MOUNTAIN SCOUTING
The monthly newsletter for the western side of the Rio Hondo District.
Scouting started in Eastern New Mexico in the urban areas of Roswell but for adventure those early scouts and scouters headed west to the Capitan and Sacramento mountains. This "Mountain Scouting" tradition continues to this day on the Lincoln County side of the Conquistador Council's Rio Hondo District in the highland communities of the Hondo Valley, Capitan, Ruidoso, Mescalero and Carrizozo.
OCTOBER ROUNDTABLE
The October Roundtable, for Pack, Troop and Crew leaders will be held at the LDS Church, across from the Post Office and next to the Police Station, at 1091 Mechem Drive in Ruidoso on Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will feature an opening ceremony, announcements, separate programming and theme-oriented help for Cubbers, Scouters and Venturing Advisors, a joint activity and a closing ceremony. Cisco Knox and Kevin Flusche of Pack 59 will provide the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Salina Sabo of Pack 107 will teach us a game and Dana Lenzo of Pack 59 will have a song for us to teach our boys. ADC Jack Shuster will have a short presentation on Public Relations for your unit and District Training Chair Mike Hunter will talk about training.. All adult leaders, parents and other interested adults are welcome so spread the word.
Roundtables are held on the third Tuesday of each month in the mountain communities of the Rio Hondo District.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Mike Hunter, the Training Chairman for the Rio Hondo District will be at our October Mountain Scouting Roundtable! This is your chance to meet with Mike and discuss what training your leaders, your committee and your active parents both need and would like to have. We could even begin plans for an all-day Outdoor Leader Skills course in our area that would include Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) for Cubbers and Troop Leadership Training for Scouters.
BALOO TRAINING IN CLOVIS
On Saturday, October 24, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, in Clovis, Mike Hunter and his Training Team will host a BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) course. This training is required for any adult leader who is planning a Pack campout, and it is recommended that two adults per pack complete BALOO. This is an adult-only activity. The cost is $15. Deadline to register is October 16th. No registrations will be accepted after that date. Registration is limited to the first 20 participants, and will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.
MOUNTAIN SCOUTING SHOOTING SPORTS DAY
Mountain Scouting Shooting Sports Day has been set for Saturday, November 14 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Sonterra Fire Station on Airport Road in Alto. Cubs, Scouts and Venturers can try their hand at shooting BB guns and at archery. This is a District activity chaired by Rick Hall and will utilize the Council’s BB guns and archery equipment. This will be a great recruiting tool for your unit. Your boys can invite all their friends to participate. Boy Scouts and Venturers can help teach the Cubs. Hot dogs and drinks will be provided for lunch. Please share your ideas with Rick Hall at the Roundtable.
TRADING POST
District Director Anthony Escobar would be happy to bring what you need to the Mountain Scouting Roundtable in October. Unfortunately, Anthony can’t read minds. Please contact him with what you need and Anthony will be happy to set up a Trading Post at the Roundtable.
The Conquistador Council operates a Scout Shop as part of the council service to members, leaders and families. The Scout Shop is located in the S.P. Yates Service Center at 2603 N. Aspen Avenue in Roswell. They have a large inventory on uniforms, books, emblems and program supplies for Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Venturing programs. The service center is easily accessible from US highway 285 (Main St., Roswell) and from the truck relief route (turn on Country Club Road from either route). Contact the service center at 575-622-3461 to place orders.
POPCORN SALE UPDATE
A Cub Scout from Rio Hondo District reached $1,800 in popcorn sales his first weekend. “I’m going to be the top salesman and beat that Cub Scout from Lovington,” he told everyone. A Cub Scout from Ruidoso sold $800, earned his “marshmallow blaster,” and said that he would be the top salesman this year. A new Cubmaster in El Llano Grande said “OUR PACK will be the top sales pack in the council, and we’re going to beat that Lovington pack.” Lovington Pack 89, top sellers last year, said that they would keep the title. We don’t know who will be the top sales unit yet, but we can forecast that with these leaders and their goals, that they will have a remarkable Cub Scout program in the future, with a lot of parent support, because the program will be funded by the popcorn sales and not out of the parents’ pockets. Remember to place your order on time. And present the marshmallow blasters as quickly as possible.
INVITE NEW MEMBERS AND LEADERS
“Scouting is a game,” said Baden Powell.
The score is kept by counting the number of new members and leaders who are registered into your pack, troop, crew, or post. Scouting is a membership organization and is kept vibrant through new leadership and youth.
