Troop 1 | Troops of Saint George

01/25/19 to 01/27/19 - Camp: Chicken Harvesting & Processing at the Restoration Homestead
2019-01-25 16:00 - 2019-01-27 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Restoration Homestead, 10032 County Road Southeast 4200, Kerens, TX, 75144, United States
The long range forecast shows temps from the 30-s at nite to mid 50’s during the day with 10-20% chance of rain. That sunday is supposed to be sunny. We shall see. We will need to bring our own wood, so if you have some, let me know.

First: the deer hunting did not materialize this year: we need to secure a place earlier and during hunting season. I have access to a raw land place near RockSpring in Edwards County, but that is 7 hours from here (one way). A closer place would be better. For this camp, we will, instead, be going back to Restoration Homestead (10032 SE County Rd. 4200 Kerens TX, 75144, map location here:https://goo.gl/maps/EqKm8DiitcT2). While we won’t be harvesting and processing deer, we will be harvesting and processing chickens. This is a neat place and they have hosted us before. The last time we were there, they killed a pig for us, allowed us to gather eggs, taught the boys how to forge and print, and we fished.
In the alternative to deer hunting, we will focus on two main tracks this camp: harvesting chickens (literally from cluck to tin foil baked chicken, chicken tortilla soup, and fresh baked no knead bread). While all boys will observe actual dispatching, cleaning, and preparing for cooking at least 1 bird, not all will have to actually do the dirty deeds. We will need about 4-7 boys total to do all of the chicken processing, vegetable chopping, etc, so be thinking if your son would be one to do this. All boys, however, will also help prepare the harvesting process by 1) helping to lash together an A-frame device from which to dangle chickens while being dispatched, 2) build a fire and prepare the scald pot, and 3) all boys will aid in making the no knead bread. Mixing the bread will begin Friday night, the cooking of it will occur Saturday in the brick oven. As to the lashing of the A-frame. All boys will do this , perhaps working in small groups of 3 or 4 boys each, and the best A frame built will be used in the chicken harvesting, so all will actually lash together a couple of tripods and cross members.
Those boys not actually helping to dispatch and prepare the chickens will go on a five mile backpack/hike. The goal here is to have each boy prepare and pack a pack, then go on a five mile hike carrying that pack. The hike will begin and end at the camp area. This will help as we begin to integrate backpacking into our ordinary activities, at least in part. If you like, you may also ‘pack it in’ and live out of your backpack this weekend if you like as well.
Whether the boys harvest chickens or go on a 5 mile hike, we need to work on the Apologetics AC. To make this happen, I would like to get each of you Dads to look thru the AC and be prepared to teach the boys some aspect of the course. This teaching will be done during the hike/harvesting by taking maybe 30-45 minutes out of the activity, or perhaps have two 20-minute sessions and study two aspects of the course. The goal here is to actually teach the boys some of this material, as we all know how important these skills are for our boys. The AC can be found by downloading the Field Guide from the TSG main web page here: https://troopsofsaintgeorge.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018-09-21-TSG-Officers-Manual-2018-Ed.pdf
In addition, I am asking for songs that we can sing. IF you know of a good campfire related or hiking related song that we can all learn, I want us to do that during the morning session of hiking and harvesting as well. Yes, I am open for suggestions. And, yes, we will need to make copies enough for everyone to learn from. We should be able to all sing the selected song(s) at the campfire Saturday evening without resorting to the song sheet.
Also, note that we will be taking an hour Sunday morning to go over advancement status, so get a hold of a field manual and start seeing where you and your boy(s) are in this regard.
While we almost have the new payment system up and running, it may not be in time for this camp. Therefore, we will have ordinary registration for this camp starting this weekend, January 19. I will send out a notice that registration is open probably Saturday night. Please register No Later Than Monday evening, January 21 so we can make proper food purchases, etc.

I need from you two things: 1) which aspect of the AC or lashing effort you would like to address for the boys, and 2) which of your boys would would like to take part in the actual dispatching and preparation of the chickens.
Thank you. God bless.

Sat. 01/19/19 - Day Event: North Texas March for Life
2019-01-19 | TX
NOTE: Below is the original message. Since its publication, the MD buses have been filled to capacity.

Join us in your Class A’s at Mater Dei for the Mass at 9:30 Saturday
the 19th for the March for Life. Peter and I (Max will be in DC for
the national event) will attend the Mater Dei Mass at 9:30 (as opposed
to the Mass to be held at the Cathedral immediately prior to the
March) then ride the bus sponsored by Mater Dei both to and from the
March for Life Downtown Dallas. Charles, if you are coming to this
event, can you bring the TSG 1 banner from the trailer, and if you are
not coming, let me know so that I can get the flag from you earlier.

There is no cost for this event, but do let me know if you plan to attend.

If you want to ride the bus sponsored by Mater Dei, promptly sign up
via the Mater Dei electronic signup log. There is no cost to ride the
bus (an offering will be taken up to help defray the cost). They have
3 buses reserved, but they will drop one of the reservations unless
they get sufficient ridership to make it worthwhile. Not having to
find a parking space downtown is definitely worthwhile in and of
itself!

Schedule for Saturday, January 19 March for Life

9:30 Last Mass at Mater Dei before the march. Feel
free to bring and eat a sack lunch before the
buses depart. The parish hall will be open for
this. (No food or drink on the bus.)

11:45 Buses depart from Mater Dei

12:30 March starts at the Cathedral and ends at the
Earl Cabell Federal Courthouse.

4:00 Buses re-load at the Cathedral and return to
Mater Dei

Sat. 12/15/18 Advent Retreat Morning with TSG33
2018-12-15 07:30 - 12:00 | St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 1897 W Main St., Lewisville, TX, 75067, United States
Troop 33 led by Captain Koch formerly of our troop has invited anyone
of our troop to join them for an Advent Retreat on Saturday, December
15 at Saint Phillips Catholic church in Lewisville. If you wish to
join them, please let Captain Koch know as soon as possible (troop33ofsaintgeorge@gmail.com) so that he can have the right amount of breakfast and supplies on hand. I have
another commitment that morning, so Peter, Max, and I will be unable
to attend on Dec 15.

The cost will be minimal (probably between $3 and $5) and will be used
to defray the cost of the breakfast and to offer the priest/clergy a
bit of a stipend for offering the morning of reflection. There will be a donation box for this.

Also, I heard yesterday from our own Fr. McDonnell and our own
“Epiphanytide” day of recollection will be held on Feb 16 (Saturday)
from 9:30-2:30. Fr. McDonnell will send and I will forward more
details on our own day of reflection as soon as I receive them.

