NEWSLETTER

tuesday, march 15th 

6:30 committee meeting

7:30 troop meeting

troop 77's latest eagle scout

Congratulations to Griffin Higgins, who achieved his Eagle rank on Sunday, March 13th!

Upcoming Eagle Court of Honor

From the SPL


Hi everyone,

I hope our climbing scouts had fun this weekend! It was a bit cold but we survived. This week we are going to be doing our annual golden axe competition. Any use of chemicals to start a fire will disqualify your entire patrol from the golden axe and the golden spoon! Additionally, Mrs. Todd will be sewing again. Make sure to say thank you - we are so lucky to have her!!

See you Tuesday,

David

from the scoutmaster


OA Elections were successfully held at last week's meeting, and Thank You! for everyone that attended and voted.  We had around 2/3rds of the eligible voters present, and we will be announcing the elected candidates at this week's meeting.  As I write this, some of our Older Scouts are on Climbing Campout (hopefully actually getting to climb given the cold and blustery conditions), and I look forward to hearing some great stories from that event.

Also, starting at 7P before this week's meeting (3/15), we will be holding an additional session for Scouts going to Summer Camp at Camp Daniel Boone to meet, ask questions and work on filling out their Merit Badge selections or reviewing the available high adventure options.  We will also be having one more 7P session before the meeting the following week (3/22) for the Scouts to finish working on Merit Badge selections.  

Remember, March 29th is the deadline for online registration; Merit Badge class selection forms; waivers; and your $200 deposit is due (make check out to "BSA Troop 77" and in memo note Summer Camp and Scout's Name and put in the black box in an envelope with the Scout's name).  I cannot stress enough how important attending Summer Camp is, especially for our younger Scouts, including those that just crossed over.  It gives Scouts a big boost in terms of Advancement, Leadership, Patrol Unity, and it's A LOT OF FUN! 

This week's meeting will be the Golden Axe competition, and next week's meeting will be the Golden Spoon competition (rules will be forthcoming shortly).  So, everyone keep practicing those fire building and cooking skills!

At our meeting on March 22nd, David will officially hand over the SPL reins to Cadhan and his Senior Patrol, and I will hand over day-to-day Scoutmaster duties to Ms. Henderson for Cadhan's SPL term. We also have many new Patrol Leaders and other Positions of Responsibility starting that night.  Please remember to be patient with everyone in a new role as they learn and gain experience.  That same night, all Patrols will also officially move up a “year” in the pecking order, so our current First Years will become Second Years (and hopefully will have new patrol names, etc. by that night). The Krakens (currently Second Years) will become Third Years.  Our current Third Years will become Fourth Years.  The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Year Scouts will all be Traditional Scouts. The Electric Dragon, Phoenix, and Mustang Patrols will officially join the Geckos, Gladiators, and a few remaining Bros as Older Scouts.  We will also be retiring two patrols that night: the Lemurs are being dispersed into other patrols and the Turtle Patrol will be officially retired as all of them have aged-out or stopped participating.  The Turtle Patrol had a great run with Troop 77.  It’s one they should be proud of, and they will be missed (but don’t forget, there is always Venture Crew 77 if any of you want to keep Scouting!).

Thanks.  Mr. Cole

TROOP ELECTRONICS POLICY, CAMPOUT/ACTIVITY RULES, AND DISCIPLINE POLICY


For a multitude of reasons, we will be going back to strict enforcement of the Troop's ELECTRONICS POLICY at Troop Meetings, Campouts, and Other Events effective immediately.  While I personally appreciate all of those Scouts who acted appropriately in recent months while we intentionally relaxed the Electronics Policy, it has become clear that the policy needs to remain in place and be fully and effectively enforced given certain trends we have observed recently, including on our recent Cumberland Island campout.

