Troop 73 Parent Orientation Date Ryan Weaverling Scoutmaster

Troop 73 Parent Orientation Date: Ryan Weaverling – Scoutmaster Schad Davis – Committee Chair

Houskeeping • Restrooms are located to the back of the room to the right of the bar.

Agenda • What is scouting about • Methods of Scouting • Elements of a Boy led Troop • Cub/Boy Scout differences • Boy Scout Advancement • Parents Role • Money/Fundraising • • Uniform Policy Adult Leadership Training Supporting the Troop Policies Programs Troop Meetings

Scouting in a nutshell • “Here, then, is Scouting in a nutshell: A game for boys under the leadership of boys with the wise guidance and counsel of a grown-up who has still the enthusiasm of youth in him. A purposeful game, but a game just the same, a game that develops character by practice, that trains for citizenship-through experience in the out-of-doors. ” - Boy Scouts of America's third edition of Handbook for Scoutmasters in 1936

What Scouting is All About • Aims of Scouting – three specific objectives: – character development – citizenship training – personal fitness.

Methods of Scouting • Ideals. The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan define what it means to be a good scout and a good citizen. • Patrols. The patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in interacting in small groups which provides opportunities for leadership, teamwork and competition. • Outdoor Programs. Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors where their skills are put to the test and developed to become more self-reliant.

Methods of Scouting (cont) • Advancement. Boy Scouting program through rewarding achievement teaches important skills and builds self-reliance and self-confidence. • Associations With Adults. Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the troop. • Personal Growth. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster, service projects, camping and leadership opportunities help each Boy Scout in his growth toward Scouting's aims.

Methods of Scouting (cont) • Leadership Development. The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership role personally and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting. • Uniform. The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. The uniform signifies Boy Scouting unity while allowing each boy to show his achievement. It is your son’s outward expression of inward attitudes and commitment to work personally and as a team towards the goals of scouting.

Troop Organization

Elements of a Boy Led Troop • Scouts choose their activities during their Annual Planning Conference • Scouts run the Troop meeting • Scouts organize themselves during campouts and activities • CAUTION: Many activities will seem very disorganized and can possibly be made more efficient if an adult were doing it. • Remember, never send a man to do a boys job!

Ask questions, guide, train but …. . DON’T DO IT FOR THEM!!!!!

Boy Scouts vs Cub Scouts • A Boy Scout Troop is not structured like a Cub Pack • Boys have more responsibility – Planning, packing, setting up camp, cooking, activities – Scout is responsible for initiation of advancement – Parents cannot sign off. SM, ASM, MBC, and First Class Scouts (on certain things) are the only persons in the troop that can sign off. Scouts & parents MUST understand this. Do not baby the boys. They are BOY SCOUTS now. Learning to deal with failure is an important maturity skill. Failure sometimes can be the best teacher. Teach and Motivate but don’t do anything for a boy that he is capable of doing himself!

BSA Joining Requirements 1. Meet the age requirements. Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old. 2. Find a Scout troop near your home. 3. Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian. 4. Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. 5. Demonstrate the Scout sign, salute, and handshake. 6. Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot). 7. Understand agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code. 8. Describe the Scout badge. 9. Complete the pamphlet exercises. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide. 10. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. Turn in your Boy Scout application and health history form signed by your parent or guardian, then participate in a Scoutmaster conference

The Scout Badge • The Scout badge has been earned once the scout has completed the BSA Joining requirements. • Once he has completed these steps, he is now officially a Boy Scout earning him the right to attend outings without a parent/guardian and he may now begin to work on requirements for other ranks.

