew, John, Jim, and Mike.

These scouts represented Troop 5 well, and admirably displayed the qualities of an arrowman by performing cheerful service preparing our camp for summer operation.

They were inducted into the Order on Saturday evening at the lodge ceremonoy. Congratulations on a job well done!

At the fall OA weekend, Scout Matthew will take his ordeal. Other OA brothers are welcome to participate in the weekend by helping Chad and myself with a camp project yet to be determined. Come out and support your camp!.