Cleanup at Edith Stevens Memorial Preserve North Edison Community Service 02/11/24

Hello Troop 12,

Earlier today, there was a community service opportunity at Edith Stevens Memorial Preserve North Edison. Thank you to Mr. Labot, Dhairya Joshi, and Tanmay Thorat for coming to help out! They picked and cleaned up trash for three hours to make our environment safer. We thank all our scouts and leaders for actively helping to bring our community together. Here are some pictures of the cleanup!

Stay tuned for more!

Neel Raina

Troop 12 Updates

Happy New Years Troop 12!

Here are some updates from our last post! 

From our last Court of Honor on 12/21/23, many scouts have advanced in ranks and earned merit badges. Congratulations to all our scouts and we are very proud of all your accomplishments!

Summer Camp 2024

Summer is just around the corner and registration is available for all scouts to attend. This year's camp is "Camp Resica Falls" in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The camp will take place the week of July 14th, 2024 - July 20th, 2024.

Remember to hand in your medical forms along with the payments required to go to summer camp. There is an Early Bird discount: $575 per Youth / $250 per Adult. You must submit this by 1-30/24.

For any more questions, please feel free to reach out to Mr. Thorat or Mr. Gowda.

Snow!

We have been experiencing a lot of snow since the New Year, which means the weather has gotten a lot colder. Remember to bundle up when going outside and be careful of the ice.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Troop 12 Recent Updates

Community Service

Recently, Troop 12 has been involved in many community service projects.

4-22-23: Earth Day 

Every year, Lake Papapainni Park celebrates Earth Day by cleaning up the park, followed by fun activities such as flower planting, rock wall climbing, fishing derby, and a mini farmers market.

4-15-23: Hands of Hope food collection

Hands of Hope has many volunteer opportunities every month. For more information, visit https://hohnj.org/volunteer.

4-8-23: Rohit Karthickeyan's Star Rank Leadership Project

Rohit hosted a leadership project this spring break. The main goal of the project was to clean up Winter Street Park. 

Upcoming community service projects: Hands of Hope food collection (5-6-23), Silver Lake cleanup (5-6-23)

Community Service Form

Scout Skills

There are many resources to learn scout skills, but our Senior Patrol Leader Ruhaan Doshy and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Shohum Raina created a "Scouting Skills Guide" to help our scouts learn/brush up on their scouting skills. All information in this presentation is taken directly from the scoutbook. Just click on the QR codes, and it will take you to a Google Doc or Youtube video. 

Troop 12 Scouting Skills Guide

Court of Awards

On March 23, 2023, Troop 12 had their Court of Awards, where all scouts who either ranked up or earned a merit badge receives the respective badges of their award. The scouts who rank up are given a pin which is placed on their parents collar. We congratulate all the scouts who worked so hard for their awards.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Watchung Reservation History Trail Hike

When: February 18 ; Saturday at 10:00 AM

February Breakfast 2023

 

Happy 4th of July

 

Hello,

    Today is July 4th, 2021. Today is a special day called Independence Day, a holiday that commemorates our country's freedom. Some ways to celebrate are getting together with friends and family, fireworks, cookouts, etc. Enjoy your day! 

Neel Raina

Memorial Day

Hello Troop 12. Today is a very special day. Memorial Day, a day where we honor our fallen soldiers who died in action. We will never forget the sacrifices they have made for our country. I ask that you take a moment of your day and thank the soldiers who have fallen to make our country safer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Neel Raina

Troop 12 News Catch Up

 Hello Troop 12,

Recent Events - As many of you know, this month is a very active month. We have had our first troop outing in months, a day camp at Thompson Park, and we have many eagle scout projects coming our way. On September 27, 2020, life scout Kenneth Chao successfully completed his eagle scout project. Many Troop 12 members, scouts and adults all came together to contribute to this project. Plants were placed on the perimeter of a wonderful gazebo, and benches were built for the elderly to sit in and enjoy.

