GENERAL ORIENTATION GUIDE and EQUIPMENT LIST

TROOP 387

GENERAL ORIENTATION GUIDE And EQUIPMENT LIST

Your First Task in our Troop:

Troop Website

”.

To access the troop website with your own user ID and password, send your e-mail address(es)

The Troop Committee Secretary (M’Liss Mather) at

How The Website Works:

You will immediately be assigned a user name and password.
You’ will be assigned a password, but you can change it by going to the Home Page under “My . . . . Account”
If you forget your user name or password, contact the troop secretary, and she will send you your information.
If your email or phone number changes, please update on “My . . . Account”
Under “My . . . . Account” – please complete the boxes for “Text Cell” and “Text Cell Provider.” This will allow us to send out last-minute bulletins or announcements – very brief messages, less than 160 characters, such as when a meeting is cancelled, or moved, or a last minute reminder.

Once you have a user name and password, you can:

Access the entire website, not just the portion restricted to visitors
Check your attendance records and scout dollar accounts.
Find the name and contact information on merit badge counselors
Remember, the privacy of our troop families is our top priority. Most of our website is not accessible to visitors.

FREQUENT E-MAIL BLASTS: Once your name and e-mail address are in the system, you will receive all troop e-mail blasts. These go out frequently, and keep all scouts and parents informed of important announcements, calendar changes, reminders, new activity sheets, and much more.

BULLETINS & MEETING AGENDA: Our text-mail blasts, in addition to email blasts inform you of last minute changes. You can also check the homepage before each meeting for bulletins. Please check the calendar before each meeting for the agenda of the troop meeting.

Troop 387

Paperwork and fees when joining Troop 387:

Troop Dues and BSA Dues:

Scouts transferringfrom another Pack or Troop:

BSA Fee for transferring from one unit to another: $1

Troop 387 Dues –if joining or re-chartering in November/December, dues are $24/year.

Scouting joining in April pay $18 prorated dues for the first year.

Scouts joining for the first time

BSA fee, $25/year, or pro-rated if joining in months other than November/December

Troop 387 Dues (pays for merit badges, rank badges) - $24/year

Application Form:
Scouts: Same form is used for transferring scouts and newly joining scouts – Get a Youth Application form.

Adults: Same form is used for transferring adults and newly joining adults – get a Leader Application form.

Scouts:

Your form should be accompanied by:

Your BSA dues and your troop dues.

Adults:

Your form should be accompanied by:

Your troop dues
Your Youth Protection Training Certificate, which you can download and print when you take the 25-minute training course, at your convenience, on the BSA website.

Scouts:

Complete and turn in a BSA Health Form. Forms must be updated and signed every year by parents/guardians, and by a healthcare provider. This is needed before any scout goes on an overnight event.

Make checks payable to Troop 387.

Turn in forms and payments to one of these people:

Jane Morris or Susan Ekart, Co-Treasurers

Richard Nicholas, Advancement Chairman

M’Liss Mather, Troop Committee Secretary

Tish Kashdan, Troop Committee Chairman

Troop 387

The First Three Months

Troop Goals for new scouts in the First Three Months:

To provide information that help scouts make a successful transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts
To provide a friendly and helpful atmosphere where new scouts feel at home in the troop, and learn new skills from older scouts
To provide a variety of activities to help active scouts reach Tenderfoot rank prior to Summer Camp
To encourage attendance at our troop’s Summer Camp Week at Boy Scout Camp Davy Crockett

Troop Goals for scouts for the First Year:

To provide a variety of activities that enable active scouts to achieve First Class rank after 1 year. A scout who reaches First Class rank within the first 12-18 months is statistically more likely to stay in scouting.
To encourage scouts to take responsibility for their own advancement .

Basic Knowledge and Vocabulary about Boy Scouts:

Boy Scouts is fun with a purpose. The purpose to help boys learn character development, leadership skills, and civic responsibility.
TWO noticeable differences between Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts: (1) the scout, not his parents, should take responsibility for his advancement, including getting requirements signed off, setting up appointments (by phone or email) for a Scoutmaster Conference, or Merit Badge Counselors. (2) Each scout advances at his own pace, depending on his level of participation and motivation.
Attendance is not mandatory. Scouts are not required or penalized for not attending meetings or activities; many scouts have schedule conflicts with school, sports, band, church, homework, etc. Few scouts attend every activity; however, an active scout will advance in rank much more quickly than an inactive scout.
The seven ranks of Boy Scouts are: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life Eagle. Requirements for the first 4 ranks can be worked on concurrently.
The first rank - “Scout” - requires only basic knowledge and a Scoutmaster Conference
All other ranks require two final steps: (1) Scoutmaster Conference AND (2) a Board of Review
A Board of Review (BOR) is comprised of 3 adult leaders who meet with a scout for a 30-minute conversation about his scouting experience and rank, and decide whether to approve his rank advancement.
The priority for new scouts should be rank advancement through the first four ranks, and NOT earning Merit Badges. However, new scouts are permitted to sign up to work on one or two individual Merit Badges at a time, if they choose. Before beginning a Merit Badge, a scout should first discuss his choice(s) with the Advancement Chairman (Jean Reece)

A Scout’s Plan for First Three Months Should Include These Four Steps:

Step 1: Complete membership documents – this is a priority and should be completed within the first 2-3 weeks:

Website – sign up by email with the troop secretary
Turn in Troop Dues, BSA dues, and medical form

Step 2: Earn “Scout” rank: – the first rank – see the worksheet under “New Scouts” on the website Resource page. The scout and parents MUST both complete requirements for this rank.

