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Troop 60 Newsletter: November 2023
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NOVEMBER 2023

Namaste, Scouts & Families!


Following up on our June, September, and October newsletters, please read on for the highlights so far, plus important updates and volunteer opportunities for the months ahead.



SCOUTMASTER’S CORNER

A Scout is kind. This is the 6th point of the Scout Law and is something all Scouts should embody at home, school, Scouting, sports, and in our communities. What may seem to be harmless joking or teasing can have a major negative impact on others and on our own selves. There is not enough kindness in the world today, and so we Scouts must lead by example and show others how to be kind, both in person and online.

It is easy when you're with your friends or online to fall into the trap of saying unkind things behind people's backs, but being a kind Scout means avoiding such conversations and sticking up for others. In reality, being rude or making fun of others really just shows a lack of self-control and self-confidence in ourselves.

And another thing! Being kind is not just in how we react to situations or conversations; we should proactively demonstrate kindness to other people, both in our words and our deeds.

Lastly, be kind to yourself. No one is perfect! We all make mistakes and it is easy to develop negative self-talk, but science actually tells us that simply by using positive language and being kind to ourselves gives us strength to overcome difficulties and challenges.

I challenge all of us after reading this little Scoutmaster Corner — this very minute! — to immediately, proactively do something or say something KIND.  

Scout on!
Mr. Tyler
Scoutmaster, Troop 60B

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Save the Dates

Klondike Derby Comes to India!

The Klondike Derby is just around the corner, and for most of you, you’re probably wondering, “What’s a Klondike Derby? Is that an ice-cream eating competition?” Well, as fun and unhealthy as that would be, in fact the Klondike Derby has a lot to do with ice, but nothing to do with cream.

The Klondike Derby is an annual weekend campout held during cold winter months, where Troops and Patrols from the area gather together to participate in a competition of Scout skills and teamwork. Patrols construct a snow sled and carry around equipment that they’ll need for each of the various stations, which will test their basic Scouting skills in first aid, fire-making, knot-tying, etc. Later, patrols will gather for a sled race competition.

Our Klondike Derby will take place Jan. 26-28 (Republic Day weekend) during a 2-night campout at Camp Wild, joined by Mumbai’s Troop 74G and 74B. That Friday, we will set up camp and have some enjoyable activities, but the real competition begins Saturday morning after breakfast, as patrols head off with their sleds for several hours visiting the different stations to earn points and stake their claim as the top patrol! The stations will be run by our older Scouts and adult volunteers. The sled race will be on Saturday afternoon over a marked course. We’ll gather for a campfire on Saturday evening, and we plan to have a big pancake breakfast Sunday morning before a non-denominational service, and then Troops depart.

“But we don’t have snow in Delhi? How will we make a sled?” Don’t worry, we can adjust for our Indian climate — and January does have lower temps that will test our cold camping skills a bit. We will also need some adult volunteers willing to come on Sunday morning to help cook breakfast for the Scouts. This is going to be an exciting event — the first of its kind in India — so patrols should start preparing now by learning up on their basic Scout skills and getting their patrol flags made. Parents, please mark this down on your calendar so we can have maximum turnout.

Summer 2024: A Message from Mr. Tyler

Summer Camp is the highlight of the scouting year, and it’s something I hope ALL scouts have an opportunity to experience. A week of camping at a BSA Summer Camp affords scouts the chance to spend time outdoors with their fellow Scouts, make new friends, employ the Patrol Method, earn several merit badges, and try new things.

Now is the time to start talking about options and gauging interest. There are a few options in the Far East Council (Japan, Mongolia) and others for families who will be in the U.S. We will discuss this in more detail in the near future.

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SCOUT LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Jaya Stapleton,
Blue Jay Patrol Leader (60G)

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ADULT LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Alexander McKenney,
Scoutmaster (60G)

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MONTH IN REVIEW & PHOTO GALLERY

Oct. 6: 60G Rishikesh Campout
By Victoria Leuschner, 60G Assistant Senior Patrol Leader

Troop 60G had a fun time in Rishikesh, exploring and learning about the nature, villages and cities around the area and hiking our bodies sore. Starting the journey at AES Gate 2, we took off for a 5-hour bus drive full of jokes, conversations and games. With one stop for dinner, we arrived at the Soni residence. The next day, after breakfast, we began with an intro to Orienteering, then made our way to the bus and drove off to our camping location. To get to our campsite, we had to hike two hours up the mountain, passing a waterfall and a meditation center in the process. Thankfully, our heaviest gear was transported up the mountain by a few pack animals, and the view was amazing.

