Yesterday, 13 scouts from our Troop joined dozens of Scouts from other Troops and Crews to learn about Geocaching and earn the Geocaching Merit Badge in a class taught at the Hawk Woods Nature Center in Auburn Hills.

Here's a summary of what's coming up in the next few weeks:
- Today, Sunday, May 13th is Mother's Day - Make sure your Mother knows how much you appreciate all she does throughout the year!
- Tuesday, May 15th is a Troop Meeting - topics will include Menu Planning for the May Biking campout and Orienteering
------ Immediately after the Troop Meeting (8:30) is a 2013 Seabase Crew & Parent Meeting
- Friday thru Sunday, May 18-20 is the Biking campout, where we'll be staying in Addison Oaks County Park and biking along the Pollyann trail
- Saturday, May 19th is also the Mix-Fix at Cole Canoe Base, where a few of the adults leaders (not on the Bike Campout) will be completing the Electrical Work in the new Pavilion
- Tuesday, May 22nd is a PLC and Committee Meeting
- Tuesday, May 29th is a Troop Meeting - topics will include Menu Planning for the June Canoeing campout
- Friday thru Sunday, June 1-3 is the Canoeing Campout
- Tuesday, June 5th is the annual Program Planning Troop Meeting - this is where the boys decide what we'll do next year!
------ So start thinking about where you want to go and what you want to do - and "Be Prepared" to offer up suggestions at this meeting

Troop Parents:  Friends of Scouting needs your help to get us over the top for the year, and it won't cost you a thin dime!

Between May 7th and May 31st, there are 10 evening opportunities for each of us to help Friends of Scouting by contacting current FOS donors to ask if they will continue their donations for another year.

The Permission Slip was handed out at the Troop Meeting on the 8th.  It's also online on the Troop website here.
Plan to meet at the Fire Station at 6:30, and head out by 7:00, on Friday, May 18th.
We'll be tent camping in the Addison Oaks County Park, and biking along the Pollyann trail.
The cost is $15.
Although this is part of the training for this Summer's High Adventure Bike trip, this campout is geared toward the entire Troop, so plan to attend!
Permission Slips are due back at the Troop Meeting on May 15th.

First, thanks to all of you who brought in Propane coupons over the past month.  These help to keep our cost down, so it is appreciated.  I've never seen that many propane coupons in one place before!

...or as we like to refer to it, "The Lawyer Talk".

On the left side menu of the Troop website, www.Troop1701.org, click on "Rank Advancement" and you'll see several several different documents that are useful to scouts working on, well, Rank Advancement.  The one we are talking about is called 'Citizenship Materials', and the document contains information you should read to complete First Class Rank requirement #5.