Step 3: Earn Tenderfoot, or complete as much as possible before summer camp.

Bring the scout handbook to all meetings and activities so that requirements can be signed off as they are completed.
Attend at least 5 troop activities (the troop meetings don’t count)
Scouts can work on requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class rank simultaneously.
Once all requirements are completed for each rank, the scout (not the parent), obtains a history sheet from the Advancement Chairman, and then sets up appointment with Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference
After his Scoutmaster Conference, the Scout informs the Advancement Chairmanthat he is ready for a BOR
The Advancement Chairman sets up a date for the Board of Review with 3 adult leaders, during a troop meeting
If the Board of Review approves, then the Scout receives his Tenderfoot rank patch at the end of the Troop Meeting

Step 4: Sign up for Summer Camp

WHEN: Sign ups occur during the troop meetings in April or May.
IMPORTANCE of Summer Camp. This is perhaps the most important activity of scout year, especially for new scouts. Participation almost assures an extra rank advancement within first year of scouting, but even more importantly, it helps a scout learn everyone’s name, make new friends, and feel at home within the troop
HALF-DAY CLASS FOR YOUNGER SCOUTS: Each new scout will be assigned to a class at camp, depending on his current rank status; Scouts who are well on their way to finishing Tenderfoot rank will be assigned to a Class for scouts focusing on Second Class rank. A final adjustment on each scout’s level advancement and the appropriate class will be made upon arrival at camp.
TWO MERIT BADGE CLASSES: Scouts will also sign up either for a “Learn to Swim” class or a Swimming Merit Badge class, depending on their swimming ability; swimming to be a basic skill needed to complete rank advancement and also needed as a pre-requisite for all water-related merit badges; Scouts can also choose a second Merit Badge class at camp from a list which will be posted on the website
FEE: Camp fee changes from year to year, but is usually around $225. A few merit badge classes require extra fees for supplies; make check out to Troop 387; Expo Tickets sales of 200 coupons ($400 in sales) earn free summer camp; Partial scholarship/campership funds may be available – interested parents should check with Tish Kashdan
WHAT IF A SCOUT CAN”T ATTEND DURING TROOP 387’s CAMP WEEK? Please encourage the scout to consider going to camp with a scout friend from another troop. We can help work this out with another troop.

Summer Camp Week at Camp Davy Crockett,

-Camp is Sunday mid-morning through Saturday morning, at Camp Davy Crockett near Bulls Gap, TN

-Troop 387 usually attends the week following the 4th of July. Scouts sign up in April or May, and pay a deposit upon registering for camp and the remainder of the fee in June.

-Parents are needed to help staff our campsite with a ratio of at least 1 adult to every 10 scouts, or about 4 adults on site at all times. Parents can sign up for one or more days and/or nights, or the entire week.

-Camping is in 2-man platform tents with cots.

-Scouts choose a buddy with whom to share a tent; otherwise, the Senior Patrol Leader will make a tentmate assignment for them.

-Scouts spend 5-6 hours per day Mon-Thurs in their classes; Friday is a day for make-up sessions and for the exciting inter-troop competitions known as the Davy Crockett Challenge

-All scouts enjoy a 2-hour break during the lunch hour each day, which often includes a challenge activity with another troop, such as beach volleyball or ultimate frisbee.

-There is an optional morning Polar Bear Swim and an afternoon Free Swim in the camp pool

-Three meals/day are provided by the camp staff in the dining hall; snacks are provided at night by the troop

-Evening activities include a camp-wide Opening Campfire Program on Sunday night and a Closing Campfire on Friday night; other evenings include campfires at our own troop campsite.

-A link for an equipment list can be found in the orientation packet for new scouts.

Troop 387

Uniform and Dress Code

Two Types of Uniforms:

Scout Uniform: Also known as “Class A.”

Includes:

Scout shirt (khaki colored) with appropriate patches (council patch, troop number patch, patrol patch, rank patch)
Green epaulets (worn on the shoulder area of the scout shirt)
Official scout pants with zip-off shorts .
No neckerchiefs are required in Troop 387
Scout merit badge sash; this displays merit badges and is worn at formal scout occasions such as Courts of Honor, Scout Sunday, and Boards of Review. Not necessary to purchase this until you have merit badges to sew on it. Activity patches can be sewn on the back.

