January 2022
Hat & Glove Donations
Do you have any hats and gloves your kids no longer like to wear? Consider sending them to the troop! The troop is accepting donations of freshly washed, gently used hats and gloves to have on hand as extras for our cold weather outings. Wet or misplaced gear are things that happen, help us be prepared! Donations can be given to any leader at meetings or events.
Meetings
Weekly Meetings
Visiting cub scouts & prospective scouts are welcome to any meeting in January. Scoutmasters for the boys and girls typically attend both meetings. Please reach out to either scoutmaster if you have any questions.
*Due to Covid numbers, our meetings have switched to virtual for the month of January. If your scout would like to attend please email bsatroop346.pumc@gmail.com to arrange for a meeting kit.
Meeting Times
Some flexibility is being offered in meetings as both girls and boys meetings will cover the same material. (Rank, Firem'n Chit, & Totin' Chit requirements) This is particularly useful for the Fire and Knife weeks as your scout can attend when adult supervision is available. Both meetings will be held via Zoom.
Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 OR Wednesdays 7:00-8:30
*Jackbox games will be played either opening or closing for all virtual meetings. If scouts are joining from their phone a second internet connected device may be useful. If a scout joins from a larger screen they should be able to split screen.
Jan 4th - T346G or Jan 5th - T346B
Virtual Meeting. Theme: First Aid
Please have your First Aid kit, handbook and willing "victim" out for the meeting.
*A willing "victim" is preferred but can be replaced with a pillow if needed.
Jan 11th - T346G or Jan 12th - T346B
Virtual Meeting. Theme: Fire
Please have your Fire kit, container of water, and handbook out for the meeting. Prior to the meeting you will need to gather additional fuel and tinder for your fires. You should not need anything larger than your thumb.
Qualified Supervision Needed
For the themed weeks of Fire (this week) we will need a responsible adult present and aware of the activity in the home. Adults will not need to participate in the activity but will be needed to provide supervision while we are building & maintaining fires. This is non-negotiable.
The responsible adult is welcome to participate in making their own fire but should allow the scout persevere on their own. Fire week has supplies for two for everything except the makeshift fire pit (pans).
*For the upcoming Knives week, if your adult would like to whittle, please let your Scoutmaster know ASAP. They will include an additional final project for the adult in your kit.
Jan 18th - T346G or Jan 19th - T346B
Virtual Meeting. Theme: Knots
Please have your Knot kit and handbook out for the meeting.
Jan 25th - T346G or Jan 26th - T346B
Virtual meeting. Theme: Knives
Please have your Knife kit, pocket knife, and handbook out for the meeting.
Qualified Supervision Needed
For the themed week of Knives (this week) we will need a responsible adult present and aware of the activity in the home. Adults will not need to participate in the activity but will be needed to provide supervision while we are sharpening and carving with our pocket knives. This is non-negotiable.
The responsible adult is welcome to participate with their own supplies. If your adult would like to whittle, please let your Scoutmaster know ASAP. They will include an additional final project for the adult in your kit.
District Roundtable
January 10th - T346 B & G Leaders
Roundtable is virtual this month.
Patrol Leader's Council
January 15th - T346 B & G
Discussing planning for Feb, March, & April, Summer Camp and High Adventure
Parent Committee Meeting
January 31 - T346 B & G
Parent committee meeting 7pm via Zoom. Budget will be voted on. Fundraising questions answered.
Activities
January 8th - Pinewood Derby Track Repair Day (Postponed to March)
A few adults and scouts are needed to help the derby committee set up and evaluate our derby track, make repairs if needed or plans for repairs. Our goals are to check the projector, sound, and track set up.
January 14th - Virtual Game Night
An evening of fun and fellowship with your scout family. Bring your own activity and chat with the group or join in a game. Jackbox games will be played.
January 14-17th - Annual Planning Camp Out, Adults & Scouts (Postponed until May)
This event will be postponed until May but and abbreviated version will be held 1/14-15.
