Troop 131,
I hope you are all well! I just got back in town from our family trip to Scotland and thought I would send out a (slightly early) “weekend email”.
I know many of you are getting geared up for the first day of school, but I also want you all to get excited about our fall activity schedule full of amazing scouting activities- see below!
For those going to “Flight School” this weekend, I hope you have a great time!!!
TROOP MEETING, BoR and PLC
We will have a Troop meeting at 7:30PM this Monday at Immanuel Church on the Hill!
We will also have a PLC, so all those in leadership positions (SPL, ASPLs, PL, Scribe, QuarterMaster) please show up a half hour early (at 7:00) for the PLC. Patrol Leaders, if you cannot attend, please ask your Assistant Patrol Leader to attend.
In addition, we will hold Board of Reviews on Monday, please let Mrs. Farmer know if you are ready for one. I believe we have a couple of candidates already.
FALL ACTIVITIES
We have quite a few amazing experiences coming up….
First, our annual Troop Court of Honor and Picnic is coming up next week. For the new families, it is a great way to celebrate Scouting achievements and get excited about the fall camping season. The troop will provide Hot Dogs and Burgers; however, the rest is potluck. More information and a sign-up sheet to come soon!
· September: Troop Climbing at Rock Enon
· October: (it is triple header)
o Will Rogers Conservation Project- Camp Snyder
o Climboree
o District Camporee (this is an all-hands-on deck activity!!)
· November: Camping and Football Game at the Naval Academy
· December: I don’t want to jinx it, but we have the potential for an amazing activity for this month … stay tuned!
BEN MOORE EAGLE PROJECT
Don’t forget, Ben Moore is having the second part of his eagle project this weekend, please support him if you can. See note below.
Benjamin Moore’s Eagle Project, Day 2, will be this Saturday, August 17th from 10 AM to Noon. He is looking for volunteers again to pick up donated books for the youth of Alexandria’s Boys and Girls Club. Meeting location will be the parking lot at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Rd. On Saturday, scouts dropped off flyers to the neighborhood around the church (similar neighborhood to Scouting for Food). The flyer (see attached) requested neighbors to donate books for kids from ages 6-18. On August 17th from 10:00 A.M. to roughly noon will be to pick up of any donated books Adult drivers are also needed for both days to transport scouts throughout the neighborhood to pick up books. Any donations of books by scouts and their families would be greatly appreciated! Drop off, again, will be from 10:00 AM to Noon at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Rd. Thanks!!!!
MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS
Like rank advancements, the summer is a great time to work on Merit Badges. All you need is the desire, a blue card (from me or one of the other Assistant Scoutmasters and to talk to you counselor)
Mrs. Farmer, the Advancement Chair, has created a google document, see link below, that contains a list of all the merit badges and the current list of troop counselors. Eagle Required are highlighted.
PARENTS: We are blessed to have so many adults with a wide diversity of skill sets, occupations and hobbies. If you would like to be a counselor (or expand the ones you already have) then please reach out to Kathryn Farmer.
For eagle required, we are bit light on:
· Emergency Preparation
· Environmental Science
Please don’t hesitate to sign up for merit badges where there are others, it is better if the scouts have choices on who they can work with!
BOX OF DESTINY (Woggle/Slides)
As I announced at the meeting last week that as a fun summertime activity, we would have a woggle painting competition. Each of you is to paint your Patrol Woggle. We will review the painted woggles at the Court of Honor/Family picnic on August 26th and the best three will be able to take a woggle from the Box of Destiny
The winners may take one of the blanks from the box or one of the ones that I painted. I am painting a few new ones now!
For your patrol woggles, I recommend that you:
· Prime them first with white or grey spray paint/primer.
· Paint them with Testors Acrylic or Enamel paint.
· Seal them with a clear spray paint coating.
For younger scouts, please talk to your parents first!
ADULT VOLUNTEERS
We cannot do this without you! We need 2-3 volunteers to help with:
· Wreath sales (our annual fundraiser)
SCOUTS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY
Since this is a more expensive event than typical, we would like to get a head count earlier. If you are interested in attending, then please see the information below from Mr. Mulvany and please sign up!
Who: Everyone in Troop 131 is invited!
What: Camping and Football
When: Fri 15 – Sat 15 Nov
Where: Annapolis, MD
Why: Are you ready for some football
Cost: Scout $30 camping program + $20 ticket= $50
Adult $35 camping program + $30 ticket= $65
Register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYaq6X12YRPODcmtuaG1yl5gkbO9-G7AyYb1Nq8PY9Dja3mQ/viewform
Cut off is 1 Nov, so sign up early
Price includes Football tickets, Camping, all Food, Commemorative Patch, Program Activities at Elks Camp Barrett, & Tailgate Party at Stadium
All scouts will receive a commemorative Navy Football Scout Day Patch at the game.
In 2023 we welcomed over 3,500 scouts (boys and girls) and family members to Annapolis, making it one of the largest football events in recent history.
Friday Nov 15, Scheduled Activities include:
* 3:00 pm – Unit Arrivals & Set Up Camp
* 12:00 am – Lights out
Scout Day Saturday Nov 16, Scheduled Activities include: (Tailgate Lunch Time is tentative & depends upon Kickoff time)
* 6:00 am – Continental Breakfast
* TBD – Tours of USNA by Midshipman (NESA) & USNA Scout Patch
* 11:00 am – Lunch àTailgate Lunch @ NAVYFEST – Southside of Stadium – along Taylor Ave
* 12:00 pm – USNA College Football Game: Midshipmen vs. Houston Cougars
* 6:00 pm – After Football Game – Return to Camp for Dinner
* 11:30 pm − Lights Out
Sunday Nov 17, Activities:
* 6:30 am – Hot Breakfast
* 8:30 am – Independent Interfaith Service
* 9:30 am – Clean Campsite/Depart from Camp
Registration link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYaq6X12YRPODcmtuaG1yl5gkbO9-G7AyYb1Nq8PY9Dja3mQ/viewform
Brendan Mulvaney
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, August 19th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM (PLC and BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, August 26th – Court of Honor and Family Picnic – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, September 2nd – No Troop Meeting- Labor Day
Saturday, September 7th – Troop 131 Car wash and Fundraiser 9:00-12:00 (tentative)
Saturday, September 7th – Isaac Workman Eagle Court of Honor
Monday, September 9th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday Sept 13th -15th – Troop Camping and Climbing- Camp Rock Enon
Friday Sept 13th -15th – OA Lodge Fellowship- Camp Snyder
Monday, September 16th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM (BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Thursday, September 19th – Committee, ASM and Parents Meetings- Virtual (7:30 PM)
Monday, September 23rd – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
