Last Update: 27 March 2020. Click your browser's refresh button to ensure you are looking at the most recent update to this page.
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Corona-virus Update

The number one priority of Troop 497, the Baltimore Area Council and the Boy Scouts of America is the health and safety of our youth, leaders, staff, and families. The Troop leadership is implementing plans to continue scouting activities this spring while following the state and national directives on gatherings and social distances. Please understand this is a very fluid situation that may change significantly and quickly.   The Troop leadership is committed to returning to normal Scouting activities as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.  This website will be updated as soon as information is available. We will also send out communications via email and twitter. Check the resource page under Information above for instructions on receiving emails and tweets. If you change your e-mail address, phone numbers, or information on the roster – NOTIFY us of the change – just send an email to moosemen@verizon.net with the updated information.

Troop 497 Virtual Meeting, Thursday, 2 April, 7:30 - 8:30 PM

• Please join our meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. This link may change between now and the meeting- check back.
  https://www.gotomeet.me/ScoutTroop497/troop-497-parent--scout-virtual-meeting


• Before Thursday night, follow these more detailed instructions if you are new to GoToMeeting or on a computer you have not used with GoToMeeting before (you may see slightly different instructions) to set up the GoToMeeting app on your computer so you won't have trouble during the meeting:
• Click on the link above.
• Click on "Join my Meeting" when button appears.
• Select "Go to Opener" and click "Open Link" button if you have the app installed, otherwise, download and install the app and then get back to this point.
• You should see a screen that states: "Here's how you'll appear in the meeting" with icons to mute/unmute microphone and camera.
• Click the gear icon in the upper right corner of you video preview.
• Click preference at the bottom of the right column to select, adjust and test your microphone, speakers, and web cam.
• Click the "Advanced" button next to the camera selection to make adjustments include brightness and zooming if your camera supports them.
• Close out of all your windows when you are done


• New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
  https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/843502077


• You can also dial in using your phone without using a computer. United States: +1 (224) 501-3412   Access Code: 843-502-077

We are making changes to these previously scheduled events:

• April camping trip cancelled


• April Court of Honor cancelled. We will investigate the possibility of having the Court of Honor in early August.


• May camping trip cancelled


• June Car Wash fund raising is cancelled. We may still hold a car wash for the community this summer if possible.


• June camping trip be assessed in May and may be cancelled


• Summer Camp will remain on the schedule for now, however, there is a chance it will be cancelled either by the BSA or our own choice. We will make a decision by 1 May in order to have our airline tickets fully refunded. If Summer Camp is cancelled your deposits will be refunded in full.
  

Troop Meetings

We believe it is important for our Scouts and Adult Leaders to stay engaged with Scouting during the challenging months ahead. One of the most important and consistent ways to stay engaged is to continue having Troop meetings. Since we can not meet in person we will having on line meetings. We conducted an adult planning online meeting on Monday, 23rd March and it was very successful. We will use the same technology for our Troop meetings.

• On line meetings will take place on Thursday evenings from 7:30-8:30 pm. We will use GoToMeeting to start. It requires a computer and a browser, However, the experience is better if you install their app on your computer. When we post the links we will post additional information. A microphone and a camera will you to be heard and seen during the meeting. We may also have a phone line available for people to use for audio instead of the computer. More details to follow.


• Meetings will be planned and executed by Adults and Seniors working together.


• Our first meeting will be on Thursday, March 26th and will be for all SCOUTS, PARENTS, and ADULTS LEADERS. This will be an informative meeting where we will discuss upcoming plans and solicit ideas from everyone involved. See the details above.


• Our first actual Troop meeting will be on 2 April.

1st Thursday

We will continue our 1st Thursday program for new Scouts with on line meetings. We are expecting a large number of new Scouts joining us this spring and we want to continue this vital program to help jump start their Scouting experience. We don't have the details worked out yet but we we will probably allocate specific time slots for each rank and may add a second session to accommodate the change in format. You will need a microphone and camera in order to more actively participate and facilitate learning.

Merit Badges

• We will continue to offer Merit Badges. The Scouts and counselors will meet online with a third person present. These could be conducted using any video phone or computer app that works for the counselor and Scout.We may also hold group merit badges sessions in on line meetings.
• We will post a list of merit badge counselors on this web site. We are putting the list together now and hope to offer additional badges that can be done more easily from home.
• We will send out an updated roster with a future troop mailing so you will have the counselors' contact information.
• We will have an adult act as a point of contact for merit badges to answer any questions and get you started.

Patrol Meetings

• We can make the same GoToMeeting software availalble for Patrols to use to hold Patrol Meetings or select another online meeting app.
• And adult will be part of the meeting to help setup and provide technical assistance.
• We are still investigating this and will provide updates.

PASS

• We will continue to test Scouts for PASS. The Scouts and PASS masters will meet online with a third person present. These could be conducted using any video phone or computer app that works for the counselor and Scout. We have not worked out the details yet but we expect the Scouts will need to furnish their own equipment for some activities including rope and poles for lashings and knots. Some PASS testing may still be done in person with appropriate social distancing.

April Camping Trip, cancelled

Eagle Court of Honor, 26 April, cancelled

Summer Camp 2020 Deposits

To accommodate Scouts and Leaders who are making 2020 Summer Camp payments during the period while Troop meetings are suspended for the corona-virus, checks can be mailed to the Treasurer at the following address:

Mr. Kevin Shaffer
119 Ridgefield Road
Lutherville, MD 21093

Planning is being finalized for the Troop 497 July 2020 Summer Camp trip to Ben Delatour Scout Ranch in Colorado.

• Scouts and Leaders will fly to Camp departing on Saturday July 18, 2020 and returning Friday July 31, 2020. The troop will be met by buses that will provide to transportation Ben Delatour Scout Ranch for the first week of the trip. After the week at Camp the Troop will enjoy a fun filled week of touring in the beautiful South Westernern US. Touring attractions will include the Pioneer Museum, Ouray Hot Springs, Mesa Verde and the Grand Canyon as well as white-water rafting in Taylor Canyon.
  
  
• The cost for Summer Camp 2020 is $1,400 per Scout/ $1,200 per Leader including airfare (subject to change based upon transportation costs and final activity itinerary).
  
  
• It is important that you confirm your trip participation commitment by making the initial $250 deposit. Deposits need to be received to register Scouts for their preferred merit badge programs.

Please make trip payments to the Troop Treasurer for all Scouts and Leaders according to the following schedule:

Summer Camp 2020 Information for Adults

• Mr. Anderson for the BSA adult leader application forms,
• Mr. Michels for the required Troop 497 background check information,
• Mr. Spence for information related to the required BSA youth protection training and Archdiocese youth leader training information (both are on line). There is a link to the BSA YPT on the Resources page of this site under the Information menu.

In the future, new Summer Camp information will appear on this announcement page for a few weeks. Relevant information will also appear on the Major Events page of this site under the Information menu and will remain there until after camp or when no longer relevant. Please check both regularly between now and summer camp. Be sure to refresh your browser pages to see the latest version of the page.

2021 High Adventure Trip to Florida Sea Base

Plans are underway for a June 2021 high adventure trip to Florida Sea Base in the Florida Keys.See the Major Events page for more information.