July 6, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

No Meeting This Week

We hope you all had a great Independence Day with lots of safe celebrations. We will not have a meeting this week.

Our last meeting of the Summer will be next week, on Thursday, July 15. Three days before we leave for Summer Camp.

As a note, during the summer, Class B uniforms are acceptable, unless otherwise stated.

2021-2022 Calendar

As reported last week, we have finalized the 2021-2022 activity calendar. The activities are subject to change, but the dates should be locked in. You can view the dates in Scoutbook or on the Calendar Page. You can also subscribe to the Calendar in Scoutbook or via our Google Calendar.

You can also download a printable PDF: Troop 177 2021-2022 Calendar.

Summer Camp

Remember that Summer Camp is the Week of July 18-24th at Woodruff Scout Camp in Blairsville, Georgia. If you need to make any changes to your summer camp schedule, please contact Mr. Taylor ASAP.

Carpooling
As troop policy once again allows carpooling, we need to make sure that we have enough seats for every Scout going to summer camp. If you’re Scout is going, please fill out the Summer Camp Transportation Form, so we make sure we get everyone to camp.

Currently, the plan is to meet at Oak Grove Elementary School at 9:00 a.m. to load gear and depart for camp. All drivers will need to plan to meet at Woodruff Scout Camp by 1:00 p.m. Lunch is not provided at camp, so plan to either pack a lunch or stop for lunch on the way.

Packing List
After getting a lot of questions about gear last week, I put together a one page packing list that should cover all of the items you’re likely to need at Summer Camp. You can download the list here: Troop-177-Summer-Camp-Checklist.
An annotated list with recommendations and suggestions can be found in the Summer Camp Gear Guide.

Medical Forms
If you have not turned in your medical forms for camp, be sure to do so at any of the meetings in June. If we do not have your complete medical forms, including part C, you will not be able to attend camp.

Permission Slips/Waivers
In order to participate in Summer camp, everyone needs to have turned in a completed liability waiver. Many of you have already turned these in, but if you have not please plan on turning them in during the next two meetings, or at Summer Camp Check-in on July 17th.
Woodruff Scout Camp Waiver

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.

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 opens at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7th.
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 Aviation (July 17), Automotive Maintenance (August 7), and Railroading (September 17).
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 over the summer. Upcoming classes include Sustainability June 26, and Environmental Science on July 10.
Learn more and register at: https://dunwoodynature.org/scout-merit-badges/

Northeast Georgia Council has two aquatics adventure weekends coming up. One is July 30 through August 1st, and one is September 3-5. These weekends allow Scouts to earn one aquatics Merit Badge or award per weekend. 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

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

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