2026-03-14 This Week: Troop Meeting, BOR, Schedule Updates, Committee Meeting, OA Elections, Old Rag, ILST & Hike/Backpacking Merit Badge Class, Summer Camp – Olmsted & Lenhok’sin, Public Speaking Merit Badge, One month Look Ahead

Troop 131,

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!

I am sending my weekend email out a little early, if you want to go on the Old Rag Hike, please read below. There are only a few tickets remaining!

The troop just departed on the camping/shooting trip, and I hope everyone has a great time!  I want to thank in advance all the adults who are going but especially to Mr. Farmer and Mr. Grocki who organized the event!

TROOP MEETING & BOR

We will have a Troop meeting at 7:30PM this Monday at Immanuel Church on the Hill! Your leadership team will have a good plan!

During the meeting we will also hold a Board of Review (BoR) for at least 5 scouts.  PARENTS: Mrs. Farmer is still looking for volunteers to sit on the Board.

Just a heads up … the following week we will hold OA elections!  See below!

SCHEDULE UPDATES

Sorry for the scheduling pinball, but we are trying to fit all the activities in and find the right time for each.  We decided to (again) move the upcoming Fishing trip from May 15^th-17^th to June 12^th – 14^th.   This was done so that we could have a better chance of warmer weather (for both the scouts and the fish), to avoid Mother’s Day Weekend and to accommodate schedules of the adult Anglers who will lead the trip!  Please note that this is the first weekend after ACPS school ends!

In addition, and in support of the Hiking Merit Badge (see below), we moved the 20 Mile Hike up to Saturday May 9^th.  We know that this is Mother’s Day weekend, but we wanted to try to get this down before it got too hot. If the weather is bad that day, we have an alternate date of Saturday May 30^th.

For everyone’s reference, I attached to this email the current version of the Troop Planning Calendar.  As always this is a work in progress, so be sure to read my weekend emails for any updates.

COMMITTEE, ASM & PARENTS MEETING

See note below from Mrs. Devlin, the Troop Committee Chair.

Dear parents, ASMs, and committee members,

Please save the date for the parent and committee meeting:

Thursday, March 19 @ 7:30 pm

It’ll be held at the Devlin house, 1413 Dogwood Dr. OR via Zoom, (link sent next week).

This semi-annual meeting is dedicated to learning about troop processes and plans; you can ask questions, make suggestions, and find where you fit in. 

All are welcome.

Anastasia Devlin

Chair, Troop 131

ORDER OF THE ARROW ELECTIONS (OA)

Mr. Dalton has coordinated with the Local OA Lodge, and we have scheduled this year’s OA election for Monday March 23^rd!  We are also fortunate that the current chapter chief is none other than our very own Arthur Dalton!

For the troop to hold a valid election we need to meet the following attendance requirements and rules:

·        At least ½ the troop must attend – in our case I believe this is about 24 scouts.

·        To be elected to the Order – an eligible scout must receive ½ the votes of those in attendance.

·        For example, if 24 scouts attend, then an eligible scout must receive 12 votes.

·        Only scouts vote, adults are not eligible to vote even if they are in the OA.

·        All scouts can vote, both those that are currently in the OA and those that are not.

·        Scouts may vote for as many or as few candidates as they like.

·        A scout may vote for themselves.

·        The election will be administered by current OA scouts OUTSIDE of our troop.

·        Current OA members may wear their OA sashes on election day.

·        The order of the arrow is Scouts BSA Honor Society. Scouts should vote for candidates that feel they embody the best spirit of scouting and those scouts who follow the scout oath and law.

For a Scout to be eligible for the order of the arrow they must:

·        Embody the spirit of scouting.

·        Be the rank of First Class and above on election day.

·        Have camping experience (15 nights total with a minimum of 5 long-term consecutive nights such as summer camp/high adventure experience within past 24 months).

Mr. Dalton is compiling a list of scouts who are eligible and we will publish before the election.

Thank you, Mr. Dalton, for coordinating the election again this year!

TRAINING HIKE – OLD RAG (UPDATE)

See updated information below from Mr. Grocki.  If you have not already done so, please sign up both with the T-131 Link (so we can track who is going and create a driving plan) and purchase tickets from the Park Service.

I just checked and there are only 8 tickets left, so please don’t delay!

