September 14, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

Committee Meeting this Week

The second Monday of each month is our troop committee meeting. All parents are encouraged to attend and have a voice in the future direction of the troop. This is a virtual meeting. Connection information is sent out the afternoon of the meeting via a Remind notice (see communication link below).

Meeting this Week

So this week we’re going to do the backpacking presentation that some of you missed last week. We’ll also do some planning for the people going on the rafting trip. I’ll see you there! — Leigh S.

September Camping Trip

Our September Camping Trip, Canoeing on the Broad River is this Saturday and Sunday. Please remember to turn in permission forms and health forms by this Tuesday.

Fall High Adventure

Mr. Cole with Troop 77 is still looking for Scouts who are interested in participating in a local high adventure Don’t forget, if you want to go backpacking over the long Columbus Day weekend (not just the first weekend of October with the Troop), then please let Mr. Cole know.  We have a great trip setup, and I was hoping for a little more participation from our older Scouts, but I understand a lot of you either have conflicts with dual enrollment or with Decatur City School’s Fall Break timing.  This trip will give you an excellent glimpse into what something like Philmont would be like, and for many of you, it will probably be the longest hike (around 30 miles) you will do except for something like Philmont.  To try to get a little more participation, I am opening this up to Scouts 13 and older and in the 8th Grade if you are NOT going to Philmont in 2022 or planning to go in 2023.  Please let me know if you’re up to the challenge by emailing me at ctcole0308@gmail.com. 

Oak Grove UMC BBQ

Oak Grove UMC has cancelled their annual BBQ. Stay tuned for information about a potential alternative service project that same date.

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”.

2022 High Adventure

Mr. Cole did a wonderful presentation on the BSA High Adventure Bases and the girls are excited about the opportunity of visiting one of these bases in 2023. As it turns out, there may be an opportunity to attend one of these bases as a troop next year, as there are still spaces available for treks at all of the high adventure bases next summer. If your Scout is interested in attending please let Mr. Taylor know ASAP.

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

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 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

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