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Parents’ NewsFlash
NOTE: BSA’s 100TH ANNIVERSARY WEBSITE IS http://ww2.scouting.org/100yearspre/100years/
TROOP MEETING, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, AT THE CHURCH, 7:30-9:00PM
ADDITIONAL DATES (PLEASE PUT THEM ON YOUR CALENDAR)
M, Sept. 22, Troop Meeting
Scout presentation on Maine Trip
$300 deposit due for Double-H Trip
Sa-Su, Sept. 27-28
Campout, Flythe Farm, Exit 126 (Thornburg) on I-95
M, Sept. 22, TLC Meeting
M, Oct. 6, Troop Meeting
M, Oct. 13, Court of Honor, Summer Camp Presentation
M, Oct. 20, Troop Meeting
F-Su, Oct. 24-26
Multi-District Camporee, Rosaryville State Park, Upper Marlboro, MD
M, Oct. 27, TLC Meeting
M, Nov. 3, Troop Meeting
M, Nov. 10, Troop Meeting
M, Nov. 17, Troop Meeting
Sa-Su, Nov. 22-23, Navy Football Game and Campout
M, Nov. 24, TLC Meeting
Θ, Nov. 27 Thanksgiving
M, Dec. 1, Troop Meeting, prep for Wreath and Tree Sales
F-Su, Dec. 5-7, Wreath Sales
F-Su, Dec. 12-14, Tree Sales
NOAA OPEN HOUSE (Thanks to Montgomery District NewsFlash)
Want to be on TV while you earn achievements for the Weather
Merit Badge? Space is available for a small number of Scouts to
visit the Baltimore/Washington NOAA Weather Forecast Office in
Sterling, Virginia, on Friday, October 17, 2008, from 7 AM to 9:30AM.
Montgomery County schools are closed on Oct. 17. The local Fox-5
news crew will be at the forecast office previewing that
weekend's open house activities and we'd like to have scouts
present for the live broadcast. While you are there, you will
talk to a meteorologist, learn about weather careers, learn
about local dangerous weather, tour the facility - including
the forecast operations center and the state-of-the-art
testing lab (which includes a heating chamber, a cooling
chamber, and a wind tunnel). You will also help launch a
weather balloon.
Troops and Packs also are welcome to come out on Saturday or
Sunday (10/18-10/19) for the open house to work on weather
achievements! For more information, and to reserve a spot for
Oct. 17, contact: susan.buchanan@noaa.gov.
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Parents’ NewsFlash
Monday, August 4, 2008
NOTE: BSA’s 100TH ANNIVERSARY WEBSITE IS http://ww2.scouting.org/100yearspre/100years/
THE COUNCIL HAS CLOSED GOSHEN
Yesterday NCAC decided to close Goshen temporarily when several additional Scouts showed signs symptomatic of the E. coli bacterial infection. There will be no camp during Week 6 (August 3-9). At the time it closed, Troop 666 had only one Scout at Goshen. Matthew Chambers has been serving on Camp Staff. He is not one of the Scouts affected. You can find additional information at www.boyscouts-ncac.org.
PLEASE PUT THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR
Saturday, August 16—Adult Leaders’ Planning Meeting for 2008-2009 (all Scoutmasters and Parents’ Committee Members), Time and Place TBA
Saturday, August 23—Memorial Service for ASM Don Graves, Great Hall at the Church, 4:00PM
Fri-Sat, September 5-6—TLC Planning Meeting for 2008-2009 and Training, Offsite, Time and Place TBA
Monday, September 8—First Troop Meeting, Church Vestry, 7:30PM
Sat-Sun, September 27-28—First Camping Trip
Tue-Mon, July 14-20, 2009—High Adventure Trek at Double-H (we will leave several days earlier and return several days later to accommodate travel. These dates may change if we obtain a Philmont slot through the lottery)
TROOP 666 SCOUTS EARNED A LOT OF ADVANCEMENT AT GOSHEN
Ten Scouts attended summer camp at Goshen during Week 4. They returned having earned 32 completed Merit Badges and 24 partial Merit Badges. All Scouts who are old enough to attend Philmont or Double H next summer finished Orienteering and earned partials on Backpacking and Hiking Merit Badges.
