Safeguarding Youth Training (replaces Youth Protection Training)
MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL ADULT LEADERS BEFORE 15 NOVEMBER
Updated 28 September 2025
This training is required to register you as an adult leader with the
troop which will occur near the end of November.
Safeguarding Youth Training, which replaces Youth Protection Training,
is an updated Scouts America youth protection training available for
leaders, parents, and all adults who interact with Scouts. The training
includes a Certification Test. All Adult Leaders are required
to complete this training annually (even though it says online
that the training is good for two years). Login to your BSA
account at my.scouting.org
to take the course. The course and test will take about 90 minutes
to complete but can be completed a module at a time. Email a copy
of your completed certificate to Ken Krach and Adam Spence.
Troop Meeting, Thursday, 16 October,
Halloween Party
Get ready for a spooky night of fun! The troop will be holding a
Halloween party during our regular meeting. Scouts are encouraged to
come in costume with their Patrol (Scout-appropriate).
- We’ll have games, contests, and plenty of food.
- To help cover the cost of pizza and wings and to give back to our
community: Bring $5.
- Bring 1 canned food item (to be donated to the local food pantry)
Join us on every Thursday evening for our Troop Meetings in the St
Joseph Parish Multi-Purpose Room. Check these announcements for any
updates.
- 23 October Backpacking Training
Pine Grove Furnace SP, 24-26 October, Register Online and Pay at
Meeting by 9 October
Menus
are past due
Please register to participate using the Online Event Registration
Form and pay the Treasurer at a Troop
meeting.
Our next camping trip is to Pine Grove Furnace State
Park in Gardners, Pennsylvania.
Actions required by participants before the trip:
- Complete
the Event Registration Form and pay the
Troop Treasurer at a Troop Meeting.
- The registration form should be completed by all Scouts and
Adults participating during any part of the weekend including just
driving.
- Only Adults, who are registered with the BSA and Troop 497, are
permitted to camp overnight with Troop 497 Scouts.
- Re-register if you need to make updates or cancel your participation
after you submit your initial registration.
- The
cost for the trip is $TBD for Scouts and $TBD Adults. Pay the
troop treasurer at a Troop meeting.
General Information
- The main activities for the
weekend are Bushcraft Skills and Pumpkin Carving.
- Check this
link for a Weekend Personal Clothing and Gear List.
Be sure to pack sun screen and insect repellent.
- Carry a flashlight in your pocket for when you arrive.
- We will return to the shed on Sunday at 2 PM and take care of
the gear used on the trip. Parents should arrive at 1:45 to pick up
their sons who had carpooled with another adult.
Shelter
- We will be tenting this weekend. Scouts must sleep in troop tents
and adhere to normal BSA guidelines for tenting with other scouts as
we do on any other camping trip. Adults may tent in their personal
tents or a troop tent.
Food
- This is a Patrol cooking trip. Menus should be received by Mr.
Michels, and copy Mr Boutilier, by 9 October.
- If you need to complete a meal for PASS this is the best trip to
it on until March 2026!
- Special dietary restrictions: Special dietary restrictions:
If your son has special dietary restrictions you would like the patrol
to attempt to accommodate contact the Patrol Leader. PLEASE BRING
SPECIAL FOOD AS NEEDED.
- Bring money for lunch on Sunday
Adult Menu (Check back
closer to the trip)
Transportation
- Please register to drive using the Online Event Registration
Form.
- Use these driving directions to Pine
Grove Furnace Youth Camping Area. We are in sites A,
B, & C, the first 3 sites on the right. The route is about 83
miles and should take about 2 hours depending on traffic.
- You should still complete the online registration process
if you are a Virtus approved driver and you are volunteering to drive
but don't plan to camp.
- The Troop's transportation coordinator may actively recruit parents
to drive to/from the camping location if we don't have sufficient
adult volunteers to drive. You may be asked to drive one or both ways.
Annual Bull & Oyster Event, 14th November, Columbus Gardens,
Nottingham, MD
Our Parents Club Annual Bull and Oyster Roast will take place on Friday
evening, 14 November at the Columbus Gardens in Nottingham, MD from 7 to
11 pm.
Details: This is a major fund raiser for the troop. The participation
of every family is required to make the event a success. We are
also in need of committee members and people to help run the event.
We are in need of Silent Auction Items.
Please consider items you have or solicit items from employers,
friends and family. Here are suggestions for items
that have proved to be valuable in the past. The Silent
Auction is one of the major contributors to our profit from the Bull
Roast.
What we need from each family:
- Buy Tickets. Tickets are $65 each or $60 each for a table
of 8, 9 or 10. Consider inviting your family and friends to meet our
300 guest goal. The tables seat 8 or 9 guests comfortably with a table
of 10 being cozy, but comfortable among friends and family.
- Sign Up to Help. We request that each family sign up to
assist at an event table for a 1 hour block. Sign-up sheets are
displayed at troop meetings.
- TV Raffle Tickets. Each boy will be given tickets to sell to
friends and family. Tickets are $5 each, or 3 for $10. The purchaser
does not need to be present to win.
- Patrol Baskets. Your son’s patrol is making a patrol basket
to be displayed at the event. This basket will provide an item that
attendees will buy chances to win which helps the troop. In addition
the patrol that accumulates the most chances will win a prepared
dinner with the adults and seniors at the Senior Surprise camping
trip. The cost of the basket is to be shared by all members of the
patrol. Assist your son and his patrol in putting together a great
basket.
- Dad’s Beers of the World basket. Please bring in a six pack
of your favorite beer to be added to the Dad’s basket. You can bring
them to any troop meeting before the event.
- Mom’s Wine Basket. Please bring a bottle of wine to be
added to the Mom’s basket. You can bring them to any troop meeting
before the event.
- Attend and have a wonderful evening!
Additional information sheet.
Contact Rich Koors to volunteer or for even more information.