The next 12 months are truly filled with many fun and exciting activities. Some are familiar ones that we have done before, and some are brand new opportunities to expand our scouting horizon. In addition to the "normal" monthly Friday-through-Sunday campouts we have 5 events in 2008 that are longer and more expensive. To help you plan for these, both for your schedule and financially, we are sharing some details with you and asking for an early indication of whether you want to participate or not.

Ski Trip to Wolf Creek, CO, January 18 - 21, 2008, Cost: About $400

We leave Friday night on a sleeper bus, arrive Saturday morning and start skiing by noon. Then we ski all day Sunday and Monday until mid-afternoon. The bus returns to Dallas at about 5:00 am on Tuesday morning - just in time to get ready for school. Transportation, lodging, ski rental, lift passes and all meals are included. Space is limited and reservations must be made very soon. Michael Burns will begin taking deposits very soon. Watch your email.

Philmont Scout Ranch, Summer 2008, Cost: About 800

The ultimate scouting experience! Our venture crew (older co-ed scouts) officially got this trip, but if they cannot fill all 12 slots they will be offered to the older scouts in the troop. This is a 12 day trip to Cimmaron, NM, where the group will hike with backpacks and participate in various fun events. This has been the best scouting event for most of the lucky boys and adults who have done it.

Boundary Waters Canoe Trip, May 30 - June 8, 2008, Cost: About $600

A trip to the lakes that dot the border between Minnesota and Canada. This is not an official scout trip, but boys from the troop have taken this trip several times in the past and have really enjoyed it. Groups of no more than 9 people will cross the lakes in canoes and camp at designated areas in tents. This area is pristine and fishing is great. The trip is planned through a private outfitter, it is self-guided and we can take two groups of nine with the possibility of adding a third group based on availability. We plan to drive from Dallas to northern Minnesota, which is about 22 hours, in two days. Since this is a self-directed trip there are no minimum age requirements. However, we suggest that the boys are at least First Class and 12 years old. Younger boys may be required to have a parent accompany them.

Northern Tier National High Adventure Base Canoe Trip, June or July 2008, Cost: About $750

This canoe trip is in the same area as the Boundary Waters trip. It will be the first time the troop has been to the official BSA Northern Tier camp. We plan to fly to Minneapolis and drive to the base camp in northern Minnesota. We will arrive the day before the canoeing starts and spend the first night at base camp. We plan to canoe 5 or 6 days. A trained BSA guide will accompany the group while canoeing and we will spend another night at base camp before returning home. The entire trip should take about one week. The scouts will get an official BSA patch and it is one of the three requirements to get the Philmont/Seabase/Northern Tier patch. Since this is an official BSA trip we will be covered by their insurance. Scouts must be 13 to participate and we will try to book as many 8 person groups as needed.

Summer Camp, June 21 - 29, 2008, Location and Cost To Be Determined

While we have decided when we are going, we have not yet decided where we are going. Several options have been researched and if we stay relatively close the cost should be around $250 but if we decide to travel further away the cost might double.

This is a challenging schedule and in addition to planning the trips we also need to make sure that we have enough trained, adult leaders on all trips. Please let Michael or Jorn know as soon as possible if you are interested in going on any of these trips. We may ask for a deposit on some of them.