September 28, 2021

Posted on by Troop 177

In this week’s newsletter

Meeting this Week

This week we’ll be doing a shake down. This is mainly for the people going on the backpacking trip, but if you aren’t, it’s still good practice. In case you don’t know what a “shake down” is, you pack up a backpacking backpack with everything you plan to carry on our backpacking trip and bring it to the meeting. Then we’ll go through them and take out the things you don’t need and add the things you will. This is important for minimizing weight in a backpack so you don’t have to carry 50 pounds. We’ll also be doing meal planning since there wasn’t quite enough time. Please don’t put off packing your backpack, you’re going to miss out on a great opportunity to practice without any real stakes. But as always, email me if you have any questions and I’ll see you Tuesday!
-Leigh

October Camping Trip

Our backpacking trip is this Friday. The troop has 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.

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

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.

Summer Camp 2022

Save the date! Summer Camp 2022 will be July 17-23 at Camp Daniel Boone in Canton, NC. This is one of the best Scout Camps in the country with a lot of great traditional camp opportunities, as well as high adventure opportunities like white water rafting, zip lining, backpacking, etc. It’s sure to be a lot of fun, so make plans to attend.

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 is open.
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 Aviation (October 16).
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. Upcoming classes include 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 Saturday, October 16th. 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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