Where: St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church (Lewisville)
Date: December 15th
Time: 7:30am-12noon
Agenda: Continental Breakfast, Prayer, Speaker ( 2 talks), Examine,
Adoration, Confession, Mass
After: Dutch group lunch for those who want to go out of campus

11/30/18 to 12/02/18 - Camp: "Contio" with TSG5/31/33/77/1107 at TSG1 H.Q. - CAMPCRAFT
2018-11-30 16:00 - 2018-12-02 10:00 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
Typical camp schedule and fee.

SEE CAMP DETAILS & SCHEDULE HERE: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lovh00t498wjp3s/Contio%20Campcraft%20Nov%2030%20thru%20Dec%202%202018%20TSG%20Campout.pdf?dl=0

Our upcoming assembly of TSG Troops or ‘Contio’ will focus on campcraft and is a mere 9 days from today -Nov 30 thru Dec 2. It will be held at our HQ camp and we will have Troops 5, 31, 33 and 77 and 1170 (from waco) in attendance. We expect about 80-100 folks total.

Each troop will be responsible for its own food and some of it will be done over open fire by the boys. There are a few things we do need to coordinate. Let me know by Sunday, Nov:25 pm if you can help coordinate one or more of the following numbered things:

1) We need to lead the campfire on Friday and Saturday nites-
2) We need to lead the morning and evening prayer and flag ceremony on Saturday and Sunday morning prayer. Note that all troop captains have expressed interest in learning to to this better, so who ever wishes to coordinate this might be ready to have boys from all the troops helping out.
3) We need to make sure that we are sufficiently prepared for the Mass- Fr. McDonnell will be offering the rite of Penance and the Sacrifice of the Mass. We do need some help in coordinating servers for this as other troops may wish to assist in this regard- Scott can you do this?
4) Can someone join me in arriving early friday afternoon ( I intend to arrive by 2:30 at the latest) and assist organizing fire rings for the friday nite campfire,
5) Can someone be in charge of making sure that the saturday nite campfire is ready too?

As you can see from the schedule, the various troops will be putting on one or two ‘campcraft’ sessions concurrently on saturday morning. this means that no one will be able to attend all of them, but everyone will be able to attend at least 3 of them. Each session will run about 45 minutes, and allow 15 minutes of transition between sessions. We are responsible for the’ Knots you need to Know’ session and the ‘Gear you need and how to Pack it.” My 16 yo son Max will lead the Gear group, and I can lead the Knots group but both of us can use some assistance. If you know about these things, can you help? Let me know.

Also, we are going to have a human foosball tournament on Saturday afternoon, and someone good at setting up a tournament needs to run this, otherwise we will have bonafide chaos and not too many will get to play. The games will necessarily be short. I will also bring a long, large rope and we can use for the boys to have a tug-of-war with between foosball sessions. Does anyone have some horseshoes or similar games that they can set up for the boys to play that afternoon?

6) We will need to have some skits or some activities to do for the Saturday nite campfire that will include the entire group. Any volunteers? Is there a Dad or two that can lead a good Story or Spiritual Reflection for part of the campfire? Likewise, can one of your boys sing a song or do some type entertainment for the event?

7) While we will do the food shopping as normal, this camp we wish to focus on getting your kids (and you) the chance to build campcrafts skills. One of those ways is to give all the chance to cook their own food. So, as normal, friday nite meal is on your own, but saturday breakfast will be something like ‘eggs and bacon in a paper bag’ https://youtu.be/sUhmhVanP_o and for saturday nite, something like what we used to call a ‘bum supper’ now known as a ‘tin foil supper’ https://youtu.be/S0V43G_qYcI. If you know of a great type of meal, let us know so that we can get the raw materials for such a meal and have them ready to prepare for this campout. For such meals, we will prepare the raw ingredients, but the goal is to have each boy prepare and cook his own. That means that you might see about getting some gloves and a small shovel or tongs for your use in tending the meals while in the fire since so many will be doing this.

8) Fire Tender: As you can see, we are really going to be relying on open fires a lot this campout and I would like to get one or two of the Dads to make sure that we have great beds of coals in adequate quantities for each meal so that the fire is ready and able to do the job when the meal/campfire time comes.

Finally, this will be the only event we have in December as there are insufficient priests to conduct our Day of Reflection during advent. However, Fr. McDonnell will be leading us in a Christmas season day of reflection at Mater Dei, but it won’t be until January.

Sat. 11/10/18 Unite for Troops Veterans' Day Event at Porter's Army Navy
2018-11-10 08:00 - 17:00 | Porter’s Army Navy, 600 E. Irving Blvd., Irving, TX, United States
Please sign up or RSVP for this free event.
Folks should arrive by 8 to help set up and man the two booths, bringing their class As with them. We will do 2 practice runs for for the flag retirement ceremony that will be led by Captain O’ Flaherty over the course of the day and will do the retirement ceremony starting at 2:30. We will stay till 4 then cleanup so should be done by 4:30 to 5.
Complete Class As are mandatory for the Flags Retirement ceremony itself, and cadets must have been present for at least one of the practices.

10/19/18 to 10/21/18: Camp - Shooting competition with TSG31&33 at TSG31 HQ in Olney
2018-10-19 16:00 - 2018-10-21 10:00 | TSG31 HQ, 1835 True Rd., Olney, TX, 76374, United States
Regular camp schedule and fee. Hoping to have the auto-payment set up before next camp.
Those arriving should enter thru the gate, and leave the gate the way the found it as there are cattle on the property.

There will be a night hike and a day hike, so bring hiking gear (boots, please) and canteen, for sure! There will be Mass and Confessions Saturday afternoon/evening.

Everyone will be able to participate in the shootout as there will be adequate supplies so that those without their own need not worry about being able to participate. Those with weapons may bring them and their own supplies as well. There is pond fishing available, so bring fishing gear if one wishes to fish.

Weather won’t affect the trip as it is considerably dryer that far to the west.

We will also be working on elements of the flag ceremony in preparation for the Saturday, November 10th Veterans Day activities all of the troops will be engaged in at Porter’s Army/Navy store in Irving. In addition, we will also be working on elements of the cooking achievement course during this camp. So, make sure all review those items (flag ceremonies and cooking achievement requirements) prior to arriving at camp and make sure you are ready to work on some elements of those that you need..

Captain O’Flaherty tells me that he will send out a detailed agenda Sunday evening, and I will email that to all the members directly so that they have it.

