Troop 542 Parents Orientation 23 March 2015 Parents

Troop 542 Parent's Orientation 23 March 2015 Parents Orientation 1

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 Parents Orientation 2

Why We're Here Today Parents Orientation 3

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. Parents Orientation 4

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 Parents Orientation 5

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 Parents Orientation 6

Troop Organization Parents Orientation 7

Council and District • Council – Cradle of Liberty – Covers Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware counties Troop 542 is in the Baden Powell District of the Cradle of Liberty Council • District – Baden Powell – Units located in Ambler, Lower Gwynedd, Plymouth, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Whitemarsh townships Parents Orientation 8

Troop 542 is divided into eight groups of scouts called “Patrols” One Patrols for First Year Scouts Shark Six Patrols for Experienced Scouts One Patrol for our Senior Leaders Cobra Cougar Lightning Pine Tree Python Raven Eagle Each patrol has a color code to identify its equipment Return to Agenda Unit 3: Troop Organization Parents Orientation 9

Program at Meetings Parents Orientation 10

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 Parents Orientation 11

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 Parents Orientation 12

What Does It Cost Parents Orientation 13

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 Return to Agenda Parents Orientation 14

Monthly Outings Parents Orientation 15

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) Parents Orientation 16

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, interpatrol 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) Parents Orientation 17

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 Parents Orientation 18

Personal Gear Troop • Personal Gear Dome Tent – Most overnights Scout’s Backpack Scout’s Sleeping Bag • Sleeping Bag • Poncho – Backpacking and High Adventure, above plus • Backpack • Canteen or Water Bottles • Mess Kit • Vittles Kit – Summer Camp • List provided in packet Unit 2: Personal Gear Parents Orientation 19

Personal Gear Troop Dome Tent Scout’s Water Bottle Scout’s Mess Kit Troop Butane Stove Return to Agenda Unit 2: Personal Gear Parents Orientation 20

Good Turns and Service Projects Parents Orientation 21

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 Return to Agenda • Monkey Bridge – Annually at Simmons School – Bi-annually at Upper Dublin Community Day Parents Orientation 22

How We Communicate Parents Orientation 23

We Try Everything (and nothing seems to work) Quarterly Newsletter Weekly Phone Chain Web Site e-mail Announcements at Meetings Return to Agenda Parents Orientation 24

Training Parents Orientation 25

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 Parents Orientation 26

Training for Adults • Mark Krueger is our "Unit Training Coordinator" – Makes sure everyone has the required training and bugs people to take it Return to Agenda Parents Orientation 27