Troop 131,
Happy Easter everyone and if you were off last week, I hope you had a great spring break!
First let me thank the Scouts/Scouters (Tadhg, Andy, Rhys, Theo, Isabel) who came out last Thursday evening for the Flag Ceremony at the District Round Table. As part of this, the scouts were asked to stand in front of the room and answer questions about the troop. While completely unrehearsed, everyone did an amazing job and showed just what a great (Scout Led) troop that we are!
While many of you were enjoying spring break, your Scoutmaster was busy spending money on troop gear! See the photo below; thankfully I was able to find good prices on new cooking utensils, cast iron pans, etc. The quartermaster will be busy at the meeting and you will have some new gear for the camping trip.
Parents:
Those who are going on the fishing trip, can I ask that you come to the meeting on Monday, so that we can have a short discussion about logistics!
For the summer camp, we are looking for one or two additional adults who might be interested in going for the first half of the week (Sunday- Wednesday). With so many scouts going, having another adult or two on hand would make life easier for all the other adults there. Please talk to Katherine Lacayo or me if you are interested!
BOR & TROOP MEETING
We will have a Troop meeting at 7:30PM this Monday at Immanuel Church on the Hill! This is our last meeting before the Fishing Trip, and we will have lots to cover and do. We have 27 scouts, and 12 adults signed up for the camping trip so it should be fun!
We will have our monthly Board of Review this week and during the meeting. Scouts, if you have not already done so, please let Mrs. Farmer know that you are ready for a BOR. Parents, I believe that we could use a few more volunteers!
The two main goals for the meeting are meal preparation and checking out gear from the shed. See below for more information on the camping trip! In addition, your leadership team will continue with the Fitness Activities/Sign offs!
New Scouts– I suggest that you do a test pack and bring it to the Monday meeting for the older scouts to review and provide suggestions. Remember, your backpack is a bag of bags. In other words, there should be a bag with your 10 essentials, a bag with your mess kit, a bag (or two) with your clothes, a bag with your sleeping bag, a bag with your toiletries, etc. See attached checklist for your reference, also your Scoutbook has good information as well.
FISHING TRIP- Logistics
First let me start by thanking Mr. Wells and Mr. Nguyen for once again reprising (third year in a row) their role as our troop fisherman/anglers. They will be the ones teaching you all how to fish, tie your hooks, gut the fish etc. The troop has some gear, and they will bring some extras of their own, but there is not enough for everyone to have a rod by themselves (so you will have to share) however, if you have your own rod/reel, please bring it!
Don’t forget to send your permission slips to Mr. Mulvaney (outdoor chair) & payment to Mr. Baldwin (Treasurer). New scouts, we will also need a current copy of your health forms (just A & B sections)- please send them to Mr. Mulvaney or bring them to the meeting.
The Ramirez family has 5 acres of unimproved property near the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Whisky Hollow Shelter. We will camp at the property, then hike down to Lake Thompson for fishing. After fishing we will hike back up the mountain to our property. Please note that this primitive camping (like we do when we backpack), however, the campsite is only 200 yards uphill from where we can park the cars. The site is heavily wooded and within ½ a mile of the AT. The only challenge being the fact that there is no running water, so we will need to pack that in. It should be a good trip and a good time to work on backpack cooking skills!
Since it looks like we may have rain in the forecast, let’s plan to leave early Saturday Morning, in lieu of Friday night. We will meet at the church- at 7:30 AM (sorry to make you get up early), collect any last-minute gear from the shed and then we will caravan to the property.
There are two options for the scouts/adults that morning:
Option One: Includes transportation directly to the site (except for the above-mentioned 200-yard hike) and is approximately 90 min. drive. Scouts will quickly unpack and set up their tents/camp. Then hike down (about three miles) to Lake Thomson for lunch and afternoon fishing. Scouts in this cohort should plan on bringing their day packs, lunch and plenty of water. Mr. Wells and Mr. Nguyen will meet us there and bring both the troop and any scout fishing gear.
Option Two: (Thanks to planning by Mr. Grocki) includes a hike-in option. We will drive to the Appalachian Trail Head (about an hour away and located between Linden Belle Meade Trail head- where the AT intersects Route 55 and I66). From there the scouts will hike past the Manassas Gap Shelter (where we camped in January – AKA hike of death 2.0) and then down to Lake Thompson to meet up with the rest of the troop. This is a strenuous 6.5-mile hike of up-to four hours with significant elevation gain. Scouts on this hike should bring their full pack with all their PERSONAL gear, plus lunch and plenty of water. Troop bins, food for Dinner and Breakfast and fishing gear can stay in the cars and will be delivered by the adults.
