Hi Troop 695:

Our Joshua Tree trip is coming up Feb 9 - 11.  Here is some info on rock climbing and rocket launching.

The rock climbing will take place on Sunday, Feb 10th.  We will have 3 professional guides from Wilderness Outings.  To make this work-out for the variety of people in our group, there will be two groups of climbers. 

 

1. 1.       The first group of climbers will be those (Scouts or adults) who are interested in climbing from 8:00am – around 2:00pm.  This group will learn knots, belaying skills and will do lots of climbing.  At 2:00, the Scouts who have mastered belaying skills can stay and help belay the second group of climbers.  The charge for this first group is $75 per person.
2. 2.       The second group of climbers will be those (Scouts, adults, or siblings) who are interested in doing a small amount of climbing.  This group will start at 2:00pm and the charge is $25 per person.

 

There is a maximum of 15 climbers in each group, so I must ask you to e-mail me right away to reserve  your spot.  Tell me which group you want to be in.  Attached is a release form and a participant information form that need to be filled out and turned in to me (Diane G.) by Feb 4th.  Please make out your checks for rock climbing to Troop 695.  You can also give me your check on Feb 4th.

 

Joshua Tree is a world-famous rock climbing area.  The weather there is usually perfect—even last year when the temperature was around 20°F, the sun warmed up the face of the rocks and the climbers were very comfortable. Be aware that this is a great price for climbing – about half of what it would normally cost.

 

Rocket Launching

 

Rocket launching will take place on Saturday afternoon Feb 9th.  We will meet in a central place somewhere at our campsite and caravan to the launching spot just a short distance outside of the National Park.  If you would like to launch a rocket, and you do not already have one, you’ll need to purchase a kit from a hobby store and assemble it before you leave for Joshua Tree.  You can always join us just to watch, if you prefer.

 

Gyro Hobbies is a good, local hobby store:

23052 Lake Forest Dr Ste C2
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Phone: (949) 583-1775

 

They have starter kits that include a battery launcher and stand, complete with engines, etc.  These run about $25.  Buy additional engines (get the largest that will fit the rocket), and additional wadding and igniters.  You can also purchase an additional rocket without the launcher, in case your main rocket doesn’t return (or doesn’t return in one piece!).  These kits only take about an hour to build, unless you spend a few more dollars and purchase pre-built models.  Ask the hobby store staff for recommendations.

 

Here are some good links for more info: www.estesrockets.com,  www.flyrockets.com.  If you want to buy the rocket(s) on-line, here is a good web-site: www.discountrocketry.com, but better order quickly because time is running out!

 

Diane & Don Geller

BSA695_Rock_JT_Info.pdf , Participant_Info_Form 1_08, Release 1_07.pdf