I hope you had a great weekend and a very special Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Thank you for all that you have done for us!
Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to make the meeting tomorrow again, however I am definitively on the mend and hope to be back in Scouting Action again very soon. Mr. Dalton and the other ASM’s will be there to help you out.
PLC- 7:00
Despite this, we WILL have a PLC tomorrow. The SPL, ASPL’s, PL’s and other leaders please arrive ½ hour early and at 7:00. Patrol Leaders, if you cannot attend, please make sure your Assistant Patrol leader can come in your stead. It is important that we have representation from each of the patrols at the PLC.
TROOP MEETING
We will have an in-person Troop meeting at 7:30PM at Immanuel Church on the Hill this Monday.
Board of Review’s are scheduled for this week. We have no less than nine (9) scouts going up for the next rank… way to go Troop 131 Scouts and keep them coming!!!
If you are going on the backpacking trip this weekend, it is imperative that you:
- Talk to the members in your patrol who are going.
- Do your meal planning.
- Get any gear (stoves, tents, etc) out of the shed that you need.
While backpacking requires that you are frugal with your gear and that you need to pack light, it does not mean that you are not prepared or can’t eat well!
If you requested blue cards at the last meeting, I have written them up and Mr. Dalton will have them. He will also have a healthy supply of blank ones, should you become inspired to start a new merit badge….
ORDER OF THE ARROW
I am pleased to announce that the following four scouts from our troop completed their Order of the Arrow (OA) Ordeal this weekend and are now officially members of the Order of the Arrow.
- Sean Mulvaney
- Tadgh Devlin
- Theodore Ramirez
While I know it was a tough weekend, as they had to endure a day-long service project, Spartan food, and a fair amount of rain, I think they all had a good time!
Be sure to congratulate them when you see them at the meeting!
MERIT BADGE WORKSHOP
See email from Mrs. Haymes, I already know of two scouts from the troop who are planning on attending! Please make sure to ask for a Blue Card (from Mr. Dalton or I) if you have not already done so and are planning on attending.
Scouts and scout families,
If anyone is interested in attending a merit badge event run by the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) on June 3, host Troop 996 have invited our scouts to sign up. Here is the information they provided:
The Merit Badge Workshop will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. The three merit badges offered will be American Heritage, Genealogy, and Law*. All are prerequisites for the SAR Eagle Scout Scholarship that SAR sponsors every year. An RSVP IS REQUIRED for any scouts participating. Sorry, no walk-ins available. For those interested, please do the following:
1) Email Scoutmaster Zecca and Scoutmaster Ramirez to RSVP and obtain blue cards.
2) Fill out the Google form to sign up.
3) Do the prerequisites for the merit badges that you wish to complete:
>> a) American Heritage: #1 and #3
>> b) Genealogy: #1, #2 (pick one), #3
>> c) Law: #4 and #6
The intent is for any Scout who does the prerequisites and attends the day of the merit badge clinic should be able to complete the merit badge. Scouts will be permitted to do one, two, or all three merit badges. NOTE: Walk-ins will not be permitted for this event. RSVP is required to account for materials and supplies.
Please note this is the same day as a scheduled Troop 131 Skills Saturday event so plenty going on that day for younger and older scouts!
Thank you
Mrs Haymes
UNIFORM SWAP
See email below from Ms. Campbell (Luke’s Mother)- please bring in that old gear (including Class B t-shirts) for the exchange!
Did your scout GROW?
Since the last time you bought scout pants?
Oh wait, that was last week for us…
If the same is true for your scout…
IT’S TIME FOR A UNIFORM SWAP!
Please ask your scout to find all their gently used uniforms (because they’re rarely in the size long enough for any more than gentle use…) and bring them to the next troop meeting. It will not only be a great opportunity for them to look over all their successes and progress… but also to organize their closets!
I will collect uniforms at meetings through June 12th, and then wash, iron, fold, and package all the uniform pieces by size and make them available for perusal and selection as soon as I have everything prepared; I’ll send another note when the scouts can “shop” for their size.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me at 571-977-8902 or ajcampbell97@yahoo.com. I will plan to do this a few times a year to keep those uniforms rotating.
YIS,
Andrea Irwin
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
The next two camping trips are on the horizon (aka one this weekend), please sign up if you intend to go. See information below from Mr. Mulvaney, our Outdoor Coordinator!
Caving and Hiking (last call!)
Who: All the Adventuresome Scouts
What: Troop 131 Caving and Hiking trip
When: Fri 19 May- Sun 21 May, 2023
Where: Mt Solon area (about 2.5 hours from Alexandria)
Why: First Troop Caving Trip
$30
This is a BACKPACKING Trip. We drive out Friday afternoon/ evening to the Harrisonburg area. Camp Friday night at a roadside camp. Get up Sat and hike up to Little Bald Knob. Set up camp in the meadow area just past that. Camp Sat night there. Sun- break camp and hike back to the road, pack cars, and drive into Stokesville area (about 20 min) and do Caving Adventure from 13:00-16:00, then RTB to Alexandria. Makes for a little longer/ later than our normal trips, but the caving part is worth it.
Sign up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScupNy4CR6YPPyA10Lhl4YHQzrWVHK0Toge16qaN7Bj_CvpoQ/viewform
End of School Summer Rafting Trip
Who: Everyone with a sense of adventure who loves the outdoors (i.e. SCOUTS!!!!)
What: Whitewater and water fun, and a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater
When: Fri 09 June- Sun 11 June
Where: Ohiopyle, PA
Why: Adventure for Older Scouts and New Scouts alike
Cost varies depending on which options you choose
OPTION 1: The scenic Middle Yough’s Class I and II rapids are a great introduction to whitewater rafting. By paddling the gentle waters of this nine-mile section of river, you and your Scouts will enjoy the unending beauty and wildlife of the Laurel Highlands. Rafts will seat from three to six rafters comfortably. All tours include transportation from the check-in area, all the equipment necessary for the day, and a riverside boxed lunch. This is a 5 hour trip, this will be T-131 led, Scouts and Adults (no guide), cost per person (Scout and parent) is $25.
OPTION 2: LOWER YOUGH RAFTING Excitement For Everyone!
Enjoy the beauty and sheer excitement of the Lower Yough River. The seven and a half miles of Class III and IV rapids will challenge and excite, but not intimidate even the novice rafter. Our highly trained and professional staff will guide you through an exciting experience that you will not soon forget. This is a 4 hour trip, the cost per person (Scout and parent) is $50 (this trip includes a paid guide).
Fallingwater tour on Sunday is $35
Sign up:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfd7QVnRODJmGzND1tv-U1vR5y7CLlmhMQYouFVXLbDWibuVg/viewform
Brendan Mulvaney
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
SUMMER CAMP
If you are planning on attending summer camp, it is not too late to sign up!
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, May 15th – Troop Meeting (PLC)(BoR) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday, May 19th -21st – Hiking and Caving – Stokesville, VA
Monday, May 22nd – Swim Test – 7:30 PM – Chinquapin Park Req. Center (tentative)
Monday, May 29th – No Troop Meeting – Federal Holiday – Memorial Day
Monday, June 5th – Troop Meeting (Elections) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday, June 9th – 11th – Camping- Rafting- Ohiopyle, PA
Monday, June 12th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, June 19th – No Troop Meeting – Federal Holiday – Juneteenth
Saturday June 25th – Start of Summer Camp!!!
GENERAL TROOP MEETING INFO:
Wear your full Class A Uniform and Scarf! 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.
