Merit Badge Counselor training is being offered on January 19. According to the Council’s website, “Merit Badge Counselor Orientation gives counselors the confidence and consistency needed to counsel Boy Scouts in Merit Badges. This course is required for every Merit Badge Counselor.”

There is no further information on the Council website, so if you are interested in attending, please contact the Des Plaines Valley Council at 708-354-1111. The class will also be offered on March 13 and May 18. It only lasts about 90 minutes. If you’re looking for a way to be involved with the Troop without committing to attending every Troop meeting, this is a great opportunity. If you’re already acting as a Merit Badge Counselor without having the training, this is your opportunity.

This week our Troop meeting will be held on Friday, January 8, at the Scout Cabin at 7:00 (NOT on Thursday at RPC). On the agenda is a fire safety demonstration by a firefighter, a video about the luge outing planned for January 30 in Muskegon, followed by popcorn and a movie. Because we’ll be meeting on Friday rather than a school night, scouts can stay later than our normal meeting time. You may wish to send your scout to the meeting with a cell phone. We have the Scout Cabin until 11:00.

1. Beginning with this Friday’s meeting, the first meeting of each month (the first Friday following the first Thursday of the month) will be held at the Scout Cabin. Special events or presentations will be held at the first meeting of the month.

2. The second meeting of the month (second Thursday) will be held at the church at 7:00 (following a Patrol Leader meeting at 6:30). We will cover a requirement for new scouts (Joiner or Tenderfoot), and separately work on a 1st Class requirement. Scouts who are 1st Class or above will have the option of working on individual merit badges (assuming they have set up an appointment with a Counselor), or have the opportunity to give back to the Troop by helping teach the younger boys or work on their troop jobs.

3. The third meeting of the month (third Thursday) will be a Troop merit badge meeting, working as a group on Eagle-required merit badges. We’ll be wrapping up Personal Fitness and will begin Emergency Preparedness in February. The youngest scouts will work on Tenderfoot requirements. Also at the third meeting 15 minutes will be designated for Patrol meetings. Boards of Review can be scheduled for the third meeting of the month, if the scout has notified the Scoutmaster in advance that they are ready.

4. The fourth meeting of the month (fourth Thursday) will follow the same format as the second meeting.

The Eagle Cave outing, held every 2 years, is one of the scouts’ favorite events. This year, we leave RPC at 5:30 p.m. on January 15 and return by noon on January 17. For more information about the cave, visit www.eaglecave.net. To see photos from previous years, visit our online photo gallery. If you need additional information, please contact Lisa Buffo. We have room for 45, so please turn in your permission slip, with payment of $55, at the meeting on Friday. (Reminder: Scouts who have popcorn credit can use it for outings, or save it for summer camp. Contact Nancy Hopkins if you don’t know how much credit you have.)

Just a reminder that the Troop Committee meeting is Tuesday, January 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the RPC parlor (preschool door & upstairs). All parents are welcome to attend.