Do
the boys need special training to go on the trips?
No, the boys do not need special training
to attend camping trips. The older scouts within the
troop can help the younger boys deal with any issues that
may arise on the camping trip, including setting up tents,
cooking, cleaning and any concerns the boy may have.
During a camping trip, if the scout finds he forgot
something or is in need of something he may not have
thought of, the troop carries many supplies, including
sleeping bags.
Can
I attend the trips?
We love for parents to attend trips.
Regardless if you are a mother or father, we encourage
anyone who is interested in attending to feel free to do
so. There is a requirement that any adult that does plan
on attending the trip take a Youth Protection Course and
complete a CORI check. Please see the scoutmaster about
getting these done.
How
do the boys get to the trips?
For every trip we attend, we will all meet
at the Church. Once there, in most situations, the adults
attending the trip will have sufficient vehicle space in
which to drive the scouts and other adults going on the
trip.
Is
there a certain rank they have to be?
A scout is not required to earn any
certain rank to attend scout activities, with the
exception of the Venture Patrol. For general scouting
purposes, a scout does not have to achieve any rank; we do
encourage the scout to at least become First Class. Some
activities such as National Camps (National Jamboree, Sea
Base, Philmont), some training programs (National Youth
Leadership Training), and some activities at summer camp
(Aquatics II and C.O.P.E) do have the requirements that a
scout reach First Class. But those activities are
optional.
What will he need to bring on the trips?
The general supplies of Sleeping Bag,
clothes and personal hygiene gear are the responsibilities
of the scout. The troop does provide cooking equipment,
tents, and wood/rope working tools. There are suggested
packing lists on the website that the scouts are
encouraged to use.
Who
cooks/gets the food?
Troop 74 uses the patrol method. This
means that your scout and his fellow patrol members are
responsible for organizing what they will eat, who will
purchase the food, who will cook the food, and anything
else they need to do to eat. The cost of the food and
patrol supplies are divided amongst the members of the
patrol attending. This method works well considering our
troop has excellent cooking skills and the older scouts
pass those skills along to the younger scouts.
Where do you camp?
All over
New England. Our weekend camping
trips have taken us to all 6 New England states. Our
summer camp, Wah-Tut-Ca Scout Reservation, is in Northwood, New Hampshire. We also do High
Adventure trips in the summer that have taken us to
Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Canada.
Do
you camp in the winter?
We pride ourselves in being a very active
troop. We go camping or do some sort of activity once a
month. We do camp in the winter. Troop meetings in the
winter may cover the proper technique for winter camping.
We have a checklist of what to bring during a winter
campout. If a scout becomes uncomfortable, the adults and
troop are prepared with extra sleeping bags or a few
minutes in a warm car to help out a cold scout.
Does he need a permission slip to attend outings?
No, as soon as he is signed up as a scout
and we have his medical information release form, the boy
is eligible to attend outings. Some places, like a rock
gym, may have release forms that have to be signed, but
that will be announced prior to the event.
How
often do you have outings?
We go on an outing every month.
Where can I get more information about troop activities?
Our website is a great place to get
information. Parents can also contact their mentor
(assigned one when the boy joins the troop) or the
scoutmaster.
How
will I know what is coming up?
We have a page on the website with
upcoming events as well as a calendar that will have the
dates of campouts and meetings scheduled for the whole
year. Announcements will also be made, typically, at the
end of the troop meetings.
How
long is a Troop meeting?
The meeting itself is 90 minutes long
starting at 7pm. But, activities take place before and
after the meeting. We recommend that the scout arrive at
the church at 6:30pm to work on advancement and to help
set up the fellowship hall for the meeting. After the
meeting, the scouts are expected to help clean the
Fellowship hall before heading home. Other meetings take
place prior to and after the Troop Meeting that may
require the scout to stay an extra couple of minutes.
What are the Troop meetings like?
Troop meetings are boy run events. The
scouts will typically have a subject of interest for the
meeting. They will bring in guest speakers or have
activities that will relate to the subject. A game is
normally played as well to promote comradely between the
scouts.
What if my son cannot make it to a troop meeting because
of homework or other commitments?
