MAY 2023 NEWSLETTER
Namaste, Scouts & Families!
Following up on our February, March, and April newsletters, please read on for the highlights so far and important updates for the months ahead.
SCOUTMASTER’S CORNER
Greetings Scouts, Parents, and Committee Members!
April was a fun-filled month with many activities and achievements for the Scouts. These included a high-adventure camping trip to Rishikesh, a fitness test and rock-climbing for 60G, individual Scouts volunteering for service hours, patrol camping by the Phoenix Patrol, and Wilderness Survival training led by the Grumpy Old Eagles Patrol for 60B.
Many Scouts advanced this month, including Camryn Eastman and R.J. Gupte, who both earned Second Class rank.
Scouts should continue to read and study their hard-copy Handbooks. These are filled with “how to do” instructions for hard skills such as knot-tying, first aid, and procedures to deal with outdoor dilemmas. I encourage each Scout to pick one or two rank requirements on the Trail to First Class to work on between meetings. Scouts should also identify Merit Badges (MBs) they are interested in. If our troop offers the MB, they can sign up for it; if not, then we may be able to offer it in the future, or even link the Scout with an outside counselor.
Finally, I could not be more pleased with the positivity observed in Scouts demonstrating the helpful, friendly, and cheerful aspects of the Scout Law. As we continue to grow as a troop, having an inclusive attitude will only increase in importance. Scouting is in many ways an individual journey; however, it is only made possible through the collective teamwork and encouragement Scouts obtain from those around them. Thank you for being positive and let us all remain cheerful in our Scouting!
Yours in Scouting,
Alexander McKenney, Troop 60G Scoutmaster
SCOUT LEADER SPOTLIGHT
Shivraj Sidhu,
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
- Birthday: March 5, 2007
- What brought you to Scouting? My parents
- What is your current rank? Life
- When did you join Troop 60? August 2019
- What was the first merit badge you earned? First Aid
- What was your favorite merit badge to earn? Forestry
- What was the most challenging merit badge to earn? Family Life
- Which merit badges do you still want to earn? All the Eagle-required ones
- What is your goal for Troop 60 this year? To have the troop be larger.
- What is your favorite thing about Scouting? The relationships you create.
- Favorite camping meal: Quesadillas
- Where else have you been involved with Scouting? Summer camp (U.S.)
- What do you like to do when you’re not busy Scouting? I like running.
ADULT LEADER SPOTLIGHT
Kathryn Farmer,
Advancement Chair
- Birthday: June 27, 1976
- What brought you to Scouting? Owen started scouting at age 7 as a Wolf in Cub Scouts, as a parent I would attend pack meetings and campouts and started volunteering to help support the pack. And here I am, still volunteering!
- When did you join Troop 60? September 2021
- What is your role(s) with Troop 60? Advancement Chair on the Troop Committee. Also a Merit Badge Counselor for Swimming, Family Life, Hiking, Dog Care, Gardening, and Scholarship.
- What is your favorite merit badge or rank requirement to help Scouts earn? I really enjoyed co-teaching the Swimming merit badge at the Extravaganza in March. Swimming is a vital skill. Plus it's also just fun to be in the water and help kids learn new things.
- What is the most challenging merit badge or rank requirement to help Scouts earn? Honestly, as a parent, the hardest thing is to let the scout figure out how to make progress on requirements and badges on their own. But that is probably the most valuable skill they learn overall.
- What is your goal for Troop 60 this year? Getting back to pre-Covid levels of activity and we did it!!
- What is your favorite thing about Scouting? I love to see the Scouts learn and grow and gain confidence. I sit on many of the Boards of Review, and I get to see how much ground they gain from their first board as a Tenderfoot. The youth-led model can be frustrating sometimes to watch as a parent, but the gains are really tremendous in the end.
- Favorite camping meal: Anything in a Dutch oven.
- Where else have you been involved with Scouting? Alexandria, Virginia.
- What do you like to do when you’re not busy Scouting? Exploring Delhi, hitting the gym or pool, and binging Netflix series 😉
- Anything else you would like Troop 60 to know? We're leaving this summer and moving back to the U.S. We have really enjoyed being a part of Troop 60 and it has been so gratifying to see this group gel as a unit over the last year. Troop 60 is one of the things we'll miss the most leaving Delhi!
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Scouting Success Starts With You!
- We have a few adult-sized Troop 60 Class B T-shirts still available for Scouts and parents! (See photos above.) Need one? Please contact Nicole Gupte.
- We’re seeking volunteers — Scouts and/or parents — for designing and organizing special patches and future uniform and T-shirt orders. (We may be able to lower our supply costs by working with a local vendor, but we need more volunteers for this type of project.) The same designer could also help spruce up this newsletter and our under-construction website. Interested? Please contact Nicole Gupte.
- Got finance skills? Enjoy spreadsheets? Troop 60 could use some help with the Treasurer role, especially as we look ahead to the next school year and more exciting activities and programs to come. Please contact Simran Sidhu for more information.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Save the Dates
- May 2: Troop Meeting, 6-7:30 p.m. @ AES HOP
- May 5-6: Troop 60B Campout @ Bello Home
- May 16: Troop Meeting, 6-7:30 p.m @ AES HOP
- May 21: Court of Honor & Troop Elections, 4-6 p.m. @ AES HOP
- July 22-29: Summer Camp @ Camp Nepal
Sunday, May 21: Court of Honor
Troop 60 holds a Court of Honor every six months to formally recognize the Scouts who have moved up in rank (except for the achievement of Eagle Scout, which has its own special ceremony) and any merit badges earned since the previous COH. This event will include a uniform inspection, so Scouts should make sure they have all their uniform parts and patches sewn and displayed correctly.
This is a time for family and friends to come and celebrate our Scouts and enjoy each other’s company. We look forward to celebrating with you! This month’s ceremony will be followed by a potluck meal; keep an eye out for a sign-up link in the coming days to let us know what dish you plan to share!
MONTH IN REVIEW & PHOTO GALLERY
Rishikesh Campout: April 1-3
By Owen Farmer, Phoenix Patrol
Troop 60 went on an eventful trip to Rishikesh last month! Scouts got to experience India: amazing views, pizza delivery in traffic, holy rivers, and more. Aside from the traffic, the trip was great. Scouts enjoyed water activities like kayaking and rafting, adventure activities like ropes courses, and regular campout fun like hikes and campfires. Here are some photos!
Phoenix Patrol Campout: April 28-29
by R.J. Gupte, Phoenix Patrol
Seven Scouts from the Phoenix Patrol came to my house for a campout on Friday, April 28. We worked on rank requirements and practiced folding the American flag and using lashings to create useful camp gear. On Saturday, we went to Sanjay Van Park to participate in a trash cleanup service project with other volunteers, including Cub Scouts Pack 3060.
Thank you to Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Barker and Nicole Gupte (Chartered Organization Representative & Newsletter Editor) for your help!
Troop 60G Rock Climbing: April 29
By Rosemary McKenney & Ariana Cooper, Peacock Patrol
Troop 60G went on a climbing adventure at Climb Central on Saturday, April 29. The girls used teamwork and positive encouragement to cheer each other on. The positive attitudes helped the girls to climb harder and more difficult walls. All the Scouts ended the adventure with joy from conquering the walls.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Don’t be a stranger! Reach out via WhatsApp to anyone mentioned in this newsletter, email either scoutmasterboys@bsatroop60.in or scoutmastergirls@bsatroop60.in, or click on these links for helpful information: