Welcome to Troop 002!

http://www.troop002.org

Welcome to Troop 002!

Arrow of Light to Boy Scouts

Get ready to have fun!!!



Troop 002 Philosophy

❖ Foster an environment of personal growth and self-sufficiency for the boys

❖ Good attitude is everything in character development

❖ Focus on service to the community & others

❖ Provide opportunities for fun, friendship, achievement and learning in a safe and challenging environment


Cub Scouts vs. Boy Scouts

❖ Boys become more independent

❖ Advancement is individual, not by group

❖ More Troop and less Patrol

❖ More “doing” than “talking”

❖ Boy led: “Ask your PL” or “Ask your SPL”

❖ The boys should do almost everything!


What do the boys do?

❖ Run as much of the Troop as possible, including calendar planning for trips

❖ Set up camp – tents and cooking

❖ Do their own work, including cook their meals and clean up!

❖ Pack their gear

❖ Talk to adult leaders

❖ Serve in leadership positions in 6-month increments

− March thru August

− September thru February


How is all of this fun funded?

❖ Unlike in Cub Scouts, most fundraising dollars go directly to your Scout’s account!

❖ Money earned through fundraising goes into your Scout’s account with the troop for use in his Scouting trips and dues

❖ Each Scout (and parents) can see their account balance, charges and deposits on our Troop website

❖ We intend to provide as many opportunities to fundraise as possible without being intrusive!

❖ Scout fundraisers

❖ Spring: Camp Cards, Flower Baskets GOING ON NOW!!!

❖ Winter: Poinsettia sales

❖ You and your Scout choose which fundraisers you want to do.


Troop Website

❖ Primary location for Troop news and information

❖ Troop Calendar is housed here and updated throughout the year

❖ RSVP for Troop events

❖ Scout Advancement Reports

❖ Pictures and Videos from Troop Events

❖ Scout Accounts


Other Communication Vehicles

❖ Weekly Troop E-mail

❖ Facebook Group

❖ Regular E-Mail for New and Events


Advancement Goals

❖ Progress is at an individual pace for each Scout

❖ Earn first 4 ranks (Scout - First Class) in 12-18 months

❖ Summer Camp: Covers many early rank requirements

− “Mountain Man” skills (includes Firem’n chit and Totin’ chit)*

− Swimming Merit Badge

− First Aid Merit Badge

− One merit badge of Scouts choice (Art, Fingerprinting, etc)

*We will cover Totin’ chit and Firem’n chit requirements during New Scout Boot Camp

“In Scouting, a boy is encouraged to educate himself instead of being instructed.”

Lord Baden-Powel


Process of Rank Advancement

❖ Scouts work on and complete the requirements for each rank beginning with Scout and all the way up to Eagle

− Requirements for multiple ranks can be worked on and completed at the same time

− Generally there is no “double dipping”. If two requirements are similar, then usually they need to be performed twice. For example: Serving as patrol cook can either be used for the First Class requirement or the Cooking merit badge, not both.

− Requirements must be completed as stated, nothing more or less, but the details of the requirements are important



❖ Scoutmaster Conference: A talk with the Scoutmaster

− All requirements for the rank must be completed before the SM Conference

− Scouts request a Scoutmaster Conference in person at Troop meetings

− Conferences occur during regular troop meetings



❖ Board of Review: A talk with three or four Troop committee members

− Required for Tenderfoot and above

− Advancement Chair schedules after SM conference

− Typically occur at the last meeting of the month



❖ Court of Honor:

− Scouts are presented with merit badges and rank patches

− Family celebration of Scout progress

− April, August & December – Check the troop site for exact dates


Scout Ranks

❖ Scout

❖ Tenderfoot

❖ Second Class

❖ First Class

❖ Star

❖ Life

❖ Eagle

Advancementbased on Scoutingskills

Advancement based on leadership and Merit Badges


Merit Badges

❖ 135 Merit Badge Options – Wide Variety!

❖ Sports, Crafts, Science, Trades, Business

❖ Process for Merit Badges

❖ Open Blue Card – Must be signed by SM or ASM

❖ Identify a Merit Badge Counselor

❖ Do the work – Meet with your counselor to sign off on MB requirements and knowledge

❖ Merit Badges are awarded at COH – 3 Times a Year

❖ Parents cannot sign-off on a MB unless they are a counselor


Merit Badges

❖ Our recommendation is that Scouts focus on skills the first year

❖ Scouts do not need any merit badges to advance to First Class

❖ Star Rank requires six merit badges – typically three are earned during summer camp.

❖ One place to find local merit badge clinics is http://meritbadge.info


What do the adults do?

❖ We are NOT Den Leaders

❖ More directing than leading

❖ “Put your hands in your pockets”

❖ We need your help!

❖ Volunteer – We need every family to help through the year

“When you want a thing done, ‘Don’t do it yourself’ is a good motto for Scoutmasters.”

