This is the place for timely troop announcements, outing & activity details and news blurbs. Check back often for changes and updates.
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Posted 05/20/12 — Poconos White Water Rafting, Jim Thorpe, PA! (Saturday 05/26/12). Rain or Shine–the weather outlook is excellent! Depart Tuckahoe Community Center 7:45 sharp (please arrive by 7:15–7:20am). This is a 2.5 hour drive and our group has a mandatory check-in at 11:15am & everyone must be present at the same time for check-in–we should ALL try to arrive by 10:45am! You will have 1 hour to check-in, pick a tight-fitting wet suit and eat your brown bag lunch — and the waiting lines are long! Cost is $36/ person, excluding wet suits ($8), booties ($3) and gas for driver ($40 est’d round trip cost, shared by all passengers). No refund on cancellations, as troop had to prepay outfitter and no refunds are given to troop.
We will be on the river about 5 hours, returning back to Outfitter shop around 6:00pm. BRING a change of dry clothes to wear & a towel for the ride back home but leave everything in car (including cell phones–no cell coverage & billfolds) while on river! There is a free snack dinner (hot dog, chips and lemonaide); there is also a burger stand with other refreshments and a gift store. Adults should have completed the Safety Afloat training module. ALL Rafters (including adults) must bring the adult-signed Pocono Whitewater Rafting Waiver form (below). There are several helpful links below, ALL of which should be read, and include fees, directions, temps, etc.
Please print out the 1-page Parent / Leader’s Guide, read and bring with you, as it includes the itenerary, driving directions and other critical information.
Parent / Leader’s Guide Rafting Event ==> Pocono Rafting Trip Event Details
Pocono Whitewater Rafting Website
Everyone Must Bring this Signed Form ==> Pocono Rafting Waiver Form
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Posted 05/16/12 — 17th Annual Beach Jam, Wildwood, NJ, May 19 & 20. This fun Beach Camping event requires check-in @ 10:30–11am, so we MUST depart Tuckahoe Community Center (TCC) @ 8:00am sharp! Please arrive at TCC no later than 7:30am. Cost is $115 & payable at departure Sat Morning ($70 camping fee + $25 for lunch / misc + $20 gas fee). Camping fees were prepaid & are non-reimbursable. Scouts must bring Class “A” shirt for meals, wristwatch & will be permitted to bring cell phones! Beach toys are also permissable (sand sculting tools for Beach Jam contest, wiffle ball, football, frisbee, volleyball–mark your initials). The weather outlook is excellent: 55–70 with only 10% chance of rain!!
Please print out the 1-page Parent / Leader’s Guide, read and bring with you, as it includes contact info, the itinerary, driving directions, advanced preparation requirements and other helpful information.
Parent / Leader’s Guide to Beach Jam Campout
Beach Camping Gear List (unchanged from ’09)
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Posted 05/15/12 — Upcoming Swim Night, Wed May 16, 7–8pm (revised time), Riverdale Country School, 5250 Fieldston Rd, Riverdale, NY. Meet Troop 240 at entrance to school on Fieldston Rd at 6:45pm sharp! Cost $3/ youth, adults free. Great opportunity to complete swim requirements for 2nd and/or 1st class! ALL scouts must retake and pass the BSA swim test each year! According T240 Scoutmaster Avi Rubinsztejn, there is ample street parking nearby. Walk to nearby stairs (about 100o ft from entrance), 60–70 steep stairs down to pool. Free lockers & showers available; must shower before entering pool. No scuba or snorkeling gear allowed. All first timers at the pool must pass a “deep water” swim test administered by T240. Pool is sectioned off into free swim area and laps. Lifeguard hired by T240.
Map to Riverdale Country School
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Posted 05/13/12 — Special Troop Meeting, Monday May 14, 2012, American Legion Hall, 42 Bell Rd., Scarsdale, NY. Bring in Pocono Whitewater Rafting permission forms and any troop tent taken home for cleaning. Lashing and other event planning will be discussed and every scout should know if they can participate in either the Beach Jam or the Pocono Whitewater Rafting trip later this month. The deadline is quickly approaching and both events historically have had extraordinarily high turnouts!
