Rake Rally - November 8, 2025

Scouts,

Attached is the posting for the West Carrollton Rake Rally. This is a easy opportunity to get in service hours by helping some residents of West Carrollton clear leaves in their yard.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Pugh

Contact Mr. Pugh for more information.

Franklin - Miamisburg River Ride - September 13, 2025

Troop 103,

Please respond if you would like to go with our group for the Franklin-Miamisburg River-Ride event (https://www.franklinohio.org/community/events___activities_/river_ride.php).

As mentioned at the scout meeting, Pack 248 invited us to participate with them in the River-Ride. It looks like Troop 402 is going to have some scouts there as well. This is a 13-mile bicycle trip with start times going from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. There are staggered starts in the 11-1 time window, so we have plenty of time to finish our service project and head down.

I know a lot of scouts enjoyed the trip that Mr. Crawford led last spring. This should be fun, too!

YIS,
Dr. Burchett

When: September 13, 2025

Sports and Games Weekend - Possum Creek Metropark

Sports and Games Weekend 

When: September 5-7, 2025
Where: Possum Creek Metropark (4790 Frytown Rd, Dayton, OH 45417)

Meet at St. James on Friday, Sept 5th at 5:30 PM, departing by 6:00 PM

Return to St. James on Sunday, Sept 7 at around 11:30 AM.

This is a weekend for Scouts to practice their fishing, shooting, and gaming. We will be camping and fishing at Possum Creek. Scouts who wish to go shooting will caravan over to Wolf Creek Rod and Gun Club on Saturday afternoon for some shooting sports. Other scouts can stay in camp for their favorite games. This trip is an opportunity for scouts to work on rank or merit badge requirements and have some fun. We have invited area Arrow of Light scouts to join us on this trip. Patrols should discuss any advancement goals and plan meals beforehand. Ohio DNR Fishing regulations apply.

Cost: $30 per scout or adult to be paid before the trip to cover transportation, meals, and camp fees. Shooting is an additional $10.

PERMISSION SLIP AND MONEY IS DUE: August 25, 2025

Honeysuckle Removal Community Service - September 13, 2025

Troop 103,

We are helping our charter organization, St. James, to clean up Honeysuckle this September 13th from 7:30-11:00 am. Donuts, coffee, water and Soda are provided by the troop. Please sign up at the link below so that we can get an accurate head count of who can help.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084CABAA2FA0FA7-57924533-honeysuckle

Scouts will haul honeysuckle and use hand-saws to cut as needed.

Adults may bring power tools, but scouts are not allowed to use or be near the tools when in use.

Daniel compiled a list of safety items that all child participants must have and adults should have. He'll send that out soon.

Thank you for your time.
YIS,
Dr. Burchett

Eagle Palms Requirements Change

Eagle Palms: the official requirements

These are effective Aug. 1, 2017.

After successfully completing your Eagle Scout board of review and being validated as an Eagle Scout by the National Service Center, you will be entitled to receive an Eagle Palm for each additional 5 merit badges you have completed before your Eagle Scout board of review. For these Palms only, it will not be necessary for you to complete any of the requirements stated below.

After becoming an Eagle Scout, you may earn additional Palms by completing the following requirements.

1. Be active in the Boy Scouts of America for at least three months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after the last Palm was earned. **
2. Since earning the Eagle Scout rank or your last Eagle Palm, demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Continue to set a satisfactory example of accepting responsibility or demonstrating leadership ability.
4. Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm. ***
5. While an Eagle Scout, participate in a Scoutmaster conference. *

Notes

*For Varsity Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “Scoutmaster” with “Varsity Scout Coach.” For Venturers working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “Scoutmaster” with “crew Advisor.” For Sea Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “Scoutmaster” with “Skipper.”

**Eagle Palms must be earned in sequence, and the three-month tenure requirement must be observed for each Palm.

***Merit badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.

Merit Badge Application Process

Starting March 7, 2016, the following process will be in place for Scouts wanting to work on a Merit Badge.

