Scoutmaster Moment
Many thanks this week go to Mr. Adam and Mrs. Alvarez for their efforts this week. Mr. Adam presented more of the Astronomy Merit Badge, with a star gazing day coming up soon. Mrs Alvarez coordinated a table provided by the American Legion at Centreville Day for Scouts to show community presence and recruit more scouts to our troop. Rowan, Christina, Rai, and Caitlin all helped out at the booth with an opportunity to see the parade and speak with many folks. Caitlin helped the Rotarians dismantle their demonstration disaster displacement tent as a Good Turn.
What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?– E. M. Forster
This Week – 10/22 Troop Meeting
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Chapel
Planning for Mission Impossible station
CyberChip requirement planning
Reminder: I will be traveling this week and unable to attend. An ASM is needed to help guide the meeting with SPL
This week – 10/26 – Astronomy Merit Badge Star Gazing Night
Uniform: Class B (dress for weather)
Location: Mr. Adam’s home
Wrapping up Astronomy Merit Badge activities from this summer, last part is meeting to view some stars. Don’t forget your paper, pen, and log per Mr. Adam’s directions (rise time, set time, max elevation, and notes for Saturn, Jupiter, and another object).
These “homework items” reviewed at the 10/15 meeting, due to Mr. Adam if not completed then.
- 5.b Using the Internet (with your parent’s permission), books, and other resources, find out when each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will be observable in the evening sky during the next 12 months, then compile this information in the form of a chart or table. (https://www.heavens-above.com/ is a great resource for this)
- 6.a Sketch the face of the Moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Label these landmarks.
- 6.b Sketch the phase and the position of the Moon at the same hour and place, for four nights within a one week period. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, and buildings. Explain the changes you observe.
- 9. Find out about three career opportunities in astronomy. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you. (each scout should research 1 career and we’ll discuss all of them as a group).
Anyone who has not opened up a blue card with me can do so and then work to complete
Next Week – 10/29 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Chapel
Lashings activity run by Elena and Rowan
Mission Impossible station planning
Coming Up – 11/2 & 9 – Scouting for Food (SFF)
Uniform: Class A
Location: 11/2 TBD, 11/9 Centreridge ES
This is an annual event where our council supports our local communities by collecting non-perishable goods. Last year the council collected 1 million pounds of goods, Sully District collected over 62,000 pounds. Sully district collects for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries food bank and provides support to many, this event stocks them for about six months of needed items – and is fun. In particular this event helps our immediate community to support those around us who are in need.
We need as many scouts as possible for dropping of bags at area homes and more importantly for picking up the filled bags on the 9th. The 893 units are part of the few who are authorized to pre-sort our collection before dropping off what we have collected. Please plan to participate, as many hands available as possible on the 9th makes this go quickly! This is a great family event too.
This is a recent photo showing the current state of WFCM food pantry, once SFF is over these will be filled – please come help.
Meeting Outlook from September Planning
- October Theme – Outdoor Skills
- November Theme – Pets
- December – January Theme – Klondike Skills
Merit Badge Opportunities
Ashburn Fire & Rescue Merit Badge Night – 10/25
Work towards Emergency Preparedness, Safety, and Fire Safety merit badges at a firehouse (pre-requisite work is needed in order to complete). Space is limited to 80 scouts – website talks about Boy Scouts (rather than Scouts BSA), however they indicated girl troop members have registered and are welcome. The event is a long evening, but includes dinner. I will need to provide blue cards for anyone going.
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. This section is to list any upcoming service opportunities that may help the Community, and progress in your trail to Eagle, this list is not inclusive and there are many other activities in the area that are also worthwhile. Activities listed here are Scoutmaster approved, if you have other activities you would like to do be sure to check with me if you would like them to count towards scout service requirements.
- 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
- More info can be found under Grace Ministries on the CUMC Food Ministries page: http://centreville-umc.org/serve-outreach/food-ministries/
- To sign up to help contact: pmohr@centreville-umc.org
- Max Carper Eagle Project, Saturday October 26, 10:00am
- This project will construct cornhole sets for Westfield High School’s Senior Courtyard. The project will be hosted at 15447 Martins Hundred Drive. See attached flyer and talk with Max at the next meeting.
- CUMC Rise Against Hunger event – Sunday October 27th
- Rise Against Hunger is a global hunger relief organization active in 74 countries around the world. CUMC will be packing 30,000 servings of food for hungry children. There are two shifts, see the website and sign up for more details
Key Dates (mark your calendar)
also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar
- Oct 26 – Star Gazing (Astronomy Badge)
- Nov 2 – Scouting for Food (bag drop)
- Nov 9 – Scouting for Food (bag pick up)
- Nov 15-17 – Mission Impossible