Dennis Garrison, Scoutmaster
sm172@garrisonweb.com

Welcome to Boy Scout Troop 172 and thank you for visiting us. You are visiting one of the most active troops in the North Shore District. We think you and your son will have a great time learning about Scouting and if you take advantage of our annual “Webelos invite campout” in December, we’re positive you will enjoy camping with us and learning about our outstanding camping program. The following information is provided to orient you to our troop and to scouting.

TROOP MEETING TIME & PLACE

Our Troop meets every TUESDAY NIGHT from 7:00pm until 8:30pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 10625 N. FM 620. Four times a year there is a special ceremonial meeting called a Court of Honor where awards are presented. Your whole family is invited to attend the Court of Honor. Merit badge classes are held in conjunction with troop meetings. Patrols within the troop may hold additional merit badge or patrol meetings from time to time. All adults are encouraged to attend the Troop Committee Meetings, which are held during the scout meetings on the third Tuesday of each month.

PURPOSE OF SCOUTING

Any boy who has completed the 5th grade and is at least 10 years old, or is 11 years old, or has earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old , and under 18 years old, is eligible to be a Boy Scout.

The Scouts and Scouters (registered adult volunteers) of Troop 172 believe in, and practice, the following basic principles of Boy Scouting:

· Development of character.
· Development of citizenship.
· Physical fitness development.

Most importantly, we have FUN doing things with other Scouts. The activities are focused on learning and using skills necessary for camping outdoors. However, these skills can be applied to many other activities throughout life. Scouts of Troop 172 develop confidence and self-reliance by making their own decisions and practicing leadership in a democratic forum.

THE PATROL METHOD

The scouts in Troop 172 are divided into patrols (usually consisting of five to eight boys each). These patrols work together as a team. They attend the weekly troop meetings and monthly campouts together. At these events they plan, work, camp, and cook together and share learning experiences with other patrols. This provides opportunities for the scouts to develop teamwork. The established patrols choose their own leader every six months. The first-year scouts select new leaders every three months to allow everyone an opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills. Older scouts (Troop Guides) assist new scouts in the transition into boy scouting for their first 6 months. At the 6 month mark, the new scouts begin to manage themselves. An adult leader (called a Patrol Advisor) is assigned to assist each patrol.

Once a month, the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) meets at the church at 7:00 pm on a Monday night (usually the 2nd Monday after a campout). The PLC consists of several scouts elected, or appointed, to leadership positions. The PLC plans the coming month’s activities and makes some longer term plans and decisions. The PLC may sometimes also meet during a monthly meeting, or on a campout, to alter plans or adjust a schedule to better fit the goals and/or needs of the troop. The scouts are learning how to manage themselves, so they sometimes need to change direction while implementing their program.

MONTHLY CAMPOUTS

In addition to a weeklong summer camp, the troop has a monthly weekend campout. Campouts generally occur on the first full weekend of each month (some exceptions apply). The Patrol Leaders Council plans, and announces in advance, the location and emphasis of the campout. Each scout and/or scouter (registered adult leader) wishing to attend a campout signs-up at the table in the Narthex during the first 30 minutes of the Troop Meetings. You must sign up no later than two Tuesdays before the campout you wish to attend (normally by the last Tuesday of the month immediately preceding the monthly campout). This is required to allow adequate time for the scouts to organize and plan for the campout. Campouts usually cost $15 per scout to attend (some cost a little more because of the particular event or distance involved). A permission slip must be filled out, and along with the payment, turned in to the Camping Coordinator. The troop supplies tents to first year scouts, and provides cooking equipment and lanterns to all patrols. Each scout supplies their own personal eating utensils (plate, cup, knife, fork, spoon), sleeping bag, clothing, personal items etc. A complete packing list can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook.

LOST PINES SUMMER CAMP

Troop 172 is committed to helping all new scouts reach the rank of FIRST CLASS SCOUT within their first year of scouting. (Look in your Scout’s BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK for a list of rank advancement requirements). One excellent way of progressing in scout skills and rank is by attending a weeklong summer camp. In addition to teaching scout skills and crafts, summer camp attendance will meet one of the criteria to be eligible for consideration for Order of the Arrow nomination.

