Since February 9th 2021, we are back to meeting inside in the Upper Gwynedd Community Building.
Reopening Plan
For the latest COVID Health form, click here.
Below are the reopening guidelines for Troop 152:
- Each scout must complete the BSA health screening questionnaire before they participate in each meeting, activity, or event.
- Any scout who answers YES to any question, or has a fever above 100.0 ̊F will NOT be allowed to attend or participate.
- Every scout's temperature will be checked and documented upon check in.
- Transportation to and from unit meetings and activities will be provided by parents or others living in the same household.
- Use of hand sanitizer, that contains at least 60% alcohol and rub hands until dry, will be required upon check in.
- Exchanging of handshakes, fist bumps, high-fives and other such contacts at meetings is to be discouraged.
- All scouts and leaders must wear a mask at all times.
- Social distancing should be maintained as much as possible.
- Limit any sharing of food, tools, equipment, or supplies.
Failure to adhere to any of these requirements will result in the return to virtual meetings.
There are additional guidelines from Cradle of Liberty Council for Eagle Scout projects: read here.
Online Scouting
As we self-isolate, there are many scouting activities you can do at home. Here are some ideas:
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Practice knots
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Animated Knots has a page on scouting knots
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Work on a merit badge
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Contact the scoutmaster for the list of local counselors
- These 58 badges work well online
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Sew patches on your uniform
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Do you have the right rank patch on?
- Is your patrol patch on?
- Cradle of Liberty Council page on Online Scouting
- National BSA page on Scouting at Home
Summer Camp at Goose Pond Scout Reservation
On May 14th, Goose Pond announced that their summer resident camp is has been cancelled. And although this is not unexpected, we know a lot of people are dissapointed.
We still have all payments and will give refunds to all scouts. There was a form for you to request how to receive your refund. If you did not complete the form, we will mail you a check to the address we have on file.
Advancement
Cradle of Liberty Council put out an FAQ document to answer questions on advancement during the shutdown.
National has also put out guidance on Eagle Scout extensions as well.
For any other questions specific to advancement in Troop 152 during the coronavirus, please contact Alan Fleck, our Advancement Chair, or the Scoutmaster.
How Can I Help?
Here are some ideas on how to help with the Coronavirus crisis.
Learn how to wash your hands: It's more complicated than you'd think, and most people don't know how to wash their hands well. View this video to learn the 7 step WHO method.
Call someone and talk: As the Scout Oath says, we all need to keep ourselves "mentally awake." But, many people aren't coping well mentally with staying at home. So, take the time to call someone and shoot the breeze. Try to think of other activities you can do together over the phone or online.
Encourage others to follow the guidelines: The more people ignore social distancing guidelines, the longer restrictions will have to remain in effect. And, people are more likely to listen to social pressure from their friends and family than to listen to experts on TV.
Sew face masks: Simple cotton face coverings do provide some protection (see this article from the CDC). Even something as simple as a bandanna over your nose and mouth works. But, heavier material is better.
The Surgeon General put out a video demonstrating how to make a simple face covering with common household items, such as a t-shirt and rubber bands.
If you know how to sew, there are also many good designs online that fit better around your face. This design is the best we've seen so far. It's faster with a sewing machine, but this simple design is easy to sew by hand as well.
JoAnn Stores are running a campaign to make and donate cotton face coverings. They have a page with instructions on how to make them. And, they collect the finished items and distribute them to where they are needed.
Donate to Local Charities/Non-Profits:
- The Montgomery County Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund
- The Montco Anti-Hunger Network
- RSVP of Montgomery County
- Feeding Pennsylvania
- The American Red Cross
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Friends of Scouting (FOS) presentations have been postponed due to the shutdown
- FOS donations keep Ressica Falls and Musser Scout Reservations running
- FOS funds camperships/scholarships
- FOS keeps council staff employed
Improve Yourself: Learn a new skill. Many learning resources are now available for free during the crisis:
- Khan Academy has educational videos on a wide array of topics
- Coursera also has courses on a wide set of topics
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You can also work on an interpreter strip to put on your uniform
- Take a Virtual Museum Tour
- The Constitution Center has special civic learning opportunities
- Pluralsight has courses for tech skills
Coronavirus Resources
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Scouting
- Unami Lodge, One's Response to COVID-19
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Government
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Montgomery County's COVID-19 Page
- This includes a township-by-township map of cases in the county
- PA State Coronavirus Page
- coronavirus.gov (Federal Government Page)
- Data & Models
- Projections of the Spread of COVID-19 (healthdata.org)
- Social Distancing Scorecard using GPS data from smartphones