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BSA TROOP 37 NEWSLETTER
Volume 11 | Issue 3 | June 2024 - October 2024
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STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK
SCOUTMASTER’S MINUTE
By Scoutmaster Rob Pfuhler
The Scouting year is off to a great start.
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We had a very successful Junior Leader Training (JLT) weekend at Pouch Camp. Leadership is one of the most important and maybe the most important skills scouts learn while in scouting and it all starts with JLT.
This year we had an amazing 25 scouts qualify to attend JLT. During the weekend, the scouts learned organizational and leadership skills to fulfill the responsibilities of their new roles. We set up a whole new leadership crew led by our new Senior Patrol Leader, Randy Changoo, who has a great team to back him up.
We stressed to all the youth leaders that scouting is a boy-led operation. The scouts run and control the operation. We as adults are here to support this. If everyone does their assigned job, all will fall in line. Patrol leaders are responsible to all your patrol members. They must know everything that is going on in the Troop, and you are responsible for providing that information. The Senior Patrol is responsible to make sure the Patrol Leaders are on top of all the information. Those who have the other leadership positions will be held responsible for their jobs: Troop Guide, Librarian, Instructors, Quartermasters and Webmaster.
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The success of Troop 37 depends on everyone doing their assigned jobs. I am sure you all will. Let’s have another great year.
Scoutmaster Rob
Pfuhler with Eagle
Scout Leo Staiano.
Read Leo’s final JLT
reflection in this
issue!
BSA Troop 37 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | 2024
SUNKA’S EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
By Sunka Perera
Reflecting on my Eagle Project, building three puncheons in the Greenbelt Park was a meaningful and rewarding experience. The primary goal was to enhance trail accessibility and preservation by constructing puncheons, which serve as small bridges to help hikers navigate over wet or uneven terrain. This project went
beyond physical labor; it was about creating a lasting improvement in my community’s natural space, allowing people to enjoy the trails with greater ease and respect for the environment. The process was a great experience of the importance of planning and teamwork. Designing and constructing the puncheons involved
understanding the materials and methods to ensure stability and longevity, which required input from park staff and experienced mentors. Coordinating with my team, I learned valuable skills in leadership nd collaboration as we worked to clear the trail and lay down these puncheons, often adjusting our plans to meet unexpected challenges. As we cleaned the trail, I also realized the critical role that preservation plays in maintaining the natural beauty and sustainability of these public spaces. Overall, seeing the completed puncheons and a cleaner trail reminded me of the impact we can have in protecting and improving the spaces that are shared and cherished by the community.
BSA Troop 37 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | 2024
HAWK MOUNTAIN 2024
By Thomas Costello
The culmination of the scouting year is always a fun trip that of course being summer camp at Hawk Mountain. The week-long trip includes merit badges, troop meals, campfires, swimming in the lake and pool, shooting sports and much more which provides a great experience for us scouts to expand our skills and enjoy ourselves. Personally I have attended now 5 summer camps and it is by far my yearly annual trip. I took 4 merit badges
Archery, Kayaking, Amphibian and Reptile Study and Plumbing . Each badge taught me either helpful skills or was just a fun activity.
We had several fires throughout the week, which were very enjoyable with songs, skits,
and stories being performers. Overall, the week was very enjoyable as it always is!
BSA Troop 37 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | 2024
BACK-TO-BACK PERSPECTIVE 1
SEABASE
By Daniel Shprints
The Florida Sea Base trip took place during July 29th- August 5th. This was a mixed adventure trip as we stayed in a cabin and on an island. It was about a three-hour flight, and we arrived at 8 am. We spent the day with Blue Skys Adventure going to alligator farms, mangrove farms and museums. At the end of the day, we stayed at a hotel until the next morning where we set off on the long drive to Sea Base. On the way we stopped at a tarpon
feeding spot and Robert’s fruit stand. Once we arrived at the base we stayed in a cabin for one night.
