2008-09 Future Outings:
September 2008
 Oktoberfest, Fishing
October 2008
  Trail of History
November 2008
  Gourmet Cooking
December 2008
  First Aid Meet
January 2009
  Sledding
February 2009
  Ski Trip
March 2009
  Climbing
April 2009
  Spring Camp o Ree
May 2009
  Railroad Outing
June 2009
  Shooting,
  Summer Camp

Boy Scout Activities

Campouts & Activities
Currently, Troop 69 has about 25 members and is very active. We enjoy outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. Every year we take a trip downhill skiing/snowboarding, biking, and our annual (and popular) gourmet cooking campout. We also camp one weekend every month during the year (except December) and attend summer camp as a troop. We learn outdoor skills such as camping, cooking, and orienteering.

Past adventures included backpacking, cross-country & downhill skiing, and even camping in a cave and on a submarine. These excursions have taken us to New York, South Dakota Black Hills, Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan, Iowa, and Tennessee. Not all of our travels are so distant, as we also take advantage of the excellent parks and camps in Illinois and nearby Wisconsin.

On these campouts, we cook in patrols usually on gas stoves. Our troop has extensive camping equipment including tents, stoves, etc., which are well maintained.

Summer Trips
In the past, Troop 69 has attended Philmont Scout Ranch and a local (within 300 miles) Boy Scout summer camp in odd-numbered years. In even numbered-years, Troop 69 attends summer camp further away from Palatine, but generally within a 1,000-mile radius.

• 2008—Lewis & Clark Scout Camp, South Dakota
• 2007—Camp Roy C. Manchester, Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
• 2006—Camp Waubeeka, Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation, Brant Lake, New York
• 2005—Camp Hiawatha, upper Michigan
• 2004—Camp Medicine Mountain, Black Hills of South Dakota
• 2003—Camp Napowan, Wisconsin
• 2002—Virginia and Appalachian Trail
• 2001—Philmont Scout Ranch and Camp Castle Rock, Wisconsin
• 2000—Ben deLatour Camp and Elkhorn High Adventure Base in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
• 1999—Philmont Scout Ranch and Camp Lowden in Oregon, Illinois
• 1998—Camp Boxwell in Tennessee
• 1997—Black Hills, South Dakota

Families are encouraged to join us on our trips by staying in the camp's family camping area or nearby campground.

2008-09 Activities

• June 2009—Shooting, Summer Camp
• May 2009—Railroad Outing
• April 2009—Spring Camporee
• March 2009—Climbing  
• February 2009—Ski Trip
• January 2009—Sledding
• December 2008—First Aid Meet
• November 2008—Gourmet Cooking
  Boy Scout Troop 69 is having a gourmet cooking campout. This is your chance to help make and enjoy exceptional camp food. We will be camping at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL. In addition to great food, there is an opportunity to hike and see the beautiful scenery at Starved Rock State Park. Permission slips are due November 5, 2008.
• October 2008—Trail of History Glacial Park
  Volunteers from across the country portray and demonstrate life as it was from 1670 – 1850 in the former Northwest Territory which encompasses present day Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and portions of eastern Minnesota. The event’s focus is to show the interrelationship between nature, man and cultural development. These demonstrations and hands-on activities include a variety of skills, foods and games from the time period. Our troop will be camping at Chain O’Lakes State Park in Spring Grove, Illinois, which is only 8 miles from the event.   
• September 2008—OA Fall Fellowship, Oktoberfest, Fishing
  Troop 69 will be fishing at Prophetstown State Park in Prophetstown, IL, located on the northeast edge of the city along the south bank of the Rock River in Whiteside County—a scenic and historic area offering a variety of recreational facilities. Once the site of an American Indian village, the 53-acre park derives its name from the Native American prophet Wa-bo-kie-shiek. We will be fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bullhead, carp, sauger, and walleye in the Rock River.

