Welcome to Troop 497 in Cockeysville, Maryland - Joining Information

Boys can join Scouts BSA Troop 497 in Cockeysville, Maryland, if they have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old, OR have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old, OR are age 11 but have not reached age 18. Adults, 18 and older, may join as Adult Leaders. We have posted the information and all forms you need to join via the mail on our Registration page. If you would like to join our online meetings as a guest, please send your full name and why you would like to join our meetings to webmaster497@gmail.com so we can add you to the approved list before the meeting (preferably a day or two ahead).

October Virtual camping Trip, 24-25 October

The Troop has scheduled another virtual camping trip in October. This will be similar to our previous virtual camp out with more fun activities planned including games and contests with prizes:

• The top 3 scouts with the most points will earn a prize, and the patrol with the most collective points will earn a prize as well.
• Participation in the program will allow for scouts to earn a custom virtual camping patch.
• There will be a Talent Show on Saturday night, and a reward for whoever wins.
• There will also be a Scout's Own service on Sunday morning

The first Zoom check-in will occur at 1 PM on Saturday afternoon, and the final Zoom check-in/Scout's Own will be Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.

• We ask that you camp out overnight on the 24th in your yard or other location of your choosing.
• You may camp with other members of your family.
• Scouts can satisfy the cooking requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class on this weekend if they meet all of the requirements and document their cooking with photos and/or videos. More information to follow.
• Email Mr. Brando or Mr. Krach to arrange a time and place to borrow a Troop 497 tent if needed.

Virtual Camping Trip Program, Schedule, Texas Tough Star Competition, and Virtual Camping Patch Detailed Information

Download and print either the Word version, ,  or the PDF version, , of this document before the camping trip. You will need to complete portions of the document and have your parents sign off activities in order to earn points and your patch. Read it ahead of time so you are prepared!

Please update your Zoom App to 5.3.2+ before joining the meeting - older versions are not working properly with breakout rooms
Join the Zoom Meetings by SIGNING IN TO ZOOM FIRST then entering the Meeting ID: 829 3951 9371

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.
• See the Resources page for information about joining our online meetings using the ID above.

Troop Meeting, Thursday, 29 October, 7:30 - 8:30 Halloween Costume Contest

We are having a Halloween Costume Contest during the Troop Meeting - make sure your video is working before the meeting so you can participate. If you don't have video available upload a picture that will display instead.

• All costumes MUST be homemade (if you have any questions about whether something is allowed, contact the SPL at CTM2003@outlook.com)
  
• Categories that will be judged are:

• Most Original/Creative
• Best Co-op Costume (done with a friend, something like Batman and Robin)
• Best Sports Costume
• Funniest Costume
• Scariest Costume

• Sign up on Signup Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DA8AE23AAFBC25-troop
• The winners from each category will earn a prize!
  

• Alternate phone audio 1 929 205 6090.
• See the Resources page for information about joining our online meetings using the ID above.

Sign Up for Advancement

There are now 3 ways to move forward with merit badges.

• Audience:  Scouts working to advance to the rank of First Class
• Link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084da4a72ba0ff2-first   
• Class Sessions:  Offerings are on a rotating basis and are available for sign-up between Thursday Path to First Class sessions.  The sign-up is available a week before each bi-weekly meeting and close the day before the meeting.
• Request Adult Leader to Review Requirement(s): Scouts can request to review specific requirements with an Adult Leader during Thursday Path to First Class

• Audience:  All Scouts
• Link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084da4a72ba0ff2-troop    
• Class Sessions:  All offerings are for merit badge classes in a group format

• Audience:  All Scouts
• Link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084da4a72ba0ff2-schedule
• Class Sessions:  All offerings are for merit badge classes in a 1-Scout to 2-Adult format

If you have questions email Mr. Grim at jessgrim@verizon.net

Borrowed Troop Tents

If anyone has not returned a Troop tent borrowed from the last virtual camping trip please do the following:

• If you have a Troop tent and will be using it for the next virtual camping trip in October please let Mr. Brando (rbrando1960@gmail.com) know you have the tent.
• If you do not need the tent please return it to the Troop as soon as possible. Email Mr. Brando (rbrando1960@gmail.com) or Mr. Krach (kf62krach@gmail.com) to arrange a time and place to return Troop 497 tents.
• If you need a tent for the Virtual Camping Trip email Mr. Brando (rbrando1960@gmail.com) or Mr. Krach (kf62krach@gmail.com) to arrange a time and place to pick up a Troop 497 tent.
• All borrowed tents need to be returned to the troop after the next virtual camping trip as we need to clean and isolate the tents prior to the camping trips in November.
  Email Mr. Brando (rbrando1960@gmail.com) or Mr. Krach (kf62krach@gmail.com) to arrange a time and place to return Troop 497 tents.