Every year Troop 172 participates in the Lost Pines Summer Camp. This camp is an excellent opportunity for Scouts to earn requirements for rank advancement. First Class emphasis and many Merit Badges classes are offered. It should be a fun time as well as a learning experience for all Scouts. Troop 172 requires all of our first year scouts to attend Lost Pines Summer Camp prior to being eligible to attend any of our other summer camp options. Our troop is usually scheduled to attend the LOST PINES SUMMER CAMP sometime in June or July of each year. The cost is usually around $200.00 per boy. All food is provided at camp. Check-in time is usually between 1pm and 3pm on Sunday. If you want to stay in camp as an adult leader during that week, please contact the Scoutmaster or the Troop Committee Chairman.

The Troop must have deposits for summer camp in by March 1 of every year. If you decide to join our troop, you will need to quickly decide whether or not your Scout will go to summer camp. If your Scout wants to attend sign him up as soon as possible and pay your deposit to the Camping Coordinator.

OTHER SUMMER CAMPS OPTIONS:

Many of our older scouts who have attended Lost Pines Summer Camp for several years are interested in new adventures, therefore our troop plans at least one other summer camping trip (in addition to the Lost Pines Summer Camp) each year. Troop 172 has attended summer camps in Tres Ritos New Mexico; Ben Delatour Scout Camp (Northwest of Ft. Collins, Colorado at Red Feather Lakes); Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch (near Fort Davis, Texas); Camp Cedar Valley (Vilo, Arkansas); Camp Hale (in Oklahoma); and Camp Pioneer (in Arkansas) to name a few.

Another summer camping option we offer is one or more high adventure trips each year. The high adventure trips have a minimum age requirement of 13 or 14 years (depending on the program). Some of our past high adventure trips include 50-mile hikes in both New Mexico and West Texas; a 50 mile canoe trip in Arkansas; Philmont Scout Ranch (near Cimarron, New Mexico); BSA Sea Base Florida; the Chisholm Trails Adventure at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch (Northwest of Fort Worth, Texas), and a Cavalcade (horseback trip) in the Davis mountains of West Texas (at BTSR).

One requirement for any boy in our troop to go on one of these advanced or out-of-state trips is that they have previously attended a weeklong summer camp at either LOST PINES or a weeklong summer camp with another troop. The reason for this is that new boys usually get home sick about the second day at camp; and it is easier on all concerned if at least the first summer camp is closer to home. You may hear people talking about several summer camps at our meetings. Please don’t get confused. Some boys will be going to Lost Pines while others may be going on the other trips. The first year scouts will only attend LOST PINES SUMMER CAMP. Their second year, after attending Lost Pines Summer Camp, scouts are eligible to attend the other summer camp options.

COSTS

Fees and dues for the Scout are paid for in part by the troop and in part by the individual scout. Upon joining a troop, new Scouts pay anywhere from approximately $25.00 to $100.00 depending on the month of registration. This includes items such as the registration fee, accident insurance, and annual dues.

Recharter fees and annual dues are collected each fall (usually in October or November) for the next year.

FUND RAISING

The troop holds several FUND RAISING events during the year so that Scouts can earn money that they can use towards summer camp, monthly campout fees, events, etc. In keeping with the goals of Scouting, we prefer that the fundraisers be Scouting events rather than outright donations from the parents.

ANNUAL PLANNING CONFERENCE

Once a year, around the first weekend in August, the Patrol Leaders Council gets together and plans what they want to do for the upcoming year. The Senior Patrol Leader, his staff, the Scoutmaster, and the Patrol Leaders vote on a plan. The plan is then presented to the Troop Committee for approval. It is updated as required during the year.

By studying the annual plan and/or annual calendar, you can get a good idea of what campouts and activities the boys have planned. To get a copy of the current annual plan contact the Scoutmaster, to see the annual calendar visit the Troop Web Site at http://troop172tx.org/.

ADULT PARTICIPATION IN THE SCOUTING PROGRAM

A Boy Scout troop can not exist without adult participation. Troop 172 is no exception. Troop 172 understands that every family will have different degrees of time and energy they can dedicate toward the scouting program, but also realizes that the parents of our scouts must all share in supporting the program. Troop 172 requires at least one parent, or guardian, of each registered scout to be a registered adult leader; and to either hold, and actively participate in, an adult leader position in the troop or assist with at least two troop events/functions annually. There are many ways that adults can assist: from filling an adult leadership position, to attending campouts or summer camps, to assisting with one of our fundraisers or service projects, to simply helping by providing transportation to troop events.

