Blog Post - Cardboard Campout!

Troop 2000 had our annual Cardboard Campout at Otter Creek Lake and Park in Toledo, IA. We drove to the building on Friday and everyone brought snacks to share in a big cracker barrel meal. After we ate, everyone grabbed the cardboard and duct tape they wanted to use that was provided and started building their fort. We then put all our stuff in the fort and started playing games. 

Blog Post - Touring the Water Treatment Plant

We went and toured the North Liberty Water Treatment Plant in order to fulfill requirement 5A of the Public Health Merit Badge. We got there really early and first toured the waste collection area where all of the waste water gets collected from all North Liberty homes. Then we went to the water treatment and filtering building and looked at the machines inside.

Blog Post - Campout at Cedar Valley Park

In November of 2023 Troop 2000 and 270 had a fun day of camping and hiking at Cedar Valley Park. When we got there it was already dark. We made dinner and ate, then we set up our tents and went to sleep. When we woke up, the people training for Philmont left and backpacked for ten miles. 

Blog Post - Merit Badge Mania

 

Troop 66 hosted a fun day of merit badge classes taught by professionals who work in the fields related to the badges and involved with scouting. It was at Monticello High School in Monticello Iowa. A lot of merit badges were offered, everything from Eagle requireds like Citizenship in the Nation to non requireds like mammal study and chess.

Blog Post - Sleeping on a Submarine

 

Wisconsin Submarine Overnight Trip, October 13th - 15th

We drove to Manitowoc Wisconsin on October 13th and spent the night at the bunkhouse lodge at the Marsh Haven Nature Center.  Before going to bed we ate at Pizza Ranch, which was awesome.  I love dessert pizza.  The nature center was a big building with bunks on the wall. 

2023 Fall Camporee - Are you tougher than a Scout?

The fall Southern Prairie District Camporee will be held September 22-24 at 5049 American Legion Road, east of Iowa City (Trent's parent's place where we went fishing last year). Scouts are encouraged to join other Troops from the District for a two-night camporee with activities on Saturday that will show which troops have the toughest scouts. This is also the fall campout that we'll be inviting Webelos to get to know our Troop prior to their spring crossover.... so let's have a good showing at this event!

Wisconsin Submarine Overnight Trip, Oct 13th - 15th

 

Troop 2000’s October outing will be to Manitowoc, Wisconsin to visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and to spend Saturday night sleeping aboard the nation's most completely restored WWII Submarine; the USS Cobia. 

Kent Park Campout, August 11th - 13th

 Our August campout will be at Kent Park located 3 miles west of Tiffin on Highway 6. This will be a joint campout between Troop 2000 and Troop 270 on campsites #2 and #4. 

JUNE 2023 LAKE MACBRIDE CAMPOUT

The June campout will be a joint weekend with Troops 2000 and 270 at Lake Macbride State Park’s primitive youth site located in the park’s south non-modern campground. It’s planned to be a casual weekend with paddle boarding, canoeing, and fishing. Other possible activities may include early rank advancement opportunities, campfire programs, hiking, and service/conservation time.

2023 Canoeing Campout SignUp

Enjoy some time on the Maquoketa River and two nights of camping May 19-21 when Troops 2000 and 270 stay at Central Park near Central Junction, Iowa. 

Camp Eastman 2023!

 

From July 2nd-8th, we'll be headed to Camp Eastman, overlooking the Mighty Mississippi. Sign up and have $$ in your scoutbucks account by 4/9 for the early bird base cost of $350 ($380 after). This is the only BSA camp on the Mississippi River and boasts some cool boating merit badges. Other than the boat docks near the river, all of the other program areas of camp are located pretty close together making it easy to transition from one class to another. Great for new scouts.

2023 Lock-In

March 24th-25th Lockin

We will be having a Lock-in, open for all scouts, at First Christian Church on Friday, March 24th at 7pm to Saturday, March 25th at 1pm.  We will be playing games inside and outside, watching movies, and some of our oldest scouts will be sharing about the many adventures they’ve gone on via scouting. We will be familiarizing the newest scouts with our troop and showing them some of the traditions and skills they’ll be seeing at all our meetings and activities. You can sleep inside the church, or you can sleep outside, which will count towards camping nights. It is HIGHLY SUPER-DUPER EXTREMELY encouraged that if you don’t already have Scout rank, come to this event. We will attempt to get through all the requirements possible. 

