Scout Info
Important Links
Scout Shop: https://www.longhorncouncil.org/general-info/find-a-shop/
Discounted Camping Gear: https://www.hikerdirect.com/hd/program_details
A Bit About Scouts BSA Troop 11
Troop 11 was started in September of 2002. We currently have ~50 youth registered with our troop. Troop 11 strives to be a “boy lead” troop with weekly meetings and planned activities at least once a month that the youth members vote on. We participate in summer camp programs within The Longhorn Council and sometimes out of state. Troop 11 has scheduled High Adventure Summer Camp and activities scheduled for the older, more experienced scouts. Troop 11 Youth Leadership is elected every six months and Introduction to Youth Leadership Training is provided after each election. Participation in the Twin Arrows National Youth Leadership Training Program is also strongly encouraged for those scouts who are eligible. We have had scouts also staff these six day training courses as well!
In addition to Youth being trained in Leadership, the majority of our Adult Leadership are “Woodbadge” trained. This is the BSA Adult Leadership Training Program. We can also boast that a fair amount of our adult leadership have also staffed these courses.
Troop 11 is in Sante Fe District which is part of Longhorn Council. The Council Website is: www.longhorncouncil.org You will find an endless amount of information on this website that will explain the various council activities including summer camp programs, Twin Arrows, high adventure, locations of area facilities, and much, much more.
Troop 11 Uniform Policy
It is required for the youth members to wear a Field Uniform Shirt, Neckerchief and Slide, and a Scout Belt. It is necessary to also have a Scout Handbook. This one book is the only book your scout will need through Eagle Scout Rank. A Troop 11 T-Shirt is also a nice addition for informal activities, weekend camp outs, and summer camp.
Youth Membership with the Troop
A Youth Membership form must be completed and turned in for all new scouts and scouts transferring from a Pack.
Adult Membership with the Troop
An Adult Membership form must be completed and turned in (whether new or transferring) with a completed copy of Youth Protection Training. Your applications will then be looked over, approved, and sent in. A background check is completed for every adult application processed.
YPT- Youth Protection Training
BSA has a very strong program in place to protect our youth. We require all leaders and merit badge counselors be YPT trained and to renew every year or two. You will hear phrases like “two deep leadership” and “no one on one contact”. This is all part of the YPT program in place with Troop 11 and Boy Scouting.
Requirements to for Adults to Participate
Troop 11 requires all adults who participate in weekend and whole week activities to be an active member of the troop. That means there must be a current membership application with current YPT training on file before you to attend.
Medical Forms
It is BSA policy for every person attending (youth and adult) to have on file with the Troop current medical forms. They must also be filled out every year. Part A & B forms are needed for weekend events and Part C is needed for anything longer than 72 hours. Please note: Part C is a physical that must be completed by a physician and Form B2 needs to be signed by a physician if medications are to be taken while at the activity.
filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_AB.pdf
Scout Account
Each Scout has their own account where dues and activity fees as well as payments are being tracked.
Monthly Dues
The monthly dues to the troop are $10 each month. The dues are used to pay for training supplies, patches, camping equipment, fees and anything the committee votes on as a necessary expense for running a successful Boy Scout troop.
Weekend Camp Out Fees
The regular weekend camping fee is $15 per scout and $20 per adult leader. This covers food and some expendables used while camping. Sometimes we have a weekend that has additional fees added. An example would be canoeing, kayaking, caving or a council event. All fees must be paid in advance of the activity!
Cancellation Policy
Typically camping fees are collected at the meeting before the weekend activity. If you cancel by Wednesday evening before the event, you can get a credit on your account for the $15 fee. This allows time for the Scoutmaster to communicate to the Senior Patrol Leader and the scouts in charge of purchasing groceries for the camping trip to make the necessary changes in the amount of food being purchased. Each patrol has a budget they have to stick to based on the number of scouts in their patrol.
Cancellation Policy with Per Person Reservations Made- If the troop has to pay in advance for a special activity like Longhorn Caverns or a Council event or Kayaking, and that payment has already been made, we cannot issue a refund. Your option at that point would be to find someone to take your place and then we could give you credit on your account.
Fundraising
A Scout is Thrifty- There are many benefits to fundraising, the most obvious is raising money for the troop. But there are other benefits as well, like teaching the scout monetary responsibility and accountability, interaction with other people, and salesmanship to name a few. The Troop has several fundraisers set up throughout the year. They of course are voluntary. But they do benefit the troop directly, and sometimes the scout directly, by lowering the cost of an activity for participants. See Fundraising Page for active fundraising opportunities.
Boy Scout Program
The Scouting program has three aims or purposes that shape the program: character development, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness. What makes Boy Scouting unique is the eight methods it uses to achieve those aims. Those eight methods define Boy Scouting and show how it is different from other programs.
Ideals
The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Boy Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve.