All,

This is my first time going to Old Rag since they instituted the permit system and I just found out that you can only purchase up to 4 tickets.  If you signed up for the hike or haven’t yet and would like to go please purchase your own tickets at the site below.

https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/10088450/ticket/10088451

https://forms.gle/41P4mZ3W8zszTXby7

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Chris Grocki

Outings Coordinator

Boy Scout Troop 131

TRAINING DOUBLE HEADER – ILST & Hiking/Backpacking Merit Badge Class

Please mark your calendars for Saturday April 11^th. We will hold a training and teaching doubleheader!

First, Mr. Farmer will once again teach the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST).  We STRONGLY encourage all scouts in leadership positions (if you have a round patch on your left sleeve- then you are in a leadership position- SPL, ASPL, PL, APL, Quartermaster, Scribe, etc …) to attend. Even if you are not in a leadership position, then you are welcome to attend.  ILST is a prerequisite for National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), also something I encourage scouts to consider taking.

https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/resources/nylt/

Second, Mr. Grocki and I will teach a Backpacking and Hiking Merit Badge Class.  The Philmont training schedule was designed to fulfill the physical requirements of both merit badges, however, there is some classroom work required.  This class will cover these requirements. I will provide blue cards for the scouts that sign up.

Both sessions will take place at Immanuel Church on the Hill, and each is approximately 2 hours in length. We will send out the exact time schedule later, but one will likely be in the late morning and second after lunch and in the early afternoon.

SUMMER CAMP- OLMSTED

Hello all,

Ready to have a blast this summer at Goshen?  Then fill out our Goshen registration form!

This year the Troop will be attending Camp Olmsted from Sunday, July 5 – Saturday, July 11. Early bird registration is $580.

If you want to have the best chance of getting your first choice in merit badges, you need to be registered (via the form) and paid (pay camp fees to the troop treasurer) by March 28.

The form has plenty of information about logistics and allows campers to choose all their merit badge sessions, etc., but if you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time at summercamp@t131.org. If you are in need of a campership to help pay for Goshen registration, there’s still time — please apply here. 

Thanks!
Mike Gruss and Meghan Hoyer

SUMMER CAMP – LENHOK’SIN TRAIL TREK

What is better than summer camp?  Two summer camps! For those that just cannot get enough or those scouts going to Philmont and who want a final training session, this is your opportunity to go on a 5-day trek through the mountains of Western Virginia. It is a good way to test yourself and maximize backpacking experiences!

Who: Scouts in the troop over 13 (by 9/1/2026)

What: Lenhok’sin Trail Trek

When: Goshen Week 4 (7/12-7/18)

Where: Goshen Scout Reservation – Camp Baird

Why: Philmont Training and we LOVE Backpacking

Cost: $675 or $645 by 4/15 (early bird)

NOTES:

MAX of 12 SCOUTS- so sign up early

Please use the link below to indicate your interest in attending:

https://forms.gle/eEKjdBT95nm5G8xZ6

Here is a link to Goshen Website if you would like more information:

https://www.gotogoshen.org/camps-programs/lenhoksin-high-adventure/

Thanks,

Chris Grocki

Outings Coordinator

Boy Scout Troop 131

PUBLIC SPEAKING MERIT BADGE

All those that started the Public Speaking Merit Badge, Mr. Green and Mr. Gross have agreed to help you complete the final requirements.  Please see them at one of the future meetings and talk to them about what you completed and what you have left!  They will help you get to the finish line.

SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead

Monday, March 16^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Thursday, March 19^th – Committee, ASM and Parents Meeting – TBD

Saturday, March 21^st – Day Trip to Old Rag- Etlan, VA

Monday, March 23^rd – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (OA Elections) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Monday, March 30^th – NO Troop Meeting – Spring Break

Monday, April 6^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (No School ACPS) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Friday, April 10^th -12^th – OA Ordeal 4 Mile Run Chapter, Outdoor Lab Arlington

Saturday, April 11^th – Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Saturday, April 11^th – Backpacking and Hiking Merit Badge Class – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Monday, April 13^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR) (PLC 6:45) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Friday April 17^th -19^th – Backpacking Trip- White Oak Falls

Monday, April 20^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Friday April 24^th – 26^th – OA Spring Ordeal/Fellowship – Camp Snyder

Monday, April 27^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Saturday May 2^nd – Day Trip – 21st Annual NCAC Scout Orienteering Meet – Prince William Forest

Monday, May 4^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Saturday May 9^th – Day Hike – 20 Miles Jones Point to Mount Vernon (round trip)- Alexandria/Fairfax

Monday, May 11^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR) (PLC 6:45) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Friday May 15^th -17^th – OA Conclave – Rodney Scout Reservation