Lord Baden-Powell


Volunteer Positions

❖ Advisors/Assistant Scoutmasters

• Chaplain

• Scribe Advisor

• Librarian Advisor

• Historian Advisor

• Quartermaster Advisor

• Den Chief Mentor

• Scout to First Class Coach

• First Class to Life Coach

• Life to Eagle Coach

• and more…

❖ Camping Coordinator

❖ Summer Camp Coordinator

❖ Merit Badge Counselors

❖ Medical Forms Coordinator

❖ Committee members

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Adult Training

• Merit Badge Clinics

• Fundraising

• Hospitability

• Advancement

• Committee Chair

• and more…

❖ Event organizers

❖ Board of Review members

❖ Special Projects


Scout Time Commitments

❖ Monday night meetings, 7:00 – 8:15 PM (year round, mirror Cobb County schools during the school year)

❖ One camp-out per month

❖ One week summer camp

❖ Regular service projects

❖ Fundraising opportunities

❖ Miscellaneous events (Flag Placements)

You and your Scout choose

You don’t have to do everything!!!


How have we handled COVID-19?

Troop 002 has continued to meet during the pandemic

Meetings are held outside

Masks are worn by everyone 100% of the time

Social distancing is enforced

Hand sanitizer is available

Transportation and sleeping arrangements are carefully coordinated during campouts


Adult Commitments

❖ Sit on 2-3 Board of Reviews

❖ Participate in 1-2 flag set-up service projects

❖ Volunteer Positions


Troop Meetings

❖ Sometimes instructive, sometimes business, sometimes just fun

− Opening flag ceremony

− Patrol corners

− Inter-patrol work time

− Troop activity: Skill game or other activity

− Closing: Announcements

❖ No more than 1 hour and 15 minutes

❖ Be patient. The path to Eagle is a multiyear journey and the boys have a lot of important growing to do!


Camping FUN!

❖ This is why many boys join Scouting!

❖ Let the boys pack for themselves from the 1st time out! – LESS IS MORE! Especially when backpack camping.

❖ If your Scout is the cook, let him work out what to shop for and bring (there is a budget that he will stick to!)

❖ Boys share tents – Many boys also use hammocks

❖ Boys don’t sleep with parents

❖ Everyone contributes to the workload

❖ Boys do all their own cooking and cleaning

❖ They have a GREAT time!


Campout Planning

❖ Planning for trip is done at troop meeting just prior to the Friday departure

❖ Duty roster is created

− Senior Patrol Leader – organizes those attending, creates the duty roster, is the ultimate organizer of the trip

− Patrol Cook, Assistant Cook – works w/group to plan meals, shops for food, organizes cooking gear, cooks and cleans up for meals

❖ Tent assignments (including whose bringing tents) are worked out by the Scouts!

❖ Patrols plan menus (budget is $4 per Scout per meal)

❖ Supply purchasing is completed just prior to trip

❖ Overall cost of the camping trip is divided up by participants and deducted from Scout accounts


What does my Scout need from the Scout shop?❖ Full Uniform

− Official shirt with all patches

− Official pants

− Official belt

− Official socks

❖ Class B t-shirts (Troop t-shirt or other Scout shirt that is not the formal shirt)

❖ Scout Handbook Canvas Cover


What does my Scout need now for camping?❖ Sleeping Bag (lightweight, 20 degrees rating if possible)

❖ Sleeping Mat

− $10 Walmart special

− $60 Thermarest for adults

❖ Refillable water bottle

❖ Mess kit (re-usable Rubbermaid-type container with spoon/fork, or similar)

❖ Flashlight

❖ Tent (w/rain fly) – can share w/others, so it can wait if necessary


What does my Scout need later?

❖ Backpack (one that will grow with your son)

❖ Orienteering compass (not military)

❖ Trunk for summer camp ($20 @ Walmart)

❖ Note – These can be in short supply near summer

❖ Full List on the Troop 002 website


What we need from you today❖ Completed Youth Application

❖ Completed Medical Form – Part A and B

❖ Initial deposit for your Scout account

❖ Half year Troop Dues $ 55 ($110 annually collected in November)

❖ New Scout Boot Camp (estimate) $ 25

❖ Summer Camp (July 4-10) Deposit $135

❖ Estimated total cost for summer camp is $385

❖ Recommend starting with $215, but need at least $80 to cover dues and first campout.

❖ Start signing up for activities on the troop website!

❖ Please Note – Scouts with negative balances will not be able to participate in activities outside the weekly troop meeting


Upcoming activities. Sign up now!

❖ New Scout Boot Camp March 19-21

❖ Okefenokee Canoeing April 30 to May 2

❖ Chickamauga Battlefield May 14 - 16

❖ Providence Canyon June 4 - 6

❖ Summer Camp July 4-10

Please encourage your Scout to check the website weeklyfor news and updated information!

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Welcome to Troop 002!