DIRECTIONS(!):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y3f7qyja8jl9xlt/Actual%20spot%20vs.%20address.docx?dl=0
To see picks of the property, click on the links below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l47lc0ljfgceu79/1835%20True%20RD%20image.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/69xugluqaf0lrxl/IMG_2671%20%281%29.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ab7wg4o27ifm8et/roadpond5.14.jpg?dl=0

Sat. 09/29/18 Orienteering Event
2018-09-29 07:00 - 12:00 | TX
Free event – Class A uniforms since it is a public event

No registration/RSVP required, but do call/text Captain Toups to coordinate at 972-375-1934

The North Texas Orienteering Association is holding an event this Saturday called a ‘Score O” for National Orienteering Day, which is a big, fun event, and they expect to have up to 300 different folks do orienteering, some beginners, others highly skilled, but all having fun on various courses.

Here is the link to the schedule: http://ntoa.com/events/20180929gateway/tab_schedule.htm

If we participate, we can do so as a Group (The Troops of Saint George) where we can learn to do orienteering and go on a short fun beginners course as a troop. This will take place from 9 am to 1 pm at Gateway Park in Fort Worth and the price is $14 for the entire troop. I will cover that cost, so it is no cost to the families that want to participate. They just have to show up on time. So,here is what I propose:

This Saturday, feast of the Arch Angels, Sept 29:

7:00 am Mass: The Carmel of the Infant of Prague and Saint Joseph at 600 Flowers Ave, Dallas, TX 75211 (optional, but recommended!) then travel to Gateway Park.

9:00: Meet at Gateway Park in Fort Worth. Map https://goo.gl/maps/ERZykAkBh422
9:15: Beginners Training in Orienteering.

10;00 Orienteering ‘Score O’ begins.
Noon: Awards of competition for orienteering Score O

Sat. 08/25/18: Yearly Planning Meeting/Pool Party
2018-08-25 15:00 - 20:00 | Porters’ residence, 1425 Broadmoor Lane, Irving, TX, United States
Please RSVP so we can plan for food accordingly:

Steve and Cindy Porter (from Porter’s Army Navy), big fans and strong supporters of TSG, have generously insisted that the troop uses there residence once again for our planning meeting/pool party. It is time to plan for next year goals and activities, and present major changes and a new direction.
All troop members are invited and encouraged to come to the Porters’ residence from 1500 to 2000 at:
1425 Broadmoor Lane
Irving, TX
Even if you cannot stay long, please come to the planning meeting. We will do that first, hopefully close to 1530 for an hour or so, so we can get as many people involved as possible.
Bring campouts ideas and suggestions! Don’t assume others will! Remember the campsite and camp ideal requirements:

within approximately 1hr of Irving
1 central activity for the cadets, long enough to occupy them for at least half a day
firewood available, or built-in time to collect it
free venue if possible

This is your troop, and your input is required. It would also be a good time to bring up any general suggestions or issues anyone might have.

The pool has a slide, diving board, and there is a concrete area with basketball hoop. The dads and officers will be able to meet either on the outside patio or inside. The troop will provide/handle dinner on the grill. Since our policy specifically prohibits alcohol on campouts, and this is designed to be a more relaxed atmosphere where safety is not such an issue, adults are authorized to bring the beverage of their choice, while remembering that “…our adult leaders are gentlemen and know the sinfulness of drunkenness…” (Officers’ Manual) and that we have an example to set.
This event is free, but we will have a donation jar to help cover the cost of food.
Naturally, bring bathing suits!

Sat. 7/28/18 Day Event: Lake Lewisville Boating/Tubing/Splashing!
2018-07-28 08:30 - 13:00 | Silver Lake Marina, 2500 Fairway Dr., Silver Lake Marina, Grapevine, TX, 76051, United States
FREE event due to year-end financial surplus, but donations are always an option.
Here are the details for this very exciting day at the lake. It will be a early morning to try to beat the afternoon heat. We will have a 20 passengers double-decker pontoon boat (see attached pics) with tube, equipped with 200 HP engines, plenty to have fun with the tube! For 6 dads and 9 cadets, this will be a rare luxury compared to the harsher conditions we normally offer them!

The cadets (and dads!) are guaranteed some serious fun, and under the expert supervision of 1st Lt. Fusselman (who used to be a fishing guide), will learn about lake safety, boat operations, regulations, and who knows, might even get a little “stick time” (if allowed).

Food and drinks WILL NOT be provided. Bring whatever you need. Coolers are fine.

Meet at the Silver Lake Marina, 2500 Fairway Dr., Silver Lake Marina, Grapevine, TX 76051 at 0830 SHARP
Please wear your TSG1 t-shirts for easy identification, even if you change out of them later
If any of you has special tubes or water sports paraphernalia (inflatable canoes, inner tubes, skis, etc…), please feel free to bring them
We will have the pontoon from 0900 to 1300

I will not be able to make it (kills me!!!), so if you have any question, please contact 1st Lt. Fusselman at 214-592-5479. Please do not be late, as you would cost everyone lake time.

Have a great time!

Father Longua Farewell Celebration, Sat. 07/14/18
2018-07-14 15:30 - 21:00 | Mater Dei, 2030 TX-356, Irving, TX, 75060, United States
No TSG1 registration/RSVP required. See below for MD-specific registration.

As some of you already know, our dear chaplain will be leaving us for a new assignment soon, likely mid-August. We all owe him more than most will know. His counsel has been priceless, his support relentless, and he believed in our organization from the start and showed it in his support. No matter how precious his time, he has never failed in doing his very best to spare himself or one of his much needed priests for any of our events and for our beautiful camps Masses and Confessions,

The very least we can do is to be there for his farewell celebration and show him how much we appreciate him. And it looks like it will be a lot of fun too!

Adrian Montes, the Mater Dei Parish Life Coordinator is very excited about TSG1 being part of the event. Please let us show up in force, and IN THE MOST COMPLETE CLASS A POSSIBLE, at least for a group picture with Father, even if you have to change from B to A for that purpose .

At some point during the evening, we will present Father Longua with a “gratitude plaque” (see attached picture) with the following inscription on the back:

To Father Longua
TSG1 First Chaplain
In Appreciation for your Dedication
and Service to the Troop
The only other such plaque in existence was given to Cardinal Burke by TSG National (he should be made aware of that!;) ).
As our Liturgy Lt., I would like Lt. Pinkerton to present this plaque to him, since I will unfortunately be in NC on that day.