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The next day was an action-packed day. In the morning, we reviewed our food supply, packed our bags, ate lunch, and set off on the six-mile canoe through the ocean. On the way we stopped two times for a snorkeling
brake. Once we arrived on the island, we had to bring all our stuff back to shore and into our campsite. We set up our campsite, made dinner and were all ready to go to sleep. The next morning, we woke up and went on a hike around the island. On this hike we were able to play many games that involved teamwork and communication. We also were introduced to the rare life species on the island. Later that day we went kayaking through the mangroves and were able to play a great game of hide and seek against the adults. At night we went to an opening ceremony on the island and then shortly went to bed. The next day we went
fishing all day and were able to catch a variety of species like grunt, mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, and barracuda which was fun to catch. We were given lunch on the boat which included sandwiches and snacks. Once we got back to the island we cooked our fish, had a feast, and were ready to get to bed. The next morning, we woke up to sever winds and were all clueless on what was going on due to the fact that they had collected all of our electronics beforehand. We were told to pack up our things that morning as quickly as possible because we were getting evacuated. The boat ride back was a very rough one due to the winds. Once we got back to base, we were filled in on the information and we were told that there was a hurricane coming. We
were given a room in a cabin but the next day there would be no space for us because of new groups coming in for their own experiences.
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In conclusion, during this two-week period we faced many challenges and were able to overcome the bad and see the good in the experience. We had a lot of fun taking part in a lot of activities. We learned a lot about
some plants and animals native to the Florida Keys. And most importantly, we worked as a team and supported each other through the adventure.
BSA Troop 37 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | 2024
BACK-TO-BACK PERSPECTIVE 2
SEABASE
By Sidh Gupta
Before the camping even started, our adventure took us to a variety of exciting and unexpected places. One of the first stops was a nature tour where we got to admire the various types of mangroves and climb the
stairs of a tower to observe the scenery from a higher viewpoint. The thrill didn’t stop there, as we also sped across the water on an air boat, feeling the rush of the wind and the excitement of being so close to these powerful creatures. It was a unique mix of adrenaline and fascination, and this was only one of the first days on the trip so far.
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Every day after that on the island, us scouts were up by 5 a.m. or so and changed into our swim trunks right away as the sun rose. I’m not so sure about the time though because we had island time. So sometimes it was 80 coconuts and sometimes it was 2 of those and 5 bananas, but the hours melted away as we embraced the challenges and joys of island life. We did multiple different activities on different days. For example, one day was island day, where we explored the island and did various team building activities.​
​ Another day was all about fishing, which quickly became a favorite for most of the group. The thrill of reeling in big mahi-mahi, feeling the boat speed through the water, and even passing through a rainstorm made it a day to remember. We had an absolute blast. We cooked our own food and enjoyed the views of the beach. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our planned snorkeling day because a hurricane was headed our way. But that brought another adventure within itself. We evacuated the whole island by motorboats sent by the Base instead of canoeing back, which the group was going to do if the hurricane didn’t approach. As the distance between us and Big Monsoon Island grew greater and greater, we all looked back and saw where we had been living for the past couple days.
After our adventure at Sea base, we were all ready and set to go home, but little did we know, our adventure wasn’t over yet. The flight home got canceled because of the same hurricane we encountered earlier!
The group stayed at a hotel, and we said our goodbyes to a fellow scout who left for his grandparents house since they live in Florida. Over the course of three days, since the flight was consecutively getting canceled, we went to a baseball game, went into the pool, and hung out in the hotel. At last, the adults decided we would take a 20 hour road trip back to Staten island. We made countless pit stops for food, personal business and gas, and after that we finally reached Staten Island. After countless twists and turns, our adventure came to an end and we all said goodbye to each other and went to our homes, knowing that this journey would stay with us for a long time—a perfect blend of challenges, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments.
BSA Troop 37 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | 2024
BACK-TO-BACK PERSPECTIVE 1
JUNIOR LEADER TRAINING (JLT)
By Alex Staiano
On Friday, September 20, I arrived at pouch camp for my first Junior Leadership training. As soon as we got there, we quickly set up our tents because we were excited to get started. Then we had dinner, and it was a good chance to hang out with my friends. After we finished eating, we received our colorful bandannas in orange, blue, white, and black. I was assigned to the white group B. We played some fun games before heading to bed, I wondered what we were going to do the next day. The following morning, we ate breakfast. Afterwards, we played a fun game led by the senior patrol leader and scoutmaster. Then, Mr. Pfuhler gave an interesting lecture on junior leadership, which included interactive games to help us improve our leadership skills. One of the most memorable activities was trying to flip a tarp while keeping everyone on it, which really tested our teamwork and strategy. After lunch, we got ready for the final lecture, where Mr. Pfuhler shared even more valuable insights.
