Camporee Wrap Up
We had a great Camporee this weekend. The Scouts worked on learning knife and axe safety, several earned a new Totin’ Chip and Firm’n Chit, ran an orienteering course, threw tomahawks, demonstrated their first aid skills (completely unrelated to the tomahawk event) and even earned a few frost points for camping in below freezing weather on Saturday night, when the temperature dropped to 28°F. Overall it was a lot of fun, and a great weekend of Scouting.
Troop Committee Meeting this Week
Remember the Troop Committee Meeting is the Second Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m.. For those reading this on the date this was published, that’s tonight! This program doesn’t work without your involvement. Our Scoutmaster wrote and published this newsletter (on the website he built), and scheduled the remind notice, all after attending an amazing, though exhausting weekend as the only parent from 177 camping with the troop this past weekend. He will give everything he has to make the program a success, but he cannot do it by himself. We need parents active and involved to share the load if this program is going to be successful. Please plan to attend our virtual meeting, to find out how you can help the troop run more smoothly.
Return to In-Person Meetings this Week
With Covid numbers going down and Dekalb County Schools set to reopen next week, we are planning a return to in-person meetings starting with the Summer Camp informational meeting next Tuesday, March 9th. We will be checking temperatures and doing health screenings when everyone arrives. Scouts will need to wear masks and remain socially distanced. In order to keep a safe distance, Scouts should bring their own camp chair and will be spaced out during the meeting.
Summer Camp
Summer camp registration is already open. As mentioned above, we will be joining Troop 77 for a Summer Camp information night on March 9th. Parents are invited to attend and learn more about camp and what’s required. Scouts will learn about the activities available and will submit their selections for the merit badges and other activities they would like to work on at camp. If you are planning to go to summer camp, please plan to attend.
Advancement Day
On March 27, Troop 77 and 177 will be holding an advancement day event. This will take place in the morning and will focus on advancement activities for Scouts working on Scout through First Class rank requirements. Scouts working on Life Rank will also have the opportunity to work on teaching younger Scouts one of these skills using the EDGE method. If you would like to participate, please let your Patrol Leader know.
Annual Planning
Troop 77 and 177 will have a combined annual planning event to set the camping calendar for the next 12-18 months. The meeting will take place at Oak Grove UMC on March 21*, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. If you are a Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, or Scribe, you should plan on participating.
This was originally scheduled for the afternoon of March 27 but has been rescheduled to March 21st*.
*A previous version of this news item incorrectly listed March 20th as the date for annual planning. The correct date is March 21st.
Upcoming Camping Trips
At the Patrol Leaders Council this week, troop leadership voted to camp with Troop 77 in April and May. Our April camping trip will be Biking the Silver Comet Trail April 24-25. We will have a couple of meetings devoted to bike safety, maintenance, and riding prior to the trip. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
In May we will be returning to Lake Allatoona Aquatics Base the weekend of May 14-16. We are looking at doing a watersports activity. More information will be available early in April.
Merit Badge Opportunities
Northeast Georgia Council Pathfinders
Scoutland is a Northeast Georgia Council Scout Camp on the shores of Lake Lanier. This summer they are offering two weeks of merit badge classes, where you can work on, and in most cases complete, one merit badge per day. There are still a lot of openings for most merit badges. This a great opportunity to work through several merit badges this summer.
More information and registration at: https://www.nega-bsa.org/Pathfinders
EPA Award Merit Badge Summit
Atlanta Area Council is holding another Merit Badge Summit on March 20 at Lake Allatoona Aquatics Base. This will give Scouts the chance to earn two of the merit badges required to earn the 50th Anniversary EPA Award.
Register at: https://www.atlantabsa.org/MeritBadgeSummit
Allatoona Aquatics Day
Atlanta Area Council is offering several aquatics merit badges most Saturdays from May through September at Allatoona Aquatics Base.
More information at: https://www.atlantabsa.org/caabmb
As of March 7 the following merit badges still have openings.
- June 19 Canoeing (5)
- June 26 Small Boat Sailing (20)
- July 17 Rowing (2)
- July 24 Canoeing (11)
- July 31 Small-Boat Sailing (15)
- August 7 Canoeing (1)
- September 11 Canoeing (12)
Zone of Light
Please take a moment to fill out this Merit Badge Interest Form so we can plan a Merit Badge Day with Zone of Light Studios.
