Carry The Load is a non-profit dedicated to providing active, meaningful ways to honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes — military, veterans, first responders and their families. Troop 496 provides service to help support this event every year.

Sign up with the troop to camp! We need anyone and everyone for Carry the Load.

Carry the Load will take place Memorial Day weekend May 30 – 31st. We’ll be staying overnight in Reverchon Park in downtown Dallas at the Carry the Load campground. Meals are provided.

Parents are welcome to come camping with the troop! (Youth Protection training required for all adults camping)

Patrols will compete, 4 contests with a points system earning prizes and good food for all.
Patrols will cook 3 meals and a dessert. Throughout the day points will be given for following the rules,

– Presentation
– Taste

Be careful there are also penalty points for food that is not ready on time, burnt, sabotage attempts, and spying!
We want to see your twist on breakfast burritos, lunch cooking over a campfire, your best camping dinner, and a Christmas dessert.

Start planning because the winning group will have their choice of prizes from our camping catalog that will be worth fighting for.

Sign up today for the best cooking challenge of the year and as a bonus will count towards your cooking merit badge or rank requirements!

Event: May 14th – 16th
Where: Eisenhower State Park (located on the border of Texas and Oklahoma on beautiful Lake Texoma)
SIGN UP 

Whose the BEST and STRONGEST Troop in the District?

Camporee, an awesome campout with tons of activities, Troop and individual competitions with opportunities to complete Rank and Merit Badge requirements

What: Camporee

When: Friday April 16th – 18th

Where: Camp James Ray

Patrol Competitions
Individual Competitions
District Obstacle Course
Sports and Games

Come join Lone Star District at Camp James Ray for our annual Camporee with all the Troops of the district. We’ll have competitions and fun and culminate with a large campfire program and Order of the Arrow callout. It will be a blast.

Parents are welcome to camp with the adults as well, so bring a chair and learn the adult side of camping with Troop 496.

Sign up now before it fills up !

Register  HERE.

WMWR is an island where the natural carpet of grass escaped destruction because the rocks underfoot defeated the plow. This prairie community hums with life. More than 50 mammal species, 240 bird species, 64 reptile and amphibian species, 36 fish species, and 806 plant species thrive at the refuge. It provides habitat for large, native grazing animals and Texas Longhorn cattle (which are allowed to roam wild because of their historical significance to the region). Bison, elk, deer, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, prairie dogs, turkey, bunch grasses, post oak and blackjack oaks are present in abundance.

What: Backpacking & Bouldering in the Wichita Mountains!

When: Feb 5th to 7th

Where: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma

Explore the Refuge!
Hiking and camping in the WMWR
Permits only allow 10 campers, so sign up fast!

Bouldering & Basecamp!
Set camp outside the WMWR
Hike and go bouldering in the rugged hills

Parents are welcome to attend with the troop/Drivers will be needed!

(Youth Protection training available (and required) for all adults camping)




DON’T MISS IT! SIGN UP NOW!

Its time for everyones favorite survival campout

Departure Date: Jan 15, 2021 @5:30 pm

Arrival Date: Jan 17, 2021 @1:00 pm

Where:Classified

Cost: $10 for each participant

Sign up here (LINK)

Hi every one! Its That time again! winter camp!

Date: Dec 27 – Dev 31 2020
Where: Trevor Reese Jones
Cost: $110 for each participant

Sign up here (LINK)

It’s Re-Charter Time!

Yes, it’s that time of year again for the annual BSA re-charter. Don’t get left out in the cold this year.

This is for EVERYONE in the troop regardless of when you joined or transferred.

The cost to re-charter is $66 for Scout and $42 for Adults.

Boys Life is still $12/year as well.

Click here to Re-Register!

Don’t want to pay online? Still like writing those things called checks? No problem, just bring your payment with you to the December Court of Honor on 12/14 or any Troop meeting.

Please see Steve Palomino with your payment so he can issue you a receipt.

We are closing out re-charter after Court of Honor.

If you do not re-charter by then you will be dropped from the roster.

Don’t delay…re-charter today!

Who is ready for some fall weather??  This month we will be going backpacking at Robbers Cave State Park in the western Ouachita mountains in eastern Oklahoma! This is one of the most looked forward to campouts on our calendar. The leaves are changing and the weather is cool so get your backpacks out and let’s head out into the woods!  These mountains offer us the experience of true wilderness along the Oklahoma and Arkansas border.  

