Welcome to the Boy Scout Troop 412 Web Site

Wilderness Survival Campout (August 2010)

This last weekend Troop 412 conducted their annual survival training camp weekend. This is something the Troop tries to do at least once a year. This year the Troop camped near Tabor Iowa for their training and Mr. Marshall & Mr. Harmoney lead the training along with some other scouts.

The scouts learned how to generate water from solar stills, track animals, fish with items at hand, and build shelters along with other survival skills.  These requirements were completed for earning the scouts' Wilderness Survival Merit Badge. The weather was hot & humid so the Scouts were able to experience real life conditions.

Special thanks to Buzzy & his wife Carol for allowing the Troop to camp on their property.

Pictures of the Aug 2010 Wilderness Survival Camp out can be see here in the Photo Gallery.  Bonus media;  Time lapsed video of sunrise over Iowa cornfield,  panoramic view of lake.

Eagle Project at Zion Lutheran Church (June 2010)

Billy's Eagle project at Zion Lutheran Church involved paving the courtyard with bricks and constructing 6 picnic tables & chairs. It took several days to complete the work. Some of the work of building the picnic tables went toward the scouts Carpentry Merit Badge.

Pictures of the the Eagle Project can be found here in the Photo Gallery

Eagle Project at Camp Luther (May 2010)

On Saturday May 29th, Andrew conducted a service project for Camp Luther for his Eagle Project.  Members of Troop 412 helped construct a climbing wall near Gerwick Hall (Camp Luther's main lodge).  The project consisted of replacing a section of the climbing wall, adding hand holds, installing a climbing net and adding mulch around the wall.  Donations for the project came from a donor from Camp Luther (climbing net) and Home Depot (wood for climbing wall section).

You can see photos of the project here and also a panoramic view of the wall while it was under construction here.

Spring Camporee - April 2010

The Soaring Eagle District Spring Camporee 2010 was held the weekend of April 23-25. The theme was M*A*S*H.  Many of the staff dressed as characters (Radar, Hawkeye) from the old TV show with Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts (Klinger?). 

The camporee had many attractions including the Omaha Fire Fighters Dive Team, Nebraska Army National Guard helicopter demonstration and Army Communications team from Offutt Air Force Base.  Like most Camporees this one had its fair share of Patrol competitions including bridge challenge, stretcher races, signaling, and an orienteering challenge (called the Scout-O).

Several Webelos from local Packs joined us in order to see what the Boy Scouts do on these Camporees.  The weather was a bit questionable;  It appeared that we might get a downpour of rain any minute.  However, we somehow missed most of the rain and just got high winds.  Thanks to parents Mr. Marshall and Mr. Reynolds who recently donated a "carport tent" the Troop had a dry shelter for cooking and eating.  Order of the Arrow tap outs took place and one scout and one adult was chosen for this camping honor society.

Pictures of the Camporee can be found here in the Photo Gallery

April 2010 - GeoCaching!

At the April 5th Troop Meeting the Troop went GeoCaching and found three caches at nearby Standing Bear Lake.  The Scouts had an opportunity to learn about GeoCaching and GPS navigation.  The Scouts that took part in GeoCaching last year helped guide the newer Scouts.  The Troop found the caches, Exquisite Mint, Cookies & Cream and one of the 12 Days of Caching Series - The Eight Day.  It took about an hour and a half and it started turning dark near the end of the last cache.  After the log books were signed the Troop walked back to the Church (Zion Lutheran Church) at the top of the hill to end the meeting.  It was a nice cool evening to stretch the legs and the Troop was treated to a beautiful sunset.

There are many sites available to get you started in GeoCaching including www.geocaching.com and www.geoscouting.com. 

A GeoCaching Merit Badge is planned for 2nd quarter of 2010.  The requirements have not yet been finalized but a draft has been posted.  GeoCaching is a great sport for Boy Scouts.  It gets the Scout out into the woods, is great exercise and GeoCaching concepts like Cache In Trash Out (CITO) are a perfect fit for the values of Scouting.

You can find pictures of the GeoCaches that the Troop visited here in the Photo Gallery.

February 2010 - Funapalooza!

The last weekend of February, Troop 412 had it's annual Funapalooza. What is a Funapalooza? It is the Troop's yearly event that allows scouts that have advanced in rank or have earned a merit badge to aparticipate in a weekend of electronic gaming.  It is the only "campout" that the Scouts can have electronic devices with them.  So consequenctly, the Troop look forward to this cabin camping all year. Some Scouts (and even some adults) worked on their Totin' Chip card.  This year the Funapalooza was held in a caben at Camp Wakanda in Bellevue Nebraska.

Pictures of the Funapalooza feed can be found here in the Photo Gallery.

