Troop 131,
I hope you are well! Thank you to the 15 scouts who came to the ILST training on Saturday and a big thank you to Mr. Farmer for organizing and running the activity. I hope you all learned how to be better leaders and will implement the lessons moving forward!
I am also pleased to announce that we have at least 12 new scouts to the troop coming from Pack 135. Thank you to the following scouts who came to the Crossing the Bridge Ceremony to welcome these new scouts:
Arthur Dalton (SPL), Theo Ramirez (ASPL), Josiah Baldwin (brother crossing over), Tadhg Devlin, Karsten Gross (brother crossing over) and Anjan Patel
Also thank you to ASM Dalton, ASM Patel, and Mr. Devlin for coming out as well.
We will introduce the new scouts to the troop in a future email and once we get them all signed up in the system and in patrols!
TROOP MEETING
We will have a Troop meeting at 7:30PM this Monday at Immanuel Church on the Hill! In preparation of the shooting trip, Mr. Farmer has arranged for an NRA shooting instructor to come for the instruction period. If you are interested in working on the Rifle Shooting Merit Badge, then this will cover many of the classroom requirements. This is just one part of the process, see below for more information.
Many of you going on the upcoming camping trip want to work on this badge, so please see me at the beginning of the meeting and ask me for a blue card.
Next week is our bi-annual Court of Honor where we celebrate all the accomplishments of the scouts over the past 6 months. This is a family event, therefore parents, siblings, grandparents, etc are encouraged to attend. Unlike the September Court of Honor, there will be no food involved, so please eat dinner before you come!
In addition, Mrs. Lacayo, will be at the meeting to discuss summer camp, for Parents and Scouts alike, see below.
CAMPING TRIP & SHOOTING TRIP
We thought this trip would be popular and that certainly turned out to be the case. Unfortunately, all 18 slots have been filled, and we have one scout already on the waitlist. If you have signed up already and something has changed with your schedule, please let me and Mr. Mulvaney know ASAP, so that we can give your slot to another scout.
The sign-up sheet is still open, and any new scouts will be put on the waitlist.
RIFLE SHOOTING MERIT BADGE
If you are interested in earning the Rifle shooting Merit Badge, it is multi- step process
- Ask the Scoutmaster (me) at the meeting for a blue card.
- Attend the 45 minute “classroom” training session at Monday’s Meeting– ask the instructor to sign your blue card.
- Attend second classroom training on Saturday March 1st at 10:00 AM (location TBD but likely at the Farmer or Ramirez house)- ask the instructor to sign your blue card.
- Attend the camping trip and meet the marksmanship qualification requirements (this is not easy and some of you may have to try to qualify again at a later date – like summer camp)- ask the instructor to sign your blue card.
- After all the requirements are complete and signed off- show your completed blue card to the Scoutmaster (me) so I can sign it.
- Give the Blue Card to our advancement chair- Mrs. Farmer!
SUMMER CAMP
It is time to start planning for summer camp! Mrs. Lacayo, our fearless summer camp coordinator from last year (thankfully), returns this year and will be at the meeting on 2/24 to answer questions from parents and scouts alike. See below for more information:
Goshen 2025
While there may be snow on the ground, it is never too early to start thinking about summer camp! This year, we will be attending Camp Marriott at Goshen. I’ll provide more details about camp activities and merit badge sign ups in the coming weeks, but here are a few things to know now:
- Location: Camp Marriott in Goshen, VA
- Dates: Sunday, July 6 – Saturday, July 12, 2025
- Camp Fees: If you register by April 13, the early bird cost for one Scout is $565. Regular registration will increase to $595 per Scout. (Note: This does not include the ~$100 bus fees; see below.) The cost this year is all-inclusive for all activities; you will not have to pay additional fees for any merit badges as we have had to do in years past.
- Transportation: All scouts will ride the bus to and from Goshen. The roundtrip cost is around $100. The bus leaves from Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, VA, and will drop back off at the same location.
