Scoutmaster Moment
Today is Patriot’s Day, the day commemorating the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the first battle of our American Revolution from England’s crown. Paul Revere rode through the night to warn the townspeople in advance. This is still celebrated in Massachusetts, and the Boston Marathon is timed to occur on Patriot’s Day, and the Boston Red Sox have been scheduled to play at home on this day going back decades.  This year’s marathon has been postponed to the Fall.  And while we are not in a fighting war with a country reluctant to relinquish control, we are in a battle with a virus and need to careful that we follow guidance and not let down our own control.  Maintain social distance, wash your hands. Stay healthy.

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive 
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm.”
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summer Camp
We will be submitting final registrations and payments for our July 5-11 Summer Camp at Bechtel Summit Reserve later this month.  If you want to go and have not yet signed up please reach out to me or Mr. Barnett soon.  At this time we are planning as if camp will occur so we can keep that on schedule, we do know that BSA National is monitoring the situation nationally for all summer scouting activities.

New Scout Summer Camp Program
All new scouts will participate together in the Brownsea program which is intended to help them through rank requirements and should be close to completing First Class requirements when completed. The Brownsea program is Mon-Thu during the day, leaving evenings and Friday for Scout  selected activities. We recommend that evenings be left unscheduled so they can explore options (walk-ons are permitted in evening).

All Other Scouts Summer Camp Program
All other scouts can select their summer camp activity and merit badge program.  Each Scout will select their desired schedule for their time at camp, Scouts have the option of coordinating with other scouts if they want to be together in specific activities. The troop will be together in our camp area (tent site) and for meals.

 

  1. All Scouts should review the attached Program Schedule and select 10 merit badges/activities.  In terms of reading the schedule, each merit badge is offered 4 times in the week. When you are building your schedule, keep in mind that the morning, afternoon, and evening are separate schedules and the Mon / Tues is a different class from Wed / Thu. Please do not plan on archery for Mon – Fri, but instead pick archery for Mon / Tues and something else for Wed / Thur. The same rules apply to the afternoon and the evening merit badges.
  2. If you want the1/2 day White Water Rafting Trip on either Wednesday or Friday, include that as well on list (note there is an additional $75 charge) – The Friday trip will fit for new scouts attending Brownsea program
  3. If you want the White Water Merit Badge, complete attached waiver, a Scout either needs to be categorized as Swimmer in the BSA swim test and have the kayaking merit badge or earn it at camp (there is a $95 additional charge)
  4. Please complete the Summit Waiver form and scan it and send it back to me. 
  5. Final payment due 4/21 –  is now available online 

Earth Day
This week includes the celebration of Earth Day, it is a good opportunity to take a walk, photograph some nature, even take a bag to collect trash.

TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK

 

This Week – 4/20 – **VIRTUAL** New Scout Orientation
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

Scout leadership will host an orientation presentation for new scouts just as Adult leadership presented info to the new parents. New scouts should plan to attend.

Next Week – 4/21 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

Recognition of official Scout Leadership term turnover followed by Scout Jeopardy! Game

Next Week – 4/28 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

Rascal Rabbits patrol will led the troop in the Social Distancing “Merit Badge” activity

 

Following Week – 5/5 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

The “New Patrol” will plan a virtual campfire activity

 

THINGS TO DO FROM HOME

Merit Badges: 

  • See my 3/21 email for info on how merit badges work, and the troop process for opening a badge 
  • Finish open badges from MBU (or others)
  • Start a new badge (talk to me to formally open it).  
    • Good candidates are those that include tracking activities over many weeks, such as Family Life  Personnel Fitness  and Personal Management
    • Public Health is a highly relevant topic one now (and perhaps appropriate to earn during a pandemic)
    • Our troop has many counselors available to work with you using technology, and across NCAC and further others are offering to assist scouts with badges to help keep everyone busy (not bored)  
    • Online MB sessions
      • BSA Advancement Academy – updated periodically
      • NCAC MB offerings – these are updated periodically (there may be technology fees for at least some offerings)
  • Forwarded list of MB options:

National Capital Area
https://scoutingevent.com/082-MBH 

Central Florida Council
https://scoutingevent.com/083-OnlineMB

Gulf Stream Council (Florida) 
https://www.gulfstreamcouncil.org/raw2020   

Piedmont Council (North Carolina)
(Some classes are already full).
Week 3: https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/admin2/events/4588/17953/Online-MB-Classes-Week-Three/classes
Week 5: https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/admin2/events/4588/17955/Online-MB-Classes-Week-Five/classes
Week 6: https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/admin2/events/4588/18074/Online-MB-Classes-Week-Six/classes

Andrew Jackson Council (Mississippi)
http://www.bsa-jackson.org/event/list/2535

Suffolk County Council (New York)
https://www.sccbsa.org/virtual
 
30 Day Brownsea Challenge
Attention Scouts, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, & 1st Class! Keep your Scout Skills sharp with the 30 Day Brownsea Challenge. The challenge begins this Friday! Complete the challenge and earn the exclusive Scout On Patch! You must be registered to earn the patch! There is no cost to register. Registrations end April 9th at 11:55 pm. Register & learn more here: http://www.bsa-grc.org/registration/calendardetail.aspx

Rank Advancement
Review your Scout Handbook, work on your skills so you can get items signed off.  You can discuss with other scouts too. See 30-day challenges for rank advancement ideas.

Read a book, so many to choose from!  Here are some suggestions:

  • Lost on a Mountain in Maine, Donn Fendler – true story of a 12 year old scout lost for 9 days
  • My Adventures as a Spy, Robert Baden-Powell
  • List of books to read from Boys Life magazine
  • What books do you suggest??

OTHER NEWS & INFO

2021 National Jamboree – 21-30 July 2021, Bechtel Summit Reserve, WV
The BSA National Jamboree occurs every four years for 10 days and is held at the same location as our 2020 summer camp. As a national event there are scouts from all over the country, and some international scouts may participate.

  • Registration is now open, anyone interested must register as an individual and Jamboree Troops are formed by each Council.
  • A participating Scout must be at least 12 by the first day, and cannot be older than 18 by the last day.
  • Adults can register as leaders for a Council-formed troop, or to volunteer to help work camp.  Young adults (18-25) can register to volunteer as well.
  • There are past Jamboree participants in the 893 Boy Troop (including Mr. Treat and DJ Treat), I’m sure they would be happy to talk about their adventures
  • Jamboree is 10 days of friends, fun and adventure, 7/21-30/2021.  Cost for participant is $1,175
  • Official website: https://jamboree.scouting.org 

Key Dates (mark your calendar)
also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar
Dates are dependent upon COVID-19 response

  • May 22-24 – 893 Annual Family Canoe Trip
  • Jul 5-11 – Summer Camp (Summit Bechtel)