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REGISTER ON LINE NOW FOR DECEMBER CAMPING TRIP!

Senior Surprise, Broad Creek, Dan Beard Campsite, 3-5 December

We will be camping Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation, Camp Saffran, Dan Beard Campsite for our December camping trip. This is our annual Senior Surprise trip. It is tent camping and patrol cooking. Reserve the date and check back for more information.

Actions required by participants before the trip:

Please Complete the Event Registration Form at least one week in advance.
Please complete the online Troop 497 Covid-19 Activity Questionnaire within 24 hours prior to leaving for the camping trip.
This is a patrol cooking trip. Please have you patrol menus to Mr. Michels for approval by Thursday, 18th November.

General Information

The theme for Senior Surprise is Olympics. This is a weekend of general and Scout skill competition which gains the scouts clues to help solve the surprise.
Check back for additional program information.
We are camping in tents, 1 person per tent. ALL SCOUTS must camp in a Troop Alps Mountaineering tent. Adults may camp in a troop tent or their own tent.
This is a patrol cooking trip. Please have you patrol menus to Mr. Michels for approval by Thursday, 18th November.

All patrols should come prepared with a song, skit, and cheer for the campfire.

Transportation - IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND DRIVERS

Parents must drive their sons to/from our camping location.
Please arrive at our location at Camp Dan Beard (see maps in the directions) in full uniform between 7-8 pm on Friday evening.
Stay in your cars until your temperatures are checked and your completed Troop 497 Covid-19 Activity Questionnaire is verified.
Everyone should wear a mask when they arrive and have a spare mask available. Write your name on your mask.
Please pick up your son at 11:00 AM on Sunday at the same location
Click for directions to Camp Dan Beard at Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation

Youth Protection Training for Registered Adults - complete by mid-November

It is that time of year again to renew our YPT Training. Unless you have already completed it in 2021, you must retake it by mid-November in order to be a registered adult with the Troop 497 for the 2022 Scouting year.

To get the required Youth Protection Training, you should login to your account at my.scouting.org
Once logged in, click Menu then My Dashboard from the menu list.
The My Training page displays to take Youth Protection training.
Upon completion, you should print a screen shot of completion for your records.
There will be an email from National that attaches a YPT certification which should be forwarded to Adam M. Spence, Esq. adam@spencefirm.com. Adam handles the BSA Adult YPT registration records for our Troop.
This is high priority, please complete by mid-November!

Awards not received at the last Court of Honor

We understand some scouts may have not received awards they earned at the recent Court of Honor. If you believe you earned a merit badge, rank, award, Texas tough star or other type of advancement but did not receive it at the recent Court of Honor, please send an email to Mr. Krach at kf62krach@gmail.com. Please provide as much detail as possible, such as Counselor's name, date earned, etc. We will research the matter and get you the award you earned.

First Thursday Path to First Class, 2 December, 6-7 PM, Joe's Cafe

The First Thursday meeting will be held on Thursday, 1 July from 6-7 PM in Joe's Cafe which is located in the basement of the Parish Center. Enter through the side door to the parking lot. The First Thursday meeting will be followed by a pizza dinner at 7 PM for active meeting participants.

These classes are available to scouts that are working on the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class and will be offered on the first Thursdays of the month. Scouts do not need to sign up in advance. For more information about the First Thursday Path to First Class program, call Mr. Jerry McClellan (410-236-4258).

We will need lots of help from the seniors, patrol leaders, older scouts and adults

Anyone staying for the troop meeting must Complete the Online Troop 497 Covid-19 Activity Questionnaire prior to the meeting. We will verify that it has been entered online upon arrival as we check your temperature. If it has not been filled out we will ask you to do so before you can participate in the meeting. Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time to take your temperature and verify your Covid-19 Questionnaire. You only have to complete one Covid-19 Questionnaire for both the First Thursday Path to First Class and the Troop meeting the same evening.

Next Troop Meeting, Thursday, 2 December, 7:30 - 9:00 PM, Multipurpose Room

Join us on every Thursday evening for our Troop Meetings. Check these announcements for any updates.

We will meet in person in the Multipurpose Room this week and follow the current Archdiocese Covid-19 protocols which require that everyone wear a mask.

Anyone staying for the troop meeting must Complete the Online Troop 497 Covid-19 Activity Questionnaire prior to the meeting. We will verify that it has been entered online upon arrival as we check your temperature. If it has not been filled out we will ask you to do so before you can participate in the meeting. Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time to take your temperature and verify your Covid-19 Questionnaire.

Committee Meeting, Monday, 6 December, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

Please update your Zoom App to the latest version before joining the meeting.
Zoom Meeting ID: 398 703 538

All adult leaders and parents are welcome to participate. Committee meetings are generally scheduled for the first Monday of each month. Check the announcements each month for updates.
To be admitted to the meeting you must use your first and last names when you join.
Please join a few minutes early so we can start on time. The meeting should be available for joining about 7:20 PM
Alternate phone audio 1 929 205 6099

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC), Sunday, 12 December, 7:00 PM

Please update your Zoom App to the latest version before joining the meeting.
Zoom Meeting ID: 814 5966 1007

PLCs will generally be scheduled for the first Sunday of each month and start at 7:00 pm. Check the announcements for any changes. They should last about 1 hour. All patrols should be represented by their Patrol Leader or a designated substitute. All Seniors are expected to participate. Adult Leaders are welcome to join the meetings.

To be admitted to the meeting you must use your first and last names when you join.
Please join a few minutes early so we can start on time. The meeting should be available for joining about 6:50 PM
Alternate phone audio 1 929 205 6099

Troop Christmas Party, Thursday, 16 December, 7:30 - 9:00 PM, Multipurpose Room

The annual Troop Christmas party is on Thursday, 16 December during the regular Troop meeting.

No uniform required.
The cost for this event will be $5 to enter the meeting to help offset the cost of food. We will have chicken nuggets, wings, pizza, and beverages.
There will also be a voluntary gift exchange - participation is optional. To participate, bring a wrapped gift for under $10 that you would like to receive - no gag gifts. The gifts will be mixed up and everyone bringing a gift will receive one in exchange.
We would ask Scouts to bring a can of food that we will collect and take to the local food pantry. This is our service to the community.