Scoutmaster Moment
Yesterday was Mother’s Day I hope everyone was good to their mother!  This note is a bit late so I could spend my day with the family. We tried making Spanish Tortilla for the first time, it has been a favorite of mine but we hadn’t made it until then. Busy life always seemed to put off that experiment.  Oh, it was delicious by the way, which makes me sad it took so long to try it.  This time of isolation and sheltering is a great opportunity to try out new things; new recipes, new hobbies, new skills, new merit badges to attempt.  Use the time provided, it is easy to let it slip away but time like this with few distractions is rare indeed.

Carpe Diem (Sieze the Day)
-Horace

Photos
The meeting theme was a Virtual campfire, complete with skits, jokes, songs, and a ghost story. Including some actual and virtual campfires.

 

Announcements
SUMMER CAMP: 
Camp is still on: Summit has announced they are delaying start of camp to 1 July – however we are due on 5 July and are set to go still.  As we’ve all seen through this COVID response target dates and impacts can shift.  We will certainly share what we know should anything change. Timing for doctor signed medical forms and completed swim tests prior to camp arrival are an acknowledged concern that camps are working on, again we’ll share what we know as we learn more.

 

TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK

 

This Week – 5/12 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

The Rascal Rabbit patrol will have an activity related to Moviemaking MB

Next Week – 5/19 – **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

The Moon Archers patrol will have an activity on Origami

 

 

SCOUTING FROM HOME

Virtual Campouts/Campfires
    
NCAC Virtual Campout – 5/23-24

 

 

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 https://bookzone.boyslife.org/100-books-for-boys/
  • 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

TBD – Swim Test
TBD – New Scout Campout
Jul 5-11 – Summer Camp (Summit Bechtel)
Aug 14-16 – Prince William Forest Campout
Aug 25 – First Day FCPS