PLC Meeting

    

There will be a 5:30 pm PLC Meeting tonight before the Troop Meeting in the FLC. 

All Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, elected positions and the SPL team should plan to attend.

Eagle Volunteers Needed

        

Douglas Carpenter needs assistance with his Eagle Scout Project

Sunday, May 1 from 1-4pm

Location: Keller UMC 

Please bring: Hat, sunscreen, full water bottle, gloves, shovel and close-toed shoes

You will be building three garden boxes in the east lawn behind the Resource Center.  You will be preparing the ground by making sure it is flag, laying garden cloth to prevent weeds, placing the block structure and adding dirt.

Snacks and drinks will be provided for all helping.

Service hours awarded.

Earth Day

 

Everyone on our planet has a duty and an obligation to protect it.  Sometimes a little friendly reminder is in order as well.  We live in a disposable society where everything is single-use, broken then replaced instead of repaired, convenience trumps all... but at what cost?  Earth Day, founded in 1970, is a day where we have that annual reminder to encourage one another to support sustainability, environmental protection and do more

In Troop 1910, Scouts learn to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle but do we know what that really means?

Reduce -- use less. Buy reusable items so that your trash output is reduced.

Reuse -- find ways to repurpose what you have or let others reuse them -- donating old clothes is a great way to reuse things that still have lots of life in them

Recycle -- whenever possible, find ways to recycle everything you can.  

Conservation is a big part of Scouting and what a better time to focus on that than on Earth Day!  Here are 5 Merit Badges for Scouts who love the Earth featured on the Bryan on Scouting blog!

Forestry

Congratulations, you get 61 trees! (And you get 61 trees, and you get 61 trees … )

A 2008 NPR story estimated that everyone on Earth gets about 61 trees in their lifetime. Sounds like a lot, until you consider all the things those 61 trees get used for:

” … baseball bats, barrels, books, blocks, benches, crutches, coffee filters, guitars, grocery bags, pencils, pine oil, beds, billboards, buttons, candy wrappers, buttons, chewing gum, cork, crayons, egg cartons, fruit pie filling, kites, linoleum, luggage, paper, pingpong balls, chopsticks (especially the disposable kind), rubber, tambourines, telephone books, tires, toilet paper, turpentine, xylophones and yo-yos …”

OK, so those 61 trees don’t seem like that much after all. That’s why learning about sustainable forest management is so critical.

Scouts who earn the Forestry merit badge learn about the contributions forests make to various elements of our lives. And, just as important, they learn how to preserve our tree population for future generations.

Photography

You’re much more likely to protect the Earth if you’ve seen how incredible our planet really is. Unbelievable wildlife, breathtaking vistas and examples of nature’s awesome power can be preserved and shared with the click of a shutter button.

Pick up National Geographic magazine, for example, and you’ll see stunning photography that increases your appreciation for our world.

The Photography merit badge empowers Scouts to tell stories through images like these. Those stories could inspire the Scout and others to protect the planet and make sure those photoworthy places stick around for generations to come.

Seeing, as they say, is believing.

Soil and Water Conservation

In 2006, a Cornell professor said “soil erosion is second only to population growth as the biggest environmental problem the world faces.”

So, yeah, it’s a big deal. By earning the Soil and Water Conservation merit badge, Scouts gain an understanding about the ways humans affect those two titular resources.

More specifically, Scouts learn about erosion, water pollution and the hydrologic cycle.

But Scouts do more than sit around and lament what’s already happened because of their predecessors actions.

They complete conservation projects to stop the ill effects and discuss ways to stop future erosion. It’s all about preserving the Earth as we know it.

Environmental Science

Scouts who earn the Eagle-required* Environmental Science merit badge gain a better understanding of the ways humans impact our planet.

For example, in one requirement they’re asked to “record the trips taken, mileage and fuel consumption of a family car for seven days.”

Then they figure out whether any of those trips could’ve be combined to save gas, and, if so, how many gallons of gas that would’ve saved. Instead of picking up your prescription on Tuesday and your dry cleaning on Wednesday, for example, next time you should do them both in one trip.

Similarly eye-opening experiments deal with ecology, air pollution, water pollution, land pollution and protecting endangered species.

Every Eagle Scout is required to earn either the Environmental Science or the Sustainability merit badge. If every human was required to do the same, the planet’s health would be greatly improved.

Sustainability

If there were an official merit badge of Earth Day, it likely would be the Eagle-required* Sustainability merit badge.

One of the BSA’s newest merit badges, the Sustainability MB debuted in July 2013 and made headlines for its innovative requirements that force Scouts to analyze their own behaviors and how they affect our planet.

Before Scouts get to work on requirements that address sustainable practices in water, food, community, energy and other “stuff,” they first pause to consider what sustainability means to them.

Requirement 1 says, “Before starting work on any other requirements for this merit badge, write in your own words the meaning of sustainability. Explain how you think conservation and stewardship of our natural resources relate to sustainability. Have a family meeting, and ask family members to write down what they think sustainability means. Be sure to take notes.”

Those notes come in handy in a later requirement. It’s all part of helping Scouts be prepared for our modern world — a world where sustainable living isn’t just for tree-huggers anymore. It’s for us all.

Honorable mentions

• Animal Science
• Citizenship in the World
• Geology
• Nature

The BSA actually offers several special awards for those who go above and beyond in the name of conservation and sustainability. If you have a Scout interested in earning some of these notable awards, please encourage them to seek out leadership to discuss them

Summer Camp Page Updates

Please be sure to check the SUMMER CAMP PAGE on our website for all of the up-to-date information  and printables for this year's Summer Camp....

