Troop 497 Announcements

Last Update: 19 March 2025. Click your browser's refresh button to ensure you are looking at the most recent update to this page. It is updated several times most weeks. Click underlined text to follow the link to additional information.

Summer Camp Information

Summer Camp Information will appear under the Information/Major Events page of this web site as it becomes available or changes. Generally this page will have an announcement about any new major information for about two weeks. The Major Events page is the repository for all the detailed information that can be shared publicly and that information will continue to grow as we get nearer to summer camp. Any private information will be sent in the troop emails. Currently the major Events page has information about passports, medicals, medications, and payments.

Troop Meeting, Thursday, 20 March, 7:30-9:00 PM, Multipurpose Room

Join us on every Thursday evening for our Troop Meetings in the Multipurpose Room of St. Joseph School. Check these announcements for any updates.

Walkersville Watershed, 21-23 March 2025, register online now and pay at Troop Meeting

Please register to participate using the Online Event Registration Form and pay the Treasurer at a Troop meeting.

Our next camping trip is to Walkersville Watershed in Walkersville, MD. We camped at Walkersville previously in March 2024. Check out the photographs from that trip.

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 $20 for Scouts and $10 Adults. Pay the troop treasurer at a Troop meeting.

General Information

The main activities for the weekend are Pioneering and a Cooking Competition
The scouts will be building pioneering projects in the afternoon after learning the pioneering skills in the morning.There will also be a dutch oven competition in the evening.
Check this link for a Weekend Personal Clothing and Gear List.
Cold Weather Tips - read this document before going camping this weekend and you may discover a tip or two to make your weekend more enjoyable.
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. There is a pavilion, which we may have access to use, but no enclosed buildings. 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.Turn your menus into Mr. Michels by 13 March.
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.

Adult Menu

Check back closer to the camping trip.

Transportation

Please register to drive using the Online Event Registration Form.
These are the suggested driving directions. The route is 53 miles and should take about 1 hour depending on traffic.
This is a Campsite Map with the campsites numbers. In 2024 we were in sites 1070 and 1011 and had use of the Pavilion. Check with the troop leadership closer to the camping trip or back here if we know in time to post the information.
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.

Eagle Court of Honor, Sunday, 6 April, 2-6 pm, Multipurpose Room, St. Joseph School

Sunday, April 6, 2025, 2-6 p.m.
Where: Multi Purpose Room, St. Joseph’s Church
Cost: $15 per person ($7 for children 10 and under)

The Troop 497 Court of Honor will take place on Sunday, 6 April, from 2 pm to 6 pm, in the Multipurpose Room of St. Joseph's School. This is our opportunity to honor Troop 497's newest group of Eagle Scouts, as well as celebrate all troop members' newest advancements and merit badges earned. The event will include a dinner and dessert and will be a special, not to be missed event. To reserve your tickets, fill out the attached form and bring it with payment to the Troop meetings between now and 27 March. If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy Madsen at 410 440 6313 or acoatesmadsen@gmail.com. Thank you!

SCOUT & ADULT HELP NEEDED

Sign up today to help with the April 6 2025 Spring Court of Honor. Use this link to access the SignUpGenius form: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4BAAAB28A02-55618164-april.

Their are opportunities for Scouts and parents to help with set up, clean up, and during the event. Questions: reach out to Amy Madsen at acoatesmadsen@gmail.com.

Passports Required for Summer Camp at Haliburton Scout Reserve in Ontario, Canada

Everyone traveling into Canada and returning to the US should have a Passport Book valid at the time of entry. Visit this US Department of State web site for information on obtaining a passport book. Don't get a Passport Card - it is not valid for international travel by air which may be necessary in the event of an emergency. Apply NOW, it takes time to obtain a passport and is much more expensive if you need it quickly.

A Birth Certificate is required to apply for your passport. Obtain a birth certificate NOW if you don't have one that meets these requirements. It must have the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state which issued it.

All Scouts and adult leaders will need to provide a copy of the identification (picture) page of your passport as backup.

Please send us your Summer Camp 2024 photos

Eric Reynolds is collecting pictures from Summer Camp 2024 (June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation).

Scouts and adults can send Eric ejreynolds518@gmail.com a link to their photos.

Emails from BAC concerning Registration Expiring

Please disregard any emails you may receive from the Baltimore Area Council concerning scout or adult registrations expiring.
All scout and adult leaders registration fees that were due at the end of 2024 were paid by the troop in the middle of December.

The Baltimore Area Council is in the process of updating their electronic system.

Eric Reynolds is collecting pictures from Summer Camp 2024 (June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation).

Scouts and adults can send Eric ejreynolds518@gmail.com a link to their photos.

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.