Please take a moment to read through the important elements of the Troop 701 Scouting program described below.
Meeting Time & Location
The exceptions to this are nights that there is no school due to snow, holidays, or other days it is closed. In addition, there are nights, such as special elections, that we will not meet at the school. The Tuesday night after a campout will be an Advancement Night. Scouts should come prepared to work on passing or learning
Scout skills. The session will last from 7:30 to 8:30 for everyone except the older boys.
We Are A Youth-Led Program
Teamwork and leadership practice takes a group, yet in today’s world, youths are increasingly spending too much time in isolation. Too much television, video games, mobile-apps, and online-time all work against a youth’s ability to work in a group and lead. Scouting is the practice young people need to help them prepare for their life ahead where teamwork and leadership skills are critical, especially in employment settings.
From the Scoutmaster Handbook, Chapter 3 on “The Boy-Led Troop”
“Empowering boys to be leaders is the core of Scouting. Scouts learn by doing, and what they do is lead their patrols and their troop. The boys themselves develop a troop program, set goals and then take responsibility for figuring out how they will achieve their goals. ”
We organize Scouts by patrols, which are groups of 8 – 10 Scouts ranging in age from 10½ to 14 years old. The patrol is led by an older, more experienced Scout, who is the Patrol Leader. The Senior Patrol Leader is the Scout who is responsible for planning and conducting the troop activities.
Each year at Summer Camp, the Scouts vote to fill these important positions. After being elected to one of these positions, the Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader choose an assistant(s) to help him. Several other older Scouts in staff positions assist him, and together they provide most of the planning, organization and leadership of the troop. These include Quartermasters who maintain and distribute troop gear such as tents, cooking equipment, and food. The Chaplain Aide is responsible for the invocation at Court of Honors and for a small nondenominational service at camp. Instructors are used in the training of both new and older Scouts in various Scoutcraft areas, both at the weekly meetings and campouts.
Camping
summer to the older Scouts. A Scout will enjoy camping, regardless of the weather, if he packs the proper equipment. The troop will provide each Scout with a packing list of the gear he should bring to camp.
We value camping so much at Troop 701 that we even have an award for it. When a Scout camps 12 consecutive times without interruption, he will earn the ‘Year Round Camping Award’. Learn more about our philosophy of camp here.
Community Service
We value Community Service so much at Troop 701 that we even have an award for it. In one year, when a Scout donates a total of 12 hours of community service from at least four community service projects he will earn the Troop 701 Community Service Award patch that is worn on the Scout uniform. For subsequent years that he earns the awards, he will be recognized with a service pin.
Advancement
Our Expectations From Scouts
Our Expectations From Parents
We offer an excellent opportunity for both things to happen in a controlled, supervised atmosphere. Watching your son(s) grow and mature into fine young men is the reward that keeps leaders in Scouting.
At a minimum, we require that parents help the troop by volunteering to drive either to or from camps twice a year. You are free to volunteer more frequently if you desire. In addition, we have a Troop Committee, which meets several times a year to assist the leaders in running the troop. Parent volunteers can serve in any of the following roles:
Committee Chairmen, Fund Raising, Advancement, Transportation, Treasurer,
Secretary, Eagle Court of Honor, Food Purchasing, Refreshments, and Senior Program.
Your support is greatly appreciated.