New Scout rank requirement & Troop News

For some confusion and information:

If your son attended summer camp for the first time this year.....his book should be checked off by a leader who attended summer camp or the Scoutmaster for nearly all his Tenderfoot, Second class, and First Class requirements. If he did not attend summer camp with the Troop, he needs to see the Scoutmaster to confirm the requirements he has and the ones he will need.

He should be a checked off as Tenderfoot Scout if has gone to summer camp with the Troop and Second Class if he has made his first aid kit, went to Shiloh with us last Fall for Trail 4, and gone on (2) campouts and three other activities with us; if not, he will have to go camping for some of those activities since the time he crossed over as a Scout....if he has gone camping with us and attended other activities, he only needs five activities, (two of which must be camping) (requirement 3a second class) along with his first aid kit (requirement 7b second class).

If he went to Shiloh with us last November, and did half of Trail 4 then he has completed the compass requirement for Second Class (1b) if he also was at summer camp this year for Col Kidd's course on the compass. If he went to Shiloh, but did not come to summer camp this year, then he has not completed requirement (1b) for Second class.

For First Class, he must camp out (regular three day camp out) a total of three times as a Scout and have seven more Troop activities (First Class Requirement # 3) for a total of 10.

With exceptions, nearly all the boys earned Tenderfoot at camp, and only need their activities count for Second (plus the first aid kit) and First Class....

When the believe they have completed those requirements for Second Class, they should see the Scoutmaster for their Second Class Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review.

When ready for their First Class, the should see the Scoutmaster for the Scoutmaster Conference and then have a Board of Review with other selected leaders.

If they are not an exception,,,most should have their Second Class Rank by October or sooner, and their First Class rank by March, 2012 or sooner.

Activities, including camping, are important for the rank of Eagle...he learns all the advancement requirements, leadership, teamsmanship, and commuications skills by being with us as frequently as possible. Please encourage attendance to get the most out of the program.Eagles aren't made through correspondence courses or by not being there.

As we know, this Troop travels on a bus for all our major activities...we have to have CDL certified drivers for us to continue as smoothly as we do. Please think about helping out with this. We are down to about three at this time.

All of our Merit badge counselors will have to take an hour long certification course in the future (annually). please make plans to attend this for us.We will invite an instructor to a location of our choice....finally, please make sure you are up to date on you youth protection certification which all leaders have to have updated regularly....Youth Protection and all the other required leader certifications are available on Scouting.org..you need to give you copy to Mrs. Kidd. Youth Protection is required each two years if you are registered with the Troop.

Not finally, we need a leader or two to step up and serve as the coordinator for a Northern Tier or Sea Base trip in 2012..taking the bus or flying will be the decision of the attendees. Unfortunately, we will not be going as a Troop to Philmont in 2012, as we were not called up in the lottery system. 2013 is possible again. Minimum age for a Scout is 14..sll three of these high adventure bases can be found on our web site for more information.

Thanks for all your support and for encouraging attendance to assure our program is successful as it is.

YiS Dan s

"Delivering the Promise"