Scoutmaster Moment
Today was a beautiful day to be outside honing leadership skills and planning some great troop activities for the term.  I’m very pleased at how the team is coming together and excited at some of the activities worked towards.  Let’s hope all our outings have such great weather (the thunderstorm even waited until dinner time!). I look forward to celebrating last term’s successes and inducting our new leadership team at our Court of Honor this week!
You don’t inspire people by revealing your super powers; you inspire people by helping them reveal their own
– Alexander den Heijer
Announcements
Hammock Planning
Hammock weather is coming up soon! 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. Some of these are a great way to practice lashings too. This year’s Summer Camp has no trees near most campsites, now is a great time to experiment with options if you want to lounge in a hammock or consider hammock camping at Summit (hammock campers must have earned First Class and have Scoutmaster approval).
Safety Pamphlet
Reminder to New Scouts – complete the safety pamphlet inside the front of your Scout Handbook with your parents.  We advise completing this before the campout.
TROOP MEETING/ACTIVITY OUTLOOK
This Week  – 4/13 – Court of Honor 
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: CUMC Activity Field 
This meeting will have two parts
    1. Court of Honor to induct the new leadership team and recognize efforts of everyone in Troop 893G over the last term.  This is a celebration, families are invited to attend.  Due to COVID, we are currently planning for this to be outside at the Activity Field, and everyone should bring camp chairs for sitting.  Social distancing guidelines will be followed, and will not include food celebration at this time. Merit badge sashes are good to wear at a CoH
      • All scouts earning rank advancement and merit badges since the last CoH will be recognized
      • The new Scout Leadership team will be inducted
      • Other awards or service also recognized
  1. Final Shakedown for New Scout Campout 
    • will finalize menu,
    • answer any questions, and
    • make sure grub masters are set
    • Grubmaster fee turn in ($15) for anyone who has not done so yet
    • Final equipment checks and patrol station plans
This Week  – New Scout Campout 4/16-18 
Uniform: travel in Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Poplar Grove Campground, Frederick MD (meet at CUMC) 
Campout weekend! This year we will be at the Poplar Grove youth site at Catoctin Mountain National Park, near Thurmont MD. While referred to as “New Scout Campout”, this is a campout for the entire troop to attend.  New Scouts will test their current skills and learn new skills and techniques from experienced Scouts utilizing the EDGE method.  These activities will support requirements towards Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class.
All those attending must bring a signed copy of the attached permission slip to the Troop Assembly at CUMC on April 16 @ 6pm (no exceptions). 
Scouts will not be making dinner Friday evening, so please be sure to eat something prior to departure.

Participation by Nova Corp Scouts is highly recommended since the following ranks are likely to be completed in full or part (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class & 1st Class).

The adult “Big Dogz” patrol is in need of a Grubmaster for the weekend campout.  Adult campers help with cooking and clean up, but assistance with menu and getting needed food items is greatly needed.  Please let me or Paul Taylor know if you are able to help.

 
Please use the sign up so we can better plan on the number of people coming

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

  • Solo tent
  • Hammock (requires Scoutmaster permission, typically 1st Class rank and requires proper rain protection)
  • Two Scouts, siblings or signed permission of both parents if unrelated.
  • Scout with Parent (ONLY New Scouts, see Scoutmaster)
 

Transportation  

All Scouts attending must be transported by a parent to/from CUMC and the camping site on Friday evening and Sunday morning.

Cooking/Meals

All cooking is done using the patrol method with a grub master selected during shakedown
  • 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.

  • Mask – Scouts should bring 1-2 masks.
  • 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.
Next Week  – 4/20 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: CUMC Parking Lot
We have a guest speaker coming to discuss our constitutional rights and obligations of a U.S. citizen (meets First Class 9.a), The Moon Archers will have some games ready too.
Following Week  – 4/27 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: CUMC Activity Field 
The Rascal Rabbits will run a Photo Challenge
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). 
4/13 – Court of Honor
4/16-18 – New Scout Campout at Poplar Grove
4/20 – Guest speaker and a Games activity (Moon Archers)
4/24 – Conservation service hours
4/27 – Photo Challenge (Rascal Rabbits)
5/4 – Getting to Know Each Other (Moon Archers)
5/8 – Conservation service hours
5/11 – Hiking prep (Rascal Rabbits)
5/18 – Family Canoe Trip Tips & Water Activity Basics (Moon Archers
5/22 – Hike (location TBD)
5/25 – First Aid (Rascal Rabbits)
6/1 – PLC
6/8 – Pioneering (Rascal Rabbits)
Awards Opportunities – New Section
Religious Emblem Opportunity (Catholic emblem)
A note sent out on 3/23 mentioned BSA Religious Emblems program and an offer from Ms. Kris to mentor any Scouts interested in earning the Catholic emblem.  Please reach out to her if you are interested in this opportunity.  The religious knot is one of the few BSA recognition awards that transfer to the adult uniform when earned as a youth. The other two are Arrow of Light earned while in Cub Scout program and the Eagle rank.
EPA 50th Anniversary BSA Award
“To commemorate the agency’s 50th anniversary last year, the Boy Scouts of America and EPA signed a memorandum of understanding to create a special award, encouraging those in the Scouts BSA program to strive to protect the environment. The award, which features a patch, requires Scouts to earn environmental and community health-focused merit badges and participate in a service project.”
Can only be earned in 2021 (MB can be earned before 2021), requires:
  • 6 Environmental or Public Health service hours during 2021
  • Public Health Merit Badge
  • 1 Animal Study MB
  • 1 Outdoor Activity MB
  • 1 Earth Science MB
Congressional Award Recognition
Did you know there is a congressional award that encompasses activities you do as a Scout? You read that correctly, by being active in Scouting activities you could earn the Congressional Award.  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)
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.
 
SCOUTING FROM HOME
NEW STEM@Home – 4/17/2021, 1PM-3PM | Nova classes
• Up and Away! for Scouts BSA

• tour a virtual wind tunnel!
• learn about fluid dynamics and how it applies to things such as flight, skydiving, drains and spouts, and other things you might not suspect.
 
NCAC Scouting at Home page
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)
Key Dates (mark your calendar)

Full calendar is also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar

APR 13 – CoH
APR 16-18 – New Scout Campout (Poplar Grove Campground, Thurmont MD)
APR 24 – Conservation Service Hours
MAY 8 – Conservation service hours
MAY 22 – Hike
MAY 28-30 – Shenandoah 893 Memorial Day Weekend Family Canoe Trip Campout
JUN 1 – PLC
JUN 20-26 2021 – Summer Camp at Summit Bechtel