Here are notes from our July 14 Parents Meeting! We focused on activity planning, That work is not yet done, but we are getting close. 

Trained parents are the foundation of a great troop. If you are not an ASM, please log on to My.Scouting.org today to check to see which courses you have left in the "Troop Committee" (aka Parents) curriculum. Next, check out the following list of in-person classes. The troop has a budget, and we'd be delighted to support you in getting trained at the next level

You can now sign up now for Winter Camp at Lost Pines! We are going to Session 2, which is December 27-30. We have reserved spots for 10 Scouts and 4 adults, plus a spot for an adult to come for just part of the week. If you can confirm your family's end of year plans and want to include Winter Camp in this year's plans, please sign up on the Troop 511 website! The cost for Scouts will be $275, plus a possible small additional fee if they select a merit badge class that has a charge for materials. We especially recommend WInter Camp to younger Scouts, as it's a great way to get a lot of work done, and Lost Pines is a nice place to be in the winter! Questions? Check with campout owners Peter Hokanson and Aaron Kerkhoff. 

Friends of Scouting: The Capitol Area Council helps Central Texas boys and girls grow into adults who make a positive impact in our communities. If you are able, consider a Friends of Scouting donation this year. (If you do this, please note that you are with Troop 511 and also check to see if your employer participates in matching gifts, as the Capitol Area Council usually qualifies.) Watch this video to learn why you get asked to donate to Friends of Scouting. 

Our Council is providing a lot of great events and opportunities:

• STEM Adventure Weekend: Fri Sept 18 - Sun Sept 20, Lost Pines. This will be a weekend opportunity to earn STEM-related merit badges and enjoy fun activities. Classes are Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning. Four meals are provided: Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Scouts may sign up for up to three STEM classes and enjoy “STEM in Action” activities on Saturday evening including climbing, flight simulator, and star party. Registration opens Aug 1.
• Austin FC vs Nashville - Scout Outing: Sat Oct 10, 7:30PM. Discounted tickets for Scouting families. Tickets available now. GOALLL!
• Conservation Award Weekend Fall 2026: Fri Oct 16 - Sun Oct 18, Lost Pines. Scouts can sign up for up to 4 Conservation related merit badges.  There are also opportunities for conservation hours and classes to learn to complete any of the numerous different conservation awards available via BSA. Registration opens Aug 1.
• JOTA-JOTI 2026: Fri Oct 16 and/or Sat Oct 17, Fickett Center. Every year, Scouts around the world gather for a weekend gathering to experience cultural connections called Jamboree on the Air - Jamboree on the Internet: JOTA-JOTI. The Capitol Area Council invites you to get your JOTA-JOTI Passport to International Spirit and open up a world of international Scouting! Along the way, earn patches and awards! 
• Speedfest at Circuit of the Americas: Sar Nov 14, 10AM - 2PM. This event is FREE and open to the public! You don't have to be a Scout to join in on the fun, so this may be a great event to invite friends to! Registration is encouraged but not required.

Also:

After summer camp, Scouts may find that they have a "partial" on a merit badge, one or more requirements that are not yet done, and which they may want to wrap up. If you want to check your status, see the attached report showing all current "partials" for Troop 511 Scouts. Ready to take next steps? Here's A Basic Guide to Merit Badge Partials for T511 Scouts.  If we have an MBC in the troop, the Scout can often work with that Merit Badge Counselor during a regular troop meeting. If you lose track of this information later, just remember to look in troop website menu! The path is Files » Advancement Info for Scouts » Merit Badge Info. You can also always reach out to our Advancement Chair, Mr Isaac Wankerl, with questions about your status.