The Troop is submitting Merit Badge selections for Summer Camp on Monday May, 28.  Please review the attached listing to ensure that your merit badge selections are accurately represented.  If there are issues, please see Mr. Ham or any of the Asst. Scoutmasters.

All conflicts/ issues must be resolved before the May 28 submittal, or the Troop will be forced to select merit badges/ programs for you.  Be prepared.

Once their selections are confirmed, Scouts are encouraged to obtain the merit badge pamphlet for all merit badges selected, to review the GSR Pre-Requisite Guide, and begin work on any of the pre-requisites.

Troop 17 will do their part in honoring our fallen soldiers by participating in the Memorial Day parade.  We will meet at Memorial Park at 9:30am at Memorial Park. The parade kicks off at 10am. After the parade, the Troop will gather at the Veteran's memorial (near the Common & across the street from our host church)  to watch the ceremony.  After the parade, the Veterans have invited all to a lunch at the VFW. 

This is a Class A uniform event
 
Scouts are encouraged to learn more about Memorial day

Please see the attached file for your Merit badge selections for the 2012 Hidden Valley Summer Camp. 

All Scouts should review their selections to verify that what they selected is properly represented.  If there are issues, please see Mr. Ham or any of the Asst. Scoutmasters.

There are several issues with the current selections.  If your name is highlighted, in yellow or red please contact Mr. Ham or any of the Asst. Scoutmasters to resolve the conflict.

All Merit Badge selections must be resolved by the end of the May 21st Troop meeting (recall that that meeting is not at the church, but at the Spring Brook Cemetery).  If the issues are not resolved by that date, the Troop will be forced to select merit badges/programs for you.  Be prepared.

Scouts should be prepared to have their Summer Camp selections for Merit Badges and/or special programs (SPOKE, COPE, Valley Voyager, etc) by Monday, May 14.

Merit Badges offered by Hidden Valley Scout Camp (located on page 28 of Leader's Guide)
MB Prerequisites, as defined by Hidden Valley (this also give MB guidelines for ages)

Scouts should select merit badges to fill all three merit badge blocks. Note that some badges take more than one block. Also, the Troop Committee recomends that all Scouts take at least one Eagle-required merit badge.

IMPORTANT: If a Scout has a partial MB, and wishes to complete it Summer Camp, they do not have to reschedule the badge. They should approach Mr. Ham or any of the ASMs to let them know. The Troop will then arrange with the Scout to inform the appropriate Camp counselors in the first days of camp.

Note: Prerequisites are completed before attending summer camp in order to give your scout the best opportunity to complete their merit badge at camp. Some merit badges have more than others. Please review this now so that you have ample time to prepare for the merit badge class at Hidden Valley. 

Scouts wishing to participate in the Older Scout activities (i.e., SPOKE, COPE, & Valley Voyager) should refer to the Leader's Guide (pages 46-47)

Parents: We ask that you review the Merit Badge sleection form with your Scout and sign the selection form.

An Emergency Preparedness Weekend is being held at Camp Norse on June 1-3, 2012.

Seveal programs are offered. Scouts can participate in either the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge (which includes the First Aid Merit Badge), the Community Emergency Response Team  (CERT) program or the Amateur Radio Technician Study, Test Prep and Testing session.

Scouts taking the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge should be First Class and above or have Scoutmaster approval.

For more information or to register, see the Council Website.
An information page is available here, as well. 

Note that this is not a Troop event.  Individuals should sign-up at the Council website.
Space is limited, so Scouts should register as soon as possible.

The PLC will be using the list of activities finalized from their Patrol Meetings to plan for next year's Troop activities.  Please bring a calendar, paper and writing implement.  Pizza and drinks will be provided for participants.  Be sure you or a representative from your Patrol is present for this meeting.  It is a Class B event.

Note: Only PLC members (or their representatives) are required at this important meeting.

The dates have changed on the upcoming Purgatory Chasm Trip.

The new dates are: May 25-27

Permission slips are due on May 7, and there will be a pack inspection during the May 21st Troop meeting.

See the Upcoming Events Page for more information

Scouts will not only be able to tackle the boudler fields offered at the site, but will have the opportunity to work on the Geology Merit Badge.