Arriving at the campsite, which was a school playground, the people in charge made us some delicious food. We also met an adorable dog that we named Puff. She would always follow us along the way, wherever we went. Together, we accomplished requirements on finding and setting up a good camping spot, including our tents. After dinner, we got ready to start an orienteering night hike. On our way we encountered a thin, green snake that happened to be right next to the main path and was mildly venomous. Visiting an old temple and hiking back to camp, we finished the first day and went to sleep in our tents.

On Sunday morning, we started the day with a foggy but beautiful view on the mountain range. After breakfast, we got ready for a long hike. It took us quite a while to hike the mountains and some of us were quite tired afterwards, but it was worth it as the view was beautiful. After hiking and eating lunch, we had some time to work on our requirements; before dinner, we got ready to hike down the mountain because halfway down, there was a gigantic and beautiful waterfall. We swam and played around for a while, until it got late and we hiked back up.

Monday morning started a little hectic, having to pack our tents in a hurry and retrieving the flags, eating breakfast and cleaning up the campsite. This time, the hike downhill took us barely an hour. Meeting some “friends” of Puff along the way, she delivered us loyally to the bus. After a short drive, we arrived at an adventure company that was used for a high ropes course and the zipline meant for us. The ziplining was so much fun, but also a little scary, as the zipline flew us to the other side of the mountains over the famous Ganges River. With a sore throat for some, we finished the adrenaline rush and went to have real Italian pizza.

The adventure ended at 9 p.m. at AES. Everyone attending should be very proud of the physically and emotionally challenging achievements done with bravour.

Oct. 7-8: 60B Camp Wild Campout
By Abe McKenney, 60B Senior Patrol Leader

Troop 60B had a lot of fun at Camp Wild, joined by a number of Webelos from Cub Scout Pack 3060 who will be crossing over to join us early next year. [Editor’s Note: Lone Scout Sam Balonek and his dad, myriad merit badge counselor Michael Balonek, also came to this campout from Varanasi!] We started off with a bus ride where we did some rank advancement and checked out India’s countryside. When we got there, we made a delicious lunch and then set up camp.

This campout’s theme was Pioneering. Scouts worked in patrols and used a number of cool lashings and knots to create camp gadgets and build a big A-Frame bridge that the whole troop could walk across. Dinner was followed by a campfire with a number of skits and songs. When we finally finished KP (kitchen patrol), we played a fun game of Night Watcher.

After a night of heat and loud music, we woke up and went climbing; almost everybody made it to the top! We then had breakfast and headed home.

As a troop, something we need to improve on is working together to get KP done so that we can move on to more fun activities. If we all pitch in it will go more quickly and we can have even more fun!

VOLUNTEER CORNER

Fundraising Opportunity: Sunday, Nov. 19

Fundraisers help Troop 60 defray costs for campouts and other Scouting activities. Troop 60 has two or three fundraising opportunities every school year, courtesy of special events held at AES that offer a free booth for Scouts to sell cold drinks. This semester, our Scouts have been invited to sell drinks at the AWA Mela, a charity fundraiser open to card-carrying members of the American Welcome Association, Delhi’s diplomatic/embassy community, and AES / British / French / German schools (plus guests). Expected footfall will exceed 1,000 people — that’s a lot of thirsty customers! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16jtFThJpjjdDwQv083xYHfTaDLz0FHuMLVZvFtzdFVI/edit?usp=sharing; there are also service hours available for Scouts who can help the AWA set up and/or pack up.

Parents: Troop 60 Needs You!

The BSA Troop Committee sets troop policies and handles administrative functions, allowing the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters to focus on working directly with the Scouts. This year’s Troop 60 Committee is:

Please contact Runa Gokhale if you’re interested in a specific vacancy or stepping up in any other capacity!

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Don’t be a stranger! Reach out via WhatsApp to anyone mentioned in this newsletter, email scoutmasterboys@bsatroop60.in (Troop 60B) or scoutmastergirls@bsatroop60.in (Troop 60G), or click on these links for helpful information: