Scoutmaster Minute
This week marked the formal installation of our first Troop Leadership team.  Scouts elected into positions earlier in March are now sworn in and off to a great start.  As we contemplate these new leaders and support their coming plans, contemplate a quote from Walt Disney, the man behind The Happiest Place on Earth, “Imagineers”, and more.  He was once asked what a person would need to be like him.  Disney named four steps:

  1. Think! Think about the values and principles that guide you in your business and personal life.

  2. Believe! Believe in yourself.

  3. Dream! Dream of something you want to do.

  4. Dare! Dare to make your dream a reality. 

An invaluable step in character training is to put responsibility on the individual.

-Lord Baden-Powell 

Photos of the Week
 
Rank Advancements
Scouts who earned rank this past week:
Rowan Causley – Scout
Reminder: please see Mr. Treat to review rank progress before requesting a Scoutmaster conference for rank closure
 
 
This week – 4/2 – 893BT CoH Honor Guard (7pm)
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt, with merit badge sash if ready)
Location: CUMC
Three girls are needed to help with 893 Boys Troop CoH flag ceremony.  The boys helped with our ceremony, this helps with theirs.  Please contact me if interested in helping.  Court of Honor begins at 7, arriving early to prep would be best (6:30)
 
This week – 4/6 – CUMC clean up (1-4pm)
Uniform: Class B (t-shirt)
Location: CUMC grounds
Annual event where the Troop helps the church clean up winter debris and provide some extra attention to the grounds before Easter services. A great opportunity to get some conservation service hours in, even if just stopping by for an hour.  Many hands make light work.
 
Bring gloves, rakes, bow-saws, loppers, garden pruners/snippers.
Next week – 3/26 – 4/9 – Troop Meeting (8-9pm)
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt)
Location: CUMC chapel
April New Scout Campout “Shakedown” meeting! Pack like you are departing for camp (permission slip with full packing list to come out this week).  Leaders will review what is packed and provide feedback so everyone is ready for the actual campout. Also discuss grubmasters and campout planning.
We will also be working on plans for upcoming events.
Following week – 4/23 – Troop Meeting (8-9pm)
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt)
Location: CUMC chapel
New Scout Campout prep and planning for upcoming events
Summer Camp: 6/23-29 (Goshen’s Camp Olmsted)
I believe all registered scouts have paid, if not please see Mr. Steve Barnett at a Tuesday meeting and avoid any merit badge sign up delays.  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 the badge is a open session scouts can come and work on a project.  Back to the drawing board…  These are 4 options in Block 2 of the schedule, please indicate your top two choices back to me this week and we’ll get everyone registered for the top pick (and that is open):
  • Railroading
  • Public Health
  • Movie Making
  • Game Design
Please get your afternoon schedule selections to Mr. Barnett this week so he can get scouts registered for the badges they are interested in.
 
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!
 
Summer Camp Swim Test – May 5 

ALL SUMMER CAMP PARTICIPANTS (ADULT & YOUTH) ARE EXPECTED TO ATTENDWe are working with Cub Run Rec Center to schedule a block of time most likely 1-3pm.  There will be a sign-up created so that Scouts can pick the time-slot that works best for them and help us avoid being overrun with to many in the swim lanes.

Annual Troop 893 Canoe Trip – May 24-26 (plan ahead)
WHAT:  The Troop’s biggest, most fun-filled event, the 46th Annual Memorial Day Family Canoe Trip, May 24-26, 2019.

WHERE:  South fork of the Shenandoah River, near Bentonville, Virginia with the Downriver Canoe Company. 

WHO:  All Troop 893 registered Scouts (girls troop and boys troop), former Troop members, all Venturing Crew 893 registered Venturers, their families, and friends.  This is a family event, but because it is also a Scout event, ALCOHOL IS NOT ALLOWED.
Transportation, camping, grubmaster duties, cooking, cleanup, and canoeing or kayaking are done by families (or arranged by families), not by the Troop or by patrols. 

WHEN:  Set up camp before nightfall Friday, eat, sleep, canoe, and be home on Sunday evening.  Families from the Boys Troop may informally meet in the parking lot of CUMC at 5:30 Friday evening (or any other target time you arrange) if you need to go with others.  We can arrange to meet there too as well.

Registration details will be forthcoming.

 
Troop Fundraising
As a new troop we are trying to go do fun stuff but also be fiscally 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.
**I am not available 4/9**
Upcoming Merit Badge Opportunities
Groups around the area occasionally have merit badge activities open to local Scouts, these can fill up quickly so if you are interested sign up soon.  Here are a few recently advertised events:
  • Troop 7369 MBU (note this conflicts with our April Campout)
  • Good News! Troop 7369’s Merit Badge University is being held on April 27th.  Registration opens Saturday, March 30th  and ends April 20th.  
    The registration document link containing registration requirements and merit badge pre-requisites can be found on the meritbadge.info website.
    Don’t miss the opportunity to earn some exciting and hard to find merit badges.  Classes always fill up quickly.
    We look forward to seeing everyone again or meeting you for the first time.  
    Please email troop7369mbu@gmail.com with questions.
  • Weather MB at the National Weather Service Open House
    As one of the activities at the NWS Open House on May 4, 2019, the Weather Merit Badge will be offered.  We will have 2 classes during the day, one from 10 am – 1 pm and one from 12 pm – 3 pm.  From 12 – 1 pm, I will take the classes on a tour of the NWS Data Center and they will get a chance to view the Science on a Sphere (5’ globe with full view of the world’s weather in motion).
    Due to limitations of the classroom, I can support 25 scouts in each class and I am asking those interested to sign up for an available slot.
     
    The classes will be held at:
        NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction
        5830 University Research Park  (Room 1450)
        College Park, MD, 20740
    Please fill in your information in the Sign-Up Genius and I will look forward to seeing you in the class.
        Here is the link to the Open House website:  https://www.ncep.noaa.gov/openhouse/   
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.
    • Eagle Project (Jacob Major, 893BT)  April 27 & 28 @ Lanier Middle School
Jacob is seeking support from Scouts (14+yrs) and other in the community to do some painting and install related artwork @ Lanier Middle School.
This will be a 2 day operation, April 27, 10am-5pm and April 28, 10am-until done.
Register at https://forms.gle/UnhEeSmDfdhFsqu28
 
 
Key Dates (mark your calendar)

also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar

Apr 2: honor guard for 893 Boys Troop Court of Honor
Apr 6: Service Project – CUMC clean up
Apr 9: Troop Meeting (CUMC)
Apr 15-19: FCPS Spring Break
Apr 23: Troop Meeting
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
July 2 – first meeting we begin meeting every Tuesday 7-8:30pm