1st Lt. Fusselman and Brad Toups will be in charge of the event. Adrian Montes would like for TSG1 help with anything we can from set up to take down, wherever we can help. He is also specifically counting on us to run and supervise the Street Hockey activity. MD has some equipment, but he is asking for people to bring hockey sticks and wiffle balls, so please do, if you have any.

Please use this link to individually register: https://materdeiparish.com/goodbyefather/
Under “Please Volunteer to Help the Event”, please select all you can do, and under “Other”, type “TSG1”.
Ideally, Adrian would like us there starting at 1530.

Thank you for your participation.

Sat. 6/30/18 Day Event: Canoeing Trip on the Brazos
2018-06-30 08:00 - 17:00 | Rochelle’s Canoe Rentals, 7024 NORTH FM ROAD #4 , Graford, TX, 76449, United States
RSVP DEADLINE IS MONDAY THE 25th AT 1600.
Each canoe has 2 seats but can accommodate for an additional small child to sit at the bottom in the middle. We might split people and take turns to make it efficient, but we definitely need a head count.
FREE EVENT! BRING YOUR OWN FOOD/SNACKS/WATER!
We decided to give people a break from the summer heat and make this a day event. It will make for a longer day, but you will be cool at night.
MEET AT 0800 SHARP AT ROCHELLE’S. It is about 2 hrs drive from Irving. Test your GPS ahead of time. Not all apps give you the right directions or can even find the spot. You can find detailed directions on their website below.
Here is there website: http://www.rochellescanoeandkayakrental.com/
Our trek will be the “The One Day Trip (10 miles)”: http://www.rochellescanoeandkayakrental.com/trips/
Uniforms not required unless you want to down a Class B t-shirt. There will be no Mass.
We will go on a 9.5 miles canoeing trek down the Brazos Saturday. It is the same trek we made 2 years ago. The river should make it much easier though. It has a 200 CFS (cubic ft/sec) flow, which I was told would be an 8 on a 1 to 10 “awesome” scale! This should make for about 5 to 5-1/2 hrs of canoeing depending on breaks and pace.
Feel free to camp as individuals. Camping will NOT be part of this TSG1 event. It is only $10/car/night to camp and is 1st come – 1st serve for the spots. Please contact Rochelle if interested. Let me know if you plan on doing so, so I can let others know. The farthest campsite down the dirt road is right next to a river access point, great for fishing, swimming, and it has a swing rope on a tree over the water. That was a huge hit last time. Definitely the best spot. Each campsite has a small grill.
Bring swimming clothes and fishing gear! If you plan on fishing or trolling, remember that a license is required for anyone over 16 years old. We can expect the following fish:
Largemouth and smallmouth bass
Trout (stocked)
Blue and flathead catfish
Gar (occasionally)
Buffalo carp
White bass and crappie
REMEMBER THAT you are responsible for your own food and water. We will all eat lunch together, but TSG1 is not bringing any supplies.
Please do not delay in registering since we must reserve canoes ahead of time.
RSVP DEADLINE IS MONDAY THE 25TH AT 1600.
Thank you.

Sat. 06/09/18: Volunteering Day at the Thien Tam Benedictine Monastery Blessed Sacrament Days
2018-06-09 09:30 - 17:00 | Thien Tam Benedictine Monastery, 13055 Co Rd 4271, Kerens, TX, 75144, United States
Free event. Class B uniforms.

Our yearly service day at the monastery. For those who are not familiar with Thien Tam, they have been very supportive of us and host our yearly Advent Retreat. They hosted our Family Camp last March. TSG31 often camps on their premises. They joined us last year and were planning on helping again this year.

Father Dominique is expecting us. Their event is HUGE! It goes from Thursday evening to Sunday night. We will be helping all day Saturday. I told him we will arrive at 0930 and stay as long as we are needed. He encourages us to stay for their night procession (ending at 2200), which is a sight to behold. They again offered to share their meals with us. If you are a fan of traditional Vietnamese food, it will be a delight! He recommended that we came in uniforms so people would know who we are. They can use us for trash, parking assistance, cleaning, serving meals, and anything else we can be of help with. They typically host around 3,000 people for the event!!! It is quite impressive.

This would be an incredible experience, great charitable work, and a wonderful way to express our gratitude to the monks for their hospitality. With such large numbers, this is definitely an opportunity for us to earn our “apostolate” title. Who knows, we could inspire someone to start a Vietnamese TSG troop! We made many great contacts in the previous years. In between others, this is how we met Bill Mureiko of the Restoration Homestead and I was invited to sit and visit with their guest of honor, visiting Bishop Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan while he was having lunch. He shared that he was very impressed with us, encouraged our apostolate and assured us of his prayers.

It is a long day of hard, hot, sticky, messy work. But the appreciation and the admiration our organization receives for it are priceless. I truly believe just seeing the boys serve so hard brings a additional ray of sunshine to the attendees. The responses are always strong and touching. We seem to give people hope that not all of the next generation is lost. Our impact is big there, and the prayers and resulting graces we receive are without a doubt numerous.

Here is the monastery page: https://www.thientamosb.org/welcome

06/02/18 Work Day at HQ
2018-06-02 08:30 - 14:00 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
Our camp HQ needs a little bit of TLC. It is of course a free event. We would like to start as early as possible to beat the heat of the day. We will take breaks to enjoy our Human Foosball. If you couldn’t make last camp, come to try it out. It is a blast!
Let’s be there at 0830, please.
Work day at HQ will consist of the following:

Weedwacking
Taking down the “widow maker” dead tree looming over our kitchen area
Clearing the entrance into the field, which vegetation is overtaking
Spraying multiple areas for poison ivy
Spraying a couple of area for fire ants
Possibly clearing a path from the pipeline clearing to the pond (the dam has been cleared of all vegetation by the city). This would be a service to both the owner and us.

This might only take a few hours with a bunch of people, or most of the day if we have few members. Please consider helping. This is OUR campsite, and we all benefit from it, so all should help maintaining it if able. The cadets should be made to understand this and encouraged to participate.
What you would need to bring:

Weedwacker
Loopers
Chainsaw
Pole saw
Your own lunch(es)
Your own water
Hats
Sunscreen
Work gloves

Please RSVP so I know how many we can count on. Also, please let me know what tool(s) you will bring.
The landowner is OK with people camping that weekend, but it will NOT be a TSG1-sponsored event. Those itching to camp simply have access to the property. If you intend to do so, please let me know so I can let the landowner know.

