Scoutmaster Moment
It was wonderful to see all the smiling faces at the Activity Field for our meeting last week.  It has been a long time since we’ve all been gathered in one place!  Even better that the weather cooperated, with Tropical Storm Isaias clearing out leaving sunny skies well before our meeting started.  The meetings for both last week and this week are centered around the campout coming up this next weekend.  All of us are working to get back into our activity groove, and get New Scouts ramped up. This coming campout is a great opportunity for our recently joined Scouts to get many items worked off and learn skills.  August is also a tough campout due to family vacation plans, Scouts unable to attend will still have later opportunities to work on the skill and rank requirements. The prep activities for these weeks also have requirements that can be met.  All Scouts that have not completed Tenderfoot should take advantage of the shakedown activities this week to come with their bags packed as if going camping – even Scouts who are not camping this weekend can benefit from this activity..

The open-air is the real objective of Scouting and the key to its success
-Lord Baden-Powell

Photos
Our first in-person meeting since March!  Done with social distancing.
 
 Announcements

Reminder: we are now meeting in-Person
Starting 8/4 we are able to meet back at the CUMC Activity Field.
To maintain social distancing bringing a camp chair is recommended as we can’t all sit at the picnic tables
Hand sanitizer and a face covering should be considered part of your uniform (right there with bringing your handbook)
Bring a water bottle, a flashlight may also be a good idea as it is getting dark when we dismiss and clean up
It is outdoors, and bugs can be about – bug spray is also good to have (note: be sure to apply away from other people)
We do not have access to the church restrooms, please plan ahead
Please read the attached 893 Activities guidance for how we expect to run all activities we have while under the COVID situation in order to better ensure everyone’s safety. Some key points to remember:
Sick individuals must stay home 
Individuals must take their temperature the day of the gathering and may NOT attend if their temperature is greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Face coverings are required for all individuals at any gathering and must be worn for the entire duration of the gathering.
No one with symptoms of COVID-19 or known exposure to COVID-19 in the prior 14 days is allowed to attend any gathering.

Trailer support – Help is needed getting the troop trailer to the campsite this weekend, if your vehicle can tow and you are able to assist please contact me or Paul Taylor.  There is a driver to return the trailer, the need is for getting it to camp.

 

TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK

This Week – 8/11 – ** IN-PERSON ** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: CUMC Activity Field

Scout Recognizing – normally we have an induction ceremony or Cub Scout crossover ceremony to formally welcome in New Scouts to the troop. With COVID we were not able to do this virtually and will formally induct our recent members, as well as some leadership recognition.  

Campout Shakedown
Finalize camping menu, grubmaster, and duty roster.
All new scouts should come to the meeting as if they were departing for the campout (even if not camping this weekend).  They should bring a packed bag, a senior scout will review their back with them – completes Tenderfoot 1.a

Campout activities preparation

At this meeting we will continue to review plans and protocols for the New Scout Campout which will take place at Prince William Forest on August 14-16.
### Participation by New Scouts is highly recommended since the following ranks are likely to be completed in full or part (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class & 1st Class)

Key Information

Tenting – Scouts will have 4 options (2nd Class  Req 1a). The Troop can provide tents as needed.

  1. Solo tent 
  2. Hammock, requires Scoutmaster permission
  3. Two Scouts requires permission of both parents
  4. Scout with Parent (ONLY New Scouts)

Transportation 

  • All Scouts attending must be transported by a parent to/from CUMC and the camping site on Friday evening and Sunday morning. 
  • Entrance fee is $20 (good for 7 days), which can be paid online.

Cooking/Meals 

  • Based on the # of Scouts attending, small patrols will be organized.
  • A New Scout will act as the grubmaster with support from older Scouts which satisfies 2nd Class (2e).
  • Grubmaster collects a fee of $15/Scout to support the meal plan developed with their patrol. Grubmaster shops for the food and brings items to the campout.

Gear  – In addition to the items on the permission slip (attached), the following are mandatory

  • Face covering – Troop 893 will provide 1 reusable mask to Scouts with priority to those attending the campout.
  • Hand Sanitizer – Each Scout should have a small personal bottle with them at all times as part of safety protocol. The Troop will have large bottles on site, but hygiene starts with the Scout.
  • Water Bottle – Reminder this is already required. Recommend a Nalgene or similar bottle that can be fully sealed.

 

This Week – 8/14-16 – New Scout Campout at Prince William National Forest
This campout will cover many activities normally done at our annual New Scout Campout in April, an outing designed to help scouts progress in their rank advancement.

Please indicate intent to participate (Scout/Adult): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4FA5AC2FA13-893campout  
Your prompt response will assist in planning for the event, as well as planning and implementation of safety protocols.

Attendance Requirements:

  • A signed permission slip turned into the SPL at Troop Assembly at CUMC on August 14 at 6pm (see attached) No slip, no camping.
  • Recently joined scouts must have all completed paperwork submitted (registration forms, Medical A&B, etc)

This outing is the perfect opportunity for our New Scouts to test their skills and learn some new techniques from current Scouts that will demonstrate how to apply the EDGE method in multiple skills stations that support requirements in Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class and 1st Class. We will be camping at the Turkey Ridge Group Site in Prince William Forest. 
Scouts will not be making dinner Friday evening, so please be sure to eat something prior to departure.

Event Schedule (tentative)

8/14 Friday 
          6pm  – All Scouts arrive at CUMC to load gear, collect permission slips and take attendance.
         8pm – Arrive/Setup Camp
        10pm – Lights out
 8/15 Saturday
         7am – Wake up/Breakfast
         TBD – scout skills activities & lunch
         6pm – Dinner
        8pm – Communications merit badge class have prepared a campfire program 
       10pm – Lights out
8/16 Sunday
        7am – Wake up/Breakfast
        8am – Scouts Own Service
        9am – Depart for CUMC (drivers should arrive by 8:45)

Next Week – 8/18 – ** IN-PERSON ** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Activity Uniform (Class B)
Location: CUMC Activity Field

Clean up at CUMC (grounds)

 

SCOUTING FROM HOME

NCAC CAMPFIRE SING-A-LONG. 
NCAC􏰁􏰂 second all- council Campfire will be August 29􏰃 Sing-a-long style. Hosted by the Order of the Arrow. We expect 􏰄e􏰁ll all be in our own key and probably off a little in time, but who cares? We’􏰁re singing. Special guest from Golden Gate Area Council, Mike Fujimoto 􏰃 get a kazoo and sing 􏰅”Scout􏰆􏰇ing Th􏰆under”􏰈 with Fuji and friends! We can􏰁􏰇 forget old favorites like Dum Dum Da Da and the Philmont Hymn.

NCAC STEM-TASTIC Summer 
The NCAC STEM Committee is offering STEM-tastic summer events like the Thursday night STEM@Home Speaker Series on incredible STEM careers. STEM Nova Saturdays and Why? Wednesdays on our STEM Facebook page every Wednesday at noon. Exploring the world of Data Science: This Data Science Lab has a program for youth to learn computer programming and apply their data visualization skills to community service projects! A STEMaTHON will be a can􏰀t-miss activity Labor Day Weekend activity with Scouts Building Bridges and Feeding the World through the lens and tools of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

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 – New session starting Aug 17
https://www.ncacbsa.org/merit-badges-at-home/

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

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

Piedmont Council (North Carolina)
https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/mbuonline 

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

Mt. 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??

 

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

Aug 14-16 – Prince William Forest Campout
Aug 18 – CUMC Clean up (Scouts) and Friends of Scouting presentation (parents are asked to participate)
Sep 8 – First Day FCPS