Okay … this? Is totally cool!

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

imageJust wanted to take a minute to share a photo from our evening activities during this weekend’s campout. The troop always does lots of cool stuff but this ranks right up there with the coolest: a touch football game in the hanger deck of an active warship. Very, very cool.

Some of our other Scouts are playing card games in the petty officers’ wardroom which they’ve turned over to us for the night. And there’s talk of a movie later.

And all of the this after a day that saw us tour a submarine and then each Scout got a turn to operate a firehose in the “well” of the Wasp where the amphibia ships come in.

Tomorrow morning we raise the colors on the ship and then tour a missile frigate before heading home.

Huge, huge thanks to Norm Hyde for putting this incredible event together. And curses to Norm Hyde for raising the bar so ridiculously high for the rest of us :-)

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Troop ventures underwater!

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

image

We’ve completed our first tour of the day, exploring the submarine USS Boise. Very cool!

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Feb 21st troop meeting is Election Night!

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

The troop meeting on February 21st continued the troop’s monthly theme of “Citizenship” by holding not one but two different elections.  The first was our annual Order of the Arrow election to select new candidates from the troop to become part of this BSA national honor society. The other was a mock election put on by the PLC to demonstrate different aspects of the elctoral process that we’re all observing in this election year.

Congratulations to William Ferguson, Zachary Ferguson, Steven Martella, Christopher Soldan, and Justin Trickett on their selection to the OA and we look forward to them becoming full members by completing their Ordeal at one of the upcoming OA Service Weekends.

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Troop spends President’s Day at State Capitol

Posted on February 20, 2012 by

Scouts in the Senate!

The troop took advantage of the President’s Day holiday to continue the monthly theme of “Citizenship” by traveling to Virginia’s State Capitol and spending the day enjoying a rare opportunity to watch our state’s elected leaders in action during the current legislative session.  Huge thanks go out to assistant Scoutmaster Ray Ferguson who works on the Committee Operations team for the Senate of Virginia and made this outing really special for our youth.

Our Scouts first got a personal historical tour of the Capitol and then got to meet with Senator Walter Stosch to discuss the legislative process.  Scouts were then allowed to go on the floor of the Senate Chamber and were given a bit of history by Eagle Scout Nathan Hatfield who is the Journal Clerk for the Senate of Virginia.  The troop was then allowed to be Gallery guests for part of the actual Senate session.

A great day for our troop and a unique chance to really focus on what Citizenship means.  Thanks to all of our Scouts, parents, and leaders who made this such a great event!

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Feb 14th troop meeting includes our Board of Supervisors

Posted on February 14, 2012 by
Scouts at the Board of Supervisors meeting

Scouts meet Board members. Click for album

Our PLC rose to challenge once again to offer one of our monthly troop meetings outside of the normal confines of Saint Mary’s. Using the troop’s ”Citizenship” monthly theme as a guide, they chose to hold the Feb 14th troop meeting at Henrico’s Western Government Center so we could all attend the Board of Supervisors meeting.

It was a superb meeting and the Board made it special by first acknowledging that this was the largest group of Scouts that they could remember having at a Board meeting.  They then made sure to ask each speaker if they could quickly explain to the Scouts what their role was and, in layman’s terms, what it was that were asking the Board to do.

It was a great educational experience for Scouts and leaders alike and allowed all of us to meet the people in our community responsible for executing its laws.

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PLC makes plans for February and finalizes plans for January

Posted on January 3, 2012 by

The Patrol Leaders Council last met on January 3rd to make plans for February’s troop meetings and events and put the finishing touches on our plans for January.  You can see the details of these events after the jump by clicking the ‘Continuing reading’ link below:

  Continue reading →

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Dec 13th troop meeting is all about giving … and taking!

Posted on December 13, 2011 by

Troop enjoys holiday snacks! Click for photo album

Because of school break, we usually only have one troop meeting in December and this year was no exception.  During on December 13th troop meeting we held our annual Holiday Party. Patrols brought in food and drinks to share with the troop members.

We also held our traditional Pirate Christmas gift exchange in which each Scout brought in a wrapped gift (worth about $5) and put their name in bag.  Names were drawn and the Scout chosen could open an unwrapped gift from the table or steal an already opened gift from another Scout.  Any Scout who had their gift stolen could then also choose to open a new gift or make yet another steal. “Unique” gifts this year included a disco ball, a giant whoopee cushion, a disembodied arm, and … wait for it … a “Nuns Having Fun” calendar.

It was a great night of fun and fellowship to carry us into the new year our next troop meeting is four weeks away on January 10th. See everyone in 2012!

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Troop 737 shines at Westhampton luminary service

Posted on December 10, 2011 by

Westhampton luminaries, click for album

A beautiful ceremony on a gorgeous night with perfect weather thanks to some of the best people anyone could ask for.

Once again, the Troop 737 community came together to construct, place, and light over 3,500 luminaries in support of Westhampton Memorial Park’s annual Candlelight Remembrance Service.  After building all of the luminaries in just one night, the troop maintained their efficiency by placing all of the luminaries in record time Saturday morning and then returning in the afternoon and lighting all luminaries in just over an hour.  It provided a beautiful setting for the service that began at 5pm in the park’s mausoleum.

The troop also continued our participation in the actual service as our chaplain aide, Justin Trickett, shared the meaning of the luminaries with an inspirational reading entitled “The Light That Shines Upon Us.” Justin was joined by our SPL, Michael Mickle, to bring in a luminary from outside into the mausoleum to share the light with community gathered inside.  At the end of the service assistant Scoutmaster Scott Trickett’s golden voice led the group in a rendition of “Silent Night.”

Throughout the night, members of the Troop 737 community maintained a post near the office where we shared fellowship and our famous mulled cider while Scouts placed additional luminaries at sites designated by friends and family of those that have passed.

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PLC makes plans for January and finalizes December events

Posted on December 6, 2011 by

The Patrol Leaders Council last met on December 6th to make plans for January’s troop meetings and events and put the finishing touches on our plans for December.  You can see the details of these events after the jump by clicking the ‘Continuing reading’ link below:

  Continue reading →

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Troop constructs 3500+ luminaries in just one night!

Posted on December 5, 2011 by
Luminary construction 2011

Luminary construction, click for photo album

It’s a luminary miracle!

On Monday, December 5th, Scouts, leaders, parents, and siblings from the Troop 737 community came together at Westhampton Memorial Park to construct 3500+ luminaries in support of our Holiday Celebration that will take place this weekend. Once again, Sue Menefee, our coordinator, organized an incredible effort that saw us build faster and more efficiently than ever before. Huge thanks to her and to all the members of our troop family that spent the evening in cheerful service with us.

On Saturday morning beginning at 9am the troop will return to the memorial park to place all of these luminaries along the roads and gravesites. We will then return at 3:30pm to light them all so the park is ready for their holiday memorial service that will be held in the mausoleum beginning at 5pm.  I hope everyone will be able to join us.

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