Sign-ups are OVERDUE for summer camp.  If you intend to attend summer camp and have not yet signed up please contact Mr. Barnard right away.

Since Winter never really arrived everyone is probably already thinking about sumer and sumer means Wah-Tut-Ca!  

• Troop Week is Sunday, July 31 through Saturday, August 6. Camp fee for the week is $395 if paid in full before May 19th, otherwise the cost is $445.  Our payment schedule is as follows:
• 2016 Crossover Scouts - Please pay the $395 payment by Thursday, May 19th, no early deposit required.
• All other Scouts - $50 deposit per Scout is due to the Troop by Thursday, March 24th.  The remaining $345 is due by Thursday, May 19th. Please make checks payable to “Troop 437”.  This is not refundable but is transferable if another Scout is available to take your place.

Please return a copy of the sign-up form (click the button below) for our records by Thursday, March 24th.  Indicate the following:

• Your Scout will be attending camp during Troop Week. (Non-crossovers attach $50 deposit check)
• Your Scout will not be attending camp during Troop Week.
• You are interested in volunteering time at camp during Troop Week.

The updated 2016 BSA Medical forms are required for all Scouts AND for any adult spending the night or using the waterfront.  All forms must be completed within one year of the last day of camp.  Additional information can be found at the Spirit of Adventure (SOA) Camping website. Please fill in Parts A, B, and C. Your doctor needs to sign the BSA form as the camp will not accept the doctor’s own physical form. Please e-mail a PDF copy of the completed form or turn in a printed copy by Thursday, May 19th. If not submitted by this date, please make arrangements to get these forms to David Barnard. See contact information on the sign-up form.

Scouts can attend camps during other weeks, instead of or in addition to the Troop week.  These are known as provisional weeks. The Troop is not involved in coordinating enrollment for these weeks. Please see the SOA website for more information.

Just  a reminder that if you purchased food for a trip or have other expenses that you paid on behalf of the troop you can submit an expense reimbursement request.  The cost of food for trips is factored into the amount that all scouts pay to attend trips and it is planned that the grubmaster expenses will be reimbursed.   In order to finalize the accounting on trips we ask that all expenses be submitted in a timely fashion, preferably within 30 days of the completion of the trip.  If you have any questions please speak to the Treasurer at the next troop meeting.

Reimbursement forms can be found under the "files" section of the troop website.

Summer is coming and with it comes two great Scout leadership training opportunities.  The first is Brownsea and the second is NYLT - National Youth Leadership Training.  Both are week long residence camps focused on building scouts leadership skills for use within the troop and beyond.  For more information click on the program names below or talk to the Scoutmaster.  In recognition of the value this training brings back to our unit the Troop contributes $100 per scout towards the cost of training.

If you are interested in either of these opportunities please talk to the Scoutmaster as soon as possible - space is limited and are filled first come first serve.

BROWNSEA II LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM - Sunday July 3 through Saturday July 9th at TL Storer Scout Camp in Barnstead, NH
What is Brownsea? It is a unique and exciting, hands on approach designed to teach youth leadership skills through the actual practice and use of Scout skills.  Skills most closely concentrated on are camping, hiking, nature study, pioneering, and cooking. This course closely parallels the first Scout camp conducted by Lord Baden Powell in 1907. This program places special emphasis on Scout skills, teaching, and practice: the purposes of Scouting: and the role of the patrol method within the troop program.

NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING - Two sessions to choose from: July 10th - 15th or July 31st - August 6th at TL Storer Scout Camp in Barnstead, NH
National Youth Leadership Training is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.  The NYLT course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.

LAst week the Troop completed some of the requirements for the Cyber Chip during the meeting.  If you have completed the remaining requirements at home please see the Scoutmaster to get the card.

Here are links to the requirements and material for scouts in grades 6-8 and scouts in grades 9-12.  For grades 6-8 requirements 4 and 5 will be covered in the troop meetings.  For grades 9-12 requirements 5 and 6 will be covered in the meeting.  If a scout wants to complete the Cyber Chip they should complete the other requirements at home.  If you have any questions please talk to the Scoutmaster.

Some updates have been made to the Troop calendar

• The May 14th High Ropes course trip has been re-scheduled to June 4th
• The Spring Court of Honor is now scheduled for June 9th - pending confirmation of the date of the last day of school
• The June Canoe trip is scheduled for the weekend of June 25th
• There will be a day event scheduled for one of the weekends in May.  This will be a service project or an outdoor challenge.  Details will be published soon.

The March trip for Troop 437 will be a day hiking trip to Mt. Monadnock. We will be camping at BSA CampWanocksett in Dublin NH. If weather and trail conditions allow we will hike to the sumit otherwise a route around the base of Mt Monadnock will be choosen.  

Due to the time of year, the weather will be unpredictable. Please be prepared for cold weather. The summit can experience winter like conditions even in summer. Scouts will be required to bring Boots, long pants, layered clothing, jacket, rain gear, hat, gloves, and a small day pack for the hike.