Upcoming Events - After this, we have Adityaa Suratkal, Troy Began, and Pranav Muralikrishnan's Eagle Scout projects. Make sure to stay tuned for updates, we need all the help we can get! We are also having an upcoming Court of Awards, something a lot of people have been waiting for a while.

Look below for the final product.

Stay safe,

Neel Raina

Never Forget - 9/11

Never Forget

Hello Troop 12. Today is a day of remembrance. Today we stand, praise, and remember the people of America who lost their lives in a tragic incident 19 years ago today. Today is a day of unity. We are grateful for those first responders who didn’t think twice to go out there to risk their lives for the people in danger. We should all be thankful for the first responders who put their lives on the lines for our safety. On September 11, 2001, everyone came together in unity. Everyone worked with each other to evacuate as many people as they could. This changed America forever, but this also gave us a wake up call and a lesson.

Neel Raina

Troop 12 Will Never Forget Our Heroes

This memorial day, we recognize those and their bravery to keep us safe. Not only we keep them safe in our prayers, but also through heart-warming cards and bracelets that let them know that we care!

Thank you to all the soldiers for keeping us safe and standing up for our freedom. It means a lot to us and is something that we will never take for granted. We especially appreciate those who died in service. We appreciate their selfless service for keeping us safe and free!

Boy Scouts of America

🇺🇸 This Memorial Day, we remember and honor all who have served and sacrificed for our freedom. ⁣🇺🇸 ⁣⁣ ⁣ #ScoutSalute #ScoutingAtHome #MemorialDay
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To support Operation Gratitude, Troop 12 has planned several activities for our scouts to support troops overseas. One of which is the quick-deploy survival bracelets. 

Operation Gratitude sends care Care Packages for Deployed Troops, First Responders, Veterans, Wounded Heroes & Caregivers, and Children of Deployed Troops. Our Troop will be writing handwritten letters to be sent along with these care packages. 

Troop 12 wants to let our troops know how grateful we are to have them, and will keep them in our prayers. To help support our troops, please participate in Operation Gratitude and the activities planned. They are very easy and fun to make (with the help of a "jig" which can be downloaded from their website), and will help benefit our soldiers!

Earth Day 2020

Today, April 22, 2020, is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day is a holiday that celebrates the Earth. We depend on the earth and its resources every day, so that means that we should be taking care of it as well.

But how can you?

You can start using reusable water bottles, pick up any trash you see outside, and don't harm wildlife. Remember, this earth isn't made just for humans.

You can also save water, too. Try using less water by limiting your shower time, and turning off the water when not in use.

Electricity is also an important factor in our daily lives. Turn off lights when not in use, and don't use it excessively!

Be grateful! Go and enjoy nature outside. Take a walk or go sight-seeing. There are many ways to enjoy nature.

                               Stay Safe!

To prevent getting sick or others:

Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds, especially after using a public place or sneezing.
Don't leave the house unless necessary and avoid contact with others
Stay 6 feet apart with other people
Don't touch your face, eyes, or mouth
Disinfect objects and/or materials such as doorknobs and handles.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
Don't panic buy items -- you are leaving fewer things for others

The Perfect Campfire

         How to Make the Perfect Campfire Every Time! 

Recommendations to improve fire building skills:  By Scoutmaster Mr. Toryak   

                                                    

Step 1: Fire Safety

Make sure that your site or area allows campfires. Before you even start your fire or even gather your materials, check the regulations of your campsite. Check the fire danger level in the area and make sure that you have your Fireman Chit, which you are required to have to make a fire. 
Check your surroundings. Look for loose or hanging branches that could be above the fire, and make sure you are making your fire in a designated fire pit. Make sure that it is on dirt and not anywhere on or near leaves or grass, and anywhere close to trees.

With these in mind, you are ready to go!

