I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fine fall weekend! If you were at the Camporee this weekend, please make sure to return any troop gear to the shed this Monday. All gear should be returned cleaned and DRY! We are only two weeks away from our last camping activity of the year, so it is important we get all the gear back and ready for the next trip!
It is extremely important that you all hang your tents to dry completely before you return them to the shed. Even a bit of moisture will result in mold that will destroy the gear or at the very least result in a smelly night for anyone who uses it next.
TROOP MEETING
We will have an in-person Troop meeting at 7:30PM at Immanuel Church on the Hill.
Please note that we shifted the Board of Review (BoR) one week to Monday the 24th. I know that there were some of you that were working on your Rank Advancements during the camping trip, so please make sure you get them signed off at the meeting and then let Mrs. Haymes know so that she can schedule your BoR for the following week.
CAMPOREE RECAP
While it was a bit cold on Friday night, we had near perfect camping weather for Saturday. For those that did not attend, the theme of the camporee was Skilled Trades, and the council asked several of the local unions to come out and give demonstrations. All the activities were hands on, so the Scouts were able to make a diverse number of different take-a-ways. One of the more popular, was the pipe fitters who let the scouts bend sections of aluminum conduit, which of course was then promptly turned into a low “horn”. To the parents of scouts who came home with one of these horns …. Please don’t blame me! My personal favorite was the plumbers, who helped the scouts solder copper piping into a very cool 131 plaque, we then were able to brand it with a fleur-de-lis poker.
Of special note, we received a perfect score on the campsite inspection and were awarded a special banner for our troop flag in honor of the achievement. Everyone did a great job on Friday in setting up the site, including laying out the campsite, roping it off, building the gateway entry way (with good lashings), setting up the flags (including patrol flags) and generally keeping the kitchen/site clean/orderly. Congratulations all, now that we have done it once, we should do it every time!
Food planning and preparation was good as well, however, we need to do a bit better in cleaning up after meals!
Thank you to all 15 scouts who came out and participated, it was a lot of fun!
BAMBOO
At the camporee we were the only troop to build an entrance gateway. It was simple (but effective) and it inspired me to want to build bigger and more elaborate structures in the future. The impediment to that right now is a lack of building materials. If anyone has a bamboo stand or knows anyone who wants one removed, then we need some long and straight sections….
BEACH CAMPING
This will be our last camping trip until February, so let’s make it a good one. See email below from Mr. Mulvaney, please sign up!
It’s been a year full of 马 (horses) and we want to finish it off.
Our final campout of the year will be at Assateague Beach
Who: Those who like surf, sand, and horses
What: Beach camp out
When: Fri 28 Oct-Sun 30 Sep 2022
Where: Assateague Island, MD
Why: Final Campout of 2022, and we haven’t done beach camping for a long time
Cost: $25/Scout and $25/adult
And, as always, we have a Google Sign up form ready and waiting for you:
Assateague beach camping (google.com)
This will be a fun one, and a new place for T-131. These reservations are hard to come by, so we might not be able to go back for a couple years. And Beach camping will bring its own exciting experiences for sure. So don’t wait, sign up today.
(This is our “November” camp out, even though it is technically the last weekend of October. So that will close us out for Camping for 2022. We may have a couple of other activities, but they will just be daytime things)
If you haven’t already sent it to me, please send a permission form and a health form
It is $25 per person, Scout or Adult.
Checks delivered at the Monday Meeting to the Treasurer or Committee Chair- they should be made payable to “BSA Troop 131.” Please put in the notes the activity you are paying for. Credit Cards at the Monday Meeting (if the treasurer is in attendance) – Processed by the Troop Treasurer.
· Zelle Account Transfer:
· Name: TreasurerT131
· Email: treasurert131@gmail.com
· That is TreasurerT131 just to reiterate the “T131” aspect.
· Please put in the notes what activity you are paying for.
Zelle is the easiest and most seamless.
A reminder to ALL Scouts, in addition to your essential 10, you ALL need to have a Full Class “A”, as well as a Class B. That goes for EVERY Campout, but this one in particular.
Brendan Mulvaney
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
SERVICE HOURS- PUMPKIN PATCH
Thank you to the scouts who volunteered at the Pumpkin Patch this weekend. There is another opportunity to volunteer again this Saturday and on the 22nd.
SERVICE HOURS- SCOUTING FOR FOOD
For our new scouts, one of the yearly Service projects that we participate in is Scouting for Food. On Saturday November 5th, we will put out post-it- notes (that the District Provides) on the doors of houses in Alexandria asking for food donations. One week later and on November 12th we go to the same neighborhood and pick up the food people donated. More information will follow later from our Service coordinators, but for planning purposes we typically get started about 8:30 on both days and the SPL will organize the scouts in teams of up to four.
The T131 area is bounded by Quaker Ln, Duke Street, W. Taylor Run Pkwy and Janey’s Ln.
Unfortunately, I will be out of town on the 5th, but I encourage all of you to participate in this important Service Project.
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
For your use, see below a list of the next month’s activities:
Monday, October 17th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday October 22ndh – Service Project- Pumpkin Drop at Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, October 24th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM (BoR)– Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday, October 28th-30th – Beach/Chesapeake Bay Camping, Assateague
Monday, October 31st – No Meeting- Halloween!
Saturday, November 5th– Scouting for Food Drop Off
Monday, November 7th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, November 12th– Scouting for Food Pick Up
Monday, November 14th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, November 21st – No Meeting- Thanksgiving week!
Monday, November 28th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM (BoR)– – Immanuel Church on the Hill
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.