04/27/18 to 04/29/18: Camp - Human foosball at camp HQ
2018-04-27 16:00 - 2018-04-29 10:00 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
Typical camp schedule and cost.
I will send out detailed schedule and menu later. The main activity will be building a human foosball court and of course, playing foosball in it.
It will be a blast! You can get an idea of what it is here: http://fingerpursuits.com/human-foosball
Brad and Peter Toups volunteered to plan thew whole building process, but please be on the lookout for emails requesting help with material or need for tools for the build. The cadets will be building the court under dads supervision.

Sun. 04/22/18: St. George Feast Day Celebration at Mater Dei
2018-04-21 - 2018-04-22 | Mater Dei, 2030 TX-356, Irving, TX, 75060, United States
St. George Feast Day is on the 23rd, but that will fall on a Monday, so we will celebrate it early.
Cake will be served by dads and cadets at the social following the 0900 Mass. That will also be a way to celebrate our official Non-Parish-Based -Organization status with Mater Dei which, although it might sound contradictory, makes us an official parish organization. We recently secured the required insurance to officially operate as a troop within the psychical boundaries of the parish.
After the social, the troop will transfer its belongings from our old trailer to the recently acquired newer and much improved one.

03/23/18 to 03/25/18: Families Fishing Camp at the Benedictine Monastery of Thien Tam
2018-03-23 16:00 - 2018-03-25 22:00 | Thien Tam Benedictine Monastery, 13055 Co Rd 4271, Kerens, TX, 75144, United States
See the following description of the monastery and the location of our campsite:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dt72uk6l7vr9lya/Thien%20Tam%20Campsite.docx?dl=0
Fees back to the normal $15 with fees capping at 3 campers. Register and include a note letting me know how many will actually camp.
The main activity will be fishing on the Richland Chambers Reservoir, a few minutes drive away. Moms with little ones who might not want to fish can stay at the monastery, go for walks, or still bring bicycles and go biking on the grounds or on the nearby country roads.
FISHING LICENSE REQUIRED FOR ANYONE 17 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE
Benefits of Thien Tam:

The monks have two guests houses with 4 rooms in each house and 2 beds in each house. They are available this weekend. We just need to let them know how many are needed. There is no cost, but I am sure donations will be appreciated.
Running water
Showers
Sinks
Bathrooms
Basketball court
Playground for the little ones
Plenty of play area
Chapel for Mass if the weather turned or if too windy for outdoor Mass
Beautiful grounds for walks, meditation, reflection, with a chapel and a wing dedicated to Eucharistic Miracles
The wonderful hospitality of the monks who have hosted us before

What we need from you:

Please let me know ASAP if you need to reserve guest room as the monks will need to get it ready
Bring fishing gear
We will have a shield reception ceremony. I hope many have been working with their cadet(s) on this. Please make sure they are caught up on their requirements, that their shield has the velcro backing and that the shirt does as well. Review the ceremony (http://www.tsg1.org/cadets-badge-ceremony/), and let me know ASAP if you need a specific shield. It would be a great time to do it with the families present. Please let me know which cadet will receive his shield so I can be ready.
Skits. Each family or cadets of the family should have a short reading, recitation, poem, clever joke or skit for the Saturday campfire. Unless a father is supervising it, cadets will have to have their jokes/skits pre-approved by their respective lieutenants.

Let’s pray to St. Medard for good weather!

02/09/18 to 02/11/18 Camp - Rocketry at camp HQ
2018-02-09 16:00 - 2018-02-11 11:30 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
Typical cost and camp schedule, except that it will go to 1130 on Sunday.

Mr. Dave Schaefer will be our subject matter expert guest for this camp. Dave is a commercial pilot with extensive rocketry, drone, and RC experience. In between other things, he has appeared in many magazines and on the Discovery channel. He has worked with NASA on special projects, won the 2017 National Aeromodeling Championship (on the 1st try!), and is a post-graduate project manager at UTD, using drones for atmospheric measurements, just to name a few of his accomplishments.
This is not the kind of stuff we will get to see, but for those interested, to give you an idea of the kind of “from scratch” home-built projects Dave gets into:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HNnIGkQR5M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6V7OVKT3nw
Under his direction, we will have each boy build his own rocket with his dad Saturday afternoon, let it set and dry overnight, and launch it Sunday morning. We will plan on having the campsite cleaned by 0930 on Sunday, head to the field from where we will launch (the large wheat field on property), and everyone should be on their way home by 1130. For those who can not stay that long, you can always take our rocket home. Dave will tell you what you need and how to do it safely.
All the necessary materiel will be provided and rockets should be reusable.
Since the building of the rockets should only take a couple of hours, we will use Saturday morning to gather, split, and stack wood for the rest of the year. We will have the use of a gas wood splitter, which the cadets very much enjoyed operating last time we used it.
Dave will likely bring a couple of his “toys” for demo if we have some time to kill. This should be fun and a cool learning experience for the boys!
This activity will require good weather. If the weather does not cooperate, we will consider re-scheduling to the following week-end.

Sat. 01/20/18: North Texas March for Life with local troops
2018-01-20 | TX
Free event

No registration required

Class A uniforms. If you do not have one, try to at least wear a TSG t-shirt.

Family members are invited and encouraged to march with us.

I attached the announcement from Mater Dei, which says it all better than I would. Please read below.

I will be riding the bus. We will meet with other local troops at the beginning of the march. For those of you who will drive there, consider the option to drop off your group and go park at the courthouse. That will save your family members the walk back at the end. Captain O’Flaherty will do just that and offered to help shuttling people if needed.

We will have our banners and for those who will not already be in the cathedral for Mass, we will gather outside of the cathedral entrance on the bell tower side, and will hopefully be able to join in with the other troops as the procession exits.

Link to the march: https://www.prolifedallas.org/roe

Mater Dei Parish

We have a fantastic opportunity to speak up for the unborn. Please ensure that everyone in you know is aware of this beautiful and timely event.
We have reserved 3 buses for transportation from Mater Dei to the March for Life.Buses will leave Mater Dei at 12 noon and return by 4pm, minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Please sign-up to ride the bus.
The dead line to Sign-up is Friday, Jan.12th by noon.

http://materdeiparish.com/busreservations
We will have a picnic lunch in the parish hall starting about 11am. You must eat before boarding the bus, snacks and water for small ones are your responsibility.
This is a pilgrimage and also a rosary procession to and from downtown.
Bring your rosaries, wear walking shoes. We will carry Mater Dei banners. Personally made signs are also welcome.
If anyone wishes to attend without joining us on the bus, you may be able to find us, because we will have our MATER DEI BANNERS. Don’t forget that you represent your parish and make known to others the existence of the traditional liturgy in Dallas. Be prepared to evangelize all those you meet on the value of the Tridentine Rite. We don’t often speak in Latin, but when we do, it is EXTRAORDINARY!
Buses will be cancelled unless we have the sign up this week. We are past the deadline for complete refund, but we will get a partial refund only, if all three buses are not used. As we gear up for the largest pro-life event in the state, the 15th Annual N TX March for Life, we are excited to announce a change in route that will bring exposure to the active, diverse North Texas pro-life organizations.
Your public witness is CRITICAL!
Most importantly, the March is happening the same day as the Dallas Women’s March. That’s right! The same march that decidedly excluded Pro-Life Women’s groups in their march on Washington.
With abortion advocates marching and bankrolling the Women’s March, it’s important that we show who really stands for and with #HER.
The North Texas March for Life has always been about empowering women to embrace life even in the midst of uncertainty. It is about community, family, charity and hope.
So make plans to join us for this year’s March, advertise the event at your church, among your friends and on your social media. See below for our event flier and parking information.
YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS OUT!
Here are some of our guest speakers to inspire you…
Most Reverend Edward Burns
Bishop of Dallas Diocese
Deborah McGregor CEO of CareNet Waco
Emcee Terri Schauf Respect Life Office of Ft. Worth
Route: From Guadalupe Cathedral (2215 Ross Ave) to lot outside the Federal Courthouse (1100 Jackson St)

Sent by Secretary – Mater Dei Parish

Sat. 12/16/17: Spiritual Retreat at Mater Dei
2017-12-16 08:00 - 16:00 | Mater Dei, 2030 TX-356, Irving, TX, 75060, United States
Coming home to our parish for our first Advent Spiritual Retreat at Mater Dei!
A great way to help fathers and sons put on their armors to be able to proudly welcome our Savior into this world this Christmas.
Free event. Class A uniforms.
The day will consist or a mix of worship (Confessions, Mass, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Exposition of the Holy Sacrament), conferences by our chaplain Father Longua, recreation, and helping our parish with Christmas preparations and decorations.
Meals will not be provided, so please either eat an early breakfast or bring something to snack on after Mass, and pack your own lunches.
Here is the tentative schedule, yet to be vetted by Father Longua:
Recollection Schedule 12-16-17

12/01/17 to 12/03/17: Camp with TSG5 & 77, Hosted by TSG77, Bonham, TX - Fishing and Capture-the-Flag Game
2017-12-01 16:00 - 2017-12-03 10:00 | Bonham State Park, 1363 State Park Road 24, Bonham, TX, 75418, United States
Regular camp schedule and cost.
Due to a limited amount of space and passes. and the planning required when expecting over 100 campers, EARLY RSVP REQUIRED. DO NOT DELAY! REGISTRATION WILL BE CLOSED THIS SUNDAY 11/26 AT 2000.
Camp hosted by Plano TSG77 (Captain Matt Marks), and with Keller TSG5 (Captain Andy Hightower).
All the info you need in in this great packet Captain Marks put together. Please read carefully, especially the check-in instructions, or you could really complicate things for TSG77:
TSG Troop 77 – Bonham State Park Campout Packet
Each family needs to bring 1 bundle of firewood. Thank you.

Sat. 11/11/17: Veterans’ Day Event – All Day + Flag Retirement Ceremony
2017-11-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Porter’s Army Navy, 600 E. Irving Blvd., Irving, TX, United States
Your yearly patriotic TSG1 event!
Free event. No registration required.
Freshly pressed Class A uniforms; mandatory for the Flags Retirement Ceremony.
0800 – 1700
Please make every possible effort to be there for at least the Flag Retirement Ceremony so we have a large enough Honor Guard to properly honor our veterans and our flag. Ceremony at 1430, be there at 1400 for practice.
We will be needed for several things:

I will bring a Bell 47 helicopter for display at 0730 and will depart at 1700. We will have to take turns guarding it the whole time. We will be selling raffle tickets for a ride on it from the Cavanaugh Flight Museum.
During the event, take turns manning a paintball tent. Setup and supplies provided by the event organizers.
Prepare flags to be disposed during the Flag Retirement Ceremony
Run the Flags Retirement Ceremony (part of the “patriotism” AC)
Throughout the day, help with the sorting of items and the care packages preparation (part of the “patriotism” AC)
Meet and greet veterans and active duty military members, and invite them to participate in the ceremony
Help with the clean-up
Anything else we might be needed for “on the spot”

HELP WITH THIS EVENT:
The whole point of this if not only to honor our Flag and veterans, but to prepare care packages to be sent to overseas active military personnel. Every penny raised will go towards the shipping costs. So, get your cadets to set collections boxes at schools, churches, local businesses (and dad’s business!), etc… Do not prepare your own shipping boxes as UniteForTroops has their process in place and can do it much more efficiently. It would only complicate shipping for them. All the needed items are listed on the flyer. For more info about the organization, visit: http://unitefortroops.com/

10/20/17 to 10/22/17: Obstacle Course Camp with TSG 31, 33 & 77 at Camp HQ
2017-10-20 16:00 - 2017-10-22 10:00 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
Typical camp schedule and cost.
We will be hosting TSG31 and 77 for this camp out. Soon-to-be TSG33 (Captain Koch) will be there co-camping with TSG1 as well. It should be a blast!
Since we might well exceed 100 members, please pay extra attention to the desired layout so you’ll know where to set your tents. Park tightly please, so there will be enough room for everyone. Remember that we may bring vehicles to offload, but they need to be relocated to the parking area.
Early registration since this one will require extra logistics and organization. Lt. Vidimos will put together an obstacles list and a map. We would like to assign obstacle construction (simple) and setup to specific families. It will spread the workload and help planning.
Overview of the property:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2y361ssk52dts2l/TSG1%20HQ%20labelled%20map.docx?dl=0
Detailed 10/20/17 camping plan:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i6z22fb7citogr2/Detailed%20Camp%20Site.doc?dl=0
BRING GLOVES (MARKED!) FOR THE OBSTACLE COURSE (to prevent ropes burns and splinters)
Please prepare a quality skit or story (to be approved by the cadet’s Lt.). No silliness, crudeness, or improvisation, please.

09/22/17 to 09/24/17: Camp - Large scale capture-the-flag game, fishing, hiking, kayaking, in Forestburg, TX
2017-09-22 16:00 - 2017-09-24 10:00 | Charles Zipper’s Family Place, 2453 Dye Mound Rd, Forestburg, TX, 76239-3154, United States
Regular camp schedule and fee.
There is a lot of firewood to dispose of over there and we are running low at HQ. If anyone has a trailer that we could use to load up on firewood, please bring it. Bring chainsaws as well, please.
1:30 drive from Irving
Location map inaccurate, please use the following and see the pictures below:
Coordinates: 33.597 N, 97.608 W (very exact on Google Earth)
Prepare well, cell service might be spotty over there. Follow the dirt road to the left of the house until you run (soflty please) into one of us.
Directions from Montague, TX:

From Lt. Hatfield: Based on what I see on the event page and Google Earth, it looks like its right at where Die Mound (with an i) turns into Netherly, just Northeast of the intersection of Netherly and Dye Mound (with a y). Interesting choice of street names.

Wed. 09/13/17 Candlelit Fatima Procession at Mater Dei
2017-09-13 19:30 - 20:30 | Mater Dei, 2030 TX-356, Irving, TX, 75060, United States
Wed, September 13, 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Class A uniforms – no registration required – meet by the grotto and stay together as a troop

100 years ago, Our Lady appeared to 3 shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. Today, thousands of pilgrims from around the world gather in Fatima, Portugal from May 13th to October 13 on every 13th of the month to process with Our Lady. Join us at Mater Dei to do the same. Please bring your Rosary and a candle and join us at the Grotto at 7:30pm for the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Candlelit Procession, talk, Benediction & enrollment in the Brown Scapular. Our Lady of Fatima, ora pro nobis.

Sun. 08/27/17: Day activity: Pool party/planning meeting
2017-08-27 15:00 - 20:00 | Porters’ residence, 1425 Broadmoor Lane, Irving, TX, United States
Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly:

Steve and Cindy Porter (from Porter’s Army Navy), big fans and strong supporters of TSG, have generously insisted that the troop uses there residence once again for our planning meeting/pool party. It is time to plan for next year goals and activities, and present major changes and a new direction.
All troop members are invited and encouraged to come to the Porters’ residence from 1500 to 2000 at:
1425 Broadmoor Lane
Irving, TX
Even if you cannot stay long, please come to the planning meeting. We will do that first, hopefully close to 1530 for an hour or so, so we can get as many people involved as possible.
Bring campouts ideas and suggestions! Don’t assume others will! Remember the campsite and camp ideal requirements:

within approximately 1hr of Irving
1 central activity for the cadets, long enough to occupy them for at least half a day
firewood available, or built-in time to collect it
free venue if possible

This is your troop, and your input is required. It would also be a good time to bring up any general suggestions or issues anyone might have.

The pool has a slide, diving board, and there is a concrete area with basketball hoop. The dads and officers will be able to meet either on the outside patio or inside. The troop will provide/handle dinner on the grill. Since our policy specifically prohibits alcohol on campouts, and this is designed to be a more relaxed atmosphere where safety is not such an issue, adults are authorized to bring the beverage of their choice, while remembering that “…our adult leaders are gentlemen and know the sinfulness of drunkenness…” (Officers’ Manual) and that we have an example to set.
This event is free, but we will have a donation jar to help cover the cost of food.
Naturally, bring bathing suits!

Sat. 07/29/17 to Sun. 07/30/17: Overnight Canoeing Trip
2017-07-29 08:30 - 2017-07-30 16:00 | Rochelle’s Canoe Rentals, 7024 NORTH FM ROAD #4 , Graford, TX, 76449, United States
A few of important points first:

The trailer will not be there. This is a “minimalist” camp where each family is responsible for all of their supplies and sustenance. Please read carefully the event schedule, especially the “gear” section below.
leadership TBD.
It is an option to camp at Rochelle’s Friday evening, but you would be on your own. They have a very nice campground with swing rope onto the river, fishing spots, etc…. $10 per car. Again, not sponsored, but I will be glad to let everyone know who will be spending the night so you can meet up. Contact Rochelle’s directly for reservations: http://www.rochellescanoeandkayakrental.com/
Weather and water levels look good, but stay on top of communications as things could change. The dam is releasing water daily and I was told the river was fine, with a lot of people canoeing. The levels will be checked one last time the day before.
There will be no Mass. It can be considered travel, and the obligation is not rigid in those cases.

Here is a description of things to expect:
Journey – From Rochelle’s downstream to pick up point is 10 mile. Probably about 7-8 hours total canoe time. Approximately halfway (maybe a little more) should be some sand bars sufficient for camping. Departure is 8:30 am Saturday morning. We don’t want to sweat it last last time, so this will basically be the same trek, but over 2 days, with plenty of free time to enjoy the water, swim, fish, rest alongside a bank, etc…
You will be provided with a sat phone and a Epi-Pen. Bring your own first-aid kit.

Potential Schedule:

Saturday

meet at 0830 at the Rochelle’s let-in location, just down from their office
0900 let in
12 pm – gather on water in canoes for Angelus if not at campsite/continue to campsite
12:30-1 pm lunch and set up camp
1-5 fish for dinner, swim, enjoy
3pm Divine Mercy Chaplet
6-8pm Dinner on own
8-9pm s’mores if you brought them and successfully make a fire
9pm rosary
10pm lights out

Sunday

7am rise
7:15 am Morning Prayers
7:30-8:30 Breakfast on own, pack up camps
8:30-10:30am explore, fish, enjoy
10:30am Canoe departure
12:00 stop for angelus and lunch
1pm continue to pick up point/back to Rochelle’s
Pick-up between 1499 and 1600. You can call for an earlier pick-up, but you would be responsible for the extra $20 pick-up fee.

