Latest schedule:

• Year end Court of Honor, will now be the year kick-off Court of Honor, tentatively scheduled for Sept 9th, hopefully, still at JB Williams
• Planning a mid-summer advancement day on Saturday July 11th, tentatively at Camp Niepsic.   This is planned to be a day event. 
• The agenda is pure speculation at this point, but:
• New Scouts
• Review many of the requirements for Scout & Tenderfoot, such as:
• Picking campsites - setting up tents
• Using liquid fueled stoves
• Firem'n Chit
• Totin Chip
• Exisiting Scouts
• Whatever you need... Great opportunity for those whom need cooking
• Hike to JB Williams
• Orientering - 1st Class
• Flag retirement ceromony in the evening

• We are planning to cook 2- 3 meals.  Scouts to bring their own food, since we may not have an opportunity to plan.  For the new Scouts, we will provide food, and an older Scout will cook it, and help train the new scouts in cooking (the new scouts may participate in the cooking). 

  Camp Neipsic is a great 'first' campout for new Scouts who have recently joined the Troop from Webelos or transfers.  

Sadly, no in person Troop events, until schools re-open... currently planned for May 20th.  Note that some more Eagle Scout hikes have been added. 

We are planning for an online Troop Meeting on April 8th, so that we can have a conversation about what we CAN do, rather than what we cannot.

As the situation develops, we will keep this post updated.

Virtual Scouting Information

• CT Rivers Council Virtual Scouting website
• Other Council Virtual Scouting website

NEW Add your photos of doing "Scouty" things onto our "While we were away"  Google Photo Album

NEW Advancement

• Link to requirements, and which ones can be done at home, or with a parent.
• Note that the page numbers go with an edition of the book that doesn’t have them.  Newer additions have the page numbers, and they may be different.

Yawgoog

• The folks at Yawgoog are confidant that summer camp will go on as planned.  It is about 3 1/2 months away.  That being said, Yawgoog will offer a full refund for anyone that cancels due to illness.   
• The theme this year is Midieval... think dragons and knights!!
• 3 Point has a new dinning hall, and new showers.   While the hall is new, I'm sure the tables are the same... "These tables have lasted 103 years, and they need to last another 103 years.... :-) ".
• Signup here

Merit Badges:

• We are working on ways to keep the Merit Badges going, while we are all cooped up at home... Stay tuned

Hikes:

• We are starting to plan some hikes, while following the CDC guidelines for small groups.... Until then, feel free to hike on your own (practicing safe social distancing)
• This website offers hiking trails at: https://www.glastonbury-ct.gov/about-us/local-attractions/activities-programs/outdoor-activities/hiking-walking
• Derek D's Bridge can be seen on this 3.5 mile, relatively flat loop hike at here, off of Birch Mountain Rd. 
• Derek V's Bridge is over Smith Brook (41.6872N, 72.5794W) 
• Mikey P's Prayer Garden is at St. Augustine's Church (41.6690N, 72.5997W)
• John A. built a wall, patio and cleaned headstones at Neipsic Cemetary (41.6973N, 72.5376W)
• NEW  - Sahith O, created a connector trail to the Shenipsit Trail off of Malborough Rd. 
• NEW  - Matt R, Cody R & Patrick S's Bridge on the Holland Brook Trail, starting at the Audubon. 
• Joey Z.'s benches and picnic tables can be seen on the Smith-Bell St. bike trail
• Ryan A's Bridge is behind the High School (41°41'52.3"N 72°35'38.8"W)
• NEW - Michael's B' Bridge is on the Blackledge Falls Trail (41°41'50.3"N 72°27'20.5"W)
• Kurt R's Bridge can be seen on Cotton Hollow Trail. 

Information:

• Why soap works against virus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRqJaZO5yW8
• Why the quarantine is important:  https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca 

I'm happy to announce that Trevor Brunette passed his Eagle Board of Review.... Congratulations Trevor!!!

Due to the coronavirus outbreak we are cancelling the reststop fundraiser.

Derek DiTomasso earned his Eagle on Thursday 02/20/20

:) 

You may have seen in the news that BSA National has filed for bankruptcy, and may be wondering how it affects us.   It has little/no impact.   

BSA National is seperate from CT Rivers Council, which is seperate from Troop 156.  Technically, Troop 156 is a part of S. Church, which "leases" the program from BSA.   Our finances are seperate, and they are fine.  A portion of our dues does go to National, and that amount did increase this year, as it does every few years.  Other than that, we expect no changes.    Below is a letter from Council with some more information.

Yours in Scouting
John DiTomasso
Scoutmaster