Step 2: Gathering Your Materials

Gather all supplies before you even start to build your fire. "First, make sure everything you need is at your fingertips". Fire needs wood, obviously, to burn. You need three types of wood: Tinder, kindling, and fuel. 


Tinder: Dry grass, leaves, or shaved bark from trees. 

Kindling: Dry sticks: You should have a lot of kindling varying from toothpick size to pencil size to thumb size! 

Fuel/Wood: Wood that should be as thick as your wrist and as long as your arm. 

"Your kindling has to be very thin, dry and well seasoned.  I always have 3 thicknesses, I start with (in abundance). By well seasoned, it should really crack/ snap when you break it.  If it really bends before breaking, it’s still too fresh.

I’ve used a mechanical pencil here for reference.  You can see how I stack it up in size & order. Make sure that the materials you have are dry. You can check by snapping them, and it should snap and make a cracking sound." 

Step 3: Assembling Your Materials

Make sure your tinder is tight and bundled up together. "Next, your tinder has to be pretty tight.  The stuff you used today was great but you just piled it in and it was really loose.  All that does is allow it to burn really quickly and without direction. Look at my tinder (almost the same stuff), I balled it pretty tight.  Similar to a bird's nest.  This allows for slower airflow but it smolders much more creating and keeping heat."

Take your kindling and lay it around your tinder. Teepee, Log Cabin, and Lean-to are three options for setting up a strong fire but Teepee is the best and almost always work. If you are making a fire on a metal surface, use rocks and place it around to balance your sticks and make a good teepee. "Then, later on, lay your kindling thinnest first.  Go all the way around, then add the next thickness, then the next.  Have your thickest wood ready to place on once you have a true fire." 

Step 4: Keep it Going! When your fire is lit, take your thickest wood/fuel and gently place it on the fire once it started. Do not toss it in else it will shock the fire and fire will extinguish. Gradually add more sticks to keep your fire going. Don't use all of it at once though! 

"Once smoke starts I blow purposefully and directly into the heart of the fire.  You have to gauge needs and change force as it grows."  You can take a stick and lift the bottom of the fire and blow if flames start to die.

"Always remember that a smaller fire is always easier to feed and manage, especially when in a survival situation.  A drawback is that it is also a bit easier to put out when it rains or there’s high winds.  However, it is very easy to build the size of the fire once started."

Troop 12 Webmaster Shohum Raina 

Our Scoutmaster

Mr. Sudnick, our former scoutmaster, transitioned into a new role, but his legacy will continue...

Troop 12 is grateful for having Mr. Sudnick, a great scoutmaster and leader, who made Troop 12 the best troop in the area! When we were still in cub scouts, we visited many different troops, but there was one troop that stood out. There was one troop whose leadership influenced me and the reason why I decided to join. Mr. Sudnick has dedicated his time to scouting, planning activities, believing in us, and being an inspiration to many scouts and adult leaders. Mr. Sudnick is a very active person who is involved in his community. Although we may not see you often, we will continue your legacy by making scouting strong and vibrant.

-Shohum Raina
Troop 12 Webmaster  

   Tips to Stay Warm this Winter Camping Season
With the upcoming winter, it is important to have the necessary gear in order to keep warm. I will list all the gear and explain why they are so important.

Clothing:
Synthetic base layer pants (ie: tech wick, Under Armor material)
o Synthetic base layer shirt (ie: tech wick, Under Armor material)
o Insulating middle layer pants (ie: fleece, scout pants OK if something covering them)
o Insulating middle layer shirt (ie: fleece)
o Outer windproof layer pants (ie: snow pants, rain pants - scout pants OK)
o Outer windproof layer shirt/jacket

Layering is important during winter camping because they preserve your body heat and keep you from turning into an ice cube. It’s important to have layers because they prevent the cold from entering and block wind or rain depending on what you are wearing. After all, who would want the cold to ruin your experience :(

Accessories
o 2 wool or fleece hats (1 daytime, 1 sleeping)
o Balaclava or scarf
o 2 pairs of gloves or mittens (one should be insulated/waterproof if possible)

Hats and balaclava are important because most of your body heat is located in your head. If you don’t have a hat or balaclava, heat will escape from your head, which is why you must insulate that heat so it won’t escape. Gloves are important because within seconds without gloves, your hands become extremely cold and that can be very uncomfortable. However, sometimes you will need to work without gloves (like tying knots) as it is very difficult to work with gloves.