Recommended supplies:

Water/Food

Water 1 gallon/person/day or combination bring/purify. No special equipment for purification except empty gallon jug (you already drank one), a pot and a flame to boil. Bringing powdered Gatorade is great if hot out and for flavoring purified water.
Food:

hope to catch dinner for Saturday night
packaged dishes that require hot water like ramen, Knorr pastas or rice, oatmeal, foil packaged meats, MRE’s or prepakaged meals from Cabelas, BassPro, REI or walmart. Nutritional bars/nuts for snacks, oil, seasonings

Gear:

Waterproof bag for your gear – Awesome Large Dry Bag on Amazon at great price
SUNSCREEN, bug repellent
Shelter (luxury: 2-3 man tent or primitive: tarp) large could be problematic – camping on sand bars
Ground cloth/tarp
ultra-light sleeping bag or blanket (will be hot)
Cordage 25-50ft
mess kit (eating and cooking)
Fire starting materials (lighter,matches)
Camp Stove (small, propane) I have a couple
Flashlight (backup batteries)
Toiletries (w/biodegradable soaps) every store with gear has camp soap
Knife and rosary – DUH!
Hat
Saw (several will have these)
trash bags
extra clothes – GONNA GET WET!
If you bring cooler be sure it locks and tied-in case canoe capsizes
Fishing gear / pole or primitive
The troop will bring and Epi-Pen and a basic 1st aid kit
THINK BAGS TO KEEP STUFF DRY, ZIPLOCK BAGS, A WAY TO ATTACH EVERYTHING TO YOUR CANOE, AND DRINKING WATER! Given the amount of stuff you will have to take with you, 2 per canoe should probably be the max. We will spread people out to make it work.

Check out Rochelle’s checklist: http://www.rochellescanoeandkayakrental.com/checklist
Fees:

Canoe Rental Overnight = $50.00/canoe + $20.00 (covered by troop) – refundable deposit/canoe
Camping Friday Night = $10/car for those who want to camp either Fri. or Sun.

Satellite Phone rental $80 + calls @ $1.75/min (troop will have one but feel free to rent your own)

Fri. 05/19/17 to Sun. 05/21/17: Camp - Restoration Homestead, Kerens, TX - Part Deux!
2017-05-19 16:00 - 2017-05-21 10:30 | Restoration Homestead, 10032 County Road Southeast 4200, Kerens, TX, 75144, United States
We will send more details but here is an overview of the activities:

Sat. morning breakfast with eggs the cadets will collect straight from the hen house, biscuits backed in pizza oven
Dispatch a small pig (privately)
Prepare the pig and spit for roasting, start roasting (whole day process)
Service projects: repair hole in driveway, gather firewood throughout the property
Activities: discover and use the 1800’s print, tour of the wood workshop
Fishing if time to spare

Remember to bring:
Fishing gear (marked)
Shovels (marked)
Work gloves (marked)
Skits if you have for the camp fire (you don’t have to mark those!)Star gazing (beautiful place for it) – IF ANYONE HAS A TELESCOPE, PLEASE BRING IT

For our hosts:
Bill Mureiko and his family are being incredibly kind to us, and are basically giving us their whole day. I offered some kind of compensation besides the service project, without success. They produce their own meat (sausage, bacon, etc…, processed in town). They sent me home with some when I went to visit the place. It is delicious! After I gently insisted on doing something for them, Bill suggested that if people were so inclined, they could stop by their property store on the way out. I think it is a fantastic idea, and a useful way to thank them and “bring home the bacon!” Please keep that in mind. Thank you.

BIG CHANGE FROM THE USUAL: NO MASS OR CONFESSIONS SATURDAY; MASS SUNDAY AT 1100 AT THE THIEN TAM MONASTERY (5 MIN AWAY).

PRECISE DIRECTIONS:
When you run out of concrete, make a left at the fork:

This is the place, but do not enter here. Enter at the next dirt road on the right hand-side (next pic).

Turn right:

At the end of the dirt road, make a right through the gate (see next picture) and look for the TSG1 sign for camping area, across from the house in this picture. Drop your stuff off then return to this area and park your vehicle back to the left side of the house. If the grounds are wet, we will stay on the dirt road.

This is the path to the camping area. Look for the sign. The trailer will NOT be there (it will be farther down by the campfire area).

Fri. 04/21/17 to Sun. 04/23/17: Extended Camp - Trapping - TSG1 HQ
2017-04-21 16:00 - 2017-04-23 14:00 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
During this camp, 1st Lt. Koch will teach us about trapping small to medium-sized animals. The cadets will set 3 different types of traps Saturday. If we do trap something that is worth keeping either for fur or consumption, we will prep it Sunday morning.
Be prepared, if you wish, to stay until after lunch on Sunday. No set menu. If we have animals to cook on the fire, we will snack on that, otherwise we will break camp before lunch.
This should be very interesting and possibly quite thrilling!

Fri. 02/17/17 to Sun. 02/19/17: Camp at TSG1 HQ- Various Activities
2017-02-17 16:00 - 2017-02-19 10:00 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
Typical camp schedule and cost.
A more “relaxed camp”, with the following activities:

Early “silent” reveille Sat. morning. Silent hike to go game watching. Bring binoculars.
Assembly practice
Split into 2 groups:
Slingshot fabrication and practice for those who have not done it last camp.
For all others, hike to go fossils digging in a creek on the far west corner of the property. Bring small digging tools and brushes.
TO BE CONFIRMED: Rosary making with Charlie Wick, “The Rosary Guy”, who has made several thousands Rosaries, many of which he sends to Fr. Mark, in Nigeria, who himself oversees a very large territory. Not like playing with beads! We will make paracord and other types of Rosaries with various options, including a St. George medal!
Various games and sports, depending on time available.

Fri. 01/27/17 to Sun. 01/29/17: Camp at HQ - Seniors Orienteering Hike + Juniors Activities
2017-01-27 16:00 - 2017-01-29 10:00 | TSG1 Camp HQ, Click on the green "TSG1 Camp HQ" title above for detailed directions and parking instructions - IGNORE the google map, Van Alstyne, TX, United States
Regular camp schedule and cost.
The seniors will be blindfolded and dropped off (with adult leaders) at an undisclosed location. Once there, they will be provided with basic satellite and topo maps with 2 dots: 1 for where they are, and the other for their destination, our campsite. They will receive no further assistance from the adults. They will have to use their orientation, orienteering and compass skills to find their way home. If they choose the most expeditious route, it should be a 10 miles hike. If not, we could be treating blisters at night on an empty stomach!
The seniors and accompanying dads will need:

Good, comfortable hiking/walking shoes/boots
Canteen
Compass
Flashlight
Backpack (for their lunches, jackets, canteen, flashlight, etc…)
Rain gear (suggestions: poncho with hood, change of socks, towels in the car, etc…)

The juniors will stay at HQ for the following activities:

Basic orienteering class (orientation, compass use, bearings, pacing, etc…), followed by field practice.
Mark game (animals) trails in preparation for the April trapping camp.
Slingshots making
If there is spare time, the junior leaders will consider other activities such as campground hike, games, planning and design of patrols staffs (banners). If the seniors run late, the juniors will prep for Mass and dinner.
