^{TROOP 96}
Co-sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America Big Bend Chapter 96
and American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13

241 Lake Ella Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32303-5572

30-31 May THREE RIVERS STATE PARK The DATE has been changed to avoid the Memorial Day (observed) weekend, which is a week early this year. Camping/fishing/swimming are all available at this Panhandle park, and it is nearby. Our skills instruction at regular meetings in May will be on the subjects of fishing techniques, identifying various types of rods and reels, and tieing fishing knots.

13 June HICKORY HILL FARM, ATTAPULGAS The recent camporee whetted some appetites to do some Pioneering (construction projects using naturally available materials), and Attapulgas seems to be the place to do them. Our skills instruction for meetings in June will be on the subject of pioneering.

28 Jun - 4 Jul SUMMER CAMP at Spanish Trails Scout Reservation near DeFuniak Springs. If you haven't already paid, a $130.00 camp fee must be paid to the troop. There is also a requirement for documentation of a recent medical examination. Summer Camp is an ideal opportunity for scouts to earn merit badges and advance in rank. Spanish Trails is the camp we went to last summer, and so far as I know everyone thoroughly enjoyed our week there.

Much Later WACISSA RIVER/GOOSE PASTURE CANOE TRIP (tentative). This is more complicated than we had realized. We need CPR certification/recertification and training for new scouts in handling canoes. The scouts and leaders will have to do a lot to arrange this return to Goose Pasture and the Slave Canal. We have tentative plans to again study First Aid and CPR in the Fall when the scouts have returned from their Summer vacations. Our advancement committee has reported that forgetting of first aid training is the single most common problem they see for advancing scouts.

SCOUTMASTER RESIGNS I have really enjoyed being Scoutmaster and quitting is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But my current state of health just will not allow me to continue. I hope to still be able to go on most of the Troop's outings, but I must devote most of the time I have been spending on scouting, on regular exercise and rest.

Richard White
Scoutmaster