Troop 131,
Hope you are doing well. We had a packed weekend with the Climbing trip to Rock Enon, David Lloyds Eagle Project and the OA Fall Fellowship at Camp Olmsted! I look forward to hearing about everything at the Monday meetings.
Be sure to clean and dry all your scout gear before you return it to the shed. This includes tents and cooking gear. We do not want a fungus among us!
We have a ton going on this fall, so please read through the entire email as there is new information every week!
TROOP MEETING
We will have a Troop meeting at 7:30PM this Monday at Immanuel Church on the Hill!
The meeting will focus on Orienteering!
In addition, we will have a Board of Review going on during the meeting (way to go scouts!). We also have three scouts who have asked for Scoutmaster Conferences during this time, so I will be a bit busy at the beginning of the meeting.
COMMITTEE ASM & PARENTS MEETING
See note below from Mrs. Devlin, our Committee Chair, concerning the upcoming meeting.
Good evening Troop 131 Parents and Volunteers,
Planning for next week and this fall… any questions, please let me know!
Anastasia Devlin, Committee Chair
Parent / Committee Meeting – September 19th
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our fall Parent & Committee
Meeting on Thursday, September 19th at 7:30 PM via Zoom.
All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. This is your chance to find out all that is going on with the troop, get any questions you may have answered and maybe find a way you can help.
First link, starts at 7:30pm:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73936799177?pwd=igSNPx4NKeNiCiTklhdO4jJL8u17Fn.1
Meeting ID: 739 3679 9177
Passcode: T131
———–
Second link, if needed after 8pm:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76327394337?pwd=QM93Atznkzj3dyE6SwJ0Cl2ajXHH8C.1
Meeting ID: 763 2739 4337
Passcode: T131
CLIMBOREE VOLUNTEERS- ADULTS
As many of you know, we are blessed to have so many adults in the troop who are avid climbers. One of these is Mr. Bolte (former Scoutmaster) who helps organize the Climboree (which is next month) and he asked if I could put out a call for adults to help with some aspects, specifically they need people to help take a shift at check-in, the entry gate, and parking. In addition, they are looking for some help with gear at orientation. You do NOT need to be a climbing instructor to help out at the gear orientation. See link below if you can help!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4CAFAF2EA4F49-50695329-2024#/
SERVICE PROJECTS- PUMPKIN DROP-OFF
See email below from Mrs. Ramirez (our new Service Coordinator) concerning the Service activities coming up and links to sign up!
Please mark your calendars! Our amazing sponsor- Immanuel Church on the Hill has scheduled several dates for pumpkin drop off and clean up!
Note that October 19th is the same weekend as the District Camporee. We expect the entire troop to come to the camporee, however, if you absolutely cannot attend, then please volunteer to help the church in the morning as they will need volunteers that day.
As in the last several years, pumpkin unloading will be on Saturday mornings and will involve pallet-sized cartons of pumpkins being taken off the trucks with a forklift. The main work consists of moving pumpkins from the cartons to various places in the patch, using wheelbarrows and wagons. Scouts could come as early as 8:30 am but can come later—we will likely be busy till noon each day.
Episcopal High School will help on September 28th as well but cannot attend on October 19th.
From T131 Service
Hi everyone! Vivian Ramirez here – some of you may know me as Theo’s mom, or Scoutmaster Mark’s wife. Most of you probably actually know me best as Aspen’s mom. I’m stepping up as Service Coordinator this year for T131, and below are our upcoming Service Events (event links take you to the Sign-ups). Get those Service Hours and Rank Up!
Please note: we need 4 Parent Drivers on 11/2 and on 11/9 for Scouting for Food. Please reach out to ASM Andrew Moore (andrewdmoore2@aol.com, 202-258-7103) if you can support.
