Troop 344 Home

The Newsroom

Invasive Species:
Posted: May 2, 2012 - Invasive species are, unfortunately, becoming
all too common in the United States. It appears as if another species
has invaded the Americican woodlands where Scouts and Scouters
enjoy visiting. Little information about this newest threat has been
made public. Hikers and backpackers should be aware that there
appears to now be man-eating trees lurking in the wilds of our country.
Note: Identification of this species may be extremely difficult without
evidence of a recent attack lying about.

Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy - Boy Scouts:
Posted: April 13, 2012 - Larry the Cable Guy highlights the values taught by the Boy Scouts. View this segment from the History Channel's "Only in America."

Yogi Bear - Cub Scout Boo Boo:
Posted: April 6, 2012 - Yogi tries to persuade Boo-Boo to become a Boy Scout. Boo-Boo declines the offer, but Yogi corrects himself by saying that he will be joining the "Cub Scouts", as part of the "Bear Patrol." Boo Boo accepts the offer. Click on the following link and enjoy the show. Yogi Bear - Cub Scout Boo Boo

Summer Camp Deposits Due:
Posted: March 13, 2012 - Save money by turning in your $75 summer camp deposit before March 27, 2012. The cost of summer camp this year is $225. It increases to $250 for Scouts paying after March 27. The final payment of $150 will be due by the end of April.

Yum! Utah Bear Likes Toothpaste:
Posted: March 4, 2012 - Forget the honey, Bears Like Toothpaste. This camper learned that the hard way. Read why it's necessary to keep an absolutely clean tent when camping in bear country.

Camping Tips:
Posted: February 5, 2012 - These simple Camping Tips may make your next foray into the outdoors more enjoyable. Note: These tips do not reflect the opinions of the Webmaster or Troop 344. Use them at your own risk.

Grizzly Bear Eats Airplane in Alaska:
Posted: January 26, 2012 - Bush pilots know that wildlife can be hazardous to their health and equipment, but how many would expect a grizzly bear to eat an airplane? It appears that if a bear destroys your plane in the woods you can use duct tape to fly it home, if you're crazy, or brave, or both. It's more proof that duct tape can fix anything..

Yosemite High Adventure Trip 2012:
Posted: January 14, 2012 - Check out the new Yosemite 2012 page for information about this year's high adventure trip. The Trip Itineray and Backpacking Information Booklet (3.57MB) may be downloaded for additional information. A trip report and photos will be posted in August.

Yosemite Nature Notes:
Posted: January 14, 2012 - Yosemite Nature Notes is a fascinating video podcast series that tells unique stories about the natural and human history of Yosemite National Park. Produced by the National Park Service, this series features park rangers, scientists, historians and park visitors as they discuss the diverse plants and animals that make Yosemite their home, as well as the towering cliffs, giant waterfalls and mountain peaks that are known throughout the world. There are 17 episodes available for viewing. Episodes 7 and 11 highlight two areas we will be visiting as part of our high adventure trip this summer.

Sherlock Holmes:
Posted: January 1, 2012 - Sherlock Holmes is making a comeback in popularity as witnessed by the latest movie released. What you may not have realized was that Sherlock Holmes was an avid camper. Read A Simple Answer for one of his and Dr. Watson's outdoor adventures.

Christmas Shopping for the Outdoor Enthusiast.
Posted: December 16, 2011 - Can't decide what to get your favorite outdoor enthusiast for Christmas. Let the ultimate outdoor enthusiast, Steve Climber and the good people at Archwood help. Check out their line of products that no self-respecting outdoor enthusiast would ever be without. Examine the new Flextrek 37,000,000,000,000 Whipsnake Edition, the Archwood Flextrek 37 Trillion with Clic Method Technology, the Archwood Flextrek 37 Trillion Gravitrex Edition, and the Archwood French Wedge Clothing. Make your outdoor enthusiast's Christmas with a gift from the Archwood product line.

Merit Badges Scouts and Scouter Wish They Could Earn:
Posted: December 5, 2011 - Here are a few Merit Badges many of us wish were offered by the National Council.

Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook:
Posted: November 14, 2011 - A new Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook has been released by National. The Project Workbook will be required as of Jan 1, 2012. Eagle Scouts currently working in the old book can continue to do so and finish up with that workbook. Eagle Candidates that are planning a project now, can use either book, but they are encouraged to use the new book since it willl be mandatory as of Jan 1, 2012.

How to Hang a Bear Bag:
Posted: November 6, 2011 - Check out this pictoral guide on How to Hang a Bear Bag. This method is popular with ultralight thru-hikers and requires two materials that you normally carry (cord and carabiner). Like all bag hangs, it can be foiled by smart, food-conditioned Yogi Bears. Check regulations to make sure hanging bear bags are legal.

Mind Over Mountain :
Posted: September 25, 2011 - Our brains scale the world to fit our body’s capabilities and protect us from expending more energy than we have. Read the article Mind Over Mountain to learn how to overcome mental fatigue and turn a painful uphill slog into positive trail time.

Glow-in-the-Dark Tea :
Posted: September 24, 2011 - Are hyper-familiar with getting up in the middle of the night for a bathroom break? To pee is human, after all. After you've loosely laced your boots, you stumble out of the tent, fumble for a headlamp, and look for that special tree. But what if you didn't need a headlamp for your late-night calling? Glow-in-the-Dark Tea may be coming to a store near you soon.