ADULT LEADER (SCOUTER) POSITIONS

There are many adult leadership positions required to help the scouts effectively run a troop. Adult leaders fall into one of two categories: Scoutmasters or Committee Members. Assistant Scoutmasters (ASMs) provide direct guidance to the scouts at the meetings and on the campouts. The degree of time commitment involved varies by position and your own schedule/availability. NONE OF THE POSITIONS ARE THAT HARD TO LEARN OR DO! Training will be provided.

ASMs assist by performing scoutmaster conferences, conducting skill instruction (rank advancement and merit badges), and reviewing and approving menus and duty rosters at the troop meetings. They also assist by attending some of the campouts and summer camps.

Committee Members (MCs) assist by holding committee positions (such as Committee Chair, advancement chair, treasurer, secretary, camping coordinator, transportation coordinator, service project coordinator, fund raiser coordinator, merit badge program coordinator, etc.), by supporting troop events (fundraisers, service projects, campouts, and summer camps), by teaching merit badges, conducting Board of Reviews (BORs), and by attending campouts and/or summer camps.

MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS

There are 125 merit badges that a scout can earn. At each annual planning meeting, the PLC decides what merit badges they will work on during the year. The annual plan and annual calendar show the merit badge classes being offered each month.

We are always in need of parents who would like to teach a group of scouts about a certain merit badge topic. You may have general knowledge about law, agriculture, bookkeeping, or cooking. If you have never conducted a merit badge class, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TRY ONE. You do not have to be an expert in the topic; the Troop will provide you with a booklet of the requirements and information to be taught, IN DETAIL! Again, training will be provided.

Please become a merit badge counselor and help us teach the scouts about things they want to learn.

ADULTS CAMPING WITH THE TROOP

Yes, adults are allowed to go on the monthly campouts with the troop. The more the merrier. If you want to go camping, grab an Assistant Scoutmaster to discuss how the food purchases and menus are handled by the adults then just sign-up and pay your camping fee to the Campout Coordinator. You will need a bedroll, eating utensils (plate or bowl, cup, fork, spoon, knife), flashlight, and a tent (we can usually provide a few new parents with a tent) at least. The troop has cooking gear, stoves, and lanterns.

For new parents, if you attend a campout, try to keep a distance from your Scout so he can learn what it’s like to deal with his peers in a patrol setting. Talk to the assistant scoutmasters about letting your Scout “FAIL” a little. That’s the way he will learn. Younger siblings are highly discouraged from attending the monthly campouts as they tend to cause a distraction.

Also, all parents wishing to go on the monthly campouts must fill out a BSA application.

At the campsites, the Scouts camp by patrols in areas away from the Scouters. If you have any questions about troop camping, do not hesitate to call any of the Assistant Scoutmasters. A list of the current Assistant Scoutmasters, and their phone numbers, can be found on the Troop 172 Phone List that will be provided to you.

DRIVERS NEEDED FOR CAMPOUTS

Transportation to and from the campouts is usually provided by the adults attending the campouts. However, there may be times when the adults attending do not have enough seats available for the number of scouts attending. We urge you, if you join troop 172, to plan on driving your Scout and/or other scouts or equipment on some of the monthly campouts. You can check the annual plan andor annual calendar to find dates that would be convenient for you.

TROOP RESOURCE SURVEY:

Please help your troop by filling out both sides of a TROOP RESOURCE SURVEY. Indicate the items or areas that you would be able to help, or would consider helping with if you had more information. Our troop is constantly in need of more adult leadership assistance. We realize that parents would be willing to help if they simply knew what to do, so we try to provide as much information as possible through parent meetings, info sheets, e-mail, etc; but don’t hesitate to ask any of our current adult leaders how you can help.

Many times parents feel that they are not needed because the other Scouters in the troop don’t spend much time with them. Please be assured that this is not the case; WE NEED YOU! We are thankful to everyone who helps. Most of the time adult leaders are so busy with the Scouts that they do not have enough time to spend with parents, especially the parents of the new Scouts. Hang in there; we want everyone to feel welcome in our troop; please find an adult leader and ask questions. We THANK YOU for everything.

WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? (Acronyms)

New parents will hear several ACRONYMS being used in conversations during meetings and among the Scouts. Yes, it is confusing if you don’t know what the initials mean. Here are a few:

SPL – Senior Patrol Leader. The other Scouts in the troop elect the SPL. He is usually an older scout who has advanced scout leadership training. He selects an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. They, along with the Patrol Leaders provide the leadership for the troop. He is responsible for running the meetings.

