September 21, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

Meeting this Week

This week we’re going to be doing a slide presentation of whatever you would like (within reason) and it has to be somewhat related to scouts. It doesn’t need to be very long, but at least 5 minutes (it can be more, just not like 40 min or something). We’ll also go over the minutes from our past campout and if there’s any other time, I’ll bring ropes and we’ll work on some knots. -Leigh S.

September Camping Trip

Our September Camping Trip was a blast. We spent two days kayaking on the Broad River, working on advancement, and cooking a dutch over birthday cake. Some Scouts even opted for hammocks instead of tents. All in all it was a great weekend of Scouting.

Scouts, please remember to log this in your camping log and make a note that this trip covers Camping Merit Badge requirement 9b4, “Take a nonmotorized trip on the water of at least four hours or 5 miles.” Scouts that picked up trash during the trip should see Mr. Taylor to discuss counting this as service hours.

October Camping Trip

Even though we just got back from our September trip, our October Camping trip is coming up quickly. Registration closes this Friday, September 24th, but we’d like to get people signed up before the meeting this week so we can do preliminary meal planning at this week’s meeting. At our last meeting the troop planned a lake to lake backpacking route that starts at Lake Winfield Scott on Friday and ends up at Vogel State Park on Sunday afternoon. Please note, if you want to go, but aren’t sure you have the equipment please let Mr. Taylor or Mr. Todd know, as we can help provide the necessary gear for a fun backpacking trip.

For more information about this trip and to sign up, check the details on our Camping and Outings Page.

Spooky Ree Volunteers

Spooky Ree is a Halloween themed Cub Scouts Family Camping event held each weekend in October. In order to make these run successfully, they need a large number of volunteers to help with various tasks around camp, including crowd control, teaching Scout skills to Cubs, and dressing up and scaring Cub Scouts and their parents on the haunted trail.

There is a $10 fee to volunteer that includes all meals, lodging, a patch, and service hours.

Scouts are welcome to register individually for any weekend, but we can also plan to go as a troop. With the cancellation of the Oak Grove BBQ, that weekend is now a possibility for volunteering as a troop. There are two calendar events in Scoutbook for Spook-Ree. If everyone could login and RSVP we will plan accordingly. Even if you can’t make it please respond with a “No”.

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

*Note that many of these Merit Badges will also help to satisfy the Earth Science requirement for the 50th Anniversary EPA Award.

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.

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).

Merit Badge Opportunities

As we head into fall there are still many great opportunities to work on Merit Badges both virtually and in-person. 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 holds Merit Badge Summits throughout the year. The next one is scheduled for Saturday, October 30, 2021. Registration opens on September 22, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
For more information: 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 Nature on September 26 and Mammal Study October 3rd.
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 Insect Forestry on October 23.
Learn more and register at: https://dunwoodynature.org/scout-merit-badges/

Northeast Georgia Council is offering two Radio Merit Badge classes in conjunction with the 2021 Jamboree on the Air. This is a free event that is open to all Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturers, Sea Scouts, Girl Scouts & the general public. Come learn and have fun at JOTA 2021. JOTA is an annual Scouting event that uses amateur radio to link Scouts around the world, around the nation, and in our own community. Scouts of any age can participate, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Girl Scouts. This is the official JOTA site of the Northeast Georgia Council Amateur Radio Club KK4BSA. Registration is only required for the Merit Badge Class. Anyone else is free to just show up. Space will be limited to 30 students.
More information here: https://www.nega-bsa.org/files/38861/Jamboree-On-The-Air–JOTA-
Register for Merit Badge at: https://kk4bsa.info/register-for-radio-merit-badge.html

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

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