Troop 352 Welcome Package
Troop 352, Salem VA
Created by Matthew R
Senior Patrol Leader 2007-2008
Welcome
Welcome to Troop 352. We are located in the Catawba district of the Blue Ridge Mountains Council. We meet every Tuesday from 7:15-9pm. We don’t meet the two weeks during Christmas and New Years. Please try and show up to as many meetings as possible and that way you will enjoy the most of your scouting experience. This package will give you the details to help you get started with our troop.
Our Mission
The mission of the troop is to provide the scouting program and lesson in a fun, interactive manner. We strive to expose scouts to leadership and survival skills. Troop 352 follows the scout law and oath and aims to teach scouts these points in hope that they will become better human beings, citizens and leaders beyond their years with us.
Leadership
Let’s start with who’s in charge of our troop. Though we have a scoutmaster and adult assistants our troop is very much solely run by Youth leaders. Besides each leadership position is a short description of the position.
Scoutmaster- Carl Stump, The scoutmaster is the top adult leader who represents the troop to the district and council and ensures that the scouting program is made available to all members of the troop and that they enjoy it to the fullest.
Senior Patrol Leader- the Senior Patrol Leader is the top youth leader he is elected every 6 months. He chooses all the other youth leaders and is responsible for making sure they are doing their jobs especially the Patrol Leaders. He also plans, with the assistance of the Patrol Leaders council, all weekly, monthly, and annual troop activities.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader-, the ASPL helps the Senior Patrol Leader with his activities and mainly makes sure that the other positions are being done such as the Scribe, Quartermaster, Chaplains aide etc.
Patrol Leader- the Patrol Leader is in charge of a small group of 6-8 boys of around the same rank and/or age. The Patrol Leader works with the SPL to make sure that the scouting activities are planned and they meet with him every month on the first Tuesday at 6 to plan the month’s activities and meetings this is known as the patrol leaders’ council meeting. He is responsible for planning the patrol meeting portion of the troop meeting. He also updates his Patrol’s Page on the website
Scribe-the scribe keeps a record of Patrol Leaders’ council meeting and posts information on the troops website about what we did the previous meeting just in case anyone missed.
All five of the above positions meet at the patrol leaders’ council meeting every month at 6pm on the first tuesday.
Quartermaster- keeps track of troop equipment and gets the materials ready for meetings
Chaplains Aide- leads the troop in prayer at meetings and camping trips and makes sure religious holidays are observed in the troop schedule.
Bugler- plays the required music at troop camping trips and when the troop is involved in a flag raising and lowering ceremony.
OA troop representative-; the OA rep. represents the troop at OA meetings and functions and makes sure OA members in the troop are informed of OA events and persuades the involvement of members in the OA. The OA or Order of the Arrow is scouting’s national honor society, every year those eligible are voted on and if elected make it into this special society.
Troop guide- the troop guide helps the new scout patrol with getting started and getting to first class within a year of becoming a scout.
Den chief- the den chief helps the Cub Scout pack with its activities and meetings and often is the lead in getting scouts to crossover.
Instructor- everyone else; the instructor is someone who helps teach a lesson. It may be knots or first aide or anything else. The SPL may call on them to teach a class.
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster- helps the scoutmaster and SPL teach and provide the scouting program and sets the example. Must be at least 16 and an Eagle Scout in order to be chosen by the scoutmaster
Librarian- the librarian keeps track of all troop media including merit badge pamphlets.
Assistant scoutmaster- position open to all adults, they help keep scouts in order and can even teach merit badges
Positions are chosen every 6 months. The SPL is elected by the whole youth portion of the troop. Patrol Leaders are elected by members of their patrol only. We currently have 3 patrols (Eagles, Cobras, and Panthers)
Adults meet once a month on the first Monday at 7pm for the troop committee meeting
Advancement
The Boy Scout program, different from Cub Scouts and Webelos, is designed to give each youth a chance to stand on his own two feet. An Assistant Scoutmaster is assigned to each New Scout Patrol to help them learn Scout skills and to advance towards First Class rank. The Assistant Scoutmaster for a New Scout Patrol is assisted by Troop Guides, Junior Assistant Scoutmasters, and Instructors who are youth leaders in the Troop. Boys are allowed to progress at their own pace. After they earn the Scout rank, they can work on any of the Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class requirements simultaneously. This is referred to as "First Class Emphasis". Scouts should bring their Boy Scout Handbook to every meeting and campout, especially while they are focusing on First Class Emphasis. Rank requirements are signed off in their books only by appropriate Troop leadership. The Boy Scout Handbook is considered the "official record" for rank advancement, so each scout should always take care of his book. Competition among scouts is minimized, apart from friendly patrol competition (games, etc.). If they are actively involved, and regularly attend the Troop meetings and campouts, new scouts should make First Class rank within 12 to 18 months. Our goal is for the boys to have fun—while learning useful, lifelong skills.
