1. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport New Scout Parent Orientation
12/17/2017
Troop 403 Commack/East Northport New Scout Parent Orientation

2. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport
Agenda
Welcome
Introductions
Adult Troop Structure
Housekeeping
Boy Led Troop
Scout Troop Structure
Lines of Communications / Chain of Command
Communications
Rank Advancements
Merit Badges
Campouts and Events
Equipment
Questions?

3. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport
Welcome!!
Thank you for coming
Thank you for choosing Troop 403!

4. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport
Introductions
Troop Adult Leaders
Committee Members

5. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Adult Troop Structure

6. BTW: We are the ONLY 100% trained unit in the Matinecock District!

7. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Housekeeping
Troop Meetings start PROMPTLY at 7:30pm and end at 9:00pm. PLEASE – do not interrupt the meeting by talking with your Scout or other Scouts. You may observe quietly.
PLEASE do not “Drop & Run” – make sure there are other adults at the Church before you leave.
PLEASE do not pull your Scout out of a meeting until it is over. If your Scout must leave early, he should let his Patrol Leader know that he has to leave early. If your Scout forgets, please let one of the Adult Leaders know, and we will take care of getting him.

8. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Housekeeping (Continued)
Scouts should be in FULL UNIFORM (would your son be allowed to play a team sport if he was not wearing a full uniform?? No – same goes for Scouting).
PLEASE – no food or drink (water is OK) are permitted at the Troop Meetings.
The Soda Machine is OFF LIMITS – even for purchasing water.
Your son’s Scout Handbook IS MANDATORY at every Meeting and Campout.
All Personal items should be labeled with your son’s name.

9. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Housekeeping (Continued)
Lost and Found –If your son finds something that’s NOT his, or loses something that IS his, have him tell one of the Adult Leaders. Announcements will be made. Any unclaimed items will be donated to the Church or Goodwill. This is why you have to label EVERYTHING!
Medical Forms – You may download the current BSA Medical Form here: Medical forms have to submitted EACH YEAR!! The Medical Form must be current before your son can go to Summer Camp. PLEASE hand in 3 copies – you should keep the original.

10. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport: Scout Leadership
We are a “Boy Led Troop”
This is exactly what it sounds like.
The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is in charge of and runs the Troop. He has 2 Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL) to help him.
The Patrol Leaders (PL) report to the SPL and ASPLs.
The SPL, ASPLs and PLs as well as other scouts with leadership positions, make up the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC). They meet regularly to set the troop agenda and to plan the troop meetings, outings and activities.
The Adult Leaders are there to guide and to ensure safety.

11. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Scout Troop Structure
Golden Lions (Senior Patrol)
SPL, ASPLs
Flying Pig Patrol (High Schoolers)
Phoenix Patrol (8Th graders)
Narwhal Patrol (6th graders)
Gecko Patrol (New scouts)
Fox Patrol (New scouts)
Big Dog Patrol (Adults)

12. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Lines of Communication
Chain of Command
Parents should not get involved in communication between the Scout and the Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders.
If there is an issue, the Scouts should try and work it out among themselves.
If the issue can’t be resolved, the Scout should contact his Patrol Leader.
If the issue hasn’t been resolved at this point, the Scout should contact the Senior Patrol Leader.
If the issue has still not been resolved, the Scout should contact the Scoutmaster or any other Uniformed Adult Leader.
If the issue has still not been resolved, the Scout should contact the Troop Committee Chair or any Committee Member.

13. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport
Communications
– Each Scout should have their own account. While this is not mandatory, it helps with getting the information out to each Scout. It should be the Scout’s responsibility to periodically check and respond to Scouting-related s.
Cell phones – Once again, not mandatory, but if the Scout has a cell phone, the number should be shared with his Patrol Leader for communicating Scout-related communication.
Website – the Troop’s Official Website is : The Scout should check the website on a frequent basis.
Scout-related information will come from the Scouts themselves and the Scouts should reply in kind.