Past Activities

• May 2008—Wildman Whitewater Rafting
• April 2008—Spring Camporee
  “We went to the 2008 spring camporee. The Muffinz patrol got 3rd place in archery and the Flaming Arrows patrol got 2nd place in animal tracking. The Muffinz patrol made donuts in the Dutch oven. The Flaming Arrows patrol made pot roast that took 3 hours to make. The Buffalo Soldiers patrol had malt-o-meal with chocolate syrup and spaghetti. Someone thought that it would be funny to tip over the can of spaghetti sauce. There was an O.A. ceremony and Zach M, Mikey C, and Mr. Shipton were picked for the O.A. Friday night we hade to set up our tents in the rain, which wasn’t very pleasant. Everyone got a pole to put their flags on. Friday was Mr. Entwhistle's birthday. Remember to say happy birthday to him. See you next time with the troop’s historian.”—Eddie G., Troop Historian
• March 2008—Camp Lowden  
• February 2008—Climbing, Upper Limits
  “We went on a rock climbing campout and we went to Upper Limits to go rock climbing and belaying. We climbed in a silo. They gave us a lesson on how to belay. Some people made it to the top of the wall. Others like me unfortunately didn’t. We camped in a cabin and there was a kitchen. There was also a TV and a DVD player. It also had tons of board games. We played German spotlight with a hide and go seek twist. Some patrols hade some interesting food, one thing that was interesting is someone cooked fries. Another cool thing was French toast. Lastly one patrol made pudding. One thing our troop needs to work on is cleaning up after meals. I can’t wait till the march outing.”—by Eddie G, Troop Historian
• January 2008—Ski Trip Devil's Head
• November 2007—Gourmet Cooking, Chanahon, IL
• October 2007—Intro to Backpacking, Kettle Moraine, WI
• September 2007—Cantigny
• May 2007—Canoeing
• April 2007—Spring Camporee
• March 2007—Rifle Shooting, Camp Lowden
• February 2007—Young Eagles, Camp Lakota
• January 2007—Cascade Mountain Skiing, Wisconsin
• October 2006—Chain-o-Lakes, Trail of History
• September 2006—Waterfall Glenn
• May 2006—Fishing, Rock Cut State Park, Illinois
• April 2006—Whitewater Rafting, Wisconsin
• March 2006—Cave of the Mounds, Wisconsin
• February 2006—Camp Reinberg, Illinois
• January 2006—Devil's Head Skiing, Wisconsin
• October 2005—Fall Camp-o-ree, Camp Sol R. Crown, Wilmont, Wisconsin
• September 2005—Warren Dunes, Michigan
• May 2005—Wildman Ranch Whitewater Rafting, Crivitz, Wisconsin
• May 2005—Memorial Day Parade

Council Activities
Troop 69 has participated in running the scenarios for the Council's First Aid Meet, and helps in planning and executing the Camp-o-Ree in April.

Training

• Troop Leader Training

Fundraising
These outings are balanced with fundraising and community service projects throughout the year.

Troop 69 has two major fundraisers each year, a wreath sale before Christmas, and a spring fundraiser to be determined each year. Each scout has a portion of the funds he raised credited to his personal scout account to help offset the cost of monthly campouts and/or summer camp.

Community Service
Troop 69 always participates in the Council's annual Scouting for Food Drive in spring, as well as a clean-up day after Palatine's Street Fest every August. Scouts also have helped run activities for Cub Scouts attending Whoop-o-Ree and the Signal Hill Camporee in April.

• November 2007—Winston Campus Service Project

Eagle Scout projects have included:

• Repairing and creating new bike trails at Deer Grove
• Collecting eye glasses
• Planting large areas in Palatine with bushes, trees, and perennials
• Built bat houses
• Held a dance for handicapped students
• Helped with Palatine Park District's Halloween party
• Participated in Relay for Life (American Cancer Society)
• Renovated an historic graveyard

These projects encouraged all Scouts of any rank or age to participate.