IMPORTANT UPDATE: Scouting America has replaced the previous Youth Protection Training (YPT) with a new course called Safeguarding Youth. If you have an active YPT certification, it remains valid until your expiration date or May 2026 (whichever comes first). Once it has expired, you'll need to take the full new course, and then a 15-minute refresher course once a year to stay current.

Course Details:
- Duration: ~90 minutes
- Available in English and Spanish
- Access it through my.scouting.org
- Requirements: Complete all lessons + score 80% or higher on the final test

To learn more, view a recent interview with Chief Safeguarding Officer Glen Pounder at the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcmtpH_Bq-Q

We are at the end of the scouting year! Just two events coming up this week:

END OF YEAR PICNIC:  We have our end of the year picnic at the pavilion at Heights Park at 6pm on Monday, May 19.  This is a great time for families to join scouts to celebrate a great year and hang out together. Every year, our scouts plan fun activities and ask for families to bring food. Please see the signup link below to let us know you're coming, and sign up for what you plan to bring.

-- Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E45ABAE28A7FE3-56639952-t444

FLAG DEPLOYMENT FOR MEMORIAL DAY:  Please sign up to help with flag deployment on 5/24 and retrieval on 5/31.  If you can serve as lead for either of these, please let Alan Melson know.

-- Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA9AC28A5FF2-56822387-memorial#/

COURT OF HONOR:  Remember that CoH begins in the AUMC Sanctuary at 7:30pm Monday 5/12 (in place of normal troop meeting).  If you have a speaking or leadership role, please arrive by 7pm at the latest.  

--- Important: If your last name begins with A-G, please bring crackers or chips for the reception.  If it begins with H-Q, bring cookies.  If it begins with R-Z, please bring bottled water.  Thanks!

END OF YEAR PICNIC:  We have our end of the year picnic at the pavilion at Heights Park at 6pm on Monday, May 19.  This is a great time for families to join scouts to celebrate a great year and hang out together. Every year, our scouts plan fun activities and ask for families to bring food. Please see the signup link below to let us know you're coming, and sign up for what you plan to bring.

-- Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E45ABAE28A7FE3-56639952-t444

FLAG DEPLOYMENT FOR MEMORIAL DAY:  Please sign up to help with flag deployment on 5/24 and retrieval on 5/31.  If you can serve as lead for either of these, please let Alan Melson know.

-- Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA9AC28A5FF2-56822387-memorial#/

SUMMER CAMP: Please see the email sent out to the troop this past Thursday afternoon from summer camp lead Karen Mitchell.  It contains a lot of important information about what to do to prepare for camp.  Most pressing need is merit badge selection. Please review the merit badge schedule with your scout (https://www.wmc-mountaincamp.org/_files/ugd/181698_5677ec36fffe4b77a3b5dbc58432e0af.pdf) and make their selections.Descriptions of the merit badges are contained in the leader's guide--page 3-9: https://www.wmc-mountaincamp.org/_files/ugd/181698_5d587cde927b427a9e9659765d0159d0.pdf

Merit badge picks are due TONIGHT (Sunday 5/11) at 10pm.  Please submit here: https://www.jotform.com/build/251214319089153

MAY 2-4 CAMPOUTS:  Sign up today so we can firm up headcount:

-- 444B at the Lake: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/t444/items/item/7085594?cart

-- 444G Tubing Adventure: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/t444/items/item/7092777?cart

NEW PARENT INFO MEETING - Monday, 4/21 at 7:30 (during normal troop meeting time):  Please join us if you've joined the troop in the last few months (or if you've been around longer and just want a refresher) - we'll walk through our troop information packet and answer questions you may have.

ADVENTURE CARDS: Adventure Cards were distributed to the scouts at the troop meeting on 3/17. More cards can be picked up from Alexandra Joshi-Imre (alxndra@gmail.com).  The cards are marked for $10 sale price, and we will receive 50% commission, so $5 on each card sold. Unsold cards will be returned to Circle Ten Council and will cost us no money.  The scouts may sell to friends, family and to the public. Store frontsales are generally allowed, after receiving verbal approval from the store manager. It is not allowed to sell adventure cards in front of the following stores: Dick's Sporting Goods, Kroger, Walmart, Tom Thumb and Albertsons.

Welcome to a new week, 444 families!  See below for important updates

FLAG REPAIR SERVICE PROJECT/FUNDRAISER:  WE NEED HELP for our flag repair service/fundraiser on Saturday 4/19 at 1pm at the Scout Hut.  Please sign up to help (scouts can get service hours).  The more folks we have, the faster we can complete flag repairs  

- Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0848A8AD2DA0F58-56135310-troop

MAY 2-4 CAMPOUTS:  Sign up today so we can firm up headcount:

-- 444B at the Lake: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/t444/items/item/7085594?cart

-- 444G Tubing Adventure: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/t444/items/item/7092777?cart

NEW PARENT INFO MEETING - Monday, 4/21 at 7:30 (during normal troop meeting time):  Please join us if you've joined the troop in the last few months (or if you've been around longer and just want a refresher) - we'll walk through our troop information packet and answer questions you may have.

ADVENTURE CARDS: Adventure Cards were distributed to the scouts at the troop meeting on 3/17. More cards can be picked up from Alexandra Joshi-Imre (alxndra@gmail.com).  The cards are marked for $10 sale price, and we will receive 50% commission, so $5 on each card sold. Unsold cards will be returned to Circle Ten Council and will cost us no money.  The scouts may sell to friends, family and to the public. Store frontsales are generally allowed, after receiving verbal approval from the store manager. It is not allowed to sell adventure cards in front of the following stores: Dick's Sporting Goods, Kroger, Walmart, Tom Thumb and Albertsons.

Hello, 444 families!  Be watching your email later this week for an update on Summer Camp logistics and camperships.  In the meantime, a few other announcements:

MONDAY 4/7 SCHEDULE:  Troop 444B will have its full troop meeting from 7pm to 8:30pm with a focus on CPR training.  All scouts, please plan to arrive no later than 7pm.  Troop 444G has TFC and troop meeting as normally scheduled.

FLAG REPAIR SERVICE PROJECT/FUNDRAISER:  Please sign up to help with our flag repair service/fundraiser on Saturday 4/19 at 1pm at the Scout Hut.  We need a good turnout - and scouts can get service hours.  

- Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0848A8AD2DA0F58-56135310-troop

ADVENTURE CARDS: Adventure Cards were distributed to the scouts at the troop meeting on 3/17. More cards can be picked up from Alexandra Joshi-Imre (alxndra@gmail.com).  The cards are marked for $10 sale price, and we will receive 50% commission, so $5 on each card sold. Unsold cards will be returned to Circle Ten Council and will cost us no money.  The scouts may sell to friends, family and to the public. Store frontsales are generally allowed, after receiving verbal approval from the store manager. It is not allowed to sell adventure cards in front of the following stores: Dick's Sporting Goods, Kroger, Walmart, Tom Thumb and Albertsons.