Greetings Troop 455 Families,
It was great to see many of you over the Summer, and it will be even better to share our many escapades and adventures! Probably like many of you, I have been in denial of the fact that Summer is basically over and school begins for many on Monday! Two months for Summer just does not seem adequate nor fair:-(
We are also launching our 2022-23 Troop 455 Program Year in August; and it starts with a bang — lots of opportunities for planning, reconnecting, and participating in a range of activities and outings. Hang with me as there is a lot of information to share with all of you so that we can make the re-entry process smooth and fun! Below are links to our 1-page Program Calendar as well as our more detailed Program Guide — both should be very helpful documents to aid your family calendar planning as well as understanding the overall goals and flow for our Scout year. All of these activities are now loaded in Scoutbook. They are also viewable in our Troop 455 Website. In a later email, I will share some guidance for what and when to reference Scoutbook or the Website for information — each will be used extensively but for different reasons.
2022-23 Troop 455 Program Calendar 1-pager
2022-23 Troop 455 Program Guide
August Highlights: Below is an overview of all of the activities for consideration. Many of these will be communicated via separate dedicated emails and appeals over the coming days. Please check your emails, Scoutbook and RSVP!!!
8/2: PLC Meeting, 7:30p at Haygood. SPL Ethan Polk will be sharing an agenda for this important first gathering for the Scout leadership in the Troop.
8/6: Multiple event day.
9:00a – 3:00p: Parker Pape Eagle Project. Parker is conducting a Red Cross Blood Drive and soliciting volunteers to help him in two shifts. If interested, please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488514
9:30a – 1:30p: Gear Room Clean Up & Inventory. We are partnering up with Pack 17 to clean and fully inventory our gear closet in the Grizzard House garage. SPL Polk will be sharing more details on how you can help. If interested, please RSVP on Scoutbook — https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488121
3:00p: Scout Day at Atlanta United soccer game at Mercedes Benz. We are participating as a Troop to end this busy day with some fun. Please RSVP ASAP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488166 so that we can get a final count and purchase the tickets. Atlanta United has given Scouting a heavy discount for tickets on that afternoon. Should be good fun!
8/7 & 8/14 from 3:30p to 5:00p: Citizenship in Society MB Class. This is the newest MB and also an Eagle-required MB as of 7/1/22. This MB is intended to be facilitated and conducted in small groups at the unit level. If you are interested, please RSVP now at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488067. We will have either 1 or 2 groups of 6-8 depending on the interest level. A separate email will detail the prerequisites as well as the commitment needed to participate.
8/8: Troop Committee Meeting. Meeting is required for all Committee members. However, anyone is welcome to attend.
8/9: Welcome Back/Kickoff Party: Rather than jump right into our regular meeting format, I am hosting the Troop and families to my house for an informal gathering with swimming, games, and most importantly, dinner! We will start at 6:30p on this evening. All Scouts and families are welcome. We will also invite potential new Scouts and we encourage any Scout to invite someone who might be interested in joining our Troop. RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488028.
8/14: Annual Swim Test & Medical Forms. As we did last year, we will be conducting annual swim tests — required for all of those wishing to participate in water activities this year, including the August tubing outing. We are still working to locate a place to host us, so more details on that forthcoming. Please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488043
8/16: Troop Meeting & Parent Orientation. Our first formal meeting in Haygood UMC Fellowship Hall will be on our regular schedule, Tuesday from 7:30p to 9:00p. Simultaneous to the Scout meeting will be a mandatory orientation for all Parents, whether new to the Troop or elder statemen and stateswomen. There is a lot of important information to convey for the Scout year and how we will need your assistance. Please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488055
8/21: Zach Strange Eagle Ceremony. All of the Troop 455 family will be invited to celebrate Zach on achieving the highest rank in Scouting. More details will be sent out by Zach in the coming weeks. But please hold the afternoon of 8/21, time TBD.
8/23: Troop Meeting & Parent Orientation. Our second formal meeting in Haygood UMC Fellowship Hall will be on our regular schedule, Tuesday from 7:30p to 9:00p. This meeting will focus on final planning for the August Tubing Outing and is required for anyone attending that trip. We are also hosting a second Parent Orientation for those who are not able to make the one on 8/16. Please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488093
8/26-8/28: Tubing Outing in Helen, GA. This outing is always one of the Scout’s favorites each year. It is an easy, relaxing and fun way to engage newer and older Scouts. It is also a perfect and easy outing for parents to join — please join us! Again, more information on this outing will be forthcoming in the next week via email, Scoutbook and at www.troop455.net. Please RSVP if interested at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488105.
Other To-Do’s:
* Update Medical Forms: Each Scout must have a current medical form on file. While only parts A&B are required for most of our outings (less than 72 hours), we encourage families to complete all parts of the form. Part C is required for Winter and Summer Camp as well as any High Adventure trip. It is easiest to get it done all at once. Medical forms are good for one year. Medical Form ABC
* Update Scoutbook Profile: We need to make sure that all of our records are current for all Scout families. The best way to do that is to go to your SB Profile, both for the Scout as well as the Parents/Guardians. Please update, where appropriate, your contact information, school and year, notification preferences, etc. We really rely on this information being accurate so that we have the best way to communicate as well as reach folks in emergencies. If you need a refresher on navigating Scoutbook, my.Scouting.org, or other Scout tools, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
* Share Advancement Progress: I know that many Scouts have been busy over the Summer. We want to make sure to record all of the good work which Scouts have done. If you joined us for Camp Rainey Mountain, your records are already loaded in SB. For those who attended Scout camp with another troop as a provisional and/or completed other advancement, training, service work, etc., please make sure that you share your work and documentation with our Advancement Chair, Mr. Moore at dmoore@landadvisors.com. We want to make sure to recognize all of this good work at the Sep 20 Court of Honor.
I warned you that I had a LOT of information to share — thanks for hangin’ with me! We have a great Program year planned and look forward to sharing the year with all of you!
Yours in Scouting,
Brady Lum
Scoutmaster, Troop 455