Troop 131,
Hope you are all well and starting to enjoy your Spring Break (which is a great time to work on Merit Badges and Rank Advancement– hint-hint!)
Just a reminder there is no scout meeting this Monday; however, we will hold a meeting next week and on April 6th! I am in town this week, so if anyone needs a blue card or something signed off, then please just send me an email (and copy your parents) and I will make it happen!
Last call for Summer Camp (Camp Olmsted)! See information below I received from the Council Concerning the significant investment made in the Summer Camp Facilities. It is a great time to go to Camp!
GOSHEN INVESTMENT
Hello Goshen Leaders!
Can you believe that we are now less than 100 days until the first day of summer camp? As you continue to recruit youth to attend Goshen Scout Reservation with your unit, please keep the following information top of mind!
$1 Million Investment Update – Goshen Scout Reservation
Great things are happening at Goshen Scout Reservation in preparation for your arrival this summer! Within the past month…
- 117 new camper tents and 250 new cots have been delivered and are awaiting your arrival!
- 25 canoes, 20 kayaks, 6 sailboats, and john boat motors have been ordered to support our Aquatics programs
- Removed approx. 350 priority trees to improve the safety of our campsites and program areas
- 35 sets of picnic table legs have been delivered.
- Reroofed the Archery pavilions at Camp Olmsted and Bowman. The Olmsted Rifle Range roof will be replaced within the next few weeks.
- Ordered a new backhoe to support the Reservation Superintendent and Ranger team.
- Installed a new liner in the Camp Olmsted well to improve water color and clarity.
We can’t wait to share all the other projects that we’re working on over ahead of the summer season!
OA ELECTIONS
First let me thank Mr. Dalton and Arthur Dalton for coordinating the election this year!
Congratulations to the following scouts on their nomination to the Order of the Arrow! I look forward to hearing how your Ordeal Weekend goes.
- Francis Gress
- Thomas Grocki
- Jack Norris
- George Pica
- Teddy Texiera-Moffat
OUTDOOR GEAR RENTAL PROGRAM
Mr. Grocki sent this to me. Scouting America Recently Partnered with an organization to provide rental gear. See link below if you are interested.
https://nearzero.co/products/rentals-scout?variant=48431135817951
PERSONAL MANAGEMENT & PERSONAL FITNESS MERIT BADGE
See note below from Mr. Saulski who has offered to teach not one but TWO merit badge classes!
All,
I will be holding a Personal Management Merit Badge course over the next several weeks. Because I feel that incorporating personal financial management (financial fitness) and physical fitness as a fundamental aspect of one’s life for long-term happiness and success (and because they both require multiple weeks of performing and reporting on at-home tasks and routines), I also have decide to teach the Personal Fitness Merit Badge along as a dual course.
As mentioned, each of these merit Badges require significant at-home activities and tasks that will take several weeks to complete. During this time, I will periodically hold classes during Troop meetings to cover the academic portions of requirements for one or both or the Merit Badges. I will announce in advance when those classes will be held.
We will start at this Monday’s Troop meeting (March 16), where I will cover the requirements for each of the Merit Badges, the format/process we will be using, and a basic schedule look ahead.
If you would like to sign up to take these Merit Badge classes, please email me (or parents email me) at: psaulski@gmail.com
Your in Scouting
Paul Saulski
TRAINING DOUBLE HEADER – ILST & Hiking/Backpacking Merit Badge Class
Please mark your calendars for Saturday April 11th. 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
Happy Friday, and ONE more message from us:
Scouts need to be signed up on the form AND PAID ($580 per scout, minus any balances in scouts’ accounts) before we sign them up for camp on March 31. So please if you have not already, send payment to treasurer@t131.org via Zelle. We have another large group of scouts going to camp this summer, so really appreciate your help on this!
We have not yet gotten information on the exact cost of the bus trip, so we can collect that payment later or you can pay it now assuming the amount is $100.
If your scout is interested in attending Camp Olmsted, please sign them up here by EOD Saturday. This will give us time to make sure everyone’s information looks correct before we register everyone for merit badge classes on March 31.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. There’s also a lot of information at the Olmsted web site here.
Thanks very much,
Meghan + Mike
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 30th – NO Troop Meeting – Spring Break
Monday, April 6th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (No School ACPS) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday, April 10th -12th – OA Ordeal 4 Mile Run Chapter, Outdoor Lab Arlington
Saturday, April 11th – Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday, April 11th – Backpacking and Hiking Merit Badge Class – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, April 13th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR) (PLC 6:45) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday April 17th -19th – Backpacking Trip- TBD
Monday, April 20th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill (Public Speaking)
Friday April 24th – 26th – OA Spring Ordeal/Fellowship – Camp Snyder
Saturday April 25th – T131 Fundraiser/Carwash – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, April 27th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday May 2nd – Day Trip – 21st Annual NCAC Scout Orienteering Meet – Prince William Forest
Monday, May 4th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday May 9th – Day Hike – 20 Miles Jones Point to Mount Vernon (round trip)- Alexandria/Fairfax
Monday, May 11th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR) (PLC 6:45) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday May 15th -17th – OA Conclave – Rodney Scout Reservation
