I hope you had a good weekend! A special call out to the 5 Scouts and 1 adult who took the 2-Day, Marathon Wilderness First-Aid Training this weekend. We are all safer the more first-aid trained adults and scouts we have in the troop!
Please note, we have the annual swim test tomorrow (see below) and the backpacking trip this coming weekend. We will not have a meeting next week, due to the Federal Holiday!
SWIM TEST- Minnie Howard Campus 7:00! (note the earlier time)
Thank you to Mr. Dalton for reserving the pool for us.
· Please arrive at the Minnie Howard Pool by 7:00
· Scouts will line up outside and we will send them in groups of 8-10
· Scouts should wear their bathing suits and the troop Class-B T-shirt (if they have one)
· Please bring your towel (and goggles if you want them)
· Parents please don’t go too far as this will not take the full 90 minutes. We usually are done in 45-60 minutes, and you are welcome to hang out.
We will conduct Scouting America swimming tests and in preparation for Summer Camp. Unlike previous years (where this was just practice), we have certified Red Cross lifeguards with several years of experience as lifeguards at Goshen, who will be able to sign off on any scouts prior to camp so that (in theory) you don’t have to take the swim test again there. I say in theory, because each Aquatics 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.
All scouts are welcome- it is great to get into the pool with your friends! You will also need to complete a swimming test if you intend to participate in the troop canoe trip in the fall or the scuba trip next year. The swimming test is only good for a year, so even if you passed it before … You will need to take it again!
If you are going to summer camp, I strongly encourage you to take the test, it will save you a ton of time on your first day of camp!
Adults who want to swim or do aquatics at Goshen also need to pass the swim test. You are welcome to participate in this as well. I just ask that you give preference to the scouts first.
BACKPACKING TRIP – DOLLY SODS WILDERNESS (May-23-25)
Please sign up for this trip soon so we can plan ahead! This trip is highly encouraged for all Philmont scouts but all scouts are welcome.
https://forms.gle/zYSYHfbjthNaTAGv8
Who: Everyone
What: Spring Backpacking and Final Philmont Shakedown
When: Sat 23 May – Mon 25 May 2026
Where: Dolly Sods Wilderness, WV
Why: We’re a backpacking Troop!
We’re making use of the long weekend to get more backpacking! We’ll drive out Saturday morning and do a short hike to camp that day. Sunday will be a long day with a 10+ mile hike. Another short hike out to the cars on Monday and we’ll be back to Alexandria by Monday night.
Dehydrated backpacking meals are fine for this trip but we’d like everyone to plan a crew meal for Sunday dinner.
Cost: $20/scout
Thanks,
Chris Grocki
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
ELECTIONS- NEXT MEETING
It is hard to believe that it has almost been six months, however, elections are coming up at the next meeting on June 1st. If you intend to run for SPL, please let me know!
REI SALE
For the gear heads out there, REI is having their semi annual anniversary sale! I won’t tell you how much I already dropped on new backpacking gear … there are lots of good deals, so be sure to check it out!
https://www.rei.com/promotions/anniversary-sale
EAGLE COURT OF HONOR – GABE MULDOON – 2:00 PM on June 7th at Immanuel Church on the Hill
See below the invitation to Gabe’s Eagle Court of Honor. Everyone in the troop is invited and encourages everyone to attend!
EAGLE PROJECT- SPORTS EQUIPMENT DRIVE
For those that were at the meeting on Monday, a Scout from Troop 129 came and spoke about his Eagle Project. His project is a sports equipment drive. See note and link below for more information. Please help him out if you can!
Hello Troop 131,
I hope you all are doing well. I’m the scout that spoke to you from troop 129 about my sports equipment drive. If you would like to donate equipment, please look at my website included here.
https://sites.google.com/view/sportsdrivealexandria/
SCUBA CERTIFICATION
Dear Troop 131 Families,
Scouts participating in the scuba option for Sea Base will need to arrive fully certified by PADI or an equivalent recognized certifying agency. Scouts who are not yet certified have two options for completing their certification before the trip. The first is to enroll in a full open water certification course through a commercial dive center such as Aquatic Adventures in Springfield, at a total cost of approximately $1,074 including gear rental. The second option is to participate in the troop’s own certification program, where scouts complete PADI eLearning, attend troop-led pool sessions over the summer, and complete open water checkout dives on a troop camping trip at Lake Phoenix the weekend of August 28–30 — at a total cost of approximately $550 including gear rental. Training for the troop program will be provided by Assistant Scoutmaster Reading, a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor with 20 years of experience. Scouts who complete the pool sessions will receive the Scuba BSA recognition, and scouts who complete the full certification course will also earn the Scuba Diving merit badge. The troop program is also open to any scout who would like to get certified this summer, regardless of whether they are attending Sea Base.
Pool training will be conducted in small groups of three to four scouts, with multiple scheduling options to fit different family calendars. We will offer sessions on either Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM or Friday afternoons at 4:00 PM throughout the summer, beginning in mid-June. The open water checkout dives will take place during a troop camping trip to Lake Phoenix (Rawlings, VA) from Friday, August 28 through Sunday, August 30. Please email ASM Reading on ericreading@gmail.com with a copy to another adult if you are interested in the troop certification program so we can begin scheduling pool groups.
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday May 18th – Swim Test – Minnie Howard Campus Pool – 7:00
Friday May 22nd -26th – Multi Day Backpacking Trip – Dolly Sods Wilderness
Monday May 25th – No Troop Meeting – Federal Holiday – Memorial Day
Monday, June 1st – Troop Meeting (TROOP ELECTIONS) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, June 6th – Day Hike – Billy Goat Trail
Sunday, June 7th – Taste of Delray Service Project (8:00-10:30)
Sunday, June 7th – Gabe Muldoon Eagle Court of Honor (2:00-4:00)
Monday, June 8th – Troop Meeting (BoR) – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday, June 12th – ACPS – Last Day of School 😊
Friday, June 12th – 14th – Fishing Trip – Double M Farm- Mt. Crawford VA.
Monday, June 15th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, June 22nd – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, June 29th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Sunday, July 5th – Start of Summer Camp – Camp Olmsted – Goshen, VA
Monday, Jule 6th – No Troop Meeting
Sunday, July 11th – End of Summer Camp – Camp Olmsted – Goshen, VA