When to wear:

Troop meetings (unless otherwise indicated)
Troop Courts of Honor (Our quarterly awards program)
Scout Sunday
Scout Boards of Review (when a scout meets with 3 adults for rank advancement)
Traveling to and from outings such as camping trips (unless otherwise indicated)
Summer Camp: Evening Flag Ceremony and dinner

Activity Uniform: also known as “Class B.”

Includes:

T-shirt or sweatshirt with some kind of Scouting logo or design
Jeans or scout shorts or pants

When to Wear:

Summer Camp, all activities except Dinnertime Flag Ceremony
When participating in rugged activities, and other times, as announced

When and How to Obtain a Uniform:

WHEN:

Scouts will need a Class “A” uniform with the shirt and shorts by Summer Camp in July; until summer camp, new scouts are allowed to wear a scout t-shirt or Cub Scout shirt to the meetings and activities.

HOW:

1.New uniforms can be purchased at the Council Office, located at I-181 and the Boone’s Creek exit

2.Used uniforms can be loaned or purchased, if available, from the scout closet or from older scouts who have outgrown uniforms. Please see the scoutmaster or troop committee chairman for these options.

3.Scouts and parents who want to check on scholarship funds for uniforms should see the scoutmaster or troop committee chairman.

4.Scout personal savings accounts: Scouts can earn money for uniforms and equipment through our three yearly fundraisers: (1) Spaghetti Lunch fundraiser in February; (2) Scout Expo ticket sales in March, (3)Scout popcorn ticket sales in November

Troop 387

Equipment

When, Where, & How To Borrow Equipment

Do not feel pressured to buy camping equipment for a new scout. Many scout families in our troop have extra tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks. Check with the scoutmaster or troop committee chairman or another adult leader before attending an outing and we will help you find equipment that you can borrow.

Guidelines for Purchasing Equipment

When you are ready to purchase equipment here are some broad guidelines. Some items are affected by a scout’s rapidly growing size, and it’s best to delay those purchases when possible, and to borrow equipment instead. Camping equipment can make great birthday and Christmas gifts. The scout can also earn money from our three scout fundraiser to help buy equipment and uniforms.

Remember: Put YOUR NAME on every item!!

1.Raingear: Needed on EVERY outdoor activity. A rainsuit is preferred over a poncho. A poncho is OK for summer camp and beginning “truck-in” campouts. However, a lightweight rain suit with a hooded top and pants, is needed for backpacking, and is the best and most versatile option. The rain jacket can be used as a windbreaker in cold weather.

2.Sleeping bag: A lightweight sleeping bag also designed for backpacking, which is suitable for temperatures as low as 20 degrees, at a minimum. Other items can increase the warmth in a sleeping bag when camping in sub-20-degree weather, such as a small zip-up lightweight fleece sleeping sack inside the sleeping bag; (2) Wear long underwear, wool socks, and even a lightweight toboggan; (3) Therma-rest pad underneath the sleeping bag.

3.Stuff sack for the sleeping bag. Most sleeping bags come with a stuff sack; make sure you get one.

4.Sleeping pad: a self-inflating, lightweight pad such as those made by Therma-rest, are suitable for all types of camping, even backpacking. An egg-crate type pad also works on a “truck-in campout,” but is too bulky for backpacking. Pad needs to be long enough for the scout’s head and trunk.

5.Tent: A 2-man lightweight backpacking tent is the best option. Larger tents are OK on “truck-in” campouts. The tent needs to have a rain fly. All seams should be covered with a waterproofing material before taking on a campout. Waterproofing needs to be reapplied periodically. A ground cloth for the tent is also needed; plastic sheeting or a plastic tarp work well.

6.Backpack: A scout who is still growing will find an external frame backpack the most versatile for a changing body size. Older scouts can go ahead and purchase an internal-frame backpack. You should go to a camping supply store to be fitted properly. Mahoney’s in Johnson City offers a discount to scouts.

7.Backpack cover: Backpacks require a rain covering, too.

8.Flashlight: A small lightweight flashlight will be the most versatile for backpacking trips.

9.Water bottles: These are needed on all camping trips and even on day hikes. Used one-liter plastic Gatorade bottles with lids work very well. Two bottles are needed for day hikes & backpacking trips.

10.Mess Kit: Scouts can get by nicely with only a cup, a plate or bowl, and a spoon or fork. Re-used disposable, microwaveable serving dishes work well (like the kind Stouffer’s food comes in).

11.Long underwear: DO NOT BUY 100% cotton as it holds too much perspiration. The best option is a synthetic fabric, such as 100% polypropylene—it wicks away all perspiration and dries very quickly.

12.Socks: The most versatile sock combination is a light polypropylene sock liner covered with a heavier poly/wool sock. Some newer socks have both of the above in a combination design (“smartwool”).