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Posted 04/15/12 – Upcoming “Good Turn” Graymoor Campout and Iron Chef Cookoff, Sat April 21 – Sun April 22, Graymoor Monastery, Garrison, NY. Meet at Tuckahoe Community Centere @ 7am, depart 7:30am sharp! Patrol Grubmasters should arrive 15 minutes early. $25 Camping fee, payable at April 15th Troop Meeting. All Scouts have the opportunity to earn 5–6 hours of valuable community service hours (10–12 required for upcoming White Water Rafting Trip in late May). Iron Chef Cookoff Sunday morning–required ingredient is Pineapple–Brother Ted Novak final tasting judge. Several camping advancement requirements are available. Ball games and frisbee available late Saturday afternoon. Bonfire & Skits planned Sat night. Scouts will get dirty during the day Saturday & MUST have work gloves and Tick Repellent. Will have use of indoor bathrooms and showers at the monastery. Adult Leaders should bring shovels, wheelbarrows and other yard working tools. More important details are in the 3 printable handouts below.
ALL PERSONAL GEAR (including Mess Kit, Eating Utensils & Clothes) MUST HAVE YOUR INITIALS!
Personal Gear List – Early Spring Tent Camping (use list from 2009–it has’t changed!)
Parent / Leader’s Guide ==> Good Turn Campout & Iron Chef Cookoff – Graymoor Monastery
Topographical Map – Graymoor Monastery
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Posted 04/16/12 — Upcoming Swim Night, Wed April 18, 7–8pm (revised time), Riverdale Country School, 5250 Fieldston Rd, Riverdale, NY. Meet Troop 240 at entrance to school on Fieldston Rd at 6:45pm sharp! Cost $3/ youth, adults free. Great opportunity to complete swim requirements for 2nd and/or 1st class! According T240 Scoutmaster Avi Rubinsztejn, there is ample street parking nearby. Walk to nearby stairs (about 100o ft from entrance), 60–70 steep stairs down to pool. Free lockers & showers available; must shower before entering pool. No scuba or snorkeling gear allowed. All first timers at the pool must pass a “deep water” swim test administered by T240. Pool is sectioned off into free swim area and laps. Lifeguard hired by T240.
Map to Riverdale Country School
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Posted 03/29/12 — Congratulations to our latest Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society, inductees: Jason C., Kevin M., Matthew O., & Mike P. Good luck on your upcoming Ordeal!
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Posted 03/07/12 — Wintoree Advancement Campout @ Camp Durland, Putnam Valley, NY, Saturday March 10th–Sunday March 11th. Depart from Tuckahoe Community Center (TCC) at 7:15am. Brown bag lunch for Saturday. Annual Merit badge and First Class Advancement weekend with Troop 240 at at Durland. Cabin Camping. Bring your mess kits and a refillable bottle for beverages. Class A uniforms (with neckerchiefs) will be needed for dinner (only). Wear layers as the cabins can get warm but be prepared to be outside! Cost for the Wintoree is $20 per person (Scouts & adults) for those staying for dinner (includes cabin rentals). Any scout wishing to tent camp must be properly prepared and have prior scoutmaster approval.
Counselors sit with you to review your completed worksheets. Lower Rank (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd & 1st Class) Scouts should review their rank requirements. Rank requirements and Merit Badge Worksheets are available here: Advancement Worksheets
To keep the costs so low this year, troop parents have stepped forward to prepare food trays (that feed ten people). Thanks in Advance to: Mrs Tulotta (Mac & Cheese), Mr Murtha (chili), and Mr Panico (sausage and peppers), Mr McCandless (salad). More volunteers are still needed. If you can contribute contact Scoutmaster Mike O asap!
Senior scouts from T240 will be on hand to coordinate activities this weekend. Over 50 scouts plan to attend.
Troop 353 scouts must be prepared with at least 5 well-rehearsed skits!
