We look forward to seeing everyone at the Court!  Yours in Scouting,  Scoutmasters McKeen & McKeen

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.

This week's meeting is a very important meeting!  Please attend and participate!

This week's meeting, on October 1st, will be our annual SPL elections.  The SPL candidates will present their visions for the Troop, and then voting will commence.  

New patrols will be formed, and then the patrols will elect their patrol leaders for the coming year.

All the newly elected leaders will take office starting at the Fall Court of Honor on October 15th.

Although the early bird pricing is no longer available, sign-ups are still open until October 1st

The October trip will participate in the 2026 Presidential Trail Camporee in Quincy, MA.  

The Presidents Trail Camporee is an exciting weekend-long event inviting Scouting Units, totaling over 1,500 Scouts and Scouting leaders from across New England. This urban campout offers a fresh experience at a new location, easily accessible and with stunning ocean views for all to enjoy. The camporee is organized and hosted by the Quincy Friends of Scouting. 

Outing: Attending the 2nd Quincy Presidential Trail Camporee!

Accommodations: Camping at Quincy’s Pageant Field, Quincy, MA 

Depart Westford: Saturday, October 10th, 7:30 AM

Return to Westford: Monday, October 12th, approx. 11:00 AM

Cost: $95 if paid after 9/10 (does not include event T-shirt).

The cost includes 2 nights of camping, 6 meals, 2 Cracker Barrel snacks, and the camporee entrance fee.  Scouts who sign up and pay by September 10th will also receive an event T-shirt.  Scouts might want to bring some extra money for snacks and/or souvenirs.

Sign-up Deadline: September 10th.     

Important Note: Space is on a first-come basis.  We currently have space for 25 reserved; if we have more than 25 sign-ups, we will try to get additional space, but it isn’t guaranteed that we will be able to accommodate more, so sign up early!   

Depart from McCarthy Middle School, Chelmsford: 7:30 AM on Saturday, September 19th

Pickup at McCarthy: Approx 11:00 AM on Sunday, September 20th 

 Cost: 

• $160.00 Age 12+ Zip-line, High Ropes (Aerial Treetop Adventure)
• $130.00 Under 12 years old includes Zip-line and Junior High Ropes course
• $25 for attendees who do not wish to leave the ground

Sign-ups due by: Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM.  

A signed Gunstock Waiver Form will also be required for each participant

Overview:  The September trip is a camping trip at Gunstock Mountain and a day of adventure on the mountain.  We will head north Saturday Morning, and everyone will get to experience Gunstock’s awesome Zipline Tour, traveling over 1.6 miles on one of the longest zipline canopy tours in the Continental United States!  The afternoon will include the Aerial Treetop Adventure (high ropes course), and other great activities.

Weight/Height/Age restrictions:  Many of the activities have weight and height requirements/limitations.  For the Zipline Tour, participants need to be between 50 and 260 lbs. and be between 4’0” and 6’8” in height.  

The Aerial Treetop Adventure has a minimum age requirement of 12 years old. Scouts under 12 can explore the Junior Adventure course. The cost for scouts under 12 is $30 less.

Other restrictions and requirements can be viewed on the Gunstock website at https://www.gunstock.com/summer/adventure-park/

Camping and Equipment: We will camp in the Gunstock Mountain group campsites Saturday night, and then return Sunday AM.

We will be tent camping and cooking outdoors. Be prepared for cool fall weather. Equipment needed: tent with a rain fly (sharing arranged with other scout(s)), sleeping pad, sleeping bag, mess kit, several extra pairs of socks, spare pair of shoes, rain gear, sunscreen, bug spray, layered clothing, flashlight with good batteries, water bottle, and a desire for adventure. Please see the Scout Troop 437 | Camping Essentials page on our website for the full list. You may borrow tents and sleeping bags from the Troop. Please see the quartermaster if you would like to sign equipment out for the trip.

There will also be our usual evening campfire and likely an opportunity for board or card games. Bring your favorite game to share with your fellow scouts!

Parent Participation:  Per Scouting America guidelines, any parent wishing to camp overnight at a scout event must be a registered adult with the BSA.  Please see the details on our website at Scout Troop 437 | Adult Registration (westfordtroop437.us).

If you have any questions, contact Pete Morawik at 978-204-8262 or petemorawiak@gmail.com