Scoutmaster Moment

Winter break is here, closing out a very busy first year for 893GT. I am extremely proud of all the troop has done since we started up and hope each of you is as proud.  It is fitting that we celebrated our final meeting of the year with the rank advancement of three scouts to Star.  All three of these young ladies have been very motivated and focused on their goal while aware of their tightened timeline.  They have had strong support from fellow scouts and adults.  I hope everyone enjoys break with loved ones and I look forward to an even better 2020!  

With the holidays, there will be no troop news sent out next week (12/29).  

And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!
-Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

 

Rank Advancement
Scouts who have earned rank

  • Christina Alvarez – Star  (12/17)
  • Megan Staton – Star  (12/17)
  • Elena Taylor – Star  (12/17) 

TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK

This Week – 12/24 – Winter Break (No Troop Meeting)

Next Week – 12/31 – Winter Break (No Troop Meeting)
 

Following Week – 1/7 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Chapel

  • Preparation for Klondike
  • shakedown – grubmaster selection (remember this grubmaster duties are part of some rank advancement requirements)

Year End (close of 2019, start of 2020):

  • Dec 24, Jan 31 – Winter Break (no meetings)  
  • Jan 7 – Klondike Prep
  • Jan 14 – Klondike Shakedown / Fire building (on Activity Field)
  • Jan 17-19 – Sully District Klondike
  • Jan 21 – Patrol Night (no troop meeting)

 

Meeting Outlook from Fall Planning

  • December – January Theme – Klondike Skills
  • February – Scouting Through Time
  • March – Fun with Fire
  • April – Back 2 Basics

 

OTHER NEWS & INFO

Merit Badge Opportunities

Anyone interested in beginning on the Personal Fitness MB should speak with Ms. Kathy and Ms. Staton.  We are discussing an opportunity to gather needed metrics starting after Winter Break, this would be outside our normal meeting time.  This is an Eagle Required MB that requires keeping a log of your activities for 3 months.  Knocking it out early is a great idea, having encouragement from others is even better.
More info on the badge: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb010.asp 

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
    • More info can be found under Grace Ministries on the CUMC Food Ministries page: http://centreville-umc.org/serve-outreach/food-ministries/
  • Camp Snyder Work Days – Camp Snyder is located in Haymarket and has two work crew days each month where volunteers can help with camp maintenance doing carpentry, painting, trail maintenance…  This can be done as an individual or as small groups.  Let me know if you are interested  in providing service (or if a group wants to go together) and I can provide recent announcements.

 

Key Dates (mark your calendar)
also available from Troopmaster subscription calendarDec 24, Jan 31 – Winter Break (no meetings)

  • Jan 17-19 – Klondike Derby
  • Apr 24-26 – New Scout Campout (possible conflict may require date change)
  • May 22-24 – 893 Annual Family Canoe Trip
  • Jul 5-11 – Summer Camp (Summit Bechtel)
  • TBD – Astronomy MB stargazing will be rescheduled