FUNDRAISING FOR THE TRIP TO PHILMONT/DOUBLE H
Please suggest alternatives for raising funds for Scouts who plan to attend Philmont or Double H next summer, and make those suggestions at the Adult Leaders’ Planning Meeting on Saturday, August 16. Also we are looking for Parents who have experience with “profit from sales” programs.
COUNCIL-WIDE CPR AND FIRST AID OFFERINGS (THANKS TO THE CHAIN BRIDGE DISTRICT NEWS GROUP)
NCAC has scheduled Wilderness First Aid and CPR classes, as follows: Wilderness First Aid (course fee $100) September 26-28, 2008. Location TBD; and Wilderness First Aid (same fee) October 31 - Nov 2, at Camp Snyder. For both sessions, registration is open. Contact Annette at 301-214-9156. Participants will camp at the training site. Scouts age 14 may attend with the Unit Leader's endorsement that the Scout can handle the tension and pressure. Remember that each crew attending Philmont must have someone with Wilderness First Aid certification.
CPR classes will be offered at Camp Snyder on the following dates: September 28, October 26, November 16, December 14, January 25 (2009), February 22, March 29, April 26, and May 24.
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Parents’ NewsFlash [SPECIAL EDITION]
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
NOTE: THE TROOP’S WEBSITE IS http://bsatroop666.org
NOTE: BSA’s 100TH ANNIVERSARY WEBSITE IS http://ww2.scouting.org/100yearspre/100years/
ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER DON GRAVES HAS PASSED AWAY
Sadly we inform you that Don Graves, A.S.M. passed away on July 2. Don had been with the Troop since the early 1990’s. Don was happiest when working with the Quartermasters and other Scouts who repaired and maintained the Troop’s equipment. Don also participated in most campouts and several high adventure trips during which he cooked many wonderful pots of stew and other entrées.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008
HIGH ADVENTURE SHAKEDOWN HIKING, SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2-6PM
NOTE: This material does not apply to our summer 2008 High Adventure Trip.
Scouts who will be 14 by July 1, 2009 need to start preparing now for summer 2009 High Adventure Trips. Our most likely trip will be hiking and camping for 7-10 days at Philmont or Double H. The Adult Leaders have planned a series of shakedown hikes over the next 14 months. Hikes will become progressively longer and in more hilly countryside. Here in the east we can’t match the Rockies, but we will try. We will do the first hike on Saturday. Meet at the Church at 2PM. This week we will hike in the back hills of Rock Creek N.P. Scouts will be returned to the Church by 6PM.
Scouts should pack all personal gear they will need for a week-long hike. Scouts should develop their own lists. If they need help, the Scout Handbook is a good place to start. Other resources are several of the Adult Leaders who have hiked, camped and served as Rangers at Philmont. Scouts need to remember they will carry what they pack. They should also brush up on First Aid. Typical one-week hikes at Philmont and Double H cover 70-90 miles at high altitude in an arid climate where the closest neighbors are bears and rattlesnakes.
TROOP MEETING, MONDAY, MAY 12, 7:30PM, AT THE CHURCH
Our next Meeting will take place next Monday evening, May 12. Scouts should be in complete uniform and have their Scout Handbook with them for advancement. We will continue to prepare for the kayaking campout on the weekend of May 17-18.
