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! 

We will have our Court of Honor on Thursday, September 10th at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Sanctuary (420 S. Heartz Rd, Coppell).  Members of the PLC should arrive by 6 p.m. to help set up and rehearse.  All attendees will enter by the entrance of the Stringfellow School.  Scouts should wear their complete Class A uniform, which consists of Class A shirt, BSA pants, neckerchief with slide, BSA socks, belt, closed toe shoes, and merit badge sash for scouts first class and above.   The Court of Honor is our quarterly meeting/ceremony, at which all ranks, merit badges and other awards earned over the past four months are presented to the scouts. Families are welcome and strongly encouraged to attend.  Best part.... there will be snacks afterwards!  Sign up for what you'd like to bring at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5A62BA7FCC61-65637180-troop.  

This week will be our Troop Elections!  Scouts will vote on the direction of the Troop and select their Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders.  We will also make some announcements about upcoming campouts, including our San Marcos tubing Trip September 25-27 and Mineral Wells State Park Trip October 9-11th.  We are planning to give attendees the option to ride bikes along the trailway or ride in the support vehicle into Mineral Wells to enjoy the Crazy Water Festival, so there is something for everyone.  Scouts planning to ride bikes should check their bikes and make sure they are in good working order in preparation for the event.  We'll host an employee from Trek Bicycle in Coppell for a bike safety and maintenance class at our October 1st meeting, but if you know your bike needs some TLC, you should work on it earlier.  Please check the Troop Calendar and sign up for upcoming campouts and merit badge classes so we can prepare for you!

This Thursday, the scouts will do a review of the Aqua Adventures campout and play a water safety bottle flip game.  Scouts who are interested in serving in a position of responsibility next term should complete a leadership application and return to Mrs. Stephens on Thursday.  Thursday is also the deadline to turn in rank advancements and merit badge blue cards with Dr. Mavalli for recognition in the September 10th Court of Honor.  We'll have our 1-hr PLC planning meeting from 6-7 p.m. to plan our September meetings and upcoming campouts.  We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!