November Camping Trips

Parents: parents must provide transportation for their scouts to and from camp in order to meet Covid19 requirements. They should travel directly from home and NOT meet at the shed.

Logistics:

1. Everyone should arrive on Saturday morning by 10:00 am. We will depart camp on Sunday at 1200 noon.
2. Scouts should have breakfast Saturday prior to heading to camp. Everyone should bring their own water bottles for the weekend.
3. Patrols will prepare the following food for their patrol and their two adults. The troop will reimburse the patrol member who purchased the food for their adult's food. Meals will be cooked and consume per Covid19 requirements including social distancing.
1. Saturday: lunch, dinner, cracker barrel
2. Sunday: breakfast
4. Adults will bring the tents and gear for the weekend for all patrols camping and adults if requested. Scouts must tent alone or with family members.
5. Masks will be required when within 6 feet of anyone. Please bring at least two masks with you.
6. Please complete Covid-19 Questionnaire prior to arrival and turn it in upon arrival.
7. Temperature checks will be taken upon arrival - parents must NOT leave prior to temperature check.
8. Extra adults are responsible for themselves including their tenting arrangements, gear (including cooking) and food.
   

• Patrol Leaders should work with their patrol members so that Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class cooking requirements can completed during the trip.
• Scouts should be prepared to work on other rank requirements that require in person supervision.
• PASS meals can be cooked during this trip and Patrol Leaders should coordinate their Patrol's dinner with Scouts wanting to cook PASS meals.
• Program to be announced.

7-8 November at Camp Oest, Broad Creek

Campsite - Baden Powell: Scorpions, Wolverines, extra adults

Campsite - Thompson Seton: Narwhal, Thunderhawks

Campsite - Urner Goodman: Cobra

Check back for directions and maps.

14-15 November at Susquehannock State Park, PA

Campsite - A1: Eagles

Campsite - A2: Sharks

Campsite - D (between road and fields): Gnu (furthest away), Tigers(closest to the top of the road), and extra Adults in between patrols

Check back for directions and maps.

December Camping

Trip:

Senior Surprise – this will be a day trip on Saturday, December 5th – Location Broad Creek, Dan Beard site.

Parents: we need parents to provide transportation for the scouts to and from camp in order to meet Covid19 requirements. We invite parents to spend the day and help with the Senior Surprise events. Hopefully we will have a lot of parent help so the adults will be able to work at a station part of the day, then have time to walk around and observe all of the different activity sites and see the challenges to scouts will have in order to win points for their patrol.

Logistics:

1. Arrival 8:30 A.M. - Departure 5:30 P.M.. This is a day trip.
2. Scouts should have breakfast prior to arriving at camp. Bring a lunch for Saturday as well as a couple of water bottles.
3. Masks will be required when within 6 feet of anyone. Please bring at least two masks with you.
4. Please complete Covid-19 Questionnaire prior to arrival and turn it in upon arrival.
5. Temperature checks will be taken upon arrival - parents must NOT leave prior to temperature check.

Program:

• Day long Patrol competition - program to be announced.

PASS

• Any First Class or higher Scouts interested in working on PASS, please contact Mr. Kakel to schedule the date and time for any item you want to work on. hkakel@verizon.net.
  
• PASS meals can be cooked during the November camping trips.

Adult Registration and Youth Protection Training

All adults are required to re-register with the BSA each year and to renew their Youth Protection Training. Please do this as soon as possible, definitely by November 15th so we can finalize the registration information package and submit to the BSA by thanksgiving. More information is available on the Registration page under the Information Menu above. Any questions please contact Adam Spence. adam@spencefirm.com.

Parents Meeting 

This is the presentation from the Parents Meeting of 11 October 2020.  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 2020-2021 program and objectives, summer camps, parents' commitment, high adventure programs, leadership, Covid-19 considerations, and more.

Merit Badge Counselors

See the Resources page under the Information menu for list of merit badge counselors and additional information about working on merit badges.

2021 High Adventure Trips to Northern Tier and Florida Sea Base

See the Major Events page under the Information menu for information about these two high adventure trips scheduled for the summer of 2021.