- Merit Badges: There are many merit badge options available. They haven’t yet posted the schedule for 2025, but you can view the 2024 schedule to get an idea of what might be offered. I’ll send details in March about how we do sign ups.
- Forms: Each camper will need to fill out BSA Medical Forms A, B1, B2, and C, as well as the NCAC form. All forms can be found here.
Please note: Part C requires the signature of a medical professional, so prioritize getting this signed! - Scholarships: The troop is committed to making Goshen accessible to as many Scouts as possible. If you are interested in a Campership (financial aid) to help cover the fees, please let us know before February 27, 2025.
- Adult Campers: Interested in joining the Goshen fun? We will need a few good adults to join the Goshen trip. You can come for a portion of the week or the whole week. I’ll follow up with more info in a separate email, but for your awareness, adult early bird registration costs $300, and increases to $340 for regular registration. The troop will subsidize some of this cost, and any adult who chaperones on the bus will have their bus ticket covered.
We will host a parent meeting to provide more information at the Troop Meeting on Monday, February 24, 2025. We’ll be ready to answer all your Goshen questions!
PUBLIC SPEAKING MERIT BADGE
ASM Patel, is teaching a class on Public Speaking. He already has a cohort of scouts, but it is not too late to sign up if you want. See below a note from him outlining the schedule and please reach out to him directly if you would like to join this group!
All,
Good morning.
I am Tejas Patel, ASM with Troop 131B. I will be helping to facilitate the cohort of scouts through the Public Speaking MB.
We will be meeting during the “free time” portion of the regular troop meeting.
Scouts, these are the expectations for each meeting.
Expectations:
– Preparation: Scouts will bring the following items to each meeting:
– Public Speaking MB handout
– Completed work/assignments
– Notebook/Pen
– Folder: To hold pamphlets/papers
– Participation: Scouts will participate actively during each session. Each scout will give a speech during each meeting.
– Respect: Scouts will follow instructions from all Scout leaders. Scouts will respect each other and allow fellow Scouts to speak. Scouts will show respect to Scout leaders, adults, and fellow scouts.
To Do:
– Complete before 24 Feb 2025:
– Obtain a Blue Card from SM Ramirez.
– Read pages 1-9 in the Public Speaking Pamphlet (attached)
– Read slides 1-10 in the PowerPoint presentation
– Watch: – JFK Inaugural Speech:
https://youtu.be/PEC1C4p0k3E?si=b-gyhevBp3N6koPK
– Be prepared to discuss all of the items listed above and give a 1-2 minute speech during our meeting. The topic will be “What I like about Scouting.”
Parents: Parents, please encourage your Scouts to speak at family meetings, dinners, etc. You are always welcome to come to meetings to observe the meetings. If there are any parents that are interested in providing speeches or assisting me, please contact me.
Please feel free to contact me if there are any questions.
Resources:
– Scouting America Public Speaking website:
https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/public-speaking/
– Public Speaking Merit Badge Pamphlet:
https://scouts95.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/public-speaking-mb.pdf
– Public Speaking Merit Badge Requirements:
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Public_Speaking.pdf
– Public Speaking Merit Badge Requirements (Detailed):
https://www.meritbadgeclass.com/uploads/5/0/7/7/50778947/public_speaking_merit_badge_packet.pdf
– JFK Inaugural Speech:
https://youtu.be/PEC1C4p0k3E?si=b-gyhevBp3N6koPK
Yours in Scouting,
Tejas
Tejas Patel
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, February 24th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday March 3rd – Court of Honor
Monday, March 10th – Troop Meeting (PLC)- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Thursday, March 13th – Parent & Committee Meeting- 7:30 – Location TBD (there will be virtual option as well)
Friday, March 14th – 16th – Camping Trip – Shooting – Issac Walton League
Monday, March 17th – Troop Meeting (BoR) (OA Elections)– 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, March 24th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, March 29th – Scout Skill Sunday – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, March 31st – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
