Troop 131,
I hope everyone had a good weekend. Unfortunately, the James River canoe trip was canceled because of the threat of weather, but we will work to reschedule it!
IMPORTANT: We will NOT have a troop meeting this Monday, September 21. Our next troop meeting will be Monday, September 28, at 7:30 PM at Immanuel Church on the Hill. We do have an important parent and committee meeting Thursday, followed by several excellent opportunities to support our amazing sponsor, serve the Alexandria community, and participate in fall troop activities.
ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
Monday, September 21: NO TROOP MEETING. Thursday, September 24: Parent, Committee, and ASM meeting at 7:30 PM at Mr. Eric Reading’s home, with a Zoom option. Monday, September 28: Troop meeting at 7:30 PM. Saturday, October 3: Pumpkin unloading and setup at Immanuel Church on the Hill, followed by Art on the Avenue. Monday, October 5: PLC at 6:45 PM and troop meeting at 7:30 PM. October 9–12: NCAC Climboree. Monday, October 12: No troop meeting. October 16–18: Four Mile Run District Camporee. Saturday, October 17: Second pumpkin unloading and setup. Monday, October 19: Troop meeting and Boards of Review. Saturday, October 31: Pumpkin cleanup. Saturday, November 7: Scouting for Food sticker distribution. Saturday, November 14: Scouting for Food pickup. November 20–22: Naval Academy Scout Day.
NO TROOP MEETING – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Despite including this in the previous version of the calendar, there will be NO troop meeting this Monday, September 21. Please enjoy the evening off, and we will see everyone next week at our regular troop meeting on Monday, September 28, at 7:30 PM at Immanuel Church on the Hill.
CANOEING TRIP – CANCELED
Unfortunately, the James River canoeing trip was canceled because of the weather. Thank you to Mr. Chris Grocki and everyone who planned and prepared for the outing. We will look for an opportunity to reschedule and will share new details when they are available.
PARENT, COMMITTEE & ASM MEETING – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Parents and adult leaders the semiannual Parent, Committee, and ASM meeting begins at 7:30 PM at the home of Mr. Eric Reading, 432 Monticello Boulevard, with a Zoom option. This is an opportunity to understand troop operations and expenses, review upcoming plans, meet our future Scoutmaster, ask questions, share ideas, and find a place to help support the Scouts. The Zoom link will be sent Wednesday, September 23.
Thank you to Mrs. Anastasia Devlin for organizing the meeting and to Mr. Reading for hosting.
Good morning, parents, ASMs, and committee members,
Is it that time again??? YES IT IS.
Please save the date for the parent and committee meeting:
Thursday, Sept 24 @ 7:30 pm
It’ll be graciously held at the home of ASM Eric Reading, 432 Monticello Blvd OR via Zoom (link sent 23SEP). TY, AM Reading!
This semi-annual mtg is for the ADULTS. Come learn about our operations/expenses and upcoming plans. Your interest supports the boys’ experience.
All are welcome–please bring your questions/ideas, meet our future Scoutmaster for 2027 (+ beyond!), and see where you fit into the stewardship of your son’s troop!
Anastasia Devlin
Chair, Troop 131
786.457.3043
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES – OCTOBER 3 THROUGH NOVEMBER 14
Scouts, please sign up and help support our amazing sponsor, Immanuel Church on the Hill, as well as our broader Alexandria community. These are excellent opportunities to bank service hours for rank advancement—just remember to log your hours and get a sign-off. See the message below from our Service Coordinator, Mrs. Vivian Ramirez.
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Troop 131!
We are starting off on another Scouting year – and we have several opportunities for Scouts and our adult members alike to do a good turn!
Scouts: reminder to bank up service hours to rank up (review requirements in your Handbook).
Please let me know if there are service activities you would like to organize or attend where we can put the volunteer call out to your fellow troop members.
If you volunteer time in the community, please make sure to log your service hours and get a sign-off.
We have a busy service calendar coming up this fall.
Saturday 10/3
Pumpkins are arriving at the Church in just over 2 weeks! We need your help the morning of Saturday 10/3 to unload and set up the pumpkins in support of our Sponsor, Immanuel Church on the Hill. This activity repeats on 10/17 for any Scouts not attending the District Camporee and on 10/31 for Pumpkin clean-up. Sign ups for all slots here
Art on the Avenue, and we have a specific call to support the pumpkin painting table with the littles! Please support if you can after our morning Church pumpkin set-up. Sign up here
Saturdays 11/7 and 11/14 Scouting for Food
Reminder (Scoutmaster Mark’s email has our calendar of upcoming events) this annual national Scouting BSA event supports our community partners focused on food-insecurity issues. Our efforts will benefit Alive! in support of our Alexandria community experiencing food insecurity – especially with oncoming holiday/colder seasons. Sign ups for both days here
Please feel free to ping me if you have questions. Thank you for your service to our community!
________________________________
Vivian Ramirez
Service Coordinator, BSA NCAC Troop 131
service@t131.org | 2026697727
SAFEGUARDING YOUTH TRAINING & ADULT MEMBERSHIP
Some parents and adult leaders have received notices concerning Safeguarding Youth Training or troop membership renewal. If you received a notification, please complete the required training and renew your membership promptly so your registration remains current and you can continue supporting troop activities without interruption. Please do not let an expired training date be the reason we are short an adult volunteer.
NCAC CLIMBOREE – OCTOBER 9–12
See the note below from our former Scoutmaster, Mr. Seth Bolte, who is helping run the upcoming NCAC Climboree. The event needs additional adult volunteers to assist with Bouldering, Orientation, and Morgan Rocks. You do not need to be a climbing instructor to help, so please consider volunteering if you are attending!
