During the virtual Roundtable Meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2020, the Mattaponi District welcomed our newest unit, Pack 847. Sponsored by Tabernacle United Methodist Church, the families of Pack 847 have entered the Scouting World running! Leaders have attended PowWow and completed their trainings and Scouts have enjoyed hikes, field trips, achievements, and more. The Mattaponi District is happy to welcome them into our Scouting family and we look forward to celebrating their Chartering and other Scouting accomplishments in person soon.
scouting
The COVID that Stole Summer Camp…
Every Scout in the Council liked Summer Camp, a lot…
But the COVID, who ruined all activities, did NOT!
The COVID hated camp! The whole camping season!
Now please don’t ask why, COVID acted without reason.
It could be the government closed things up tight.
It could be that parents didn’t feel quite right.
But I think the most likely reason of all
Was the Pandemic Panic had thrown up a wall.
But, whatever the reason, the groans or the shouts
COVID lurked there in the spring, hating the Scouts!
Staring out across the Council with a sour COVID frown
Stay-at-home and lock-downs had gripped every town.
He cancelled camporees and webelos encampments
and state parks were closed to any who camp went.
“They’re packing their gear!” he snarled with a sneer.
“Summer Camp is coming! It’s practically here!”
Then he growled, with his COVID fingers nervously
drumming,
“I MUST find some way to stop Summer Camp from coming!”
For, this summer, he knew…
… all the Scout girls and guys
The older and younger, both large and pint size
Would pitch up their tents in the meadows, by the creek
Ready for activities to take them through the week.
Then the Scouts would shoot arrows and rifles each day.
They’d go to aquatics, in the water they’d play.
All around the camp each Scout would scamper
Doing handicrafts and nature walks to thrill every camper.
And then they’d do something, he couldn’t out run!
Each scout down in Summer Camp would start to have FUN!
Having fun was the reason attendance increased
Having FUN was something COVID couldn’t stand in the least.
And the more COVID thought of the annual fling,
The more COVID thought, “I must stop this whole thing!”
“Why for dozens of years they’ve got away with this now!”
“I must stop Summer Camp from happening – but HOW?”
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
COVID GOT A TERRIBLY, AWFUL IDEA!
“Do you know what I’ll do?” COVID laughingly asked
“After months of wearing gloves and uncomfortable masks,
“I’ll have them turn on one another each one pointing a finger
“And with each dad and mother a cautious doubt will linger.”
And that’s all it took, for his plan to take hold
Summer Camp was cancelled, the plans were to fold.
“Pooh-Pooh to the Scouts!” COVID was humming
“They’re finding out now no camp will be coming!
“There mouths will hang open a minute or two
“Then every staffer bound for summer camp
will all cry BOO-HOO!”
COVID put up his hand to cup his ear.
“That’s a sound that I simply can’t wait to hear.”
But the sound that he heard wasn’t what he expected.
“But I took all their plans and proceeded to wreck it!”
The sound he heard was not happy, and it started to grow.
He hadn’t stopped Scouting, but how could he know?
See, Scouting’s a spirit that lives deep within.
When troubles arrive they are met with a grin.
12 laws of Scouting serve each boy and girl well.
How we will get through this only time will tell.
Maybe Scouting, just think, doesn’t come in a tent.
Maybe Scouting, perhaps, comes from hearts well meant.
So survive it we will, we’ve done it before,
Through depression, famine and a few wars.
So let’s be patient, and wait for our turn to serve
For one day, surely, we will flatten that curve.
Created by: Christopher Mark Johnson
Adventures of Pack-Man and Newbie – Relay Races
Troop 492, An Amazing Blessing During a Difficult Year
A year ago today, Michael and I went to visit a Troop 492 Scout meeting. He wanted to join the Cub Scouts for years, but scheduling never worked out. But we decided that because he was going to be going to a magnet middle school, we’d let him join the BSA in the fall. His best friend’s dad was the Scoutmaster, so it was a way to keep him in touch with some of his friends.
Well, the terrific and very persuasive Scoutmaster convinced us that it made more sense to join right away. The Troop was brand new, so he’d be able to be involved in planning for the upcoming year, and could even go to Scout camp in July. We signed up that night. Little did we know what an incredible blessing that decision would turn out to be.
There was no way we could afford a week at Goshen at the time; we hadn’t budgeted for it, so the Troop worked with our sponsoring Rotary Club to pay Michael’s way. Michael’s best friend assured him that it was the BEST place in the world, and he’d love it.
A week and a half before camp, my dad passed away totally unexpectedly, shattering our world. Michael was with us that morning as my sister (recovering from surgery at our house) and I raced to our parents’ house after getting my mom’s call. Losing his beloved grandfather was devastating. We contemplated cancelling camp for him, but in the end decided to let him go, after getting assurances from his Scoutmaster that he’d be allowed to call us if needed. It was the best thing possible for him at the time. He had a phenomenal week and a break from the chaos at home.
And as our whole lives turned upside down this year – first with our move to live with and take care of my mom, through starting at a brand new middle school not knowing anyone, and then through this pandemic, his Scout Troop has been his lifeline.
Michael has thrived in Scouting, becoming the first in his Troop to promote to Tenderfoot, and then among the first three to promote to Second Class and then First Class. He sold a crazy amount of popcorn, and earned a free week at Goshen for this year. (Still hoping that will happen…) He’s earned a ton of merit badges – including several over Zoom from Councils all over the country! – and was just elected to be the new Patrol Leader. He was pretty nervous about taking on a leadership role, but his first (Zoom) meeting with the Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader this week convinced him that it’s pretty cool to be in ‘the room where it happens’!
I had no idea what we were signing up for a year ago. Now I’m the Assistant Scoutmaster, and a Merit Badge Counselor for several merit badges. I adore all the phenomenal kids in our Troop, and am excited to watch them progress, and to welcome in our new Scouts who will be bridging over from the Cub Pack in the next few weeks. The thing I’m actually missing most during this pandemic lockdown is getting to go camping with all those goofballs! But I’m so proud of all that we’re managing to accomplish despite the lockdown; we haven’t missed a beat.
We’ve had Troop meetings on Zoom every week, videoconferences for merit badge counseling, and even a virtual campout!
It’s been an amazing first year of scouting. I can’t wait to see what future years hold!
Troop 58 Reminisces on Scout Adventures through Interactive Map
Founded in 2014, Troop 58 in Ashburn is an active Troop with monthly outdoor events that include camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, white-water rafting, climbing, and skiing. What does over five years of these adventures look like? Check out our cool interactive map on our website http://troop58ashburn.camp/resources/. Once there you’ll find all the Troop’s outings (78 of them) since early 2014, plotted on a Google map. Zoom in and explore for inspiration for your next outing!
Shout out to Troop 58’s youth Webmaster, Daniel H., for crafting this map so that we can reminisce about the adventures we’ve had as a Troop and look forward to what’s to come after restrictions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are lifted. Later this year, Troop 58 will be adding Northern Minnesota and Canada to our interactive map when Scouts make their way to Northern Tier High Adventure for a whole new level of adventure!
Adventures of Pack-Man and Newbie – The Right Word
