Troop

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Troop 639 encourages scouts to play a major role in running troop activities and making programmatic decisions. Trained adult Scoutmasters offer guidance and serve as resources, but the scouts are responsible for most meetings and activities. As a consequence, some activities and meetings will be outstanding but others may be disorganized or fall flat.

The troop’s adult and scout leadership positions are described on the website. The troop regularly offers a training course for new scout leaders. The Senior Patrol Leader conducts the troop meetings, and Patrol Leaders head each patrol.

Scoutmasters provide most of the adult leadership at meetings, and a Troop Committee provides guidance and coordination for the troop.

Bill Kalsow, Scoutmaster, 651-483-0209 kalsow@conceptshopping.com
Eric Tebben, Committee Chair, 651-415-1476 eric@datamazeinc.com

Communications

Background information about Troop 63 and the troop's ongoing calendar can be found on the troop website http://troop639.nsbsa.org. Other information, such as camping plans and special events, will be emailed to scout families. Last minute changes to the calendar are often disseminated by telephone calls to each patrol.

Be sure to give the Scoutmasters your email address and check your email often. If you do not have email, please let the Scoutmasters know so that other arrangements can be made.

Boy Scouting can be confusing to new scouts and parents. Communications sometimes break down. Parents and scouts with questions or suggestions are encouraged to contact the Scoutmasters or Committee Members.

The ongoing calendar is found on the website and is updated frequently. The calendar should be consulted often.

Meetings: Generally, there is a meeting for all boys at Chippewa Middle School each Monday at 7 p.m., except the first Monday of the month when a Patrol Leaders’ planning conference is held. Meetings are used for primarily for advancement, as well as fun. Scouts must bring their Scout Handbook to every meeting and camping trip.

Camping and Special Events: There is typically a camping or other special event every month. Scouts are encouraged to camp, because camping often provides an opportunity for advancement. Camping experiences are required for a several ranks. It is important for each scout to keep a record of the camping trips he attends. The most significant camping trip is usually our summer weeklong trip to Tomahawk scout camp.

Other opportunities are scheduled throughout the year, for example, a ski trip, hiking, climbing or canoeing, high adventure camping, a picnic, and parties. A specific sign-up form for each activity will be emailed and placed on the troop website. In order to participate forms must be completed and returned by the specified deadline.

Advancement in Troop 639 is not regimented. As a result, progress toward ranks requires scouts to be motivated and take advantage of opportunities as they are offered.

Ranks: Requirements for each scout rank are found in the back of the Boy Scout Handbook. Scouts who are active in the troop can often complete Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class in the first year. Many early rank advancement skills are taught by older scouts at meetings and camping trips. However, to advance most readily, scouts must be proactive in preparing and completing requirements.

Beginning scouts can get started quickly on advancements by attending as many meetings and campouts as possible. At Tomahawk summer camp, a valuable program called "BrownSea" is offered for first year scouts and covers many of the requirements for Tenderfoot through First Class ranks. For older scouts, Tomahawk offers the "Challenging Outdoor Physical Encounters (COPE)" program.

Merit Badges: Merit badges are required for Star, Life, and Eagle ranks (21 total for Eagle, of which 12 are specified and 9 self-selected). The website contains a document on how to complete a merit badge. WWW.Meritbadge.com contains all merit badge requirements.

A certified adult "merit badge counselor" leads the scouts. Several required and non-required merit badges are offered at Tomahawk and are most efficiently completed there. Others may be completed in a group at troop meetings, campouts, the troop lock-in, or District "Merit Badge Saturday." Other merit badges are best completed in small groups via direct arrangements with the merit badge counselor. A scout will advance most readily if he is proactive in reading the merit badge book, preparing in advance, and arranging meetings, as needed, with the merit badge counselor.

Other tips on rank advancement:

• Several ranks require service projects of several hours duration and having a troop leadership role for several months. Scouts need to plan ahead for these.
• Other requirements may take time, such as the physical fitness requirement for Tenderfoot.
• First year scouts should focus more on early ranks than merit badges through their first summer. Swimming merit badge is good to take at Tomahawk in the first year.
• Three required merit badges (Personal Fitness, Personal Management, and Family Life) require recording activities for 3 months, and thus also require advanced planning.
• Summer activities needed for advancement (e.g., nature, swimming) require some advanced planning.
• Scouts should keep a list of all camping activities in which they take part.
• Scouts who advance quickest, which may or may not be a good idea, are proactive and have supportive, involved parents.

Court of Honor: Several times a year, a court of honor is held to recognize scouts’ achievements. All scouts and parents are strongly urged to attend, in order to honor those who advance.

The Class A (standard) scout uniform must be worn to the court of honor, on the way to camp, and at service projects. It also is encouraged for weekly meetings. The Class B uniform (T-shirt) is also acceptable at meetings and during many outings.

Dues ($45 per year currently) or participation fees (ranging approximately $15-20 for most troop events, to hundreds of dollars for high adventure trips) are charged to cover the cost of troop activities. Fundraising sales are held biennially, with part of the proceeds going to the individual scout’s expense account. (See website for details.) Scholarship funds are available, if needed, by contacting the scoutmaster (confidentiality maintained).

Each year, families also are asked to contribute to Northern Star Council’s Friends of Scouting.

Unlike the procedure in Cub Scouts, parents do not sign off completed Boy Scout requirements. However, parents should routinely review their son’s progress on rank advancement as recorded in the back of his Handbook. Parents should help motivate scouts to prepare and complete requirements.

In order for the troop to function, we also need each parent to contribute to the organization. There are many troop positions for parents, as listed on the website. The greatest needs are for help with camping trips and with merit badge counseling, but other opportunities abound. Please volunteer via a scoutmaster or committee member.

Committee meetings are held monthly, and parents are invited.

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