The summer is just around the corner, and we are on the home stretch with respect to the school year activities!
For the scouts that went on the camping, hiking, and caving trip, it looks like it was a great time, Mr. Dalton Provided a recap below for the rest of the troop. If you borrowed troop gear, please make sure you clean and dry it all when you get home this afternoon. Mold is NOT your friend!
We have the swim test this Monday (see below). Please keep in mind that we will not have a troop meeting next week and in observance of Memorial Day.
The following week (June 5th) we are holding Troop Elections. How quickly six months go by!
If you intend to run for SPL, please let me know formally, either at the meeting or via email.
For those of you that intend to run for Patrol Leader, now is the time to start talking to your patrol mates.
For the rest of you, there are plenty of other leadership positions available as well, see list below of the roles that we commonly fill. For the older scouts, I would like to see 2 or 3 three Troop Guides this round as well, so please consider that position. The Goats, Penguin Raiders and Snapping Turtles will benefit from your experience and wisdom!
Just as a reminder, the patrols elect the Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leader appoints the Assistant Patrol Leader.
The troop elects the Sr. Patrol Leader. The Sr. Patrol Leader appoints the Assistant Sr. Patrol Leader(s) and the other leadership positions.
Sr Patrol Leader:
Assistant Sr. Patrol Leader:
Patrol Leader
Quartermaster:
Historian:
Librarian:
Bugler:
Scribe:
Troop Guide:
Chaplain’s Aide:
Order of the Arrow Rep:
TROOP MEETING- Swim Test
We will have an in-person(ish) meeting at 7:30PM at Chinquapin Park Req. Center.
For those new to the troop, we do this every year, just to assess where you all are with respect to swimming skills. No matter what level of swimmer you are (beginner to swim team champ), if you are going on the Rafting Trip in June or going to Summer Camp, then it is imperative that you please attend. There is also a possibility of a canoe trip this summer (not yet confirmed) that would also require us to conduct a swim test.
Please come in your swim gear, uniforms are not required, however official Troop 131 Class B t-shirts are encouraged!
We will hang around outside and send you all down in groups.
Parents: The swim test traditionally does not take the full 90 minutes of the meeting, so feel free to hang around outside or be “cell-phone close” in case your Scout is one of the first to finish.
CAMPING/CAVING TRIP RECAP
See message below from Mr. Dalton- looks like a great trip!
Wow, what a weekend! Thirteen very exhausted Scouts have now returned home, triumphant — not only having conquered Little Bald Knob (a 7 mile round-trip hike with 2,000 feet elevation gain), but also having explored the depths of an actual, honest-to-gosh cave. These Scouts now know how (and why) to: filter water sources in the back country; properly dispose of trash (and yes, waste); and, pack the essentials for a weekend off the beaten path. But that was only half the adventure! This afternoon these intrepid Scouts descended below the fields of Mount Solon to encounter underground twists, turns, climbs, and slides – and oh so very much mud. Our incredible guide instructed the Scouts on how caves are created, the three criteria for what makes a cave, and the difference between caves and caverns. There were no Gollums or One Rings, but there were indeed bats!
When you talk to your Scouts at breakfast in the morning, let them know how proud you are of what they accomplished on their adventures this weekend, because all of us who had the chance to spend two days with them are certainly proud of them! A special thanks to Hilary McDonald and Ali Leithner for making round trip drives to ferry carsful of Scouts, and a huge thanks to Mr. Jackson, Mr. Grocki, and Mr. Saulski for sharing in the entire journey.
Troop 131: We accomplish more in one weekend than most people accomplish in a year!
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 Andrea 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 give 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
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! I believe at this point we have 20 Scouts going, so it should be a good time!
NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR OVERNIGHT & OTHER BSA EVENTS
Parents, I just want to draw your attention to the email Mr. Mulvaney sent out today concerning the new BSA requirements.
We do want your participation in scouting, so please don’t let this be an impediment to your participation. The Youth Protection training is broken up into modules that can be taken at different times and is just over an hour in total time.
BLUF (Bottom line up front) if you want to be able to participate in any of our camping, overnight events, summer camps, etc. you are now required to register with BSA, and pay $45, and complete Youth Protection Training.
Here are the new rules:
- “All adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered in an adult fee required position as listed or as an adult program participant.”
This can not be just as a merit badge counsellor, it has to be a “fee required position”. The good news- you can be a “Committee Member”. As a rule of thumb, T-131 has always treated Troop adults as parts of the committee, so there isn’t much that will change with how our Troop works. What this new rule means is that we will are now required to make you complete the BSA Adult Registration form:
This means that you will be registered on our Charter, and we will need to pay $45 for each adult volunteer (includes cost of background check).
It also means that you will now be required to complete YPT training. https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/
- If you are going to spend time with the Troop and/or our Scouts, you are going to need to complete Youth Protection Training:
“All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.”
72 hours can add up quickly, especially if you come to meetings, go on a camp out, etc. We are already ahead on this as a Troop, with a tracker and keeping certificates on file. But this new requirement means that more people are going to need to complete the training:
https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/
In fairness, this is just a good practice in any case, which is why T-131 was already ahead of the game.
So, if you are joining us for the AWESOME END OF YEAR RAFTING TRIP, or Goshen, please go ahead and jump on the YPT training
https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/
and send me the PDF of your certificate when you are done. I’ll file it and update the tracker.
Lots to take in, so please let me know if you have any questions or need help filling out forms or getting into the training.
And a big THANK YOU for all you do for the Troop. We can’t do it without you, and I know the SCOUTS appreciate all the opportunities this provides for them.
Brendan Mulvaney
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, May 22nd – Swim Test – 7:30 PM – Chinquapin Park Req. Center
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.
