TROOP CALENDAR
Troop Meetings
Please note Class A dress unless otherwise noted.
Troop 161 meetings will be at 6:45pm at Antwerp Township (if weather permits).
Class A dress unless otherwise noted.
Camp Outs & Events
2024 Health Forms are needed to camp out. Please complete these forms and bring to the next Troop Meeting
September 7, 2024
Kal-Haven Bike Ride. Depart at 9am. Starting point is at the Gobles Kal-Haven Trailhead. Park in the parking lot just to the north of the trailhead. Finishing point is the South Haven Kal-Haven Trailhead parking lot. Expect to arrive around 11am. Make sure to have a bike helmet, water bottle, and dress appropriately for the weather!
September 20-22, 2024
Campout at Tamarack (10891 Withers Street, Constantine, MI). Further details to come. .
September 24, 2024
Troop 161 Court of Honor. Please send your completed blue cards to Jenny Blomeke (jenny.blomeke@outlook.com).
October 25-27, 2024
Campout at VerHage Fruit Farms (8619 W. ML Ave., Kalamazoo, MI). Further details to come.
November 5, 2024
Election Day! No BSA meeting. Go vote.
November 15-17, 2024
Campout at Teetonkah (3710 Burkhart Road, Jackson, MI). Further details to come.
December 7, 2024
Day trip to Henry Ford Museum (20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI). Further details to come.
January 24-25, 2024
Campout at Climb Kalamazoo (1136 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI). Further details to come.
PARENT INFORMATION
Leadership Meetings
Please join us for Troop Leadership Meetings every second Monday of the month at 6:45pm. Anyone is welcome who is interested in the Troop and what we are working on.
Vist us on
TROOP 161 NEWS
Camping Forms
**Youth & Adult Waivers must be signed to participate**
Youth Waiver
Adult Waiver
Please forward your completed waiver to Richard Ewin: richard.ewin@live.com
BEHAVIOR AND HEALTH FORMS
All Scouts and adults who attend meetings and/or campouts need to sign the Troop 161 Behavioral Form. Please read the Troop 161 Behavioral Form, then sign and turn in the signature page (please don't turn in the rules...save paper!). Scouts need a parent or guardian to witness their signature. You can scan and email the signature page to richard.ewin@live.com, or you can bring it to a meeting and turn it in to Richard.
Please contact bsatroop161mattawan@gmail.com if you have questions.
Please turn in Scout Health forms and a copy of your current insurance card. Everyone (scouts and adults) needs to have new Scout Health forms A&B completed once a year to be allowed to attend any overnight scouting event. Most scouts’ and adults’ forms are expired! The A&B forms can be completed relatively quickly by the scout & adult. In addition, everyone needs to have their Scout Health form C completed once a year to be allowed to attend any camp lasting 72 hours or more (Summer camp, Mackinac, etc.). Scout Health form C must be filled out by a certified and licensed medical professional, including their signature. No one (scout or adult) is allowed to attend summer camp if their form C is not properly filled out and on file with the troop. Please schedule appointments for physicals for you and your son now, so that you can get them done in time. Bronson Fastcare does offer camp/sports physicals for $30 at the WEST MAIN location. One adult reported that they allow SCOUTS for this, but would not allow adults to do so. Please call ahead of time. Other Fast Care facilities said they would allow adults to come in for a physical and call it a "pre-employment physical." Again, please call and ask.
A Supplemental Medical Permission Form will also need to be signed by a healthcare provider for vulnerable classes and those over 60 years old.
For those interested in attending a high adventure campout (Philmont, Northern Tier, Seabase, or Bechtel), bring Form D along to your physical and ensure the medical professional reviews the form with your Scout (there is no longer a box to check for this on Form C).
Please email Richard (richard.ewin@live.com) your doctor's appointment date if you won't have your forms turned in by the end of April. This will help me to understand when I can expect forms and will keep me from pestering you!
Please turn in your completed health forms, and a copy of your insurance card (front/back) to Richard Ewin at any Tuesday meeting. Questions, including the status of current form expiration, please contact Richard(richard.ewin@live.com) or see him at a Tuesday meeting.
Tips for filling out Health Forms A&B:
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1. Remember to list any restrictions, or check the ‘None’ box.
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Both scout & adult must sign the youth form.
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For “Adults Authorized to Take to and From Events” please write the phrase “Any Troop 161 parent.” Filling in only one or two adults means that if those adults aren’t attending a specific event, your scout can’t be transported and doesn’t get to go. Exceptions to this blanket permission that are added in the section below will be honored.
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Unit Leader: John Wendt (248-982-7272)
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Council Name: Michigan Crossroads Council
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Unit No.: Troop 161
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Check either Yes or No for permission to administer non-prescription medication.
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A Tetanus booster needs to have been received within the last 10 years. Some find it easier to attach a copy of their immunization schedule to Form B, rather than fill in that whole section. This is acceptable.
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We have some members of our troop that are immuno-compromised. Please include vaccination status of highly communicable diseases (ie: measles). Your specific vaccination status will NOT be shared, but the vulnerable members need to be aware if an UNNAMED member at an event will put them at risk so they can make an informed decision.
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Include a copy of your current insurance card (front and back).
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There is a permission box for BB devices (BB guns). There are also checkboxes for epi-pens and asthma inhalers. The "High Adventure" checkbox on Form C has been removed.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Assistant Scoutmaster
Looking for someone to become an assistant Scoutmaster.
If interested, please contact Scoutmaster Wendt.
Training is required.
Trivia Night Chair
Looking for someone to become the Trivia Night chair.
If interested, please contact Mr. Assenmacher.
No training required.
Pancake Breakfast Chair
Looking for someone to become the Pancake breakfast chair.
If interested, please contact Mr. Assenmacher.
No training required.