I decided to take on the role of Den Chief for the younger scouts since it was my first time in a leadership position. As the lecture came to an end, Randy started the ASPL interviews, beginning with Thomas Costello,
then Paul Gottlieb, and finishing with Liam Heffernan-Wilcox. All three were chosen as this year’s ASPLs. After the interviews, some of us relaxed in the cabin, I chose to go fishing with Cody until dinner, which was followed
by watching The Dead Poets Society. The next morning, we packed up our tents and troop gear, we did a trust fall which was fun, then participated in a buds, thorns, and roses session, and then headed home, filled with
great memories and new skills.
BSA Troop 37 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | 2024
BACK-TO-BACK PERSPECTIVE 2
JUNIOR LEADER TRAINING (JLT)
By Leo Staiano
When I got to the JLT pouch camp on Saturday morning, everyone was eagerly waiting for breakfast. I quickly set my things down and joined the group for a meal of pancakes and sausage. After we finished eating, I was assigned to the white team, which would be my group for the entire trip. We chose Cody as our leader, and then Mr. Pfuhler began his presentation on effective leadership. We participated in several fun games, including one where we had to flip a tarp while standing on it. I can’t recall which team succeeded, but it was impressive to watch.
After a few hours of games and learning from Mr. Pfuhler, we took a break for lunch, which consisted of pulled pork sandwiches. Once we were done eating, we returned for the continuation of Mr. Pfuhler’s presentation, which lasted another hour or two. During this time, Randy conducted ASPL interviews for Paul, Liam, and Thomas, and they all passed. After the presentations, we had some free time to relax before dinner, which was pasta. Later that evening, we watched a movie, though I can’t remember the title. We enjoyed popcorn and snacks before heading to bed around 10 or 11 PM.
The next morning, we started packing up and cleaning the cabin right away. Once everything was in order, we participated in trust falls for the new campers. The process involved one person falling while the older boys stood ready to catch them.
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After completing the trust falls, we shared our thoughts in a “roses, thorns, and buds” activity, where we discussed what we liked, what we didn’t, and what we were looking forward to. After that, it was time to head home, reflecting on the fun experiences we had during the trip.
BSA Troop 37 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | 2024
ALPINE
By Robert Burns
Our trip to Alpine was October 18-20. We had great weather the whole weekend. Arriving Friday night, we emptied out the cars, ate the sandwich we brought from home and began to set up our tents. When all the tents were up, we started getting our things ready for the next day which would consist of a 10-mile hike.
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When we woke up Saturday morning the weather was great! It was sunny out and my patrol cooked an enjoyable breakfast of pancakes and bacon. Afterwards, we prepared our day pack with lunch and
headed out.
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We drove to the Fort Lee Historic Park located in Fort Lee, New Jersey and visited a historical museum. At the museum we had the chance to take a tour and see a cannon and a lot of historic memorabilia, we even had the opportunity to answer questions from a worksheet to earn a patch. Then we left to begin our hike.
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It was nice seeing all the leaves change colors for the fall season. We took the Long Path towards the George Washington Bridge and entered the woods continuing to make our way. At the six-mile mark we stopped to eat lunch. The temperature started getting warmer as the day went on. We hiked along the Hudson River which was really cool.
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When we returned from our hike, we prepared for dinner which was tacos. After enjoying them, we cleaned up and had a campfire. We had time to hang out, run around or just sit and relax by the
fire.
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Waking up Sunday morning, I felt refreshed and glad my legs rested enough too. It was another sunny day and once we packed up our things, took apart the tents, we then did our police line and picked up all the garbage we left behind. Lastly, we formed our Troop circle and recited our Rose, Bud, Thorn.
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All in all, my trip to Alpine was an awesome experience filled with good times, friendships, laughter,
and reverence.
