Summer is here and our programming will shift to more outings than meetings. This coming Tuesday, June 25th we will meet at Send It Climbing gym at our usual 6:30pm time. The address is 7405 Sewells Point Rd (we will not meet at the church). We have a group rate of $15 per scout for a 90-minute climbing session (we will finish at 8:00pm). All participants must complete a waiver form at https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5e3898b10184c/web/. Please RSVP to Scoutmaster Scott no later than Sunday June, 23rd so that we can provide a planned head count to the gym. Scouts – bring your friends, neighbors, and anyone else that might enjoy a night of climbing and learning about the fun that our troop has. For those scouts that need to meet First Class requirement #10 to bring someone to a scout activity, this will count.

The PLC has planned for our troop to participate in the council’s Zomboree event, December 6-8th. The event webpage says that registration will go live this coming Monday, June 24th. This event is expected to sell out; scouts should register early (individual registration is required). The anticipated cost per scout is $30 each. The latest event information is available at https://pipsicobsa.com/events-programs/zomboree/.

Thank you to all of the parents and scouts that attended our summer camp briefing. Each scout needs to have the online waiver complete and a current medical form submitted. Please take care of these ASAP to ensure we don’t have any last minute complications. The link to Summit Bechtel Reserve’s leader guide is https://www.summitbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/R-8-Jan.-2024-Scout-Camp-Summit-Leader-Guides-2024.pdf. For those scouts that wish to have warm water in the showers (and are willing to lug that warm water to the shower), here is an example of an inexpensive solar bag on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/CARTMAN-Portable-Camping-Shower-Gallons/dp/B019SYOY3M. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!
Scott Guirlinger

Next Tuesday, we will be going over all details of summer camp for both scouts and parents at our June 18th meeting at 6:30pm (committee meeting to follow immediately after this summer camp discussion). We will review the itinerary, what to pack, what to expect, etc. Please ensure all medical forms and any whitewater rafting waivers are turned in. Let me know if you have any questions ahead of that meeting.

Drafts of next year’s troop calendar were distributed to all scouts and parents at tonight’s meeting. A draft budget will be presented to the troop committee at the committee meeting next Tuesday. Input from everyone is welcomed.

On June 25th, we will meet at Send It Climbing gym at 7405 Sewells Point Rd (not at the church). We have a group rate of $15 per scout for a 90-minute climbing session. All participants must complete a waiver form at https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5e3898b10184c/web/. Please RSVP to Scoutmaster Scott no later than Sunday June, 23rd so that we can provide a planned head count to the gym. Scouts – bring your friends, neighbors, and anyone else that might enjoy a night of climbing and learning about the fun that our troop has.

Thanks everyone,

Scott

Required paperwork upon arrival at camp:

Paperwork is collected on check-in day. It should be sorted by type and then in alphabetical order. For example, all AHMR Forms will be collected, then rafting waivers, etc.

• Each participant needs a completed BSA Health and Medical Record. Parts A, B, and C are required. (This includes youth and adult participants.) Medical record must be completed by physician or appropriate medical personnel within one year of attendance at SBR.
• Submit Dietary Restrictions or Food Allergies here (select Justice National Scout Camp): DIETARY RESTRICTIONS & FOOD ALLERGIES
• Anyone participating in rafting must bring a completed RAFTING WAIVER. This includes youth and adult participants. Both sides of the form must be completed. (If you are not rafting, you do not need a waiver. If you are just kayaking, you do not need a waiver.)
• Each unit will need to bring a completed SBR Swim Test. (If you are not participating in aquatics activities, this is not needed. Anyone, youth or adult, who is doing an aquatics activity needs a swim test dated no more than one year prior to attendance.) Only ONE SBR Swim Test form is needed per unit.
• Each adult attending MUST provide proof of current Youth Protection Certification. Anyone with expired Youth Protection Training will not be checked-in until the training is current.

Thank you to all who attended our events over the past week. It was a busy week of scouting, capped off with the big sendoff of 4 Eagles at our special court of honor on Sunday. Congratulations again to all of you and your families!

Looking ahead, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our June camping trip. Too many conflicts prevented too many of our scouts and leaders from attending. We may try the same trip again this coming year (PLC to decide at annual planning meeting).

Our PLC meets tomorrow to plan the coming year’s calendar (September 2024 – August 2025). Thank you to all of those who have provided input into the planning process.

Please bring your bike (as you are able) to next Tuesday’s meeting where we will talk about bike maintenance and do a check of individual bikes.

Finally, for those attending summer camp, we need updated medical forms from most of you. We will be going over all details of summer camp for both scouts and parents at our June 18th meeting – this would be a great time to ensure that you have all of your necessary forms turned in. Let me know if you have any questions ahead of that meeting.

Thanks everyone,

Scott

A reminder to all scouts, leaders, and families that any money collected from selling camp cards and/or any unsold camp cards must be returned tonight. The troop must pay for any unreturned or damaged camp cards; please help us avoid this.

We have asked each scout going to summer camp to please sell 3 camp cards each to cover the cost of tents and setup at summer camp (so that we do not have to bring and set up our own).

