Scoutmaster Moment
This weekend Scout Bryan Hong from our linked Boys Troop (893B) held his Eagle project, one of the last steps on his Trail to Eagle. It was great to see Scouts in action, in person (including two from 893G). Even better to see a scout reaching a milestone on their way to reach Eagle and to improve part of his community. His project was building a fire safety stand for his church picnic area; a sheltered area with fire extinguishers, buckets of water and a big bucket of sand. In speaking with he and his dad it was clear they were excited to reached this point after months of planning. They indicated he first talked about the project in March and originally planned to hold the project date in April. He had to revise his plan multiple times, with delays, due to COVID and then excessive heat warning impacts. Few projects in life go exactly as planned from step one, plan ahead, have time and contingencies in place to assure success. Congratulation to Bryan!
Those who plan do better than those who do not plan, even though they rarely stick to their plan
– Winston Churchill
Scoutmaster Challenge – NEW SECTION!
I’m starting a new section in my Troop News, it may not be in every week, but is intended as something fun to do involving Scouting between our meetings. This is for everyone – scouts and adults can participate in this. If you have ideas for future challenges, let me know and it just might show up in this section! Select results from each challenge will be posted here.
First ever 893G SM Challenge: in preparation for our ability to begin meeting in person again fro activities, provide a picture that demonstrates a scout activity or item as marking the recommended 6 foot distance between two people. One person must be a scout.
Scouts should email pictures to me, I will include in upcoming Troop News notes
Pictures can be photographs, drawings, or other artwork
Image must demonstrate a 6 foot distance
Measuring item(s) should be something Scout related
Wearing of masks is always advised (scouts in photo are in same household)
Photos
This week we had a guest speaker from the National Scouting Museum in Philmont. He had a great presentation on the history of the museum and some of its collection. He also reminded scouts that they can fulfill requirement 4.b from Scouting Heritage merit badge by writing to the museum, and offered to assist scouts with requirement 8.
Mr. White forwarded a link to a video tour of the museum, I learned some cool info from watching it.
Scouting Heritage MB Info
More info about the museum is in this article, including a 10 minute video tour
A Bryan on Scouting article on how to complete requirement 4.b
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.
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.
Congressional Award – did you know there is a congressional award that encompasses activities you do as a Scout? See the Bryan on Scouting article for more information. Important Tip: you must register for the program before working off items (this is not an “after the fact” submission)
National Hammock Day is July 22nd, are you ready? Did you know you can hang a hammock with no trees, even while camping? Check out this article about using hammock stands when out camping, these range from big back yard furniture to something that could be use backpacking. Next year’s Summer Camp has no trees near most campsites, now is a great time to experiment with options if you want to consider hammock camping next Summer.
TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK
Next Week – 7/21 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)
Choose Your Own First Aid Adventure activity led by Rascal Rabbits
Next Week – 7/28 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)
Meeting has two activities lead by Rascal Rabbits (see email from Megan dated July 18)
893G Book Club – read The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
Virtual Pet Show – see the Google form for sign up, make sure your camera works, practice your pet ricks, and practice what you will say
Looking Ahead:
7/28 – 893G virtual pet show and “Book Club” discussion – The Frog Princess, by E.D. Baker (book should be read in advance of the meeting)
8/4 & 8/11 – shakedown for 8/14-16 campout (note this may become PLC and regular meeting if campout plans are impacted)
8/14-16 – Campout at Prince William Forest – this will serve as our New Scout Campout (usually held in April). We will do a sign up in advance of normal shakedown activities to get headcount of all Scouts and adults planning to attend.
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
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 20 – July 24
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 – CUMC Clean Up Day
Aug 14-16 – Prince William Forest Campout
Aug 18 – Friend of Scouting presentation (parents are asked to participate)
Sep 8 – First Day FCPS