Troop Announcements - MassJam and BSA Youth Protection Training

Hello Troop 20!

We have a couple of brief announcements for everyone to be aware of.

MassJam 2018

• MassJam is coming up quick!  It will be held Columbus Day weekend, October 6 - 8, at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds.
• We need a headcount now, for everyone planning to attend.  If you plan to attend MassJam, and everyone should try to go, we need you to please RSVP to Mrs. Swindle no later than Tuesday, 9/11 via email or phone.  For your convenience:
• Email:  sherriswindle@verizon.net
• Phone:  1-508-930-4889

• IMPORTANT:  If you RSVP that you will attend, you are responsible for the minimum $35 entrance fee, even if you later decide to not go.  No exceptions.  This is because the Troop must pay the entrance fees ahead of time and MassJam will not be issuing any refunds.  So, please check your calendars and make sure you are available to attend that weekend.

Adult Youth Protection Training

• Earlier this year, the BSA rolled out the next generation of their Youth Protection Training program.  As a result, if you have not taken YPT since February 1st, you must retake the course.
• All adult leaders are required to re-take the YPT program online, by 10/1/18.

Remember, our first Troop meeting will be Thursday, September 20th.  We look forward to seeing all of our Scouts and their families again after the long summer break!

General Announcements - August 23, 2018

Hello Troop 20!

A couple of announcements regarding events to keep on your calendar.

1) Boy Scouts of America Month at Bass Pro Shops
Our local Bass Pro Shop in Foxboro, MA is participating in this annual event and will help Scouts work toward the following merit badges.
Current openings are available for:

• Fishing - September 13th, 19th, and 25th
• Rifle - September 11th, 20th, and 26th
• Fish & Wildlife Management - September 27th

Classes are taught from 6-8pm and space is limited so call 1-508-216-2000 now to register.  This is a great opportunity for newer Scouts!

2) Popcorn
Our 2018 Popcorn Campaign is underway!  Order forms will be available at the first Troop 20 meeting on September 20th.  Scouts will receive credit for 35% of their total TAKE ORDER toward their individual Scout accounts that they can apply to any Troop 20 event!

Want to get started now?  Check out www.trails-end.com to register now for an online account to share with family and friends...

A few announcements - August 14, 2018

Hello Troop 20!

We hope all of our Scouts who attended summer camp this year had a great time!  Remember to check out pictures from this year's camp on our Troop 20 Facebook page.

With summer camp behind us, it's time to turn our attention to the new Scouting year coming fast, so we have a few announcements to share with everyone.

1) Parents/Planning Meeting - We are having a meeting this Saturday, August 18, at 2:00pm at Sacred Heart Parish Hall.  The purpose of the meeting is to plan this years major events for the Troop.  We strongly encourage all Scouts and Parents to attend if you are available so that you may participate in planning a great Scouting year for Troop 20!

2) MassJam 2018 - On Columbus Day weekend (Oct 6-8), thousands of Scouts (Including Troop 20!), Webelos, and Venturers from Massachusetts and surrounding states will gather at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds for 3 days of fun, exhibits, challenging activities, competitions, entertainment, and fellowship.  For those Scouts who have never attended a National Jamboree, this is a mini-Jamboree right here on the Cape.  We hope everyone will be attending!

More details will follow in the coming weeks as they come into the Troop.

3) Public Service Announcement to help one of our Scouts.

Troop 20...….sadly, we need everyone to spread the word and keep a diligent eye out for us.  After working at Camp Squanto all summer, Alex Cassady’s car was broken into and amongst the many items that were taken were a clothes basket with ALL OF HIS UNIFORMS.

The Cassady's are asking everyone to be on the look out for:

• Venture Shirts with 2017 Jambo patches and Naragansett CSP - crew 5252
• Scout Shirts with 2013 Jambo patches and Anawon CSP - troop 106
• A Scout shirt with the Tulpe anniversary patch and NYLT CSP - troop 20
• A Scout shirt with Tulpe 245 James Bond flap and Anawon CSP
• A Brother Hood sash with NOAC 2015 badge 

All of the shirts have the Rank Badge and position patches affixed with Police issue Black Velcro.  His ipad, and street clothes and TV can be replaced but his eagle and Jambo uniforms cannot.

If you see or hear of anyone trying to sell or trade these uniforms (and a dozen class B’s from troops that attended Squanto over the last 5 yrs - including Frisco TX) please contact Mr. Cassady or a leader from the Troop to help Alex get them back.

4) FOS (On behalf of Joe Livingston)

Friends of Scouting is when Scouting families contribute financially to support the Narragansett Council and local Scouting programs.  All gifts are tax-deductible.  Please DONATE ONLINE today to help us expand Scouting's impact on families and communities.  Please make sure to include your unit number and community in the notes section so we can properly allocate your generous donation to the right unit.

This gift allows us to make sure that these highlights from 2017 continue throughout 2018:

• 1200 low income and disadvantaged youth registered in Scoutreach
• $145,000 in camperships provided ensuring all youth got a camp experience
• 81,000+ hours of community service
• 217,747 lbs of food collected through Scouting for Food
• 325 Scouts earned the Eagle Rank

We can't do this without YOU! Thank you for being a financial partner with us as we deliver a thriving Scouting program!

Thank you again for all of your support of Scouting!

-- Joe Livingston

That's all for now.  Have a great week everyone!!

Summer Camp 2018 Updates - August 1st, 2018

Hello Troop 20!

This past Monday evening, there was a pre-camp meeting for leaders held at Camp Squanto.  We have a few time / schedule updates for everyone as a result of that meeting.

UPDATES:

1. Camp Squanto is letting scouts arrive a little earlier so please plan to arrive at Camp Squanto for 12:30pm on Sunday, August 5th, for a 1:00pm check-in time.
2. As noted in the last update, the camp will not start the check-in process for a troop until ALL scouts are present with their gear in the parking lot staging area.  PLEASE BE ON TIME.  You do not want to be the person holding up the troop :-)
3. Wednesday evening is family night, if you would like to visit your scout.  It is not required.  It is recommended that families arrive in the 6:00 - 6:30pm range.  The Apache Relay will start at 7:00pm.  Scouts will eat dinner as normal in the dining hall and will then go to their stations for the relay.
4. We encourage all parents to join the Camp Squanto Facebook page and Instagram social media apps as the camp will be posting pictures from events throughout the week and the Apache Relay will be streamed live.
5. The camp theme this year is 'Jungle Safari'.  We encourage scouts to bring things they may have to decorate the entry gate to our camp site.
6. Please remember to bring proper footwear with a spare pair (i.e. wear sneakers and bring hiking boots), and shower shoes are highly recommended.
7. It will be hot this coming week so please do not forget water bottles and sunscreen.

A few reminders that were already sent out but are worth mentioning again:

• Check-in on Sunday will consist of; Gathering of baggage / footlockers, medical line, swim test, and tent inspections as the scouts settle into the week.  A camp guide will gather up the troop around 5:15pm for opening ceremonies.
• Parents need to be present until all of the Scouts have completed check-in.  We would hate for parents to have already left when it's realized that a signature is missing on some paperwork, so please plan accordingly.
• Scouts need to be wearing their class A's when they arrive with swimsuits on underneath because they will head straight to the waterfront for their swim test after check-in.  They should have a daypack with them that has a towel in it.  Yes, we have had scouts show up without a towel!
• Any prescription meds must be in their original bottles with identifying information.  No baggies of pills are allowed!
• Any over the counter medications must be brand new and unopened in the box/bottle.
• Medications that are not on the BSA medical form will not be accepted.

That's all for now.  We'll see all of our summer campers this Sunday!