Are you an Arrow of Light scout looking for a Scout Troop to cross over to? or maybe you are new to Scouting and want a great Troop to join?
Either way, Troop 437 welcomes all youth to come and experience the adventure of scouting! Visit one of our meetings to experience what Scouting is all about and what makes Troop 437 a great Scout Troop.
We meet every Thursday evening when school is in session. Meetings start at 7:00 pm at the American Legion Post 437 at 114 Dunstable Road. Feel free to contact us at info@westfordtroop437.us and let us know you are coming or to contact us with any questions. For more information about the troop, you can start at our About Us webpage.
Our next trip will be tent camping at the Resolute Scout Reservation.
This campout will be a great opportunity for our new cross-over scouts to join in all the fun of camping with Troop 437.
Outing: Camp Resolute in Bolton, MA Arrive at Resolute: 10 AM on Saturday, April 6th Pickup at Resolute: 9 AM on Sunday, April 7th Cost: $25 for overnight camping, lunch, dinner, cracker barrel & Breakfast
This trip will feature a Merit Badge Bonanza where several merit badges that can be completed in one day will be offered. We hope all scouts can complete one or two badges at this campout. An exact list of badges that will be offered will be announced as the trip approaches.
The patrols will also be competing in an Iron Chef cooking competition! Does your patrol have what it takes to wow and delight the judges with your culinary skills and teamwork? All patrols will be required to utilize a challenge ingredient in their dinner meal.
Do you want Troop events to automatically appear on your favorite calendar app, including Google Calendar, Outlook, Yahoo Calendar and other iOS, Android and Windows apps?
Simply go to Scout Troop 437 | Calendar Sync to start the process. Choose your preferred calendar feed format, and then follow the instructions provided. Super easy and another way to easily remember troop meetings and important troop events!
If you have any questions or problems setting up the calendar feed, email info@westfordtroop437.us or talk to any leader at a troop meeting.
Sign-up deadline: Signup and payment are due by April 25th to receive early-bird pricing
Camp Fees: The week of summer camp costs $560. However, if paid to the Troop by April 25th there is an early-bird discount of $30 making the camp fee $530. Assistance is available if needed - we want every scout to experience summer camp! See details at Scout Troop 437 | Summer camp: Wanocksett scout reservation.
Medical Forms: Medical forms signed by your medical provider are required for scouts and adults attending summer camp. Those need to be signed in the last 12 months. If you are going to need a physical to get the form filled out then now is a great time to schedule that. Medical forms are due by June 6th! A link to the medical form is available at the above camp URL. Scouts need sections A, B, C, and if applicable, D-NH (if the participant has an epi pen or inhaler). Part D-MA is not needed for our summer camp.
Financial Assistance: Need-based camperships are available from the camp. The deadline for applying for the assistance is April 1st. The link to the request form can be found at the above camp URL. If you plan to apply for assistance, please talk to a Scoutmaster for help filling out the form.
Counselor in Training (CIT) Program: If your scout wants to experience even more summer camp, they can apply to be a Counselor in Training at the camp. Scouts at least 14 and not yet 16 at the beginning of the camp season can apply to be CITs. More details can be found in the camp leader's guide. Links to the guide along with the CIT application can be found at the above camp URL.
We will be holding our Winter Court of Honor on Thursday, March 14th starting at 7:00 pm at the Legion. There will be a reception immediately after the court.
All Scouts, parents, and siblings are encouraged to attend to help us celebrate all the advancements that our scouts have achieved over the summer and the beginning of the scouting year!
Have you heard the term "Court of Honor"? Are you wondering what it is? If so here is a quick description that will hopefully clarify things.
Courts of Honor are when Scouts, Families, and Friends come together to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Troop members. Courts come in two flavors...
Troop Courts of Honor
Troop 437 holds "Troop Courts" are held three times a year. One in the Fall, One in the Winter, and one in the Spring. Troop Courts are where Troop members are recognized for their achievements such as Rank Advancement, Merit Badges, Leadership, and other accomplishments that have been completed since the last court. Troop Courts take the place of a regular Thursday evening Troop meeting and end with "pot luck" style refreshments. Look for notices in the e-blast newsletters about upcoming Troop Courts.
Eagle Courts of Honor
Obtaining Scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout is a major accomplishment and as such the Troop hosts a special "Eagle Court of Honor" whenever we have a new Eagle Scout to recognize. Eagle Courts are planned and scheduled as needed throughout the year and might honor a single scout or multiple scouts as appropriate. Invitations are sent out electronically announcing the Eagle Courts with a requested RSVP deadline. All families and scouts from the Troop are encouraged to attend the Eagle Courts to help celebrate the accomplishment - even if you do not know the scout it is still important to participate. Scouts from the Troop will be asked to arrive before the ceremony to help with set up and preparations.
Regardless of the type of court, be it Troop Court or Eagle Court, all Troop families are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, please feel free to let a scoutmaster know.
The April trip is a 3-night, four day trip to Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania. Sign-ups are due by February 15th since we need to reserve a lot of group tours.
We'll leave early on Saturday April 13th to drive to the Scranton area, visit the No. 9 Coal Mine in Lansford, PA, and tour historic Jim Thorpe, PA, followed by a pizza dinner. We'll be tent-camping nearby. On Sunday, we'll visit Lost River Caverns in Hellertown, PA and then go on to spend the afternoon at Valley Forge National Historical Park. We'll spend Sunday and Monday night in a large lodge at BSA Camp Jarvis in Devon, PA. We may visit an Escape Room Sunday evening, depending on the level of interest.
On Monday, we’ll spend the day in Philadelphia! Some of the sites that we will see include the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Independence Visitor Center, the U.S. Mint, Betsy Ross House, and either the Eastern State Penitentiary or the Museum of the American Revolution. (You can vote on the sites you prefer on the registration form.) In the evening, we’ll take a Spirit of ‘76 Ghost Tour before returning to Camp Jarvis. On Tuesday morning, we’ll depart Camp Jarvis and head to Ronks, PA to tour an Amish dairy farm, followed by a pretzel factory tour in Lititz, PA. We'll be home by about 9:30 or 10 PM Tuesday evening.
The trip cost is approximately $250 per person, although this may be adjusted slightly based on the sites that we visit in Philadelphia. Cost includes:
One night tent-camping and two nights at a cabin/lodge at Camp Jarvis
Transportation to and from PA (we will be carpooling and do need adult drivers)
Tickets for entrance into activities (except escape room)
Breakfast on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
Bagged lunch on Sunday, lunch funds for Monday
Saturday, Sunday and Monday dinners
Cracker Barrel (snack) each evening
You'll need to bring additional funds for lunch and dinner on Tuesday as well as souvenirs and treats (ice cream, etc.). The escape room outing is an extra $35 per person, for those who choose to participate.
Please fill out the registration form ASAP. There are several questions on the registration form where you can vote for your preferred activities in Philadelphia.