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

Parents OrientationPage 2 Agenda Why We're Here Today Troop Organization –Boy Led TroopBoy Led Troop –Adult Support from the Troop CommitteeAdult 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 OrientationPage 3 Why We're Here Today

Parents OrientationPage 4 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 OrientationPage 5 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 OrientationPage 6 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 OrientationPage 7 Troop Organization

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

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

Parents OrientationPage 10 Program at Meetings

Parents OrientationPage 11 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 uniformsuniforms 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 OrientationPage 12 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 OrientationPage 13 What Does It Cost

Parents OrientationPage 14 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 OrientationPage 15 Monthly Outings

Parents OrientationPage 16 Monthly Outings Check the Eagle Check the calendar on the web sitecalendar 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 OrientationPage 17 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, inter- patrol 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 OrientationPage 18 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 sitemenu planning process –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 OrientationPage 19 Personal Gear –Most overnights Sleeping Bag Poncho –Backpacking and High Adventure, above plus Backpack Canteen or Water Bottles Mess Kit Vittles Kit –Summer Camp List provided in packet Scout’s Backpack Scout’s Sleeping Bag Unit 2: Personal Gear Troop Dome Tent

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

Parents OrientationPage 21 Good Turns and Service Projects

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

Parents OrientationPage 23 How We Communicate

Parents OrientationPage 24 We Try Everything (and nothing seems to work) Quarterly NewsletterWeekly Phone ChainWeb Site Announcements at Meetings Return to Agenda

Parents OrientationPage 25 Training

Parents OrientationPage 26 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 OrientationPage 27 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