Scoutmaster Minute
Saturday was our first Outdoor Skills Day where scouts entered the Ax Yard for the first time and learned to safely handle sharp tools.  They then used those skills to acquire a dead tree and turn it into a flagpole with some knots skills.  The scouts prepared lunch of tasty quesadillas and then used the 3-pot method to clean up after.  The day wrapped up with fire skills, dump cake they made and a campfire program after dinner.  That is what was on the agenda – what they really did was work as a team to achieve a series of goals and learn new skills together. It was a long day, but everyone appeared to have fun. This troop is coming together and I love seeing the cooperating and excitement!
 
I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
– Henry David Thoreau
 
The best workers, like the happiest livers, look upon their work as a kind of game: the harder they play the more enjoyable it becomes.
– Lord Baden-Powell
 
Photos of the Week
This week’s pho
tos are from the Outdoor Skills Day

 

 
Rank Advancements
Scouts who earned rank this past week:
 
Caitlin Schuetz – Scout
 
 
This week – 3/26 – Court of Honor (8-9pm)
 
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt)
 
Location: CUMC chapel
 
  • First Court of Honor (CoH)
  • celebration & refreshments
  • Family is encouraged to attend, celebrate the troop’s achievements
Families are asked to bring drinks & refreshments, coordination support is requested so we don’t all wind up with packages of Oreos 🙂 Please use the Sign-up Genius list to sign up. Family are welcome to celebrate scout achievements.
 
 
 
Next week – 3/26 – CUMC clean up (time TBD, usually in morning)
 
Uniform: Class B (t-shirt)
 
Location: CUMC grounds
 
Annual event where the Troop helps the church clean up winter debris before Easter services
 
Following week – 4/9 – Troop Meeting (8-9pm)
 
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt)
 
Location: CUMC chapel
 
We will be working on plans for upcoming events, like the New Scout Campout later in the month
 
 
Turks Head Woggle
Still working on making your woggle from Outdoor Skills Day?  Here are some guides that may help
 
Summer Camp: 6/23-29
I believe everyone who is registered has paid, if not please see Mr. Steve Barnett at a Tuesday meeting to pay.  All scouts will take Swimmer and First Aid merit badges during summer camp.
 
During the Outdoor Skills Day the girls chose Leatherworking as a badge to work together, however we may need a back up choice. Mr. Barnett will check with the camp. Looking at the schedule I’m thinking Leatherworking is an open program option and not a class that is signed up for (not as clear as one might like).  Some options for the morning block (which then leaves the afternoon block open for each scout to choose):
  • Railroading
  • Public Health
  • Graphic Arts
  • Canoeing (must pass swimmer’s test)
We can revisit this on Tuesday to give Mr. Barnett our backup option
 
Look at the schedule and see what other badges each scout is interested in. Summer camp is a great time to take outdoors badges (camping, shooting sports, etc) as opposed to more studious or specialist (nuclear science, aviation…)  Don’t forget this is summer camp, not school in the woods and to plan on fun activities too!
 
 
 
Troop Fundraising
As a new troop we are trying to go do fun stuff but also be fiscally (a synonym to financially) responsible. We have an opportunity to raise some funds via “Camp Cards”.  These cards are sold for $5, and half of that goes to the troop (and cool stuff we do).  Cards can be used for discounts from local major retailers which are greater than $5 is just one use – so a good deal.  Information was provided earlier, we also had mentioned the possibility of beef jerky boxes as fundraiser too, more info will be available soon on this. Cards will be available at our next troop meeting.   Both troops are trying to have options for fundraising.
 
 
Scoutmaster “Office Hours”
I will be available most Tuesdays before our regular Tuesday night meetings at 7:30pm and on some non-meeting Tuesdays if you need to meet with me for conferences or just have anything you wish to discuss. Let me know if you plan to be there in case I have any planned work travel or other conflicts.
 
 
Upcoming Service Opportunities
Providing service is a key part of Scouting, to do our daily good turn. Helping others often in turn helps ourselves with new experiences and opportunities for growth. This is built into requirements for most ranks. I’m adding a new section to the weekly notes to list any upcoming service opportunities that may help the Community, and progress in your  trail to Eagle.
 
    • CUMC Grace Ministries is a monthly program through our charter organization held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, with prep the Friday night before hand, help is needed at both the Friday set up and on Saturday morning to bring goods to cars
    • CUMC Spring Cleanup, an annual Troop 893 Spring clean up of CUMC grounds: April 6…details forthcoming.
 
 
Key Dates (mark your calendar)

also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar

Mar 26: Court of Honor
Apr 6: Service Project – CUMC clean up
Apr 9: Troop Meeting (CUMC)
Apr 15-19: FCPS Spring Break
Apr 26-28: “New Scout Campout” annual Boys Troop event, details pending
May 5: Summer Camp Swim Test
May 24-26: Troop 893 Annual Family Canoe Trip campout
June 23-29: Summer Camp at Goshen Scout Reservation, Camp Olmsted