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

All scouts and adults attending our canoeing and camping trip this coming weekend must complete the waiver form at https://fh-sites.imgix.net/sites/448/2017/01/19223844/Release-1.pdf.

Here is the recommended packing list from Twin River Outfitters. More questions are answered on their FAQ page.

Day Trip / Tubing – We recommend bringing the following items, Clothing that can get wet, sunscreen, sun glasses, hat, water, snacks or lunch, river sandals or river shoes or old pair of tennis shoes. (Footwear is required and your feet will get wet)

Multi-day – All day trip items plus the following. Tents, sleeping bags & pads, camping stoves & cook wear, easy to prepare food, cooler, first aid kit, toiletries, towel, 550 cord, duct tape, trash bag, tp, rain gear, 2nd pair of shoes, extra clothes (non cotton).

All scouts should be prepared for a full uniform inspection at Tuesday’s meeting. If you are missing any elements of the uniform, the troop has some gently used items that may help you to complete it.

All scouts attending this coming weekend’s canoeing & camping trip should also bring $20 to Tuesday’s meeting for patrol meal planning.

Several scouts and adults have medical forms that are expiring before we depart; you have been notified by email if we need your updated form before the canoe trip. These forms must be turned in no later than Tuesday’s meeting.

The planned agenda for the canoe trip was created by the PLC and has been posted to the event on the troop calendar at https://www.troop5norfolk.com/calendar/.
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!
Scott Guirlinger

We had 16 scouts and adult leaders take the BSA swim test today – thank you all for your participation! For those going on the canoe trip, we do also need updated BSA medical forms, parts A & B (not C). Many scouts and adults have forms that are expiring before we go; you have been notified by email if we need your updated form before the canoe trip. Please also ensure that any invoices for this upcoming trip are paid by this Friday, May 10th.

For all scouts attending summer camp, we do need a current BSA medical form, parts A, B, and C (the part a doctor must complete). Please ensure that you get your doctor to complete this form ahead of time so that we do not have any unexpected complications when leaving for summer camp in July.

Jeremy Morris’s Eagle project has been postponed to Saturday, May 25th, still 11am – 2pm at Bless Sacrament Catholic Church.

Looking further ahead, the PLC will conduct annual planning its annual planning on June 2nd. Scouts should provide their input to their patrol leaders and/or senior patrol staff on what they would like to do this coming year.

Remember to tell your friends and neighbors about all the cool things we’re doing in our troop. They or someone they know may want to become our next scout!

Thank you!
Scott Guirlinger

We have lots of upcoming events – be sure to RSVP if you plan to attend them!

First and foremost, if you want to go on this month’s canoe & camp trip May 17-19, you must RSVP no later than this Thursday, May 2nd at https://forms.gle/bnzJXm1jy75ki5oP9. Melissa will send out invoices on Friday to all attendees for the canoe excursion cost. Invoices must be paid in full by Friday, May 10th. (Scouts will manage food costs by patrol.)

Unless you have cleared alternate arrangements with the Scoutmaster and/or Troop Committee Chair, all scouts and adults attending the canoe trip must take a swim classification test this coming Tuesday, May 7th, 5:00pm at FRP-12 Indoor Pool. We do not have a regular meeting planned at the church that evening. However, if scouts would like to come demonstrate any skills for requirement signoff, one or more scoutmasters will be at the church at 6:30pm to do so. Swim test is mandatory; working on requirements at the church is optional.

Our next court of honor will be on Tuesday, May 28th at the church. The regular meeting will start at 6:30pm and end by 7:00pm to start the court of honor. Scouts seeking advancement should have all requirements met no later Sunday, May 19th so that we can schedule appropriate boards of review at the committee meeting on May 21st.

We need more scouts! Please share the good news about Troop 5 with your friends in person, on Facebook, on NextDoor, etc. As you know, we have lots of exciting activities planned and are happy to answer any questions your friends may have. We will be handing out information at the Northside Middle School Spring Concert on Wednesday, May 29th and also plan to have a booth at the church yard sale on Saturday, June 1st. Wear your uniform and come share the fun and learnings of scouting with potential scouts and parents.

Finally, look for more information on Jeremy Morris’s Eagle Project to come soon. The planned work date is Saturday, May 11th from 11am to 2pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

Let us know if you have any questions on all of these upcoming events. Thank you!

Scott Guirlinger

Please RSVP so we know who to expect & have sufficient CAC cards for entering the pool: https://forms.gle/apNUrNmhBfqsYAZs7

We will be conducting a mandatory swim test for all scouts and adults attending our May canoe trip. This swim test is in place of our regularly scheduled meeting.

5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
FRP-12 Indoor Pool
https://advancements.scouting.org/calendar/event/5690784

We plan to do a second swim test early summer for scouts attending summer camp.

We need more scouts! Please share the good news about Troop 5 with your friends in person, on Facebook, on NextDoor, etc. As you know, we have lots of exciting activities planned and are happy to answer any questions your friends may have.

We had a successful hike on the Appalachian Trail this past weekend (see Facebook group for some photos) and are full steam with planning our May 17-19 canoeing trip. Please RSVP here if you have not done so already: https://forms.gle/bnzJXm1jy75ki5oP9. Adult leaders – if you prefer to kayak rather than canoe, please let myself and/or Kristina know.

Everyone (scouts and adults) participating in the canoe trip MUST have taken a swim test on or after May 20, 2023. We are planning to meet at Fleet Rec Park 12 pool at 5:00pm on Tuesday, May 7th to conduct swim tests for those who need them. This can also count as swim test renewal for summer camp. If you cannot attend this swim test and your current swim test is not current, you must make other arrangements to get this done before going on the canoe trip. If you are not sure of your swim test status or need help arranging a test on your own, please let me know. This canoe trip will be a lot of fun – make sure you don’t miss it!

The PLC meets this Sunday at noon at the Malleck’s garage. Adult leaders please stay tuned for a possible call for shed roof repair work this weekend.

Thanks everyone,
Scoutmaster Scott

Scouts were paired up on Tuesday for tenting and meals on our upcoming AT hike. Tents will be provided by the troop; meals and water need to be provided by the paired scouts. Scouts have been instructed on what to bring (and not bring) and multiple checklists are available on our website (www.troop5norfolk.com) to help with planning and packing. If you already own equipment like water filters/purification, bear bags, or backpacking stoves, please bring it. If you don’t, there is no need to buy them just for this trip (we will have ones we can share). Please ask a scoutmaster if you have any questions as you prepare.

This coming Tuesday, April 16th, the troop will not meet at the church but instead will meet at Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach for a practice hike (same time as usual, 6:30pm). All scouts are encouraged to attend, whether they are going on the AT hike or not. We will attempt to take some cool drone photos while doing the hike on Tuesday. Scouts should bring their fully loaded pack for a true practice experience. Ideally, this includes food, water, sleeping gear, and everything else. Adult leaders will bring tents for the practice.

Looking ahead, If you have not yet RSVP’d for our canoeing campout May 17-19, please do so as soon as possible at https://forms.gle/bnzJXm1jy75ki5oP9. Note that there will be a $38/scout activity fee for this special canoeing experience with Twin River Outfitters.

Thank you,
Scott Guirlinger

For those who want to earn BSA’s Solar Eclipse Badge as part of the celestial event happening on April 8th, please see requirements here: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2024/01/24/how-to-earn-the-bsa-total-solar-eclipse-2024-emblem/. Adult leaders can sign off any scouts at our meeting on April 9th and place an order for these special glow-in-the-dark badges.