Parents, please head over to Fickett Center on May 9, for just the morning or all day, to have fun and learn new skills to help make the Troop 511 program even better! The University of Scouting offers dozens of new classes each year, so check out this year;s offerings even if you have gone in the past. Sign up for anything that interests you, from Weird Science to Dutch Oven Cooking to Skits & Songs, and more! You will find training on topics not covered anywhere else at any other event in our council. They focus on topics you can bring back to our troop and use right away; practical information that will help you improve our program!

Here are some upcoming troop events for your consideration: 

• Parent's Committee Meeting - Tues, Apr 14 7:15 PM
• Lumberjack Campout - Fri Apr 17-Sun Apr 19 - Please click the link to RSVP! We'd like to know who's coming, and a "no" is also helpful!
• Swim Check Meeting - Tues Apr 21:  We will meet at Balcones Woods Pool, 11204 Alhambra Dr, Austin 78759. Completing a swim check is a rank requirement for Scouts. Any Scout or parent going to summer camp (or thinking about it), please come (swim checks are needed for camp, so this is a great time to get that done!)
• Court of Honor - Tues Apr 28: Join us at Huffmann Hall. All new Scouts, do please come, as you will be getting your Troop 511 neckerchief that night! The whole family is welcome. We usually have potluck snacks afterwards (optional if you are busy; it only takes a few people to bring things)
• Shooting Sport Campout - Fri May 15-Sun May 17 - Please click the link to RSVP! We'd like to know who's coming, and a "no" is also helpful!
• Summer Camp - Sun Jun 7 - Sat Jun 13 - We hope that lots of people will be able to make summer camp this year, especially new scouts! Lost Pines offers the Eagle Quest program for New Scouts, which can help Scouts make a lot of progress on their rank requirements! If you are thinking about summer camp, be sure to start thinking about getting your Scout's camp physical signoff on the "Part C" medical form. You may be able to get your doctor to sign off on the form based on a physical in the last year, or you may need to get them a physical exam for this. Here are details about getting the Part C form. 

Also, did you know that you can follow the troop calendar? Click this Calendar Sync link and follow the directions to get set up. (The link can always be found in the left menu bar, near the top, under User.) 

Scout parents and leaders, all of us need to report any incidents or near misses in order to keep our Scouting program safe. As careful as we are, outdoor activities can be dangerous. One of the ways we keep everyone safe and keep making our program better and safer is by using incident reports. So, what kinds of incidents do we need to report? 

Troop 511 is headed to Lost Pines for Summer Camp at Lost Pines! That's coming up June 7-13!  Are you game? If yes, be sure to RSVP on the troop calendar. Your next step may be to start thinking about getting your Scout a camp physical. The camp physical involves getting a medical professional to complete and sign Part C of the Scouts Annual Health and Medical Record. Some pediatricians will sign off on this if they have seen the Scout for an annual physical exam in the last year, so that you may only need to take the form to the office, and pick it up once it has been completed. That physical exam signoff is needed only for events longer than 72 hours in duration (summer camp, winter camp, etc.) and is then good for one year from the date it was signed (so no new form needed if you decide to go to winter camp). There's a lot of information packed onto the medical forms, and getting a medical professional to complete all of Part C can take some attention. Here's a copy of the Part C form highlighting sections not to miss that you can give your doctor, along with the copy of the blank Part C for them to complete. 

Please join us on Tuesday April 21 for our 2026 Swim Check meeting! We will meet at Balcones Woods Pool (near Duval and 183) and will have a certified lifeguard to run the swim check. Any Scout who or adult who may want to attend summer or winter camp this year should attend this meeting if possible. Based on the swim check, participating Scouts and adults are classed as Learner, Beginner, or Swimmer, which is required at summer and winter camp. Scouts can also complete these rank requirements at this meeting, if ready.