About Our Troop!
Organization and Leadership
Troop 3 is a collection of patrols, which are not unlike dens in a Cub Scout pack (for those who may be crossing from Cub Scouts). Each patrol is led by an elected and trained scout, called a Patrol Leader. All of our activities are patrol centric. That means that all troop activities (meetings, camping, hiking, canoeing, etc.) are conducted as a patrol. Patrol members work together to build teamwork, learn skills, encourage advancement, as well as activity planning. Patrols will also have activities outside of the troop, including meetings, hikes and camping.
Patrols have responsibilities at troop meetings—duties which change from month to month. They also compete with one another, both to improve their skills and for patrol pride. This friendly patrol competition is what fuels learning, camaraderie and leadership within the troop.
The Patrol Leaders meet once a month at a meeting of the Patrol Leaders’ Council or PLC. This group is led by the Senior Patrol Leader, and is also attended by the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and appointed staff. The PLC plans a theme for each month, and then works to arrange troop meetings and campouts around this theme. The PLC may select cooking, pioneering, backpacking or other scout related topics. The Scoutmaster works to guide the PLC in its decision making process.
Advancement
Advancement for new scouts (Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class) is focused on skills and experiences. The troop’s program will provide the opportunity for scouts to learn and master all of these skills in their first year of being in the troop. The Scoutmaster (along with the PLC) ensures that the necessary skills are a part of the program, but it is the scout’s responsibility to see that his advancement requirements are signed off in his handbook. These requirements are signed off by ASM’s and other selected individuals. When completed, the scout may approach the Scoutmaster to arrange a conference ensuring that the scout has completed the requirements and is ready to advance. The final advancement step is for the scout to meet with the committee to have a Board of Review; the Board interviews the scout to learn about his scouting experience and to ensure that the troop is meeting its obligations to the scout.
The rank requirements for Star, Life and Eagle are centered on leadership, service, merit badge completion and tenure, and are signed off by ASM’s and other selected adults.
Merit badges are also a part of the advancement process, but are an activity which normally takes place outside of the troop and patrol. When a scout has an interest in a merit badge, he can discuss it with the scoutmaster, who will provide a merit badge “blue card” with the name and contact information of a qualified and registered counselor. It is the scout’s responsibility to contact the counselor and meet with them to complete the requirements. Scouts should always meet with a counselor with a “buddy”—another scout, a sibling, friend or a parent.
Typical Troop 3 Outings and Program
The troop has a campout scheduled every month. All of our activity planning is handled as described by the PLC, but typically follows a pattern. Early in the year (spring), shortly after Webelos crossover, the focus is on basic scout skills: knife handling, fire making, knots, first aid, or other similar activities. Scouts learn these skills at meetings and put them into practice while camping. In the summer, the troop always goes to summer camp for a week, usually in the southern Appalachians, where temperatures are somewhat cooler. Summer activities are most often chosen to deal with the summer heat, such as swimming or canoeing. Late in the summer, an extra, special outing is sometimes planned. As fall approaches, a Webelos campout is often scheduled, and the patrols begin honing the skills learned over the past half year for the fall camporee, where they will compete with patrols from other troops. This time is also spent preparing for the “hiking season” during the cool months of November through January, working through day hikes, a short and long hike.
Fees and Costs
Dues for Troop 3 are $20.00 per month. It is the scout’s responsibility to pay this money to the Scribe (also a scout) who will record the payment and pass the money to the Treasurer. We encourage you to make this money something for which your son is responsible in your household. That is to say, he should earn this money to pay his way in the troop.
Campout costs are divided into two categories, food fees and camp fees. The food fee is $15 and includes Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sunday breakfast and lunch. On longer trips, the food fee may be somewhat higher. The camp fee is typically $20 but could be higher for high-adventure types of outings. The camp fee also includes any costs to use facilities at the locations where we camp. Sometimes the actual cost is just below this and other times it is more, but it is our intent to keep the fees consistent. Occasionally, the troop organizes more costly outings, such as 3-day weekends and activities further from home than normal, such as a ski trip. In such cases, an additional amount may be charged as appropriate to cover additional food or transportation costs.
Brand new scouts and scouts under the age of thirteen will be offered the opportunity to use Troop tents during our camping activities. Once the scouts reach the age of thirteen, they are expected to purchase a troop-approved tent and sleep by themselves.
Uniforms
All scouts are expected to attend meetings in a full scout uniform. This includes scout pants, belt, socks, and shirt with all patches, properly placed. Troop neckerchiefs are presented to scouts upon completion of their first overnight campout. Full uniforms are worn to and from all activities, including campouts. Scouts should bring their Scout handbooks to all meetings and campouts.