Robbers Cave holds a great variety for us to explore – lakes, mountains, forests, meadows, CAVES, cliffs, and on top of that wildlife such as deer, wild turkey, bears and other critters.  We will try to have multiple crews offering opportunities for first time backpackers to experience backpacking. 

Where: Robbers Cave State Park outside Wilburton, OK

When: Friday November 6 to Sunday November 8

Departure: November 10 at 5:30pm at Trinity

Return: November 8 at 2pm

Equipment List:

Click here for Equipment List

Important note: Pack light here is a link for how to pack for a backpacking trip

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/loading-backpack.html

We will have a Pack review at upcoming Troop meetings.

Click here to sign up!

Recruiting new scouts for the troop at beautiful Camp James Ray, October 16 – 18 . Our Troops awesome fire building skills will be on display for all to see.  Sign up now to keep the Troops legacy!

Register with the troop for WoW 2020!

Click here to sign up!

If you watched the Olympic rowing you will know how exciting it is. Now you could experience the excitement and go to the Brazos River Canoe races! You’ll complete the 6-mile course with an easy paddle. The canoe races will be timed with distributed start times to increase social distancing. Everyone is free to race at their own pace – going for the record or just cruising the Brazos.

• When: October 2-4 (rescheduled from 9/18 due to event availability)
• Where: Worth Ranch on the Brazos River
• Price:$38.00
• Registration ENDS 9/16 because availability is limited at the event!

Special camping rules will be in place for this event!

• Adults will be doing all the cooking! (except lunch, which is provided by the race organizers)
• Scouts First Class and above may sleep in a personal hammock! Usually this privilege is reserved for Life Scouts, so don’t miss out!
• All Scouts may sleep in their own tent if they bring one they can set up. Troop tents will also be available and limited to two scouts (still following YPT guidelines).

Adult drivers will be needed!

Troop 496 2020 Summer Camp

Dates: June 21 – June 27
Location: Trevor Rees-Jones.

Some classes, such as ATV riding or Woodcarving, will fill up very quickly. So, the sooner you provide your merit badge selections, the better your chances of getting what you want. Official sign-up starts March 1 and I expect ATVs to fill especially fast.

Summer Camp Details can be found in the following information document:HERE

Merit Badge class options and selection sheet can be found here

Please complete and email to Kathie Byler

If you have questions about merit badges, please contact:
Kathie Byler
kathiebyler@yahoo.com
214-726-2213

All other questions, please contact:
Chris Albertson
chris@chrisalbertson.com
214-810-6271

Important Dates

April 20th — Signup and Fees Due
Including additional merit badge fees, where applicable
April 20th — Merit Badge Class selection due
Turn in selections to Mrs. Byler via email, in person, text, etc.
Select additional options as well
June 1st – Medical Forms Due (Parts A, B and C)
Part C requires a physician signature

Sign up HERE

Scouts learning cooking skills in 1958

What: Scout Skills Campout
When: Saturday, March 14 7:30 to Sunday, March 15
Where: Bonham State Park

Scout skills weekend! This is the orientation campout for scouts new to Troop 496 and a skills refresher for current scouts.

• Troop Tent Basics
• Chuck Chuck Chuckboxes
• Firem’n Chit – fire skills basics
• Totin’ Chip – knife and edged tools basics
• Propane & You – lantern & stove safety
• That’s Knot Helpful – knot basics

Bring your scout books so you’ll be able to get your accomplishments recorded!

Parents are welcome to camp with the adults as well, so bring a chair and learn the adult side of camping with Troop 496.
(Youth Protection training required for all adults camping)

Sign up here: SIGN UP

It’s time for our annual Wilderness Survival campout.

Where: Classified

Depart: 5:00pm 2/14

Return: 1:00pm 2/16

Cost: $10.00

Come experience “play with a purpose” at an overnight lock-in at Group Dynamix in Carrollton, TX.

What: Overnight lock-in, filled with fun, games, team building, and pizza
When: Saturday, Feb 1st in the evening to Sunday, Feb 2 morning (9pm / 7am)
Where: Group Dynamix in Carrollton, TX

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE LOCK-IN!

