Scoutmaster Conference
In my experience Scouts are happiest in the outdoors given the opportunity to work on activities and enjoy fellowship of other scouts around meals and around the campfire. After a long hiatus 893 is back at the campground! I’m sad to have missed it but heard great stories and saw some fun photos from this weekend’s campout. I’m thrilled to hear some scouts were able to rank up!
A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room.
-Lord Baden Powell
Photos
This week’s meeting was productive with continued Shakedown prep, scouts signing off on requirements, and formally inducting some of the new scouts into the troop.
New Scout Campout – Prince William Forest
Announcements
Reminder: we are now meeting in-Person
- Starting 8/4 we are able to meet back at the CUMC Activity Field. All who come into the Activity Field area will be asked some health screening questions, please check-in with the screener when you arrive.
- 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.
Many thanks to the adults who helped out with this week’s campout – especially as I was unable to attend due to family travel plans.
Advancement
Michela Mennella – Scout (8/15/2020)
Sruthika Pillai – Scout (8/15/2020)
Emi Lundblad – 1st Class (8/15/2020)
TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK
This Week – 8/18 – ** IN-PERSON ** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Activity Uniform (Class B)
Location: CUMC Activity Field
This meeting will have multiple parts:
Scouts
A – Service hours around CUMC grounds during the meeting. This will be doing some general clean up, as well as helping spread some gravel in the activity yard. This meeting counts as a Troop activity, and for service hours. Some of the work may spill over to Saturday to help spread the load of gravel Luck Stone donated to help level the parking spot for the Troop Trailer. On Tuesday, please bring:
Mask (T893 masks available)
A water bottle
Work gloves
Broom and/or scoop shovels
Helpful Attitude
B – Blue Card Reconciliation
Ms. Kathy and Mr. Treat will be set up to discuss Merit Badges and ensure all records are clear. Many scouts opened and worked on merit badges since March either directly with a counselor or via many virtual merit badge offerings online. Actual “blue cards” are expected on hand for Eagle Boards of Review and as the official record of completion. Some counselors provided digital blue cards, some provided statements noting completed requirements, we are working to ensure all badges have accompanying blue cards. This is also an opportunity to turn in any completed cards you may have. I will have my list of cards opened, but this does not satisfy the need for a completed card. Needed items/info:
Completed blue card (either actual card, or digital card)
Evidence from MB counselor to transfer to a blue card (email, spreadsheet, etc)
If you have already emailed the info, please have email dates for easier follow-up if needed
If you started a badge during the COVID lockdown (not provided an actual card), but it remains a partial you will also need a card set up. Bring the info you have on the completed/open requirements
Once we have a list of needed cards and status (completed vs partial) we will work to ensure all needed cards are properly created – keep your digital records of completion or partial and add them to your Eagle binder.
Parents
C – Friends of Scouting
Sully District representatives will hold a Friends of Scouting presentation via Zoom starting at 7:15. A laptop will be set up in the pavilion to watch there, or parents can watch from home (or car…). A link will be provided prior to the meeting, please see attached for additional Friends of Scouting info.
Next Week – 8/25 – ** IN-PERSON ** PLC
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: CUMC Activity Field
All Scouts currently holding positions of responsibility should plan to attend this Patrol Leadership Council (PLC) meeting (other scouts have the night off)
Each patrol leader should come prepared with idea ideas for both meeting activities, and for outings. Some items to consider for planning would be meetings, location for troop hike activity, and week for a patrol night.
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).
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 ell 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 ”Scouting Thunder” 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 cant-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-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:
- \hat books do you suggest??
Service Opportunity
Eagle Project for Darius Patterson (893B) – 22 Aug. See flyer
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