First let me thank Mr. Patel for running and organizing our Scout Skill Sunday! We will work to get everyone who completed the requirements their Totin’ Chip and Firem’n Chit patches in the next few weeks.
Elections are this Monday and right now I only have ONE candidate for SPL. If you would like to run, please let me know. See the information below concerning the elections.
The Caving Trip is coming up on the 7th and we have 13 scouts going on the trip! However, right now we only have three adults camping (thank you Mr. Teixeira-Moffat, Grocki and Gross). For those of you that volunteered to drive, can I ask that you consider camping for the night! It is a 2.5 hour drive out the campground leaving at 7:30 AM on Saturday … it might be easier to say the night!
Scouts, following elections, please put together a meal plan and pull any gear you need out of the shed. We are leaving early Saturday morning, so you only have three meals to plan. As always, I want to see the meal plan/duty roster before you leave for the evening!
Cooking patrols are as follows:
Snapping Turtles (4)
Penguin Raiders (3) and Goats (1)
Pickles (4) and Bananas (1)
Pickles and Bananas, this is the first time you will be cooking by yourself … I hope you were paying attention on the last two camping trips! Remember, cleaning up is just as important as cooking!
Finally, please remember to bring appropriate clothes for caving as it will be cold, wet and muddy. So, you will want something that you don’t care about if it gets dirty and you will want a warm change of clothes afterwards! I recommend you bring a plastic trash bag to put your muddy clothes into after the caving!
SWIM TEST RESULTS
A short follow-up on the swim test from a few weeks ago. If you participated in the swim test and unless your parents received an email directly from me, then you can assume that you were rated a “swimmer” during the swim test. As a result, you are eligible to participate in all aquatics related activities at Gosen and Sea Base. We sent signed copies of the evaluation forms to the adult leaders, and they will present these forms to the aquatic directors at camp. Provided they accept this, then you will not need to take the swimming test at camp.
WOGGLES!
The woggle elves have been hard at work, and I am happy to report that the design is complete, and the 3D printer (after some servicing) has produced new woggles for the Royal Pickles and Brazilian Bananas! See image below! I will hand them out at the meeting, so be sure to attend!
TROOP MEETING & ELECTIONS – Monday, June 2nd – Troop Meeting– 7:30 PM
Our meeting will include troop elections!
Let me start by sending out a big thank you to our current SPL, Arthur Dalton. Serving as the SPL is a tough job and I would like all of you to thank him for his efforts and service.
He could not have done it without the help, energy and participation of our two ASPLs, so we are fortunate that one of them is running for SPL. Leadership continuity is important, and I am grateful for the continued service to the troop!
The troop is Scout led and not adult led, so this is your time to select the leaders. Please attend and take this seriously!
- Our candidate for Sr. Patrol Leader:
o Owen Farmer
- We will start the meeting by asking the SPL candidate(s) to give a short speech on why they should be elected and what they want to accomplish during this term.
- All scouts in the troop are then free to ask them questions concerning this.
- In addition, and new this year, any scout who would like to have an appointed leadership position (scribe, quartermaster, troop guide, etc) I would like them also to stand up and indicate what specific position they would like and to speak as to why the new SPL should select them.
- Then we will break into patrols and elect Patrol Leaders.
- Patrol Leaders will then appoint their APL.
- The new SPL will appoint the ASPL(s) and other leadership positions.
- There are plenty of other leadership positions available, see list below of the roles that we commonly fill. For the older scouts, I would like to see at least two (2) Troop Guides, so please consider that position. The younger patrols 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:
FUNDRAISING CHAIR
Parents: Putting out a call out for a volunteer to act as our fundraising chair. After a very successful term, Sue Setliff is stepping down and we are looking for someone to take over. The main responsibility is to help run and organize our annual fall fundraiser – Wreath Sales. We have a good system already set up and the only limiting factor is that you have a garage or basement to temporarily store the wreaths for a few days and until the scouts can pick them up for delivery!
This is a great (and limited way) for you to get involved and help the troop. If you are interested in volunteering for this role or have questions, please let Stacey or I know. Thank you!
EAGLE WORKSHOP – June 4th
Mrs. Farmer has organized an Eagle Workshop for older scouts who are or will soon be working on their Eagle Projects. If you have not already done so, please RSVP to her email.!
CAVING TRIP- LAST CALL!!!
See information below and a note from Mr. Mulvaney concerning the upcoming Caving trip. I missed it last year, but I understand that this was a great and fun trip! We already have 13 Scouts who are going! Please sign up if you have not already done so!
Who: All the Adventuresome Scouts
What: Troop 131 Caving and Hiking trip
When: Sat 7 Jun- Sun 8 Jun 2025
Where: Mt Solon area (about 2.5 hours from Alexandria)
Why: Return to the Darkness
Cost: $40
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 the Treasurer what the payment is for; alternately, you can send a separate email.
Brendan Mulvaney
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
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.
LIFESAVING MERIT BADGE – July 19-20
I am pleased to announce that Mr. Devlin has organized a special two-day Lifesaving Merit Badge Class at the local YMCA. The cost is $20 per scout. Prior to attending Scouts need to have their Swimming Merit and read the Lifesaving Merit Badge Book. You can either buy a copy, check one out from the troop library or download the free one at the link below:
https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/lifesaving/
Most new scouts going to summer camp should have their swimming merit badge by the end of the week, so the timing is perfect. Lifesaving is one of the Eagle Required Badges.
Saturday, July 19th, 1:00 – 5:00 PM at YMCA Alexandria classroom (wearing Class Bs is okay, but scouts should bring a swimsuit/towel in case we have time to get a head start with in-the-water techniques)
Sunday, July 20th, 1:00 – 5:00 PM at YMCA Alexandria pool (scouts should bring swimsuits/towels; also wear clothes they can remove quickly to perform a ‘rescue’)
Please email Mr. Devlin (and copy another adult) if you are interested in attending.
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
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
Monday, July 14th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (PLC) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Sat/Sun, July 19 & 20 – Merit Badge Class- Lifesaving – Delray YMCA