Patrol Method- Patrols are small groups of Scouts who camp together, cook together, play together, and learn together. Patrols are where Scouts learn citizenship at the most basic level. They also take on responsibilities within the patrol, and learn teamwork and leadership. Patrols elect their own leaders, and through these patrol leaders, Scouts have a voice in deciding what activities the troop will put on its calendar. Patrols are one component of what we call youth-run or youth-led troop.
Outdoor Programs
Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. We camp. We hike. We get dirty. Our program is largely built around outdoor activities.
Advancement
Boy Scouting has a system of rank in which Scouts learn progressively more difficult skills and take on progressively greater responsibilities. The highest of these ranks is Eagle Scout. Becoming an Eagle Scout is an important achievement that your son can be proud of his entire life. But turning out Eagle Scouts is not what the Boy Scouting program is all about. Advancement is probably the most visible of the Boy Scouting methods, and the easiest to understand, but it is only one of the eight methods. We strongly encourage advancement, but we never force it- advancement is the Scout’s choice, and he sets his own pace. We don’t do “lock-step” advancement. And many great Scouts, and great men, never became Eagle Scouts.
Associations With Adults
Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the troop. In many cases, a Scoutmaster, merit badge counselor or troop parent, who are willing to listen to the boys, encourage them and take sincere interest in them, can make a profound difference in their lives. Adult association is also part of what we call a youth-led troop. Adults understand that their role is to create a safe place where boys can learn, grow, explore, play and take on responsibilities- and fail, get up and try again. If you were involved with Cub Scouting, this is a very different role that can take some time getting used to.
Personal Growth
As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is as successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn.
Leadership Development
The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to lead in some way, whether as part of a team, as the leader of his patrol, or as the senior patrol leader of the troop. Leadership development is another component of the youth-led troop.
Uniform
Like most sports teams, Boy Scouts wear a uniform. And like most sports teams, we expect our scouts to wear the uniform when they are doing Scouting and to wear it properly. It is a symbol of who we are and what we do.
Adults Role
Our role as adults is to make sure that the activities happen and that the achievements take place. Boy Scouting is different. In Scouting, the role of the boys is to have fun activities and generate achievements. The role of the adults is not the destination, but the journey. That is - our responsibility as adults is to promote the “process” of Scouting. What is important for us is:
- Not the food on the campout, but that the boys cooked it.
- Not a sharp-looking flag ceremony, but that the boys put it together.
- Not who would make the best patrol leader, but that the boys elect one.
- Not that Johnny learns first aid, but that Billy teaches him.
- Not that we cover everything on the meeting agenda, but that the senior patrol leader is in charge.
Our goal is not to get things done, but to create a safe and healthy environment with the training and resources that the Scouts need, and then let them do it. It can be a very messy business and painful to watch. Meetings where the troop leaders are in charge can be very chaotic. And it can be very tempting for adults to jump in and sort things out because that is what adults do. But we have to remember that this is the process of Scouting. That is how they learn- even from disorganization and failure. We just have to remember that our business as adults is not the same as the business of the boys. It is up to the scouts to get things done. It is up to us to make sure they have what they need, but (within the bounds of health and safety) not what they do with it.
You’ve probably heard the following list before. It is the Boy Scout Law. If you are asking yourself, why should we stay with Boy Scouts? Think about what you’d like your son to be when he grows up- and these 12 words:
- Trustworthy
- Loyal
- Helpful
- Friendly
- Courteous
- Kind
- Obedient
- Cheerful
- Thrifty
- Brave
- Clean
- Reverent
Boy Scouting is about the journey, not the destination.
Definition of Scouting Phrases
PLC- Patrol Leaders Council
Monthly meeting for all Youth in a Leadership position to plan upcoming meetings, plan future activities and critique previous activities. It is an open meeting, so all scouts are invited but only leadership youth need to attend.
COH- Court of Honor
A Special Evening held every three months to recognize achievements in rank advancements and completed merit badges. This is held in the Parish Hall. Rank Advancement- There are different levels of rank for scouts starting with Scouter through Eagle Scout. Each Rank Advancement has a list of requirements that need to be signed off by a scout with a First Class rank and above, or an Adult Leader who is not their parent. All of the requirements and information needed are in their scout Handbook.
Merit Badges
There are two kinds of merit badges, Eagle Required and Regular Merit Badges. Each merit badge has its own set of requirements specific to that merit badge. There are merit badge books available at the scout store for purchase or they may be checked out through the troop's elected Librarian. Examples would be First Aid, Camping, Photography, Engineering, Sailing, Pioneering……. The choices are endless!
Scoutmaster Conference
Required for each rank advancement. It is an interview with the Scoutmaster or an Assistant to review the requirements for that specific rank. The Scout must request one week in advance.
Board of Review
Required for each rank advancement after a Scoutmaster Conference is successfully completed. It is an interview with three or more Committee Members asking the scout questions about his scouting experience, skills, future plans and how the scout can be of value to the troop. The Scout must contact Holly Gannaway 1 week in advance.