Accommodations: Admin Building and Dinning Hall at Camp Oest, Broad Creek Scout Reservation, 1929 Susquehanna Hall Rd, Whiteford, MD 21160.
Trip Logistics: We will be meeting at PUMC at 6pm and leaving no later than 6:30pm on Friday evening. If your child needs a ride/has coordinated a ride with another family, point of contact is CarrieAnn for either troop. Scouts should arrive already fed or with a brown bag dinner, in class A uniform, with bags packed for the event.
We will be sleeping dormitory style, in the Admin building or scouts can elect to bring their own tent. The Admin building is heated with indoor plumbing, has a main room and 3 bedrooms all with dormitory style bunks. Genders and adults will be sleeping separately, divided between rooms based on final headcount.
We will be returning home on Monday with an estimated return time of 12-2 at PUMC. A message will be sent once we are underway with a more defined timeframe.
Cost for this trip is $TBD per scout, based on fair share, paid to the unit treasurer: John for the boys and Dave for the girls. If your scout has funds available this can also be subtracted from your scout's account.
Trip Details: This will be an annual planning camp out for both the boy and girl troop's committees & scouts. There are many items on each group's agenda that will provide the direction of our two troops and how they operate in the future. By the end of the camp out our goal is to have a 15 month calendar, bylaws for both units ratified, a troop funding strategy, unit recipe binders, Summer Camp 2022 selected, and High Adventure 2023 treks selected. During breaks scouts and adults will participate in a service project for Broad Creek, and enjoy tabletop and electronic games.
To accomplish these goals scouts will need to bring:
3 Recipes - any combination of breakfast, lunch, dinners or desserts that can be cooked using a camp stove, campfire (stick, foil wrap or pie iron), box oven, or dutch oven. Recipes should feed 4-6 people.
3-5 - Ideas in written form. These are ideas the scouts would like to incorporate in their scouting program. This includes meeting themes, outings, hikes, recruitment activities, service projects, fundraisers, trainings, camp out locations, summer camps, and other adventures. These ideas should be based on what the scout enjoys, places on their wish list or activities they have heard about that interest them.
Games - a board game or electronic game you want to play with the group. Electronic games must be rated "Everyone"
Overnight gear and cold weather outerwear. We will be enjoying the outdoors as well as your indoor games. Be prepared!
January 22nd - Klondike Derby (Cancelled)
On January 22nd our full troop is needed! Our scouts will be testing their scoutcraft against other troops in our District and our adults are needed to run a station.
Location: Kinder Farm Park
Time: 8 am - 5 Pm
What is a Klondike Derby? Let's look to Wikipedia for an answer:
"A Klondike derby is an annual event held by some Boy Scouts of America and Scouts Canada districts during the winter months and is based on the heritage of the Klondike Gold Rush.[1] BSA units have been running Klondike derbies since 1949.[2]
The event varies by district, but the typical Klondike derby consists of several stations where patrols/units must test their Scoutcraft skills and their leadership abilities, earning points towards a total score.[3] Often, one or more races are included while the Scouts navigate between stations.
The unit must transport their gear on a homemade sled pulled by the Scouts. Districts may have specific guidelines for the construction of sleds."
*Scout must wear boots. No sneakers, tennis shoes or other types of shoes will be allowed per competition rules.
*Each scout needs to brown bag a lunch and bring the following items: pocket knife, an insulated drinking cup, pen/pencil, paper, and neckerchief.
January 28th - Virtual Game Night
An evening of fun and fellowship with your scout family. Bring your own activity and chat with the group or join in a game. Jackbox games will be played.
Scouts - If you need a book review, this is an excellent time to ask your scoutmaster for some time.
Upcoming Events
February 6th - Mount Vernon
February 11th - Virtual Game Night
February 13th - Scout Sunday & Flag Retirement Ceremony
February 25th - Campfire
March 7th or March 9th - Winter Relief Dinner