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Parent MeetingBSA Troop 1833

February 7, 2012

Parent Meeting

• Goals of Scouting• Scouts Organization• Adult Leaders• Rank Advancement• Merit Badges• Recognition• Uniform Policy• Recommended

Equipment• Troop Outings

• Record Keeping• Meetings• Dues/Fundraising/

Scout Bucks• Communications• Troop Committee• How can you help?• Summer Camp• Q & A??

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Goals of Scouting

• Character development

• Citizenship training

• Physical and mental fitness

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Aims and Methods of Scouting

• Ideals• Patrol Method• Outdoor programs• Advancement• Association with adults• Personal growth• Leadership development• Uniform

Scouts Organization

• Patrols– Grouping of eight to 12 boys– Mixed age patrols*

• Troop Youth Leaders– Boy Run Troop!– Senior Patrol Leader – Assistant Senior Patrol Leader– Patrol Leader – Assistant Patrol Leader– Quartermaster, Librarian, Historian, Instructor, Troop

Guide, Scribe, Chaplain Aide, etc…..

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Scoutmaster and ASM’s

• Responsible for guiding and training scouts to run the Troop.– Responsible to bring Scouting to the boys

• Interfacing with the Troop Committee– ensure that resources are available and maintain a safe

program.• An ASM is assigned to each Troop outing

– to coordinate the activity with the PLC and trip SPL.

Scoutmaster – James Chaplin (jhchaplin@comcast.net)

after March 1st, Don Miller (donmiller@holder.com)

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Adults Provide Logistic Support

• Supervision / Guidance

• Transportation• Financial Support

• Immediately Stop Seriously Dangerous Activity

Fire Knife Fighting Water Etc.

• Advise the Scoutmaster of Any Health Issues

• Direct Corrective Action to the Scoutmaster or Sr Patrol Leader

• Avoid Initiating Corrective Action – Work Within the Patrol Method

• Alert Scoutmaster of Any Hazing Incidents – Hazing is NOT Allowed

Adult Role On-Site

Safety

If It’s Not Serious Let the Scouts Manage

Troop Committee

• The Troop Committee manages– Program resources– These resources include funding, record keeping, adult

recruiting, boards of review, re-chartering and more. • Specific Committee positions include:

– Committee Chair, Merit Badge Coordinator, Life-to-Eagle Coordinator, Advancement, Board of Review Coordinator, Quartermaster, Training, and Treasurer

– Chartered Organization Representative (Selected by the EVFD)• Committee approves

– All adult leadership including the scoutmaster

Committee Chair – Chris Ridings (christina.ridings@gmail.com)

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Rank Advancement

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• Process by which Boy Scout Progresses– Designed to help Scout have exciting and meaningful

experience– Education and fun are key to advancement principles– Scout through First Class Ranks focus on Scouting’s basic skills– Goal of BSA and Troop 1833: every Scout achieves First Class

within 1-2 years of joining the Troop– The last two steps of each Rank advancement is the

Scoutmaster Conference and the Board of Review

Merit Badges

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• Over 120 Boy Scout Merit Badges– Teach Scouts about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future

careers– Required for rank advancement beyond First Class Scout– 21 Merit Badges required for Eagle Scout that include 12 specific

badges (Silver Merit Badges)– Troop 1833 currently has Counselors for 74 of the 120+ Merit Badges

(including most Eagle Required Merit Badges) -see Mr Bush

Process to complete a Merit Badge

• Merit Badges done in three ways– Independently outside the troop– Done as a group within the troop– Done at a scouting event like summer camp or MB Day

• Steps or Process to complete a merit badge– Scout (not Parent) requests a blue card and counselor from Mr.

Bush– Scout contacts counselor or takes part in an event that

completes the requirements– Counselor signs blue card once completed (2 places)– Scout requests unit leader signature from Scoutmaster– Scout hands in the signed Blue Card to Advancement

Committee member

Scouts Learn by Doing

• Leadership• Teamwork• Communication• Problem Solving• Conflict Resolution• Project Management

Recognition

• Court of Honors are held three times per year– Replaces Troop Meeting for that week– Ceremony to celebrate the achievements

• Rank Advancement• Merit Badges• Additional awards or recognition• Slide show that documents the Troops activities• Not for Eagle Court of Honors (done separately)

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Eagle Scout• Different advance path from Life rank• Life to Eagle training• Eagle Project

– documentation before, during and after• Prior approval SIGNED• Focus on LEADERSHIP w/ Project and position• Collect accurate record of blue cards• Resolve any disputes or inconsistent information• Goes to Council and then National for review

Scout Uniform

The uniform makes the Scout Troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community.

Wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. the uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals.

Uniform Policy

• Field Uniform/Class A (generally worn)– Scout uniform shirt, Scout pants, Scout socks, and Scout belt.