In addition, I would remind all Scouts, Parents and Adult Leaders, to review and re-familiarize themselves with the Troop Electronic Policy, Troop 77 Campout and Activity Rules, and Troop Discipline Policy, which can be found at the following links (and are also on the last page of the Parent Guide posted on the Forms/Resources page of the Troop's website):


Troop Electronic Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HABG3GfjuPoszwp_8LrEWqcmOe8__dB2/view

Troop 77 Campout and Activity Rules: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VIQE2jUiO92AwxPCeuSZRAwe5FaCwpKo/view

Troop Discipline Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15aRRCJxpumFD5prx0lbzgUCIbRHiM5uk/view



Backpacking Campout  at Standing Indian State Park

Trip info and signup will be published March 15

April 22 - 24

Survivalist Campout

Trip info and signup will be published in April

May 6 - 8

SCOUT CHALLENGE MARCH 18-20 AT BERT ADAMS SCOUT CAMP


Next weekend (Friday to Sunday) is Scout Challenge at BASC.  We have had a great response for that trip, and thank you again for everyone that agreed to help out with our activities.  I will be working on a schedule this week so that everyone will know what time they are going to be helping out with our game and other activities, and the rest of the time you will be free to explore the event.  Remember that we will have limited access to the trailer and anything we use from it will have to be carried to our campsite as will any of your personal gear from your cars.  The trailer will already be at BASC when you arrive on Friday, so no personal gear can be loaded in it beforehand, which means it all must fit in your personal vehicles.  We STRONGLY RECOMMEND packing in backpacks or duffle bags because you might have to carry your stuff further than usual, so camping boxes are not good options.  If you have a lightweight portable wagon, that might also be helpful.  We are NOT meeting at OGUMC at the start or end of the trip, unless you are a Patrol Quartermaster and cannot fit your patrol box in a personal vehicle or you are meeting there for carpooling.

advancement


Congratulations to the following scouts who completed their Board of Review on March 8th, 2022:

Summer Camp

I will be at the meeting at 7 p.m. this week to help with summer camp merit badge and activity class selections. I am happy to help with your questions.  

Board of Review

Troop 77 Scouts you have been working hard on your  rank advancement!  If you need a Board of Review (BOR) sign up here: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d44aead29a7ff2-troop   If the sign up is full and you need me to add a slot for you, let me know.

Thank you to the volunteers who have been helping with the Board of Reviews!  I appreciate your help.  This week we have a couple of spots to fill.  If you can help, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d44aead29a7ff2-troop

Pam Crawford

EAGLE COURTS OF HONOR HELP 


For anyone (Scouts or Parents) who can volunteer some time to help organize a few things, get things setup, or help take things down at the end of Eagle Courts of Honor, I know Mrs. Cole could certainly use the help.  It’s not an overwhelming amount of stuff to get done by a team, but it starts to get overwhelming if you are having to do it all by yourself. If you’re interested in helping with the Eagle Courts of Honor please contact Holly Cole (hpcole77@gmail.com or (770) 401-4992) and let her know.  With a big backlog from COVID and being fortunate to have 1-2 Scouts earning Eagle a month, this is a great way to give some time to the Troop on a night other than Tuesdays and a great place to start volunteering.

order of the arrow


Hello everyone, this is Ryan Shimabukuro, your Order of the Arrow (OA) Troop Representative. This newsletter contains important information about current and upcoming OA events, and more.

Elections

Last week, we had a nice turnout of scouts who made our election possible. We had a successful election, and I will announce the results during this week’s troop meeting. I will also be available to speak to the elected candidates and others who want to learn more about OA. Here is a link for the candidates that contains helpful OA information: https://aacegwa.org/candidates/

Events and Registration

The link to our Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge website is https://aacegwa.org/. It has a calendar of upcoming events and information on how to register for the events. Here are the dates for the upcoming Induction Weekends and the registration deadlines:

Additionally, Lodge days of service are on the following Saturdays, May 21, July 9, and October 8, 2022.

