August 17, 2015
Thank You!
I would like to thank everyone who made Robert S. Lyle a great success this year, everyone from the support people on committee and beyond here at home, all the adults who attended and helped out at camp, to the PLC who did a great job keeping order in what can easily become chaotic at any moment. Everyone did an outstanding job, it was a great year at camp. It is an honor to work with such a great group of people. At camp is when what we teach really shines brightly, from good teamwork and Patrol method, to sportsmanship to the efforts of all to make sure every scout has fun. It is not all perfect, all the time and the ability to be able to deal with those situations only proves what true leaders we have at all levels of the Troop! Once again, THANKS to all who made camp successful! If anyone had less than ideal time, please let me know, I can’t be everywhere but if there were any problems, I want to know about that, that is how we continue to grow as a Troop.
Just a reminder Denis Sullivan THIS WEEKEND
The following people were signed up for the Denis Sullivan, Chris and Mr. Hanna, Kyle and Mrs. Mallum, Daniel Latyshev, Matt and Mr. Sisak, Dalton and Mrs. Yonkovich, Conrad Schotz, Kyle Koenig, Austin Lentz, Michael and Jonathan Kroes. Be at Reef Point docs THIS SATURDAY August 15th at 8:45. Five dollars each will be taken out of your account to cover the cost, no shows no calls, will cost $10. If anyone wanted to go and didn’t sign up, you can show up on the dock, if someone doesn’t show up, we can send you out, but otherwise, this is a ticketed event, and tickets were already purchased, so no add on.
This week
Hard to believe that this is our second last Super Summer program!
Sailing on Lake Michigan
Time: 5:45 – 9:00 PM
Location: Racine Yacht Club
Barker @ Lake Michigan
Uniform: Class B- Red Shirt
Cost: $12.00 by 7/20/2015
Early Payment: $8.00 by 6/15/2015
Program: An evening of sailing with experienced yachtsmen, followed by a dinner on-site.
•Please wear soft-soled shoes with light-colored, non-marring soles (deck shoes).
•Also, bring a Coast Guard approved life vest if you have one, (if not, a life vest will be supplied.)
If there are enough captains, family member may sail if we have room, but scouts come first
The SCOUTS will sail. Families are welcome to join us for dinner.
Transportation: Meet at the yacht club. Scouts should be picked up at 9:00 PM. Dinner starts at 8PM ish
Camp Selection for 2016
With the permanent closing of Robert S. Lyle this summer, we are in the final planning sessions for Summer camp 2016, we did have a group that went and visited one possible camp while at camp, but they would like to look at one or two more if we can find time to go look. We are trying to also move our dates back into July for 2016 to avoid the problems some scouts had with fall sports with the August dates. Stay tuned for more info on this all coming soon, we hope to have 2016 dates by this fall so you can plan your family calendars. If you have any dates we should avoid, please let me know.
OA members
OA members, you should have gotten an OA event fact sheet for next weekend, if you are going to attend, that should have been turned in already, if you want to go, be sure to get signed up.
Going to State Fair?
Are you going to the State Fair this weekend? The BSA is offering parking at their office on 84th Street (Just north of I 94). Proceeds from that parking, benefits the BSA, might as well help out Scouting. Also be sure to keep an eye out for Scouts at the fair, there is a large contingent working the State Fair too.
Farewell to a dear friend
As part of our closing campfire at camp, I did a Scoutmaster minute, the basis of it is attached below for others to view, as I was PREPARED to read it if I could not make it through it all. Lyle has been a dear friend to many of us, and given us a lot, we can rejoice in knowing how much we have benefited by the option to have such a great camp! New memories will now begin at a new location!
Thanks
Mr. F.
BSB 15 08 17 .Docx
Troop161 Web Site Court of Honor Handout Online Troop Photo Album
July 2015
By Tim Falendysz
The Goodbye to Lyle
(the basis of my Scoutmaster Minute at the final Troop 161 campfire at Robert S. Lyle)
Tonight, we sit around this fire here as many scouts and scouters have done before, the difference tonight is we are part of history, being the last closing campfire of camp Robert S. Lyle, as we all know, camp will not be open next year and fate of the camp is yet to be determined. I share in the saddest of many of you
I came to camp for my first time as a young scout like many of you, my first year was in 1974 with my Troop but more importantly with my father, I fell in love with this camp the first time I was here, and have returned every year since (41 consecutive years). I love this camp and what it has to offer, so to say I am sad and disappointed, is an understatement, so I understand what many are feeling tonight knowing the end has arrived as a Council camp.
When talking to a friend a few months ago, a friend said to me, Tim, if anyone should be bitter about camp closing, you might be the most justified person I know to have those feelings. The comment took me off guard a little, but something I had thought about before his comments, but I quickly reflected on his comments, and knew exactly why that was not much of a consideration.
My father was very involved with me as a youth in Scouting the first few years and to be honest, I don’t remember a lot of “dad” moments at camp, because I think he let me go and do my thing at camp. In 2008 my dad passed away, in his final days, we all gathered in his hospital room and my dad gave his farewell speech, one of the many things that sticks with me firmly is this. He said “I have spent a life time making my family happy and making you all good people, and to think that at my death you would be sad and upset, would not be something I would have dreamt for my family, so please don’t morn my loss, but celebrate all the great things we shared when we were together”.
When this friend asked why I was not bitter, it was not a real option for me and as my dad’s comments echoed back to me. When I look at what this camp has offered to so many people in its 52 years of existence, how can anyone be bitter about that? I have had the luxury to watch A LOT of people attend this camp over the years, and seen them grow to be better people because of the “Magic of Lyle”. I know that this camp has been the stepping stones for many people to be successful. Some are scientist, engineers, doctors, tradesman and so many other great assets to the community. I have talked to several scouts who have such great memories of Lyle, many of them re-shared those here this week and in the time since the closing was announced, some of those stories include master chefs who said they got their first love of cooking over the sheepherder stoves and campfires of Camp Lyle. Not only has it been a key tool in helping people become successful in their own life, there are tons of lifelong friends made here at camp, and none of us can deny the importance of that, maybe some of you are sitting next to yours right now.
So tonight as we sit here at the closing campfire of camp, I want to challenge all of you to think about what you have gained from camp Lyle, whether it was your first year here or some other number, remember what you learned. Just like this campfire emits light, heat and sparks, you as a Scout can take the things you learned here and emit them to those who you know and keep that Lyle Magic alive well into the future. Maybe it will be starting a fire for a family or social function, maybe it will be how to cook a meal for your family, but most importantly, it might be how you get along with others and be a leader not only IN scouting but in other aspects of your life as well. You may save a life. It might even be how your raise your own family.
So as we close this campfire tonight, knowing that it is the end of an era, please hold your head up high and watch the fire and smoke rise up, and think about how you can keep the magic of Lyle moving upward and onward well into the future. Remember the words of one wise man, my father, and don’t mourn the loss of camp but celebrate all that it has given you as a person. Just like my father, this camp was given to us by the Lyle Family Trust in the early 60’s to make us better scouts and scouters, for us to have many happy memories of the great experiences we have shared as a Scouting family! I think over the years, it has been extremely successful. It is fine to be a little sad, but don’t let that sadness define you. Lyle has been great to us, and we should be proud to have the experiences we did at such a great place. Thank you Robert S. Lyle!!