B.S.A. Venturing Crew 560 History
Formerly Explorer Post 560
This section records the History
of our Crew
YEAR 1996
- Charter Organization
- Trinity United Methodist Church
- Arlington, Texas
- November 21, 1996
- First Post Activity
- Dyno - Rock
- December 8, 1996
- First Major Activity
- 2nd Annual Kids New Years Eve Party
- December 31, 1996 / January 1, 1997
- {Don't tell the kids but it was Babysitting}Some were there until 1:00 am and some were there alnight until 8:30
in the morning. We had crafts - games - movies - food - Midnight celebration. (Even though the little ones did it at
10:00 pm) The biggest hit of the night was the cardboard maze. Very Good Fundraiser.
YEAR 1997
- First Charter Presentation
- Presented Our First Charter to Trinity United Methodist Church
- January 19, 1997
- All Post members and Adult Advisors were present. After the Presentation several of the Explorers and the
Advisor and his wife went to CICI's Pizza for Lunch.
- First Post Campout
- Campout at Dinosaur Valley State Park Glen Rose, Texas
- January 31 - February 2, 1997
- All Post members and all but one Adult Advisors were present. A few members got wet and ended up sitting in the
river on February 1st? Great place to camp, hike and study dinosaur foot prints.
- Post Officers Seminar
- Held the First Post Officers Seminar
- February 1, 1997
- All Post Officers were present. Pizza was brought in for lunch.
- Race Cars - Golf - Pizza (again?)
- February activity
- February 16, 1997
- The Post went to Putt Putt Golf and Race Track. Ran several laps with the race cars. Then had several good games of Golf,
and played some arcade games. We then all went to Mr. Gatti's for you guessed it Pizza but not at CICI's this time.
- Climbing the Walls Again
- March Activity
- March 2, 1997
- All Post members and all but one Adult Advisors were present. Madam President seemed to be hanging around in the chimney.
John decided that he better let her down. For some reason Molly always has to strap herself down when she belays for anyone.
something about her feet coming off the floor? Some How we ended up at CICI's Pizza, Again. I wonder if someone in the Post
has stock in CICI's?
- Post Campout
- Campout at SR2 (Sid Richardson Scout Ranch)
- March 21 -23, 1997
- The Post went on a campot at SR2 which is near Bridgeport, Texas.
- TUMC Mens Club Pancake Breakfast
- Trinity UMC Annual Pancake Breakfast
- March 29, 1997
- The Post and Troop members helped at the annual pancake breakfast.
This is an annual service project for the Charter Organization.
- Webelos Woods Weekend
- Webelos Wood Campout On Staff
- April 4/5, 1997
- Post members on Staff at the with the Webelos Woods Weekend for Webelos to see
Scout activities lie ahead of them. The Post assisted with traffice control
and registration
- Cross Timbers District Camporee
- On Staff at District Camporee
- May 9 - 10, 1997
- Post members and Adult Advisors assisted the District Camporee Committee with Traffic Control
and Registration. We also participated in some of the activities and even earned some ribbons.
- Joint Post / Troop Backpacking Trip
- Backpacking Trip - Crocket National Forest East Texas
- May 23 - 25, 1997
- Several Post members and Adult Advisors went on a backpacking trip to the Corcket National Foprest.
a good time was had even if it did rain.
- Post July Activity
- Post Executive Committee Meeting / Post Swimming Party
- June 5, 1997
- Post members and Adult Advisors met for an executive planning meeting to discuss future events. Later the
rest of the Post and Leaders showed up for a (You Guessed it) Pizza / Swimming Party.
Our Thanks to Mr. Trinkman for the use of his Pool.
- July 18 - 20, 1997
- Post Campout at Lake Ray Roberts State Park Johnson Branch Unit. Good hiking and primitive areas; Nice Beach
for swimming activities; Very good camping areas.
- Boy Scout National Jamboree
- Post Advisor on Staff at National Jamboree
- July 23 - August 8, 1997
- Post Advisor Dennis Laughlin was on the Merit Badge Midway Headquarters Staff at the National Boy Scout Jamboree.
Post Members Nathan Laughlin and John Hopkins attended the Jamboree with Council contingent Troop 1649.
All had a great time and experience and are ready for Jambo 2001.
- Post August Activity
- Post Lockin
- August 15-16, 1997
- Post held a Lockin at the Explorer Post Office Suite. Several guests attended as well as Post members.
We of course had our favorite food group (You Guessed it) Pizza from CICI's. We had videos and games.
- Cross Timbers District Boy Scout/Explorer Roundtable
- Post provided the opening ceremony
- September 9, 1997
- Post members provided the openning ceremony at the monthly District Boy Scout/Explorer Roundtable.