The Mountain Scouting communities of the Rio Hondo District have a fall membership growth goal. If each pack adds 15 new Cub Scouts, each troop adds 5 new Boy Scouts, and each Crew adds 3 new Venturers, we will achieve the goal. But that’s just a number measurement.
A more important goal is that each pack organizes a Tiger Cub den that delivers a quality experience, and adds new Wolf, Bear, and Webelos members, and that den leaders, and other pack leaders, are trained.
A more important goal is that each troop has added a new Scout patrol from last spring’s Webelos crossover and that Boy Scouts are inviting their friends to join every week (Add A Scout A Month). It is critical that patrol leaders, and new troop leaders, are trained this fall.
A more important goal is that Venturers are so excited about their program that they are inviting friends to join. Plans are underway for a co-ed Venturing Crew in the Ruidoso area. Troop leaders are organizing Venture Patrols to keep their older youth active in a Scout program.
Most important is inviting every boy to join. There are more than a few elementary schools in our Mountain Scouting communities and few have a Cub Scout pack available to join. A major goal this fall is that boys in every school will be invited to join the nearest Cub Scout pack and that sets the stage for organizing new packs.
Keep these numbers in mind: 15 new Cub Scouts, 5 new Boy Scouts, 3 new Venturers. A new Tiger Cub den!
And trained leadership.
You are making a difference.
VENTURING CREWS BEING ORGANIZED
It looks like its all done but the paperwork, according to the organizing committee at the LDS Church in Ruidoso.. They’re about to launch TWO new Venturing Crews! That’s right, two. One for high school age young men and one for young women and both will provide high adventure activities. One of the best things about Venturing is that the young people plan the program and manage it. The adults act as advisors. We can’t wait to welcome the new Venturers on board and to have them bring more high adventure to Scouting in our mountain communities.
“YUKON DAYS”
“There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold…”
Plans are underway for a Winter Mountain Scouting Camporee at Camp Wehinahpay. Tentative dates are January 22-24. Yukon Days could include tracking, igloo building, cross-country skiing and wherever Boy Scouts’ and Venturers’ imaginations lead us. Consider a Mountain Man experience. Think about a one day winter adventure for Cubs and Webelos, too. Let’s discuss it at Roundtable. Contact ADC Jack Shuster with ideas, too.
COUNCIL CENTENNIAL CAMPORALL
April 9-10-11 is set for the next Camporall (a council-wide Camporee) at New Mexico Military Institute. Initial thoughts for program include: For Boy Scouts– field games, swimming, bowling, marksmanship, and a merit badge midway; For Cub Scouts– a “belt loop extravaganza,” field games, swimming, and a pinewood derby; For Venturers/ Explorers- similar activities. Scouters and others are needed to help make this happen (especially the field games and the merit badge midway). If you want to help, or can arrange for other volunteers, please talk with Anthony Escobar at the Roundtable. Let’s make this the highlight BSA Centennial event of the year!
THREE MONTH PLANNING CALENDAR
October 1 District Roundtable (Roswell)
October 3 Scout Shop open in Roswell 9am to 1pm
October 9-11 OA Fall Fellowship and Wehinahpay Scouters Work Party
October 16 Registration deadline for October 24 BALOO in Clovis
October 16-17 Ruidoso Pack 59 Family Campout at Cedar Creek
October 19 Ruidoso Pack 59 Pack meeting - Awards night
October 20 Mountain Scouting Roundtable
6:30 PM at the LDS Church on Mechem Drive in Ruidoso
October 24 Cub Scout Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) in Clovis
October 30 Deadline for Summer Camp registration discount
November 5 District Roundtable (Roswell)
November 7 Scout Shop open in Roswell 9am to 1pm
November 11 Centennial Quality Unit applications due at the Council Office
November 17 Mountain Scouting Roundtable
6:30 PM at the LDS Church on Mechem Drive in Ruidoso
November 14 Mountain Scouting Shooting Sports Day 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Sonterra Fire Station on Airport Road in Alto
November 21 Conquistador Council Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner (Roswell)
December 3 District Roundtable (Roswell)
December 5 Ruidoso Pack 59 Pinewood Derby
December 5 Scout Shop open in Roswell 9am to 1pm
December 15 Mountain Scouting Roundtable
6:30 PM at the LDS Church on Mechem Drive in Ruidoso
January 22-24 Tentative “Yukon Days” Mountain Scouting Winter Camporee
March 6 University of WOW, LDS Church, Roswell
April 9-11 Centennial Camporall, Roswell
NEWSLETTER UPDATES
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