Getting Started with Troop 84 March 2016 WELCOME

Who Is Troop 84? Founded 1988 in San Ramon 80+ Scouts Very active adult leadership program ◦ Scoutmaster and (16) ASM’s ◦ Many adult leaders were Cubmasters, Den Leaders, former Scoutmaster’s Lots of opportunities for your son to have fun with personal growth, developing leadership, friendships, and self-confidence Eagles: ◦ 4-6 per year, extensive Eagle program led by Mr. Perkins ◦ 95+ Eagles since founding

Goals/Objectives For Boy Scouts Goals and Objectives ◦ Develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit through the Scout Law and Oath, and outdoor programs; ◦ Self-reliance, initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; helpfulness, leadership How is this different than Cub Scouts? ◦ Dens versus Patrols (same as Cub Scouts) ◦ Scout-led Troop ◦ More autonomy. They choose and plan their activities, their leadership, and advancement pace. ◦ Adult Leaders are not “leading/directing” but rather encouraging, supporting and ensuring safety/appropriateness.

1 st Level: Scout is in Patrol 2 nd Level: Led by Patrol Leader (elected by your son’s patrol every 6 months); Ass’t Patrol Leader Troop Guides with Junior ASM 3 rd Level: Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and his Ass’t Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL) 4 th Level: Adult Leaders, specifically Scoutmaster (SM) and ASM’s NOTE: Supporting the SM/ASM is the Troop Committee (parents that help make the administrative part of the Troop run, so SM/ASM can focus on the Scouting program, i.e., leadership, growth, etc. How We Are Organized

Activities Planned for 2016 Calendar on our Website and YahooGroup ◦ Activities planned by scouts twice a year Some Important Upcoming Events ◦ New Scout Skill Day or Pre-Camporee (April 16) ◦ District Camporee (April 29-May 1) ◦ Summer Camp - Camp Wente (July 3-9)  Discuss benefit of attending…new skills, new adventures, rank advancement, bonding, etc.  Deadlines for RSVP and Payment…  RSVP - Tue May 7 th ; Payment Due Tue May 21 st,  Cost - $425  BSA Medical forms due May 21 st ◦ Service projects—church cleanup, Eagle projects.

Church of the Valley Cleanup Our Troop’s “Give-Back” for the use of facilities. Each scout is required to attend a minimum of one of the two cleanup events (Spring (March 19 th ) and Fall).

Mistletoe—Our ONE Fundraiser Generates $2k-$3K Revenues Funds go to Troop:  Funds for Troop equipment for camping (list what we provide on trips)  Subsidize some troop outings (keep at $25-30 level usually)  Training for scouts (NYLT) and Adults (encourage you to become trained) Schedule:  2 weekends in December—selling at grocery stores, Starbucks, Farmer’s Market, etc.  1 st Friday (Dec)—cut and bag mistletoe Requirements:  Scouts—2 shifts of selling mistletoe  Parents—1 shift of supervising mistletoe sales  Attend bagging mistletoe night What if you don’t attend?  Financial penalty  Lack of Scout Spirit---denied Scoutmaster/Board of Review for 6 months

What is your New Role? Attend Parent Meeting (usually 2 nd Tuesday) Communication: YahooGroup (signup) & website Review and Understand Activities needed for Rank advancement Encourage…not lead… Scout is in charge Scout Rank: Discuss Youth Protection and sign Take online Youth Protection course (20 min); certificates to YPT Coordinator (Saaiyini Mohan) Committee Roles, Merit Badge Counselor, Driver, ASM, Board of Reviews, etc. Be Involved! If its important to you, it will be important to your son!

Advancement 2016 BSA Rank Advancement Changes ◦ Effects all new Scouts as of 1/1/16 Goal: First Class in First Year ◦ Opportunities are provided ◦ Scout determines pace by attendance and participation ◦ Trailhead Tuesday - 2nd Tuesdays focuses on Scout skills…IMPORTANT!

Advancement Con’t 4 Steps of Advancement ◦ Learn ◦ Examples of how Troop 84’s activities link to rank requirements (e.g. hiking) ◦ Test ◦ Who signs off rank requirement in handbook? Trained Scouts and ASM’s ◦ Review ◦ Record Review with Mrs Medlin ◦ Scoutmaster Conference ◦ Board of Review ◦ Recognize ◦ Court of Honor Ceremony (quarterly)

Tips for Advancement Post-it-Notes in handbook ◦ 10 animals or 10 plants seen on hike. Keep track if unfinished on one hike ◦ Non-Troop activities (Eagle projects, flag ceremonies, Service projects, etc.) Organization ◦ 3-ring binder for MB Blue cards, Rank Advancement cards, Totin’ Chip, etc. ◦ Baseball card page protectors ◦ Will need for Eagle advancement

Advancement Traditions TraditionTraditionsAdvancement Join: ◦ Red Neckerchief & Green T-Shirt Scout Rank: ◦ Badge ◦ Hand carved wooden slide

Rank Traditions - cont’d. Tenderfoot: ◦ Badge 2 nd Class: ◦ Blue Neckerchief ◦ Badge 1 st Class: ◦ Badge

Rank Traditions - cont’d. Star: Blue neckerchief w/Yellow Trim Badge Life: Blue neckerchief w/Red Trim Badge Eagle: Red/White/Blue Neckerchief Eagle slide Badge

Uniform FULL Class A Uniform ◦ Shirt, Pants/Shorts+Socks, Belt, Neckerchief, Merit Badge sash ◦ COH, Eagle Ceremony, Crossovers, Flag Ceremony, SM Conferences/BoR’s Class A Uniform ◦ Troop Meetings: Shirts, Neckerchief ◦ Driving to and from all outings Class B Uniform - Green T-Shirts ◦ Summer Troop meetings ◦ Camping and weekend activities

Boy Scout UNIFORM Requirements: Boy Scout Uniform Shirt (also referred to as Field or Class A uniform) (poplin or nylon versions) Scout Crest emblem (purple fleur-de-lis patch) Mr. Diablo Council patch (left shoulder) Sash (recommend the longer one so you don’t have to re-sew patches on a longer one as they grow. You can purchase this later…when they earn their first merit badge). Green shoulder loops Troop numerals “Troop 84” (left shoulder) - PROVIDED Patrol Patch (right shoulder) - PROVIDED Scout pants with belt (long or short) (recommend convertible, shorts to pants…scouts like those!) Scout socks (required only when he wears Scout shorts) BSA Boy Scout Handbook BSA Handbook Cover (optional, but highly recommended!!)

Equipment/Supplies Troop equipment provides: ◦ Durables: Tents, stoves, lanterns, cooking equipment ◦ Consumables: Fuel, charcoal, etc. Scout personal equipment: ◦ Review equipment list (handout) ◦ At first, don’t spend lots of money on items that they’ll grow out of. ◦ Do buy quality on durable items.

QUESTIONS? 18