Troop 5 Scoutmaster Announcements – Feb 13, 2024

Orienteering campout is this weekend! Scouts should be dropped off at the church at 8am Saturday and picked up at 12noon on Sunday. Plan for freezing temperatures on Saturday night. This scout article is a helpful guide on what to pack to stay warm: https://scoutlife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6981/checklist-for-a-basic-cold-weather-outing/. Scouts need to pack a day pack for orienteering hike on Saturday with water, lunch, compass, and other hiking essentials. Troop tents will be provided; Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast have been coordinated by patrol. There is a bath house nearby the campsite at Newport News Park so we will have flush toilets and sinks. If you happen to have discs (for disc golf) please bring those as we will be playing a short course on Sunday morning. Class B uniform for departure (since we will be going straight into our hike upon arrival) and Class A uniform for return.

The council is hosting the Tidewater University of Scouting at ODU on Saturday, March 9th. All Scouts, prospective Scouts, leaders, parents, and volunteers are invited to attend. This jamboree style event offers interactive trainings & certifications, hands-on activities & adventures, merit badges & advancement opportunities, and personalized Scout quests to earn prizes & rewards. Cost is $25 per adult and $20 per youth. Scouts can earn up to 2 merit badges; 6 of those merit badges offered are eagle required. Register here: https://scoutingevent.com/596-UOS2024

For scouts, our troop will hold elections for Order of the Arrow next Tuesday, February 20th. Not familiar with OA? Learn more about BSA’s "honor society" at this next meeting.
For parents, there will be a committee meeting next Tuesday. All are invited to join the discussion and help with the support operations of the troop. Many hands make light work!

We will be participating in Scouting for Food later this month. More information will come at our next meeting. Please help us increase Scouting’s visibility and give back to our community!

Reminder that we plan to host an Open House at our February 27th meeting. Please invite anyone you know that may be interested in scouting. Prior scouting experience is not required.

And finally… for any baseball fans, the Washington Nationals are hosting a scout day on August 4th. More information here: https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/specials/scout-days

Thanks everyone!
Scott Guirlinger