September Scout-O-Gram:
Posted: September 4, 2011 - Check out the latest issue of Troop 344's Scout-O-Gram. It includes information on upcoming Troop activities, advancement, and the high adventure trip for the summer of 2012.

The Roman Army Knife :
Posted: August 28, 2011 - Or how the ingenuity of the Swiss was beaten by almost two millenia. Made 1,800 years before its modern counterpart, the world's first Swiss (Roman) Army Knife has been revealed. An intricately designed Roman implement, which dates back to 200AD, is made from silver but has an iron blade. It also features a spoon, fork, a retractable spike, spatula and small tooth-pick.

New Backpacking Recipes:
Posted: August 12, 2011 - Check out two new recipes, Chicken Pot Pie and Farmer's Mash listed on the Backpacking page under Backpacking Recipes.

Pick the Perfect Pack: Measure Your Torso Length:
Posted: August 9, 2011 - One of the most critical pieces to finding the ideal backpack is your torso length. This video shows you how to measure your torso length to better choose and fit a backpack for yourself.

Allagash Waterway High Adventure:
Posted: July 28, 2011 - The Troop is back from it's northern Maine High Adventure trip. We hiked to the top of Mt. Katahdin, the highest point in Maine and the northern terminus for the Appalachian trail. We also spent 6 days on the Allagash Waterway covering 92 miles across lakes and rivers in some of the most remote areas in Maine. All together, that adds up to over 100 miles afoot or afloat in one week. Check out the Allagash Waterway High Adventure page for some photos and a trip report.

Not Clear on the Concept:
Posted: July 12, 2011 - These camper comments were left on U. S. Forest Service registration sheets and comment cards by backpackers completing wilderness camping trips and by visitors to some of our scenic national treasures.

Donald Duck - Good Scout:
Posted: June 23, 2011 - As leaders across the nation prepare to take their Troops camping this summer, they may want to watch Donald Duck - Good Scout to pick up some pointers on leadership skills.

Eagle Project Funding:
Posted: May 12, 2011 - The Andersons of Maumee encourages and supports Life Scouts that are working towards their Eagle Scout rank. Individuals that are working on their projects can submit a simple description of their project, including project costs, materials needed, and a brief description (one page or less) of how their project is contributing to the community. The Anderson's Contributions Committee meets every other week and appreciate 30 days notice when considering requests. Please be sure to include the troop information that you're associated with, along with your complete mailing address. Requests can be submitted to:
     The Andersons, Inc.
     Attention Heidi Reed
     P.O. Box 119
     Maumee, OH 43537

Or email: Heidi_reed@andersonsinc.com

La Femme Fatale:
Posted: April 15, 2011 - Girls have long been a part of the Bermuda Triangle of Scouting. More than one Scout has missed achieving the rank of Eagle due to being sucked into the Bermuda Triangle of Scouting vortex by this seductive part of the triad. In order to help Scouts recognize the dangers that girls pose to achieving the rank of Eagle, we offer this mathematical proof.

Backcountry Oxymora:
Posted: March 31, 2011 - Just in case you don’t know, an oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory or opposite terms or ideas are combined. The word has its origins in the Greek: oxy = "sharp, pointed" and moros, moron = "foolish". In other words, "pointedly foolish". An oxymoron is also defined as “a wittily paradoxical turn of phrase which appeals to unconscious responses instead of rational examinations”. Whew! Anyway, check out the following link to view some oxymoronic phrases that one might hear and/or utter, while in the backcountry.

The Bermuda Triangle of Scouting:
Posted: March 20, 2011 - Why do older Scouts disappear? Moving along through the ranks, they make 1st Class or maybe Star, go to summer camp for the 4th time, and then never return in the fall. You call once or twice, but you already know. It's an age old story.They've fallen victim to The Bermuda Triangle of Scouting.

Message from Scoutmaster Matt Meyer

                                                   Welcome to the Home Page of Troop 344!

                                                   Troop 344 developed and maintains this website in order to:

                                                      * Keep our Scouts and Scouting families informed.
                                                      * Share our adventures and knowledge with family, friends and the Scouting
                                                         community.
                                                      * To help bring in new Scouts to our Troop.
                                                      * Let our community know about our Troop, its activities, and objectives.
                                                      * Encourage community support for our Troop and projects. Scouting has much to
                                                         offer our community's youth. Our Troop gives back to the community by developing
                                                         more responsible citizens and through numerous service projects.

Troop 344's goals can best be summed up by a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt, "We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future." Feel free to join us as we help develop skills in our Scouts that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Troop meetings are Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm - 8:00pm during the school year at the Scout Cabin in Pemberville, Ohio. We have no regularly scheduled meetings during the summer. Click here to obtain a map and directions to our meeting location. You can contact our Troop Leaders at troop344leaders@gmail.com.

BSA Troop 344 is sponsored by the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Pemberville, Ohio and is part of the Wood District in the Erie Shores Council. Our Troop emphasizes a wide range of activities that appeal to both younger and older Scouts. If you're looking for a Troop to join, or just want more information about Scouting, we have a page just for you.

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