Come join us for the most thrilling and glorious trip of the year — ENCHANTED ROCK!!!!

YES, the ENCHANTED ROCK!!  This is the most visited State Park in all of Texas year after year.  It’s also considered the most beautiful of all the state parks.  So what are we doing?  Well, what else but CLIMBING!  Yes, we have hired professional guides to take us repelling off cliffs and climbing the granite face of Enchanted Rock.  Here are some of the planned activities:

• Climbing Merit Badge – Rappelling and climbing with professional instructor
• Hiking Merit Badge – If you don’t like climbing there will be a group hiking around the park
• Astronomy Merit Badge
• Camping Merit Badge – part of the climbing meets some of the requirements that are hard to get
• Bird Study Merit Badge
• Backpack Merit Badge – we will backpack 1 mile in to our campsite

We will be camping over the 3 day MLK weekend which means a few different things.  First we leave Saturday morning so no rush on Friday.  Second, we come home on Monday since no school.  Here are details:

Depart: Saturday Jan 18 at 7 am

Return: Monday Jan 20 at 3 pm (can change due to traffic)

Where: Enchanted Rock State Park (4.5 hours south of McKinney about 90 miles west of Austin in Hill country)

Cost: $95 if climbing and $20 if not climbing

The Holidays are Merit Badge time!

Join us this Dec 27 – Dec 31 for Winter Camp.

Earn up to six merit badges in three days! Camp in cabins! Everything is nice and close and we have all food starting with dinner on 12/27 provided by the camp.

Camp runs 12/27 – 12/31. We typically leave after dinner on 12/30.

We are going to Camp Preston Hunt in Texarkana, AR.

DEPART 12/27
Meet at Trinity @ 8:30 am
Water bottle
Sack lunch – The first meal at camp will be dinner
Class A

RETURN
Sun 30^th after Dinner
Meet at Trinity after 9:30pm
Updates on Facebook  or Text

Cost: Scouts $150

Adults: The troop will cover the cost of two adults. The cost is $55 per adult so cost will depend on how many adults attend. For example if 4 adults attend, the troop will pay $110 and the 4 adults will split the other $110 at $27.50 each.

Registration deadline is 12/3.

We need adults to attend. If adults don’t go, our boys can’t go.

It’s time to journey below the surface! We’ll be descending into Inner Space Caverns and camping at Granger Wildlife Management Area at Granger Lake. Are you ready?

Sign up now!

Sign up by Sept 16th to lock in your spot to camp and shoot!

Classroom portion if needed Sept 21 – Register  HERE

Hosted by Troop 4306 and the Tri-City Gun Club of Goldsby, OK, on October 4-6.

You can complete the range qualification for the Rifle and Shotgun merit badges at this camp. See Mr. Hetzel in advance to confirm that he has your partial blue card. If you’ve shot .22 Rifle for qualification previously and have a target with one or more qualifying groups signed by the instructor, bring it with and receive credit towards completion of the MB.

If you need to complete the classroom courses there will be a session for each MB in McKinney prior to the camp, Sat Sept 21 Register HERE.  You can’t shoot for the MB without attending the class in advance. If you already have the MBs then just come out and shoot! Adults can shoot if there’s time after all of the Scouts are finished.

Activities include .22 Rifle, Shotgun, Muzzle Loading, Archery, Air Rifle, Slingshot, Orienteering and Wildlife Identification. There will also be a Dutch Oven desert competition on Saturday evening that each of our patrols will enter (including you Bears). There will be first, second and third place individual awards for each shooting sport activity plus a first place award to the top orienteering team. There will also be a non-denominational devotional on Sunday morning. Arrival at the shed is estimated to be at 1:30pm on Sunday.

We’ve been asked to assist with the First Aid station. Volunteers with the First Aid MB are needed and each Scout will only work the station for a short period of time.

Cost is only $35.00 for Scouts and $15.00 for adults. Lunch with entertainment on Saturday will be provided by Troop 4306. Scouts will receive a Release form in advance that MUST be signed by a parent or guardian in order for you to shoot. Adults attending must also complete the form.

We’ll depart from the church promptly at 5:30pm on the 4th. We need to leave on time since the gate will close at 9:30pm.

