In place of our usual Thursday troop meeting, there will be a Court of Honor tomorrow, Thursday December 1st, starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Riverside Presbyterian Church Social Hall. Scouts who wish to participate as color guard, candle lighters, etc. should arrive at 6:45 p.m.

In the Boy Scouts of America a court of honor is a troop activity where scouts and their families come together to get their awards and have a good time together. It is important for the scout’s family members to be there for their scout receiving his rank advancement, merit badges, and other awards.

Troop 24 holds two Courts of Honor each year–one in the fall and one in the spring. We expect that all scouts participate in these events, unless there is an unavoidable conflict. Scouts should dress in full uniform, including their scarf and merit badge sash (if they have one). Please no jeans or athletic apparel.

We also ask that each scout have at least one parent or grandparent present. Parents as well as scouts come forward when rank advancements are announced.

We need refreshments for the reception after the ceremony – please bring your items to the kitchen off the church social hall. We need adult volunteers to help set up and clean up. If you can volunteer, please e-mail committeechair@troop24riverside.com.

We are also in need of more volunteers for this Friday’s Holiday Stroll S’Mores Booth and Campfire. Please sign up HERE.

Also, if you have not yet paid your 2023 dues, please do so IMMEDIATELY! We need your dues as we recharter the troop with the BSA Council. Click HERE to pay your dues now.

I am in need of 3-4 adults to sit on an Eagle Board of Review for Carroll Creedon on Monday, December 5  at 7:00 PM at the Riverside Presbyterian Church. Those who have attained the rank of Eagle and are over 18 are encouraged to volunteer.  Sitting on an Eagle Board is a very rewarding opportunity to be a part of a Scout’s final step to achieving the rank of Eagle. No experience is necessary.  If you have not sat on an Eagle Board previously I can provide you with resources to familiarize yourself with topics that are discussed at the Board.  Additionally, the Board is run by our Council Representative. The time commitment is approximately 1-1 1/2 hrs.

If you are available to help please RSVP by email me at dmgmitro@aol.com.

Thank you,

Dawn Gmitro

Troop 24 Scouts have been invited to participate in District Merit Badge/Trail to First Class program. At this point we are looking for Troop 24 adults who are YPT trained who plan to attend (training is available online). Adults who are willing to attend as a Troop 24 chaparone, please reply to this email so the event can be opened to scouts who do not have a parent available to attend with them. Please see the invitation below:

Hello Portage Creek Troops,

Troop 33 is organizing a Holiday Merit Badge Bash for Scouts BSA, on Tuesday Dec. 27 and Wednesday Dec. 28, at St. Francis Xavier Church at 124 N. Spring Ave. in LaGrange.  The event is being planned to offer merit badge sessions for the First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation and Citizenship in the World merit badges. Troop 33 is also planning sessions for First Class trail requirements in orienteering, knots and lashings. 

The plan is to offer the sessions in two daytime events, 9am – 5pm, on Tuesday and Wednesday during the Holiday Break from school. Scouts should bring their own lunch, water bottle, folding chair, dry-indoor shoes if snowing, scout book, MB worksheets/pre-requisites, completed permission slip (to be provided by Troop 33), and $5 per day(building usage fee).  Troops with scouts interested in participating will need to provide two deep YPT trained adult leadership to be present at the event for their scouts on the day or days they plan to participate. 

Troop 33 Scoutmaster Marko Magajne is organizing the event for Troop 33 and has offered to open the event to other troops in the district.  If you have scouts and leaders interested in participating in the event, please contact Marko Magajne at (708) 218-8580 or by e-mail at mfmagajne@gmail.com.

Yours in Scouting,

Mike Mikulski

Portage Creek District Activities Chair

(708) 715-0513

There will be no troop meeting this week due to the holiday. We hope you and your family have a very happy Thanksgiving!

More scout and adult volunteers are needed for the Holiday Stroll 6pm and 7pm shifts and clean up at 8pm on Friday, December 2nd. Sign up HERE.