Rank Advancement These revolve around scoutcraft and reading the Boy Scout Handbook These revolve around earning Merit Badges, serving your troop, and serving the community

Advancement • The parent’s role is not to carry the scout • The parent’s role is to monitor, motivate, and support the scout

Monitoring Progress at home • To monitor, you have to understand what is required. • Your Assignment: – Read Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the Boy Scout Handbook – Track his progress

Be Encouraging at home • For Tenderfoot, most items are taught by older scouts and Adult leaders. But they can get stuck. Use the website videos! • Your Assignment: – Encourage working on the fitness requirement - especially pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups! – Help him memorize Scout Oath, Scout Law and to really understand what they mean

Be Supportive at home • There are some things that the scout cannot do without help • Your Assignment: – Help select camping gear (Tools on Website) – Transportation: Help him get to troop meetings and other functions – Reinforce the ideals of the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan in his everyday life. – Prepare for Summer Camp – Become a Merit Badge Counselor – Become a Committee Member – or even better, invest in the time, training, uniforming, etc… to become an Assistant Scoutmaster

What about money/fundraising? • The troop is operated through a combination of dues and fundraising activities. • Most campouts and troop activities are based on a “pay as you go” fashion • Troop 73 has 2 types of Dues. One is the annual dues you paid when your scout joined. The other is the weekly troop dues of $1 that each scout earns on his own and pays. • Primary costs for most of the activities are: food, campground fee and Gas • The primary fundraiser for the Troop is participation in the annual Boy Scout popcorn sale although others may be offered as well. • Fundraising is encouraged not discouraged: a scout is responsible, thrifty and carries his own weight.

Break Time! – Smile!

Uniform Policy • All Scouts and Scouters are encouraged to wear the full Scout uniform. Troop 73 has identified the minimum uniform elements for each Scout: – Shirt (required) – All Scouts are expected to wear the official Boy Scout shirt during meetings and appropriate outings, including while traveling to/from all Scouting activities. – Slide and Neckerchief (required) – Scouts may wear the official Scout slide or one that they have made themselves. A Troop 73 neckerchief will be presented to each Scout when they join the Troop. – Belt (required) – Any official Scout belt (web, Philmont, Order of the Arrow, etc) may be worn.

Uniform Policy (cont’d) • Insignia – All insignias that are worn will be worn in the correct position. (required) The troop number (73), council patch, patrol/troop position patch, and current rank patch. (optional) Year pins, activity patches. • Troop 73 Activity Class B T-shirt - The Troop/Scout t-shirt will be worn in lieu of the official scout shirt for designated activities. When in doubt wear your Class A uniform with the T -shirt underneath or carried in your activities pack. Be Prepared! • Scout Pants – The official BSA pants are required as part of the Class A and B uniforms

Uniform Summary All scouts will need: – Shoulder Loops (provided) – Custom Neckerchief (provided) – Troop Numerals (provided) – Neckerchief Slide – Council Patch – World Brotherhood Patch

Patrol Camping Gear The troop will provide for the boys… • • • Tents Tarps Patrol Boxes (for cooking) Stoves & fuel Cookware – Pots & Pans – Dutch Ovens • Kitchen tools • Trailer • Lanterns • • Axes & Saws Water Jug/Water Cooler Shovel Rake

Personal Camping Equipment • Recommended equipment: – – – – – 20 degree sleeping bag, Pillow, pad water bottles bag for camp stuff (backpack, duffel) mess kit Sunscreen Flashlight (headlamp) Waterproof boots shoes (no open toes) – extra blanket for cold – scout book – knives (only when trained & approved!!!) – pencil and paper – Don’t forget : hat, warm clothes, extra change of clothes, – Toiletries (toothbrush & paste, comb, be minimal here) – meds (including extra glasses, contact solution, etc)

BSA’s 10 Essentials 1. Pocket Knife or Multi -tool 2. Personal First Aid Kit 3. Extra Clothing 4. Rain Gear 5. Flashlight or Headlamp 6. Trail Food 7. Water 8. Matches &/or Fire Starter Kit 9. Sun Protection 10. Trail Map & Compass

Troop 73’s Top 10 1. Boy Scout 8. Insect Repellent Handbook 9. Carabineer Clips 2. Rope 10. Day Pack / Back Pack – One with adequate size to 3. Totin’Chip Card fit the BSA 10 Essentials 4. Knife Sharpener and T 73 Top 10 5. Paper & Pencil 6. Leather work gloves 7. Hand Sanitizer

Camping Policies What is not allowed in on campouts: • • Energy drinks, guns, swords, drugs, etc in accordance with the Guide To Safe Scouting Pop/Soda or snacks are at the discretion of the driver but we recommend not having them until the scouts are in camp. Sick scouts on the road can ruin an outing. Food/Pop/Drinks of any kind are NOT allowed in tents – it attracts animals and insects Cots are not allowed in TROOP tents – it destroys the floor. There are specific protocol/permission procedure for using fires, knives, axes and saws. Scouts must be trained and/or supervised in their use. The Scout Oath and Law are the primary rules of the troop. These policies are for the protection of the boys and troop property. Failure to obey is grounds for removal from the outing, forfeiture of fees and payment for any damage that may have occurred. Continued willful disobedience is grounds for dismissal from the troop.