- Post September Activity
- Exploring After Dark
- September 27, 1997
- Post members and Adult Advisors Participated in Exploring After Dark which is when Explorers from all over the Council
get together from 9:00 p.m. Saturday night until 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning going to places that work after dark. The places
that we visited this year were Lockeed Martin Aviation - Saw F16 assembly line; - Visited the Tarrant County Jail saw lockup
booking area nad maximun security floor.(Don't want to go there for real); - Visited Fort Worth's 911 call center very interesting
operations; - visited the Fort Worth Police Academy the Explorers even got to rappel from the third floor window of the Training
Tower; and Last but not least we had breakfast at the Fort Worth ZOO along with a tour before they opened to the public.
- Post October Activities
- Annual Pop Corn Sales and Haunted Houses at Six Flags Over Texas.
- October 11 & 25, 1997
- Post members sold Trails End Pop Corn as a Fund Raiser all during the month of October. On October 11 and
October 25, Post members worked in the Haunted Houses at Six Flags Over Texas Ammusement Park. This Was a Council
Fund Raiser But, the Scout and Explorers who participated got access to the rest of the Park Free for the rest of
the time not working. Each group spent two to three hours working.
- Post December Activity
- Kids New Year's Eve Party
- December 31, 1997 - January 1, 1998
- Post members and some Troop 560 Scouts along with Adult Advisors Participated in the 3rd annual Kids New Year's Eve Party
(Child care for New Year's Eve but don't tell the kids that that is what we were doing.) This event is one of our big fund
raisers for summer trips and activities. Plus the parent have a good safe place for there kids on New Year's Eve.
The kids have fun and so do we.
YEAR 1998
- Post January Activity
- Kids New Year's Eve Party
- Completed - January 1, 1998 until December 31 this year.
- Post ended it First Year as an Explorer Post and Earned the Quality Unit Award.
Long range planning is to go on Philmont trip in 2000. Phone committee is under way to
to start calling at the appropriate time to get reservation.
- ***Two New Members***
- Post February Activity
- Held Annual Election of Officers
- February 16, 1998
- Post members and some guests had a good time playing video games at Putt Putt
and even though it rained the whole time, some got in a game of golf. AND
of course it was followed up with pizza at CiCi's.
- On Sat. 14th the Post helped box and load canned goods for the Tarrant County Food bank.
The Cross Timbers District Chapter of the Order of the Arrow and a Post from Mansfield along
some from several Boy Scout Troops helped also. === Almost a whole Ben E Keith Trailer
Full. === Good going to all Scouts, Arrowmen and Explorers from both Cross Timbers and Tejas.
- Post March Activity
- C.O.P.E. Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience
- March 27 - 29, 1998
- Nine of our youth participated in the COPE Course at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch.
Lady Louise and Uncle Lloyd complemented our Post on the fact that they worked together
as a team almost from the get go. Some of the activities participated in include:
- Being the last one to catch the Duck and have to say everyone's COPE name in order.
good job Joking Jacob.
- Getting all nine explorers on a 18" x 18" square (at the same time)
- Then try the same on a 8" x 8"???
- Walking the 20' horozontal pole Blind Folded (18" off the ground)
- Doing the above and have to pass someone coming from the other way.
- The journey Blind leading the Blind across the course.
- Getting everyone through the hole in the ship.
- Getting everyone over that 12 foot high wall.
- Getting everyone through that spiders web without ring the bell or waking the spider.
- Putting the ring on the Giants' finger without anyone touching it.
- Walking the 30 foot pole without a BLIND FOLD (30 feet off the ground)
- Gettng everyone and that cup of nitro from one side of the ravine to the other
without spilling a drop of nitro. You all showed Lady Louise and Uncle Lloyd a new
way to do it.
- The trust fall.
- The three wires, two guide ropes everyone on before anyone off.
- Some climbed the Wall (40 - 45 feet)
- Some climbed the Helicopter Ladder (40 - 45 feet)
- Some the Pole (40 - 45 feet)
- Then the Zip line
- ***Two New Members***
What a Fantastic Group of Young Men and Women Explorers we have in Post 560
- Post April Activities
- April was a very very busy month.
- April 11, 1998
- We Helped our Charter Organization with the Annual Pancake Breakfast.
- Then Made signs for our upcoming Car Wash.
- April 18, 1998.
- Post Car Wash But more than cars got wet.
- April 22, Post Meeting we had a representative from Mountain Sports Demonstrating Backpacking
equipment.
- April 24 - 26, 1998
- Cross Timbers Annual District Camporee.
- Our Post was on Staff doing everything from directing traffic to helping run different events. Does anyone know where Matt is??