...including a link to the Powerpoint Presentation made by Ms. Picciano as well as a link to the WHAT TO BRING document she referred to.  This has specifics about money, medication, meals and more.  

Please check it out!

Swim Tests

Troop 1910's annual swim tests will be conducted May 7 and May 14 at NWISD Aquatic Center 

Cost: $8 per participant
Who should attend?  Any Scout or Scouter who needs an annual swim test.

When: May 4 and 14 from 12p-2p each day

Where: Northwest ISD Natatorium, 1976 Texan Dr., Justin, TX 76247 

TO SIGN UP CLICK HERE

Please be aware that the sidestroke is the easiest technique for passing this test because your face is always out of the water -- meaning, you can always breathe.

The BSA swim test:

• Jump in water over your head 
• Swim any strong forward stroke 75 yards
• Then swim 25 yards with the resting backstroke
• Then rest by floating face up.

Sidestroke technique can be seen HERE

Pay ahead via:
Venmo: http://www.venmo.com @msanford2007
Zelle: http://www.zellepay.com msanford.scouting@gmail.com
Paypal: http://www.paypal.com/me/MSScout

OA Meeting Thursday

 

Congratulations to all those called out for membership in the Order of the Arrow at this year's Mustang District Camporee.

There is a meeting for all candidates this Thursday, April 21st at 7pm at the Keller Lion's Club. This is the best place to get all the information you need to know about the Order of the Arrow and Ohki Chapter. All candidates and their parents are strongly encouraged to attend. 

What: Ohki Candidate Meeting 

When: Thu April 21, 7pm

Where: Keller Lion's Club 532 Keller Pkwy Keller, TX 76248

Troop Meeting Tonight

  

Friendly reminder that the Troop meeting will be tonight at 6:30pm in the Family Life Center. The new Troop leadership will be inducted at this Troop meeting to take over leadership for the next 6 months. 

REMINDERS

• Grubmasters - don't forget to return your coolers and totes clean and dry.
• Troop Guide / Troop Instruction interviews will continue tonight
• New Parent Summer Camp meeting tonight
• High Adventure Scholarship Applications are due on the 17th.
• Art in the Square is coming up  -- there are still slots available for this lucrative fundraiser.

First Time Summer Camp Parent Meeting TONIGHT

  

Parents, if you have a first-time summer camper attending Kia Kima this summer, be sure to join us for tonight's meeting at 7pm after the opening activities. 

Don't forget, all deadlines can be found on our Summer Camp Page linked HERE

Investment in Character

 (repost)

The Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America, is conducting our annual drive called the Investment in Character campaign (previously "Friends of Scouting"). I think you will agree Scouting is truly an important part of what makes America great. The principles that Scouting teaches are as relevant today as they were when the Boy Scouts first began over 100 years ago.

By investing in our youth through the Investment in Character Campaign, you can help direct young people into a program that stands for what is good and right in today’s world. The Investment in Character Campaign is designed to allow you to join hands with the Longhorn Council to help ensure a quality Scouting program is delivered to young people in the North and Central Texas area.

Many thanks to Skipper, Christopher Mahanna, for the presentation at last week's Troop meeting to kick off our IC campaign.  We had many pledges made and hope to have that momentum continue in the weeks to come.  Please bring your pledge cards tonight! 

Once again, thank you for your consideration of this request. Together, we can help deliver the promise of the Scouting program.

If you'd like to make your pledge and payment online, please do so at:

https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/662/appeal/661.  

BE SURE TO INDICATE YOUR DISTRICT (Mustang - 36) AND UNIT (Troop 1910)

The campaign is basically the same as FOS has been in the past. If we reach our goal of $10,080, we will again receive free cloth patches in the following year (2023) just like we are this year.

Are you ready to ensure a strong program for tomorrow's leaders?  Donate today!

 

Jacob Wright High Adventure Scholarship

The Jacob Wright High Adventure Scholarship opportunity deadline is April 17.

Click the link above for the application and information about the Jacob Wright High Adventure Scholarships. 

Huge thanks to David Hillebrand for coordinating this effort again this year. This is only for Scouts attending a High Adventure within the next year, i.e. Philmont, Northern Tier, Sea Base. 

All such Scouts are highly encouraged to apply, as this is not contingent solely on financial need. 

The Jacob Wright High Adventure Scholarship Memorial Fund was started in 2016 after the untimely loss of a courageous and adventurous boy named Jacob Wright. With a spirit no human body could contain and an affinity for the caped crusader like no other, the Wright family generously created the Jacob Wright Memorial Fund with the idea that no adventure should be left unexplored. We are so very honored to have the privilege of administering and awarding these scholarships to our Scouts in both Troops 1910 and 1920.

Troop Meeting Tonight

 

Troop Meeting tonight in the FLC (Family Life Center) at 630 pm

Reminders: 

1. Payment for April's campout is due tonight $15 for Scouts / $20 for adults
2. Troop Guide / Troop Instructor interviews will commence this evening for all Scouts that signed up for those leadership positions
3. Summer Camp permission forms and deposits are due.  Merit Badge election forms are due tonight
4. Investment in Character Pledge Cards should be turned in tonight.
5. Metalwork Merit Badge follow up will be tonight during the Troop Meeting for those who took that at Winter Camp so that they may complete the class

Did your Scout attend the Tenderfoot campout and need sign offs?  Have them bring their handbooks and meet with any uniformed Assistant Scoutmaster (also called ASMs) to get those done tonight. If they are not yet confident in doing so, have them visit with a Troop Guide to gain confidence in their requirement(s) in order for them to secure those sign offs. 

TO BE NOTED

As is common for time of year, there is a potential for severe weather tonight so please be sure to CHECK YOUR EMAIL before heading to the meeting in case we have to postpone.