Troop 131 has already had 2 great camp outs this fall and more fun is planned.  Congrats to all our scouts on learning outdoor skills at our 9/26/20 Quail Hill Scout Reservation camp out and our return to Forestburg Scout Reservation 10/17/20 where many earned the historic trails hiking award (while also fishing, using the rifle range, and cooking meals and cobblers)!  And thanks to all family members for making these great family events.  Watch for info about our upcoming November hike / camping and our 12/12/20 NYC Hike! 

On Oct. 10th, 4 members of Troop 131 achieved new honors at the Na Tsi Hi Lodge's Fall Service Weekend.   Congratulations to Elvin Tai, Max Matheusch, and Dante Calcaterra for successfully earning OA's Ordeal level and joining the OA ranks, the national honor society of scouting, by completing their service, knowledge and camping requirements.  And for earning OA's highest achievement, our heartiest congratulations to Kevin Guether who became an OA Vigil Honor member for his amazing volunteer service work over the years on behalf of OA and Scouting!   Great work by all our scouts!

Our scouts were OUTSTANDING on our 2 most recent service projects.  They collected over 1000 pounds of food for the Fulfill foodbank on 6/6/20 helping feed families throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  And then they collected over 50 bags of roadside trash in their own neighborhoods on 6/13/20 as part of our continuing Holmdel Clean Communities efforts.  Community Service is the mark of scouting, & our troop volunteers with great spirit.  Next up is sandwich building for Bridges-at-the-Shore to assist with area food needs (multiple dates in Oct. & Nov. 2020)  And our next community service will be removing downed branches @ Phillips Park; date TBA.  Other events completed already this year are: Masonic Scouting Night. Feb 19th, Packs 131/331 Blue and Gold Crossover Feb. 21st, and Honor Guard for Holmdel's Memorial Day Ceremony on Mon. May 25th.  More are forthcoming including the Order of the Arrow camp sustainability projects this Fall (QHSR) and Eagle projects our scouts initiate.  Contact Mr. Liedel or Mr. Gestrich to sign up.

While we cannot meet during the school closure, there are still plenty of opportunities for rank and merit badge advancements.  Weekly troop meetings will include skill reviews and the opportunity to work with higher rank scouts to complete requirements.  Troop 131 also has merit badge classes that will be run online using Zoom and Scoutbook. Check your emails for updates. Sign ups are online. Blue cards will be done online as well, and records saved in Scoutbook.  Up first for the merit badge offerings are First Aid, Cooking, Emergency Prep, and Energy.  See you online!

Coming soon.  Be sure to sign up for the events you want.  We transition after Winterberg (2/14-16) to our spring/summer camping.  3/28 - Gettysburg Camping & Hikes.  4/25 - Turkey Swamp Park Camping.  5/29 - NJ State Police & National Guard BIG Camporee and Special Events in Sea Girt.  6/13 - Waterfall Hiking and Camping.  6/21-27 Camp Rodney.  7/26-8/1 - Forestburg.  August whitewater trip TBA.  Plus patrol-specific camping/hiking/biking/etc.  Sign up for any or all events at our troop meetings.

Troop 131 has had the honor of being led by Dr. Jeff Bodycomb for the last 5 years.  Jeff is taking the role of Scoutmaster Emeritus and transitioning his Scoutmaster duties to our new SM, Mr. Darryl Liedel.  Many of you know that both Jeff and Darryl are Eagle Scouts themselves, and the troop is excited to have both their influences shape our program.  It's our honor to be working with such insightful teachers/leaders.  We all look forward to the new directions Darryl will lead us in, and thank Jeff for all he has accomplished.  Troop 131 thanks them both for their commitment to our scouts!