Colorado River Photo's posted here

Now Salty Llama photo's here

New Photo's from summer camp and 4th of July!

Hi Troop 663,

The Salty Llama is just 2 weeks away (Sept 16). Space is still available.

Please note that our next "Court of Honor" has been changed to Monday, October 1st, at the SR Library, 6-8PM. This will be a BIG celebration for many scouts. Please mark your calendars. A family pot luck dinner will be served. The boys should try to get all those merit badges sewn onto their sashes for all to admire at the COH!

Boys who are ready for a rank advancement need to contact Mr. Sivers for a Scout Master Conference.

Please hand in any completed blue cards soon, to receive recognition at the COH.

Hope everyone is ready for school to start!

Bev Jatczak, Committee Chair

It's Coming......The Troop #663 Badlands Campout!

Lets try this again. Salty Rat II November 11, 2006 Posted by: "gwbeaty1" gwbeaty@san.rr.com gwbeaty1 Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:20 pm (PST)

Food: Arrange with your canoe buddy to have a hot meal at the half way point. Bring plenty of water and snacks as paddling for 8 miles will be plenty of work.

Drivers: We will need a couple of adult volunteers to drive. Drivers can paddle if there is room. I will know when I have the final count on the 9th.

All ASM's and adults wishing to go, e-mail me early so I can reserve your spots.

Feel free to see me at the troop meetings if you would like additional information.

Popcorn

If you have sold popcorn please remember that I need your order forms and checks(made out to BSA) and cash by TOMORROW!!...Wed. Oct. 25th.

It takes a lot of time for me to check over all the order sheets, count money, endorse all the checks, make out bank deposit slips, go to the bank, and place all the orders on the computer. So, please get your popcorn items to me soon. All my work is absolutely due on Monday, Oct. 30th NO LATE ORDERS

I will be picking up all the popcorn on Sat. November 11th. I will let people know how and when to pick up their orders at my house...after we figure out a good system to this. I have never done this before, so bare with me as I learn as I go.

Luke Ulrich’s Eagle Scout Project

My eagle project will include assembling and placing signs along the trail. We’ll have a lot of fun competing this goal, and the project includes help from a jackhammer and even a donkey! This project will take a lot of hard work, but at the end of the day we’ll see the results of our work. I need as many scouts as possible to come and work on my project. We will meet in the morning at the St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church parking lot and then will caravan to the trailhead at Mission Trails. We will enjoy a catered lunch after our work, and then will return to Scripps Ranch in the early afternoon.

Last chance to sign-up for the "RAT"

I will have the sign-up sheet at tonight's Court of Honor. Any adult wishing to go on the CO River trip is encouraged to paddle the Rat. It is a fun prep. and probably harder than the river. Space is limited so let me know as soon as possible.

Place: Meet at the Scripps Ranch Rec Center Saturday Morning at 06:15. (Yes, that is a.m.)

Food: Arrange with your canoe buddy to have a hot meal at the half way point. Bring plenty of water and snacks as paddling for 8 miles will be plenty of work.

Drivers: We will need a couple of adult volunteers to drive. Drivers can paddle if there is room. I will know when I have the final count on the 9th. All ASM's and adults wishing to go, e-mail me early so I can reserve your spots.

I have had a couple of questions regarding the "hot meal". To clarify the meal situation, the boys need to arrange for a hot mealcooked on the trip. This can be as simple as Top Ramen. It does need to be cooked though, so ideally each pair of scouts should bring a small back packing stove and the needed cooking gear to handle the task. There are inexpensive lightweight stoves and fuel at Wal-Mart or Target (Coleman Peak 1 $20). If you want to get something even lighter for future backpacking, REI or Sports Chalet have a greater selection. I wouldn't get carried away though and recommend a stove with propane or butane canisters. NO LIQUID FUEL.

Every scout also needs a simple mess kit. Again, nothing fancy. They use these at camp-outs as well as events like this. Keep it simple and cheap. Most come with a small pot, a lid that doubles as a plate or pan and a cup. Cheap utensil sets are also available for a few bucks. Don't waste money on the super light Titanium stuff for young scouts as they will have different needs in a couple of years.

I hope that clarifies the meal deal. See me tonight if you have any other questions.

TROOP 663 COURT OF HONOR

THIS MONDAY NIGHT AT 5:30pm

SCRIPPS RANCH LIBRARY

**this is a pot-luck and the theme is “family favorites”** Please contact your patrol leader, if you haven’t already, to let him know what you are bringing and how many people from your family will attend. (The troop will provide drinks and all paper products)The Court of Honor is a time for the troop to give out rank advancement awards of tenderfoot, 2nd class, 1st class, Star, Life and even Eagle. It is important for parents to attend since there is a special pin that the scout will give to one of his parents up on stage. The scouts are also recognized for any merit badges earned since the last Court of Honor.

If you have any questions, please contact your son’s patrol leader or you can call me at 566-5767.

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Posted by: "Jan Lewis" jlewis01@san.rr.com momx31993
Mon Oct 2, 2006 7:49 pm (PST)
Dear Parents and scouts of Troop 663 ~

It is that time again to re-register our sons for another great year of
scouting with our troop. Please print out both of the attached documents,
fill out and mail to me so that all the paper work and check arrives no
later than Oct. 30th.

For the scout application that is attached (also recharter information)- please only print out page 7.
That is the mandatory health history questionnaire that is updated yearly.
The second attachment is for the troop's records verifying that all the
information we have on you is current.

If your son is choosing not to remain in our troop for any reason - you need
to contact me via email that he is not returning. If this does not occur, I
will presume your son is continuing and you will be billed the registration
fee.

September 10, 2006 Time for the Salty Llama!

It is time for another Salty Llama. For the new parents, the Salty
Llama is not a new camp food. It is a canoe practice session in preparation for the 9 mile canoe trip around Mission Bay in October. There is also a canoe trip down the Colorado River scheduled for Thanksgiving.

The Llama is designed for all boys that have canoeing experience and want to go on the Rat and/or the Colorado river trip. Ideally the boys should have earned canoeing merit badge to be eligible to go on the longer trips. Some exceptions may be made on an individual basis if a boy shows a high level of skill and endurance on the Llama and Rat.

We will meet at the youth aquatics center so feel free to arrange car pools within the patrols. For anyone who does not know where the youth aquatics center is, go the the San Diego Council site and print a map for yourself.

All boys should be prepared to protect themselves from the elements. Water sandals, hats, shirts, sunscreen are a must.

Last year, we had lunch half way through the paddle. Bring appropriate food.

I will have a sign-up sheet and permission slips at the meeting Monday night. See me for any questions.

What: Salty Llama Canoe Practice
Place: Mission Bay Youth Aquatics Center
Date: September 24th (8:00-1:00)
Meet At: Youth Aquatics Center At 8:00 AM
Return: Pick-up your scout at the Youth Aquatics Center At 1:00
Wear: Class B uniform with suitable gear for wet conditions.
Sunscreen and hats a must.
Bring: Water and a sack lunch if you want to eat. You will be
hungry after paddling.
Tour Leader: ASM Gregg Beaty gwbeaty@san.rr.com

September 5, 2006

As many of you already know, the scouting program goes all year round but the actual registration dates are from Jan. 1^st – Dec. 31^st.

So now is the time to start thinking about your son’s commitment to the scouting program and Troop 663 for the upcoming year 2007.

All fees will be due no later than Oct. 23^rd – an email will be going out soon with the registration form and fee information as attachments.

Please email me if you know now that your son will NOT be continuing with Troop 663 so that I may begin making changes to our registration in advance of our deadline.

If you have any questions, please call me at 566-5767 or email me at jlewis01@san.rr.com.

September 2, 2006

We would like to invite Scouts of Troop 663 on some local hiking adventures this Fall!

As many of you know, the hiking merit badge is actually seldom earned! Before last June, only two Scouts had earned this award in Troop 663's history. No Scouts have earned it in some local troops! After the Dragon Patrol's springtime hikes, two more Scouts have earned this merit badge, and six more are very close!

Their hikes for the spring were capped by the inaugural "Scripps Ranch to the Sea" 20 mile hike, and the 7 Scouts and 6 adults who did this on Father's Day in June, 2006, will be recognized at the October Troop 663 Court of Honor with a special patch that was created this summer to reward those who complete this hike.

There have been requests from others in Troop 663 to experience this and other hikes, and we have cleared the dates with the PLC. We would like to share these dates with you and your Scout(s), so you can make plans to join us if you wish!

Scouts wanting to use these hikes for the hiking merit badge should write up a pre and post plan per the requirements of the Hiking Merit Badge (please see the HIKING MERIT BADGE BOOK and www.meritbadge.com ). Both myself and ASM Mr. Art Sloate are counselors for this merit badge.

For those wanting to do the Fall "Scripps Ranch to the Sea" who have not done it before, you should practice walking the hills of Scripps Ranch at least three times a week in the shoes/socks/daypack that you plan to use, come on both prep hikes, and be able to complete these prep hikes in a strong manner.

For veterans of the "Scripps Ranch to the Sea" hike, you should practice as above, and come on at least one of the prep hikes. You will receive another patch, as well as a pin to wear on your first patch to show that you have hiked this event more than once!

Sunday, October 8th: 8 AM departure time at SR Community Park (on Blue Cypress).
See ** below. 10 miles. Return to SR ~ 1 PM.

Sunday, October 29th: 8 AM departure from the Ellie Lane Staging area for
an Iron Mountain 10 mile loop. The staging area/parking lot is on Ellie Lane, which is on the East side of Hiway 67 the just past Poway Road.
Return to the staging area ~ 1 PM for parents to pickup their sons (or drive home with
them if the parent hiked with us!!!!).

Sunday, November 12: 7 (SEVEN) AM departure from CYPRESS CANYON PARK (just
below the intersection of Pomerado, Spring Canyon, and Cypress Canyon Park
Drive).Arrive at Torrey Pines State beach ~ 3 PM. We will have parents meet
their sons/family members at this area, so they can drive them home. Use
the Carmel Valley Road entrance. . . you may choose to park outside the
fee area. We need parents to volunteer to help with the food/beverage aid
stations along the way!!

To register for any of these hikes, I must have the forms for Scouts and hiking parents in my possession by 7:30 AM on the Friday before the event (give it to me at the Troop meetings, mail it to me, or drop it by on our front porch: 11775 Angelique Street, San Diego, CA 92131). This form will come in a separate e-mail, and I will have some at the Troop meetings.

You may use the same form to sign up for one, two, or three of the hikes. E-mails to registered participants will be sent for any changes, as well as for gentle reminders of what should be brought to the hikes.

Huge thanks to Committee Member and fellow High Adventure Trek Trained Leader Mrs. Kelly Peters for serving as a co-leader on these treks!

Dr. Bryon Solberg
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 663

**
http://www.seatoseatrail.org/index.cfm/Directions

The descriptions/maps of the portions of this trail we will be hiking may be found under:

*I-5 to Carmel Country Road

*Carmel Country Road to Los Penasquitos Canyon Reserve

We will be doing a different direction though, as we will start at the top of
the northern border of the preserve, hike WEST toward Carmel Country Road and
the multiuse trail, take this trail to I-5, and then retrace to Carmel
Country Road.
(Car Shuttle involved.)

September 2, 2006 more from ASM Solberg

I have been asked by the PLC of the Troop, due to the very full evening of "Citizenship in the World" merit badge being planned for Sept. 11th, to move the Pets Merit Badge "Pet show and completion" to Sept. 18th.

Scouts can bring their pet (if they feel it is wise. . the parent often brings the pet to the end of the meeting) or a picture of their pet (works very well) to this event that will occur right after the troop meeting on 9/18 (~7:15 PM).

If the Scout has already shown his pet and has the merit badge complete, he may also contact me to make an appointment to finish the merit badge individually. Worksheets are available at:
www.meritbadge.com