Summer Update: Camp Snyder, Summer Camp, and more!
Dear Scouts,
Summer is just around the corner, with all of the fun that awaits the Troop as we head to Summer Camp at Goshen Scout Reservation in the Shenandoah Mountains in June and then to the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia during July! But first we need to celebrate the achievements our Scouts have attained since we started as a troop in February.
Court of Honor at Camp Snyder
We will have our Troop’s very first Court of Honor on Saturday night during our weekend at Camp Snyder on May 31-June 2. A Court of Honor is when we will present the embroidered patches to girls who have earned the Scout Rank or Tenderfoot Rank during the spring. When you get your patch, you will then be able to present the metal Rank pin you earlier received to a special person you love. Because we are a new Troop, most girls will begin earning merit badges when we go to summer camp – but some girls earned merit badges during the spring. So, we will present those patches as well. Finally, the Scoutmasters will present some additional awards like hike medals and will also have some special recognitions to present girls and adult leaders who have given special service to the Troop.
Make sure your parent or supporter registers you for the Camp Snyder weekend. And, we hope your family will visit us on Saturday night for dinner and the Court of Honor. Best of all, your entire family is invited to stay the weekend with the Troop if they want to. Camp Snyder will have 40 big “wall tents” set up for us, and your family can come and spend the weekend and eat with us.
Summer Camp is Almost Here!
In five short weeks we will together be swimming, canoeing, hiking, shooting, eating, learning, fireworks-watching and being all-around happy at summer camp at Goshen Scout Reservation. There is still time for you to join with the 23 of us who will be going from June 31 until July 6. Just talk to any of the Scoutmasters and you can go with us. For some of you this might be the first time you are away from home for a whole week. That might concern or even frighten you. Just remember that this is a normal part of growing up – and also know the women and men of the Scoutmaster Staff, Troop Committee and your Scout buddies will be right there with you to keep you safe and happy. We will have a special meeting of everyone going to summer camp at All Souls from 10 to Noon on June 15.
Be Happy. Be Thankful.
We all have important concerns about things like school projects and tasks to help our parents and other special people who care for us. When we fulfill our responsibilities to our families, schools and groups we belong to we are more likely to be happy and satisfied. But how can Scouts feel as happy as we wish? One thing that makes us feel happy is when we receive a compliment or even a gift from someone because they admire us. That’s nice, but an even better way for A Scout to feel happiness is to tell other people how much we appreciate what they do for us and how much we love them. That’s right – the more you share happiness with others, the more happiness you will feel. The Scout Law says: “A Scout is Cheerful”. We can always be cheerful because we can always create happiness around us by being thankful.
Being as thankful as possible to everyone and for everything is a great habit every Scout should adopt. Wise people throughout history like Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Bahá’u’lláh, Confucius, Buddha and many others all shared the belief that being grateful to people and the creator of our lives makes us fulfilled. In Scouts BSA it does not matter who or what you believe in — Scouts can easily show thankfulness by doing and saying little things every day. I think that’s what our slogan “Do a Good Turn Daily” means.
Sincerely,
Scoutmaster Burkhardt