Footwear
o Waterproof boots(insulated is better)
o 3 pairs of wool or synthetic winter socks (one pair for sleeping placed in waterproof ziplock bag)
o 2 pairs of sock liners (or thin nylon sock, ladies knee hi’s)

You probably understand how uncomfortable it is when your feet are cold or wet.  That’s why shoes are there to prevent your feet from getting wet! Socks are important, but only get wool or synthetic ones. Never wear cotton, as you can sweat and cotton can absorb that sweat and you can get frostbite/blisters.

Gear
o Sleeping bag (20 degree or less) (OR can use two sleeping bags, one sleeping bag plus liner, other approved combo)
o Sleeping pad (1/2’’ think closed-cell foam pad, mandatory) (inflatable camping pad, optional)
o Eating utensils, bowl, insulated mug
o Headlamp with extra batteries (or small flashlight with extra batteries)
o 1 large (32 oz) water bottle
o Compass
o Emergency survival kit or personal first aid kit
o Lip balm
o Toilet paper and hand sanitizer in ziplock bag

Everything you do in winter camp outs, such as sleeping, eating, hiking, and doing other activities will require these equipment. For sleeping in low temperatures, get a winter sleeping bag and pad. Don’t use an inflatable sleeping pad as the cold from the ground will enter. Use a foam or mat, but nothing that includes air. For eating, bring utensils, plates, cups, etc. And just because the weather is cold, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to bring a water bottle.  For hiking or at night, bring headlights since it can get dark. And there is always a chance of an emergency, so a first aid kit is a must.

Some other things you can get are hand, leg, or chest warmers. If you’re like me who can get cold very easily, it is a good idea to bring a couple of hand warmers, they really help! They aren’t required but it is always good to have some while camping.

Lastly, here are some tips you might need to know:

Don’t waste hand warmers if your hands aren’t cold.

Cover your head with your sleeping bag with some space between the bag and ground.When you breathe, your breath will warm up the inside of the bag, and you will stay warm.

If you start feeling cold, do some exercises! Don’t overdo it as you can sweat, but it can warm you up! (Push-ups, sit-ups, jogging in place, jumping jacks, etc) Once you start feeling warm, you can stop exercising.

Nature is alluring, but at times it doesn’t have mercy, either. If we are prepared, and respectful, we can overcome the harsh weather and there will be no excuse not to campout. Troop 12 is ready for camping. Are you?

Shohum Raina
Troop 12 Webmaster

On May 16, 2019 Troop 12 assisted @ MCFOODS in East Brunsick N.J. When we were leaving the warehouse that evening, one of our scouts had asked if he can takes some bins home with him so he can try to collect non-perishable items from our scout families. This morning our scout who volunteered to do this handed in the bins at the warehouse. Our Troop has scouts that have the biggest hearts. No requirment signed off, he is not working a merit badge, instead he showed what a scout can do to help our within the community without being rewarded. The reward is that he is helping others. Well done.

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Meet the Youth Leadership for the 2019- 2020 Troop 12 scouting year.

Meet the Youth Leadership for the 2019- 2020 Troop 12 scouting year.

T12 Breakfast Help 2019

REMINDER T12 families: Any breakfast ticket money and unsold tickets need to be returned at the Thursday troop meeting! Also, volunteer breakfast shifts are still available for both Scouts and adults! If you haven't signed up yet, please do so now. Thanks for your help! https://ift.tt/2NysbnW
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