Scouts are expected to wear closed-toed and heeled shoes at all meetings. Boots or sneakers are expected to be worn at all outdoor functions. Sandals or flip flops are never allowed and Crocs may only be worn in the shower or while boating. The Troop has t-shirts available at a cost of $10.00 each. This is part of our class-B uniform. It is recommended that several be purchased in time for summer camp.
Methods of Scouting
Scouting employs eight Methods. They are: Ideals, Patrols, Outdoors, Advancement, Personal Growth, Adult Association, Leadership Development and Uniform. Many of these methods have already been covered, but most of the others largely fall under the category of “Behavior.” Scouts are expected to listen to and follow the instructions of their patrol and troop leaders (the 7th point of the scout law: “A scout is Obedient”). Adults will step in and correct scouts only when safety is an issue or the scout is grossly disruptive. If a scout becomes unruly and will not take direction, a parent will be called to remove their son from the meeting or outing.
The troop’s adult leaders will carefully watch all situations, but it is expected that the scouts police themselves for their behavior (Adult Association and Leadership Development). Parents are welcome to attend functions and meetings, but are asked to refrain from interfering with the activities of the patrols and troop. If a parent’s presence at meetings becomes a disruption to their son or others, they will be asked to leave.
Participation
Scouts participate as an integral member of their patrol. A reasonable comparison is to a baseball team. If there are 9 players on a team, but 3 rarely show up for practice, it is difficult for the other team members to master their skills. If the pitcher, first baseman, and center fielder arrived at games late or not at all, it would be difficult to play a game. On the same lines, if these players “forgot” their glove and uniform but instead arrived wearing blue jeans and sandals and was carrying a skateboard, they would not be expected to perform their jobs as team members. The same is true of the patrol. The patrol (and troop) functions at its best when all members arrive early and are prepared.
Certainly it is not expected that all scouts make every meeting and campout, and it is understood that many youthful boys have activities in which they participate outside of Boy Scouts. It is expected, however, that consideration be given to the other scouts in your son’s patrol, who count on each other as members of their team.
Troop Committee
The Troop Committee is made up of a Committee Chair, Charter Organization Representative, and other necessary positions such as Secretary, Treasurer, Advancement Coordinator, Outdoor Coordinator, Transportation Coordinator, and Fundraising Coordinator, and others as well as members at large. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are not a part of the committee, but do answer to the committee. The committee meets once a month, the primary function of the Troop Committee is to support the PLC in the program it chooses. Troop funds, transportation details, camp reservations, advancement records and equipment are all the responsibility of the committee. Parents are encouraged to see if they can be of service to the committee.
One of the primary responsibilities of the committee is to conduct Boards of Review (BOR) for advancing scouts. A BOR consists of 3 to 5 committee members and usually lasts from 10 to 20 minutes, depending upon rank. These meetings and are intended to verify that the rank requirements have been met and that the troop is providing good program for the scouts; it is neither intended as a “retest” of skills nor is it intended as a “pass or fail” body. BORs are arranged twice per month as needed for advancing scouts. Only registered committee members are permitted to sit on a Board of Review. For this reason, every family is encouraged to have one registered committee member, so that all scouts can advance as soon as they have completed the necessary requirements.
Equipment
Scouts will need certain items for camping, and occasionally will need to purchase other items as they advance in skills and experience. The troop works to provide the patrols with many community items for cooking and cleaning. However, it is your scout’s responsibility to provide the following items at all campouts:
- 32oz water bottle
- whistle
- simple (plastic) drinking cup, 8-20 oz.
- plate and/or bowl
- eating utensils (the troop does not use disposable service while camping)
- pocket knife (only upon completion of the Totin’ Chip)
Scouts should also have a sleeping bag, bedroll, and backpack. The troop does have several of these items available as loaners, but in limited numbers; we do try to reserve these loaners for first year scouts. Scouts are strongly encouraged to use backpacks, rather than luggage, for all outings. Our troop leaders are experienced with these items, and can suggest many options across a range of prices. Additionally other items, including specific articles of clothing, will be suggested as the “hiking season” approaches.
Permission Slips and Medical Forms
BSA has recently replaced all of its medical forms with a single document, the Annual Health and Medical Record, which all scouts must have completed annually. The troop will provide a copy of this or you may download the form at:
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_ABC.pdf
This form will be required before scouts can participate in any camping activity. Also, a permission slip will be required for each and every overnight or adventure activity. This form will be modified with specific information for every activity, and must be signed before your scout may participate.