14. Lines of Communication: Who Should I Talk to About….?
TALK TO THE SCOUTMASTER (ALAN):
rank advancement
merit badges
positions of responsibility (leadership)
scout to scout interaction (behavior issues)
camping trips and equipment
scout skills
non-Eagle Scout service project approval (Eagle Scout projects should be discussed with both the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair)
patrol issues
TALK TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR (DEBBIE):
Registration forms and fees
Medical form issues
Fund raising
Trip ideas
Building use forms (for Eagle Courts, car washes, etc)
Community service project ideas
Religious Awards

15. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Rank Advancement
The Scout himself is responsible for Rank Advancement.
Scouts will work on Rank Advancements during Troop Meetings and outings.
There is a Rank Advancement chart that will be used by the Patrol Leaders and the Adult Leaders to monitor progress, BUT it is not the Adult Leaders’ responsibility to make sure that each Scout advances. That is the Scout’s responsibility.

16. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Rank Advancement (Continued)
Once a Scout has completed the requirements towards a Rank Advancement, he should ask his Patrol Leader or the Senior Patrol Leader for a Scout Spirit Conference.
Once the Scout completes his Scout Spirit Conference, he should approach Mr. Morris and request a Scoutmaster Conference.
Once the Scout completes his Scoutmaster Conference, he should approach Ms Trifon and schedule a Board of Review.
Upon the successful completion of the BOR, the scout is advanced in rank.

17. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport: Merit Badges
12/17/2017
Troop 403 Commack/East Northport: Merit Badges
A scout must earn 21 MBs (13 required, 8 elective) to make Eagle
The scout and Scoutmaster discuss if a particular MB is appropriate for that scout.
If Yes, the scout should ask the Scoutmaster for a SIGNED Merit Badge Application (known as the Blue Card).
Scouts should ask the Scoutmaster for the names and contact information of Merit Badge Counselors.
Many of our Adult Leaders are Merit Badge Counselors, and many others are available.
Some MBs will be done as a troop or in classes outside of meetings
At Summer Camp at Yawgoog, it is the SCOUT’S responsibility to attend classes and complete Merit badges. This includes all homework assignments and pre-requisites.

18. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Campouts and Events
From September through May, the Troop will hold one campout and/or event per month.
[If your son is chosen to purchase food, PLEASE help him shop and with making sure that all perishables are packed in a cooler with ice]
October, January and April are usually Council-sponsored events (Webelos Woods, Polar Bear, and Spring Camporee)
June – The last week of June (the Sunday after the last day of School) is our Summer Camp Week. We attend Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island (Website -
Summer Activities: TBA

19. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport Upcoming Events
New Scout Campout – Baiting Hollow Scout Camp 3/18-20
Winter Court of Honor-Monday, March Burr.
Day Hike- Blydenburgh County Park, April 17 10am
West Point Camporee- USMA, 4/29-5/1
Whitewater Rafting Trip – Whitewater Challengers, Weatherly, PA 5/20-22/2016.
Spring Court of Honor- Monday Burr
Summer Camp – Camp Yawgoog 6/26-7/3

20. Troop Supplied Equipment
Tents and tarps
Rain fly
Cooking/field kitchen gear
Pots and pans
Stoves and griddles
Dutch ovens
Cooking utensils
Propane lanterns
Axes and camp saws

21. Basic Equipment Needs External frame backpack Mess kit
12/17/2017
Basic Equipment Needs
External frame backpack
Pack rain cover
Mess kit
Re-useable water bottle (Camelbak, Nalgene type)
Flashlight/headlamp
Raingear (Jacket or poncho)
Zero degree sleeping bag (synthetic fill)
Camping pillow
Sleeping pad
Self inflating vs. foam—Check “R value”

22. Basic Equipment Needs, Part II
12/17/2017
Basic Equipment Needs, Part II
Pocket Knife (after Totin Chip is earned)
Sling bag/day pack for hikes
Waterproof hiking boots
A word about clothing:
“Cotton is Rotten”
“Wet Wool Warm”
Polypro and fleece is best
Optional Gear:
Battery powered lantern for inside tent
Small, foldable camp chair
Cards/portable games

23. Last, but unfortunately not least: The Cell Phone Issue

24. Troop 403 Commack/East Northport
Questions??
Special thanks to Tom Ruby for doing the vast majority of the work on this presentation