Scoutmaster Moment
This weekend the troop’s youth leadership camped out and met for a full day of leadership training and games – and visits by goats.  We discussed having a vision of where the troop would be at then end of this leadership term in the Spring, the importance of delegation to others to spread the workload and enable others to learn.  The stages of team development and what they mean, what “servant leadership” is and means.  I saw a group of developing leaders working together, learning, and caring for one another – and have great hopes for this term.  We’ll continue to discuss the vision everyone has for this term and where the troop and each position will be.    
 
…We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too….But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun–almost as hot as it is here today–and do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out–then we must be bold…
-President John F. Kennedy
 
 
 
New Scout Welcome
 
Please give Rai Sengupta a Troop 893 welcome!  After visiting us last week, she has formally joined us this week.  We are happy to have you!
 
 
Troop Election and Positions
 
Position
Scout
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)
Megan Staton
Patrol Leader (Rascal Rabbits)
Elena Taylor
Scribe / Librarian
Christina Alvarez
Historian
Isabella Pazos
Quartermaster
Caitlin Schuetz
Webmaster
Jayna
Den Chief / Chaplain’s Aide
Rowan Causley
 
 
This week – 9/17 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt)
Location: CUMC chapel
  • Prep for 9/24 troop recruiting event (and may apply to 10/3 Sully Troop Showcase) – will need activities to fit within normal meeting time at the Activity Field to showcase scouting fun
  • Klondike sled design discussion
 
Next week – 9/24 – Troop Meeting & Recruitment Event
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt)
Location: CUMC Activity Field
 
Joint Troop 893 recruitment event with scouting activities to fit within meeting time
 
 
Followingweek – 10/1 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Class A (tan shirt)
Location: CUMC chapel
 
Mountain Man Rendezvous Seneca District Camporee Shakedown and prep.  Some of the events planned for the camporee include:
 
Foosball
Agility Trail
Knife throwing
Giant slingshot
Signals and codes
Fire building
Knots and lashing
Map and compass
Tomahawk throwing
Archery
Lumberjack (caber) toss
Climbing wall
Blacksmithing
Trading post
Shelter building
Cooking
Branding
First Aid
2-man sawing
Trapping
 
 
Suggested prep from the organizers indicates these scout skills will be used and can be practiced in meetings ahead of time:
  • Fire building
  • Knots and lashings
  • Semaphore signaling
  • Bear bag hanging
  • Backpacking meal preparation
  • First aid
  • Map and compass
Note: some leaders and scouts will attend the 893BT CoH during part of this meeting 
 
 
10/8 – Fall Court of Honor
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Chapel
 
Court of Honor is the troop opportunity to recognize all that members of the troop have done since the Spring CoH.  This is held inside the CUMC chapel at 7pm (normal meeting place and time).  All 893GT scouts, family, and friends are invited and encouraged to attend.  Scouts from 893GT will be recognized for the merit badges, ranks, and any other awards they have earned over the last six months.  We will also induct new members of Troop 893, and induct the new youth leadership team into the new 6-month term.  Scouts should dress in their “Class A” field uniform (tan shirt), merit badge sashes are recommended.
 
The Court of Honor is followed by a receptionwith snacks and fellowship. For the reception, each family is asked to bring something to share as designated by last name, per below.  When you leave, please plan to take leftovers of what you brought.
  • A-P: beverage (such as 2-liter bottle)
  • Q-Z: small dessert or snack
 
 
Meeting Outlook from September Planning
  • September Theme – Leadership
  • October Theme – Outdoor Skills
  • November Theme – Pets
  • December – January Theme – Klondike Skills
 
 
Merit Badge Opportunities
Merit badges can be earned outside of summer camp and Merit Badge University (MBU) held by the troop. Sometimes there are merit badge related activities going on all around us, including school coursework.  A recent article lists some options based on school studies, while it lists 5, reality is that many of your studies, elective course, and outside activities such as clubs, sports, band, etc offer opportunities too. Study the list of available badges to compare against activities you currently do, then talk to me if you have a blue card you wish to open.
 
Badges based on common school coursework & activities
  • Scholarship
  • Reading
  • Theater
  • Programing, Digital Technology
  • PE & teams: Athletics, Personal Fitness
  • Band: Music, Bugling
  • Photography
  • Arts: Art, Sculpture
  • Chemistry
  • Civics: Citizenship badges
  • Clubs: Robotics, Chess, Astronomy, Entrepreneurship…
 
Ashburn Fire & Rescue Merit Badge Night – 10/25
Work towards Emergency Preparedness, Safety, and Fire Safety merit badges at a firehouse (pre-requisite work is needed in order to complete).  Space is limited to 80 scouts – website talks about Boy Scouts (rather than Scouts BSA), however they indicated girl troop members have registered and are welcome.  The event is a long evening, but includes dinner.  I will need to provide blue cards for anyone going.
 
 
 
Upcoming Service Opportunities 
Providing service is a key part of Scouting, to do our daily good turn. Helping others often in turn helps ourselves with new experiences and opportunities for growth. This is built into requirements for most ranks. This section is to list any upcoming service opportunities that may help the Community, and progress in your trail to Eagle, this list is not inclusive and there are many other activities in the area that are also worthwhile.  Activities listed here are Scoutmaster approved, if you have other activities you would like to do be sure to check with me if you would like them to count towards scout service requirements.
 
  • CUMC Grace Ministries is a monthly program through our charter organization held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, with prep the Friday night before hand, help is needed at both the Friday set up and on Saturday morning to bring goods to cars
 
Key Dates (mark your calendar)

also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar

  • Sep 24 – troop 893 joint recruiting event at CUMC field
  • Oct 3 – Sully District Troop Showcase
  • Oct 6 – 893GT Klondike Sled Build (TBD, Camp Snyder)
  • Oct 8 – Fall Court of Honor
  • Oct 11-13 – Mountain man Camporee
  • Oct 19 – Centreville Day
  • Nov 2 – Scouting for Food (bag drop)
  • Nov 9 – Scouting for Food (bag pick up)
  • Nov 15-17 – Mission Impossible