Hey folks, I made a big boo-boo. Monday is open house for Lafayette county schools. This means 2/3rds of our senior leadership and over half of our patrol leaders will be out. I will talk things over with our leaders and figure out what we can do. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Hey everyone, The merit badges from week 1 have been entered. Not all of the MBs they took at summer camp are completed and will need to complete before we can award them. This summer would be a great time to finish up those pesky lingering requirements. You and your scout can look at what is left to complete on the scoutbook. If you need to know how to find them let me or one of the other leaders know and we will be happy to help you out. Mom’s and Dad’s it is very okay to work on these requirements with your boys. The best way to get credit for these is to search for the MB packet online (I usually search (Name of MB) requirements BSA. Print that bad boy out and complete the missing requirements that are not checked off. Please do not check anything off in SB as they need to be looked over by one of our MB counselors for that specific requirement. If the boys need to complete metal work or something similar that can not be completed at home, we can see if we can work something out with the camp ranger to get them out there. You can work on any merit badge that has already been started. Any others the boys have to meet with a MB counselor before they can start them. Any swimming MB requirements has to be done with one of our leaders or a certified Lifeguard.
Thanks Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Hello everyone and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads. For those new to the troop and for general knowledge, the summer camp merit badges will be put in to scoutbook after the camp staff complete marking off requirements and we are able to download the completed requirements reports. This usually is done a week or two after the last week of camp is done. I spoke to several of the area directors yesterday who informed me that many MBs that were originally set to be completed at camp were not completed due to us losing Sunday because of the bad storm. I will send out some guidance on completing those later. Thanks for allowing us to guide and mentor your boys Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster.

Hello everyone, I hope this email finds you well and safe after the storms today. Unfortunately the storms did some real damage to camp. We had trees all over camp down blocking roads and trails, as well as at least two cabins have had trees fall on them. Also at least one of the power lines was snapped. Teams will be working diligently today and tomorrow to get camp back in order. This damage is postponing check-in to Monday morning. Our time to meet is 7:45am in the parking lot. Thank you for your understanding and patience with this. Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Hey folks, We have been asked to check in at 3:00pm, so like all things it’s a change. We will meet at 2:45pm in the parking lot to load the trailer with the scouts personal gear. All scouts have to be present before we can check in. Still if your scout has not had a swim check wear swim trunks and a class b. Thanks Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Hello Everyone, For camp this summer, Mr. Nathan Crouch 601-934-5628, and Mr Rob Devries 407-473-7672, will be the points of contact for the troop. They will be there everyday and or night along with a smattering of other leaders throughout the week. We are meeting at the camp at 12:45 pm on Sunday, scouts who have not taken their swim test already need to be in class b and swim trunks with their towel close at hand. Pick up is Saturday morning. There is no longer a parents day so you do not need to worry about that. The OA callout campfire is friday night, everyone is invited. Scouts who were up for OA election should be there to find out if they made OA or not. Those scouts are Connor Copelin, Stacker Richardson, Michael Chaney, Fin Cole, and Tucker Milner. Scouts will be staying in the troop tents. Scouts in the Polaris program will have an overnighter with the other polaris scouts.
Each scout needs their Scout Handbook and a notebook. There are no Crocs or Keens allowed outside of the campsite, crocs are only allowed for shower shoes and while at the waterfront swim area. There is a trading post which sells all the boys favorite sodas and candy along with shirts and other trinkets, 25 – 50 $ is a safe amount to send for the week.
The suggested packing list is: Personal Equipment o Uniform o Annual Health and Medical Record (turned into the Unit Leader before arrival, photocopies accepted) o T-shirts o Shorts and/or pants 34 o Swimwear (trunks for boys and men and one-piece swimsuits for girls and ladies) o Underwear o Socks o Hat o Jacket o Rain gear o Extra shoes o Watch o Washcloth and towel o Toiletry items (soaps, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.) – The items should be kept in a small case or shower bucket. o Shower shoes o Plastic bags/Walmart sacks to keep clothes dry while showering o Flashlight and extra batteries o Fan (cabins have electricity) o Sleeping bag and/or sheets and blankets o Pillow o Camp pad and/or inflatable mattress o Footlocker/suitcase o Spending money and wallet o Sunglasses o Camera o Insect repellent o Sunscreen o Notebook o Pencil or pen o Rank book o Water bottle – This must be kept with you at all times. Do not come to Summer Camp without a water bottle. o Daypack
See yall Sunday Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Hey folks, We are missing a few tents and some of the tent parts. If your scout still has a tent from a campout or any parts to a tent we need it ASAP as we are cleaning and re waterproofing them. Please have your Scout or Scouts check for any parts, bags or if they have their tent still and let me know. We will make arrangements to get them to me for the through cleaning. Thanks.
Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Hello everyone, I hope this finds you well. This email is for all who have a scout at the rank of 1st class or higher. The Natchez Trace Council is putting on a NYLT Course in August over the weekends of 15-17 and 22-24. This course is designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of the boys beyond that of what ILST teaches. The course also looks good on college resumes and Job applications. The course is 200$, open to scouts who are 1st class and the age of 13 by Aug 15. This is a very good course. I am including the link for you to sign your scout up. www.natcheztracecouncil.org/content/126214/2025-NYLT—NYLT
Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Hello Everyone, We have our Court of Honor, Monday May 26th, yes Memorial Day. The Ceremony will be at 5:30 PM, and Scouts will need to be there at 5PM. Full Class A uniform with their Merit Badge Sash if they have it is the uniform of the day. This consists of Green pants or shorts, Tan Shirt, Belt, Neckerchief and Sash. We will have a reception immediately following the ceremony. We wanted to get yall home earlier in the night so you still have time to do something with your families is why we chose to start early.
Thank you Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

Ladies and gentlemen, Tomorrow we will have our last regular meeting before the court of honor. Tomorrow we will hold troop elections. Scouts who are first class and above are required to run for a leadership position. Those scouts need to be in full class A minus their sash. All scouts second class and below can be in class b. Tomorrow is also the last day to turn in any unfinished MB work so they can be recognized at the court of honor. If you have not sent in your MB class list for summer camp we are running out of time to get those in, so please turn those in ASAP. Last thing. Camp cards are due next week. Please sell what you have and turn in the cash. Thanks Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster