Welcome to Troop 150
Boy Scouting is different from Cub scouting. Your sons will grow in many ways. They will become more self-reliant, practice teamwork and develop a deeper understanding and respect for God and country. Activities will have meaning, no more gluing macaroni on toilet paper tubes. Now they will learn how to use knives, build fires, hike, swim, pitch a tent, cook their own food, shoot guns & arrows and do it all safely with respect for the environment. They will be introduced to a variety of other activities that, in some cases, will lead to a lifetime career path. They will grow to be men and good citizens in the community. Scouting is unique, everyone plays. There are no bench warmers or second stringers in Scouting. If you are in Scouting you are in Scouting. There are no practices, if you are there you are involved and learning. Later on, they will remember “I caught, cleaned and cooked my own fish” more vividly than “I was on a team that won the sixth grade championship.”
The purpose of Scouting is to help turn boys into self-reliant leaders with a sense of purpose toward the community. Scouting is boy-run, the boys make the plans and carry them out. Adults guide the boys in the direction and implementation of these plans. The Troop is divided into patrols, normally among peer groups, each with a leader and an assistant. Together they plan outings, divide responsibilities and assist each other to achieve success. The patrols are directed by the Senior Patrol Leader or SPL for short. He is an experienced older Scout who co-ordinates with the Patrol Leaders to assure the overall success of the outing.
The first summer after the transition from Cubs to Boy Scouts, the boys will attend their first summer camp at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. For many of them, it will be their first extended stay away from home. Initially, this will be more of a challenge to some than to others. They will bond there and learn to work together with their peers. Ultimately they will see it as one of the best experiences of their lifetime. The leaders will help the boys with this transition. Ask any Scout what their favorite time in Scouting was and almost universally they will say “summer camp.” At camp they will get accelerated instruction on Scouting skills, necessary for rank advancement, and earn their first merit badges. They are kept busy, to minimize homesickness, and they learn skills to help them become more self-reliant. Above all, the leaders see to it that they have fun! Scouting is fun with a purpose.
To help new parents understand Scouting and help their boys transition from Cubs, the following information has been compiled to help the process. If you have any questions not covered here, feel free to contact a Troop leader for help.
Questions
Costs?
Our Troop treasurer adds charges to the “money account” on TroopTrack for each boy and deducts balances they may have in their camping account from fund raising. Read More
Getting Started?
Our goal is to advance the first-year boys to Scout rank, before camp or soon after. Tenderfoot should be achievable by the end of summer after camp. With that in mind, they should sign up as soon as possible after the Arrow of Light so that they’re quickly credited with any work they do. Read More
How to Help?
It is difficult for us to keep your son’s interest at peak level once he leaves the Scout meeting. It is here that we need the most help and would like your support by taking an active interest in your son’s position in Scouting. Read More
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