Troop 131,
Sorry for the late night email!
We have a lot to celebrate this week—and yes, we will have a troop meeting Monday!
Thank you to everyone who attended Thursday’s parent and committee meeting, and especially to Mr. Eric Reading for hosting us at his home. Thank you as well to the Scouts and adults who came out to help with Josiah Baldwin’s Eagle project. Your time and service made a real difference.
Most importantly, congratulations to Tadhg Devlin, Troop 131’s newest Eagle Scout! Tadhg is the third Scout from the Mustachio patrol to earn the Eagle rank, and we hope three more Mustachios will join him soon. That is an extraordinary legacy for one patrol—and a lot of Eagle feathers in one mustache.
Scouts, pumpkin drop-off is next weekend! Immanuel Church on the Hill is our amazing sponsor. Without the church, we would not have a place to meet, a shed to store our gear, or outdoor space for fires and picnics. Let’s have a big turnout and support the people who support us. These activities are also excellent opportunities to bank service hours for rank advancement—see sign up link below!
ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
Monday, September 28: Troop meeting at 7:30 PM at Immanuel Church on the Hill. 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 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.
TROOP MEETING – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
We will have a troop meeting at 7:30 PM this Monday, September 28, at Immanuel Church on the Hill. Your SPL has a good plan for the meeting. We will discuss upcoming community service opportunities, after that we will practice rescue carry relay races including races in the parking lot where teams of 3 will use the various rescue carries to get around!
TROOP 131’S NEWEST EAGLE SCOUT – TADHG DEVLIN
Congratulations again to Tadhg Devlin on earning Scouting’s highest rank. Tadhg has served the troop in many leadership roles, supported Scouting at Goshen, and completed a terrific project in Del Ray. We are proud of him and look forward to celebrating with him. See the announcement below from our Advancement Chair, Mrs. Kathryn Farmer.
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Hello Troop 131!
We are very pleased to announce Troop 131’s newest Eagle Scout: Tadhg Devlin! Tadhg crossed the bridge to Troop 131 just before COVID shut down in-person scouting for a while. Rather than fall away from scouting, he dug in, quickly becoming a patrol leader for the Radioactive Red Scorpions within his first year with the troop. He continued to pursue leadership opportunities, serving his first term as ASPL at 13 years old and then serving 3 more terms in that role before taking on the SPL role at 15. Tadhg is also one of our troop’s dedicated Goshen CIT/Counselors, spending his summers giving back to scouting. Tadhg spearheaded a fun Eagle project adding garden beds to the Pat Miller Square in Del Ray. And he successfully completed his Eagle Board last night!
Many Congratulations Tadhg!
Kathryn Farmer
Advancement Chair, Troop 131
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES – OCTOBER 3 THROUGH NOVEMBER 14
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!
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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!
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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
SCOUT DAY – NAVAL ACADEMY
See information below from Mr. Grocki concerning a return trip to the Naval Academy!
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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 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
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
