June 2025 Newsletter

 

Agenda

June is a vibrant month full of sunshine, growth, and the promise of summer adventures. The days are at their longest, the air is warm and inviting, and nature is in full swing. It's the time when everything feels alive.

• Raritan Valley Hero Award
• Committee Chair's Desk Message
• Picnic
• Trap Pond
• Skill of the Month
• Jokes 
• Crossword

Raritan Valley Hero Award

Given to Mr. Krishnamurthy 

The Raritan Valley Hero Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication, leadership, and service within the Raritan Valley Scouting community. Recipients of this prestigious award go above and beyond to embody the values of the Scout Oath and Law, serving as role models through their commitment to youth development, community engagement, and volunteerism. Whether through organizing impactful service projects, mentoring young Scouts, or fostering a spirit of unity and perseverance, these heroes make a lasting difference in the lives they touch and the communities they serve.

Committee Chair's Desk Message

By Mr. Krishnamurthy 

There is a new monthly section called the Committee Chair's Desk Message where the Committee Chair talks about scout topics. This month's topic is merit badges.

From the Committee Chair’s Desk:

June 2025

The Adventure of Merit Badges

Hello Troop 89 Scouts and Families!

One of the most exciting parts of a Scout's journey is the world of merit badges. These badges aren’t just patches that you collect for your sash, but they’re opportunities to dive into new topics, discover hidden talents that one may have, and maybe even spark an interest that could lead to a lifelong hobby or career. Whether you’re learning about camping, wood-carving, sailing, robotics, or citizenship, each merit badge is a mini-adventure, designed to be both fun and informative. I encourage you to approach each badge with curiosity and enthusiasm. Think of them as doors opening to new worlds, just waiting for you to step through and make new discoveries.  Did you know that the famous movie director Steven Spielberg (who was an Eagle Scout) accidentally discovered his career interest, when he pursued a photography merit badge and was assigned to do a home video.

That said, earning merit badges is about more than just checking boxes. Our troop’s policy is clear: we expect Scouts to work on merit badges sincerely, following both BSA and Troop 89’s rules. If you’re under First Class, focus on your rank requirements first, as those are your foundation. For our newer Scouts (under Tenderfoot), you’re limited to three merit badges a year (except at summer camp), so choose wisely and make each one count. Always remember to get permission from the Scoutmaster or their delegate before starting any badge, and for Eagle-required badges, work with our in-house, Troop-approved counselors whenever possible. This ensures you get the most out of the experience, with guidance from adults who know you and care about your growth.

Finally, while big merit badge fairs can be tempting, our troop believes the best learning happens in smaller, more personal settings. Working one-on-one or in small groups with our local counselors gives you a chance to ask questions, dig deeper, and really master the material and not just rush through it. So, as you plan your next merit badge, think about what excites you, talk to your leaders, and dive in with an open mind and Scout spirit. Let’s make every badge a true accomplishment, something you’ll be proud of for years to come!

Yours in Scouting,  

Sri Krishnamurthy 

Committee Chair, Troop 89

Picnic

By: Yatharth On June 22, Troop 89 came together for our semi-annual picnic at Docherty Park to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished so far this year. The day started off with a bit of rain, but that didn’t stop us from having a great time.

Once the weather cleared up, we got moving with games of pickleball, soccer, and volleyball. The friendly competition brought out a lot of team spirit and laughs along the way.

One of the best parts of the day was the potluck. Everyone brought something to share, and the mix of dishes made sure no one went home hungry. It also gave us a chance to relax, chat, and enjoy the afternoon together.

What Went Well:

• The team spirit during the games was amazing—everyone was enthusiastic, even when the weather wasn't.
  
  

• We had a nice variety of activities, so everyone found something they liked.
  
  

• The food was delicious and brought everyone together
  
  

What We Could Improve:

• The rain delayed our start a little. Next time, it might help to have a backup plan in case of bad weather

 

Trap Pond

By: Samarth 

The Trap Pond Trip went really well in general and it was a great experience. We did kayaking and a boat tour on Saturday which was awesome. Also, we got to play lots of volleyball there as well which was good bonding time. After the kayaking, we went back to our campsite which was the best campsite I've been to so far. It was flat and was really big, along with that it also had real bathrooms which was a big plus. At the campsite, many scouts tried getting their fire requirements while others had some free time to do other things. At night, we planned to retire some flags we had but it didn't go so well because a lot of the flags were polyester and not cotton. But, the flags made the fire really big and hot. Then we played some scout games and called it a night. Some roses on this trip were that the kayaking was really fun, playing volleyball, the campsite, the planning was really well done, and the food was delicious. Some thorns were some scouts were being a little disruptive in the morning and it was really hot. Overall, this trip was a huge success and I think everyone had lots of fun.

Skill of the Month

As scouts one of our pillars is to be prepared. So to brush up on important skill here is a skill of the month.

Jokes

• Why did the Scout bring a ladder to camp?
• Because they heard the s'mores were on another level!
• What’s a Scout’s favorite type of music?
• Camp rock!
• Why don't Scouts ever get lost?
• Because they always follow the trail mix!
• What did the sleeping bag say to the tent? 
• "I'm stuffed!"
• Why did the Scout take a rope to school?
• They heard it was time to "knot" around!
• Why did the Scout get a job at the bakery?
• They were great at making dough knots!
• What's a Scout’s favorite way to start a campfire?
• With a spark of genius!
• How do Scouts send secret messages?
• Using s’morse code!
• Why did the bear stay away from the Scout campsite?
• He couldn’t handle all the “beary” good jokes!
• What’s a Scout’s least favorite badge?
• The mosquito-bite merit badge!

Crossword

Crossword

For the answer email me (achamunya@gmail.com) and I will send it to you. No one emailed me last month so let's try to fix that