This is our first training hike for Philmont (Summer of 2026) and all regular and older scouts are welcome to join. With that said, I would recommend this hike for scouts who are at least 12 years old (this is not a good first backpacking hike for new scouts).
Your priority at the meeting is to do meal planning! A few things to keep in mind:
- See attached cooking duty roster; before the end of the meeting, I would like to see it fully filled out so that I can approve.
- Cleaning “by everyone” is not allowed, some scouts cook, some scout prep, and some scouts clean, then switch responsibility for the next meal.
- All scouts should eat breakfast before they leave and pack their own LUNCH.
- For Saturday Lunch- this will be at the lake, so this should be a balanced “cold” mean -aka sandwiches, fruits, chips, etc.
- As a result, you only have two meals to prepare at camp.
o Saturday Dinner: Anything you want- however, I would like you all to consider using “cast iron” for this meal- (aka cast iron pan, Dutch oven etc).
o Sunday Breakfast: Full Hot breakfast- cast iron suggested again- no pop tarts, oatmeal, or Donuts/Danish- aka a real breakfast!
- Remember, pancakes are not allowed unless prepared by a scout who is First Class or higher and given the lack of running water, I definitely would not recommend them for this trip.
- There will be limited water resources, so think carefully about cleaning up!
- For the next couple of camping trips, Pickles and Bananas will be assigned to older patrols for cooking. The older scouts will show you the ropes and you don’t have to do anything except help, listen and follow instructions. Please pay attention, because you will be on your own very soon!
- Patrol Cooking Groups:
o Mustachios, Moose/Nylon & Brazilian Bananas (10)
o Turtles & Royal Pickles (7)
o Goats (5)
o Penguin Raiders (5)
o Adult Group 1 (AKA- Yeti Patrol)
- Brian Gross
- Andy Baldwin
- John Yuda
- Chris Grocki
- Arron Springer
- Jason Wells
o Adult Group 2 (AKA- Bigfoot Patrol)
- John Nguyen
- Daran Devlin
- Stacy Devlin
- Mark Ramirez
- Vivian Ramirez
- Isabel Ramirez
After patrol time and meal planning, the SPL will release you by patrol to go to the shed and get your gear. This is your chance to pull any personal gear you need (such as tents) and stock your patrol bin for cooking. See attached checklist.
Saturday afternoon (when we return from fishing) there will be a brief service project on the property. We had a tree fall and block one of the trails. I will need your help to cut it up and open the trail. This wood can be used for the evening campfire. Please bring work gloves and (if you have your totin chip card) feel free to bring your axes and bow saws. Adults, if you need firewood for your house, please feel free to bring your chainsaw and take as much as you want!
Black bears are common in this part of Virginia, so we are going to follow strict rules with respect to food storage. With the exception of your lunch, there will be absolutely no food in your tents, packs, pockets, jackets, etc. All food will be stored in hard/airtight containers (like your patrol bin or coolers) and put into the vehicles overnight! Bears have a very good sense of smell, they can even smell Gatorade in your water bottles, so let’s leave the sugar at home and keep them filled only with water!
After breakfast on Sunday, we will break camp and head home, with an approximate ETA of noon. Drivers will drop off the scouts in their care directly at home. Carpool assignments will come later in the week.
BIKING TRIP- MAY
We have 14 scouts who signed up for this trip and rain or shine we are going to make this happen!
See the message below from Mr. Mulvaney, please sign up! There will be a shake-down ride the weekend before for those that are interested!
Who: Everyone with a sense of adventure who loves the outdoors (i.e. SCOUTS!!!!)
What: Riding into the sunset (or at least along the canal)
When: SAT 10 May – Sun 11 May 2025 (Just Sat & Sun this month!)
Where: C&O Canal
Why: Let’s Ride!
Cost: $20 Each
And there is a Biking Merit Badge (https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/cycling/)
Sign up at: https://forms.gle/d7FtXj7gR87E9S4HA
Easiest way to make payment for this or other Scout events is Zelle:
Name: TreasurerT131
Email: Treasurer@T131.Org
When making payment via Zelle, please be sure to add a note telling us what the payment is for; alternately, you can send a separate email.