Personal Gear List Cabin Camping (from TMR, unchanged from 2010)
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Posted 02/25/12 – Indoor Rock Climbing @ The Rock Club (TRC), New Rochelle, NY, Monday Feb. 27, 2012. 7-9pm. Meet @ TRC @ 6:45pm. 914-633-7625. Webelos Invited. Allow extra time to find TRC and park.
- Preregistration: ALL participants, including parents that want to climb, MUST complete the online waiver (if younger than 18 years old) form PRIOR to arrival here ==> Waiver
a) Climbing Merit Badge Course – $75 / person / session. Includes 6 hours of instruction & all necessary climbing gear. Must be at least 13 years old to qualify for the merit badge class
b) Recreational Climbing (includes discount) $15 / person / session — harness & shoes (optional) = $5 each;
c) Belayers – You must be at least 14 to belay AND have completed The Rock Club’s belay test; if you are going to belay only (not climb), then there is no cost;
d) bouldering – open to all if 12 or older, adult supervision required for safety reasons.
- The Rock Club: Contact info & Driving directions ==> Contact Info & Directions
- Review Climbing Knots here ==> Climbing Knots
- Climbing Merit Badge requirements ==> Climbing MB
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Posted 01/25/12 – Annual Ice Fishing and Winter Recreational Outing, Ten Mile River Scout Ranch, Narrowsburg, NY, Saturday Jan 28th–Sunday Jan 29th. Depart from Tuckahoe Community Center (TCC) at 8:15am Saturday (scouts should arrive 7:45am sharp), Returning Sunday Jan 29th to TCC by 2pm. Cost is $60 + $25 per family per car for gas. Scouts will need healthy snacks & water in their daypack for outdoor activities. Snow sports and ice fishing instruction by Ray Evans will commence on Saturday after lunch. If enough snow is on the ground, then Quinzee building will be permitted (need Scoutmaster’s approval, bring shovel). Old Goat patrol will prepare a traditional turkey dinner for everyone Saturday night. It is imperative that parents & scouts initial all clothing articles in a cabin camping setting. All additional event details are found in the two print-outs below.
Personal Gear List Cabin Camping (unchanged from 2010)
Parent / Leader’s Guide to TMR Cabing Campout
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Posted 01/20/12 — Annual Algonquin District Klondike, Alpine Scout Reservation, Alpine, NJ, Sat Jan 21st.
EVENT CANCELED DUE TO PENDING ICE / SNOW STORM
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Posted 01/18/12 — Annual Algonquin District Klondike, Alpine Scout Reservation, Alpine, NJ, Sat Jan 21st. Meet at Tuckahoe Community Center @ 7:30am, departing at 8am sharp. We should return 4–5pm. Scouts should wear winter clothing that is water proof as precipitation is forecast. Coats with Hoods recommended. Their daypack should include a healthy lunch (include some protein), energy drink / water, compass kit & Boy Scout Handbook. Put all items in freezer bags inside daypack.
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Posted 01/02/12 — Annual Hiking with Eagles, Storm King Mountain, Sunday Jan 8th. Meet at Tuckahoe Community Center @ 9:45am, departing at 10am sharp. Several current and former Eagle & Life Scouts will be in attendance. This is a terrific learning opportunity for all younger scouts! We should return 2–4pm.
Scouts should wear winter clothing & their daypack should include a healthy lunch (include some protein), energy drink / water, compass, personal first aid kit & Boy Scout Handbook. In addition to the Boy Scout Handbook, here is another terrific overview of proper clothing & personal items to take for a winter hike (we will not need crampons), provided by the Appalachian Mountain Club ==> Winter Hiking 101
Info on Storm King Mountain can be found in this link, provided by the NY NJ Trail Conference ==> Storm King Trail Summary
Also, here are 3 more summaries of the hike, including maps ==> Storm King Summit Trail <== (bring this printout).
Weather forecast for Cornwall-on-the-Hudson
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Posted 12/09/11 — Winter Trekoree Advancement Day, Ward Pound Ridge, Saturday Dec 101th, 2011, 8am-3pm. Meet at Tuckahoe Community Center at 7:30am. Back by popular demand, this is a huge advancement opportunity: knots & lashing, fire building, map & compass, cooking, & hiking! Scouts should be dressed warmly & in layers (avoid cotton), including hats, gloves and hiking boots with wool sock. Temps will be warming but in 30s & could reach low 40s. Eat breakfast in car and bring your own lunch, healthy snack, Scout Handbook, compass and day pack. Guests from T-60 attending! Print the two handouts below ==>
Backpacking Personal Fall Camping Gear List
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Posted 11/05/11 — Durland Scout Reservation, Putnam Valley, NY Nov 12-13; Meet at Tuckahoe Community Center at 7:30am sharp for equipment check-out & depart at 8:00am sharp on Sat. Nov 12th. Cost = $25/person. Bring daypack with Boy Scout Handbook, healthy bag lunch and snack for Saturday. Scouts & parents will have opportunities to backpack/hike the Blue Trail from the north end of Durland at site #37, and part of the historic Appalachian Trail. First Year Scouts, and any attending Webelos, will hike 2–3 miles. Older scouts will backpack 3–5 miles. Map & compass requirements can be completed. Should return back to the Tuckahoe Community Center by 1pm at the latest on Sunday. Invitation is out to small Scarsdale troop and a few of their sr scouts. This is cold weather camping, so be prepared for below freezing temps overnight–monitor forecast as outined in Leader’s Guide below. Please print out the 2-page Parent / Leader’s Guide, read and bring with you, as it includes contact info, the itinerary, driving directions, advanced preparation requirements and other helpful information about the park.
Parent / Leader’s Guide to Backpacking Campout at Durland – (Print this summary)
Backpacking Personal Fall Camping Gear List (same since 2008)
Topo Map – Durland & Fahnestock St Park (large file, slow to open)
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Posted 10/09/11 — North South Lake, Haines Valley, NY (near Hunter Mountain) Oct 15-16, Meet at ICS Garage at 7:30am sharp for equipment check-out & depart at 8:00am sharp on Sat. Oct 15th. Cost = $55/person, ($35 camping + $10 cash gas + $10 cash lunch Sunday). Bring daypack with Boy Scout Handbook, healthy bag lunch and snack for Saturday. Scouts & parents will have opportunities to backpack/hike the Escarpment Trail with scenic views of the Hudson Valley, bouldering and low-grade rock climbing, and canoeing or kayaking (additional $25 rental, PFDs required) and fishing (license required if 16 or older). Scouts must be 1st Class swimmers or paddle with adult that has completed Safety Afloat training & has passed 1st Class swim test. On the way home Sunday, scouts will have opportunity to visit Katerskill Falls (highest in NY state) & should return back to the Tuckahoe Community Center by 3pm at the latest (traffic permitting). Please print out the 2-page Parent / Leader’s Guide, read and bring with you, as it includes contact info, the itinerary, driving directions, advanced preparation requirements and other helpful information about the park.
Parent / Leader’s Guide to Canoe Trip & Campout – (Print this summary)
North South Lake Park Description (NYS Dept of Environ. Conservation)
North South Lake Campground Map
North South Lake – Escarment & Rock Shelter Trails
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Posted 08/04/11 – Ten Mile River Scout Camps / Camp Keowa, Aug 7-13. Meet at ICS Garage at 8:30 sharp for equipment check and depart from ICS Garage at 9:30am sharp on Sunday Aug. 7th. By now, all advancement classes should be set. For those of you who did not submit a complete medical form by now (you will have been notified by ASM Urbina), you will need to submit the missing items to SM Occhicone. If you fail to do so, YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP.
Our scouts are set to accomplish considerable advancement, while at the same time enjoying memorable extracurricular activities including: Sports, rappelling and climbing, all-you-can-eat BBQ, caving, zip line, hiking, water trampoline, 16 man war canoes, COPE courses, mountain biking and more! We have planned an off site activity on Wednesday evening so you will have to fill out and complete the attached TMR Out of Camp Permission Slip below. This form will be collected on Sunday when you arrive at ICS. Ten Mile River, here we come!!!
SUNDAY MEALS: Breakfast in car and Brown bag lunch
REQUIRED FORMS:
a. If contacted, you have missing information from the Class 3 Medical Form
b. TMR Out of Camp Permission Form – (Parents Must Bring Signed Form to Departure)
OTHER HELPFUL INFO:
c. Personal Summer Camp Gear List (print and bring to camp)
d. TMR Daily Grace and Fight Song (print and bring to camp)
e. ALL TEN MILE RIVER SCOUT CAMP INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE ==> http://www.tenmileriver.org
PARENTS: Want to send a letter to your son who’s going away for the first time? (Please try to send early, as mail gets to camp slowly.) Send mail here:
Scouts Name
Troop 353/Campsite #19
Camp Keowa
Ten Mile River Scout Camps
1481 Crystal Lake Road
Narrowsburg, NY 12764
Camp Keowa Phone Number: 845-252-2027
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Posted 07/31/11 — Hi-Adventure Trip. Aug 7 — 13, Sail School Bahamas, Marsh Harbor, Bahamas. Scouts should have all essential items packed in 28–30″ narrow soft luggage bag. All medical forms and persmission slips should have been submitted to ASM Khalil Shalabi. Total cost is $1500, include $150 cash for sundry items. There is a last minute BSA Swim Test to be held at ASM Ralph Stupple’s Aunt’s house in Valhalla on Monday Aug.1st, 6:30pm. On Thursday, Aug 4th, Bahama-bound scouts are being given a special offer to go sailing with Mr. Bob Frost on The Sea Note out of City Island Harbor–details to follow via email. Please consult the Sail School Bahama website for all relevant details, including potential iteneraries, packing lists & general Q&A. Any questions that cannot be answered by reviewing the website, should be directed toward High Adventure Program Coordinator, Ben Rosner.
Remember: We all should arrive at the Delta Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday morning Aug 7th by 6:15am at the latest!
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Posted 06/15/11 — 4th Annual Frank McCluskey Friendship Outing (Sat & Sun 06/25- -26), Canoe the Delaware River and Camp at Ten Mile River, Narrowsburg, NY. Meet at ICS Garage @ 7am, depart @ 7:30am sharp! It is very important that we check in at Landers Canoe Rental by 10:30am! Cost = $70/person, $50/guest + $40 gas/auto ($50 Non-refundable). Bring bag lunch and snack for Saturday. All invited guests forms (see Download page) must be turned in by 6/16/11. Please print out the 2-page Parent / Leader’s Guide, read and bring with you, as it includes contact info, the itenerary, driving directions, advanced preparation requirements and other helpful information.
Parent / Leader’s Guide to Canoe Trip & Campout – (Print this summary)
Canoe Trip – Tent Camping Gear List (list has not changed in 5 years!)
Beginner’s Guide to Canoeing (required reading)
Lander’s Liability Release Form (required signature)
Map of Ten Mile River Scout Camp
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Posted 05/19/11 — Poconos White Water Rafting, Jim Thorpe, PA! (Saturday 05/28/11). Rain or Shine–the weather outlook is excellent! Depart ICS Garage at 9:00am (please arrive by 8:30am). Our group has a mandatory check-in at 11:30am & everyone must be present at the same time for check-in–we should ALL try to arrive by 11:15am! You will have 1 hour to check-in, pick a tight-fitting wet suit and eat your brown bag lunch — and the waiting lines are long! We will be on the river about 5 hours, returning back to Outfitter shop around 6:00pm. BRING a change of dry clothes to wear & a towel for the ride back home but leave everything in car (including cell phones & billfolds) while on river! There is a free snack dinner (hot dog, chips and lemonaide); there is also a burger stand with other refreshments and a gift store. Adults should have completed the Safety Afloat training module. ALL Rafters (including adults) must bring the adult-signed Pocono Whitewater Rafting Waiver form (below). There are several helpful links below, ALL of which should be read, and include fees, directions, temps, etc.
