Troop 131,
May the 4th be with you … and yes, I am wearing a Star Wars Shirt as I write this!
I hope everyone had a great weekend! I was out of town yesterday for business travel, but I understand that the shake down ride was a lot of fun, thank you again Mr. Grocki for organizing it!
TROOP MEETING
Despite what my previous calendar says, there is NO PLC this week!
We will have a Troop meeting at 7:30PM this Monday at Immanuel Church on the Hill! As always, the leadership group will have a good meeting plan. This is the last meeting before the biking trip this weekend with 14 scouts signed up to attend! It should be a great trip! At the meeting, please make sure you get gear out of the shed and complete your meal plan/duty roster!
Following the last camping trip and if you would like to work on your fishing merit badge, please come and ask me for a blue card then ask Mr. Wells or Mr. Nguyen if they would be your counselor.
Similarly, if you would like to work on your Cycling Merit Badge, please ask me for a blue card as well. While we don’t have any adults currently registered as a Cycling counselor, I know there is one adult that is planning to register!
YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY – Reminder
Let me start with a short reminder that Troop 131 strictly follows and adheres to all Scouting America (BSA) youth protection policies/guidelines, including the two-deep leadership requirements.
“Two-deep leadership requires a minimum of two registered adult leaders at all Scouting activities, with one of the leaders being 21 years of age or older. This applies to all outings, meetings, and digital communications, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for youth members.
Parents and Guardians, I want to specially call out digital communications. The adult leaders (including me) are happy to engage the scouts through email or text messages. However, there must always be a second adult on this communication. Preferably a parent or guardian but a second adult leader is acceptable as well. We ask you please to help reinforce this with your scouts!
Many of you may not realize that two-deep leadership also applies to the scouts themselves, in particular the older scouts. No scout is to be alone or engage in private with another scout who is not within two years of their age. For instance, and as an example, a 16-year-old Senior Patrol Leader may not email a 12-year-old Patrol Leader, without another two adults copied on it. However, a patrol leader may email any of their same age patrol-mates and are not required to copy other scouts or adults. However, I would certainly always encourage them to include adults or other scouts in correspondence.
This requirement also applies to tenting arrangements. Using the same example, a 16-year scout is not allowed to tent with a scout who is not within two years of their age.
Thank you all for your help in following these policies.
GABE MULDOON – EAGLE PROJECT
See the link and note below from Gabe. This is the same weekend as the Sea Base Car wash, so hopefully you can help with the car wash in the morning and then shift to the afternoon for Gabe’s Eagle Project!
Hello Troop 131,
For my Eagle Project, we will be doing trail maintenance on the Woodlot Trail at Oxen Hill Farm. We will pick up trash and clear debris from the trail, repaint and add more tree blazes, and repair and paint a wooden bridge that crosses the trail. Please bring water, closed-toed shoes, clothes to work in, and sunscreen if necessary. Donuts, coffee, and water will all be provided. Thank you all for your support.
Thank you for your time.
Gabe
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!
CAR WASH- SEA BASE- Saturday May 17th from 9:30 to 1:00
The car wash returns, and Mr. Mills will reprise his role as our Car Wash Leader. Outside of having lots of fun this is a great fundraiser for the troop and this year the proceeds will be used to pay for travel and T-shirt costs for the trip. Hopefully we can outdo our haul from last year of over $1600! All Sea Base scouts are expected to be there, however, I know they would appreciate help from their troop mates, so please come and support them!
SWIM TEST- Goshen and Sea Base – Monday May 19th
Like we did in previous year, Mr. Dalton has organized a trip to Chinquapin Park Req. Center instead of our normal meeting. We will conduct BSA swimming tests and in preparation for Summer Camp. Unlike previous years (where this was just practice), we now have registered BSA lifeguards who will be able to sign off on any scouts prior to Goshen so that (in theory) you don’t have to take the swim test again there. I say in theory, because each Aqua director has their own standards and may for any reason require all the scouts to re-do their test. Swimming in a lake is very different (aka harder) than your local pool, so the evaluation will be to a strict standard. Even if you are not a good swimmer, please come out and get some practice, the goal is for you to get better.
For the Sea Base crew, you will stay longer, and we are going to ask you to swim some laps and practice different strokes. We are trying to build up your strength and skill before the trip. We are also going to see if they will let us bring your masks and snorkels, so you can practice with them a bit as well. More to come on this.
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, May 5th – Troop Meeting – 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
Saturday May 17th – Gabe Muldoon Eagle Project
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 – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday June 6th – 8th – Caving Trip – Mount Solon, VA
Monday, June 9th – Troop Meeting (BoR) (PLC) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
