First let me say again … go Commanders! After so many years in the wilderness … I hope you will forgive me for enjoying the fact that this team can actually win a game!
With that said, I hope you all had a great weekend. There is no troop meeting tonight and in observance of Martin Luther King Day and the Inauguration.
WINTER BACKPACKING TRIP!!!
Last call on this trip. See link below, please sign up today if you would like to attend. See information below from Mr. Dalton and Mr. Grocki concerning trip logistics!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1h13-6mFkaBcWKbCQjU2MvhPxsg-tcsFJhRxHDDqKrK4/viewform
Scouts and Parents:
As you can tell from the flurry of emails coming this week from our Outdoor Coordinator Extraordinaire, Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, the Troop’s outdoor program is back from its holiday hiatus and kicking into full gear. Because of some last-minute schedule shifts, some parents were understandably confused about the details for our first Winter Backpacking outing, happening next weekend. We want to make sure everyone has the details they need!
Leaders: Mr. Dalton and Mr. Grocki are the adults leading this backpacking campout. However, we could use one more adult who’s YPT-trained and registered with the Troop to join us, since Mr. Grocki needs to make an early exit from the campout Sunday morning for a family commitment. If you’re able to join us on the trail as another adult, please reach out to Mr. Dalton (seanldalton@gmail.com) and Mr. Grocki (cmgrocki@gmail.com). Thank you in advance!
Location: For this first backpacking outing of the year, we’ve selected a segment of the Appalachian Trail that’s close by to Alexandria, while still presenting a fun hike. We’ll be parking at the Tuckers Lane AT Trailhead lot, just off I-66 in Markham, VA ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/64xmfHPn9xHFfvaU9 ). The plan is to hike north on the AT toward Sky Meadow State Park, but double back in the afternoon and camp Saturday night at the Manassas Gap Shelter ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/xQUMbAx1HnyafJzD7 ), about 2.4 miles north of our parking lot. In consideration of the cold weather, we’re planning a single overnight for this outing rather than the usual two. We’ll meet in the parking lot of the church at [8:00 am] on Saturday, Jan 25th, with a hard target to depart at [8:30 am] for the trailhead. More on that timing in just a bit…
Food: Again, since this is a cold-weather backpacking outing — and with a small number of Scouts expected to attend — we’re keeping it simple for meal planning. We’re asking Scouts to bring their own easy-to-prepare dehydrated meals, such as those from Mountain House, Backpacker’s Pantry or PEAK that are available from REI or Amazon. The Scouts will bring a camping stove for boiling water to rehydrate their meals. The Scouts should pack meals for lunch and dinner Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday; they should arrive at the church on Saturday already having had breakfast. For snacks on the trail, think about salt and protein to fill you up while replenishing those electrolytes lost on the hike — peanut butter pretzels, tamari almonds, sesame snacks, jerky, chips, peanut M&Ms, to name just a few.
Safety: For any outing we undertake as a Troop, safety is always our number one consideration. At no point is that more true than backpacking, hiking, or camping in the winter months, when weather conditions can pose some additional, significant challenges. This weekend’s outing looks to be plenty cold, and while it shouldn’t snow on us, we can expect plenty of snow (and ice) remaining on the ground after this week’s frigid temps. This is why last Monday’s Troop meeting was focused on packing all the required gear for a cold-weather campout: we don’t want any Scout to have a miserable experience out on the trail because he didn’t pack the right clothing and gear. To assist with smart packing for next week’s backpacking, we’ve attached to this email a pack-out list that each Scout can, and should, use. With tomorrow being a federal holiday and a day off from school, there’s no better time to get a jump on making sure you’re getting the right gear assembled!
Backpack checks: To make sure everyone heads out to the trail fully prepared, our SPL and ASPL will be checking all Scouts’ backpacks at the church on Saturday morning before we depart. If your Scout is missing any essential gear, you only have until departure time to fetch it from home. Any Scouts missing essential gear will not be permitted to go, and the group will not wait past the departure time for retrieval of missing gear.
We look forward to an exciting day on the trail!
— Mr. Dalton and Mr. Grocki
CAVING TRIP
See message below from Mr. Mulvaney about the upcoming caving trip. The last time we did this all the scouts had a great time! So please sign up if you want to go.
Who: All the Adventuresome Scouts
What: Troop 131 Caving and Hiking trip
When: Fri 7 Feb- Sun 9 Feb 2025
Where: Mt Solon area (about 2.5 hours from Alexandria)
Why: Return to the Darkness
Cost: $40
This is a BACKPACKING Trip. We drive out Friday afternoon/ evening to the Harrisonburg area. Camp Friday night. Get up Sat and do the caving, then hike and camp Sat. Return on Sunday
Sign up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jWDpuManOtIG5Fuj__co3fvl9KOdK6ODpoWz0LQbZGU/
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
MERIT BADGE OPPORTUNITIES
See info shared to me by Mr. Saulski!
…. below are the two upcoming MB opportunities I mentioned to you.
The first is the Accotink Bay District Merit Badge Jamboree on Feb 1, which can be found here: https://scoutingevent.com/082-mbj2025.
The second is the Building Momentum welding MB and composite materials MB clinic on Feb 17 (President’s Day), which can be found here: https://scoutingevent.com/082-93523 (I just noticed that welding is already sold out).
I would also note that Building Momentum (now calling itself “Innovation Academy” for the kids/Scout events) also has Scout MB summer camps, which we might wish to announce. See here, https://www.buildmocamps.com/bsa-summer-camp and here https://scoutingevent.com/082-94090.
Regards,
Paul
LIFE TO EAGLE SEMINAR
For those that are on the hunt for Eagle see note below from Mrs. Farmer, for a course run by our district. We certainly encourage you all to attend.
Life Scouts and Families of Life Scouts (and Eagle Coaches):
Registration for the Four Mile Run Life to Eagle Seminar on January 25 is now open:
https://scoutingevent.com/082-93813?draftmode=1
If you are a Life Scout (or close to) or an Eagle coach and in town on the 25th, I encourage you to attend.
The seminar is a must for all Life Scouts who want to earn Eagle rank, and their parents. Scouts will learn how to choose, plan and execute their Eagle Project, and prepare for their Eagle Board of Review.
A highlight of the seminar is a panel of recent Eagle Scouts who will answer your questions and provide peer advice. In addition, valuable training will be offered for Eagle Advisors so they can support the Life to Eagle process at the unit level.
YiS,
Kathryn Farmer
Advancement Chair, Troop 131
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Friday January 24th– 26th – Winter Camping & Backpacking Trip
Monday, January 27th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Sunday February 2nd – Scout Sunday
Monday, February 3rd – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday February 7th– 8th – Winter Camping & Caving Trip
Monday, February 10th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR)(PLC) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, February 17th – No Troop Meeting- Presidents Day
Saturday, February 22nd – Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
