parents orientationpage 1 troop 542 parent's orientation 23 march 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Parents Orientation Page 1
Troop 542 Parent's Orientation
23 March 2015
Parents Orientation Page 2
Agenda
• Why We're Here Today• Troop Organization
– Boy Led Troop
– Adult Support from the Troop Committee
• Program at Meetings• Monthly Outings• Advancement• How You Can Help• Costs• Good Turns and Service Projects• How We Communicate• Training
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Why We're Here Today
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Why We're Here Today
• Purpose of Scouting– BSA Mission Statement: The mission of the Boy Scouts of
America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
– BSA Vision Statement: The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.
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Why We're Here Today
• Troop 542's leadership firmly believes in the value of the Scouting program– Promotes strong values
– Teaches life skills
– Develops leadership qualities
– Scouts develop life long friendships
• Parents need to be involved so that their son can get the most from the program– You need to understand the program
– We can use help
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Why We're Here Today
• We currently have 106 scouts and 36 active adults– Seems like a good ratio, but …
• We'll probably see the number of boys increase a little more this spring
• The number of Adults will decrease– Constant turnover– 14 Don't have sons in the Troop now– 4 More have sons who will age out before the end of 2015– By 2016 a large percentage of the adults who make our troop
function could be gone• Some of us will stay because we love the program
– Others are looking for replacements now» Social Affairs» Help with Transportation» Help with Advancement
Return to Agenda
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Troop Organization
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Council and District
• Council– Cradle of Liberty
– Covers Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware counties
• District– Baden Powell
– Units located in Ambler, Lower Gwynedd, Plymouth, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Whitemarsh townships
Troop 542 is in the Baden Powell District of the Cradle of Liberty Council
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Troop 542 is divided into eight groups of scouts called “Patrols”
One Patrols for First Year Scouts
Six Patrols for Experienced Scouts
One Patrol for our Senior Leaders
SharkShark CobraCobra
Pine TreePine Tree
LightningLightning
PythonPython RavenRaven
EagleEagle
Each patrol has a color Each patrol has a color code to identify its code to identify its
equipmentequipment
Unit 3: Troop Organization
CougarCougar
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Program at Meetings
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Typical Monday Night at 542
• Before the meeting– Service patrol comes at 7:00 to set up
– Monthly Junior Leaders "Green Bar Meeting" at 7:00
• During the meeting– Scouts wear uniforms
• Complete Class A most of the year and for all ceremonies• Class B at meetings in the late spring
– Opening led by Senior Patrol Leader
– Patrol Corners led by Patrol Leaders
– Advancement classes
– Meeting activity (usually a game)
• After the meeting– Service patrol remains behind to put the room back as it was
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How parents can help with meetings
• Be aware when your son's Patrol is the Service Patrol and have him here at 7:00
• Be punctual, we start promptly at 7:30 and important announcements are part of the opening
• Get your son to wear a complete uniform– We're convinced this affects behavior
• You can help the Patrol Leader prepare for his portion of the meeting as a Patrol Leader Coach
• You can help with the advancement part of the meeting by teaching a class
• You can help with the meeting activity
Return to Agenda
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What Does It Cost
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Costs througout the year
• A re-registration fee of $90 is charged each year. • Cost of activities is approximately as follows:
– Camping trips - $30 (for food and campsite fees)
– Canoe trip - $60 (food and canoe rental)
– March trip - $100 (lodging, meals, transportation, admissions)
– Week at summer camp - $395
– One day activities - $10 (lunch and a patch)
– High Adventure to Sea Base or Philmont - $1,250 (fly)
– High Adventure Summit - $900 (drive)
• Scouts also need uniforms• We don't want anyone to miss the opportunity to be in
Scouting because of money– We have access to "Camperships" for boys who need them
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Monthly Outings
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Monthly Outings
• Check the Eagle
• Check the calendar on the web site
