August 10, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

Committee Meeting this Week

On the Second Monday of each month the Troop Committee meets to help plan the activities and discuss any business needed to help make sure the troop is ready for major events coming up. All parents are encouraged to attend these meetings to find out what’s going on, and to offer input in the direction the troop is headed. These are held online from 7:30 to 9:00. We will send out the link via the Remind list on the day of the meeting.

Troop Meeting this Week

Hello Scouts! Welcome back into the year, I hope everyone had a good summer. As the school year is starting, we will be picking up meetings again every Tuesday. For this meeting, We’re going to hold patrol elections and then get a presentation from Violet about our upcoming rafting trip, where we’ll go over some basic pointers (this is mainly for the whitewater award, but safety is always a nice bonus). If we have any more time, I’m going to explain my new plan for the year. This plan is to help the separate patrols stand a little more on their own. But that’s all from me, I’ll see you Tuesday.  — Leigh

Court of Honor Next Week

We will hold our post Summer Camp Court of Honor next week. This is a joint Court of Honor with Troop 77 and we will recognize all the accomplishments of the Scouts from both Troops since our last Court of Honor in May. Parents, please plan to attend with your Scout to show support for the work they have done and stay for refreshments after the ceremony.

If anyone would like to help with refreshments please contact Mr. Taylor or our Senior Patrol Leader to volunteer.

First Aid/Public Health Merit Badge Night

During our Troop meeting on Tuesday, September 7th, we will be focusing on two merit badges: First Aid and Public Health.

While we won’t finish the badges on the 7th, you should make substantial progress if you arrive prepared and use the time wisely.   Merit badge instructors will be assigned at the meeting. 

If you have started First Aid merit badge but have not finished, please sign up for “FIRST AID – PARTIAL.”  If you have not started First Aid merit badge at all, please sign up for “FIRST AID – NEW.”  And, if you already have FIRST AID and/or are interested in completing the EPA/BSA 50th Anniversary Award, please sign up for PUBLIC HEALTH. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054fa4aa2baaf94-first1

Please e-mail Mr. Brewer with any questions or concerns at wesbrewer@hotmail.com

Additionally, if you are a First Aid or Public Health Merit Badge Counselor and would like to assist in leading these Merit Badge sessions next month, please let Mr. Taylor or Mr. Brewer know.

Masks During Troop Meetings

We tried meeting inside last week, but it seems to be far too easy to forget social distancing requirements when we’re confined by four walls. We will continue to meet outside for the foreseeable future until cold weather forces us inside or until the current spike in Covid cases subsides.

Going forward, masks are required during troop meetings and scouting activities INDOORS AND OUTDOORS on the OGUMC campus for all individuals REGARDLESS OF AGE OR VACCINATION STATUS.   

August Camping Trip

If you have not paid for the Whitewater Rafting trip or turned in your Waivers, you must do so by this Tuesday!

  • Waivers – Completion of BOTH outfitters (Wildwater and Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)) is required so we can be flexible on the rafting day with rafting assignments.
    1. Download and Print Waivers
    2. Thoroughly complete and print NEATLY on both waivers (total of 3 pages)
    3. Turn in at the next Scout meeting
  • IMPORTANT – Rafting Mask and Covid Policy
    • All participants must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (i.e., with the final dose administered no later than July 30th) OR proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 rapid test or PCR test. The test must be conducted no earlier than Tuesday, August 10.
    • A final pre-trip review of participants’ COVID-19 vaccination and testing results is expected to be held the evening of August 12 to ensure compliance. You will not be allowed to go on the trip if the Troop has not received your vaccination record or negative COVID-19 test by 5pm on Thursday, August 12.

Swim Tests

For both our August and September camping trips we will be doing aquatics activities. In order to participate in these activities, Scouts and adults going on the trip will need to have passed the BSA swim test as a swimmer this year. Most Scouts completed this at our meeting in May, prior to our boating activity at Lake Allatoona. If you completed this test outside the troop, we will need documentation that it has been completed. If you have not completed the test and would like to participate in either of these activities, please let Mr. Taylor know as soon as possible so we can get a test scheduled.

Oak Grove UMC BBQ

The OGUMC BBQ is officially ‘on’ this year. Save the date for October 16.  The Scouts have been a huge part of making the annual BBQ happen in the past. This is an excellent way to show the church our gratitude for being a huge supporter of Scouting and to be a visible part of the community. More information on volunteering will be available soon.

High Adventure

WHO WANTS TO DO SOME LOCAL HIGH ADVENTURE THIS OCTOBER?

As part of his Wood Badge Ticket, Mr. Cole and other Leaders are taking a crew of co-ed Scouts (we will be doing this through the Venture Crew made up of Scouts from Troop 77, Troop 177, and Venture Crew 77) on a Local High Adventure Trip that will simulate the backpacking adventure of attending Philmont (without it taking 14 days, traveling to New Mexico, and costing nearly $2,500 like Philmont does).  The trip will be over the long Columbus Day weekend leaving the evening of Wednesday 10/6/2021 after school and returning Monday 10/11/2021.  I am looking for three sets of volunteers:

(1) approximately 8-10 Scouts (14+ or have completed the 8th grade) both girls and boys to go on the actual hike itself (NOTE: If more Scouts are interested, then we can have more than 1 crew and everyone eligible should be able to go],

(2) approximately 5 Older Scouts, preferably with Philmont experience, to meet us on the trail for one day (likely either Saturday or Sunday) and host a Philmont-like Program Activity (and then those Scouts can hike before and after that day in the same area), and

(3) Adult Leaders to (a) go with me and the High Adventure group (Thanks Ms. Henderson and Ms. Indu for stepping up as Female Adult Leaders) on the hike, and (b) at least two leaders to hike with and assist the Older Scout Program group.

If you are interested in getting involved in this project, then please send me an email at ctcole0308@gmail.com with what part you are interested in doing (hiking crew, program crew, or Adult Leader).

Thanks.  Mr. Cole (Troop 77 Scoutmaster)

*An earlier version of this section include a requirement to write a couple of paragraphs about why you wanted to participate. This requirement has been removed.

Service Opportunities

We have updated the Community Service Page with a number of opportunities coming up this fall. Service hours are are required for all ranks, and many merit badges and awards (like the 50th Anniversary EPA award).

Conservation Weekend

Registration is open for the 2021 Conservation Weekend at Camp Woodruff November 12-14. This was formerly called Hornaday Weekend, but the BSA has renamed the conservation award. It is now the Distinguished Conservation Service Award, and the weekend has been renamed to match. The event is still pretty much the same though. Scouts will have the opportunity to work on up to three conservation themed merit badges, all of which will help satisfy requirements for the Distinguished Conservation Service Award, and will also participate in a workshop on creating and leading a conservation service project. The cost of the weekend includes camping, meals, merit badge costs, and a t-shirt.
Get all of the details at: https://www.campwoodruff.org/conservation

Merit Badge Opportunities

With school out, now is the perfect time to spend some time working on merit badges. There are plenty of in-person and virtual programs available. Please remember, though, that before starting work on any merit badge, you need to have a conversation with your Scoutmaster or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters.

Atlanta Area Council will be holding a Merit Badge Summit on Saturday, August 21, 2021. Nearly two dozen merit badges will be offered, including several Eagle Required ones. Registration is now open and filling up fast.
For more information and to register visit: https://www.atlantabsa.org/MeritBadgeSummit

Atlanta Area Council offers many merit badge offerings throughout the year. Upcoming in-person merit badge opportunities include Railroading (September 18).
More information about these and other Merit Badge programs at: https://www.atlantabsa.org/meritbadgedays

Chattahoochee Nature Center offers nature themed merit badge classes on weekends during the summer. Upcoming classes include Environmental Science August 14th and Canoeing August 22nd.
For more information and to register visit: https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/education/scouts/scouts-bsa/

Dunwoody Nature Center also offers a number of nature related Merit Badges. Upcoming classes include Reptiles & Amphibians on August 28, Insect Study on September 11, and Forestry on October 23.
Learn more and register at: https://dunwoodynature.org/scout-merit-badges/

Northeast Georgia Council has an aquatics adventure weekend coming up September 3-5. This weekends allow Scouts to earn one aquatics Merit Badge and get in some Scout camping. Held at Scoutland on Lake Lanier, the cost is $45/weekend for most merit badges, this includes camping and food.
Register at: https://www.nega-bsa.org/AAW

Cape Fear Council has a virtual merit badge college coming up August 14. If you aren’t going to make it to our Whitewater Rafting Trip, but still want to work on Scout advancement, this is a great opportunity to work on two merit badges. The cost is $20/session, with a morning session and an afternoon session.
Register at: https://scoutingevent.com/425-vmbc

Daniel Boone Council headquartered in Asheville, NC has a rolling slate of virtual merit badge programs, with new merit badges offered every week.
Learn more and register at: https://www.danielboonecouncil.org/virtual

Troop Communication

Please be sure to join our Remind Classes to get notifications on all of the Troop 177 happenings. There is an app, but you can choose to get notifications via text messages or email.

Troop 177 Parents

Troop 177 Scouts