Events
The troop does many events every week, month and year. You already know we meet every week but we also plan a monthly activity every month for scouts to be involved in. It can be a camping trip or road clean up. But no matter what it’s always fun!
· Every 3 months we have an Adopt a Highway where we spend about 2 hours on a Saturday morning cleaning up several roads near the scout church. Scouts get a lot of service hours if they come to every one of these.
· Also every 3 months we have a Court of Honor where scouts are presented with their awards such as rank advancement or merit badges they have gained since the last Court of Honor.
· Every year in June we go to Camp Powahtan for summer camp. Scouts going on their first year take part in Brown Sea Island which gives them a chance to get many of the requirements for rank advancement up to first class. After their first year they get the opportunity to take up to 6 merit badges and that also helps a lot with rank advancement. You have to come to summer camp it is by far our best trip.
· Every June we go to Green Hill Park one Saturday to help the US foodservice set up and run their corporate luncheon. The troop gets a large donation and each scout that helps get $17 or they can deny the money and get about 8 hours of service time for rank advancement.
· Every July or August we go to one of our adult leader’s property on Smith Mountain Lake. We go swimming, canoeing, tubing, fishing and we have a lot of fun and it’s a relaxing time.
· And every month we have an activity.
Every activity is a lot of fun and please try to attend as many as possible. Most trips have no cost except a small fee to give to the person(s) buying food. Some trips though do require a camping fee.
Troop rules for outings
1. On any Scout function, no tobacco products, alcohol, or controlled substances will be allowed. The adult leader in charge should be advised of any required scout medication prior to departure.
2. On any Scout function, Scouts must remain in the area designated by adult leaders. Scouts must obtain permission from an adult leader prior to going on a hike or leaving the area.
3. On any Scout function, no hazing (initiation) is allowed.
4. Scouts are responsible for their portion of the food purchased once a commitment is made to attend a camping trip. These costs must be reimbursed to the patrol grubmaster (Scout making the food purchases) unless the patrol leader and grubmaster are notified prior to the food purchase.
5. Fighting, physical or verbal abuse, or the use of profane language will not be tolerated.
6. Camping is an outdoor experience. Personal items such as cell phones, electronic games, radios, portable MP3 or CD players, etc., are not appropriate on campouts or Troop outings. Some items may be permitted during the travel portions on long trips with prior Campmaster approval.
While on any Troop function, Scouts are expected to abide by the Troop rules as well as the Scout Law. Problems are rare, but should disciplinary problems occur that cannot be resolved, the parents will be called to come get their son. The Scout and his parents will also be required to answer for his actions before a quorum of the Troop Committee.
Website
Our troop has a website where weekly information is posted on upcoming activities and meeting schedules. You can go to the website and find a wealth of information on upcoming activities and the next meetings schedule. The website is www.troop352salemva.com
Materials
Scouts will need these materials to get them started
· Boy Scout handbook- has all the rank requirements.
· Class A short sleeved shirt with the necessary patches (council strip, troop numbers, patrol emblem, arrow of light, world crest emblem, and red epaulets aka shoulder loops)
· Scout shorts and/or pants with socks
· Merit badge sash
· Scout belt
· Neckerchief and neckerchief slide (provided by troop)
All materials can be brought at the Scout shop on Valley View Boulevard
Merit Badges
At camporees or at troop meetings scouts will have the opportunity to work on merit badges. For Eagle Scout you need 21 merit badges including 12 from the required list for eagle. Also in order to start work on a merit badge you need to get a blue card from our scoutmaster and find a registered merit badge counselor to work on it with you. Here is a list of the merit badges.
