Scoutmaster Moment
This past week has had some sunshine and warmer weather.  Spring finally feels to have arrived. It is a good time get outside. Camp out in your back yard (with parent permission), use some spare wood to practice lashings and knots. Do nature observations from your yard, what do you see and hear? Look through your Scout Handbook for ideas of skills you can work on.

Announcements
SUMMER CAMP: 
This week NCAC, and many other councils and camps, announced that all council camps would be closed for this summer due to COVID (this includes NYLT offerings). We continue to monitor guidance and announcements.
Currently 893 Summer 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.

For this week: have at least 5 square pieces of paper for Origami activity  (more may be helpful). Paper can be size of your choice.
Origami paper should be able to hold a crease, and is recommended to be thinner than regular paper (if you have it available).  Most commonly available sizes of prepared origami paper are 3”x3”, 6”x6”, and 10”x10”, but there are no specific requirements other than it be square.

Mr Adam is working on some options for social distancing Astronomy MB observations.  Any scouts interested in completing, or starting, the Astronomy MB should reach out to me.

Please check TroopMaster for MB information on what is complete and partial.  Let Ms. Kathy know if any data is incorrect.

 

TROOP MEETING OUTLOOK

This 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
Be sure to have at least 5 pieces of square paper (see announcements above)

Next Week – 5/26- **VIRTUAL** Troop Meeting
Uniform: Field Uniform (Class A)
Location: Zoom App (meeting link info to be sent day of meeting)

The Rascal Rabbits will lead an activity related to Animation

 
SCOUTING FROM HOME

NCAC Scouting at Home page

NEW!  NCAC new Scouting at Home patch
         

Virtual Campouts/Campfires
    
NCAC Capital Camp-in – 5/23-24. Celebrating 100 years of camping

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 at 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 responseTBD – 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