January 2010 - Pancake Feed

One Sunday this January Troop 412 held a pancake fundraiser at it's charter member church Zion Lutheran Church. The Scouts sought donated food items from local businesses and coordinated the event.  The Troop would like to thank Village Inn (138th & Maple), Burger King (144th & Center) and those individuals that generously supplied the Troop with items for the Pancake Feed.

Pictures of the pancake feed can be found here in the Photo Gallery.

October 2009 - Fall Camporee

The Soaring Eagle Fall Camporee at Little Sioux Scout Ranch theme was "The Revenge of the Pumpkins". There were six events and competitions at the Fall Camporee on Saturday morning. In the afternoon the Troop spent time on a service project. Troop 412 takes 1st place overall in the weekend's competition. The Troop finished the canoe race in 1 minute 15 seconds and the fire starting in 1 minute.

Farewell Scoutmaster Auch

The September 2009 Campout at Camp Eagle was a Webelos invitational campout. Webelos Scouts that were interested in joining the Troop in the future camped with the Scouts and participated in some camping activities.  The Troop also used this time to reorganize their patrol boxes and camp gear before the cold weather sets in later this year.

This was also our beloved Scoutmaster Auch's last campout before he took his new job in Louisiana.  We wish him well. He will be missed.  Mr. Auch told his legendary campfire stories to the Troop one last time.

Pictures of the campout can be found here. (Sorry no 360 panoramas of the campsite.  I simply forgot this time)

July 2009 Summer Camp

This July, Troop 412 spent a week at Camp Cedars.  This was the Troop's 4th summer camp at Camp Cedars and we received Honor Unit for a third year in a row. The Troop spent the week at camp and earned many merit badges and participated in many events like climbing, COPE, shotgun, and of course Lunastix juggling.  We had 15 Scouts from the Troop this year which is the most that we've ever had.  This is nice progress when you compare that to our first year's summer camp (4 years ago) when we had 6 Scouts.

Pictures from the July summer camp at Camp Cedars can be found here.  You can find a "zoomable" panorama photo of our campsite here.

Scouting for Food

On two different weekends in March & April the Cubs and Scouts of Pack 412 and Troop 412 collected food items for the Omaha Food Bank. The drive kicked off Saturday, March 28, when area Cubs & Scouts distributed door hangers throughout the neighborhoods around Zion Lutheran Church with instructions on how the public can participate in this food drive. The following Saturday, April 4, they returned to collect non-perishable food donations.

Scouts participate in Scouting for Food to fulfill their oath to "Help other people at all times. "Scouting promotes community involvement and emphasizes youth helping other youth.

Pack 412 and Troop 412 collected over 2000 items of food during the food drive! Thank you to all the volunteers and to our community that rallied to donate food.

March 2009 Campout

The Troop camped at Camp Cedars for their March camp out. The Troop welcomed the warm weather that the weekend offered. 

Newer Scouts were shown basic Scouting skills from the older Scouts. They were taught fire building and axe skills to help them earn their Toten' Chip and Fireman 'Chit awards. Saturday afternoon the new Scouts went on a five mile hike for one of their 2nd class requirements. Meanwhile, the older Scouts worked on a service project, dismantling an old wooden structure. Mr. Moran brought his video gear so that the Scouts could work on their Cinematography Merit Badge.

Photos from the campout can be found here in the Troop Photo Gallery.

Troop Fundraiser

On Saturday March 14 the Troop held a fundraiser and sold hot dog, chips, sodas and chocolate bars in front of Canfield's Sporting Good store. Many of the store's customer stopped by to buy a lunch and help the Troop earn money to buy much needed camp gear.

Thank you to everyone that helped out and in particular Omaha Steaks for their hot dog donations and Canfield's for letting us set up in front of their store.

The Troop will be at Canfields again selling hot dogs on Saturday, April 25th between the hours of 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.. The cost for an Omaha Steak hot dog, bag of chips, and a soda will be $4.00. If you are in the area (8457 W Center Rd) please stop by for lunch.

Scoutmaster Auch awarded Wood Badge

On February 9th, Troop 412 Scoutmaster Kris Auch received his Wood Badge award at the Troop Meeting. 

The Scouts and parents of Troop 412 wish to congratulate and thank Mr. Auch for his hard work and dedication for not just completing his Wood Badge training but also for inspiration that he has provided for Troop 412 in the last 3 years as his tenure as the Troop's Scoutmaster. 

The  Wood Badge is the Boy Scouts' premier training course. Baden-Powell designed it so that Scouters could learn, in as practical a way possible, the skills and methods of Scouting. It is first and foremost, learning by doing. The members of the course are formed into patrols and these into a troop. The entire troop lives in the out-of-doors for a week, camping, cooking their own meals, and practicing Scout skills.

Scoutmaster Auch joins other Wood Badge recipients in the Troop including Melinda Auch (wife), Rick Emas and Kurt Harmoney.

Photos from the ceremony can be found in the Troop Photo Gallery.