- ***One New Member***
What a Fantastic Group of Young Men and Women Explorers we have in Post 560
- Post May Activities
- May Day May Day
- May 1, 1998
- We Toured KRLD Radio Station.
- Say what is a Talk Radio Station in a Box????.
What a Fantastic Group of Young Men and Women Explorers we have in Post 560
Post May Activities
- Lake Mineral Wells State Park
- May 8 - 10, 1998
- We camped at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Rain, Lightening and Hail lasted untill 11:30
p.m. Friday Evening. Saturday was a great day for backpacking. Evening brought a game of charades
and a game of capture the flag.
- This trip included 5 Adults, 7 Explorers and one guest.
- Committee members Mr and Mrs Neal, Advisor Mr Laughlin and Associate Advisors Mr. Phillips and MS McKibben
- Explorers: Jacob, Bob, Dale, Remica, Sarah, Stephanie, and Kristi
- Guest Daniel
Post May Activities
- Davey Crockett National Park
- May 22 - 25, 1998
- We based camped at Lake Ratcliff Recreation Area East of Crockett, Texas. Picture perfect weather
We hiked out about 4 miles and made camp rested, played games, talked etc. Sunday morning we broke camp
two advisors stayed with our gear and the rest hikes several more miles up the trail then camp back to the
sub-camp where we ate lunch the headed back to the base camp. Most of the Explorers went swiming for the afternoon
then back to base camp to talk and play capture the flag. Monday after breaking camp went into Crockett for breakfast
then returned to Arlington.
- This trip included 4 Adults, 7 Explorers and one guest.
- Committee members Mr Neal, Advisor Mr Laughlin and Associate Advisors Mr. Phillips and MS McKibben
- Explorers: Jacob, Bob, Dale, Sarah, Stephanie, Ryan and Kristi.
- Guest Daniel
Post June Activities
- Longhorn Council - Cross Timbers District - Cub Scout Day Camp
- June 1 - 5, 1998
- Explorer Post 560 Served on Staff for the District Cub Scout Day Camp Program this Year.
Our own Mr Weldon Neal Served as the Camp Director and Mrs Kathy Hughes Served as Program Director.
From the comments that I've heard from various sources If it hadn't been for our Explorers and Scout from several
different Troops, Day Camp probably would not happened this year. Great job Explorers and Scouts.
- This activity included 3 of our Adults, 9 Explorers.
- Committee members Mr Neal, Mr. Charley Mills, Mrs. Ida Mills, Associate Advisor Ms. Musselman
- Explorers: Jacob, Bob, Dale, Remica, Charlie, Stephanie, Kristi, Teresa, and Marques
-
Post July Trip
- Explorer Post 560 1998 Trip
- July 13 - 19, 1998
- Explorer Post 560 1998 Summer Trip.
- Philmont
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- U.S. Olympic Training Center
- North Pole
- U.S. Airforce Academy
- Rocky Mountains west of Denver
- The Plains of Kansas
- Oklahoma
- Then Back to Texas
- This activity included 2 of our Adults, 2 Explorers.
- Post Advisor: Mr Laughlin and his wife
- Explorers: Jacob, Kristi
- What a fantastic trip!
Official B.S.A. Change
- All High Adventure Explorer Posts Became Venturing Crews
- August 1, 1998
- Explorer Post 560 is now Venturing Crew 560.
Crew August Activity
- Crew Lockin at the Crew Offices
- Aug. 29, 1998
- 10 Crew members and 7 guest were present and of course we had CICI's Pizza.
Crew September Activity
- Omni Theater and Museum
- Sat. Sept. 11, 1998
- Six members and four adults attended. Some of us also visited CICI's Pizza on the way home.
Crew October Activity
- Trinity United Methodist Church -- Fall Festival --
- Sat. Oct. 03, 1998
- Six members and four adults attended.
- Six Flags Over Texas Theme Park
- Sat. Oct. 10, 1998
- Eight Crew Members, One Guest, and Two Adults worked the Haunted Houses.
I want to know who it was, that after you could hear loud screams said " I
LOVE MY JOB"
Planning, Planning, Planning
- Some of activities being planned are:
-
- October: Working the Haunted Houses at Six Flags over Texas on the 10th and 24th.
- It's so much fun scaring those little and Big kids.
- Sell That Trails End Popcorn The Money is going to buy Crew Camping Equipment.
- November: Longhorn Council Camporee Nov. 6-8, 1998
- December: Recharter Time; Election of Officers for 1999;
- June 1999 C.O.P.E. Course at SR2
- And the 4th Annual Kids New Years Eve Party
- Are you ready Crew?
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Email: crew560@angelfire.com
