Scoutmaster Moment

This past week was the celebration of both Passover and Easter, holidays often spent with family around a dinner table and set with food traditions.  This year was a little different as smaller groups of people held seder dinners with their laptop or tablet set to share with others via video, smaller egg hunts and family Zoom parties.  But, in all cases the celebrations we held, the people adapted and used technology as a tool to bring everyone together while apart. The troop adapted this past week as well, and held our first online PLC, started plans for this week’s Patrol Night with our new patrols and are moving forward with Scouting.  I’m pretty impressed with our scouts.  

Adaptability enforces creativity, and creativity is adaptability
― Pearl Zhu

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future
—John F. Kennedy

Meeting Link
To help limit the opportunity for “Zoombombing”, the meeting link for this week’s virtual meeting will be sent out the day of the meeting. We are also abiding by updated BSA and NCAC guidance on meeting configuration settings to ensure meeting security.  

Summer Camp
We will be submitting final registrations and payments for our July 5-11 Summer Camp at Bechtel Summit Reserve later this month.  If you want to go and have not yet signed up please reach out to me or Mr. Barnett soon.  At this time we are planning as if camp will occur so we can keep that on schedule, we do know that BSA National is monitoring the situation nationally for all summer scouting activities.

New Scout Summer Camp Program
All new scouts will participate together in the Brownsea program which is intended to help them through rank requirements and should be close to completing First Class requirements when completed. The Brownsea program is Mon-Thu during the day, leaving evenings and Friday for Scout  selected activities. We recommend that evenings be left unscheduled so they can explore options (walk-ons are permitted in evening).

All Other Scouts Summer Camp Program
All other scouts can select their summer camp activity and merit badge program.  Each Scout will select their desired schedule for their time at camp, Scouts have the option of coordinating with other scouts if they want to be together in specific activities. The troop will be together in our camp area (tent site) and for meals.

 

  1. All Scouts should review the attached Program Schedule and select 10 merit badges/activities.  In terms of reading the schedule, each merit badge is offered 4 times in the week. When you are building your schedule, keep in mind that the morning, afternoon, and evening are separate schedules and the Mon / Tues is a different class from Wed / Thu. Please do not plan on archery for Mon – Fri, but instead pick archery for Mon / Tues and something else for Wed / Thur. The same rules apply to the afternoon and the evening merit badges.
  2. If you want the1/2 day White Water Rafting Trip on either Wednesday or Friday, include that as well on list (note there is an additional $75 charge) – The Friday trip will fit for new scouts attending Brownsea program
  3. If you want the White Water Merit Badge, complete attached waiver, a Scout either needs to be categorized as Swimmer in the BSA swim test and have the kayaking merit badge or earn it at camp (there is a $95 additional charge)
  4. Please complete the Summit Waiver form and scan it and send it back to me. 
  5. Final payment –  is now available online

 

TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK

This Week – 4/14 – **VIRTUAL** New Parent Orientation
Time: 7pm
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

We will hold a presentation for new families on 893 family of units, how the troop functions, some of our process/policies, and flow for the year (well, a normal year).  This is a great opportunity to ask questions that you may have as a new parent to our troop.  

This Week – **VIRTUAL** Patrol Night

Last week the troop was split into two patrols for the first time, this week the patrols will hold a Patrol Night activity for patrol fun.  Each patrol leader has sent an email to their patrol to organize their activity.  Be sure to read your email, and respond.

Parent support is needed for these activities.  BSA requires adult supervision for any troop or patrol activity, at least 2 adults should be “present” during the virtual activity, and one must be a female.  I would ask that adults please indicate if they are able to assist the patrols with supervision. Adult role is to ensure scouts have support if needed, but otherwise ensure the activity abide by requirements for safety, as well as the Oath and Law.  

Rascal Rabbit Patrol – patrol will meet up during regular troop meeting time on Tuesday at 7am via Zoom.  Login details will go out the day of the meeting.

New (to be named) Patrol – Patrol input needed Megan sent an email with Google form for activity ideas was sent out to the patrol on Friday the 10th, but as of Sunday night has had no responses. This is to be a fun activity for this new patrol to start working together, please respond ASAP so an activity can be planned for this week.  Also in the email was info to start selection of a patrol name and patch, I can’t wait to see what you come up with ladies.

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THINGS TO DO FROM HOME

Merit Badges: 

  • See my 3/21 email for info on how merit badges work, and the troop process for opening a badge 
  • Finish open badges from MBU (or others)
  • Start a new badge (talk to me to formally open it).  
    • Good candidates are those that include tracking activities over many weeks, such as Family Life  Personnel Fitness  and Personal Management
    • Public Health is a highly relevant topic one now (and perhaps appropriate to earn during a pandemic)
    • Our troop has many counselors available to work with you using technology, and across NCAC and further others are offering to assist scouts with badges to help keep everyone busy (not bored)  
    • Online MB sessions
      • BSA Advancement Academy – updated periodically
      • NCAC MB offerings – these are updated periodically (there may be technology fees for at least some offerings)
  • Forwarded list of MB options:

National Capital Area
https://scoutingevent.com/082-MBH 

Central Florida Council
https://scoutingevent.com/083-OnlineMB

Gulf Stream Council (Florida) 
https://www.gulfstreamcouncil.org/raw2020   

Piedmont Council (North Carolina)
(Some classes are already full).
Week 3: https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/admin2/events/4588/17953/Online-MB-Classes-Week-Three/classes
Week 5: https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/admin2/events/4588/17955/Online-MB-Classes-Week-Five/classes
Week 6: https://www.piedmontcouncilbsa.org/admin2/events/4588/18074/Online-MB-Classes-Week-Six/classes

Andrew Jackson Council (Mississippi)
http://www.bsa-jackson.org/event/list/2535

Suffolk County Council (New York)
https://www.sccbsa.org/virtual
 
30 Day Brownsea Challenge
Attention Scouts, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, & 1st Class! Keep your Scout Skills sharp with the 30 Day Brownsea Challenge. The challenge begins this Friday! Complete the challenge and earn the exclusive Scout On Patch! You must be registered to earn the patch! There is no cost to register. Registrations end April 9th at 11:55 pm. Register & learn more here: http://www.bsa-grc.org/registration/calendardetail.aspx

Rank Advancement
Review your Scout Handbook, work on your skills so you can get items signed off.  You can discuss with other scouts too. See 30-day challenges for rank advancement ideas.

Read a book, so many to choose from!  Here are some suggestions:

  • Lost on a Mountain in Maine, Donn Fendler – true story of a 12 year old scout lost for 9 days
  • My Adventures as a Spy, Robert Baden-Powell
  • List of books to read from Boys Life magazine
  • What books do you suggest??

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 

Key Dates (mark your calendar)
also available from Troopmaster subscription calendar
Dates are dependent upon COVID-19 response

  • May 22-24 – 893 Annual Family Canoe Trip
  • Jul 5-11 – Summer Camp (Summit Bechtel)