Electronics In this day and age, electronics are nearly unavoidable. They have their place. Most electronics don’t have a place at a campout or troop activity. • Electronics can be used to and from campouts as long as they are not disruptive in nature. • Electronics are to be put away while at camp unless they are being used for navigation, note taking, or photos/video. Ideally, you will leave them in the vehicle. Troop 73 and it’s leaders are not responsible for lost or stolen items. If you don’t want to lose it, don’t bring it on a campout.

Electronics (cont’d) • Electronics are allowed in vehicles and can be use to and from events. While at camp and doing activities, cell phones should be put away unless they are being used to communicate with family members to coordinate early/late pickups/drop-offs or other important family items. • Scouts found using them for other purposes (games, texting without need, etc) will be warned to put the devices away. Second time, the device will be confiscated and delivered to the parent at pickup.

Adult leadership: Scoutmaster • The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster works directly with the Scouts. The importance of the Scoutmaster’s job is reflected in the fact that the quality of guidance will affect every youth and adult involved in the troop. • The Scoutmaster is responsible for training boys to be Troop leaders, working with and through other responsible adults (Assistant Scoutmasters/registered leaders) to bring Scouting to the boys, helping the boys grow into good Scouts and responsible citizens, and interfacing with the Troop Committee to ensure that the necessary resources are available to ensure a quality Scout program is provided to the boys.

How does he do this? • Baden Powell once said… – “The Scoutmaster teaches boys to play the game by doing so himself. ”

Adult leadership: Troop Committee • The Troop Committee is a group of parents and adults interested in the general welfare and operation of the Troop. The Committee is responsible for seeing that the necessary resources are made available to support the Scouts as necessary. These resources include record keeping, adult recruiting, boards of review, transportation, and more. Specific Committee positions include: • • • Committee Chair Advancement Chair Troop Chaplain Trainer Treasurer • Secretary • Outdoor/Activities Coordinator • Equipment Coordinator

Troop Committee Intros • • • Scoutmaster – Ryan Weaverling Committee Chair – Schad Davis Secretary – Christy Fiedler Advancement –Lori Biermann Training – Brad Boeckmann Webmaster/Communications – Charley Miller Chaplain – Christina Campbell Quartermaster – Derek Campbell Charter Representative – Paul Moritz

Troop Positions Needed • • Treasurer Membership Chair Fundraising Chair Publicity Chair Let’s take a look at the Scoutmaster side of things…

How both sides work together

Training • Scouts – Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) • Conducted immediately following elections in Feb and Aug • Committee / Parents – – – Parent Orientation (You are here!) Youth Protection – every 2 years District Adult Leader training offered spring/fall Boy Scout Roundtable Meetings Wood Badge Philmont

Training • Parents / Scouts – How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse • First section in Scout Handbook • Leaders Should be Trained – – – Youth Protection This Is Scouting Fast Start: Boy Scouting BSA Policies & Procedures Creates linkages to immense reserve of resources • 2 -Deep Leadership

Supporting the Troop • The boys have nothing to run if there is no parent support – they lack the life experience that we have. They need our help to coach them and guide them – NOT micro manage. If a scout is trained and capable let HIM do it. If not, train him & LET HIM DO IT. • The troop needs help in many forms – driving to outings, summer camp planning & support, advancement, etc. Join the Committee or be a Merit Badge Counselor if you do not have the desire and/or time to be an ASM. Scouting is a family activity and ALL adults should be active in supporting the troop. • Start with adult leader training – it helps you, your son, and the troop…. Plus it’s FUN! • Scouts are more likely to succeed and stay in the program long term if they have a parent involved!