FAQ

Question

T414 Response

How many registered Scouts are there?

As of Feb 2011 we have 24 scouts registered. This is a very active time around the troop and this number is changing weekly because of new scouts.

How many Scouts are active?

As with most Boy Scout troops we have about half of the youth active on a weekly basis. The other scouts are older and have a lot of other weekly commitments but are still working towards their Eagle rank.

How many registered adults?

As of Feb 2011 we have 18 registered adults with the troop.

How many are active?

All of our adults are extremely active in all of Boy Scouting not just at the troop level. We have one that is on the First Colony District Committee of the Colonial Virginia Council Boy Scouts of America, others in Order of the Arrow, and yet others act as volunteers throughout the year.

What is the age distribution within the troop?

 Boy Scouting is for young men between the ages of 10 and up to age 18. Most of our youth are at the lower end of that scale but we have some still working towards their Eagle up to age 16 and some that have earned their Eagle up to age 18.

Question

T414 Response

When, where and how often?

We hold troop meetings every Monday from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M (except when WJCC Schools are out, but during summer vacation). Meetings are at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 7479 Richmond Road, Norge, VA. Uniforms are required at all troop meetings (class "B" in summer).

What is done at the meetings?

We work on scout skills at almost all troop meetings. It is our goal to get all youth the rank of 1st Class by the end of their first year with the troop. We work on this advancement at our monthly campouts. We also hold Scoutmaster Conferences and Boards of Review during our weekly meetings as necessary. We also work on merit badges during winter months.

What involvement is expected of the parent?

Your son will not have a chance to succeed at anything in his life without the support and guidance of his parents. Some feel this support is coming to all meetings and not missing an activity. Some feel this support is just getting him to meetings and campouts. We appreciate those that attend almost everything with their boys but understand that with some they have other youth and getting them to the meetings is about all they can do. We would like all parents to attend the Courts of Honor held once a quarter usually the third Monday of March, June, September, and December.

How does the troop communicate with the families?

Our primary method of communication is via the weekly newsletter e-mailed to adults. We also have this website (www.bsatroop414.com). We make use of e-mail and if necessary (for speed) we will make phone calls.

How do the families communicate with the troop?

We believe highly in communication. We publicize the phone numbers, e-mail addresses of all Adult Leaders and Troop Committee Members and encourage you to communicate any questions or concerns you have. You are always welcome to attend the weekly Troop Meetings or monthly Committee Meetings.

Who makes the decisions?

A Boy Scout Troop is run by the youth leaders. These youth leaders make up what is called a Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) and is headed by the Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and includes each patrol leader, junior assistant scoutmaster, quartermaster, and scribe. The PLC convenes once a month for a planning meeting where they decide what to do during the troop meetings and where to go and what to do at the campouts.

How often and where?

If you take the word scouting and drop the "sc" you have outing. Camping is a major part and one of the most popular parts of Boy Scouts. Troop 414 has campouts every month during the school year at camping facilities all around eastern Virginia. Again these decisions are made by the youth and are subject to change. We also attend a week at Boy Scout Summer Camp at one of many BSA Scout Reservations in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and West Virginia. For 2011, Troop 414 will attend Shenandoah Area Council Scout Reservation (Rock Enon) in Northern Virginia, July 3rd to 9th. Also review our high adventure section below for some of the best experiences in your life.

Is this done through individual troop planning and/or as participation at a district event?

The short answer is all of the above. Remember that everything is planned by the current PLC. Now we give the PLC some guidance and encourage them to attend certain council and district events along the way. We also suggest some camping facilities and opportunities around that they may not be aware of.

How are the Scouts transported?

We use personal vehicles to transport Scouts and adults to each activity. Our troop owns a custom equipment trailer which will be pulled by one of the personal vehicles.

What equipment is provided?

The troop has an inventory of camping equipment that is used each outing. We provide all tents, stoves and cooking items, axes and saws, ropes, lanterns and anything else needed by the general troop. The youth only need to bring their sleeping bag, clothes and something to eat with.

What parent participation is expected?

We usually have several parents attend our campouts. We encourage all to do so at some point but it's not required. The biggest thing is make sure your boy comes to the campouts because this is where we work on advancement.

Does the troop attend National High Adventure camps?

Absolutely! Most of the BSA Scout Reservations have high adventure camps. Scouts can also attend Philmont, the pinnacle of all scouting high adventures, located in the rocky mountains of northern New Mexico; Seabase, located in the beautiful Florida Keys where we explore the world underneath; Northern Tier, wilderness canoeing in Minnesota & Canada; National Jamboree, we join 40,000 other scouts in West Virginia. For 2011, six Scouts & three Adults will attend BSA Northern Tier High Adventure Camp in Canada, July 3rd to 8th.

How is participation funded?

Some pay for this entirely with the funds they have earned through popcorn sales and others are mostly paid by their parents.

Is there a plan to help the Scout earn the requirements for the lower ranks?

As mentioned above it is our goal to get all youth the rank of 1st Class by the end of their first year with the troop. All adult advisors of the troop take this very seriously and help in many ways.

Is this done at meetings, extra meetings, campouts etc.?

We work on advancement up to 1st class at our weekly meetings and monthly campouts. We also hold Scoutmaster Conferences and Boards of Review as necessary during our weekly meetings.

Is there a plan to help the Scout obtain merit badges for the upper ranks?

We work on merit badges at Troop Meetings for one to two months during the year. If needed, we will work on two merit badges, one for the younger youth and one for the older. Most BSA Scout Reservations offer many merit badges at their summer camps. The Heritage District holds a Merit-Badge University program in the November & January where scouts earn merit badges. We have had over 29 scouts reach the rank of Eagle. We can guarantee the rank of Eagle to any scout that attends our campouts on a regular basis. This is a tribute to our strong leadership and quest in this area.

Does the troop do service for the community?

Service is one of the requirements for every rank in scouting from 2nd Class to Eagle. They perform service projects every year for churches, schools, camps and nature areas just to mention a few. Our Troop helps 2-4 Eagle candidates per year with their Eagle service projects where our troop gives over 100 hours to the community. We do a yearly service project by participating in the annual "Relay for Life" cancer fundraiser.

What opportunities does the Scout have for leadership?

As we mentioned above a Boy Scout troop is run by the youth. These youth leaders make up what is called a Patrol Leaders Council (PLC). The heads of this council are the Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. These two run all the meetings and activities at campouts. They convene the other members of the PLC once a month for a planning meeting where they decide what to do during the meetings and where to go and what to do at the campouts. Other members of the PLC include each patrol leader, junior assistant scoutmaster, quartermaster, and scribe. All of these members are elected by their fellow scouts and serve six month terms. Other leadership opportunities are chaplain aide, historian, bugler, librarian, troop guide, den chief, OA troop representative, and assistant patrol leader.

Within the troop? Outside the troop?

The above mentioned leadership opportunities are within the troop but there are numerous opportunities outside as well. Most of these are in the Order of the Arrow which is a Boy Scout honor society or den chief which works with a Cub Scout den within a Cub Scout Pack.