Just a quick reminder we have a Scout Networking event planned for this Saturday, June 1st at the Church Yard Sale. Below is the sign-up sheet. We could use a 3rd scout at the 2nd & 3rd shifts if anyone is able to attend. Please help find a replacement if your Scout cannot make the selected time – thank you!

8:00-10:00am – Evan, Chase & Wyatt
9:30-11:30am – Toby & Connor
11:00-1:00pm – Eli & Owen

We have lots of upcoming events in the next couple weeks. Please see the list of events on our troop calendar. Specifically, we have our court of honor next week. Scouts will conduct a brief meeting at 6:30pm and the court of honor for everyone will start around 7:00pm.

Jeremy Morris is doing his Eagle project at Blessed Sacrament church this Saturday, 11am – 2pm. Please RSVP to him or Scott if possible so that Jeremy can get an accurate head count for lunch. Full information here: https://www.troop5norfolk.com/2024/05/19/jeremy-morris-eagle-project/

A reminder that any money collected from selling camp cards and/or any unsold camp cards must be returned by June 4th. The troop must pay for any unsold and unreturned or damaged camp cards. We are asking each scout going to summer camp to please sell 3 camp cards each to cover the cost of tents and setup at summer camp (so that we do not have to bring and set up our own). We do plan to sell camp cards at the June 1st yard sale.

Finally, we need RSVP’s for the June biking, camping, and ropes course trip no later than May 31st. Use this Google form to submit your response: https://forms.gle/A8GL5fMLc8XGUYVp6

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the court of honor next week. Thank you!

Scott Guirlinger

This upcoming Saturday, May 25 from 11-2, I plan on having my Eagle Project. The Project will be making a Prayer Garden for my chruch, Blessed Sacrament, located at https://maps.app.goo.gl/7LZW5aHMtFytKyaZ8. Tasks will include cutting out grass, placing down weed prevention sheets, planting plants, placing stones, installing benches. If the project is not finished on that day and a lot of work is still needed till completion, the plan is to come back Sunday after mass from 1-3. However, I am confident in our ability in completing it in one day like we have done in the past. Food will be provided for lunch after the project. If you are available and willing to come out to help, please let Mr. Scott and myself know so we know who is coming and how much food to get. It will mean a lot to me if you do show up and help.

Please feel free to bring your own hats, gloves, and shovels to use to help as well.

Thank you for your time,
Jeremy Morris

We depart at 5pm from the church this Friday. Please ensure scouts arrive on time and are fully prepared for the weekend. All gear needs to be packed in a single (one) pack or bag for the weekend. Pack like you are going on a backcountry hiking trip (except we will not be hiking and you will not need to include a tent or food). We have a recent history of loose articles being lost on the highway in transportation – ensure your gear is properly secured to your pack! The forecast is currently calling for wet conditions throughout the weekend – please plan accordingly and bring proper raingear for yourself and ensure that your gear is properly protected from the elements (it may be sitting for 4+ hours in the rain on Friday). No need to get fancy – large trash bags work perfectly fine for protecting gear from rain.

The full pack list provided by Twin River Outfitters is copied below. Personal lifejackets are permissible but optional (they will be provided by TRO).

• Clothing that can get wet
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Water – each scout should pack sufficient drinking water for the weekend
• Snacks
• River sandals or river shoes or old pair of tennis shoes. – footwear is required and your feet will get wet
• Sleeping bag & pad
• First aid kit
• Toiletries
• Towel
• Cord/rope
• Toilet paper
• aingear
• 2nd pair of shoes – remember, the first pair will get wet (and cold)
• Extra clothes (non cotton)

Let us know if you have any questions as you pack. It should be an exciting trip, even in the rain. See you soon!

We’re actively looking for more scouts and have many opportunities coming up for friends to visit.

• May 28th Court of Honor – invite some friends to come see our ceremony and all the badges you will get!
• May 29th Northside MS Spring Concert – we will be handing out programs as well as flyers about our troop inviting potential scouts to come visit
• June 1st Church Yard Sale – we will have an information booth with some scouting demonstrations (and selling camp cards) – tell your friends to stop by!

Lots of chances to get a potential scout to a troop activity and meet your First Class requirement #10! And more outings coming up this summer!

For those canoeing and camping this weekend, please refer to the pack list provided by Twin River Outfitters that we shared on the website: https://www.troop5norfolk.com/2024/05/13/canoeing-waiver-forms-and-pack-list/. Tents, stoves, and coolers will be provided by the troop. Meals are being coordinated by patrols. If you have your own lifejacket that you would like to bring, you may (optional, lifejackets will be provided). All scouts and adults must also complete the Twin River Outfitters waiver form at https://fh-sites.imgix.net/sites/448/2017/01/19223844/Release-1.pdf. Please check the weather forecast and plan accordingly!

Save the date for our big Eagle Court of Honor on June 2nd at 2pm! We will be celebrating the accomplishments of FIVE recent Eagle Scouts from our very own Troop 5. More details to come next week.

Yours in Scouting,

Scott Guirlinger