Required for eagle,
Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Cycling, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science, Family Life, First Aid, Hiking, Lifesaving, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Swimming (choose from Swimming, Hiking, or Cycling and choose from Lifesaving and Emergency Preparedness)
ALL THE MERIT BADGES; ANIMAL SCIENCE, FARM MECHANICS,ART, BASKETRY, BUGLING, LEATHERWORK, METALWORK, MUSIC, POTTERY, SCULPTURE, THEATER, WOOD CARVING AMERICAN BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PULP AND PAPER, SALESMANSHIP, TEXTILE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, FORESTRY, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BACKPACKING, CAMPING, COIN COLLECTING, COLLECTIONS, COOKING, DOG CARE, GARDENING, HIKING, HOME REPAIRS, INDIAN LORE, MODEL DESIGN AND BUILDING, PETS, PIONEERING, RADIO, ROWING, STAMP COLLECTING, ARCHAEOLOGY, ASTRONOMY, BIRD STUDY, GEOLOGY, INSECT STUDY, MAMMAL STUDY, NATURE, OCEANOGRAPHY, REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN STUDY, WEATHER CINEMATOGRAPHY, JOURNALISM, PHOTOGRAPHY AMERICAN CULTURES, AMERICAN HERITAGE, CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY, CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION, CITIZENSHIP IN THE WORLD, COMMUNICATIONS, DISABILITIES AWARENESS, FAMILY LIFE, GENEALOGY, PERSONAL FITNESS, PERSONAL MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC SPEAKING, READING, SCHOLARSHIP, TRAFFIC SAFETY, WILDERNESS SURVIVAL CHEMISTRY, COMPUTERS, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONICS, ENERGY, NUCLEAR SCIENCE (formerly Atomic Energy), SPACE EXPLORATION ARCHITECTURE, DENTISTRY, ENGINEERING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, LAW, MEDICINE, SURVEYING, VETERINARY MEDICINE CRIME PREVENTION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FINGERPRINTING, FIRE SAFETY, FIRST AID, LIFESAVING, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY ARCHERY, ATHLETICS, CANOEING, CLIMBING, CYCLING, FISHING, FLY FISHING, GOLF, HORSEMANSHIP, MOTORBOATING, ORIENTEERING, RIFLE SHOOTING, SHOTGUN SHOOTING, SKATING, SMALL-BOAT SAILING, SNOW SPORTS, SPORTS, SWIMMING, WATER SPORTS, WHITEWATERAMERICAN LABOR, AUTO MECHANICS, COMPOSITE MATERIALS, DRAFTING, GRAPHIC ARTS, PAINTING, PLUMBING, WOODWORKING
AVIATION, RAILROADING, TRUCK TRANSPORTATION
Order of the Arrow
The order of the arrow is scouting’s national honor society. Those who are in it best exemplify the scout oath and law, camping and cheerfulness, and service and friendliness to others. Every year anybody under the age of 21 in the troop votes to choose who will be tapped out into the OA. To be eligible you must be at least first class and have at least 15 nights camping including one summer camp. Summer camp only counts once toward your nights camping. Members in the order get to attend special functions and meetings. Within the order there are three honor levels which can be thought of as ranks. The first is ordeal, the second Brotherhood, and the third is Vigil. You will learn more of this organization if you are voted in.
Summer camp
Every year the troop goes to Camp Powhatan for the first week of summer camp. The fee is $200. Camp Powhatan is the largest council run camp in the country. Summer camp is very fun and you can get a lot of things done toward advancement, so make sure to sign up every year.
Popcorn
Every year the Boy Scouts of America has its annual fundraiser by selling popcorn. The troop takes part and depending on how much you make each scout gets an account that he can pay for scouting events with. Most other troops don’t use this method. Say a scout sold $500 then some of that would go to the council and troop and the rest will go to the scout’s individual account. Scouts can be expensive so selling a lot of popcorn is recommended.
The Uniform
Troop 352 encourages and requires the full uniform. From October to March scouts must wear the Class A uniform and from April to September scouts may wear the Class B uniform. Class A uniforms include the tan uniform shirt(short sleeved), green boy scout shorts or pants, the scout belt, and scout socks. The neckerchief and merit badge sash are only needed when the troop has a court of honor. Class B uniform includes a scouting related t-shirt, scout shorts or pants, the scout belt, and scout socks. The troop has a troop shirt talk to Donna Saikey our troop treasurer to get one. Class A may be worn during the period where the troop wears Class B and must be worn at Court of Honors. Also Full Class A must be worn when a scout is doing the scoutmaster conference and board of review for his next rank. Full class A refers to a class A uniform with neckerchief and merit badge sash included. Patches on the uniform must also be placed in the correct area. Also whenever traveling scouts must wear the casual class A uniform.
Get involved
For the best scouting experience you should attend as many meetings and events as possible. Also if you’re an adult sign up to be an adult leader or merit badge counselor. Scouts is only fun if you do your part to get involved. Attached to this package is a Troop Roster so that you may call anyone you may need to talk to. Carl’s home number is 389-3538 call anytime for help, or you can email Carl at scouting_is_fun@verizon.net
I hope you enjoy your time with us and scouting overall.
Nick L. Carl Stump
Senior Patrol Leader Scoutmaster
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