• Typical schedule– GOLD RUSH (One day event in January)– CAMPING IN CABINS (Weekends in February and November) – VAN TRIP – Visit to a place of interest such as Washington DC (A
Weekend in March)– CAMPING IN TENTS (Weekends in April, May, and October)– CANOE OR RAFT TRIP (A Weekend in June)– HIGH ADVENTURE, SUCH AS THE SCOUT SEA BASE OR PHILMONT
SCOUT RANCH. (A Week or two in July for older scouts)– SUMMER CAMP (A week in August)– BACKPACKING ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL (A Weekend in
September)– ONE DAY EVENT (A Saturday in December)
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Typical Camping Trip Program
• Friday Evening – Arrive, Patrols set up their areas, SPL reviews rules, youth leaders meet, adults meet, go to sleep
• Saturday Morning – Patrols cook breakfast & cleanup, advancement for first year Scouts, game for older Scouts
• Saturday Afternoon – Patrols cook lunch & cleanup, inter-patrol competition– Examples: Gourmet cooking, catapult building, first aid,
orienteering, troop Olympics, troop carnival, extreme board games
• Saturday Evening – Patrols cook dinner & cleanup, campfire with Patrol skits, night game
• Sunday Morning – Patrols cook breakfast & cleanup, interfaith service, Patrols tear down their areas, go home (usually home at around 1:00)
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How you can help on monthly outings
• Make sure your son is prepared (check the web site)– Dressed properly
• We typically don't wear uniforms on monthly outings• Exceptions are Van Trip, High Adventure, Summer Camp, and
District Events
– Proper equipment
– Understands what the program will be
• Come and help (you're always welcome)• Help with transportation• Help with planning the program• If your son is the food buyer, look over his shoulder
– Our menu planning process can be found on the web site
– He'll be sent home with a list, some coolers, and a check
– He should arrive 15 minutes early for departure with the food, receipts, and any change
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Personal Gear
• Personal Gear – Most overnights
• Sleeping Bag• Poncho
– Backpacking and High Adventure, above plus
• Backpack• Canteen or Water
Bottles• Mess Kit• Vittles Kit
– Summer Camp• List provided in
packet
Scout’s Scout’s BackpackBackpack
Scout’s Scout’s Sleeping Sleeping
BagBag
Unit 2: Personal Gear
Troop Troop Dome TentDome Tent
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Personal Gear
Unit 2: Personal Gear
Troop Dome Troop Dome TentTent
Troop Butane Troop Butane StoveStove
Scout’s Water BottleScout’s Water Bottle
Scout’s Mess KitScout’s Mess Kit
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Good Turns and Service Projects
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Good Turns and Service Projects
• Scouting for Food Good Turn– Organized by the Council
– Every November
– Food goes to local food cupboards
– Our record is 5,880 items, but we only got 3,576 in 2011
– Construction vs collection
• Eagle Projects – Organized by the Scout himself– We've had about 14,000 hours of service through these
• Ecology Program– Highway Cleanups four times a year
– Semi-annual service project
• Monkey Bridge– Annually at Simmons School
– Bi-annually at Upper Dublin Community Day
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How We Communicate
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We Try Everything (and nothing seems to work)
Quarterly Newsletter Weekly Phone Chain Web Site
Announcements at Meetings
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Training
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Training for Junior Leaders
• The District offers a half day youth leadership training course each December– Recently we've hosted it right here at Supplee Church
• The Council offers "National Youth Leadership Training" for a week each summer– Troop 542 is willing to pay the fee for two scouts a year
• A separate "Den Chief Training" is offered each December for boys who hold or wish to hold that position
• Leave No Trace Training – For Scouts who wish to become the Troop's "Leave No Trace Trainer" and others who are ecology minded
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Training for Adults
• Mark Krueger is our "Unit Training Coordinator"– Makes sure everyone has the required training and bugs
people to take it
Available Courses Who Must TakeYouth Protection Required for everyoneTroop Committee Challenge Required for everyoneScoutmaster/Scoutmaster's Assistant Required for Scoutmaster and AssistantsIntroduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills Required for Scoutmaster and AssistantsFirst aid/CPR/AED Must have someone trained in this on each activityHealth & Safety Must have someone trained in this on each activityChemical Fuels Must have someone trained in this on each campoutCold Weather Training Must have someone trained in this for winter campoutPhilmont Training Required to go to PhilmontLeave No TraceThe "Trainer's EDGEThis is ScoutingWomen In the OutdoorsWood Badge
Return to Agenda