Hello Scouts!  This week, scouts will show off their lashing skills with chariot races!  Scouts will demonstrate their diagonal, square, and sheer lashings and should practice at home to be prepared to do it for rank advancement.  Scouts who are working on their fitness requirements should be sure to practice those skills a few days a week and log their efforts to prepare for their next fitness test.  We will need some adults to help at this meeting for boards of review, and will also have some visiting AOL scouts in attendance.  PLC members should arrive before 6:45 for their pre-meeting huddle.  Please RSVP on the Troop website if your scout is interested in attending our November climbing campout or would like to help with the FUMC Trunk or Treat community event, which will be held on Sunday afternoon!  We also have room on our Sea Base Keys Adventure trip.  Please reach out to Mrs. Tainter or Mrs. Stephens if you have any questions.  It will  be a great opportunity to come explore the Florida Keys!

Scouts who have not completed their rank fitness requirements or who would like some accountability as they pursue their individual fitness goals should meet at the parking lot next to the Stringfellow School on Thursday at 6:15.  They should plan to wear class b shirts, athletic shorts, and athletic shoes as they complete a fitness test where they do their maximum number of correct-form pushups in one minute, their maximum number of correct-form situps in one minute, maximum distance of sit and reach, and fastest 1-mile walk/run.  They will develop a plan to improve each of the activities and perform the test again on November 15th.  Participants are advised  to bring a beach towel or yoga mat and water.  During the meeting, scouts will develop their proficiency in the square lashing, sheer lashing, and diagonal lashing.  The PLC will meet from 6:45-7 to prepare for the meeting.  On Sunday, scouts will have the opportunity to earn service hours by helping to stain pergolas at the Stringfellow School playground beginning at 2 p.m.  We hope you can come and help!

At this week's meeting, we will do pack, helmet, and bike checks for this weekend's Mineral Wells campout.  We will have a representative from Trek Coppell with us to help conduct the bike checks and teach the scouts about bike maintenance and basic bike repairs.  The PLC will meet at 6:45 to prepare for the meeting.  Scouts who plan to attend the Crime Prevention Merit Badge on Sunday should get a blue card from Mrs. Stephens and sign up on the Troop website in advance.  Scouts who have Troop gear from the San Marcos campout should be sure to return them this Thursday in preparation for this week's campout!

Given the expected rain, we have moved our bike checks to October 8th.  Please leave your bikes at home this week so they avoid getting wet! We hope that the rain will push through by Friday night, so please return Troop equipment at the ILST lock-in instead of bringing on Thursday.  This will help us prepare for next weekend's campout.  On Thursday, we will have our PLC meeting from 6:45-7:00.  During the meeting, scouts will plan for the October 9-11th Mineral Wells Campout and learn/complete First Aid Requirements for rank and to prepare for the weekend's AOL First Aid Adventure for Saturday morning.  We will also have a Scout Life Magazine signing party to celebrate our scouts' appearance in the magazine (Mrs. Stephens has purchased copies for the whole Troop), so bring a special pen if you want a little flair! We will have our Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops training on Friday evening.  If attending, please sign up to bring snacks at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D49AFA82BA6FE3-66214291-t848.  Mrs. Goss will bring breakfast casserole (no pork/no wheat) in the morning for participants staying for the AOL First Aid Adventure.  ILST participants not staying for the lock-in should be picked up by 7 a.m.  Participants staying to help with the AOL First Aid event should be picked up around 11:30 a.m.  Please check the calendar for upcoming merit badge opportunities, including the Crime Prevention merit badge on October 11th.  Mrs. Stephens will have blue cards available.  We will have a service project benefitting the Stringfellow School on October 18th.  Please sign up on the Troop website!

We will have our 1 hour PLC meeting for Troop leadership beginning at 6 p.m. this week to plan for October.  During the scout meeting, scouts will practice first aid skills to prepare to teach the Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure on October 3rd and prepare for the San Marcos campout.  Scouts attending San Marcos should come prepared for their pack check, as there are several items that we will want to verify are present for the weekend including river shoes, modest swim attire, and sun protection.  We will also fit scouts and adults for their life vests for the weekend's activities.  If there is remaining time, the scouts will have blanket/carry races.  Scouts should sign up if they plan to participate in our Troop Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops training on October 2nd or the Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure on October 3rd.  Scouts can receive service hours for helping train younger scouts on October 3rd, as well as earn rank requirement signoff for some of teaching rotations.  If you're interested in requirement sign off, please talk with SPL Lilly to request placement in those teaching roles.  A new merit badge opportunity has been added to the Troop Calendar for the Crime Prevention merit badge for Sunday, October 11th after return from the Mineral Wells Campout.  Please sign up on the Troop Calendar.

Scouts this week will conduct their campout planning for the San Marcos campout and practice lashings.  Scouts will then practice water safety with a game.  The PLC should meet at 6:45 for pre-meeting prep!  Please check the Troop website for details on a service project opportunity with our Charter Organization packing meals for this Sunday morning and upcoming merit badge opportunities.  We are also collecting signups for our October 2nd Patrol Leader's Council Leadership Training Overnight and our October 3rd Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure Recruitment Event. Please reach out to Mrs. Stephens if you would like to take a swim test or need a blue card!