PARENTS’ MEETING, MONDAY, MAY 12, 7:30PM AT THE CHURCH
We will also hold a Parents’ Meeting on Monday evening, May 12 during the Troop Meeting. We cancelled last Monday’s meeting in order to drive Scouts to the Takoma Recreation swimming pool to prepare for the May campout. Agenda items for this meeting include:
• planning for the May and June camping trips;
• updates on required training available from the Internet for adults accompanying Scouts on camping trips and at summer camp;
• updates on summer camp and summer 2008 High Adventure;
• uniform bank status; and
• news about launching rockets last Sunday at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
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Friday, February 1, 2008
NOTE: BSA’s 100TH ANNIVERSARY WEBSITE IS http://ww2.scouting.org/100yearspre/100years/
PERSONAL FITNESS MERIT BADGE, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 10:30AM
The counselor for Personal Fitness Merit Badge is ASM Christian Hunt. He will meet with the Scouts working on this merit badge at the Church on Sunday morning at 10:30AM. If your Scout has any questions, he should call Mr. Hunt at 202-431-4704.
THERE WILL BE A COURT OF HONOR ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, AT 7:30PM.
You are cordially invited to a Court of Honor on Monday, February 4, at 7:30PM at the Church. Scouts will be recognized for their advancement earned since the Family Campout last June. Scouts should wear Class A uniform and arrive at the Church by 7:15PM to assist in setting up the room for the Court of Honor. After the Court ends, refreshments will be served. Please remind your Scout that he should refrain from refreshments until all Parents and Guests have been served.
While we are enjoying refreshments, we would like to have a brief Parents’ Meeting. The Scoutmasters would like to obtain a count of the number of Scouts and parents who will attend Scout Sunday at the Church on Sunday, February 10. Also, we would like a count of the number of Scouts, Parents and Family Members who will attend the ski trip. Finally we would like a count of the number of adults who plan to drive on the trip.
SCOUT SUNDAY AT THE CHURCH IS FEBRUARY 10
Scouts should arrive in the vestry in Class “A” uniform by 10:45AM. We will attend the 11:15AM service which usually lasts until about 12:15PM. We would like to have a good turnout. This is one of the very few times during the year the Members of the Church have an opportunity to see the Scouts they sponsor during the year.
TROOP MEETING, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, AT 7:30PM
This will be the last Troop Meeting before the ski trip on February 15-18. Scouts who plan to attend the ski trip must be present to participate in planning menus and to receive last-minute details about the trip. There will also be a presentation on safety while on ski slopes and surrounding areas. Scouts should have their Scout Handbooks with them both at this meeting and on the ski trip so that they can pursue advancement.
PARENTS’ MEETING, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, AT 7:30PM
Among other items, we need to finalize the details for the ski trip as to the number of participants and drivers, as well as the rules Scouts will need to observe during the trip.
CYCLING MERIT BADGE
The counselor for Cycling Merit Badge is Committee Co-Chair David Blair. Scouts will learn more and have more fun if they ride as a group. Scouts interested in working on this merit badge should call Mr. Blair at 202-696-5906.
GREAT FALLS MERIT BADGE DAY (THANKS TO GREAT FALLS DISTRICT NEWSFLASH)
For Scouts who cannot attend the ski trip, they may wish to avail themselves of another opportunity that weekend. The Fifth Annual Great Falls Merit Badge Day is set for Saturday, February 16, 2008 at the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), 11700 Falls Road, Rockville, Maryland. The complete packet of information has been posted on the Great Falls web site. The information contains the Merit Badge Day Application, list of badges being offered, rules and directions for the day, prerequisites for certain merit badges and additional need to know information. Please read the instructions very carefully.
The Great Falls web page is located on the NCAC web site at http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/pages/434_great_falls_district.cfm. The link to the merit badge day page is located in the upper right corner in the News and Events block or this link will take you directly to the page
http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/pages/29543_2008_great_falls_merit_badge_day_feb_16_2008_.cfm. Please note that this is a new address, and is different from the address which appears in the January 28 NewsFlash. If you have questions, please direct them to Rick Kessel at gfdadv@yahoo.com.
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Parents’ NewsFlash
Friday, January 18, 2008
NOTE: BSA’s 100TH ANNIVERSARY WEBSITE IS http://ww2.scouting.org/100yearspre/100years/
OUR NEXT TROOP MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21, 2008 AT 7:30PM AT THE CHURCH.
