Co-Chairpersons: Jane Mannion
Cindy Geers
Goal: To help in every way possible for each and every boy in the troop to advance to the level he chooses, eventually to Eagle Scout if he so desires.
To meet the goal of Eagle Scout, the boy scout must earn a total of 21 merit badges, including the 12 eagle-requqired badges.
List of Eagle-required merit badges and the merit badge counselors for each:
First Aid - Tracy Jones
Citizenship in the Community-Marv Shaw
Citizenship in the Nation - Marv Shaw
Citizenship in the World - Marv Shaw
Communications - Irene Wickstrom *
Personal Fitness - Bob Turner
Emergency Preparedness - Tracy Jones
Lifesaving - Ken Reese* or Dave Chamlee*
Environmental Science - Do At Camp*
Personal Management - Renee Hansen*
Swimming - Bob Turner
or Hiking - Gary Poarch
or Cycling - Bob Turner
Camping - Cathy Burns
Family Life - Eileen Smolenski*
Our troop goal is to have one adult trained and accepted as a merit badge counselor for each eagle-required merit badge. The names with asterisks after them are people I recommend using as a merit badge counselor; however, they are not adults from troop 55.
Please consider becoming a merit badge counselor for at least one badge. If one parent of each boy did this, we would easily surpass our goal! See Cindy Geers for the Merit Badge Counselor Application to fill out.
We also recommend new scouts to the troop set a goal to earn the ranks of tenderfoot, 2nd class and first class scout during the course of the first year they are with the troop. If the scout attends most of the regular tuesday night boys meetings,and participates in the planned campouts, this can be done as a matter of course
When the scout attains the level of first class scout, to continue to advance, he must serve in a leadership position in the troop. Leadership positions include senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leaders, historian, scribe, librarian, chaplain's aid, bugler, den chief and quartermaster.. If all these positions are filled, the scout should request a comprehensive leadership project from the troop scoutmaster to be completed during his time at his particular level.
Scouts remaining active in the troop, participating in leadership positions when required, completing merit badges regualrly, living the scout oath every day, and completing an eagle scout project after becoming a life level scout, should attain Eagle scout status.
I personally encourage each patrol to work on 2 - 3 merit badges together every quarter of the year and they will position themselves very well tracking for the eagle scout level. Usually scouts earn between 2 to 5 merit badges at summer camp each year. If they plan merit badge days or parties or meetings regularly, which the patrol leader oversees and reminds them to attend, they will acquire merit badges continuously. Then when they get older and it is less desirable for them to emphasize their boy scout status by appearing in uniform, much of the work will be done and behind them.
I personally want you to know I'd like every boy in the troop to get to Eagle Scout. Please e-mail me through the Contact Us spot on the Home Page or at yocindyg@aol.com if you need any help, finding another merit badge counselor for any merit badge listed or for any other reason, again please contact me.
Other merit badges and merit badges counselors we have available in troop 55 include:
Wilderness Survival - Bob Turner
Backpacking - Bob Turner
Sports - Gary Poarch
Sculpture - Diane Poarch
Stamp/Coin Collecting - Pete Boyd
Archery - Pete Boyd
Fire Safety - Tracy Jones