First Aid Merit Badge - 1/31/21

Due to current COVID restrictions, this merit badge opportunity will be rescheduled to a future date.

Troop 2000 has the opportunity for a private workshop for the First Aid Merit Badge on January 31 from 9am to 4pm at Pathfinder Outdoor Education Center in Cedar Rapids. This merit badge is foundational for many early rank advancement requirements and other merit badges - it is highly suggested that any Scout that does not already have this badge to seriously consider this opportunity.  The workshop day will cover all requirements for the badge.  

Scouts should plan on packing and bringing along their lunch and of course a refillable water bottle. Face masks will be required, in addition Pathfinder will implement extensive COVID precautions for screening, hygiene, PPE, distancing, and compliance that Scouts and adults will be required to follow. Family-by-family carpooling is an option, but the Troop will not be coordinating it. Adult two-deep leadership will be needed. Cost is $5 per Scout, adults no cost. Sign up closes January 17: https://forms.gle/ReeUuPeuikwrrJ716

Cardboard Campout 2020 - Now Virtual

 

Our annual Cardboard Campout has shifted to a virtual campout on December 4-6. Craft your sleeping shelter made out of cardboard (we’re working to get cardboard provided, and if so, would arrange for contact-free pick-up), or sleep indoors. The choice is yours, but a night spent outside counts as a night of camping for Order of the Arrow, rank, and Camping Merit Badge purposes. A night spent indoors does not count for any of those. Join in Zoom sessions to discuss strategies for warmth in a cardboard structure, participate in an outdoor activity on your own (hike, build a fire, sledding, build a snowman, etc), and work on cooking rank or merit badge requirements. 

Any previous sign-ups for this event are removed and the sign-up form is edited to reflect the virtual campout. If you need cardboard, sign-up early as supplies could be limited. Deadline to register is November 28. https://forms.gle/wWfJrs8xz755wt6S6

November 13-15 Campout at Cedar Valley Park

Our next social distanced campout will be November 13-15 at Cedar Valley Park, West Branch, Iowa. This campout will include 5 and 10 mile hikes on the Hoover Trail, conservation service opportunity, and a Leave No Trace program with Cathy Harney and our Troop Outdoor Ethics Guide. The Leave No Trace principles help minimize impact on the land by teaching Scouts’ outdoor ethics decision-making skills. Cost for the weekend is $30 for scouts and $10 for adults. Deadline to register is November 7.

Where: Cedar Valley Park, Shelter #2, 199 Park Road, West Branch, Iowa

Activities:  5 and 10 mile hikes on Hoover Trail (those doing Hiking MB should submit written hike plan to Trent ahead of time), conservation service opportunity (picking up trash and branches), and Leave No Trace program

When:   November 13th-15th. Drop off at Cedar Valley Park between 5-6pm.  Eat dinner before you come, snacks available for Friday evening.

What to bring:  Be sure to bring two face masks (in case 1st gets wet/dirty), a large water bottle, reusable cup if you want warm drinks, gear for cold weather, plenty of dry clothes,  board games, cold weather camping gear.  Please see our camping section for what to bring on a cold weather campout.

COVID precautions: Scouts must occupy a tent on their own, or with someone from their household. Masks must be worn when 6’ social distancing is not possible. Hand sanitizer will be available and usage highly recommended. The Council has loosened the carpooling rules. If families work our arrangements with each other, Scouts can ride in a vehicle outside of their own as long as masks are worn. The troop won't be brokering rides. So, please work this out ahead of time as not everyone is comfortable with this yet.

Cost: $30 per Scout, $10 per adult.  Includes snacks, 3 meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday.

What we need:  Adult volunteers. 

Deadline:  Must be registered by November 7.  No refunds after the deadline.

Registration:  To register, click on the following link: https://forms.gle/7x436pMaqo8rtDm57

Scout Swim Day - 11/29

Due to current COVID restrictions, this opportunity is canceled. We may be able to reschedule it for a future date.

Troop 2000 will host an upcoming Scout Swim Day on Sunday, November 29 from 1:30-4:30pm at Diventures in North Liberty. Scouts that need to work on swimming or water rescue requirements for rank advancement (Second Class 5b-c, First Class 6a, 6e), work on Swimming Merit Badge, or that want to update their Swimmer Test can sign up here. For social distancing precautions we're limited to a capacity of 12 swimmers for this event - if sign-up exceeds 12, we will group swimmers into time blocks of 1:30-3pm or 3-4:30pm. Cost is $5 per Scout swimming and sign up closes November 23.