Troop 131,
We will have an in-person Troop meeting Monday at 7:00 at Immanuel Church on the Hill. Note, we are in summer hours, so we are starting ½ hour earlier. This will give us more daylight for outdoor activities.
CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION- Saturday, July 30th
Next Saturday, July 30th, Mr. Dalton will be leading interested Scouts on a tour of three nationally significant sites near the National Mall, as part of requirements for the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge. The group will head downtown from the Braddock Road Metro at 9:00 am, and the first stop will be the National Archives to view our nation’s Charters of Freedom. Next, they’ll head to a surprise building on the Mall that holds a unique and little-known connection to the citizens of Alexandria. Finally, they’ll visit the National Museum of American History to view Old Glory and talk about the War of 1812 and our national anthem. The group should return to the Braddock Road Metro Station between 2:00 and 3:00 pm.
Mr. Dalton has gotten timed tickets for entry to the National Archives, so the tour is open to a total of 13 people. Adults are welcome to join, but first priority will go toward Scouts. If you’re interested in attending the CitN Tour, there are three things you should do:
- Sign up using the Google Form link below
- Pack yourself a lunch and pay attention to the weather forecast (Be prepared!)
- This week, watch the national evening news or read the front page of a major daily newspaper for five days in a row. Write down a sentence or two about a story that you find interesting or meaningful. The group will talk about these stories during the tour.
If you have any questions, reach out to Mr. Dalton (just remember to copy your parents or another Troop leader on any texts or emails): seanldalton@gmail.com
Citizenship in the Nation Signup
ALEX HECKEL EAGLE PROJECT
Alexander Heckel is working on his Eagle project, and he needs volunteers! See email below from him. Please consider signing up to help him.
Come Help Restore the Chinquapin Trail!
My Eagle Scout project will be to restore a large portion of the Chinquapin Park Trail by the swimming pool next to Alexandria City High School. The project will entertain removing rotten trail timbers with rebar, installing new ones, and mulching. I am looking for volunteers for August 6th, August 7th, August 13th, and August 14th from the hours of 9:00-3:30. Lunch will be provided.
SignupGenius link: https://m.signupgenius.
Thanks,
Alexander Heckel
HORSEBACK RIDING TRIP
See message below from Mr. Mulvaney, our activity coordinator. Please don’t wait to sign up as we need to get an accurate head count!
I may be a little biased, since my Chinese surname is 马 which means Horse, but we are totally looking forward to this (rescheduled) trip.
12-14 August, Horseback Riding at Red Gate Farm Sign up to ride horses!
We want to get as much of the Troop out to this one as possible, so we are going to cover much of the cost of the trip. With the T-131 discount, it will just be $40 per Scout for all of the instruction and all of the riding necessary to complete the Horsemanship Merit Badge.
Remember- You Can Use Scout Accounts to pay for this. Check with the Treasurer for your Scout’s current balance. All you have to do is sign up!!!
BUT YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP!!! Because we are using a company to provide horses and instructors, this trip there are no last-minute changes. We want everyone available to go, it’ll be a great time. So sign up BEFORE August 2nd.
All you have to do is sign up!!!
The boys need to wear long pants and sturdy shoes with a heel!
And of course, the forms:
Brendan Mulvaney
MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS
We always need help in both the required and elective badges.
Please let Mr. Jahns and I know if you have any interest in becoming a merit badge counselor for any of the badges listed.
ADULT VOLUNTEERS
Parents, we need your help! It takes a lot to keep this troop together and active. Even if you don’t have time to be in one of the more active positions, there some one-off tasks. Please consider volunteering to one of the activities below:
We need help with:
Health Forms
o We need an audit of the troop health forms and reconcile with our current roster.
o The forms need to be updated every year.
o We need to a volunteer to review the box and contact parents if we need an updated form.
We also need adult volunteers:
· To sit on the committee and be available for Board of Reviews
· Additional ASM’s to go on camping trips
· High Adventure and Jamboree Planning- we are in the beginning stages of putting together a long-range high adventure/jamboree calendar for next two years and for the “big trips”. Nothing is set in stone right now, but these trips take a long time to plan, and fund raise and below is what we are considering. We need a volunteer to help explore interest, logistics and ultimately to help with the planning.
o Spring Break 2023 or Spring Break 2024- Sea Base
o July 19-28, 2023- National Jamboree- Summit Bechtel Reserve
o August 1-12, 2023- World Jamboree – South Korea
o Philmont- Summer 2024
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, July 25th – Troop Meeting – 7:00 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday July 30th –Tour (Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge)
Monday, August 1st – Troop Meeting- 7:00 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Sat/Sun, Aug. 6&7- Alex Heckel Eagle Project – Part 1
Monday, August 8th – Troop Meeting (PLC)– 7:00 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday August 12th 14th – Horseback Riding- Red Gate Farm
Sat/Sun, Aug. 13&14- Alex Heckel Eagle Project – Part 2
Monday, August 15th – Troop Meeting- 7:00 PM (BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday August 20th – Architectural Walking Tour DC (Architectural Merit Badge)
Monday, August 22nd – First Day of School- Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday August 29th – Court of Honor- Family Picnic
Monday, Sept. 5th – No Troop Meeting – Federal Holiday
GENERAL TROOP MEETING INFO:
Bring your Mask and uniform! Bring your Book, Bring a headlamp! Leave your phone in your pocket! and have a good time!
Blue Cards! Did you know that your Scoutmaster can email you a blue card? Just send me Mr. Ramirez an email (scoutmaster@t131.org)! Note that the SCOUT must request the blue card, not the parent!
See you all at the troop meeting.