2023 MID-IOWA COUNCIL RAILROAD CAMPOREE [April 28-30]

 

Troop 2000 and Troop 270 will be attending the Mid-Iowa's Railroad Merit Badge Camporee, April 28 - 30, 2023 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone, IA. Scouts will rotate through program stations staffed by professional railroaders, model railroad builders and other volunteers who will offer instruction on the various parts of the Railroading Merit Badge. As a feature of the event, each participant will take a ride on the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, which will take participants over the highest interurban bridge in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The event will also include an optional religious service, campfire, and other activities.  Every participant gets an event patch. Before heading back home on Sunday, Troops 270 & 2000 may potentially have the opportunity to earn BSA’s Historic Trails Award by following the Kate Shelley Trail.

2023 High Adventure: Apostle Islands - Date Survey

Troop 2000 is planning for a 2023 high adventure trip to Apostle Islands National Park in Lake Superior. Trevor Burke will lead the effort in planning for this high adventure. If anyone is interested in helping with the planning and preparation, please contact Trevor.

 

The Apostle Islands: Along windswept beaches and sandstone cliffs, visitors experience where water meets land and sky, culture meets culture, and past meets present. The 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland coast host a unique blend of cultural and natural resources. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has more lighthouses than any other site in the National Park System with 9 historic towers on 6 islands. More than 240 species of birds breed in and/or migrate through this archipelago. Many of the Islands offer sand beaches, lighthouse tours, hiking, picnicking, sea caves, swimming, and overnight camping.

More detailed information: https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm

Because Lake Superior can be challenging and unpredictable, this will be a guided trip.

APO MBU @ UIowa on 3/4/23

The APO MBU is coming up on 3/4/23. Please register ASAP to get your choice of merit badges. The deadline to register is Feb 13th at 8pm.

Climbing Merit Badge and Dutch Oven Cookoff Weekend (Feb 17-19)

 

February 17th - 19th (17th is a ICCSD no school day)

Troop 2000 scouts will be traveling to Climb Iowa’s Grimes location to earn the Climbing Merit Badge. Under the guidance of Cimb Iowa instructors, scouts will learn about several different aspects of climbing including knots, climbing gear, belaying, and repelling. Cost includes climbing, harness rental, shoe rental and instruction. Must be 11 or older to participate in this MB Class.

This class has a max number of 14 scouts. Signup will be first come first serve and will close on January 31. No refunds once signup closes (but you could find another scout to take your spot). All scouts attending will take part in the Merit Badge class even if they already have the Merit Badge.

2023 MLK Ski Day & Snow Sports Merit Badge

A day trip to Chestnut Mountain Galena, IL for a day of skiing on January 16th (MLK day) (ICCSD no school day). In addition, the Snow Sports MB will be offered for anyone who wants to earn it; lead by MBC Tony DeFurio.

Carpool will depart from First Christain Church at 7:00 am sharp. Expect a 2 hour drive each way. Departure from Chestnut Mountain expected around 4:00 pm with a stop at Culver’s for dinner.

Cardboard Campout December 2022

Cardboard Campout

An event that challenges camping and winter survival skills by building a sleeping shelter out of cardboard, the annual Cardboard Campout is also a time to reflect on our privilege to live in homes rather than structures assembled outdoors from available materials and be in solidarity with those who experience the realities of homelessness. This year we will be at Omega Lodge at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca - a location with a lot of indoor space, we plan to have an escape room available and encourage lots of board/card games. Sleep outside or in the lodge, the choice is yours. 

Monticello Merit Mania

Monticello Merit Mania

When: November 12, event from 8am-3:30pm - with travel time... 6:30am-5pm

Where: Monticello High School, 850 E Oak Street, Monticello, IA 52310 (53 miles)

Who: Available to all registered members of Troop 2000. All Scouts and registered adult leaders should plan to wear Class A uniforms, unless indicated otherwise

Cost:  most half-day badges are $10.00 per scout per half-day class or $20.00 for a full-day class (some additional charges for specific merit badges)

Lunch: $10 for taco bar or burger bar (specifics to be determined after Oct 1)

Needs: We will need parent volunteers to help drive. Please indicate whether you are available to drive or not.

Registration: Must be signed up by November 1. No refunds after the deadline unless a scout takes your place. If you have enough cash available in scoutbucks, please check the appropriate box and it will be deducted.   If your scoutbucks account does not have enough balance, then send a check for the cost plus any deficit in your scoutbucks.   The registration will not be official until payment is received. Please fill out the following online form: 

https://forms.gle/MEfQ94d26f3J1oEh8

October 2022 Minneapolis Urban Trip

 The Troop 2000 October trip will be to Minneapolis, Minnesota. We'll be doing a variety of activities including Northern Star Scouting Basecamp, Mill City Museum, Whirlyball, Mall of America (Nickelodeon Universe), and Science Museum of Minnesota. Registration is open now and closes on October 2nd.