The meeting will be held on February 28 @ 7pm at the Scout House. Please make every effort to attend.

Summer Camp: Our Scouts decided to attend Camp Hood this summer. Cost is $200 if paid in full by March 31st and $250 after March 31st. We will decide at the Troop Committee meeting if we will attend the week of 6/17 or 6/24. We need adults to attend summer camp. No special training is required. The only requirement is that at least 1 of the minimum 2 adults must be at least 21 years old and have had Youth Protection Training (YPT). YPT takes about an hour and is completed on-line. The Troop pays the adult’s fees. Let me know if you are interested. 

Eagle Court of Honor: We will conduct an Eagle Court of Honor at 2 pm on Sunday, 2/26 at FUMC for FIVE of our Scouts. We will celebrate this monumental accomplishment by Alex M., Baxter H., Harrison M., Jay R. and Timmy L.. Four of these guys graduate in 2012 and join three other Eagles from this class, Jake F., Andrew W. and Josh L. Two other Scouts of the class of 2012 are on track to also achieve the rank of Eagle, Eric L. and Patrick B. Yes, count them, that will be nine Eagles from the class of 2012!

Philmont is looking for summer workers! Please visit our Troop FB page or follow the link below for more information.

Philmont Summer Employment

It is not to late to sign up for Forestry Day on February 11. All fees and registration forms must be turned in by Feb. 6. The event will take place at the HCC extension off of HWY 18 in Raymond.

At Fall Camporee, we followed General Grant’s 200 mile land campaign of May 1863, as he crossed the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg and won battles at Port Gibson and Raymond, and captured Jackson. Attempts to stop the Union Army at Champion Hill and Big Black River Bridge failed; and Confederate General Pemberton was forced to retreat to the city of Vicksburg. Here Pemberton had the advantage of the fortified hills and high bluffs that made his defense nearly impregnable. The 6.5 mile Confederate perimeter included gun pits, trenches, lunettes, forts and redoubts; with nicknames such as Fort Hill, Stockade Redan, the Great Redoubt and Square Fort.
Grant was anxious for a quick victory and, after a hasty reconnaissance, ordered an attack – which was repulsed. Two days later, Grant hurled an entire division of 30,000 soldiers – but they were driven back a second time with severe losses. When these direct assaults failed, Grant decided to starve the city into submission, and the Siege of Vicksburg commenced on May 25.
For the next forty-seven days and nights, the citizens and soldiers experience the shock and awe from a constant barrage of 220 infantry artillery pieces and naval gunfire from Admiral Porter’s fleet in the river. Vicksburg was surrounded by 70,000 Union soldiers. Frightened citizens sought shelter from the bombardment in caves dug into the hillsides. The summer heat was unbearable, water supplies dwindled, and mule meat became a delicacy. By the end of June, the soldier’s daily ration was a handful of peas and rice per man per day.
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This brings us to the 2012 Western District Spring Camporee, where Scouts will learn the rest of the story of the Vicksburg Land and Water Campaign – while hiking the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Troops will bivouac Friday and Saturday nights on the outskirts of Vicksburg at historic Camp Wilkerson. Scouts will be served their meals “military style” under a tent commissary. On Saturday morning, Troops will be shuttled to the Military Park where they will hike the 14-Mile Hike Through History.
On Saturday night, back at Camp Wilkerson, there will be a campfire with an Order of the Arrow Callout, followed by a Cobbler Tasting and Coffee Judging. Camporee participants will be awarded the “inner-circle” to the Fall Camporee patch – with the image of the USS Cairo gunboat. There will be a booth set up at Camp Wilkerson where Troops can also purchase the commemorative patch for completing the 14-Mile Hike.

We have had so many of our Scouts having their Eagle Board of Reviews over the last several weeks and more are coming! We are so proud of each of our Scouts and all they have accomplished while in Troop 88. It is hard to believe we have had OVER 100 Troop 88 Scouts make Eagle! What a GREAT testimony for our Troop, Scout Master, parent volunteers and the First United Methodist Men’s Club of Clinton, who has sponsored us for so many years! We also need to thank the First United Methodist Church of Clinton for sponsoring our program and allowing us to use their facilities, buses and supporting our Scouts!

Thank you to all who are using the Troop Kroger reloadable Gift Cards. Your dedication to reloading the cards has helped the Troop tremendiously! Our Scouts are able to get the tools needed to help with their Scouting. Please let Dee know if you know of anyone else who would like to have a reloadable card. All money loaded HELPS our Troop!

Dee also has Mazzio cards for sale for only $5.00. This is a GREAT deal with all money going back into the Troop Funds. The coupons themselves are worth well over $5.00. Coupons include Free Small Pizza, Free Salad Bar, BOGO items and many more!

Be Fit For Life 5K Run/walk or 1 mile fun run: The Andrew Jackson Council, Boy Scouts of America is hosting a 5K run/walk to benefit the youth in our 22 county service area. One of the aims of Scouting is to teach young people to be “Physically Fit”. Our goal with this event is two-fold to help teach young people about living a healthy lifestyle with exercise and to raise awareness of the Scouting Programs in Central Mississippi. The 5k will be held on March 24, 2012 at the Council Office. Race starts at 9. We are need of Racers and Sponsors. Please see the attached flyer. To register for the race or for more information click here: The Flyer

Be Fit For Life 5K Run/Walk: Registraion Forms