November 9, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

Meeting this Week

For the first part of this week’s meeting we will be talking about getting merit badges started and blue cards signed off. After that, Mr. Vance will lead a lesson on Scoutbook and then we’ll play some games. We will also do a trip report on Cloudland and talk a bit about Conservation Weekend and Cumberland Island.

November Camping Trip

We had an amazing camping trip to Cloudland Canyon this weekend. It was a perfect fall weekend for camping, with a Thanksgiving feast that couldn’t be beat. We also performed a critically acclaimed original skit that was the highlight of the campfire program. Friendships were renewed and strengthened and overall it was a great weekend of Scouting. Expect a more in-depth trip report at the meeting this week.

Order of the Arrow Inductions

While much of the troop was camping at Cloudland Canyon, a couple of our members were Scouting with the Order of the Arrow this weekend at Woodruff Scout Camp. Leigh completed her induction into the Order of the Arrow, becoming the third Scout from Troop 177 to achieve such an honor. Violet has also completed the Brotherhood ceremony, making her a fully fledged member of the Order. She is the first Scout from Troop 177 to achieve that honor.

If you are interested in joining the Order of the Arrow, membership nominations are done by troop election, usually in February or March. Scouts must have earned the First Class rank and have 15 nights of Scout camping in the previous two years to be eligible for election. If you think this is something you would be interested in now is the time to start finalizing those rank requirements and checking your camping nights.

Conservation Weekend

Conservation Weekend at Camp Woodruff. While this is not a troop event, many of the Scouts from Troop 177 will be there. If you would like to coordinate transportation, please contact Mr. Taylor.

Winter Camp

Winter Camp is a lot like summer camp, but shorter and colder. Held at Bert Adams December 27-31st, Scouts can attend and work on earn merit badges, play winter games, learn Dutch oven cooking, compete in the Klondike Derby, brave the polar bear swim and much more. We will be discussing this in future meetings, but wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the opportunity and the dates.

Details can be found on the Atlanta Area Council Winter Camp webpage.

Cumberland Island Camping Trip

This January we will be returning to Cumberland Island. This trip will be a challenging and memorable experience. During this Martin Luther King Jr weekend, our main focus will be volunteering through conservation and service projects on the island. Scouts participating in the service project(s) (e.g. trail maintenance and restoration, landscaping around National Seashore sites, etc.) will have an opportunity to earn one or more Scouts BSA conservation-based awards. Details are still being sorted, but opportunities may include the following: Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award,
National Park Service Scout Ranger Award, BSA Historic Trails Award, and the Messengers of Peace (Environmental Dimension). Service project work may also count towards other items such as the Outdoor Ethics Action Award, World Conservation Award, and rank advancement. The trip sheet is up and sign up is open on the Camping and Outings page.

Service Opportunities

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

Westside River Rendezvous

On November 20th Chattahoochee River Keeper is doing data collection for community waterways in Atlanta. Scouts who sign up and participate can earn three hours of conservation related community service. While not a troop planned activity, some Scouts from the troop have already signed up and will be there. If you’d like to car pool or join forces as a water sample collection team, please contact Mr. Taylor.
More information and signups can be found at: https://chattahoochee.org/event/rendezvous21/

Scout Days

Scout Days are unique opportunities for your family to attend exciting experiences around the Atlanta Area with other Scouting families. All Scout Days are offered at a discounted price of admission, and a portion of the proceeds from each Scout Day is given to the Atlanta Area Council.

On November 13th and 14th, the Georgia Aquarium is hosting Scouts Days, with discounted admission that includes the Dolphin Presentation, Sea Lion Presentation and 4D Theater. The Georgia Aquarium is always fun, and this is a great way to get in the Marine Aquarium visit, if you are working on the Oceanography Merit Badge (see below).

Purchase tickets via the link on the Atlanta Area Council Website: https://www.atlantabsa.org/scoutdays

Merit Badge Opportunities

We have three classes left for 2021:

Last call for Dentistry merit badge, this Tuesday, November 9th, with Dr. Soulimiotis. We have a few spots left. Class will start at 6:30. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054fa4aa2baaf94-dentistry

On Tuesday, November 16th, join Chayne Sparagowski of the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency for Emergency Preparedness merit badge. Please note that the class starts at 6:00! For more information and to sign up, click here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054fa4aa2baaf94-emergency

Our Weather merit badge class with Mr. Taylor has been rescheduled for Sunday, November 28th. If you are interested, follow the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054fa4aa2baaf94-weather

Atlanta Area Council offers many merit badge offerings throughout the year.
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 the weekends in the Spring through Fall. There are no upcoming classes, but check back often for new offerings.
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: Environmental Science January 15 & 16, and Bird Study February 19.
Learn more and register at: https://dunwoodynature.org/scout-merit-badges/

Daniel Boone Council headquartered in Asheville, NC has a rolling slate of virtual merit badge programs, with new merit badges offered every week. These are usually two sessions in the late afternoon or evening. There are quite a few popular merit badges including a large selection of Eagle Required. These usually fill up, but if you look at later weeks, there are plenty of seats still open.
Learn more and register at: https://www.danielboonecouncil.org/virtual

Merit Badge Process

For any Merit Badge that a Scout works on, the first step in the process is to have a discussion with the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster and get a signed blue card. While Troop 177 has embraced digital blue cards, Scouts still need to have a discussion with one of the adult leaders in the troop and get either a physical or digital sign off before beginning wok on the Merit Badge. You are welcome to sign up for any of the Merit Badges offerings that are listed on the website, please remember to talk to Mr. Taylor or one of the ASMs to get approval for the merit badge before taking the class.

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