2023 Lock-In

March 24th-25th Lockin

We will be having a Lock-in, open for all scouts, at First Christian Church on Friday, March 24th at 7pm to Saturday, March 25th at 1pm.  We will be playing games inside and outside, watching movies, and some of our oldest scouts will be sharing about the many adventures they’ve gone on via scouting. We will be familiarizing the newest scouts with our troop and showing them some of the traditions and skills they’ll be seeing at all our meetings and activities. You can sleep inside the church, or you can sleep outside, which will count towards camping nights. It is HIGHLY SUPER-DUPER EXTREMELY encouraged that if you don’t already have Scout rank, come to this event. We will attempt to get through all the requirements possible. 

2023 MID-IOWA COUNCIL RAILROAD CAMPOREE [April 28-30]

 

Troop 2000 and Troop 270 will be attending the Mid-Iowa's Railroad Merit Badge Camporee, April 28 - 30, 2023 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone, IA. Scouts will rotate through program stations staffed by professional railroaders, model railroad builders and other volunteers who will offer instruction on the various parts of the Railroading Merit Badge. As a feature of the event, each participant will take a ride on the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, which will take participants over the highest interurban bridge in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The event will also include an optional religious service, campfire, and other activities.  Every participant gets an event patch. Before heading back home on Sunday, Troops 270 & 2000 may potentially have the opportunity to earn BSA’s Historic Trails Award by following the Kate Shelley Trail.

2023 High Adventure: Apostle Islands - Date Survey

Troop 2000 is planning for a 2023 high adventure trip to Apostle Islands National Park in Lake Superior. Trevor Burke will lead the effort in planning for this high adventure. If anyone is interested in helping with the planning and preparation, please contact Trevor.

 

The Apostle Islands: Along windswept beaches and sandstone cliffs, visitors experience where water meets land and sky, culture meets culture, and past meets present. The 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland coast host a unique blend of cultural and natural resources. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has more lighthouses than any other site in the National Park System with 9 historic towers on 6 islands. More than 240 species of birds breed in and/or migrate through this archipelago. Many of the Islands offer sand beaches, lighthouse tours, hiking, picnicking, sea caves, swimming, and overnight camping.

More detailed information: https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm

Because Lake Superior can be challenging and unpredictable, this will be a guided trip.

APO MBU @ UIowa on 3/4/23

The APO MBU is coming up on 3/4/23. Please register ASAP to get your choice of merit badges. The deadline to register is Feb 13th at 8pm.

Climbing Merit Badge and Dutch Oven Cookoff Weekend (Feb 17-19)

 

February 17th - 19th (17th is a ICCSD no school day)

Troop 2000 scouts will be traveling to Climb Iowa’s Grimes location to earn the Climbing Merit Badge. Under the guidance of Cimb Iowa instructors, scouts will learn about several different aspects of climbing including knots, climbing gear, belaying, and repelling. Cost includes climbing, harness rental, shoe rental and instruction. Must be 11 or older to participate in this MB Class.

This class has a max number of 14 scouts. Signup will be first come first serve and will close on January 31. No refunds once signup closes (but you could find another scout to take your spot). All scouts attending will take part in the Merit Badge class even if they already have the Merit Badge.

2023 MLK Ski Day & Snow Sports Merit Badge

A day trip to Chestnut Mountain Galena, IL for a day of skiing on January 16th (MLK day) (ICCSD no school day). In addition, the Snow Sports MB will be offered for anyone who wants to earn it; lead by MBC Tony DeFurio.

Carpool will depart from First Christain Church at 7:00 am sharp. Expect a 2 hour drive each way. Departure from Chestnut Mountain expected around 4:00 pm with a stop at Culver’s for dinner.

Cardboard Campout December 2022

Cardboard Campout

An event that challenges camping and winter survival skills by building a sleeping shelter out of cardboard, the annual Cardboard Campout is also a time to reflect on our privilege to live in homes rather than structures assembled outdoors from available materials and be in solidarity with those who experience the realities of homelessness. This year we will be at Omega Lodge at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca - a location with a lot of indoor space, we plan to have an escape room available and encourage lots of board/card games. Sleep outside or in the lodge, the choice is yours. 

Monticello Merit Mania

Monticello Merit Mania

When: November 12, event from 8am-3:30pm - with travel time... 6:30am-5pm

Where: Monticello High School, 850 E Oak Street, Monticello, IA 52310 (53 miles)

Who: Available to all registered members of Troop 2000. All Scouts and registered adult leaders should plan to wear Class A uniforms, unless indicated otherwise

Cost:  most half-day badges are $10.00 per scout per half-day class or $20.00 for a full-day class (some additional charges for specific merit badges)

Lunch: $10 for taco bar or burger bar (specifics to be determined after Oct 1)

Needs: We will need parent volunteers to help drive. Please indicate whether you are available to drive or not.

Registration: Must be signed up by November 1. No refunds after the deadline unless a scout takes your place. If you have enough cash available in scoutbucks, please check the appropriate box and it will be deducted.   If your scoutbucks account does not have enough balance, then send a check for the cost plus any deficit in your scoutbucks.   The registration will not be official until payment is received. Please fill out the following online form: 

https://forms.gle/MEfQ94d26f3J1oEh8

October 2022 Minneapolis Urban Trip

 The Troop 2000 October trip will be to Minneapolis, Minnesota. We'll be doing a variety of activities including Northern Star Scouting Basecamp, Mill City Museum, Whirlyball, Mall of America (Nickelodeon Universe), and Science Museum of Minnesota. Registration is open now and closes on October 2nd.

