Orientation Material and Expectations
New Scout and Parent Orientation Information
All new scouts and their families should review the material below:
Expectations
As members of the Troop - both scouts and parents - we have certain expectations for each other. These expectations have to do with information, scout participation, and parent participation.
No. 1. Keep Yourself Informed
For the scouts and parents, we expect you to keep yourself informed about troop meetings, activities, signup deadlines, and other matters. For this purpose, we use:
Our website with calendars, announcements, and so much more
Weekly postings as announcements to the website with a reminder by email
Emails sent to the entire troop using themountaintroop@googlegroups.com
Announcements during the closing of every troop meeting
The Phone Tree for reminders and emergencies
Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) for top down dissemination of information using the patrol structure
Please take just 10 minutes every week - Sunday evening works best for most - to inform yourself about what is happening in our Troop. Parents, come in at the end of meetings to join.
No. 2. Scouts Need to Participate
In order for you to have a meaningful scout experience and to advance in rank. Here are our expectations:
6 troop camping trips/outings each year
1 summer camp every year
80% of all troop meetings
1 local Merit Badge College each year
Half of all community service projects (including Eagle Projects)
One of either Philmont Scout Ranch, Sea Base, or Boundary Waters sometime during your scouting career
No. 3. Parent Participation
With a scout in the Troop, it is encouraged to have one or both parents to participate in the Troop. It is the parents, after all, that keep this Troop running. There are many many many ways to volunteer your time and energies, some are critical positions that we need have filled, such as:
Scoutmaster
Assistant Scoutmasters
Committee Member
HALO (Head Adult Leader Organizer) for an activity
or, attending a Committee Meeting or the annual planning meeting, run one of the troop elections, and the list goes on. Just ask your Committee Chairman.
This is not the Scoutmaster's Troop. It is not the Committee's Troop. It is YOUR Troop. Please don't just show up. Get involved. Get trained. Take an active role. Your scout will be better off, you will be better off, and our Troop will continue to be great. Thank you.
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life,
that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson