Troop 8 BSA

04/24/2026

Our condolences go out to the Branham family, especially Joe, Tyler, Conner, and Stephanie.

View Robert Perry "Bob" Branham's complete obituary, share memories, and explore 8 tribute posts from the community.

04/20/2026

Tonight, we will meet at Sugar Hollow Park (not at the church) to complete our orienteering work. Scouts who have not already completed a 1-mile orienteering course will be able to complete this rank requirement. We will work on this in teams. Bring a compass if you have one. We will be meeting early, to try to get this in before sunset.

Scouts may arrive between 6:00 and 6:30. Meet at the park headquarters (up the hill past the dam, HQ at the top of the hill on the right — look for the white house). We will check/verify our pacing before heading out in teams to complete the 1-mile course.

Please dress appropriately for the cool weather. Wear your troop 8 hoodie!

Parents, pick up will be 8:30 at the same site as drop off.

Additional reminder: we are in the process of registering for summer camp (June 14-20). When you get a summer camp payment link, please send payment ASAP, as we cannot select a scout’s classes until payment has been received!

04/13/2026

Here's a great opportunity to earn service hours!

Trash Bash 2026 is coming up on Saturday April 18th from 9:00 AM to 12 noon. The event will be held rain or shine unless there are thunderstorms in the area.

Once again, Scouts will help cleanup this wonderful natural oasis tucked away in Bristol.

Scouts will meet at the Steele Creek Park Nature Center - 80 Lakeshore Dr, Bristol, TN 37620 unless you hear otherwise. Please wear your troop 8 t-shirt (or hoodie). Simply let the folks at the gate know you're here to help with Trash Bash and they will happily open the gate.

All materials will be provided - trash bags, gloves, etc.

Snacks and goodie bags including a Trash Bash 2026 Patch will be provided.

Dress appropriately for the weather including closed shoes and clothes that can get dirty.

This will count for service hours and conservation hours for rank advancement.

Becky Adams will be our on-site adult. Please contact her with any questions: 423-742-0899.

03/27/2026

02/28/2026

Several planets are viewable tonight...

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02/02/2026

Folks, the roads in town are mostly (but not entirely clear) and the church parking lot and sidewalks are still snow and ice-covered. Schools were closed today and have already closed for tomorrow. We miss seeing our scouts in person, but safety is our primary concern.

We are going to move our weekly meeting this week to THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5 so that we can attend the opening ceremony of the Continuous Campfire.

We will meet at the church at 6:00 p.m. on THURSDAY (note earler time). We will ride in church vans to the Continuous Campfire opening ceremony at the historic Muster Grounds in Abingdon. Scouts wishing to meet us there can show up at

Abingdon Muster Grounds
1780 Muster Pl
Abingdon, VA 24210

but parking for participants is at the corner of Hagy and Hurt Streets ( map here:https://scoutingevent.com/Download/713167984/OR/Map.pdf )

Scouts should wear their uniforms and troop 8 hoodie for warmth. The opening ceremony is at 7:00 p.m. We will participate as a troop and also have a brief meeting program afterwards. Any scout who would also like to camp overnight can bring camping gear. The rest of us will be back at the church between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. (we will send a notification when we are leaving the Muster Grounds).

There is also a program at the Continuous Campfire on Saturday where scouts can sign up to earn merit badges. Some of our scouts are already signed up. If YOU would like to sign up for a merit badge, please let Mr. Rutherford or Mrs. Adams know. Offerings include Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in Society, Pioneering, and Leatherwork.

Also Saturday (and Sunday if needed) is Luke Smith's Eagle Scout work day. It will be at Holston View Elementary School from 10a-4p on Saturday and 1-3p on Sunday (if needed). Scouts should plan to come by and help volunteer if able, even if you can only stay for a short time. Scouts should dress for the weather and bring work gloves and water bottle. Luke and his team will be building and assembling activity tables for use in the school's outdoor areas. The school is at 1840 King College Road in Bristol. If you have questions, reach out to Luke at 301-305-0879.

Other upcoming dates for which you should prepare include:
February 23 - Eagle Scout Court of Honor at Troop 8
March 7 - Merit Badge University at Northeast State in Blountville (watch emails for sign ups starting this week).

01/26/2026

Stay safe today, troop 8 family! We won’t meet tonight due to cold and ice. Scouts, your challenge for today: tie a knot of your choosing. Video it or take a photo. Bonus points if you can show it “in use.” Text your result to Mr. Rutherford or post in our Facebook group page. See you next week!

01/22/2026

Upcoming Event:
Continuous Campfire
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FcaqSmVfX/

Opening Ceremony is on Thursday, Feb. 5th @ 7pm if you would like to attend.

Merit Badge opportunities on Saturday, Feb. 7th. Several scouts need Citizenship in the Nation and/or Citizenship in Society. These are being offered.

2026-50th Anniversary Continuous Campfire information and sign ups are live! https://scoutingevent.com/?OrgKey=BSA713&calendarID=616795 Please Join us Feb. 5-8, 2026 as we add new activities including Merit Badges, historic preservation, and camping opportunities.

01/13/2026

A few of our Frog Patrol members have signed up to take the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge at the Muster Grounds in Abingdon on Saturday, February 7th. If any others are interested, the link is below. Right now 5/10 spots are filled by Troop 8 Frogs.
Please read carefully. There will be homework to do before going.

There is also an option to take a pioneering merit badge in the afternoon as well.

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up for individual scouts. Please note that prerequisites are required for full completion on certain badges. These will be sent out to individuals signing up 2 weeks prior to the event. If all slots are filled other merit badges...

11/18/2025

His birthday is not until tomorrow, but we are so excited, we have to wish him a happy birthday tonight. Troop 8 sure is lucky to have you, Mr. Branham! Happy birthday!

11/17/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EbL1gqHZx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Leonids Are Back! ☄️✨

On the night of November 17, the Leonid meteor shower will reach its peak, sending up to 15 meteors per hour streaking through the darkness. With a barely-there waning crescent Moon, 2025 offers exceptionally dark skies—perfect conditions for anyone who loves watching the heavens come alive.

The best time to watch is after midnight until dawn, when the constellation Leo rises high in the east and the meteor rates begin to climb. You don’t need any equipment—just your eyes, a dark spot away from city lights, and about 20 minutes for them to adjust.

The Leonids are visible worldwide, but they put on their strongest performance in the Northern Hemisphere, especially from regions between 15°N and 30°N. That means excellent viewing across India, North America, Europe, and anywhere with a clear eastern horizon. Observers in the far Southern Hemisphere will still catch some activity just before dawn, though at lower rates.

So grab a warm layer, find a quiet place under the night sky, and look up.
If the skies stay clear, the Leonids will reward you with fast, bright meteors cutting through the November night—one of the simplest cosmic joys we get each year.

Happy skygazing! 🌌✨