August 24, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

Court of Honor this Week

This week, at our regular meeting time and place, we will hold our fall Court of Honor to recognize all of the Scouts for their achievements over the summer. Families are encouraged to attend and support their Scouts in these successes. We will be conducting this outside, so please bring a camp chair and a mask, and remember to socially distance. Scouts are expected to wear their full Field Uniform (aka “class A”), with neckerchief.

Campout Signup for Adult Volunteers

Scouts doesn’t happen without volunteers to guide the youth. In order to conduct any activity we are required to have at least one female adult who is registered with the BSA at every Troop event we do. This includes meetings and camping trips. Mr. Shofner and Mr. Taylor are both committed to attending every troop campout for the next year, and Ms. Loria (aka Dr. Pollack) has also committed to attending several of these. We still need a few parents (especially moms) to commit to attending a couple of campouts to be sure we can still hold these activities. To help organize this we have created a Doodle Poll to help us plan which adults will attend which campouts. If you would be willing to attend a campout, please take a moment to fill this out and let us know which you would be willing to join us for: https://doodle.com/poll/gciuvhg9vz4pq5bd?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

Please note that no Scouting or camping experience is required to serve as an adult volunteer on these trips. We mainly just need more responsible adults who are willing to provide some supervision for the Scouts.

Scout Volunteers Needed for Pack 577 Bike Rodeo

Earn service hours, model servant leadership, and help recruit Cub Scouts by assisting with the Pack 577 Bike Rodeo this Thursday, August 26th! A bike rodeo is a bicycle clinic where Cubs learn the skills to ride a bike safely. Scout volunteers will be helping teach the rules of the road, doing safety checks, and testing riding skills.

If you’d like to volunteer sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4CA9AF29A02-pack1

First Aid/Public Health Merit Badge Night

If you haven’t signed up for a Merit Badge for September 7th, please visit the link below to do so.

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

If you have already completed the First Aid Merit Badge, we highly recommend working on Public Health, as this is part of the 50th Anniversary EPA Award that has to be completed in the 2021 calendar year.

Additionally, if you are a First Aid or Public Health Merit Badge Counselor and would like to assist in leading these

September Camping Trip

Signups are open for our September Camping. We will be kayaking on the Broad River September 18-19.

You can find all of the information on the Camping/Outings Page.

If you are interested in attending with the troop, remember that you must complete the BSA swim test in order to attend. See details below.

Additionally, we looking for an adult to serve as Trip Leader for this outing. Primarily responsible for working with the outfitter on site. If you would be willing to do this, please let Mr. Taylor know as soon as possible.

BSA Swim Tests

For our September camping trip we will be kayaking. In order to participate, 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

Mr. Cole with Troop 77 is still looking for Scouts who are interested in participating in a high adventure backpacking trip this October. If you are interested please see the notice in previous emails, and reach out to him for more details.

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 holds Merit Badge Summits throughout the year. The next one is on August 21st, but all of the classes are full. Watch the Merit Badge Summit Web Page below for information on the Saturday, October 30, 2021.
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 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 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

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

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.

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