2007-08 Troop Calendar

• Troop Meetings are held from 7:00 - 8:30 PM every Tuesday that school is in session at the Old Township Hall, on Ten Mile Road at Taft Road. (If school is cancelled due to weather or other causes, or if Novi Parks & Recreation cancels evening activities on the day of a troop meeting, the meeting is also cancelled.) Upcoming dates:
  • May 6, 13, 20, 27
    • Special guests May 6: Please wear Field Uniform
    • Dodgeball May 13 at Novi Woods
    • Troop Elections May 27
  • June 3
  
  
  
• Patrol Leaders' Council and Troop Committee Meetings normally take place on the last Thursday of each month at the Church of the Holy Family. PLC meets at 6:30 PM and the Committee meets at 7:30 PM. Check the TV monitors at the church entrance for the room number.

  Upcoming dates: May 29

• Upcoming Campouts:
  • June 13-15 and August 15-17: Michigan International Speedway troop service and campout (details forthcoming)
  
  
  
• Troop Events:
  • Tuesday, May 13: Dodgeball at Novi Woods. Cost is $5. (Substitutes for regular troop meeting)
  • Wednesday, May 14: Troop Committee Training, Novi United Methodist Church
  • Thursday, May 15: Swimming Night, 7:00 - 8:30 PM at Novi High School Pool. Cost is $3 per swimmer.
  • Wednesday, May 21: Webelos Welcome, for 1st year Webelos scouts, 7 PM, Novi Civic Center
  • Monday, May 26: Memorial Day Parade, meet at 9 AM at staging area

  Download the 2007-2008 calendar (PDF).

Summer Camp

Summer Camp is just a couple months away! Troop 407 will be attending Camp Rotary just north of Clare the week of June 29 through July 5. The signup deadline has passed, but talk with Mr. Miller to find out if there have been any cancellations. Adults are welcome and encouraged to visit or camp with the troop, whether it's for one or two nights or the whole week. It is a week of fun, adventure and camaraderie that you won't want to miss! Questions should be directed to Mr. Miller or Mr. or Mrs. Roney.

New! Instructions for building a bug net for your bunk. Download the plans here (1.1 MB PDF).

Important forms:

• Class 3 Health Form (230k PDF) - All youth campers must have a Class III medical form. Scouts whose Class III forms are less than 3 years old at the time of summer camp can use their old forms if they are updated by a parent or guardian. Adults who remain in camp overnight must have a Class I form. Adults staying over 72 hours must have a Class III form; if over 40 years old, the form must have been completed within the 12 months prior to summer camp. This document also includes the medication form. Medications are kept by the camp health officer and dispensed as directed by the prescribing physician. All scouts taking prescription medications or over-the-counter meds regularly must complete a camper medication form.
• Troop permission form
• Camp Volunteer Help Form (46k PDF)

General information:

• Program Guide (1.8 MB PDF) - Complete guide to camp schedule, merit badges, and activities during your week at camp
• Overall Highlights, part 1 (283k PDF) and part 2 (403k PDF) - New activities and changes this year at Camp Rotary
• Opening Day Itinerary (80k PDF) - What to expect the first day at camp!
• Leaders Guide (1.2 MB PDF) - Complete information for adult leaders and parents including procedures, rules and regulations, camp schedules, program details, and more.
• Directions to Camp Rotary and Camp Map (94k PDF)
• Counselor-in-Training Program (120k PDF) for scouts over age 14 who wish to be a CIT during their week at camp
• Homesickness Prevention Strategies (295k PDF) for parents to use with children planning to attend camp
• List of items to take to camp (193k PDF) - Not an all-inclusive list but things you will probably need

Trail to Eagle Camp: Scouts who are First Class and age 13 by July 1st can also attend a special camp called Trail to Eagle, in which only the Eagle-required merit badges are offered. Trail to Eagle is offered June 30 through July 3 at Paul Bunyan Scout Reservation near Rose City, and at Camp Rotary August 4 through 7. Get the information booklet and application form (267k PDF).

Isle Royale High Adventure

Troop 407 is sending a contingent to Isle Royale for a week of backpacking the week of July 14-18, 2008. A slide presentation on the island and the trail will be posted here shortly.

Rank Requirements Now Online

The National Council has a new web page for the Boy Scout rank requirements. Each requirement is listed, and there is a short Quicktime video for each one to illustrate the requirement. They can be viewed online or downloaded as a podcast. Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are all now online.

Troop 407 Uniform Closet needs donations

If you have any uniforms that you're not using or which your son has outgrown, please consider donating them to the Troop 407 Uniform Closet. This can be any uniform items such as Field Uniform (Class A) shirts, Scout pants and shorts, troop neckerchiefs, or Activity uniform (Class B) shirts.

Likewise, if you are in need of uniform items, please check to see what's in the closet. They are available to all troop members. The uniform closet is coordinated by BettyJane Blossfeld.

Photo gallery

Take a look at some of what Troop 407 has been up to:

• 2006 Summer Camp at Lost Lake Scout Reservation
• 2006 Scouting for Food Collection
• 2006 Webelos Campout

Information for Webelos Scouts and prospective members

Webelos Scouts are invited to attend our Troop Meetings and get to know what Boy Scouts is all about. We also hold a Webelos Campout in the fall, but Webelos Scouts can join us on other campouts as well. Your Webelos Den Leader should contact Scoutmaster Joe Thimm at (248) 348-7330.

Are you working on your Akela Award? One of the requirements is to attend a Boy Scout Court of Honor while you are a Webelos Scout, before you cross over. Second-year Webelos are invited to our fall or winter Court of Honor. Ask your Webelos Den Leader for more information.

If you've moved to Novi recently or are planning to move, and are looking for a Troop, you're welcome to check us out. Contact Scoutmaster Joe Thimm at (248) 348-7330 for details on the next Troop Meeting.

Activity Uniforms Available

Troop 407 activity uniform shirts can be ordered from the troop. Download the order form (53k PDF) and bring it with payment to the next troop meeting. You'll want to have one or two for summer camp and other troop activities. Choose from the green t-shirt with the troop logo on the front left and large logo on the back; the golf shirt with embroidered logo; crewneck or hoodie sweatshirt; beanie with troop logo on the front and name on the back; and for adults, the baseball cap with the troop logo on the front and name on the back.

Green Folder

Each family, upon joining the troop, receives a Green Folder which contains the troop policy manual, roster, calendar, and other important information. Current members can download the current edition here (1.8 MB PDF).

Adult Leadership

• Scoutmaster: Joe Thimm (248) 348-7330
• Assistant Scoutmasters: Craig Miller, Mike Church, Chuck Heil
• Committee Chair: Frank Maynard, 248-207-5528
• Treasurer: Bob Murphy
• Advancement: Elli Budesky
• Fundraising: Ed and Mary Ann Roney
• Hospitality: Helen Winship
• Quartermaster: Steve Buckley
• Webelos Liaison: Frank Maynard (interim)
• Service Projects: Nick Burtka
• Transportation: John Heslop
• High Adventure: Carl Rickel