Daniel Henning announced an opportunity for Protestant Boy and Gril Scouts to earn their Religious Emblem at St. Paul's Lutheran Church this winter.  The program helps scouts meet their Duty to God rank requirements.  Classes will be held on select Sundays from 11am - 12pm in the school building starting January 17.  The following levels will be offered: God and Me (grades 1-3); God and Family (grades 4-5); God and Church (grades 6-8); God and Life (grades 9 -12).  Upon completion, Scouts receive a medal for their uniform in a special Court of Honor.  Contact Daniel Henning, Mr. Henning, or Mr. Tischler.

Jan 22-24 is Klondike Derby time again and that means it is time to continue the Troop 777 sled race dominance!  Scouts will be treated to a pig roast and meatless mania (new this year).  Click here to register.

Hey guys, remember this is an outdoor campout.  If mother nature cooperates, we will sleep in igloo's and everyone earns the Polar Bear Award.

Hey Scouts, 

Just a reminder on a couple of advancement related processes:

Rank Advancement: 

• Requirements: All requirements completed, signed, and dated in your handbook except Position of Responsibility, Scout Sprint, Being Active - these are signed off by a Scoutmaster in your Conference
• Advancement Plan: Obtain the Troop 777 Advancement Plan form from the Advancement Chair (Mr. Bresson) and complete before scheduling a Scoutmaster Conference.  Onine version here
• Scoutmaster Conference: Contact the Scoutmaster to schedule a Scoutmaster Conference (Note: Life and Eagle ranks are done outside regular meetings).
• Board of Review: Contact the BoR Coordinator (Mr. Grimmer) to request being added to the next available Board of Review.  Meetings are pre-scheduled every week prior to normal meeting times (see process below).
• Turn in Advancement Plan: following the BoR, obtain all signatures and turn in the form to the Advancement Chair.  Ranks are usually awarded during the meeting.  Credentials are given at the Court of Honor.

Merit Badges Steps: 

Apply toward Star, Life, and Eagle ranks only. 

1. Scout DEVELOPS an interest by reviewing the Merit Badge Pamphlet for requirements.  Buy them at Nankin Hobby or check them out from the Troop Librarian.  Pamphlets are not available on-line.
2. Scout DISCUSSES his interest with the Scoutmaster
3. Scoutmaster SIGNS a blue card and provides a list of approved Merit Badge Counselors to contact.  The Scout should not contact a counselor until after this step.
4. Scout CONTACTS the counselor and makes arrangements to meet. Scout always takes a buddy when meeting with counselors.
5. Counselor CONSIDERS any work toward requirements completed prior to initial meeting.
6. Scout, buddy, and counselor MEET several times to review progress.
7. Scout FINISHES the requirements
8. Counselor APPROVES by signing blue card
9. Scout RETURNS blue card to Scoutmaster for signature
10. Scout TURNS IN the blue card to Advancement Chair / Front Desk
11. Troop REPORTS merit badge completion to Council
12. Scout RECEIVES merit badge at Court of Honor

Eagle:

• MEET with an Eagle Advisor:  Schedule an initial meeting with one of the Eagle Advisors after earning Life rank to learn about the special advancement processes for Eagle.  Scouts should use their advisor as a mentor through out the process.
• REFERENCE the Trail to Eagle Presentation:  Click here this presentation outlines the Eagle Application, Eagle Project, and review process.

New BoR Schedule:

Coin Collecting Merit Badge 

The Huron Valley Numismatic Society will present it’s 6^th annual coin collecting merit badge workshop on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, 6:30-9 pm, at the Highland Activity Center, 209 John St, in Highland, MI.

Boy Scouts of America is rolling out several program updates effective in January that will impact rank and merit badge requirements.  A new 13th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook will be in stores in January.  Additionally, many merit badge pamphlets are now available to download in digital format with enhanced interactive and video content Link to pamphlets. 

New Scouts should buy the new handbook, others may continue to use their current version but should print out this insert Link to insert and will need to adopt the new requirements based on the following:   

During 2016:

• Boys joining on or after  Jan. 1, 2016  MUST use the new requirements.
• Boys who have joined prior to Jan. 1, 2016: 
• Who are working on the Scout badge MAY continue to work on the existing  requirements, but MUST convert to the new requirements upon completion of  the Scout badge. 
• Who are working on Tenderfoot through First Class MAY continue to work on the  existing requirements, but MUST convert to the new requirements upon  attaining First Class.
• Who have completed First Class MAY complete the rank they are currently working on in the existing requirements, but then MUST convert to the new  requirements for subsequent ranks. 

After 2016:

• All Scouts MUST use the new requirements regardless of rank. 

Click here to learn more about the goal of these changes.