Signups for the trip to Purgatory Chasm were due last week - howver if by chance you did not get your paperwork in but want to go you can submit your permission slip at the beginning of the meeting this week.  

The May trip for Troop 437 will be a two-night camping trip to Purgatory Chasm.  Always popular, this trip includes scrambling over glacial rock formations and through natural caves.  For more information visit http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/purg.htm. 

For full details and to sign up see the permission form available via the button below.

As a reminder, the last payment left due to Council is for $250.00. Total per person should be $1850.00 at this point.  This remaining payment should be turned in before or at the Troop meeting Thursday, 5\8, so we can get the last check to the Council on Friday.

Did you miss the merit badge counselor training?  Are you interested in becoming a merit badge counselor?  If so please send an e-mail to the scoutmaster and let him know - if there is enough interest we will schedule a second trainign session.

Our troop has a great and energetic group of scouts and they would like to take advantage of the Boy Scout's merit badge program. In order to support them with this we need merit badge counselors.

Being a merit badge counselor is easy - it is simply sharing parts of what you know - through education, vocation, life experience or hobby with the scouts. You get to share something that you are passionate about. There are over 130 different merit badge topics (listed below) that you can choose from. To get started all you need is a little bit of training and to register with the BSA as a counselor...there is no cost to you.

The troop is holding merit badge counselor training on Wednesday March 26th starting at 7:00pm at the Legion Hall. We would ask that at least one parent in each family help out with counseling merit badges.

Come prepared by completeing Youth Protection Training - quick on-line course required for all merit badge counselors.  Complete the youth protection training, print out the certificate and bring it with you.

All the remaining paperwork will be available to complete at the training session on the 26th.

More information about the merit badges can be found at meritbadge.org

 Our Troop youth leaders maintain a private Facebook group for troop members.  If you frequent Facebook and would like to join this group please click on this link or the Facebook Icon to the left and click on "Join Group" on the right hand side.

Recently the troop presented much of the material to complete the new BSA Cyber Chip requirements.  The Cyber Chip is new training from the BSA focused on age specific on-line safety education.  It is currently required for the Programming merit badge and will become required in several other places within the BSA program.  Scouts who want to complete the training that was started last week need to complete the following remaining requirements:

Grades 6 - 8:

2.  Write and sign a personalized contract with your parent or guardian that outlines rules for using the computer and mobile devices, including what you can download, what you can post, and consequences for inappropriate use.
5.  Discuss with your unit leader the acceptable standards and practices for using allowed electronic devices, such as phones and games, at your meetings and other Scouting events.

Grades 9 - 12:

2.  Write and sign a personalized contract with your parent or guardian that outlines rules for using the computer and mobile devices, including what you can download, what you can post, and consequences for inappropriate use.
3.  Discuss with your parents the benefits and potential dangers teenagers might experience when using social media. Give examples of each.
6.  Discuss with your unit leader the acceptable standards and practices for using allowed electronic devices such as phones and games at your meetings and other Scouting events.