Last Update: 22 October 2021. Click
your browser's refresh button to ensure you are looking at the most
recent update to this page.It is update several
times most weeks. Click underlined text to follow the link to
additional information.
Annual Parents Meeting Presentation
This is the presentation from the
Parents Meeting of 17 October 2021. Please contact any
adult leader if you have questions about anything in the presentation or
would like to volunteer to help out Troop 497. The presentation includes
the 2021-2022 program and objectives, summer camps, parents' commitment,
high adventure programs, leadership, Covid-19 considerations, and more.
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!
Community Clean Up Day, Saturday, 23 October 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Volunteers are needed to help with replanting fall flowers in the
flower boxes around Towson. Meet at the Towson Chamber of Commerce
office at 8:45. 44 W Chesapeake Ave in Towson. Your volunteer hours will
count towards your service hours for ranks.
Call Mr. Murphy at 410-925-1283 if interested. Please leave a message
with your name and phone number if he does not answer.
Fall Court of Honor: 28 October 7:30 Multipurpose Room
Our Fall Court of Honor will take place in the Multipurpose Room in
lieu of our regular troop meeting. Parents and siblings are encourage to
come. Scouts will receive awards earned since our last Court of Honor
including all awards and merit badges earned at summer camp. Scouts and
adult leaders should be in full Scout uniform. Refreshments will be
served following the Court of Honor.
Since we will meet in person in the Multipurpose Room we will follow
the current Archdiocese Covid-19 protocols which require that everyone
wear a mask.
Anyone staying for the 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.
Backpacking Trip: 30-31 October, one night only
Our next camping trip is a backpacking trip. We will meet on Saturday
morning at Cromwell Valley Park and hike trails within the park and the
adjacent Loch Raven Watershed. We will camp Saturday night within the
park.
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. This
is very different than car camping, which is how we typically camp. Scouts
and adults carry everything they need for the weekend in their backpacks.
On this trip, if you need something, you have to bring it - no one else is
going to bring it for you! It is also an opportunity to complete the
backpacking requirement for PASS and for ranks. Actions required by participants before the trip:
Please sign up for this trip using this link to Google Forms Registration (changed
18 October) and not the link to SignUp Geniusyou
received in an email. If you previously registered with Signup
Genius your information has been transferred and you do not have to
register again.
Please complete the Park's
Assumption Risk and Waiver of Liability Relating to Corona virus
and return to Mrs.
Deborah Herling at a Troop meeting or via email
(dtierney@docsidevet.com)
no later than 28 October.
Read
this six page document full of the information you NEED TO KNOW
for THIS backpacking trip. It covers logistics about THIS
trip. It contains information about the food you should bring and how
it should be packed. There is important information about tents - we
have to make special arrangements because of Covid. There is a list of
patrol and adult group gear and a personal gear list including what
should be in your pack and what you should be wearing. It also covers
cleanliness in the woods.
Print out the Troop 497 sign for your
car if you are staying overnight.
General Information
This trip will be different from past backpacking trips to make
accommodations for the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Saturday we will have two routes for backpacking. The longer
route will be between 10-11 miles. This route is for older Scouts and
Scouts who need it for PASS - you must have completed a
previous troop backpacking trip to take this route. We will also have
a shorter route, between 5-6 miles, for new and younger Scouts.
Provide your preference when you sign up with Signup Genius. The final
determination of which hike you do will be made by the adult trip
leader.
We will all camp together in the park on Saturday night. Special
arrangements are being made so we can camp one person in a tent as
currently required by Scouts BSA.
We will all hike out together a little over a mile on Sunday
morning.
There is no troop cost for this trip only the cost of patrol food.
Don't
purchase a pack for this trip. The troop has some backpacks available in
several sizes to loan out. You can borrow a pack at troop meetings
between now and when we leave. Anyone willing to loan a backpack
should contactMrs. Deborah Herling.
NO UNIFORMS FOR THIS TRIP.
Bring a compass if you have one. You will need a compass if doing
this hike for rank or PASS.
Transportation - IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND DRIVERS
Parents must drive their sons to/from
our camping location.
Everyone should wear a mask when they arrive and have a spare mask
available. Write you name on your mask.
Meet at the overflow parking lot at Cromwell Valley Park Willow
Grove Nature Center (see directions) at 7:45 AM on Saturday, 30
October. Adult and Patrol food and gear will be divided before
we hike. Bring water and your own food for the hike.
Display the Troop 497 sign visible
through your car windshield if you are parking overnight.
Please pick up your son at 11:00 AM on Sunday at the same
location
Here are directions to our meeting location at
Cromwell Valley Park.
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 6090
First Thursday Path to First Class, 4 November, 6-7 PM, Multi-Purpose
Room
The First Thursday meeting will be held on Thursday, 1 July from 6-7
PM in the multi-purpose room. It 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 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.
Bull Roast: Friday, 5 November, 2021 starting at 7 PM
PATROL BASKETS DUE 28 OCTOBER AT TROOP MEETING
The Annual Bull Roast will be held again this year to support Troop
activities and provide an evening of food, drink and fellowship for all
adults. This event is organized as a fund raising event for the Troop
and is a activity of the Parents Club of Troop 497 which is registered
501C3 organization. A portion of your ticket cost is deductible tax
item.
Bull Roast is scheduled for Friday, November 5th, 2021 starting at
7pm
Location: Valley Mansion, Cockeysville
The event will similar to past years, however, this year attendance
will be limited to a maximum of 250 guests. Our last bull Roast
had 340 guests, so anyone who wants to go should plan on purchasing
tickets early.
Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the
time frame and limited seating available
Tickets will be sold only at the troop meetings. Bring your
check to the meeting and get your tickets.
Tickets will be $60 per ticket or $550 for a table of 10.
TV Raffle: we will have the TV raffle again and each scout will be
given TV raffle tickets to sell as in past years.
You do not need to be present at the Bull Roast to win the TV, just
purchase your tickets from a scout who will turn in the ticket drawing
stubs with a person’s name and contact information with the money to
the Troop Bull Roast Committee member at each scout meeting. Whoever
wins the TV will be contacted to arrange for the TV to be delivered.
TV Raffle tickets can also be purchased at the Bull Roast prior to
the drawing in the later part of the evening.
The committee is looking for anyone interested and/or willing to help.
Please contact Rich Koors rkoors@caphealthgroup.com
as soon as possible. Your support of this major fund raising event for the
Troop will be greatly appreciated.
Patrol Leaders Council (PLC), Sunday, 7 November, 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 6090
November Camping Trip, 12-14 November
We will be camping on the Herling's farm for our November camping trip.
Reserve the date and check back for more information.
Cyber Chip Sessions
For those scouts that need the Cyber Chip for either the Scout or Star
ranks now is the time to complete them before going to summer camp. For
those scouts working on Star be aware that you will need to earn the
Cyber Chip again as the one you earned for Scout does
not qualify for the rank of Star.
Please contact Mr. Chris McClelland at mcclelland.scouts@gmail.com
to begin working on the Cyber Chip. He will be setting up working
sessions for those working on it for the rank of Scout at the First
Thursday to First Class meetings. For those working on it for the rank
of Star he will set up time to meet with you at the troop meeting
Please be aware that there are several requirements that require
parental participation. Those requirements will be reviewed during the
first session. Please contact Mr. McClelland with any questions.
Sign Up for Advancement
There are now 3 ways to move forward with merit badges.
1. First Thursday to First Class
Audience: Scouts working to advance to the rank of First Class
and return to Mrs.
Deborah Herling at a Troop meeting or via email
(dtierney@docsidevet.com)
no later than 28 October.