Dues

Yes, there are dues in the OA. This year, and every year, dues are $25. They are due NOW! In some situations, if you did not pay dues last year, then you will need to pay those in order to pay your dues for this year and stay current. HOWEVER, this is important, if you attend OA events in which you pay a fee, the fee should cover your dues.

The Troop does NOT reimburse for payment of Adult or Youth OA dues, unless the Adult or Scout is actively involved in OA (e.g., attends monthly meetings, Chapter and Lodge events, Conclaves, Fellowship Events, Service Events, etc.), in which case you need to talk to me or Dr. Gilbert.

The link for paying dues is: https://www.atlantabsa.org/OAMemberRenewal

What is the Order of the Arrow?

According to the Order of the Arrow’s website (https://oa-bsa.org/), the Order of the Arrow is an honor organization that recognizes Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America's youth.

If you have any questions about the events, you can contact me or RJ, the current Etowah Chapter Chief at rj@rj-holloway.com

Thanks!

Ryan

Troop 77 needs additional Adult Volunteers!


Hello Scout Parents and Guardians,

We need a small number of new Adult volunteers to help guide our Troop 77 Scouts with revitalizing a Troop fundraising activity or event.  No, this is not a request for a new Popcorn Kernel.  Instead, it’s a facilitator and oversight role that will help the Scouts take responsibility for raising money to help Troop 77 offer financial grant opportunities to Scouts within and outside of our Troop that could use extra help affording the costs associated with Scouting including High Adventure Trips.

There are several fundraising ideas that have been identified already and like all other activities we do, the fundraising event will be SCOUT led, but Parent supervised for safety reasons.

If you, or better yet a small group of parents, are interested in helping our Scouts, then please contact our Committee Chair, Bruce King, at commchair@troop77bsa.org or let him know at one of the Tuesday night Troop Meetings or during Advancement Saturday at OGUMC on 2/5/22.

upcoming scout days


Scout Day with the Braves - Sunday, May 29 @ 1:20 PM

The lockout is finally over and baseball is officially back! See the World Series Champion Atlanta Braves take on the Miami Marlins Sunday, May 29th at Truist Park! Tickets start at $13 with a portion of each ticket sale going back to Metro-Atlanta Scouting! https://offer.fevo.com/atlanta-braves-scout-night-561fffc?fevoUri=atlanta-braves-scout-night-561fffc%2F


Scout Day with the Dream - Friday, June 3 @ 7:30 PM

Take part in our very first Scout Day with the Atlanta Dream and watch as they face off against the reigning WNBA Champion Chicago Sky on Friday, June 3rd at the Gateway Center Arena!  Tickets start at $25 with a portion of each ticket sale going back to Metro-Atlanta Scouting!  https://offer.fevo.com/atlanta-dream-vs-chicago-sky-ozf4elw-a86e142?fevoUri=atlanta-dream-vs-chicago-sky-ozf4elw-a86e142%2F


Troop 77 Financial Management Updates


Outstanding Payments:  Troop 77 currently has 34 outstanding invoices for Scout that we would like families to settle to help keep our finances current.  Please be on the lookout for past due invoice reminders this week.

Scout Escrow Balance Updates:  On a regular basis, Troop 77 will be posting updated Scout Escrow account balances to our Troop Google Drive and you should be able to review you current balance using the "Scout Escrow Balances" link that's been added in the "Forms/Resources" tab of the Troop 77 website, or simply click this link: Troop 77 Escrow balances as of 2022-02-27.pdf - Google Drive  

If you have any concerns or questions related to any financial matters, then please stop by our financial help desk during one of the Tuesday meetings or email treasurer@troop77bsa.org and the Troop bookkeeping team will assist you.


camp cards 


Camp Cards have arrived!  This year’s camp cards sell for $10 each & Scouts will earn a $4.75 commission for each card sold. The camp card sale lasts until April 15.  This year’s camp cards offer more discounts than past years. Some new discounts include Six Flags, Tractor Supply Company, & Medieval Times.  Those who purchase camp cards can download the saver's guide app on their phone & register using the access code on the back of their purchased card.  The saver's guide app details hundreds of local 2-for-1 and 50% off coupons!  Discounts include over 500,000 locations nationwide.  Selling camp cards is a great way to earn money for summer camp, Philmont, & Scouting trips.  See Mr. Jeff Rogers after this Tuesday’s meeting if you want to get some camp cards to sell.  If you have any questions you can email jeffrogers0422@gmail.com.