ASPL – Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. This Scout is appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader to assist with all duties when the SPL is not there.

PL – Patrol Leader. When a new boy joins our Troop, he is assigned to a group of four to eight other Scouts his own age. They get together and elect a leader for their group. The group is called a Patrol; the leader is the Patrol Leader. A Scout will receive nearly all of his communication about events from his Patrol Leader. A Patrol Leader attends the PLC and brings back the information to his patrol members. During the first year in the troop, the new scout patrols have elections every three months. All other scout patrols hold elections every six months. If a Scout has any questions about a campout or other activity, he should call his Patrol Leader first.

APL – Assistant Patrol Leader. This is a Scout who is elected by his patrol to assist the Patrol Leader and fill in for him when necessary.

QM – Quarter master(s). Scout(s), appointed by the SPL, who maintain accountability of all Troop equipment.

Scouter – Registered adult volunteer. We encourage all adults to participate in our troop whether or not they choose to officially register.

OA – Order of the Arrow. This is a program where their peers elect Scouts and Scouters who have demonstrated good camping behavior and skills to a brotherhood, which assists in various service projects.

SMC – Scoutmaster Conference. The second to the last step in each rank advancement. Scouts must pass an evaluation of their scout skills and understanding of the scout oath, law, motto, slogan, and the outdoor code by a scoutmaster before earning each rank. When a scout has all requirements for the next rank signed off in his book (except the scoutmaster conference and board of review), and is ready to advance to the next rank he must take the following steps: 1 - He must go to the troop website, download the scoutmaster conference questions for each rank up to the rank he is testing for and study them. 2 – He must then sign up for a scoutmaster conference on the SMC clipboard on the sign-up table in the Narthex at a troop meeting. 3. He will then be called by a scoutmaster to participate in a scoutmaster conference (this may occur the night he signs up, or it may be several meetings later (depending on how many scouts are signed up for SMCs). 4 – He must wear his complete uniform, bring his Boy Scout Handbook, and copies of all questions up to the rank he is testing for to the SMC. Once signed up for a SMC, a scout should bring these items to each meeting so that he is prepared if called for the SMC.

BOR – Board of Review. The last step in each rank advancement. When a Scout has successfully passed a scoutmaster conference he will be called to attend a Board of Review. This will most likely NOT occur the same night he passes his SMC. He should wear his complete uniform and bring his Boy Scout Handbook to the BOR. The board is made up of three Scouters from the Troop Committee. Neither the scoutmaster nor any assistant scoutmaster can sit on a Board of Review. We encourage new parents to sit in and listen to one or two Boards of Review to get a feel for what they are like. However, parents cannot sit on their Scout’s BOR. The BOR is the final step to determine the Scout’s knowledge and readiness for advancement to the next rank. This time is also used for the Scouts to verbalize how they feel about their troop meetings, campouts, leadership etc. Scouters use this information to make improvements in the troop program.

COH – Court of Honor. When a Scout is promoted in rank or finishes a merit badge he is recognized at the next troop meeting. Then, every 3 months, the troop holds a Court of Honor where all the Scouts who have earned any ranks, awards, or merit badges are officially recognized again in front of the troop with all parents present. Refreshments are usually served afterwards.

PLC – Patrol Leaders Council. The PLC is made up of the SPL and his staff (ASPL, Quartermasters, Scribe, Historian, Librarians, Chaplin Aide, Troop Guides, Instructors, etc) and the Patrol Leaders (and Assistant Patrol Leaders) from each patrol. The decisions for the troop are made in a democratic fashion in the PLC. The council is chaired by the SPL. Scouts learn what it means to participate in a representative democracy. The PLC meets with the Scoutmaster once a month, usually on the second Monday following the campout, for planning and discussion of campouts, activities, equipment needs, money needs, any problems that the patrols may be having etc.

SMM – Scoutmaster Meeting. A meeting of the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters immediately following the Patrol Leaders Council meeting. This meeting is held to discuss current, and upcoming, troop situations, problems, goals, and events; and determine how to best assist the boys in implementing the program.

TCM – Troop Committee Meeting. The troop adults attend this meeting, which is held once a month. We discuss raising and spending money, acquisition of troop equipment, any problems that the boys are experiencing, up-coming campouts, etc.

APC – Annual Planning Conference. This is an annual event every August where the current PLC

FOS (Pacesetter) – Friends of Scouting. Volunteer scouting organization which solicits donations for general scouting activities on a district level.