Scoutmaster Moment
Today marks the first significant snow we have seen in two years. While it wasn’t quite as much as I’d hoped might fall, it made the world around us beautiful in shades of white and gray as the wet snow clung to the trees. How did you spend the day as it fell? In some ways the amount was almost perfect as it didn’t require much shoveling, which left the day to walks, games, and hot cocoa making. A great way to pause some of our usual running around and appreciate Nature.
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
– Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Photos
Snowy grounds at EC Lawrence Park, site of most of our Hornaday Project effort
Announcements
Meetings at CUMC
All Scout meetings at CUMC remain on hold for right now. More info will be shared as we hear from the church. This means that weekly meetings will be virtual until allowed to meet again.
Summer Camp 2021
893 Troops will be attending summer camp at Justice Camp at Summit Bechtel Reserve, BSA’s camp in West Virginia. See the informational email sent out 1/24 for more info.
Merit Badge University 2021
“MBU” is an 893 tradition held each February where Scouts are given an opportunity to work on an array of merit badges, see Mr. Taylor’s email from 1/27 for registration information. The focus this year is on needed Eagle badges, with the plan to offer others periodically throughout the year. Sessions are planned for 90 minutes on both 2/14 & 28 (3 hours total), some sessions may require more time that will be coordinated with the Merit Badge Counselor (MBC). Many require some advance prep, be sure to see the communication sent by the MBC once you have registered. Completing the specified tasks increases the ability to complete the MB during the session.
TROOP MEETING/ACTIVITY OUTLOOK
This Week – 2/2 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Virtual (via Zoom)
Hiking Prep for the Troop Hike planned for Saturday 2/6 at Burke Lake. This hike is great to get outside in the fresh air, actually see fellow troop members, and for anyone who needs to complete 2nd Class requirement 3.b.
This Week – Outing – 2/6 – Troop Hike
Uniform: Activity Uniform (Class B)
Location: Burke Lake Park
Troop hike around Burke Lake. This hike is great to get outside in the fresh air, actually see fellow troop members, and for anyone who needs to complete 2nd Class requirement 3.b (and some others).
Next Week – 2/9 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Virtual (via Zoom)
Cooking demo and activity – Rascal Rabbits
Following Week – 2/16 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Virtual (via Zoom)
Step-by-step Painting activity – Moon Archers
Outing – 2/20 – Geocaching
Uniform: Activity Uniform (Class B)
Location: local park (TBD)
Outdoor activity locating geocaches in a local park. This is a fun activity looking for hidden items using GPS clues. There is a Geocaching MB if anyone is interested as well.
Upcoming Activities per PLC
Patrols should plan ahead so meetings can be online (virtual) if necessary. Alternatively, activities could be planned as a weekend outing outside.
Patrols Leaders are reminded that plans for meetings should be submitted to the SPL and Scoutmaster 2 weeks in advance (at minimum).
2/2 – Hiking Prep – Rascal Rabbits
2/6 – outing – Troop hike at Burke Lake
2/9 – Cooking Demo – Rascal Rabbits
2/16 – Step-by-Step Painting – Moon Archers
2/20 – Outing – Geocaching (park is TBD)
2/23 – PLC (limited attendance)
3/2 – Leadership Elections (all) & Organizational Skills for Scouts – Moon Archers
Service Opportunities
All ranks require service hours, Life rank also requires at least 3 hours be Conservation related
Camp Snyder Work Days – These are monthly days where volunteers are invited out to Camp Snyder to help keep it in condition to support the many scouting units and events in the Council.
NCAC Training Opportunities (Scouts and Adults)
Outdoor Ethics Orientation (~90 min)
The course is suitable for scouters and mature scouts. We hope as many units as possible are able to send at least 2 scouts and 1 scouter; this will allow your unit to have youth & adult members qualified to lead Outdoor Ethics at all outdoor events and help your scouts & scouters complete some of the requirements to earn the Outdoor Ethics Award for Scouts or NCAC Outdoor Ethics Award for Cub Scouts.
2/10/21 at 7pm
2/17/21 at 7pm
2/24/21 at 7pm
SCOUTING FROM HOME
NCAC Scouting at Home page
Merit Badge opportunities:
This council is offering a lot of merit badge opportunities from now through May 2021. Reminder to reach out to me if you are interested in taking a class so I can virtually open a blue card for you.
For those of you who are on Facebook, there is a group called MERIT BADGE OPPORTUNITIES, a lot of different MBC and Councils post opportunities.
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.
Key Dates (mark your calendar)
Full calendar is also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar
FEB 6 – Troop Hike at Burke Lake
FEB 14 & 28 – MBU
FEB 20 – Geocaching (Park is TBD)
MAR 2 – Leadership Elections
MAR 16 – New Scout presentation to all new Parents
MAR 30 – FCPS Spring Break (no meeting)
APR 16-18 – New Scout Campout
MAY 28-30 – Shenandoah 893 Memorial Day Weekend Family Canoe Trip Campout
JUN 20-26 2021 – Summer Camp at Summit Bechtel