Scoutmaster Moment

The troop made a fantastic showing at our first ever Klondike Derby! The weather cooperated by delivering snow in the early morning on Saturday for the sleds to get proper use.  The 893 family did well, with awards going to the Crew and Boys Troop in the Chili Cook-off, and 893GT earning 2nd place for the main event Klondike Trail competition – fantastic for an inaugural attendance! Earning this achievement shows the hard work and dedication that all the scouts have put into learning scout skills and coming together as a team. Leaders and other adults in the troop have worked hard to create an environment that provides opportunities for the scouts to learn scout skills and build their patrol spirit, events like this provide pointers on how well this is working. Scout spirit encompasses the idea of mutual support, when the going gets tough and the weather is poor this is what brings the entire unit through together. Let’s continue to build on this, especially as we welcome in new scouts to our family unit.

Many thanks to the adult support that made this happen, and special thanks to the Treats for keeping the “Big Dogz” patrol well fed with hot food!

 

TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK

This Week – 1/21 – Troop Meeting (this is a change!)
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Fellowship Hall (where boy troop meets)

**Plan Change** While this had been set as a patrol night due to room schedulling, we have shifted to align with the boy troop’s planned discussion on Merit Badge University (MBU) coming up in February and Summer Camp plans for July so the presenters only have to present the information once. Hear what will be offered at MBU and how to register. Learn about summer camp plans, activities, and registration process. Parents are invited to listen in as well.

Next Week – 1/28- Patrol Leader Council planning
Uniform: Class A
Location: TBD

Each scout should  come prepared with at least two ideas for both meeting activities, and for outings.  In particular, we will discuss March campout weekend plans (as start making them).  See upcoming meeting themes listed below by month.

Ideas can be found within the Program Resources book (linked here, and will be physically present during discussion). Some upcoming meetings should include welcoming new scouts to the troop and helping them ramp up skills while polishing/advancing those of current scouts.
http://www.programresources.org/activities/

Purposes of Troop Meetings:

• Prepare for outings. 

• Learn and practice Scouting skills. 

• Exercise leadership. 

• Strengthen patrols. 

• Promote advancement and personal growth. 

• Inspire Scouts. 

• Have fun. 

All scouts should be in Class A uniform, with their handbook, as well as paper & pen/pencil.  Leadership positions are asked to act on their area (any needed supplies from QM, Scribe taking notes on discussion).

 

Meeting Outlook from Fall Planning

  • December – January Theme – Klondike Skills
  • February – Scouting Through Time
  • March – Fun with Fire
  • April – Back 2 Basics

 

OTHER NEWS & INFO

University of Scouting – 2/29 – training opportunity for interested adults

Our council has an annual training event early each Spring.  It is a full day of training for leaders, with different topics offered across 6 different sessions. Lunch is included with registration fee.  “U of S” is broken into different colleges for each program, participants can attend sessions in any “college” – there are way more interesting sessions that I saw this year than had time to sign up for.  Registration is open now, and some sessions will fill early.  More info: https://www.ncacbsa.org/training/university-of-scouting/ 

Feel free to talk with me if you have any questions and are interested in attending!

Merit Badge Opportunities

Anyone interested in beginning on the Personal Fitness MB should speak with Ms. Kathy and Ms. Staton.  We are discussing an opportunity to gather needed metrics starting after Winter Break, this would be outside our normal meeting time.  This is an Eagle Required MB that requires keeping a log of your activities for 3 months.  Knocking it out early is a great idea, having encouragement from others is even better.

More info on the badge: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb010.asp 

Merit Badge University info will be coming out shortly, this is a topic for the 1/21 meeting

 

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/
  • Camp Snyder Work Days – Camp Snyder is located in Haymarket and has two work crew days each month where volunteers can help with camp maintenance doing carpentry, painting, trail maintenance…  This can be done as an individual or as small groups.  Let me know if you are interested  in providing service (or if a group wants to go together) and I can provide recent announcements.
  • Sully District Twilight Camp –  June 24-28  – The district has run a Cub Scout camp the past couple of years one week of the summer, in the evening.  This is volunteer run by both adults and scouts.  Organizers this year are particularly interested in some of the scouts from the two new Girl Troops participating.  There is an interest meeting planned on 1/23. 

 

Key Dates (mark your calendar)
also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar

  • Jan 28 – PLC
  • Feb 2, 9, 23 – MBU
  • Mar 20-22 – Outing (TBD)
  • May 1-3 – New Scout Campout (New Date)
  • May 22-24 – 893 Annual Family Canoe Trip
  • Jul 5-11 – Summer Camp (Summit Bechtel)
  • TBD – Astronomy MB stargazing will be rescheduled