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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.
PLCs will generally be scheduled for the first Sunday of each month.
Check the announcements for any changes. 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.
Please arrive at Joe's Cafe shortly before 6 PM so the meeting can
start on time.Parents should return at 7:00 PM to pick up
their sons.
Please update your Zoom App to
the latest version before joining the meeting. Zoom Meeting ID: 883
1455 5884
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
First Thursday Path to First Class, 6 November, 6-7 PM, Joe's Cafe
The First Thursday meeting will be held 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. Chris Mulhall (610-350-8419).
We will need lots of help from the seniors, patrol leaders, older
scouts and adults
Backpacking Harpers Ferry to Blackburn Camp, 7-9 November, be at
the shed by 6:00 PM
Sign Up for the Trip TODAY!
Our November camping trip is backpacking from Harpers Ferry to the
Blackburn Campsite. This is the only opportunity this year for you to
complete the PASS backpacking requirement. It is also an opportunity to
complete your Second Class hiking and map & compass requirements.
NO UNIFORMS FOR THIS TRIP - JUST BRING WHAT YOU NEED!
Meet at the shed at 6:00. We don't have much to pack so we plan
to be on the road by 6:30 PM.
The registration form should be completed by all Scouts and
Adults participating during any part of the weekend including just
driving. ADULT DRIVERS FILL EVERY SEAT
WITH A SEAT BELT - WE HAVE TO SHUTTLE CARS.
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 $20 for Scouts. Pay the troop
treasurer at a Troop meeting.
General Information
The main activity for the weekend is backpacking.
This is a great opportunity for Scouts to experience backpacking
like we do at Philmont and is done by many people in the mountains and
parks. Scouts and adults carry everything they need for the weekend in
their backpacks.
Wear some bright colored outerwear,
orange preferred, and also something colorful on the
back of your pack. Hunting is very popular at this time of year. (Think O's clothing or safety clothing)
Bring money for the stop for lunch on Sunday
Bring your pack ready to hike into our Friday night campsite.
Carry a flashlight in your pocket for when you arrive.
Patrol food and gear will be divided Friday before leaving.
There is no reliable potable water at our campsites. Bring all your
water bottles filled. Water may or may not be available at our Friday
night camp. The troop adults should bring filled water jugs for
refilling personal water bottles after breakfast on Saturday. We
should have water available less than a mile away on Saturday night
for cooking Saturday evening and hot drinks on Sunday morning.
This is very different than car camping, which is what we typically
do. On this trip, if you need something, you have to bring it - no one
else is going to bring it for you! This means it takes more planning
by adults and Scouts. Don't worry, the Seniors will provide
instruction during the meetings before trip.
Don't purchase a pack for this trip. The Troop will have
packs available at the 30 October meeting and again on 7 November. We
have them in a variety of sizes and adults will be available to help
fit them to scouts. You might also arrange to borrow one from another
troop member. Anyone willing to loan a backpack should contact Mr.
Downs.
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 this time to pick
up their sons who had carpooled with another adult.
Additional Backpacking Information - MUST READING FOR EVERYONE!
Hikes and Maps We will all camp together on Friday and Saturday nights. On Saturday
we will have two routes for backpacking. The longer route is about 13
miles. This route is for older Scouts and Scouts who need it for PASS. The
Scoutmaster must approve all Scouts going on the long hike. We will also
have a shorter backpack, around 6 miles, for new and younger Scouts. We
will all hike out together about 1.5 miles on Sunday morning.
A printed annotated Topographic map of the trails and surrounding
area will be available Friday for drivers and additional copies for
hikers to share on Saturday morning. Email
Webmaster no later than 6 October if you would like an
electronic copy of this map.
Food
Scout and Adult Menu
Everyone must bring their own Friday evening snack and
breakfast and lunch for Saturday.
Scouts will either purchase food for Saturday evening if they are
preparing a patrol meal. Otherwise, each Scout must bring their own
food for Saturday's dinner.
Adults must bring all their own food. There will be no food
purchased or brought for the adults.
See the attached Additional Backpacking Information document for
more information.
Special dietary restrictions: Everyone is on their own on
this trip.
Transportation
We need to minimize the vehicles on this trip because of the
shuttling involve. FILL EVERY SEAT WITH A
SEAT BELT.
Coordinate with other drivers if you are coming up Saturday
morning to eliminate or minimize cars that need to be shuttled.
Drivers you need room for some backpacks and gear for you and your
passengers in your vehicle. We won't be taking a trailer on this trip,
however, there will be room in one of the trucks for packs that won't
fit in your vehicle. Drivers and their passengers should be doing the
same long or short hike so they stay together for the weekend. Don't
mix long and short hikers in the same vehicle if it can be avoided.
Click to view the Suggested
Driving Directions(updated
18 October). Download, print, and bring the latest
directions. The directions include directions for the
various shuttles that need to happen during the weekend.
Download your information for offline use. There will not be
internet along the entire route.
Carpooling:
All parents are highly encouraged to volunteer to drive on at least
one of the trips this fall. This qualifies as a long trip.
All adults attending the trip, and parents willing to drive scouts
but not camping, should confirm whether they will be driving scouts at
least one week before the trip when they register for the camping
trip. You should still complete theonline registration process
after 26 October if 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.
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.
Mrs. Amy Madsen will be offering a three part Citizenship in Society merit
badge course in January 2026. If you would like to take this merit badge
course and have special scheduling requests, contact Mrs Madsen and she
will try to accommodate them. Her contact information is in the troop
roster.
Summer Camp, 23 July - 2 August 2026, SAVE THE DATES
We will be traveling to Camp Rotary in Clare, Michigan for our 2026 Summer
Camp. We need volunteers to help plan and execute the trip. We are
especially looking for several people to help with the logistics,
including travel, lodging, and activity arrangements to/from camp.
High Adventure Trips to Philmont and Sea Base in 2026, Sign Up for
Crews
We have two crews who will going to Philmont from 17 June - 1 July
2026.
We will also have two crews going to Sea Base. One will be gone from
and 14-20 July 2026 and the other from 14-20 August 2026 participating
in a Reef Sailing Adventure.
Contact Mr. Boutilier to sign up for these trips.
Additional Resources for Scouts, Parents, and Adults
Please visit the Resources page under the Information menu
above for additional information about Troop 497 programs and
activities.