Scouts and Scouters - On 3/17/2019, 10 scouts and four adults returned from an absolutely fantastic camping trip to Sugar Loaf Ridge State Park.  The park has an observatory, and on Friday night, we had the entire observatory to ourselves.  The night sky was perfectly clear.  We saw amazing sights, including galaxies, the Orion nebula, a binary star, and details on the surface of the moon.  Our next Troop 281 meeting is on Tuesday March 19, 2019 at 7:00pm.  This month’s theme is camping.  During the 3/19/19 meeting, we will practice our dutch oven cooking skills.  Additionally, on 3/19/2019, the troop will elect new members to the Scouts BSA honor society, the Order of the Arrow. On 3/22/2019, the troop will welcome Webelos from Pack 281 who are planning to join Troop 281.  Please join me and other members of Troop 281 to welcome our new members on 3/22/2019 at 6:30pm at the Gold River Discovery Center Multi-Purpose Room.  Be early, and have your scouts in their best uniform.

The Camp Card fundraiser is designed to help Scouts earn their way to summer camp, high adventure or fund other scouting adventures.  Scouts who participate in this fundraiser will earn 50% commission ($2.50) for each $5 Camp Card they sell. The sale begins in March and ends May 14, 2019.

On February 1, 2019, Scouts BSA was launched.  Scouts BSA is a year-round program for youth in fifth grade through high school that provides fun, adventure, learning, challenge, and responsibility to help them become the best version of themselves.  In Scouts BSA, young men and women go places, test themselves, and have one-of-a-kind adventures that can’t be found anywhere else.  For the first time in its 100+ year history, the iconic program of the Boy Scouts of America is open to young women as well as young men, all of whom will have the chance to earn Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.  Click here to learn more.  

• A Scout officially earns his rank when he successfully completes his Board of Review (“BOR”).
• BOR’s are arranged by the Advancement Chair, typically the night of the 1^st monthly Troop meeting
• Scouts, PLEASE request your BOR 5 days or more before it's scheduled!
• Troop BOR’s are comprised of 3-6 Troop Committee members. Members of the Scout’s family, the SM and ASM’s may not serve on a Scout’s BOR.

“Scout” is the only rank for which there is NO Board of Review. Eagle palms also do not require a BOR.

The Merit Badge Counselor is a key player in the Boy Scout advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a Merit Badge Counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young man's curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a Merit Badge Counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.