2022 Fall Camporee

 

The fall Southern Prairie District Camporee will be held September 23-25 at HHCSR near Central City. Scouts are encouraged to join other Troops from the District for a two-night camporee with activities on Saturday that include: rock wall, BB guns, tomahawks, lashings, cooking (solar oven), and archery. This is also the fall campout that we'll be inviting Webelos to get to know our Troop prior to their spring crossover.... so let's have a good showing at this event!

2022 Eagle Cave Campout

Troops 2000 & 270 are going to Eagle Cave in Wisconsin from Nov 18-20. We will be sleeping in the cave and meals are provided (we don't have to cook this time). The cost for this will be $90/youth or adult. To be guaranteed a spot, you must sign up by September 11. If later than this, it will only be if there is still room (this is a popular venue that is booked quickly by other groups).

August Canoeing Campout

Enjoy some time on the Maquoketa River and a night of camping on August 20 and 21 when Troop 2000 camps at the Apache campground on the Camp Courageous property near Monticello, Iowa. We will leave from Coralville on the morning of August 20^th, check in at the camp, and then canoe for approx. 8 miles on the Maquoketa River. Scouts will have an opportunity to complete rank advancement and merit badge requirements (completing this trip meets req. 9b4 of Camping Merit Badge). 

June 2022 Hike-in Campout

Practice your primitive camping and wilderness survival techniques June 10-12 when Troop 2000 camps at Red Oak Cabin in Matsell Bridge Natural Area. Access to this cabin is hike-in only, about half a mile - so users must carry in (or roll in a wagon) their supplies and gear (including water).

Summer Camp 2022 @ Camp Eastman

From July 10-16th, we'll be headed to Camp Eastman, overlooking the Mighty Mississippi. Sign up and have $$ in your scoutbucks account by 4/28 for the early bird base cost of $305 ($330 after). This is the only BSA camp on the Mississippi River and boasts some cool merit badges including Sailing and Motor Boating on the river (if you already have Swimming MB). Other than the boat docks near the river, all of the other program areas of camp are located pretty close together making it easy to transition from one class to another. Great for new scouts.

May 20-22 Maquoketa Caves Campout

Enjoy time spelunking and exploring many caves and natural features found at Maquoketa Caves State Park with Troops 2000 and 270. Scouts and adults should plan to get dirty and wet while having fun crawling through rock formations (bring your headlamp!). The campsite is a "hike-in" from where the trailer can be parked (a short distance of a quarter-mile), so make sure your gear can be carried or rolled in a wagon. Enjoy cooking in the outdoors and campfires in the evening.  

The cost is $35 for Scouts and $20 for adults. 

Sign up deadline is May 13, use the sign-up form here.

2022 Lincoln Pilgrimage

 The troop will be attending the Lincoln Pilgrimage in Springfield, April 22nd to 24th. This will be a large event attracting units from a multi-state area.

There are different packages offered. We've selected the Lincoln's Legacy package. Here is some information from their flier.
Package Includes (adult or youth must be specified when ordering): 

• Lincoln Pilgrimage Sunday Program and March
• Presidential Museum Quest and Admission
• 2 Nights of Camping
• Commemorative Ballcap (first 500 packages)

Plus 1 of the following

• Museum Trail
• Oak Ridge Cemetery Trail
• Heritage Trail
• Lincoln’s New Salem Experience
• Lincoln’s Bicycle Trail
• Trails of New Salem

2022 Cooking Merit Badge Campout (rescheduled)

 

Come hungry to this March 25th - 27th (rescheduled) campout at Eastman Lodge in Nauvoo, IL as we work on the Cooking Merit Badge. Choose to sleep outdoors or inside the lodge, but only nights spent outside count toward requirements for rank advancement, camping merit badge, or Order of the Arrow. Activities this weekend will include trail cooking on short hikes, camp cooking, board games, and an evening movie projected inside the lodge. 

Monticello Merit Mania 2022

Monticello Merit Mania 2022

When: April 2nd. Starts at 8 AM and ends approximately at 3:30 PM.

Where: Monticello High School, 850 E Oak Street, Monticello, IA 52310 (53 miles)

Who: Available to all registered members of Troop 2000

Cedar Rapids MBU 2022

 Cedar Rapids MBU is on April 23rd, 2022. Please sign up to get your choice of merit badges. The deadline is April 7th.

When: April 23rd, 2022 - 9am to 4pm

Where: Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids

Who: Available to all registered members of Troop 2000 and incoming Webelos

Needs: We will need drivers as well as a few adults to spend the day there. Some of the merit badges require field trips, so transportation help will be needed during the day as well.

Deadline: Must be signed up by April 7th. No refunds after that date unless a scout takes your place

It is very important that we get our requests in quickly so you get your 1st choice of classes. Some classes have already been filled. The cost is $15 per half-day session (some classes have some extra fees) lunch (taco bar) is available for $5, or you can bring your own lunch. We always recommend taking an Eagle Required badge at these events. We highly recommend taking First Aid if you don't already have it. Please only request one Eagle-required merit badge.

Merit Badges Available: Please look at the website below to see the merit badges available and to see if there are still seats available.  Do not register on that site.  Only register through our link at the bottom of this page. You should be in merit badge classes all day, so either sign up for an all-day class or two half-day classes. 

2022 APO MBU

The APO MBU is coming up on 3/5/22. Please register ASAP to get your choice of merit badges.  The deadline to register is Feb 18th at 8pm.