This page contains resources and general information about Troop 497 for Scouts, Adult Leaders, and Parents.
Last Update: 3 July 2025 Click your browser's refresh button to ensure you are looking at the most recent update to this page. Click underlined text to follow the link to additional information.

Merit Badges

Changes to Merit Badges

Revised 16 June 2025

Adult Merit Badge Counselors

Updated 3 July 2025

If you are wanting to become a Merit Badge Counselor, or update your list of Merit Badges, please follow the process outlined here: https://baltimorescouting.org/gunpowderfalls/meritbadgecounselors/

Annual Renewal of Merit Badge Counselors

All Merit Badge Counselors must confirm their registration annually. If you do not respond to the District Merit Badge Dean (meritbadgedean@gunpowderfallsbsa.org) seeking your continued interest, your Counselor position may be dropped and need to be to re-registered.

Creating and Managing Zoom Meetings for Troop 497

This presentation has information on creating and managing Troop 497 Zoom meetings for increased security and efficiency. It is, in part, a response to hackers bombing Zoom meetings. Please follow these recommendations for all Zoom meetings associated with Troop 497 including Troop Committee, PLC, Thursday to First Class, and Merit Badge meetings.

Help us keep contact information up to date

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.

Instagram Account Notifications

Added 29 June 2025

We will no longer be using X “Twitter”. We will continue to communicate with our parents through social media.  If you have not already done so, we will be asking everyone to sign up for an Instagram account and subscribe to the Troop’s notification page.   Please use the following QR code to sign up.

 

This is totally free and will save much time trying to notify everyone by phone.  Notifications can be received on your email, cell phone text message, or both.  It will be our intent to send messages for important and timely information.  This is a totally free service.

Sign Up to Receive Troop Committee Updates

If you would like to receive Troop Committee email updates, please notify Ken Krach.

BSA Medical Form for Scouts and Adult Leaders

Updated 19 May 2022

An annual physical is required for Scouts and Adult Leaders participating in events lasting 72 continuous hours and resident campers. That includes everyone going to summer camp.

• Everyone must complete the Annual Health and Medical Record for these events
• Parents complete Parts A, B1, and B2.
• The Participant must sign on Part A.
• The parents must sign on Parts A and B2.
• Your doctor performs the annual physical and completes and signs Part C. YOUR DOCTOR MUST SIGN ON THIS FORM.
• Please make sure to complete the section on immunizations.

• This is a a link to a fillable pdf Annual Health and Medical Record with information specific to Troop 497 pre-filled in. We recommend using the free Acrobat Reader DC to fill in the form or print it and fill in in with a pen. Here is a BSA Information and FAQs Datasheet you can read which provides additional information.


• If you already used the standard medical form without the Troop 497 specific information then open the form in the previous bullet and copy the Troop 497 information to your existing Health Record.


• This is a link to the national BSA Annual Health and Medical Record site. You can read additional FAQs and other related information on the BSA site. We recommend you download the Troop 497 version of the Annual Health and Medical Record using the link in the earlier bullet. Use the material in the section under "Are You Going to Camp?" if you decide to download the Annual Health and Medical Record from this BSA web site.

See the Information/Major events page for more information about completing medical information for summer camp 2022.

Troop 497 Handbook  

Must reading for every Scout and Adult. This handbook explains the workings of Troop 497. You will learn about Troop meetings, camping trips, advancement and many more activities relating to our Troop.

Troop 497 Song and Cheer

Sign up to drive Scouts to camping trips

Each Scout Family is required to drive Scouts on one long camping trip or two short trips each year. Sign up to drive Scouts using the link in the events page or the announcement for each trip. 

2023-2024 Parents Meeting Presentation

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

• 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

Personal Safety Awareness Sessions (formerly known as the Cyber Chip)

* Zoom Personal Safety Awareness Sessions Before Summer Camp *

For those scouts that need the Personal Safety Awareness for either the Scout or Star ranks now is the time to complete them.

There will be two Personal Safety Awareness Sessions held over Zoom before summer camp, the first on Monday, July 7th and one on Monday, July 14th. The sessions will start at 7:30pm. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82998319725 (click). It is required that you watch the videos listed on the BSA website below before joining the session. See details below.

Monthly boards of review for Star and Life

Monthly boards of review for Star and Life are held during the first Troop meeting of each month. A scout who would like to plan a review must contact Mr. Robert Bando, to schedule the Board of Review at least one week ahead of time. You will need to be in full uniform, have your Scout Handbook, dues paid in full, and merit badges confirmed.

Religious Emblems Programs

Troop 497 supports programs for Scouts to earn religious emblems for several different faiths. Click on this document to read information on earning the religious emblems for your faith and for the contact information for Troop 497's Religious Emblems Counselor.

United Way Contributions

The Parents Club of Troop 497 directed donation number for the United Way is #7537. Use this number is you want your donation to go the Parents Club of Troop 497.

Troop 497 Adult Leaders Handbook 

Must reading for every adult working with the Scouts or who wants to work with Scouts. This handbook explains the dos and don'ts for adults. It covers most of the items you will need to know to join us on an outdoor activity from camping to a day trip.

Updated Youth Protection Training - MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL ADULT LEADERS and recommended for any adult camping with the scouts

An updated Scouts BSA youth protection training is available for staff, leaders and parents (Youth Protection Y01). The training includes a three-module course and a Certification Test that all leaders are required to complete this training annually (even though it says online that the training is good for two years).  View the instructions for taking the new course and 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 Adam Spence.

Adult leaders are also required to have current Youth Protection Training provided by the Archdiocese. You can contact Jenn Reedholm (jreedholm@gmail.com) to check on your Virtus status Click Virtus Online for the link to this training. Log in to the site with your account and password or click the "First-Time Registrant" button to set up a new account and take the training. Contact Adam Spence with any questions and email him a copy of your completed certificate.

All Merit Badge Counselors Must Register/Re-register with National BSA

All adults who are, or want to be, Merit Badge Counselors must register/re-register with National BSA and be entered into the BSA database of Merit Badge Counselors. This is important because failing to register could invalidate a Scout's Merit Badge and prevent a Scout from having the badge accepted on an Eagle application. This is a new requirement as of June 2019. Here is the information to guide you through this process.

• BSA Merit Badge Counselor Guide with general information for all Merit Badge Counselors
• Troop 497 specific instructions on registering as Merit Badge Counselor
• Adult Application Form showing areas you must complete on your Application
• Adult Application Form
• Merit Badge Counselor Application Form

National BSA Criminal Background Checks - Responses Required by All Adult Leaders

The BSA will now also perform periodic rechecks of criminal backgrounds to support the continued safety of youth in our programs. Registered adult leaders should have received an email with this information in October 2019 but in case you have not received this information and plan on registering this year you need to complete this request. Once you have printed and signed the form please give it to Adam Spence.