Join the Heritage Hike and Learn Atlanta's Civil Rights History

After Black History Month in February, we look to continue the celebration of African American achievements and contributions to our nation! 


The Heritage Hike on March 26 is an excellent opportunity to learn more about our city's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and discover the cultural significance of Atlanta's historically Black Sweet Auburn neighborhood.  The Heritage Hike starts at the King Center and continues 1.3 miles down Auburn Avenue ending at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Everyone is invited to join including Scouts, leaders, and Atlanta community members!


You can learn more and register for the event at www.AtlantaBSA.org/Heritage-Hike and download the History Hunt to see all the locations along the Heritage Hike!

RANGER CAMP –  JUNE 26 - JULY 1, 2022


For over 30 years, the US Army Rangers has partnered with the BSA to create a unique High Adventure opportunity for up to 100 participants including youth and adult.  Highlights include:

The camp is held at the Camp Frank D. Merrill US Army Ranger base in Dahlonega, GA.  Participants sleep in the barracks and eat in the mess hall or MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) in the field.  In the middle of the week, participants transition to Yonah Mountain and camp for two nights where skills are put into practice on a larger scale. 

For more information, click here: https://www.nega-bsa.org/Ranger.


Mr. Henderson went to this camp as a youth for 5 years in a row and considers it his favorite camp.  It is a lot of fun and very rewarding.  It inspired him to spend weekends in college climbing, rappelling and camping on Mt. Yonah.  He looks forward to going back to Ranger Camp this year and is happy to answer any questions you have.

new eagle required merit badge - citizenship in society


The first new merit badge for youth in the Scouts BSA program since 2017 will become Eagle required over the summer.  Called Citizenship in Society, it provides Scouts with opportunities to learn more about our world by encouraging them to explore information on diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership — and to learn why these qualities are important in society and in Scouting.

Troop 77 needs qualified (adult) merit badge instructors to lead Citizenship in Society.  Registration is now open for the next two Citizenship in Society Facilitator training sessions. They will be held on March 12th and April 23rd at the Volunteer Service Center (across from the Braves stadium).  Follow the link to register: https://www.atlantabsa.org/cis-training

Please e-mail Wes Brewer (wesbrewer@hotmail.com) with any questions.

NYLT


It’s time to register for National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).  I strongly recommend all eligible Scouts that have not previously attended NYLT to register and take part in SBSA’s preeminent Youth training opportunity.  To be eligible for NYLT, before the week you plan to attend, you must be:


The NYLT Session Dates are as follows:

Session 1 - Sunday, May 29 2022  -  Friday, Jun 3 2022

Camp Jamison (Bert Adams Scout Camp)


Session 2 - Sunday, Jun 5 2022  -  Friday, Jun 10 2022

Camp Jamison (Bert Adams Scout Camp)


Session 3 (Part 1) - Saturday, Nov 19 2022  -  Tuesday, Nov 22 2022

Adventure Camp (Bert Adams Scout Camp)

              -AND-

Session 3 (Part 2) - Saturday, Dec 3 2022  -  Sunday, Dec 4 2022

Adventure Camp (Bert Adams Scout Camp)


Session 4 Monday, Dec 26 2022  -  Saturday, Dec 31 2022

Camps Emerson & Gorman (Bert Adams Scout Camp)


You  can find additional information and register for NYLT at: https://aacnylt.org/