Please register and pay by September 16th, as the event requires advance reservations. Contact Mr. Hetzel at 708-710-5935 or at Troop meetings if you have any questions.

What: Swimming in the Cold Springs

When: Friday Aug 9th – 11th

Where: Little Niagra Falls in the Chickasaw National Recreation near Sulphur, OK

Not only swimming in 65 degree water! We’ll be visiting the Traditional Chickasaw Village at the Chickasaw Cultural Center and staying for the Saturday evening movie! The ultimate chill campout to wrap up the summer before school starts!

Get cool. Sign up now!

No! Not at the same time!

What: Shooting & Canoeing Campout
When: May 3rd – 5th
Where: Sid Richardson Scout Ranch (Texas 114 and Jasper Creek Rd. Bridgeport, TX)

The troop will be shooting .22 rifles and shotguns at the Sid Richardson range and canoeing on Lake Bridgeport. Come have a blast and a splash!

Additional training is requred for these activities:

• Rifle Safety Training – 4/15 troop meeting
• Shotgun Safety Trainin – 4/22 troop meeting
• Canoeing – current swim certification required, testing on 4/16 and 4/26.

SIGN UP HERE!

Sign up now for an awesome fishing adventure in Galveston TX. Jan 19th and 20th. Space is limited / Sign-ups close Dec 21st

Limited Space, signups close Dec 31

Leonardo da Vinci once said “He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards his ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

We will be going to the Cold Springs (aka Little Niagara) at Chickasaw National Park in OK.

Date: 8/10 – 8/12

Depart: 5:00 from Trinity Presbyterian

Return: noon to Squeeze Penny Storage.

Cost: $16/scout

CLICK TO SIGN UP

Help Represent Troop 496 on our team page

Troop 496 Carry the Load Team : Join our team!  

Sign Up to go camping..

What: Backpacking & Hiking!

When: May 4th – 6th

Where: McGee Creek Natural Scenic Recreation Area in Oklahoma

The McGee Creek Natural Scenic Recreation Area (NSRA) is comprised of 8,900 acres of woodland and small prairies in Southeast Oklahoma. It’s filled with scenic creek beds, rock formations, canyons, and many beautiful overlooks.

The troop will split into base camping (recommended for younger scouts) and backpacking groups for this trip. The base campers will hike out from and return to a stationary camp. The backpackers will go on a longer adventure, making camp out along the trail. This is a great opportunity to hone skills for those going to High Adventure Camp at Philmont this summer.

Parents are welcome to come hiking or backpacking with the troop!

(Youth Protection training available (and required) for all adults camping)

DON’T MISS IT! SIGN UP HERE!

The troop returns to beautiful Bonham State Park for a March campout during this beautiful time of the year!

What: New Scout Campout

When: Saturday, March 17, 7:00am to Sunday, March 18

Where: Bonham State Park

Scout skills weekend! This is the orientation campout for scouts new to Troop 496.

• Troop Tent Basics
• Chuck chuck chuck Chuckboxes
• Firem’n Chit – fire skills basics
• Totin’ Chip – knife and edged tools basics
• Propane & you – lantern & stove safety
• That’s Knot Helpful – knot basics

Plus, the Bonham State Park rangers are hosting classes for everyone to enjoy:

• Cooking with Dutch Ovens
• Fossils and More Fossils

Bring your scout books so you’ll be able to get your accomplishments recorded!

Parents are welcome to camp with the adults as well, so bring a chair and learn the adult side of camping with Troop 496.

(Youth Protection training required for all adults camping)

Sign up here: SIGN UP 

2018 mulch sales are now underway! This is a great way to raise funds for scout accounts and support the troop.

Get the details from the mulch google drive.

These documents have all the information about changes to our mulch program this year, our troop delivery area, a sample flyer, and order forms.

Important mulch dates:

KickOff: January 8th
Soft Close: February 26th
Final Close: March 5th
Delivery: March 23rd-24th

Mark your calendars NOW for delivery weekend as all hands are needed!

Sign up to help on delivery weekend!

Also, assistance is needed for pre-delivery tasks such as coordinating drivers, making trailer arrangements, and setting up routes. If you are interested in any of these tasks, please let me know.

My contact information is:
Shellie Taylor
shellietaylor@att.net
(214) 585-3576

Feel free to reach out with questions or issues!