All Scouts working on Scout through First Class ranks should have their Handbooks with them, and plan to maximize their efforts to complete advancement so they can receive recognition for it at the Court of Honor on February 4. In addition, this is the last Troop Meeting prior to the January camping trip which is the caving trip on January 26-27. Scouts will need to work on caving safety and plan menus. Please be aware that each Scout should have $10 with him for food since the food will not be purchased until we are on the trip. We will also hand out the release forms which Parents MUST sign if their Scout wants to participate in the trip.
Please note that we have the necessary adult coverage for the overnight portion of the trip, but still need more drivers. Drivers will be needed to transport Scouts and Adult Leaders from the Church to Kearneysville, WV on Saturday morning, January 26, from Kearneysville to Paris, VA mid-afternoon on Saturday, and from Paris to the Church late Sunday morning.
THERE WILL BE A COURT OF HONOR ON MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 7:30PM.
Scouts will receive recognition for their advancement since the last Court of Honor at the Family Campout last June. Scouts wishing to receive recognition on February 4 for their advancement should complete their requirements, including Scoutmaster Conferences and Boards of Review, by the end of the camping trip on January 27. There will be a meeting of the TLC only on Monday evening, January 28, therefore there may be little or no opportunity for advancement on that date.
PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS FOR FEBRUARY CAMPOUT, FEBRUARY 15-18, SKI TRIP TO BLUE KNOB RESORT
It’s time to start thinking about the ski trip in February. We will need drivers to and from Blue Knob. Most people think the drive is too long to drive Scouts and return home, and repeat the drive several days later. The trip is about 160 miles one-way and lasts about 3 hours. The ideal solution is to drive and stay for the weekend. The Scouts will be staying and cooking in a rented house. There may be room in the house for several Parents, but that is not certain. However, there are condominiums available. Why not drive and stay for the weekend? You can find a lot of the information at www.blueknob.com. For those wishing to print their own maps and/or driving instructions from Mapquest or Mapblast, the address to use is 1418 Overland Pass, Claysburg, PA 16625.
INFORMATION FROM PARENTS REQUIRED FOR LOCAL TOUR PERMIT APPLICATIONS
As you may be aware, the Troop must file a Local Tour Permit Application with the National Capital Area Council for each monthly camp. The Council requires that theses forms be filed as part of its insurance program. Among other information, the application requires information about each driver’s personal license, automobile and insurance coverage. Other than the Council personnel who review the application, I am the only person who sees it. The information is password protected, as are all e-mails sent to me. I need the following information: name, driver’s license number and state, automobile owner’s name, year and make, number of passengers (excluding the driver’s seat), the number of seat belts [there should be one for each seat], public liability coverage per person, public liability coverage per accident and property damage coverage. The last three numbers look like 50,000/100,000/25,000, which is the minimum coverage required by the District of Columbia for cars registered there, and by the Council. I currently have no information for the following people: Bastian, Blair, Demarest, Farthing, Furlong, Giradot/Scheid, and Grubar. I apologize if you have given me the information but I didn’t record it. Please send me the information at charles.reusch@ferc.gov, or hand it to me at a Troop Meeting.
PLEASE BE AWARE OF NEW BOY SCOUT RANK ADVANCEMENT CHANGES NOW IN EFFECT
The National Youth Protection Committee recommended additions to Boy Scout rank requirements that were approved and BECAME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008. These changes help advance the importance of Youth Protection training beyond the initial Boy Scout joining requirements, and keep youth informed and actively engaged in understanding the key elements of personal safety and protection.
TENDERFOOT RANK
Revised Requirement 9: Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Describe what a bully is and how you should respond to one.
SECOND CLASS RANK
New Requirement 8b: Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection.
FIRST CLASS RANK
New Requirement 12: Describe the three things you should avoid doing related to use of the Internet. Describe a cyberbully and how you should respond to one.
These changes will be represented in the 2008 Boy Scout Requirements book and the revised ninth printing of the 11th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook.
DON’TFORGET SCOUT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 10:45AM AT THE CHURCH
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