| WELCOME TO THE BOY SCOUTS AND TO TROOP 789 The purpose of this guide is to supplement The Boy Scout Handbook with local information about your new troop and address some of the questions. THE AIMS of Scouting are to Foster Citizenship, Develop Fitness and Build Character. These AIMS are accomplished through the 8 Methods of Scouting: 1) Ideals; 2) Patrol Method; 3) Outdoor Program; 4) Advancement Program; 5) Adult Association; 6) Personal Growth; 7) Leadership Development; and 8) Uniform. In Troop 789 all of these work together to spell FUN! TROOP MEETINGS are held every Tuesday night from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Boys are expected to be in Class A uniform for all troop meetings, including Boy scout shirt, socks, belt, pant, neckerchief, proper patches, and scout attitude. Please bring the scouts to the meeting room, make sure there are two leaders present before you leave. Please come to the meeting room to pick up the scout and make sure the leaders know the scout is leaving. PARENTS’ MEETING is held at church on every first troop meeting of the month, from 8:00 pm till 8:30 pm. Information about future outings and events are announced. TROOP OUTINGS, which include such activities as camping trips and hikes, are held monthly. These and other events are scheduled by the boys in the troop at annual planning meetings. The Troop Activity Calendar, which is approved by the Troop Committee, will have the dates of the outings and other special events, as well as exceptions to regular meetings or activities. Your son will shortly be joining a group of from 6-10 boys. This group is called a Patrol and is the basic unit of the scouting program. The SCOUTMASTER (adult) and the TROOP GUIDE (an older experienced boy) supporting your son's patrol will be keys to his early scouting development -- Get to know them! INITIAL AND ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEES along with DUES make up a critical portion of the troop's funding. These funds are used for various purposes such as troop equipment, recognition and advancement awards, newsletter and other areas. Initial registration fees are paid upon joining the troop by the new scouts. New scouts bridging from Cub Scouts, usually in March of each year, pay a transferring fee. Dues are two payments of $50 payable during the end of June and Dec., or the entry time to the troop. The Boy Scout Uniform is a critical feature of the program. Boys are expected to attend all meetings in "Class A" uniform. In Troop 789 the short sleeve shirt, short or long pants, belt, cap (optional), socks and neckerchief make up the basic Class "A" uniform. Boys must be in full uniform to come before a Board of Review for advancement and to receive recognition and advancement awards at troop Courts of Honor. In Troop 789 we also utilize a "Class B" uniform that consists of the Class "A" short or long pants and socks, cap (optional), and a troop or other scouting T-shirt. Additional troop T-shirts may be purchased from the troop for $10.00 (short sleeve). Parents are encouraged to attend all troop activities. For those parents interested in adult leadership, Sunset District and Old Baldy Council offer excellent training programs such as Fast Start (a video overview), Scoutmaster Fundamentals (SALT), (basic hands-on training with an outdoor experience), and Woodbadge (advanced scouter training). Other specialized supplemental training is also available. Parent Involvement is critical to the scouting program. Our troop needs adults willing to have FUN! Talk to the Scoutmaster about what role you can play as a Committee Officer, Adult Leader, Merit Badge Counselor or some other key role. Working with our boys can be one of the most rewarding experiences one can have. What's ahead? FUN, ADVENTURE, CHALLENGE and GROWTH. As your son learns and meets new challenges, he will be recognized through the Advancement Program. The founder of the Scouting Movement, British Lord Robert Baden-Powell said that every boy should be a "first class scout". After your son masters the basic skills of scouting, he may seek additional challenges as he strives for scouting's highest rank, EAGLE. Questions? We hope that this information Guide has answered most of your initial questions. To learn more just ask the Scoutmaster or one of our adult leaders. Fell free to contact us at: bsa789@yahoo.com Welcome to Troop 789 and the Boy Scouts of America! |
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