Scoutmaster Moment
Fireworks, summer fun, hot weather, and cool treats often mark this holiday weekend. On another hot weekend 244 years ago some folks signed their names to a document that changed the world. They identified a list of concerns and declared that they would no longer remain a part of a group that caused harm to themselves and their communities. Standing up for yourself and for others is seldom easy, but at times is essential.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
-Declaration of Independence
Announcements
SUMMER CAMP:
Postponed to 2021 and already booked (see Mr. Taylor’s 2 June email). Mark your calendars for the week of 20 June 2021 at SBR.
While our in-person summer camp has been cancelled for this summer, there are many BSA virtual camps being offered around the country throughout the summer. This is one year where distance to camp may be irrelevant. Camps vary widely in offerings, and cost. Many have packages mailed to scouts for participation the week long activities that can include merit badges, virtual campouts, and more. BSA has a listing of virtual camp opportunities online as a resource (note that the list starts with Cub Scouts, be sure to look at the BSA Scouts listing). Even if you don’t choose to do a formal virtual camp, there are many virtual merit badges you can sign up for (see the list towards end of this note, this list is not exhaustive).
NCAC has a some options for virtual summer camp through the Goshen Homecamping that includes option for family camping at Goshen. Camp Snyder (located in nearby Haymarket) also has mixed virtual and family camping options.
Eagle Project – July 18, 11:00am (rain date: Aug 1)
Support for Eagle projects are considered approved service hours, but still must be signed off in your handbook
Bryan Hong of 893B is seeking support to help him construct a shed for fire safety tools and equipment at Saint Paul Chung Korean Catholic Church, 4712 Rippling Pond Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033.
Scout’s will be expected to follow standard safety protocols, including wearing a mask during the project and maintaining social distancing.
See attached fly for additional information and RSVP by Aug 16.
Reminder: Don’t forget to update TroopMaster as you work of requirements and merit badges (and to then use the sync function). The adult leaders review this periodically to check on everyone’s progress.
Extended! Scouting at Home Badge with NCAC – if you are working on this and would like the badge, please send a note to me by 1 July 10 July so we can order them in time. Only one scout indicated they were working on this so far, please let me know ASAP as the order will go into Council this week.
Virtual meetings and cameras – Please be sure to have your camera on during meetings. Many of us use the gallery view which allows us to see everyone’s happy smiling faces during meetings. When so many cameras are turned off all we see are black windows. While we realize that some exceptions due to technical difficulties with cameras or connections that support video, we expect to see everyone else online as part of cheerful participation.
Rank Advancement
Christina Alvarez – Life (7/1/2020)
TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK
Next Week – 7/7 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)
Campfire Night – participation by both patrols
Elena sent out an email with info on 6/26, including link to a form for campfire participation
https://forms.gle/LKp76g1Agabg3ksd7
Looking Ahead:
7/14 – Knots Activity (Moon Archers) (tentative – guest speaker)
7/21 – First Aid Choose Your Own Adventure
7/28 – 893G “Book Club” discussion – The Frog Princess, by E.D. Baker
In preparation of when we’re able to meet in-person
TBD – Camping Prep (Moon Archers)
TBD – Totin’ Chit (Rascal Rabbits)
SCOUTING FROM HOME
NCAC Scouting at Home page
NCAC new Scouting at Home patch
<PastedGraphic-7.png>
DelMarVa Council Scouting from Home Page
This page has Merit Badge info, but also has a great “Trail to First Class” Knowledge Library to help you work on rank advancement from home. These include links to videos on some of the requirements to help review.
Tread Lightly online course (free)
https://tread-lightly.teachable.com/p/tread-lightly-youth-online-course?fbclid=IwAR0D0cOBOtAUzrJbOAU4jbib93v_nlhecygX-kHktBJ0WyTHWFIqIVFbE-I
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://www.ncacbsa.org/merit-badges-at-home/Central Florida Council
https://scoutingevent.com/083-OnlineMBGulf Stream Council (Florida)
https://www.gulfstreamcouncil.org/raw2020Piedmont Council (North Carolina)
https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/mbuonlineAndrew Jackson Council (Mississippi)
http://www.bsa-jackson.org/event/list/2535Mt. St. Helen’s Volcano Scouting
https://www.volcanoscouting.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
Service Hour opportunities. All ranks have requirements for service, Scoutmaster approval is also require (any listed here are approved).
CUMC Food Ministries include monthly You Feed Others (UFO) and GRACE Ministries (which is more than just food). Right now they are limiting the number of volunteers for COVID guidelines, but also doing additional ad hoc items given the needs of the community. Participation requires mask, and a signed permission slip for minors (ie all Scouts) – right now minimum age is 12.
Sign up for the COVID Food Ministry – July 7 – July 9
Sign up for GRACE Ministry – July 8 – July 11
Mask Making – There is still a need for cloth masks as the area begins to open up and more people are out and complying with guidelines to wear them in buildings or near other people. If you are making masks and want to donate – or want to start, CUMC has a mask making ministry and I know a group of mask makers who are coordinating with groups who need them. (This also ties into the NCAC Scouting at Home badge)
Camp Snyder Service Days – camp service days have resumed, with some restrictions in place to for safe operations and social distancing. These now include the requirement for prior approval for service, and health status checks. The next service day should be in July (unconfirmed).
Key Dates (mark your calendar)
also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar
Dates are dependent upon COVID-19 response
TBD – New Scout Campout
Aug 14-16 – Prince William Forest Campout
Aug 25 – First Day FCPS