1) Scouts are to arrange for a discussion with Scoutmaster in order to

1. State their desire/plans to work on a merit badge,
2. Define which merit badge counselor they are planning to work with 
3. To review some basic expectations of the merit badge process

2) When that Scoutmaster conversation is in place, I will then

1. Provide them a blue card, 
2. Ask them to fill out "Application for Merit Badge" section 
3. Will approve the application by signature

3) Scouts may then arrange to meet with Merit Badge Counselor to begin conversations.

The Scoutmaster will designate additional resources as needed for times of high activity.

**********************************************************************
The following rules/guidelines are still in place.

Scouts and Parents,

All Troop 103 scouts who are working on Merit Badges need to meet the following expectations:

1) You need to schedule all meetings with your counselor ahead of time. This can be done by telephone, e-mail, or by asking them in person at a meeting. Do not walk up to your merit badge counselor at a meeting and ask them to meet with you on the spot. Our adult volunteers give very freely of their time, but they are pulled in multiple directions at a meeting. Take responsibility for scheduling your merit badge sessions.

2) Read the merit badge requirements carefully. If there is a requirement to have a discussion with your counselor prior to beginning a merit badge requirement (i.e. Personal Fitness, Family Life, Personal Management, etc.), DISCUSS WITH YOUR COUNSELOR BEFORE BEGINNING THE REQUIREMENT. If you have not fulfilled the discussion requirement prior to beginning the main requirement, it may not be approved. This means that you may have to do even a time requirement again (such as the personal fitness workouts).

3) If a time requirement requires you to record your results over the duration of the requirement, then record them as you go. Do not try to re-construct the records at the end of the requirement.

4) Merit badge worksheets are an excellent idea, but, simply writing down the answer and giving it to the counselor is not sufficient. Scouts need to be able to discuss their answer and be able to answer their counselor's questions on the subject. Answers need to reflect an understanding of the material and not be one-word answers such as "yes" or "no."

5) Two deep adult leadership must be in place at ALL TIMES. Adults; if the meeting is at your house, be home; if the meeting is at the counselor's house, stick around; if the meeting is at the church, don't drop off the scout and take off. This is very important for the protection of our troop as a whole.

Rank Advancement Reminders

Scouts and Parents,

Here are some reminders and some new information scouts and parents need to know regarding rank advancement: 

1. Troop positions of responsibility for Star Scout and above: Scouts serving in positions of troop responsibility will work with adult mentors and complete Junior Leadership Worksheets (reminder). Mentor assignments and Junior Leadership Worksheets can be found on the troop web page (http://www.bsa103.org/). Position of responsibility requirements in scout handbooks must be signed by the scout's position mentor (new). 

2. Merit Badge requirement verification for Star Scout and above: Scouts must request a Troop Master printout from Mr. Crawford at least one week prior to Scoutmaster conferences and boards of review for ranks Star Scout and above. Troop Master printouts will be used to verify merit badge completion. 

3. Remember to request a Scoutmaster conference and a board of review a week in advance. 

• Scouts should contact the Scoutmaster verbally or by email (lee.r.burchett@gmail.com) to schedule a Scoutmaster conference. 

• Scouts should contact the Troop Committee Chairman verbally or by email (robcrawfordinmiamisburg@gmail.com) to schedule a Board Of Review.

• Scouts must wear Class A uniform to all Scoutmaster conferences and Boards Of Review. 

4. Scouts should bring their Scout Handbook to all Scoutmaster conferences and board of reviews.

YIS,
Dr. Burchett and Mr. Crawford

Requirement Sign Off in Scout Handbook

Everyone,

There have been several questions asked about who can sign-off on completed requirements in the BSA Handbook. We have the answer....

The following people are permitted to sign-off completed requirements in the BSA Handbook for Troop 103:

1. Scoutmaster 
2. Assistant Scoutmaster 
3. Committee Member
4. Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

NOTE: Adult Leaders or Non-Leader Adults are NOT permitted to sign-off completed requirements for their own scout.