9/28/24 Saturday, 8:30-11 – Pumpkin Patch at Immanuel Church on the Hill
11/2/24 Saturday 9-11:30 – Scouting for Food
11/2/24 Saturday 9-11 – Pumpkin Patch at Immanuel Church on the Hill
11/9/24 Saturday 10-11:30 – Scouting for Food
SCOUTS: Please make sure to log your service hours in your logbooks. I will be at the 10/7 Scout Meeting and can sign off on your service hours. Please come prepared to describe your service activities and how they connect with Scouting principles as outlined below. Below is the outline for rank-up requirements, also available online:
- Tenderfoot: 1 hour, connect with Scout Slogan/Scout Motto
- Second Class: 2 hours, connect with Scout Oath
- First Class: 3 hours, connect with Scout Law
- Star: 6 hours
- Life: 6 hours, 3 of which must be conservation-related
WILL ROGER MEMORIAL EVENT – CONSERVATION PROJECT
We need a really big turnout for this. It is just an afternoon, and it is in memory of our former Scoutmaster, and good friend, Will Roger
Who: Everyone in Troop 131 is invited!
What: Conservation project at Camp Snyder in memory of Will Rodger
When: Sunday 6 October, 2:00 PM start
Where: Camp Snyder
Why: We all loved Will
Cost: Free to all, just need your love and help
We will do a Cast Iron Cooking Event at the end of the day.
Conservation project is 2:00-5:00 and Troop Cast Iron Dinner is at 5:00
Will was an amazing leader and gave his all to Troop 131 and our Scouts. He was an avid rock climber, outdoorsman, and conservationist. Please come and join us for an afternoon to remember him, and to give back to Scouting, at Camp Snyder, and join us for a fellowship dinner of cast iron cooking, one of Will’s favorites.
Sign up at:
Brendan Mulvaney
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
DISTRICT CAMPOREE (October 18th-20th)
More information and sign-ups links coming soon!
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
YOUTH MENTAL FIRST AID
Adult Leaders, I received an email concerning a training class for Youth Mental First Aid. See information below if you are interested in attending.
Date: 26 October, 2024
Time: 8:00am-5pm.
Location:
Holy Spirit School
8800 Braddock Rd, Annandale, VA 22003
Fee: no cost this year thanks to a generous grant.
(A recommended $5 contribution to offset the cost of snacks, water, and coffee is appreciated.)
Class is limited to 20 participants; don’t delay signing up.
Presented by the Fairfax County Community Service Board.
This course has been tailored for the Scouting community and the material aligns with BSA Youth Protection Training (YPT) requirements.
This training is recommended for Adults.
Questions and to Register: contact Mark Greer at mfgreer@verizon.net
ADULT LEADER TRAINING
See below some opportunities for Adult Leader training!!!
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS), Fall 2024 – November 16-17, Gunston Hall
URL to event: https://scoutingevent.com/082-iolssy25
Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Position Specific Training, Fall 2024
Sep 14, 9:00 am to 1:30 pm at Heritage Presbyterian Church
URL to event: https://scoutingevent.com/082-sstsy25
Back Country Outdoor Leader Skills (BCOLS), Fall 2024
Classroom 9/21 at Heritage Presbyterian Church
Overnight 10/19-10/20 at Camp Big Mac, Markham, VA
https://scoutingevent.com/082-82477
Wood Badge, Fall 2024 – 9/13-9/15 & 10/5-10/6
National Capital Area Council – Fall Wood Badge 2024
ADULT VOLUNTEERS
We cannot do this without you! We need 2-3 volunteers to help with:
- Wreath sales (our annual fundraiser)
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!
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
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
Saturday, September 28th – Pumpkin Drop off 1 – 8:30 am – noon- Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, September 30th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Sunday October 6th – Will Roger Conservation Project – Camp Snyder
Monday, October 7th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM (PLC) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday October 11th – 14th – Camping – NCAC Climboree (long weekend) – Camp Mountaineer, WV
Monday October 14th – No Meeting Climboree and Federal Holiday
Friday October 18th – 20th – Accotink District Camporee- American Legion Youth Camp
Saturday, October 19th – Pumpkin Drop off 2 – 8:30 am – noon – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, October 21st – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM (BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, October 28th – Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