Please print out the 1-page Parent / Leader’s Guide, read and bring with you, as it includes the itenerary, driving directions and other critical information.
Parent / Leader’s Guide Rafting Event ==> Pocono Rafting Trip Event Details
Frequently Asked Questions about Rafting Trip
Everyone Must Bring this Signed Form ==> Pocono Rafting Waiver Form
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Posted 05/18/11 — 16th Annual Beach Jam, Wildwood, NJ, May 21 & 22. This fun Beach Camping event requires check-in @ 10:30–11am, so we MUST depart ICS Garage @ 8:00am sharp! Please arrive at ICS Garage no later than 7:30am. Cost is $115 & payable at departure Sat Morning ($70 camping fee + $25 for lunch / misc + $20 gas fee). Camping fees were prepaid & are non-reimbursable. Scouts must bring Class “A” shirt for meals, wristwatch & will be permitted to bring cell phones! Beach toys are also permissable (sand sculting tools for Beach Jam contest, wiffle ball, football, frisbee, volleyball–mark your initials). The weather outlook is excellent: 55–70 with only 10% chance of rain!!
Please print out the 1-page Parent / Leader’s Guide, read and bring with you, as it includes contact info, the itinerary, driving directions, advanced preparation requirements and other helpful information.
Parent / Leader’s Guide to Beach Jam Campout
Beach Camping Gear List (from ’09)
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Posted 05/03/11 — Rifle Shooting at Sportsman’s Club, Cortlandt Manor, NY (Sat. 05/07/11), 8am–3pm. Please arrive at ICS Garage at 7:30am. Depart ICS Garage at 8:00am Sharp in order to arrive at Blue Mountain by 9:00am for mandated NRA training. Bring lunch, water, afternoon snack, & Tick Spray! Under the careful safety standards of the NRA, scouts 12 & older will be able to shoot range targets with .22 rifles. All attending adults need to review Ch. 7, in Guide to Safe Scouting, Firearm Safety–an online copy is shown below. Please bring the attached Permission Slip which must be signed by parents. Also kids will need $20 for a troop raffle. Additional details, including driving directions, phone #s, etc. can be found in the Parent Leader’s Guide below. Please print these 2 documents!
Parent Leader’s Guide ==> Blue Mountain Rifle Shoot Details
Parent’s Signature Required ==> NWRA Permission Slip
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Posted 04/16/11 — Hike to Break Neck Ridge trail (Cold Spring, NY) has been rescheduled for Friday April 22. Please arrive at ICS Garage by 8:45am for 9:00am departure. Bring healthy lunch, protein snack, broken-in hiking boots, light rain jacket, hat and tick spray. Weather should be clear in the morning with clouds moving in during the afternoon. This strenuous hike qualifies for requirement 9b of Camping merit badge.
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Posted 04/11/11 – Congratulations to our latest Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society, inductees: William B., Gabe C., Chris L., Mike P., Ian Q. Good luck on your upcoming Ordeal!
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Posted 12/15/09 — The Eastchester Community Action Program’s area director Charlene T. Lambrecht sends Troop 353 a special thank you note and Certificate of Appreciation for our efforts to help raise food during the Thanksgiving Food Drive. ECAP Thank You Note & Certificate
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Posted 11/29/08 — TV Show Host (and Eagle Scout) Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” offers free letters to Scouts about his perspective on attaining the rank of Eagle Scout–Please Read!
Inspiration for Reaching Eagle Scout
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Posted 09/23/08 — Thank You note from Frank McCluskey’s parents. Everyone should read the wonderful and gracious thank you note from Patrick & Violet McCluskey from Ireland. It is never too late to leave your thoughts about Frank in the “comment” section of the “In Memoriam” story posted on April 16, 2008. Truly, Frank lived his life according to the Scout Law & Oath and the Golden Rule.
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