May 4, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

Troop Meeting This Week (from your SPL)

This week we’re meeting at the YMCA in Decatur to take care of our swim tests so we don’t have to do them at summer camp or at Lake Allatoona. We will still have a meeting, outdoors, on a grassy area close to the entrance. When you arrive, wait at the entrance, and I’ll get you where you need to go. Uniforms are not required for this meeting since we’ll be swimming. I suggest wearing baggy pants and a tee shirt so you can dry off and put the clothes on over your swimsuit so we don’t have to use the locker rooms. A towel is also suggested, so you can dry off. We’re going to cycle two scouts at a time in the pool because we only have two adults who can approve the test. For those that aren’t swimming, we’ll do some knot games. We will start at our normal meeting time of 7:30. I realize a lot of 177 scouts have brothers in 77, so you can arrive and leave as needed to avoid conflicts with drop off and pick up at Oak Grove UMC. If you have any questions on location or have any suggestions, please let me know.

See you all on Tuesday!

–Leigh

Upcoming Camping Trips

The weekend of May 14-16 we will be returning to Lake Allatoona Aquatics Base for an Aquatics themed weekend. We are planning to do a boating activity and have three canoes at our disposal to use for this campout. For the number of girls we typically have camping we would need need about seven total boats (four more than we have committed). If you have a canoe or kayak that you would be willing to loan the troop for this event, please let Mr. Taylor know, so we can guarantee a spot in a boat for every Scout.

Summer Camp

If you have not already registered for camp but would still like to attend, please let Mr. Taylor know. We can register additional Scouts for camp until June, as long as there are still spaces available. More information can be found on our Summer Camp Information page.

Service Opportunities

Eva has invited us to join Pack 345’s Bear Dean (where Eva serves as a Den Chief) for a Frazier-Rowe Park cleanup May 8 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Scouts will  will lay down mulch, pull weeds, remove invasive plants, pick up trash, move big sticks, or whatever else else is needed. Wear class B, bring your water bottle, 10 essentials and garden gloves.
For more information contact Eva. If you are are planning to attend, please RSVP through Scoutbook.

Woodlands Garden is a great local nature preserve in Decatur and is need of volunteers to help maintain the garden. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Taylor for information on volunteering. We will need to coordinate a training session for anyone who wished to volunteer. If you are interested please contact Mr. Taylor by 4:00 p.m. this Tuesday to coordinate a time for training. This is open to Scouts and their families (including siblings in other troops).

Each of the above opportunities can be counted for regular or conservation service hours for those that may need it for rank, merit badges, or other awards.

Merit Badge Opportunities

Construction Merit Badge Day
Atlanta Area Council is holding a construction Merit Badge Day on May 15 for Scouts 16 or older. Merit Badges Offered include: Drafting, Electricity, Landscape Architecture, Surveying, and Welding. Note that while the dates on the info page are for 2020, registration is open for the 2021 Construction MB Day.
More information and registration at: https://www.atlantabsa.org/cmb

Atlanta Area Council Merit Badge Days
The Atlanta Area Council offers several Merit Badge days dedicated to specific Merit Badges. Upcoming Merit Badge offerings include Aviation and Railroading.
More information at: https://www.atlantabsa.org/meritbadgedays

STEM Academy
Georgia Tech is offering an on-line STEM ACADEMY June 6-11. This program for 8th graders and older, gives Scouts the opportunity to earn STEM-related merit badges and explore STEM related professions. Registration is $100 and needs to be completed before May 14.
https://www.atlantabsa.org/stem-academy

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

Daniel Boone Council Virtual Merit Badge Classes
Every week Daniel Boone Council in North Carolina is offering several virtual Merit Badge classes via Zoom. Most classes are $10 and are two evenings per week, after school hours.
More information and registration at: https://www.danielboonecouncil.org/virtual