Caving in Longhorn caverns near Burnet, TX. Options are Wild Cave tour for $62 or the walking cave tour for $30. This includes food. Wild Cave tour includes a T-Shirt.

Depart: Saturday Jan 13 at 8 am from Trinity

Arrive: Inks Lake State Park in Burnet, TX

Activity: Caving at Longhorn Caverns on Sunday January 14

Return: Monday January 15 at 2 pm

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Each year we get all sorts of questions for Christmas shopping so we send out annual list.  This year I’m doing things a bit different so here goes….

Top 10 – Scout Basics

1. Water-proof Hiking Boots
2. Sleeping Bag – Suggest a temp rating 20-35 degrees weighing 3 lbs or less.
3. Backpack – Look for backpacks that can adjust the distance of the hip strap and shoulder straps.  This is important for younger scouts especially.  Strongly encourage you get fitted.  Look for minimum 65 liter.  Suggest 75 if considering Philmont in the future.  If you have questions you can reach out to me or an ASM familiar with backpacks.
4. Sleeping Pad
5. Pocket Knife – Recommend utility tool like a leatherman, Gerber or swiss army type.  You don’t need these brands but these tools provide more uses for scouts. Remember you cannot have blades greater than 4 inches.
6. Compass – Silva Explorer models or similar are ideal
7. Flashlight – Head attached types are great.  I like the ones that go on baseball hat bills but they have ones that attach with a strap too that are popular. Lightweight handheld ones are fine too.
8. Water Bottles – 1 Liter Nalgene are ideal for their non leaking traits but something similar is fine.
9. Mess Kit (wide bowl, spork, cup that can hold hot chocolate) – Suggest lightweight kinds.
10. Rain Suit – Frogg Toggs great starter set ($15-20)

Top 25 – I’m Ready for the Next Level

1. Lightweight wool socks – good to wear with hiking boots.  Big thick wools not needed, suggest medium thickness.
2. Long Underwear – they’ve come a long way on these.  Lots of varieties.
3. Fleece sweatshirt (1 thick and 1 thin) – Great for dressing in layers during cold weather.
4. Bandana/Handkerchief – lots of uses I don’t need to say
5. Sock Hat & Gloves – don’t get the thick ski/snow gloves, they’re too bulky
6. Paracord – you can never have enough
7. Compression Sack for Sleeping Bag – Makes sleeping bag smaller.  Good for backpacking. Water proof ones are a plus.
8. Backpacking Tent – The troop provides tents but these are great for backpacking trips especially Philmont.
9. Backpacking Stove – There are a lot of varieties. Jet Boils, MSRs are popular.  Troop provides these but some scouts like to have their own for learning.
10. Dutch Oven – Troop provides these but a lot of scouts get these to practice at home.  It’s great to develop cooking skills.
11. Camping chair/stool – There are a lot of varieties. Get one you can put in your backpack.
12. Neck Gaitor/Buff – Popular for keeping neck warm.  I have one and love it.
13. Water Filter for backpacking – only for serious backpackers going to Philmont
14. First aid bandaids
15. Small Neosporin
16. First aid gauze/bandages, alcohol patches, and tape
17. Moleskin
18. Waterproof matches
19. Survival mirror
20. Whistle
21. Fire starter
22. Iodine or Clorine tablets
23. Duct Tape
24. Space Blanket or Emergency Tarp
25. Fishing Rod, Reel & Tackle

Brick and Mortor Stores

• REI – Best for advice and fitting for backpacks
• Scout Shop in Fairview
• Academy – Great prices
• Cabelas – Good selection but expensive
• Dicks – good selection but expensive
• Wal-Mart – Great prices

Online Stores (if you know better let me know)

• campmor.com – Good selection and prices
• Scoutstuff.org – good selection
• rei.com –
• sierratradingpost.com – good selection and prices
• Moosejaw.com – good selection, more specialized gear
• Amazon.com – has everything plus Prime

Gear research I love to go to this site https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/ You can learn a lot about the latest and greatest.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out any time,

Mr. Boese
Scoutmaster

Campout will be Friday Sept 15 to Sunday Sept 17.

We will canoe on Sat Sept 16.

All scouts can canoe a 6 mile course on the Brazos and scouts ages 14 and up can canoe an advanced course which is 14 miles.

