Scoutmaster Moment
Spring is coming soon, and with it elections and a new leadership term. Think about ways you would like to serve the troop, perhaps some ideas you may have to make the troop even better. The troop has had a great year and is going in a good direction, how can you contribute to further our success?
Scouting is a game for boys under the leadership of boys under the direction of a man.
-Lord Baden-Powell (who has quotes that work just as well with new pronouns)
Photos – Playing Brownsea Island and rank advancement in process
Rank Advancements
Rowan Causley First Class (2/11/2020)
893 Summer Camp – 5-11 July, Summit Bechtel Reserve
ATTENTION – If you plan to attend summer camp, you must register before Tuesday and make at least minimum payment of $202 per scout is due by Tuesday, March 6th.
If you have not registered for summer camp we need you to register ASAP
New Summer Camp Opportunity: 1/2 day Whitewater Rafting (Additional $75 per person) OR Whitewater Rafting Merit Badge (Additional $95 per person)
TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK
This Week – 2/18 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Chapel
Parts of Scouting Heritage MB – with Caitlin
Guest speakers from 893 for requirement 5 (see earlier email for homework related to this and other requirements for badge completion)
Next Week – 2/23 – Merit Badge University (last day)
Uniform: Class A
Location: Centreville Dance Academy
Don’t forget your six keys to success, including your homework, map and schedule!
Next Week – 2/25 – Troop Meeting
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Chapel
Goal Setting – Rai
Following Week – 3/3 – Troop Elections (leadership & OA)
Uniform: Class A
Location: CUMC Chapel
Elections for Order of the Arrow elections for all eligible 893 scouts (First Class scouts with 15 or more nights camping, including one long-term camping (ie summer camp) during the 2 years prior to election).
OA is considered an honor society within Scouting. Scouts who are elected must complete Ordeal to become full members. OA offers additional opportunities for leadership and service and is considered supplemental to the Troop (and beneficial to the Troop). Our local OA chapter meets the 2nd Thursday of the month, plus other chapter and Lodge opportunities for fellowship.
More info on OA membership: https://oa-bsa.org/about/membership
Troop Positions for next 6-month term will be filled. Positions above First Class have advancement requirements that include holding a position of responsibility to demonstrate leadership. As a small “young” troop we also have an opportunity for all registered scouts to hold a position. How will you serve the troop for the Spring/Summer term? Anyone interested in SPL or PL should talk with me prior to election.
Den Chief is another position within a troop, Den Chief’s assist an assigned den within a Pack rather than directly support a troop. This position has required training, if you are interested please let me know.
See the attached updated 893GT Leadership Position description document for a listing of various positions. Anyone holding a leadership position is expected to attend leadership training to be held 29 Mar (interchangeably called Junior Leadership Training or Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops). Our “ILST” is currently expected to be held locally for a full day, and not as an overnight campout.
Meeting Outlook from Fall Planning
- February – Scouting Through Time
- March – Fun with Fire
- April – Back 2 Basics
OTHER NEWS & INFO
2021 National Jamboree – 21-30 July 2021, Bechtel Summit Reserve, WV
The BSA National Jamboree occurs every four years for 10 days and is held at the same location as our 2020 summer camp. As a national event there are scouts from all over the country, and some international scouts may participate.
- Registration is now open, anyone interested must register as an individual and Jamboree Troops are formed by each Council.
- A participating Scout must be at least 12 by the first day, and cannot be older than 18 by the last day.
- Adults can register as leaders for a Council-formed troop, or to volunteer to help work camp. Young adults (18-25) can register to volunteer as well.
- There are past Jamboree participants in the 893 Boy Troop (including Mr. Treat and DJ Treat), I’m sure they would be happy to talk about their adventures
- Jamboree is 10 days of friends, fun and adventure, 7/21-30/2021. Cost for participant is $1,175
- Official website: https://jamboree.scouting.org
University of Scouting – 2/29 – training opportunity for interested adults
Our council has an annual training event early each Spring. It is a full day of training for leaders, with different topics offered across 6 different sessions. Lunch is included with registration fee. “U of S” is broken into different colleges for each program, participants can attend sessions in any “college” – there are way more interesting sessions that I saw this year than had time to sign up for. Registration is open now, and some sessions will fill early. More info: https://www.ncacbsa.org/training/university-of-scouting/
Feel free to talk with me if you have any questions and are interested in attending!
Merit Badge Opportunities – STILL OPEN
Sully District has an all day STEM event to work on Digital Technology Merit Badge.
When? Saturday, February 22nd, from 8:30 AM to 3 PM, breakfast and lunch generously provided by our hosts.
See the attached flyer for all the details and pay close attention, please. The link to registration is on the flyer. There are 18 slots on a first come, first served basis so don’t delay. Check with you unit’s Digital Technology merit badge counselor for prerequisites.
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/
- CUMC – Weekend food kits are packed after the 9:15 service every second Sunday of the month. It is a great service supporting our immediate community to provide weekend lunch supplies to children who rely on school lunch programs for their mid-day meal. The activity takes an hour or less and starts soon as the service ends around 10:15.
- 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.
- Sully District Twilight Camp – June 24-28 – The district has run a Cub Scout camp the past couple of years one week of the summer, in the evening. This is volunteer run by both adults and scouts. Organizers this year are particularly interested in some of the scouts from the two new Girl Troops participating. Let me know if you are interested
Key Dates (mark your calendar)
also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar
- Feb 23 – MBU (final day)
- Feb 23 – Pizza party
- Mar 3 – Elections for Leadership & OA
- Mar 20-22 – Outing (TBD)
- Mar 29 – Leadership Training
- May 1-3 – New Scout Campout (New Date)
- May 22-24 – 893 Annual Family Canoe Trip
- Jul 5-11 – Summer Camp (Summit Bechtel)