-Brendan Mulvaney
CLIMBOREE – OCTOBER
I know it seems crazy to be signing up for an activity in October, but each of the last three years, the Climboree has filled up quickly, so please don’t delay in signing up if you would like to attend! See the note below from Mr. Mulvany, our Outdoor Coordinator. For the new scouts, this is over a holiday weekend, so the scouts will camp for three nights and return around midday on Monday. See the link below for more information, but keep in mind that the troop will register all the scouts when the registration opens at the end of the month. Please see the additional link (even further below) for the Troop Signup sheet!
https://scoutingevent.com/082-Climboree2025
Yes folks it is that time of year, it is time to sign up for OCTOBER’s CLIMB-O-Ree (for the new families, yes, you read that right, this event is in October, but sign up closes this month!!!)
Keep in mind: *** This is a Pre-Pay Event, if you sign up we need to collect money from you now, even if you have to cancel later ***
But if you wait to signup, you will almost certainly miss out. It fills up within hours of opening registration.
So, yes, I get it, it isn’t until October, but it will be terrific, so if your Scout wants to do climbing this year, please please please sign up now,
Who: Everyone in Troop 131 is invited!
What: NCAC Climbing and hiking weekend
When: Fri 10 Oct- MONDAY 13 Oct 2025 LONG WEEKEND EVENT
Where: Camp Mountaineer near Morgantown, WV.
Why: Climb to the sky
Cost: $40/ person
*** This is a Pre-Pay Event, if you sign up we need to collect money from you now, even if you have to cancel later ***
Sign up at: https://forms.gle/KK1DAPvh2euyxFYB7
- Climbing on natural rock
- 60-foot climbing tower
- Bouldering on gritstone walls
- Guided challenge course
- Big Zip quarter-mile zipline
- Rifle, shotgun, and archery
- Dutch oven cooking class
- Advancement programs
ACTIVITY PAYMENTS
Just a reminder on how to make payments for Dues or other Outdoor Activities. They can be made in several ways:
- Checks delivered at the Monday Meeting to the Treasurer or Committee Chair- they should be made payable to “BSA Troop 131.” Please put in the notes the activity you are paying for.
- Credit Cards at the Monday Meeting (if the treasurer is in attendance) – Processed by the Troop Treasurer
- Zelle Account Transfer:
- Name: TreasurerT131
- Email: Treasurer@T131.Org
- Please put in the notes what activity you are paying for.
Zelle is the easiest and most seamless.
SERVICE- ALIVE
Some of you may recall, but last year some of the older scouts (14 and older) and parents were able to help our Sponsor (Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill) with furniture delivery for Alive. The church has been asked to do this again on Saturday, May 10. This is the same weekend as the Biking trip, so I am hoping that a few of you strong folks (who are not going on the biking trip) can help. Please email Service@t131.org if you can as we certainly want to support the Church!
COOKING MERIT BADGE CLASS
All, see the note below from Mrs. Farmer!
NCAC is offering a Cooking merit badge event in May at Camp Snyder (in Haymarket). Details can be found here: https://scoutingevent.com/082-96563
Please note, this event covers *some* of the requirements of the cooking badge, but not all. Read carefully for prerequisites and expectations. The Cooking badge is a dense badge and requires cooking on camping trips. This merit badge event is intended to get you through a portion of the requirements.
(Cooking is one of the Eagle rank required badges)
YiS,
Kathryn Farmer
Advancement Chair, Troop 131
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, April 21st – Troop Meeting (BoR) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday April 25th – 27th – Primitive Camping and Fishing Trip – Linden VA & Lake Thompson
Friday April 25th – 27th – OA Spring Ordeal/Fellowship – Camp Snyder
Monday, April 28th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, May 3rd – Biking Trip Shakedown Ride – Alexandria VA
Monday, May 5th – Troop Meeting (PLC) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday May 10th – Alive Service Project
Saturday May 10th – 11th -Biking Trip – C&O Canal
Monday, May 12th – Troop Meeting (BoR) (PLC) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday May 17th – Sea Base Car Wash – Fundraiser – 9:30-1:00 – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, May 19th – Swim Test – 7:30 PM – Chinquapin Park Req. Center
Monday, May 26th – No Troop Meeting- Federal Holiday
Sunday, June 1st – Scout Skill Sunday – 1:00-4:00 – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Wednesday, June 4th – Eagle Workshop – 7:30 PM – TBD
Friday June 6th – 8th – Caving Trip – Mount Solon, VA
Monday, June 9th – Troop Meeting (BoR) (PLC) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
