Troop 700 New Parent Orientation

Prepared by-Jennifer Tidmore Lakeview DistrictLonghorn Council

Updated 11/2/11

The Goals of Scouting

The Aims of Boy Scouting – Character development– Citizenship training– Physical, mental, and emotional fitness

Delivered by these Methods– Ideals– Patrols– Outdoor Programs– Advancement– Personal Growth– Leadership Development– Uniform

Goals and Mission of Troop

Vision Statement– Provide program path for youth to be afforded

an opportunity to achieve eagle by their 16th birthday.

Mission Statement– Apply the Goals , Aims and Methods of

scouting– Deliver the promise of scouting

History of Scouting History of Scouting in the USA

– In the United States the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) had been running camps for boys since 1884.

– In 1902 Ernest Thompson Seton founded the Tribe of Woodcraft Indians as a boy's organization. Three years later Daniel Carter Beard started a similar society called the Sons of Daniel Boone.

– February 8th, 1910 William Boyce, inspired by unknown Scout in London, incorporated BSA working with YMCA and Seton

– In 1910, Seton combined B-P “Scouting for Boys” and Woodcraft Manual to publish first BSA Handbook

History of Troop 700 First chartered in 1969 The second scout troop to be chartered in Grapevine

Texas, Troop 700 was first chartered in December 1969 under sponsorship of “A Neighborhood Patrol.” Later, in 1971, the troop moved and was chartered by First Presbyterian Church of Grapevine. Mr. Robert Lee Miller was the first scoutmaster.

In 1977, Troop 700 moved again, and for the last 30 years has been continuously chartered by First United Methodist Church of Grapevine. On November 11, 2002, Troop 700 celebrated its 25th Anniversary with an Anniversary Party.

Recent Eagle Scouts: Chris Hall - 2011 Tanner Deters - 2011 Zach Raley - 2010 Trent Noffsinger - 2010 Steven Robbins - 2010 Evan Jackson - 2010 Matthew Carson - 2010

The Scout Organization– National Council of Boy Scouts– Southern Region– Longhorn Council – Lakeview District– Chartered Organization

• First United Methodist Church– Chartered Organization Representative

• Bob Williams – Troop Committee Chair (2008-present)

• Bill Deters – Troop Scoutmaster (2008-present)

• Trent Tidmore

BSA Organizational Overview

Why Scouting “What are we trying to do?” -

philosophy.

How do we accomplish this?

Boy’s view - organization & advancement

Our support - Parent roles

Goal for Presentation

Help you as a Scout parent to gain a better understanding of Boy Scouting vs. Cub Scouting

Provide you specific tasks to encourage and guide your sons to a successful Scouting experience.

The Aims Fun is an important part, but

we are teaching– “Scouting is a game with a

purpose” Bayden Powell

Personal Values- Self Confidence- Respect- Teamwork- Leadership- Citizenship

Boy Leadership A Boy Scout Troop is not structured

like a Cub Scout Pack

Troop Leadership:

PLC (Elected): 1 Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), 1 Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL), 1 Troop Guide for new scouts (non elected - appointed by Scout Master (SM), Patrol Leaders

Leadership Corps (Led by SPL): SPL• ASPL• TG• Instructor• Older Youth Members

New Boy Patrol Leadership New Boy Scout Patrol is sort of

like a Cub Scout Den

Patrol Leadership:

Troop Guide is the main youth leader for new scouts for the first 6 months – directly coaches the Patrol Leader

Troop Guides’ involvement is high at first, and will lessen as boys learn

Assistant Scoutmasters are assigned to help guide the boys with their First Class Scout rank advancement

Differences from Cub Scouts Boys have more responsibility

– Planning, packing, setting up camp, cooking, activities

– Scout is responsible for initiation of advancement

– Parents cannot sign off. SM and ASM, or Instructors are the only persons in T700 that can sign off.

Scouts & parents MUST understand this. Let them fail once in awhile! Failure sometimes can be the best teacher.

Differences from Cub Scouts Troop Meetings

– Format (90 minutes)– Before the Meeting (SM/SPL Meeting – Brief PLC)– Pre Opening (Game or skill practice – informal.)– Opening– Skills Instruction/Whole Group Meeting– Patrol meetings– Inter Patrol Activity– Closing

Meet almost every Monday (12 month program)

DO NOT BE ALARMED WHEN THINGS SEEM DISORGANIZED! TROOP 700 STRIVES TO BE BOY LED…AND DISORGANIZATION IS PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS FOR THE BOYS.

