Troop 131,
I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
“Fourth times a charm”!
I heard from Mr. Grocki (see note below) that the bike trip was a great success and despite some concern earlier in the week, there was no rain!!! Even though there was no rain, please make sure you clean and dry all your gear. The moisture or dew can easily cause mold in a tent or sleeping bag!
“We finally had a successful biking trip! Weather yesterday was amazing and we had enough adults to allow the scouts to do whatever mileage they were comfortable with. Some did 10, a few did 15, and 6 bold scouts (including several Bananas and Pickles) did the full 25 mile ride! They also did a great job cooking early and cleaning up well leaving a bunch of time before lights out for baseball and other games. Overall it was a great trip and we’ll look to build on this for another biking adventure next year.”
A big thank you to Mr. Grocki and the other adult leaders whose efforts make these trips possible. On to the next one… the caving trip!
I will unfortunately miss the meeting on Monday as I will once again be out of town for a business trip, but the other adult leaders will be there and can help you out with anything you need, including Scoutmaster Conferences, blue cards, etc.!
Andrew Gross and Simon Macek requested blue cards at the end of the last meeting; Theo will bring these to the meeting on Monday for you all.
We are scheduled to have a Board of Review this Monday as well. However, I don’t believe that there are any candidates for the next rank. If you feel that you are ready for BoR, then please let Mrs. Farmer (Advancement Chair) know right away!
Also, please see the section below about the upcoming troop elections!
PLC and TROOP MEETING
There is a PLC this week! All troop leadership should arrive at 6:45!
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.
DAVID LLOYD – EAGLE!
See the message below from Mrs. Farmer and congratulations David!
We are very pleased to announce Troop 131’s newest Eagle Scout – David Lloyd!! David has been with Troop 131 since crossing the bridge back in 2018. He is the last of the vaunted Moose patrol, is a veteran summer camp-goer attending Goshen 5 or 6 times, and he capped his experience with a great project for ICOH creating a calm space for conversations and meditation on the church grounds.
Many congratulations, David!
Kathryn Farmer
Advancement Chair, Troop 131
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,
I am reaching out once again to inform you all about the details of my Eagle Scout project on May 17th. It is coming up in less than two weeks now. If you don’t have anything planned this would be a great and very rewarding way to spend your Saturday. Any and all help is appreciated.
If anyone can bring food or snacks for volunteers, especially in the afternoon session, that will be greatly appreciated. Please bring water, closed-toed shoes, clothes to work in, and sunscreen if necessary. Donuts, coffee, and water will all be provided in the morning. A total of 7 service hours can be earned for those who stay the whole day and 3.5 to those who attend either in the morning or the afternoon. Scouts, those of you who participate, make sure to log the service hours within your scout book; these can be helpful for advancement and requirements both inside and outside of scouting. Here is some more information about my project:
Date: Saturday May 17th, 2025
Location: 6411 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 (By National Harbor)
Description: The core of the project will be trail maintenance. There will be three focused crews, who will do tasks like painting blazes, sanding and repairing a bridge/bridges, picking up trash, clearing debris and weeds from trails, and more. Donuts and water will be provided to all who come. There will be a separate morning and afternoon session, both around three and a half hours.
This is the official sign up so we know who is coming. Please fill it out to RSVP. Some paperwork will be necessary (for youth members) , but it can be signed on the day of the project as long as a parent or guardian is present. Please use this form to sign up.
Thank you all for your support.
Sincerely,
Gabe Muldoon
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.
Adults who want to swim or do aquatics at Goshen and Adults going to Sea Base also need to pass the swim test. They are welcome to participate in this as well. I just ask that they give preference to the scouts first.
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. Please bring your masks and snorkels, so you can practice with them a bit as well. More to come on this.
ELECTIONS – Monday, June 2nd – Troop Meeting– 7:30 PM
It is hard to believe, but after this Monday and with the Federal Holiday and the Swim Test, our next meeting will include troop elections!
- If you intend to run for SPL, then please let me know.
- For those of you that want to run for Patrol Leader, I would start talking to your patrol mates and let them know.
- There are plenty of other leadership positions available as well, see list below of the roles that we commonly fill. For the older scouts, I would like to see at least three (2) Troop Guides this round as well, so please consider that position. The younger patrol will benefit from your experience and wisdom!
o The patrols elect the Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leader appoints the Assistant Patrol Leader.
o The troop elects the Sr. Patrol Leader. The Sr. Patrol Leader appoints the Assistant Sr. Patrol Leader(s) and the other leadership positions:
- Assistant Sr. Patrol Leader:
- Quartermaster:
- Historian:
- Librarian:
- Bugler:
- Scribe:
- Troop Guides:
- Chaplain’s Aide:
- Order of the Arrow Rep:
INNOVATORS IN MOTION- Need Volunteers – Tuesday June 10th
In addition to my duties as a scoutmaster I also sit on the National Capital Area Council Executive Board. As part of this I participate in a committee that runs one of the annual fundraising events. As some of you may remember, there was a similar event in the fall that we participated in. We did such a great job that they asked me if Troop 131 could help again this year and conduct the flag ceremony for the event. Since transportation is one of the fields represented, we are trying to get a pinewood derby track installed that attendees can race cars.
Like last year I am looking for about 6 scouts who can participate in the opening and closing flag ceremony. For your efforts and for having to sit through a bunch of adults talking, you will get a full dinner and as many desserts as you can eat from the sweets cart! Let me know if you would like to come.
Hen Quarter Prime,
2121 First St SW, Washington, DC 20024
Reception: 5:00 PM
Panel Discussion: 5:45 PM
Awards Ceremony: 6:30 PM
Post Event Social: 8:00 PM
https://ncacscouting.org/innovators-in-motion/
Parents, please consider contributing/attending this event or seeing if you can ask your companies to donate. I know that things are difficult this year with everything that is going on, however, all the money raised goes directly to the National Capital Area Council for local scouting activities.
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
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
Monday, June 2nd – Troop Meeting (ELECTIONS) – 7:30 PM – 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
Tuesday, June 10th – Innovators in Motion – Fundraising Event
Friday June 12th – Last Day of School
Monday, June 16th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, June 23rd – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, June 30th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Sunday, July 6th – Start of Summer Camp – Goshen Camp Marriott
Monday, July 7h – No Troop Meeting
Saturday, July 12th – End of Summer Camp – Goshen Camp Marriott