Cost: $39 ($30 fees, $9 for food)

Click to sign up

Cooper Lake Star Park – THIS WEEKEND!!

Mulch Mania 2017

Hello Scouts and Parents in Troop 496

The mulch website is up and all the scouts have been entered into the system so you can now start entering in your orders!  Please see the attached documents that may assist you with mulch sales.  The flyer that was shown during the parent is also attached and can be edited so that you can insert your name and picture.

Your user name is your first and last name with no space.  The initial password is mulch2017.  Once you log on, please verify that your personal information is correct.  For some of the new users, the church address was entered so please update that and any other fields that need it.

Please contact me at shellietaylor@att.net or call me at (214)585-3576 if you have any issues.

Also, go ahead and hold the dates of Friday, March 17^th and Saturday, March 18^th for delivery.  ALL help will be needed that day and there are various roles that need to be filled.  If you haven’t already done so, please send me an email letting me know how you would like to help on delivery day.

***MULCH files can be found at in the Mulch Folder in our Media section at the top of this web page.  Go to Media > Documents > Mulch Folder***

Enjoy mulch sales!

Many thanks,

Shellie Taylor

This month we will be going backpacking in the Ouachita mountains in eastern Oklahoma! This is one of the most looked forward to campouts on our calendar. The leaves are changing and the weather is cool so get your backpacks out and let’s head out into the woods!  These mountains offer us the experience of true wilderness along the Oklahoma and Arkansas border.  The area is pristine and filled with wildlife like deer, wild turkey and bears!  We will have 2 crews, one for inexperienced backpackers and one for experienced ones.  Preparing for this trip is very important. Please see the notes below.

Where: Ouachita National Forest outside Talihina, OK

When: Friday November 11 to Sunday November 13

Departure: November 11 at 5pm at Trinity

Return: November 13 at 4pm at the shed

Equipment List:

Click here for Equipment List

Important note: Pack light here is a link for how to pack for a backpacking trip

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/loading-backpack.html

Bring your loaded backpack to Monday’s meeting for the shakedown!

Click here to sign up!

PHILMONT 2018 Sign-Ups NOW!!!

We are already starting our planning for the 2018 High Adventure expedition to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  Can you believe it??  For our first step we will need to get an estimate on the number of scouts and adult leaders participating.  To reserve your spot please click the link below to register and make your $105 deposit.

Note, the Boy Scouts of America requires scouts be 14 years old to participate.  Therefore, your birthdate must be June 19, 2004 or earlier.  Look for more informational meetings in the future.

Hurry, sign-ups close November 14 and these trips fill up quick!  You don’t want to be on the wait list for this trip.

Click here to sign up!

Announcing Troop 496’s newest tool to help our scouts and parents access and manage their records…. Scoutbook!!

As of October 1st, the troop will now use the official BSA advancement tracking tool for the troop.  Scoutbook is a web based system that will house all our troop records from scout contact information, parent information to advancement records.  It also has a very friendly interface with lots of visuals to show your ranks, merit badges, OA status and other info.  In addition it will provide an email service that can be tailored to individuals, patrols or the entire troop.

One of the best features is that you can access it from anywhere anytime… even Starbucks!!   Look for an invitation to get your login information.  If you have not received it or if you have questions please feel free to reach out to our Advancement Chairman, Meg Clark Meg.clark@sbcglobal.net .  Also, look for more communication in the future regarding actions the troop will need.  First thing we ask is you login and update all your contact information.  We will need this for email and phone records to reach you.  In the coming months our Historian will be coordinating getting everyone’s picture to assign to your profile.

Now, how do I access it?  That’s the easy part!  Go to our homepage and find the Scoutbook link on the top right banner.

Thank you again for all your support.  Feel free to reach out to Meg, myself or any of our adult leaders if you have questions.

Mr. Boese

Scoutmaster, Troop 496

Leonardo da Vinci once said “He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards his ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.” 

In a time before smartphones and GPS man used to navigate with a compass and map.  Well now is your chance to practice the real thing!  It’s Score-O time and it’s your time to enjoy the cool fall weather in a fun competition at the rugged Sid Richardson Scout Ranch.  You will traverse canyons, lakes, islands, forests and hidden valleys.  That sounds like fun doesn’t it!?  Oh yea!