Advancement Principles

Requirements are in the book Each rank requires a Scoutmaster

Conference and eventually a Board of Review (Committee)

Personal growth is the prime consideration in the program

Learning by doing Each youth progresses at his own rate A badge is recognition of what a young

person is able to do, not just a reward for what he has done

Advancement encourages Scouting Ideals

Boy Scout Rank Advancement There are four steps in the Boy Scout

Advancement Process:– Learning– Testing– Reviewing– Recognition

Parent’s Role

The parent’s role is not to carry the scout

The parent’s role is to monitor, motivate, and support the scout

Parent’s Monitoring Role To monitor, you have to

understand what is required.

Your Assignment:

Read Chapters 1 and 3 of the Boy Scout Handbook

Track his progress

Parent’s Encouraging Role For Tenderfoot, most items are

taught by older scouts. But they can get stuck.

Your Assignment:

Encourage working on the fitness requirement - especially pull ups!

Help him memorize Scout Oath, Scout Law

Parent’s Support RoleThere are some things that

the scout cannot do without help

Your Assignment: Select camping gear Help him get to troop meetings and

functions Prepare for Summer Camp If scout is dry, well fed, and prepared he

will always want to attend outdoor activities.

Parent’s Support Role Supporting the Troop

– Start with adult leader training – it helps you, your son, and the troop

– The boys have nothing to run if there is no parent support –They need our help to coach them and guide them – not delegate (micro manage).

– The troop needs help in many forms – driving to outings, summer camp planning, advancement, etc. Join the Committee if you do not have the desire and/or time to be an ASM.

– Scouts are more likely to succeed and stay in the program long term if they have a parent involved!

Parents at Outings Any parent is welcome! We always need

adults to drive. Adults camp in the Adult patrol – you are

not permitted to camp with the youth as we practice the Patrol method and do not want non SM Core members to interfere with our teachings.

The boys need to practice - fail or succeed on their own!

Cost per trip: – Varies depending on the trip – gas monies are

distributed equally amongst the drivers unless the Troop trailer is hauled – that Scouter gets more money!

– Additional activity fee depends on the campout

Advancement - Merit Badges

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 (12 specific badges required)

– Must meet the requirements as stated – no more, no less…

– All Merit Badges require approval from Scoutmaster before starting

Scoutmaster Conferences Essential to individual Scout development

and advancement– Getting to know scout– Setting individual goals– Mentoring– Building confidence– Encouragement– Problem Solving and discipline

Scouts are responsible for scheduling an advancement Scoutmaster Conference after requirements for rank advancement completed

Board of Review Evaluation of the effectiveness of the

Scouting program within the troop

Review is not an examination– Make sure Scout has completed the

requirements– Determine how good an experience

Scout is having within the Troop– Encourage Scout to advance further

Scout is responsible for scheduling a BOR after completing the Scoutmaster Conference

Recognition Each time a Scout advances in

rank, he will be recognized– Rank advancement is effective

after approval by Board of Review

– Scout’s name can then be moved under new Rank plaque in Scout House

– Formal recognition occurs at the Court of Honor

Eagle Scout rank is usually recognized by a very special Eagle Court of Honor

First Class Emphasis Program Troop 700 focuses on new Scout

development and advancement to First Class within the first year

From the Scoutmaster Handbook: “A boy who advances to First Class within his first

year in Scouting has a better-than-average chance of eventually becoming an Eagle Scout.”

BSA statistics confirm the Scout is likely to stay in Scouting for a longer period of time.

Tom Hallaron and Bessie Jackson are our leaders assigned to new scout development

Uniforms Class A Uniform (Field Uniform)

– Tan Boy Scout shirt, Scout pants or shorts, Scout belt

– Must wear Scout socks if wearing shorts– Required for travel, Courts of Honor, Troop

meetings, meals on some campouts, and other more formal events

Class B Uniform (Activity Uniform)– Troop or other Scout t-shirt or sweatshirt– Khaki/olive green shorts or jeans can be

substituted for Scout pants/shorts– Worn during camping trips, service projects

and other “activity” events– Troop 700 t-shirts can be designed by each

patrol

Other Information– Scout Shop

Recommended Equipment Uniform (Required) Sleeping Bag

– Appropriate for Texas weather Sleeping Pad

– Inflatable pad recommended Troop tents are available

– Tents can be often shared or borrowed– Need to be able to pitch at night

Other Equipment– Eating utensils

Optional– Backpacking, Climbing, etc.

