Occasionally after events, a trip report will be created and uploaded to Google Drive.
There are four types of outings we do, Car Camping, Overnight Backpacking, Day Hikes, Other Activities. They are extremely different type of experiences and can require different types of gear.
Overnight Backpacking. Also known as lightweight backpacking. Here is a great presentation about lightweight backpacking. It was created by one of our past Scoutmasters, Keith Bassett. He also made Mr. Bassett’s Backpacking Pack List.
Car Camping. No-hike camping is called Car Camping. You drive to your destination, park, unload, and setup camp. This is your opportunity to bring more and heavier equipment, such as 2 burner stoves and extravagant meals. Everything you have for Backpacking can be used while car camping, you can just bring more stuff with you.
Day Hikes. Day hikes can range from 3-5 hours, and include hiking 5-10 miles. Shorter hikes (under 6 miles) require just the 10 essentials, comfortable walking shoes and day pack. We do hike in all types of weather: snow, hail, and sun; sometimes in the same trip. Check the weather and come prepared with rain gear and sunblock, no matter the forecast.
Special Events/Outings. These are unique events we do once a year. Specifics will be posted on the Scoutbook calendar detailing what scouts will need to bring for these events.
A 12-month sample calender showing events from 2023 can be found here.
Summer camp is a favorite event of scouts! We encourage you to make it a priority for your Scout, if possible. We register for summer camp 12 months before camp. We try to get a few extra to accommodate new scouts entering the troop. Extra spots are typically released in early May, depending on the camp we are attending that year. Further information regarding summer camp can be found in this document.
We start planning events for the next year in November at our annual LAN and Plan event. Scouts vote on the activities they want to do the following year, such as where they want to hike, go camping, and what type of socials they want to. After voting is complete, scouts spend the rest of the day playing video games, board games, card games, or watching a movie. We announce the results of voting after dinner. In December, the parents meet and review the voting results. We pencil out dates for key troop meetings and events. Parents will volunteer to sponsor events that require extra planning, reservation, payment, or additional logistics.
Every December, during winter break, we host a Scout Alumni Night for all current and previous Scouts or Scouters. WE encourage past Scouts and Scouters to share their favorite memories of Scouting and how the Scouts BSA program helped them through adulthood.
If you would like to join the mailing list for this event, please email alumni@troop498wa.org.
At our last troop meeting of the year, we host an end of year celebration. The PLC decides on the theme of the meeting, typically a cookie exchange or gift exchange. We invite Webelos to visit during this meeting each year.
Webelos are welcome to visit our meetings anytime. Please send an email to our troop and let us know you would like to visit. We invite Webelos to many events each year.
Our troop can also help out with a pack event. If you have a recruiting event, flag ceremony practice, or other activity you would like us to help, please let us know.
Every year in August, we participate in the Maple Hills night Out program. We cook hotdogs for the neighborhood event and host a Scout skills area, where we help youth in the neighborhood learn about fire safety, knife safety, knot tying, and camping equipment.
During COVID, our troop decided to earn the Hiking Merit Badge. Part of the Hiking Merit Badge is a 20 mile hike. Since then we have planned a long hike event. We start at 8am, and finish between 4 and 5pm. The hike is on a local flat trail with support vehicles throughout the day providing drinks, snacks, First Aid and lunch at the half way point. The Scouts vote on a theme each year and we design and get tshirts for the event. Everyone is encouraged to participate and go as far as they can. Some do 5, 10 or 15 miles, quite a few do the entire 20 mile trip. Our past themes are:
In 2021 we began offering a local High Adventure opportunity for scouts that wanted a High Adventure option during COVID. Since then, the troop has hiked portions of Section I and Section H of the Pacific Crest Trail. We have several scouts that earned their 50 mile award from these events.
Fundraising provides scouts with a method to fund their scouting activities. We have several options to help Scouts earn money for their scouting activities.
Willamette Valley Pie Fundraiser. Scouts make $4-5 for every pie they sell. This is our fall fundraiser, occurring in Oct/Nov timeframe.
Scouts that participate in the pie fundraiser receive a reduced troop fee each year during recharter. The pie fundraiser is the one and only fundraiser used to fund the troop operating costs. Commissions from pies are split equally between the scout and the troop, on average the troop earns $4-5 and the scout earns $4-5 for every pie they sell. We believe this is a good way for Scouts to give back to the adult leaders that help them through their scouting journey, and we encourage all scouts to participate.
Online Popcorn Sales. Some scouts love selling popcorn, especially to long distance family members that can support the pie fundraiser. Online popcorn is a great way for scouts to earn extra money for scout activities. Aug – Nov. This is not a regular fundraiser for our troop, it is for scouts that would like to earn extra money for scout expenses.
Christmas Tree Recycling. We are still working on making this a regular fundraiser. All proceeds collected are divided by the scouts and based on the number of hours they participated during the flyer distribution day and the tree pickup day.
Volunteer Company Matching. Many large companies will donate money for each hour volunteers work in the troop. We have many opportunities such as helping with meetings, updating records in Scoutbook, being on a Scout Board of Review. Check with your company to see if they offer Volunteer Hour Matching. Our troop non-profit, Family and Friends of Troop 498, is listed as a preferred charity at Boeing, Microsoft, McKinstry, and several other companies.
Family and Friends of Troop 498 sponsors many of our events and funds much of the equipment we have in the troop. This helps keep our troop activity and outing costs low and accessible to everyone.