When: 5:00 pm Friday Oct 14 to noon Sunday Oct 16

Where: Sid Richardson Scout Ranch in Bridgeport, TX

Cost: $30 per person ($16 entry fee and $14 for food). Be sure to sign up and pay by the deadline Oct 10 to reserve your spot before they fill up.

Other Info:

-T-shirts are available as an option at $12 each

-We will be participating in the Haunted Hayride again so bring your costumes!

-There will be a dutch oven dessert competition and Iron Chef dinner cookoff!

Click here to sign up!

“Sometimes, flying feels too Godlike to be attained by man. Sometimes, the world from above seems too beautiful, too wonderful, too distant for human eyes to see” — Charles A. Lindbergh, The Spirit of St. Louis, 1953
Now its time for you to experience the godlike feeling Charles Linbergh felt as he flew his famous plan; at the aviation campout! We will getup close and personal with real airplanes! We will also be touring hangers, airtraffic control towers, and an aviation museum! By the time this action packed weekend is over you will have earned the aviation merit badge! Now in order to go you must fill out the ” really important form”  and then sign up by clicking the “click here to sign up” button. Mrs. Plyler wanted me to say that we will not be flying in fighter jets.

Some important information:

Cost: $25

Where: Grason county airport / tangle wood air field

When: August 26-28

To all Troop 496 Scouts, Leaders, and Members,

After so many wonderful years with this Troop, I would like to invite
everyone to celebrate the culmination of my Scouting Career. This
Saturday, July 9th, I will be hosting my Eagle Scout Court of Honor at
Trinity Presbyterian Church from 1 pm to 3 pm. Everyone is invited and
the ceremony will be followed by a banquet. I am looking forward to
sharing my experiences with everyone.

Yours in Scouting,
Trey Chandler

Departure: 5:00 pm at Trinity on Friday May 20

Return: 3:00 pm at the Shed ( 6315 N McDonald St, Melissa, TX 75454)

Cost: $16 plus bring money to buy lunch on Sunday (approx $8)

Location: McGee Creek Natural State Scenic Area in Atoka, OK

The troop returns to McGee Creek for a May campout during this beautiful time of the year! We will have 2 crews – one crew will base camp and enjoy hiking and fishing while the second crew will backpack. Note that new scouts must camp with the base camp crew.  We want to ensure scouts have the experience, training, equipment and capabilities to go backpacking.

This is an absolute beautiful and pristine area along the piney and hardwoods of McGee Creek Reservoir.  The last time we were here was in 2014 when we saw an Eagle!!!  This trip always has great stories and adventures and is a must do.

More info to come. Until then, REGISTER HERE

Registration Instructions

1.Select “Join Team”

2.If you have participated in Carry The Load in the past, log in and skip to the next step. Otherwise create an account.

3.Select ”Registered Participant”, or ”Fundraising Participant” if you would like to fundraise.

4.Uncheck the Event T-Shirt box. You will receive this later.

5.Fill out the next page. Under additional information make sure that you are registered to camp, and you have selected your t-shirt size.

6.On the next page, accept the waiver and press release terms.

7.Click “Complete Registration”

8.From this point you can configure your personal page and email links if you plan to fundraise.

I will be hosting a garage sale at my home in McKinney to raise money for my Eagle Scout project!

Location: 1204 Scenic Hills Drive McKinney, Texas

Time: 8 am to 3 pm

Date: April 16th and 17th

Donations: Anything that can be sold at a garage sale would be appreciated.

I only need 3-4 scouts to help with setup, running, and takedown. Contact at 214-769-2890 if you can help, even if only for a few hours.

Good News!

We made it out of the woods relatively unscathed. The only piece of the site that is going to be missing for a little while is the Photo Album. That may take me a while to sort out. Also, I have opted to remove the “Board of Review Request” system and switch it to a contact directory. So from now on if you would like to schedule a Board of Review, then email the advancements chair in the contact directory. Thank you for being patient as I sort out these issues. If you have any questions I will be available at the meeting to discuss feature suggestions or problems.

-William Smith

We are currently rebuilding our website following a data loss. Certain services may not be available for a few days. Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve this issue. I have made the system status visible above if you are interested in what is currently accessible. Please note that the mulch website is not hosted by our troop, and will still function normally.

-William Smith