Troop 57



Basic Boy Scout Facts Welcome. Hopefully you have chosen to join the largest club for boys in the world. You will be going on hikes, sleeping in tents, cooking in the out-of-doors and doing many things others only read about. You will learn new skills, make new friends and, most importantly, have fun while achieving the “aims and methods of the Scouting program.” As a brand new Scout, you probably have many questions about how you begin. Here are some answers to many of your questions. The Promise Scouting promises you the great outdoors. Scouting promises you friendship. Scouting promises you opportunities to work toward the Eagle Scout rank. Scouting promises you tools to help you make the most of your family, your community, and your nation. Scouting promises you experiences and duties that will help you mature into a strong, wise adult. The Aims and Methods of Scouting Personal Growth is developed as Scouts provide service, advance, and develop a plan for the Scouting years. Adult Association provides role models for the Scouts to observe and also creates a setting where adults and boys work together to achieve common goals and have fun while doing so. Every family is encouraged to help out, either by serving as Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Member, Merit Badge Counselor, or as simply helping to drive Scouts to different outings. You will find that if you participate as a family, your son will get a lot more out of the Scouting program, and will progress a lot further. Behind every successful Scout, is a supportive family. Leadership Development is formed as each Scout assumes a Junior Leader position. The development starts with patrol positions on a smaller level, and fully develops as Scouts assume Troop Junior Leader positions that are essential to the operation of the entire Troop. These Junior Leader positions include: Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Patrol Leader, Scribe, Quartermaster, Historian, Librarian, Chaplain Aide, and Den Chief. The Troop Guides are especially important, for they guide the new Scouts into the Troop. Remember, your sons as leaders, run the Troop. To Contact Us Need to contact some one from the Troop Here's the email address for our Scout Master and Assistant Scoutmaster Jimmy Jackson: dragonjimm@gmail.com Chris Smith: csmith@alggraphics.com		Troop 57 Troop 57 currently has 16 Scouts divided into two Patrols, the Eagles and the Gators. All our leaders have completed all necessary classes and are registered with the Boy Scouts of America. If you're interested come on by . We are meeting on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Meetings start at 6:30 pm. Directions can be found by following the link at the top of the page. The Ideals of Scouting are found in the Scout Law,, A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. The Boy Scout Oath states: On my honor, I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. The Scout Motto :Be Prepared The Scout Slogan :Do a Good Turn Daily All Scouts are expected to live by these ideals. Patrol Method One of the most important concepts to understand about Scouting is that it is a program run by the Scouts. Each Scout is a member of a Patrol. Activities that the Scouts do are all decided by the Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC). The PLC is like the executive board of a company, they make all the decisions. They decide what topics should be covered at the meetings, what camp outs they want to attend each month, where they want to camp, and what skills or topics they want to cover. The Patrol Method develops leadership and teamwork abilities in a small group setting before it is applied on a larger Troop setting. Depending on the number of new Scouts, we may form a new Scout patrol with an older Scout assigned to guide the new Scouts. The Outdoors is the key setting where the aims and methods are achieved. Weekend camping establishes self-reliance as the Scouts learn to work together and survive on their own. Advancement Advancement creates a challenge to all Scouts by providing them with a series of obstacles to overcome. Furthermore, it provides a rewarded sense of accomplishment for the Scouts hard work and determination. As a new Scout, your first challenge is to advance from Scout to the rank of First Class, through Tenderfoot and Second Class. One of the things Scouting is best known for is earning Merit Badges. A merit badge is an invitation to explore an exciting subject, and to be rewarded for learning that subject. There are no merit badge requirements for the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class or First Class. Once you have obtained First Class, you will need to earn merit badges in order to advance to the ranks of Star, Life & Eagle. There are more than 100 merit badges available for you to earn. The ranks of Star, Life and ultimately Eagle require demonstration of Leadership and Service.