• Full Field Uniform (special occasions, COH) – Same as Class A plus neckerchief and slide, MB Sash

• Activity Uniform (worn during work activities)– Scout pants and Troop or Boy Scout T-Shirt

Troop 1833 Scouts always travel in Class A uniform to District or Council events!!

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Before You Even Think About Camping

What To Buy What Not To Buy •Any Expensive Equipment

Large Lost & Found•Big Bulky and Fragile Equipment

Nothing Is Unbreakable• Backpacking Backpack, Stove,

Water Filter, Etc.Nothing Is Unbreakable• 1st Real Backpacking Trek Is a

Long Way Away and Your Son Is Growing

•Electronics

•Tent –start cheap or share• Buy at Walmart for 1st

Year • Water Bottle, or Two -

Nalgene•Good Sleeping Bag•Sleeping Pad•Durable Flashlight•Clothing You Will Use Everyday• Inexpensive Items• Items That Retain Utility When Your Son Grows

Spend Wisely – If In Doubt Talk with Other Parents

Recommended Equipment

• Equipment needed for weekend trips– Flashlight– Mess kit (includes fork/spoon)– Tent– Water bottle– Scout Handbook– Sleeping bag– Change of clothes– Pocket knife (once approved)

• Troop provides– Food unless otherwise noted

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Anatomy of a Troop Campout

Friday Eve Assemble at EVFD around 5:30 & Travel to Destination

Friday EveSet Up Camp

Saturday

Have Fun!

Sunday• Break Camp

• Religious Service

• Return to EVFD Between 1 & 2

SwimmingCooking

Hiking

Canoeing

Camp Fire

White Water Rafting

Backpacking

Rock Climbing

Advancement (Bring Scout Handbook)

Record Keeping (Committee Advancement Chair)

• Troop keeps Merit Badge & Advancement records in advancement database (TroopMaster)

• Critical that you also keep your own records– Campouts attended– Camped days, miles hiked/backpacked/floated– Service hours and projects– Leadership positions and time– Rank Advancement cards– Merit badge blue cards

• Managed by the Advancement Committee member

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Meetings

• Troop Meetings– Tuesdays (except 4th Tuesday of month) at the EVFD from 7:00 to 8:15 PM

• Patrol Meetings– Fourth Tuesday of the month, time and location determined by Patrol

• Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) Meetings– Fourth Monday of Each Month at the Deja Brew or Wegmans from 7:00 to

8:30 PM

• Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM) Meetings– Twice a year or as needed, location and time TBA

• Committee Meetings– Second Monday of each month, location TBA from 7:00 to 9:00 PM

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“Scouts do not join scouting to go to meetings”

Dues/Fundraising

• Annual dues (Jan), for re-charter and troop needs– Full year scouts - $70 / year (includes Boy’s Life)– $50 / year obligation from Christmas Wreath sales– Transfer scouts - $1 transfer fee + pro-rated dues– Adult Leaders – Dues paid by the Troop

• Major fundraisers (performed by entire Troop)– Christmas wreaths (generally sold in October and Early

November). – Chair person to organize Fundraising is needed– “Pay as you go” vs Fund raising– All funds raised go to a Scout accounts minus “obligation fee” for

each scout involved, used to pay for scouting “things and activities”

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Communications

How do we get the word out?• Troop Web Site

– www.troop1833.org

• Troop Meeting agenda– Completed at PLC then emailed to ASM, SPL, ASPL & PLs

• e-mail listing• At the start of the Troop meetings • Troop Calendar on website

– Google Calendar coming soon

• Communication Chain of Command– Scout => PL => SPL => SM

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How can you help?

• Troop Resource Survey– ASM– Committee– Merit Badge Counselor– Specific skill or interest– Plenty of other ways…….

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Summer Camp

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• Camp Ockanickon, Buck County Council, Pipersville, PA– June 24-30, 2012– Cost : $348 per Scout, $119 per Adult– http://www.ockanickon.org

• New Scouts participate in a specific program with other Scouts their age.– Focus on requirements and a few Merit Badges including

swimming.

• Very important for new scouts to take part

Why Summer Camp?

• Scout learns independence– Not home, pride of independence– Banking system at camp– Pride in success

• Writing letters to your scout– How and what to write

• Special program targeted to new scouts– Covers most outdoor requirements towards 1st Class– Swimming (Eagle Req) and another merit Badge usually earned

• If not a swimmer, lessons are offered to help improve to that level

• New experiences and new friends– Bad food and no A/C , but they survive

And within safe limits

No matter how bad it gets, the scouts run the troop!

Wrapping Up

… Any Questions?

Boy Scout Camping is Fun for the Scouts and The Adults….

Let’s Go Camping!