Troop 965

St. Juliana Parish, Chicago

  • February 23, 2026 Newsletter

    • Next Meeting – February 23 – Gym
    • Feb Camping Weekend Wrap-Up
    • June 25-28 Trip to USS Cobia Submarine and High Cliff State Park
    • National Youth Leadership Training – June, 2026
    • Upcoming Dates

    – Next Meeting – February 23 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Gym

    We will be reviewing the Oh-Da-Ko-Ta weekend and returning gear to the Shroom.
    Class A uniforms for everyone except Oh-Da-Ko-Ta campers!  

    – Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta Wrap-Up

    12 Scouts and 7 leaders cabin camped at Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta near Burlington Wisconsin this past weekend. We did a short hike, worked on advancement, and continued to improve as camp cooks. Three Scouts in particular  – Louie, Jonah, and James – showed their outdoor culinary skills. We were forced to come home on Saturday night after dinner because the camp’s water pumping system failed. This meant no fresh water or functioning bathrooms. Everyone did a great job of packing up quickly and helping us get on the road as soon as possible.

    – June 25-28 – 3-Night Trip to USS Cobia Submarine and High Cliff State Park – June 25-28

    The Patrol Leaders Council has spoken and they have been heard!
    At the last Patrol Leaders Council Meeting, the youth leaders were asked to name some places that they would like to go to for camp outs or day trips. Two suggestions that we heard were Starved Rock State Park and an overnighter on the U.S.S. Cobia submarine at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
    We gathered information about the submarine overnighter and looked for a camping location nearby to make it a weekend outing. High Cliff State Park is less than an hour from the submarine and is very similar to Starved Rock State Park with high cliffs and hiking. It also has a beach for swimming.
    The plan for the outing is to go to High Cliff State Park on the shores of Lake Winnebago in Sherwood, Wisconsin on Thursday June 25th and establish camp there through Sunday, June 28th. The state park gets its name from the limestone cliffs that parallel the shore of Lake Winnebago. From the cliff and especially from the 40-foot observation tower, you can see the cities of Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, and Kaukauna. The park also contains Native American effigy mounds, and a statue of Chief Red Bird overlooking the lake.
    We would set up camp on Thursday at High Cliff and camp overnight. On Friday we would head to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc and the Cobia submarine overnight program. At the Maritime Museum, Scouts will be able to explore the many outdoor exhibits in Manitowoc and earn merit badges such as Geocaching or Signs, Signals and Codes if they choose. The Troop would board the submarine by 7:30PM on Friday night when the overnight program begins and runs through 11:00PM. After a peaceful night’s sleep in bunks on the submarine, we will disembark by 8:00AM Saturday morning and return to our camp at High Cliff to stay over Saturday night. We would head home to Chicago on Sunday morning.
    In summary, we would camp in tents at High Cliff State Park on Thursday and Saturday nights and sleep on the submarine Friday night.
    We are still researching expenses, but the maximum cost of this trip will be $75 per person. The Troop will cover any costs beyond that. We need to get firm commitments for the trip to secure our reservation on the submarine, so we will be asking for a deposit very soon. Parents are invited to join us for what promises to be fun and memorable outing.
    For more information, see
    Mr. Pelrine or Mr. Gulliford and visit websites at:

    – National Youth Leadership Training Opportunity

                                        image.png
    Scouting America is the premier leadership development organization for youth in the United States of America.  Our local Pathway to Adventure Council is hosting National Youth Leadership Training in June 2026.
    National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an immersive, 6-day course for Scouts who are serious about enhancing their leadership skills, building teamwork, and having tons of fun in the process! Scouts will work with other Scouts to tackle challenges, lead projects, and gain confidence in their abilities.
    It is designed to empower Scouts with skills that don’t just make them a better Scout but a stronger leader in all parts of life. From problem-solving and communication to understanding what it takes to inspire and motivate a team, Scouts will come away with experiences and friendships that last a lifetime.
    2026 Dates (all listed times are Central/Chicago time)
    Session 1
    Course: Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 1:00pm – Friday June 12, 2026 at 8:00pm
    Closing Banquet: Friday, June 12 at 6:00pm
    Session 2
    Course: Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 1:00pm – Friday, June 19, 2026 at 8:00pm
    Closing Banquet: Friday, June 19 at 6:00pm
    2026 Fees
    Deposit: $150 due at time of registration
    Course: $325 ($375 if not paid in full before 5/7/2026 for Session 1 or 5/14/2026 for Session 2)
    The Troop 965 Committee will provide a $100 subsidy for each Scout that registers for this course.
    Participant Qualifications
    All participants must be a registered member of a Scouting America troop. Members of a Scouts BSA troop must be at least 13 years of age and at least First Class.
    • All participants should have completed Introduction to Leadership Skills.
    • Transportation to/from camp will not be provided.  
    • NYLT patrols may be coed, with a minimum of two Scouts of a gender in a patrol.
    To register your Scout for the 2026 NYLT Course visit:  www.pathwaytoadventure.org/nylt/

    – Upcoming Activities

    • April 4 – Sag Valley Hike
    • May 1-3 – Camping Weekend at Warren Dunes in Michigan
    • June, 2026 – National Youth Leadership Training
    • June 25-28 – USS Cobia – High Cliff 3-Night Camp-Out – Manitowoc, WI
    • July 12-18 – Summer Camp at Owasippe Scout Reservation

    See you soon!
    Mr. Pelrine
    Scoutmaster, Troop 965

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