Tuesday, 6/2/20 at 7:00pm, Troop 281 Meeting via Zoom.  We will be starting on the Cooking Merit Badge, plus playing some games.

Thursday, 6/4/20 at 7:00pm, Parent’s Committee Meeting via Zoom.  All Troop 281 parents, guardians, and grandparents are always welcome to join and participate to your level of comfort, or just listen in and get the scoop.

Tuesday, 6/9/20 at 7:00pm, Troop 281 Meeting via Zoom.  We will be planning the upcoming backyard campout, plus we are working on the Cooking Merit Badge, part 2.

Friday, 6/12/20 at 8:00pm, Troop 281 Backyard Camp Out!  Scouts and families are welcome to participate.  Pitch a tent in your backyard, or in your living room, or wherever is convenient for you.  We’ll be having a great time doing some cooking, telling stories and jokes around the virtual camp fire, and playing some games.  Come on and join the fun!

Tuesday 6/16/20 at 7:00pm, Troop 281 Meeting via Zoom.  We will finish up our focus on the Cooking Merit Badge, then go have some fun building paper rockets.

What about online Summer Camp?  Need more to do?  Scouting can help out.  Golden Empire Council is holding "Camp I.T. Out."  It will include campfires, flag ceremonies, lunch with staff, first year camper programs, opportunities to earn merit badges.  If you want to sign up, go to http://www.gec-bsa.org/camping-/camp-it-out-virtual-summer-camp/73068 

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Block

Golden Empire Council has been hosting Merit Badge Madness throughout May and the first week of June.  Golden Empire Council is transitioning to Camp I.T. Out - Virtual Summer Camp in early June.  Sign up for now for Camp I.T. Out at the Golden Empire Council website

Join Golden Empire Council, Camp Lassen Staff and Camp Winton Staff for virtual camp at Camp I.T. Out starting June 8th!  We have many activities planned for these fantastic weeks that include:

Parents - Want to have more fun and memorable experiences with your Scout?  Joint the Troop 281 Scoutmaster Corps.  What are you signing up for?  You’ll make great friends, both in the troop, and with others outside of the troop.  You can learn advanced skills in areas of your choosing.  You can participate in Troop meetings by helping the scouts deliver their program.  You get to teach and sign-off scouts on requirements.  You don’t have to do everything, just the activities that you want to participate in.  It’s fun and it’s easy. 

Here is what you need to do:  Tell Scoutmaster Block you are interested.  Take Youth Protection Training (which you have probably already done).  Sign-up for and take the Assistant Scoutmaster Training online.  Then sign up for Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS).  IOLS is currently planned for October 9 and October 10 in Rancho Cordova.  IOLS is an overnight class where you learn and practice outdoor camping skills the Scouting way, so you can teach Scouts to be safe and have fun in the outdoors.  Learn more about these classes by going to the following website: http://www.gec-bsa.org/document/gec-training-classes/157728

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.

• 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.