We understand that there
are other priorities in life. Any parent knows that
school work should come first. Many times scouts may have
to miss a meeting because of school work, school
activities, sports and religious obligations. We
encourage the scouts to attend meetings as much as
possible. For advancement, we do have an expectation
that the scout will be as active as possible attending
campouts and meetings. This is normally discussed in the
scoutmaster conference held for each rank.
Can
I attend the troop meetings?
You are more than welcome to attend the
meetings. We do ask that if you come, please feel free to
sit at the back of presentations or hangout in the
classroom. This is a boy run troop and many times the
adults may interfere with the learning process or the
adult chit-chat will be come too loud and interfere with
the presentations going on.
Are
there weekly dues?
We do not require weekly dues. Once a
year, we collect dues money from the scout/adult member
for their scout dues. Dues towards the troop are mostly
funded by our Giant Yard sale as our way to support troop
activities. It is a strong expectation that the scout be
available for the yard sale each year (held on the
Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend.)
How
are the boys divided up?
The boys are divided up by patrols. A
patrol consists of 6+ boys that work together as a team to
accomplish tasks. The members of the patrol are
responsible for helping each other achieve rank, working
together on campouts and to become friends. Each patrol
has a mix of older, experienced scouts and some younger,
“green” scouts.
Will all our “Webelos” stay together as a “patrol” when
they become Boy Scouts?
Typically no. We encourage the former
WEBLOS to make new friends. And to keep the patrols
balanced, we will typically split former Den members up.
We will not isolate them, though. We will normally try to
keep two Den mates together in their patrol so they are
not alone.
Do
the boys meet other than Monday nights for patrol (den)
meetings?
We try to encourage patrol meetings beyond
the normally Monday nights. Honestly, they do not happen
frequently, but we would love to see it happen more
often. If they do occur, it is frequently held prior to
the Monday meeting.
Do
I need to buy a full uniform?
Part of our troop policy is for each scout
to wear the complete uniform. This includes: Official
Scout Shirt, troop designated Bolo tie (normally provided
at the crossover), Scout Pants or Shorts (if wearing the
shorts, the official scout socks should be worn as well)
and Dark color shoes. Because purchasing the uniform can
be costly, the troop does have many shirts, shorts, and
pants that scouts can use. These uniforms have been
passed down from older scouts whom have grown out of their
uniforms. We ask that if you could continue the tradition
when your son grows out of his. If you would like
information about where to buy uniform parts, please see
the scoutmaster.
How
soon does he need to have the uniform after joining?
The first couple of meetings will be fine
if he wears “street” clothes, but again parts of the
uniform can be obtained from the troop. The sooner we can
have the scout in uniform the better. See “Do I need to
buy a full uniform?” For further information
What is the advancement like?
This is a very broad question. Scouts
should advance at their own pace. Each scout is
different. In boy scouts, the responsibility is on the
scout to want to advance, not for the parent to push them
along. To complete a requirement, the scout should show
proficiency in the requirement and demonstrate that to the
older scouts. The older scouts (First Class rank or
above) will sign off the requirement when they deem that
the younger scout can demonstrate the knowledge. Adults
are encouraged not to get too involved in the advancement.
Do
the boys earn activity badges/pins?
There some activities where patches can be
earned, such as council wide events (Klondike Derby,
etc.) Advancement through the ranks brings a new badge
for each rank. Once the scout has reached First Class, he
can begin earning Merit Badges. Merit Badges are rank
advancements based off of activities and interests of the
scout.
Am
I going to be forced into doing things for the troop? Is
there a minimum time commitment like in
baseball/football/hockey?
We do not require anyone to participate.
We do strongly request help especially at certain times of
the year. Our annual Giant Yard sale is our main
fundraiser and it takes quite a bit of preparation as well
as manpower to successfully run it. That is our most
desperate need for adult participation.
Does my son have to be a member of this church to be part
of the troop?
There is no requirement from the Boy Scouts of America
that the boy be part of the Charter Organization to which
the troop belongs. We do not require the boys to belong
to the church that troop meets at. The troop does follow
that a scout is reverent and each scout is expected to
have some religious beliefs. We accept people of all
religions into our troop. On that note, we do several
events with the church each year that the scout is
expected to attend. We help clean up the Carson Memorial
park as well as attend Scout Sunday service every year.
It is just a small way we show how much we appreciate the
support the church gives us.