Troop Outings Camps and campouts

– Troop 700 camps an average of once each month during the school year

– Patrols usually plan, purchase, and cook their own meals

– One long term campout every summer– Patrols can Camp as a patrol

Regular campout procedures– Planning & scheduling meeting in Fall– PLC plans details month before– Approx. 2 weeks before campout, turn in

permission slip and pay fee– Grub masters arrange and coordinate food by

patrols; usually $5- $10 per Scout (paid to grub masters)

Other Stuff Record Keeping

– Troop keeps Merit Badge & Advancement records in advancement database-Robin Carson is our Advancement Chair and Mark Whitman is her back-up.

– Critical that you also keep your own records• Campouts attended• Camped days, miles hiked/backpacked/

floated• Service hours and projects• Leadership positions and time

Meetings– Every Monday @7:00– PLC meetings on Monday after campouts

• Instead of Troop meeting, unless special meeting called

– Troop Committee (adults) meets on 1st Monday of each month. (subject to change based on Troop happenings)

Other Stuff (continued) Dues

– Once annually, for recharter and troop needs– TBD at the time

Major service project– Determined by Scoutmaster and

Committee Major fundraisers

– Performed by the entire Troop• Main Street Days and Grapefest

Each family is required to work a 4 hr shift• Popcorn sales• Participating Scouts receive credit to their

accounts as a percentage of funds raised; available to be used for Scouting-related activities such as Summer Camp.

Merit Badge Colleges– Lakeview District – Troop 700

Health and Wellness Troop Leadership must Know about all medical

conditions Medicine Handling

– All medicine (prescription and non-prescription) must be labeled and given to Scoutmaster or designated Assistant Scoutmaster with written directions on a labeled Ziploc

– Prescription medicine must be in original containers

Physicals– Required for Scouts and Adult Leadership – Class 2 physical (best for young Scouts)

• Good for 36 months– Class 3 physical for any high adventure activity

(age 12+)• Good for 12 months• Required for all adults over 40

Troop & Scout Communications

Troop Website– www.txtroop700.com

Other websites– www.scouting.org

(Boy Scouts of America)– www.longhorncouncil.org

(Longhorn Council) – Scouts receive Boys’ Life Magazine

Lots of E-mail Troop roster

Leadership Training Philosophy

Boy Scouts of America

Provide Adult Leaders fundamental information about Aims & Purposes of Scouting Movement

Specifics about their particular Roles in Scouting

BSA Training ContinuumAll Programs

FOUR LEVELS of TRAINING:

– FAST START

– BASIC TRAINING

– YOUTH PROTECTION (MANDATORY)

– SUPPLEMENTAL

– ADVANCED

ADVANCED Training

Wood Badge for the 21st Century– An intensive course designed to develop

leadership skills and create a deeper, more dedicated involvement in Scouting; for all leaders in traditional programs

– Leadership in Team Development• Living the Values • Bringing the Vision to Life• Models for Success• Tools of the Trade• Leading to Make a Difference

SUPPLEMENTAL Training

Designed to give additional training on specific areas of the different programs

Examples: University of Scouting, District

Roundtables, Commissioner Conference, Youth Protection Training, Safety Begins with Leadership, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Philmont Training Conferences,

You need what? Troop 700 needs from you:

– Scouts:BSA Boy Scout ApplicationMedical FormPermission Slips

(specific for each outing)– Adults:

Adult Resource SurveyBSA Adult Leader ApplicationMedical Form (for camping;

Class 3 if over 40)Youth Protection Training Merit Badge Counselor

application if you have a hobby or interest to share.

Summer CampSummer camp is where scouts make the most advancement progress.

Scouts that attend Summer Camp the first year in scouting stay longer with Scouting.

Parents are welcome to attend – but please keep in mind that newer Scouts learn to become more independent if their parent does not accompany them to summer camp. They learn to fend for themselves!

ClosingScouting is time well-spent between parents and their sons. As a parent, you not only want to pass along your love for adventure, but also your respect for the environment, values and leadership. Sharing time in Scouting's "outdoor classroom" with your son enriches your opportunities to teach him important lessons that last a lifetime..