UPCOMING COUNCIL/DISTRICT EVENTS


Summer Camp


Sign-up has started for High Adventure at Camp Daniel Boone during our week of Summer Camp, July 17-23! Check out the info and sign-up as soon as you know you want to participate in a backpacking, climbing, or whitewater trek! They are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Here is the Adventure guide:

https://www.campdanielboone.org/files/40125/2022-high-adventure-guide 

and the full Summer Camp webpage:

 https://sites.google.com/troop77bsa.com/scout-parent/campingoutings/Summer-Camp?authuser=0

SHOOTING SPORTS DAY

Open Shoot - Archery, Rifle, or Shotgun

Date: April 2 from 9AM-4PM

Location: Woodruff Scout Camp - 31 Woodruff Dr, Blairsville, GA 30152

Cost: $10 per session

Note: This is not a merit badge day. Scouts can sign up for one session in the morning and another in the afternoon, or the same one all day. For signup information: https://www.atlantabsa.org/shootingdays


summer camp staff opportunities


As a camp staff member, you will experience an amazing life-changing summer and have a monumental impact in helping to serve Scouts. Opportunities to serve as a member of the Atlanta Area Council camp staff are available to outstanding applicants. For more information and to apply: https://www.atlantabsa.org/files/18189/Camp-Staff-Application


SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCES


Scoutmaster Conferences for Scout, Star, Life and Eagle are conducted by Mr. Cole.  You can sign-up for Scoutmaster Conference for Scout, Star and Life by using the SignUp Genius on the Troop's Website under Scoutmaster Conferences (https://sites.google.com/troop77bsa.com/scout-parent/scoutmaster-conferences?authuser=0) and following the instructions on that webpage.   Scoutmaster Conferences for Eagle can be arranged by emailing Mr. Cole at ctcole0308@gmail.com.

Scoutmaster Conferences for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are completed by an Assistant Scoutmaster and should be arranged through the ASM Helpdesk or by contacting Mr. Jensen at garyljensen@gmail.com.

wood badge course registration


Looking to advance your skills as a Scout leader? Complete your Wood Badge training with the Atlanta Area Council. Registration for the final two Wood Badge courses of the year is open.

https://www.atlantabsa.org/woodbadge

merit badge minute

Atlanta Area Council:  

The Atlanta Area Council is offering Construction Merit Badge Day on March 26th and Aviation Merit Badge on April 16th.  For more information and to sign up, follow this link:  https://www.atlantabsa.org/meritbadgedays


Dunwoody Nature Center:

The Dunwoody Nature Center has published its Merit Badge offerings for 2022.  Upcoming workshops include Bird Study, Nature, and Soil & Water Conservation.   For more info and to sign up, click here:  https://dunwoodynature.org/scout-merit-badges/

Allatoona:

Registration for this summer's Aquatics Merit Badge Days at Allatoona will open on April 22nd.  Scouts may choose from a handful of badges, including canoeing, swimming, lifesaving and motorboating.   Classes can fill up fast so, if interested, be ready to sign up when registration opens.  Click here for more information:  https://www.atlantabsa.org/caabmb


Chattahoochee Nature Center:

The Chattahoochee Nature Center has announced its merit badge offerings for the spring.  Sign up for Nature MB (April 24), Canoeing MB (May 1), Environmental Science (May 15) and/or Mammal Study MB (May 22) by following the link:  https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/education/scouts/scouts-bsa/



community service opportunities

Click the link below to see all of the community service opportunities available this fall.

https://sites.google.com/troop77bsa.com/scout-parent/service

Communication     


Remind Application

Troop 77 Parents –

Troop 77 Scouts

Troop 177 Parents –

Troop 177 Scouts

Scoutbook

Other Announcements

Troop 77 Calendar: Use the following address to access the Troop 77 calendar from other applications. You can copy and paste this into any calendar product that supports the iCal format.

https://www.scoutbook.com/ics/17077.45861.ics