Volume 1 | Issue 1 | Sarah Lindegren
From the Scoutmaster
Spring has sprung and with it comes a full scouting calendar, the prospect of the last day of school, and allergies! Since I don’t get many opportunities to speak with everyone on a regular basis, I wanted to use a monthly newsletter to keep families posted on what the Troop is up to and to identify ways you can help our scouts be successful in the Troop environment.
If you’ve been around the Troop the last 7 years, I’m probably old hat. If you haven’t, I’ve served in multiple capacities in scouting since 2015, when my son’s Cub Scout den needed a leader. I’ve been “all in” ever since. I passionately believe in the Scouting Mission: “To prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices in their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.” Everything we do in Troop 111 will boil down to just that. That is my promise.
Uniforms
One of the methods of Scouting is the uniform. It’s a way to put every scout on a level playing field. It makes us all part of one scouting team. To that end, Troop 111 inspects uniforms at every meeting and requires the following:
- Tan scout shirt with green epaulets,
- Council shoulder patch, troop
- numbers, patrol patch, current
- badge of rank, and the World
- Organization of the Scouting
- Movement patch
- Green scout pants or shorts
- Scout belt
- Troop neckerchief (or other
- authorized substitute) and slide (or
- properly tied friendship knot)
- Green scout socks
- Scout hat
- Closed-toed sturdy shoes
- Scouts BSA handbook
Each uniform must be clean (A scout is clean, after all) with shirts tucked in. If you are unable to purchase these items, the Troop maintains a bin in the shed with donated uniform items for a scout’s use. Youth should see the Troop Quartermaster if they’d like to check out the box. New uniform items can also be ordered online.
Safety Moment
The Scouting adventure, camping trips, high-adventure excursions, and having fun are important to everyone in Scouting—and so is your Scout’s safety and well-being. Completing the Annual Health and Medical Record (AHMR) is the first step in making sure your scout has a great experience.
Each scout (and adult leader) must have their AMHR current (within 12 months) and signed by their physician to attend summer camp. These forms are absolutely critical in keeping us aware of any health-related issues we might face with scouts on any outing. You can find a fillable health form online.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
If you haven’t noticed, Troop 111 is a very active unit and it takes a lot of time and preparation to make every trip a success. Here’s what you can do to help:
- Ensure your scout has the right gear for the job. A sleeping bag used for sleepovers at a friend’s house is not appropriate for a weekend outing.
- Sign permission slips and turn in money in a timely manner. Last minute sign-ups make it difficult for the youth to prepare their meals and duty rosters.
- Communicate with your scout about RSVPs for events. If you said yes (or no), they should know that and communicate that with their patrol.
- If your scout cannot make a meeting, they should communicate with their Patrol Leader. Each patrol has a method of communication. If your scout doesn’t know what that is, they should ask.
A Final Word
The best advice I ever got from a seasoned scouter is this: “Never do for a scout what a scout can do for themselves” This holds true in (almost) every case. Sometimes it makes them uncomfortable. Sometimes it stretches their capabilities. It ALWAYS helps them grow.