Hello T131 Power team!
Wanted to ask a favor to those who will be attending the Climboree. We are short of help this year and if any adults have some capacity we would love to have some help at Bouldering, Orientation, or if they have Belay experience at Morgan Rocks. They do not need to be climbing instructors to fulfill this role. Could you ask your group if this is a possibility? Below is the Sign Up Genius link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4CAFAF2EA4F49-65414335-2026
Thanks,
Seth Bolte
NCAC Lsor2 Instructor
AMGA Certified SPI
FOUR MILE RUN DISTRICT CAMPOREE – OCTOBER 16–18
See the note below from our Outings Coordinator, Mr. Chris Grocki, concerning a possible trip to the Four Mile Run District Camporee at Camp Manidokan. The program is built around Search and Rescue skills and merit badge activities. Because this follows the Climboree, we need to gauge Scout interest and adult availability before committing. Scouts may camp for the weekend or participate only on Saturday, so please complete the sign-up form if you are interested!
All,
We’re looking to gauge interest in attending the district camporee this year. The program looks interesting, but this would be back to back weekend trips for some scouts and adult leaders. We’ve done it the past few years so we can do it again if there’s enough scout interest and adult volunteers. There’s also an option to make it a day event on Saturday and not camp. I’ve included more information on the activities below and the signup link is at the bottom of the email. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Camp Manidokan is a spacious campground with a large open field and many wooded areas. Camping is available Friday and Saturday nights, or come in for just the day on Saturday.
The camporee program is built around learning the skills and doing fun activities needed for Search and Rescue Merit Badge. Level Up your outdoor skills that actually matter! Master survival & search skills. Earn Search & Rescue Merit Badge. Take on formidable fun challenges and prove you & your patrol can handle anything nature puts in your way. Enjoy a fun campfire put on by the Order of the Arrow chapter. Skills include:
staying & getting found (signaling, emergency beacons, “foxhunts”)
land nav (maps, compass, GPS, grid coordinates, orienteering)
hazards/first aid
search & rescue (tracking, searching)
primitive fire building
wilderness water management
potential NIGHT games
Sign up Here –
https://forms.gle/KuATJ5RSBB14V9rK9
Thanks,
Chris Grocki
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
SCOUT DAY – NAVAL ACADEMY
See information below from Mr. Grocki concerning a return trip to the Naval Academy!
All,
This year we’re heading back to the Naval Academy for camping and football. This was a great event two years ago and we have a large contingent of scouts who weren’t part of the troop then. Camping is at an Elk’s Lodge facility near Annapolis, and the event includes tickets to the game and a tour of the USNA campus from midshipmen who were scouts. Last time we even got to talk with the Superintendent (3-star) outside her house.
The game will be against Memphis and there are some details about the camping below. Sign-up link is at the bottom of this email.
Friday Nov 20, Scheduled Activities include:
* 3:00 pm – Unit Arrivals & Set Up Camp
* 12:00 am – Lights out
Scout Day Saturday Nov 21, Scheduled Activities include: (Tailgate Lunch Time is tentative & depends upon Kickoff time)
* 6:00 am – Continental Breakfast
* TBD – Tours of USNA by Midshipman (NESA) & USNA Scout Patch – (Reservations through USNA-check Navy website for further information)
* TBD – Lunch /Tailgate Lunch @ NAVYFEST – Southside of Stadium – along Taylor Ave
* TBD – USNA College Football Game: Midshipmen vs. Memphis Tigers.
* 6:00 pm – After Football Game – Return to Camp for Dinner
* 11:30 pm − Lights Out
Sunday Nov 22, Activities:
* 6:30 am – Hot Breakfast
* 8:30 am – Independent Interfaith Service
* 9:30 am – Clean Campsite/Depart from Camp
https://forms.gle/wcuvoLhpkUHFcF8h8
Thanks,
Chris Grocki
Outings Coordinator
Boy Scout Troop 131
SCHEDULE: ONE MONTH(ISH) LOOK AHEAD
Monday, September 21 – NO TROOP MEETING
Thursday, September 24 – Parent, Committee, and ASM Meeting – 7:30 PM – Mr. Eric Reading’s Home and Virtual
Monday, September 28 – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, October 3 – Pumpkin Unloading and Setup – Morning – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, October 3 – Art on the Avenue Pumpkin Painting – After the Church Pumpkin Setup
Monday, October 5 – PLC – 6:45 PM; Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday, October 9–Monday, October 12 – NCAC Climboree – Camp Mountaineer, WV
Monday, October 12 – No Troop Meeting – Federal Holiday
Friday, October 16–Sunday, October 18 – Four Mile Run District Camporee – Camp Manidokan, Knoxville, MD
Saturday, October 17–Sunday, October 18 – Four Mile Run IOLS and BALOO – Camp Manidokan, Knoxville, MD
Saturday, October 17 – Pumpkin Unloading and Setup – 8:00 AM to Noon – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, October 19 – Troop Meeting and Boards of Review – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
UPCOMING SERVICE & TROOP DATES
Monday, October 26 – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, October 31 – Pumpkin Cleanup – 8:30 AM to Noon (TBD) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, November 2 – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, November 7 – Scouting for Food Sticker Distribution – Alexandria Neighborhoods
Monday, November 9 – No Troop Meeting
Saturday, November 14 – Scouting for Food Pickup – Alexandria Neighborhoods
Monday, November 16 – PLC – 6:45 PM; Troop Meeting and Boards of Review – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday, November 20–Sunday, November 22 – Naval Academy Scout Day – Annapolis, MD
