December: Scout Fair was a true test for all. We got to weather out some vertical rain (several times)! But all who attended had a great time and managed to cook up some tasty cobblers and bread. The oven that the scouts built was fantastic. A great improvement over last years model. Again a special thanks to Mr. Carr and Mr. Weaver for their expertise with the bread. Seventeen scouts and 4 scoutmasters attended winter camp this year. And winter camp at Lost Pines was everything a winter camp should be. We had a little rain on day 2 (all day). Freezing temps on days 3 and 4 (low of 29). The boys earned their polar bear patch. We camped in the Gaskin campsite, which we shared with troop 620. Probably the only downside was the fact that there was a countywide fire ban. That’s correct, no campfires were allowed. The boys managed to stay warm with friendship (which there was in abundance). The full moon, which occurred on the 22nd, was incredible. We have reserved the same site for next year.

Our campout for January is the 7^th – 9^th at Brazous Bend State Park. The OA Banquet will be on 15^th. Donut Sunday is the 16^th, where we will also be cooking pancakes and sausage for a fund-raiser. Our District first aid meet will be the 29^th. Reminder: Our first payment to Camp Frank Rand is due February 1^st. Check with Mr. Melcher to make sure you are current on your payments. You haven’t signed up? Its not too late, but we can only take 24.

University of Scouting is the February 5^th. It’s a great time for adult leaders to expand their toolbox and scouts can learn what it takes to be a den chief. Our February campout is at Galveston SP the 11^th – 13^th. We have scheduled Collections merit badge and a kite-flying contest. We will be conducting troop elections on the 15^th. The district merit badge fair is the 26^th. The semiannual court of hour will be the 29^th. We will also have the `Friends of Scouting’ that night.

Well, Scouts, the New Year is here and it's time for New Year's resolutions. In other words, I would like our theme this month to say, "It is time for a fresh start."

I don't know whether you make New Year's resolutions, but if you do, I hope that one of them is to move up Scouting's advancement ladder. Next month we'll be having a Court of Honor, and I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of you receiving awards then. I'm especially hopeful that those of you who haven't moved up a rank since last fall will get busy this month and do it in time for the Court of Honor.

All it takes is determination and some work, I'm sure your patrolmates will help you, and of course our leaders will, too. But you have to make the effort; no one can do that for you.