If you have not yet paid your 2023 Scout Dues, please do so now. Click HERE to pay.

We look forward to seeing scouts and their families at the Troop Court of Honor on Thursday, December 1st at 7pm at Riverside Presbyterian Church. Scouts remember to wear your full scout uniform and bring a dessert or appetizer to share.

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor will take place Sunday, December 3rd at 3:00 pm with a reception to follow. All Troop 24 scouts and and family members are encouraged to attend.

You are cordially invited to attend the Eagle Court of Honor of:

Atticus Flassing

Cameron Gmitro

Jesus Jimenez

Ryan Lach

James Long

on

Sunday December 4, 2022 at 3:00 P.M at the Riverside Presbyterian Church Sanctuary.

116 Barrypoint Road, Riverside

  Reception to follow.

Due to bad weather including unseasonable cold, snow and wind chills, the 1000 Trees service project is canceled for this Saturday. We are hoping to reschedule for another date this year. Once a date has been determined, details and a new sign up will be posted on the Troop website.

The Holiday Stroll is back!

Scouts & adults are needed for our annual s’mores tent at Riverside’s Holiday Stroll Friday, December 2. We provide ingredients and a campfire to roast marshmallows and make s’mores. We do not charge for the s’mores, but collect a free-will offering that will go to the Riverside Presbyterian Church mission ministries. Because the donations collected will go to help those in need, service hours will be given.
We will be located at Riverside Garage, which will also host a Petting Zoo. We need two adults and three or four scouts per one-hour shift, starting at 5:00 p.m. We also need a few people for set-up (4:00) and take-down (8:00).

Sign up here: Holiday Stroll Form
If you want to volunteer for more than one shift, please fill out an additional sign up form.

We still need more scouts for our 1000 Trees Service Project! Sign up HERE.

If you haven’t paid dues yet, we need them now! Click HERE to pay – or click Upcoming Events to check if you have paid already.

You are cordially invited to attend the Eagle Court of Honor of:

Atticus Flassing

Cameron Gmitro

Jesus Jimenez

Ryan Lach

James Long

on

Sunday December 4, 2022 at 3:00 P.M at the Riverside Presbyterian Church Sanctuary.

115 Barrypoint Road, Riverside

  Reception to follow.

Troop 24 will participate in the 1000 Trees Service Project on Saturday, November 19th from 11 am to 1pm. We will meet at Riverside Presbyterian Church and then disperse to plant tree seeds around the Swan Pond and Scout Cabin areas. Scouts will earn conservation service hours. Dress for the weather. Please let us know if you can attend!
SIGN UP HERE for the 1000 Trees Service Project.

It is time to PAY YOUR DUES if you haven’t already done so!! Click HERE to pay – we need your payment to keep your name on our roster for 2023!

Boards of Review will occur at the Troop Meeting Thursday, November 17th. We need adult volunteers to be able to complete the requested boards.

Sign up below if you can attend!

Please join us on SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13TH AT 1:00 PM for some holiday merriment at our 3rd annual Brookfield Zoo tree trim. Troop 24’s “community tree” is located along the walkways within the zoo. Our tree is number 467, located on the North Mall.
-We have 20 ZOO PASSES AND FIVE SOUTH LOT PARKING PASSES available for the event. Let us know if would like passes to use.
-If you have a Zoo membership, you can simply visit the zoo at 1:00 PM and join us.
-Attend with your family or let us know if you need a ride.
-The sign in front of our tree will read:
Decorated by: Riverside Scout Troop 24
Donated by: Riverside Scout Troop 24
Town: Riverside
– Layouts of the malls will be posted at the gate to help us find our tree within the zoo.
Ornaments
-Let’s be creative!
-Click here to review the Zoo’s Tree Trim ornament guidelines. The Zoo will remove tinsel, glass/breakable ornaments, and decorations made with food.
-Finally, if you would like to donate an ornament for the tree but can’t attend the event, a box will be placed in the Church front door alcove for your donation, sometime in November.
-Click here to register for this festive outdoor event!