An exceptional outdoor program

Encouragement of rank advancement

Adherence to the ideals of the Scout Law and Oath in all our activities and decisions.

Organization

Troop 850 is a participating member of the William Henry Harrison District of the Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America. The Troop's organization consists of a Chartered Organization, a Troop Committee, the Troop, and the Troop's parents.

Chartered Organization (Sponsor)

The chartered organization for Troop 850 is St. Ignatius Loyola Parish. The chartered organization shares our objectives for the boys and insures there is adequate, trained leadership, as well as provides a place to meet.

Troop Committee

The Troop Committee functions as an administrative and support organization for the Troop. The Troop Committee takes care of the non-program issues surrounding the Troop; for example, newsletters, Troop funds, fund raising activities, membership drives, advancement records, procurement and maintenance of Troop equipment.

Committee meetings are held once a month in lieu of regular Troop meetings. These dates are indicated on the annual Troop calendar. All parents are welcome to attend these meetings and express any opinions of feelings they might have about the Troop. The Troop Committee consists of: Committee Chairman, Scoutmaster, Treasurer, Outdoor Chairman, and the Advancement Chairman. Other positions are created and dissolved as seen fit by the Committee.

The Troop

Troop Meetings: Troop 850 holds meetings every Tuesday except for the Tuesday after a campout. This is the designated Troop Committee night. Meetings are from 7:00PM -- 8:30PM in the school cafeteria. Changes will be announced as early as possible to allow for proper planning.

Adult Leadership: Two registered adult leaders, or one adult leader and a Scout parent, both of whom must be at least 21 years of age, are required at all Troop 850 meetings, trips of outings. The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Junior Assistant Scoutmasters help oversee Troop meetings and activities.

Patrols and Patrol Leaders: The Troop is made up of a group of patrols. Each patrol consists of a Patrol Leader and no less than four Scouts and no more than eight Scouts. The boys in a patrol elect their Patrol Leader who in turn appoints the Assistant Patrol Leader. Each Patrol has an Assistant Scoutmaster assigned to it as an adult advisor. This advisor oversees patrol activities and advises Patrol Leaders when necessary.

Patrol Leaders' Council: The Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are elected positions. The Patrol Leaders, with the Senior Patrol Leader as their head, form the Patrol Leaders' Council, which plans the activities and runs the Troop meetings. The Scoutmaster schedules regular meetings of the PLC prior to the Troop meetings. Other leadership positions a Scout might hold are: Troop Guide, Troop Scribe, Historian, Librarian, and Chaplain's Aide. Elections for Troop positions are held twice a year.

Troop Parents

The role of parents within Troop 850 is to be supportive of the Troop's efforts and to provide the atmosphere Scouts need to learn, grow, and excel. Parents should try to:

• Read their Scout's handbook so they understand the purpose and methods of Scouting.

• Actively follow their Scout's progress (or lack thereof) and offer encouragement and a push when needed.

• Show support both the individual Scout and the Troop by attending all Troop Courts of Honor.

• Assist in all Troop fundraisers and other such activities. All such assistance lowers the cost of the program we offer to the Scouts and, therefore, lowers each family's cash outlay for their Scout(s).

• Be aware of the Troop program and annual calendar.

Advancement

There are many definitions of advancement, but the Scouting definition might as well be "the art of meeting a challenge." This is exactly what the Boy Scout advancement program them to do. The advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at his own pace. As he acquires these skills he moves up through a series of ranks. The higher he climbs the more challenging his tasks -- and the more rewarding the achievement.

The boys in the Troop will work towards two important goals, 1st Class and Eagle ranks. As they earn their 1st Class rank, they will acquire the necessary basic skills to successfully participate in our outdoors program. Then, as they travel on their trail to Eagle they will not only learn how to lead a team to a goal, but they will actually lead teams in a number of situations. They will also learn to train and intermingle with other Scouts of all ages as well as adults. Because the skills learned in reaching Eagle rank are so valuable, many Eagle Scouts list their accomplishments on the resume and find they are often considered for acceptance into college and the work force.

Administrative

Rechartering and Annual Registration Fee

Fees are $35 per year for Scouts and $20 per year for adults, paid yearly in March. The money covers registration, advancement awards, activity badges, a Troop 850 t-shirt, basic operating supplies for the Troop, and Boy's Life, the official Scouting magazine. The Scout will receive an annual membership card from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) through Dan Beard Council, and a periodic newsletter from the Troop.

Outings/Activities

Troop 850 goes camping once a month (except December). We provide tents, stoves, cooking utensils, lanterns, etc. The Scout must provide his own mess kit, sleeping bag, and backpack. The cost of a regular weekend campout is usually about $20, which covers the cost of food, gas for the trip, and the campsite fee (if there is one). Preparation for the campout occurs at the meeting on the Tuesday before we leave. All Scouts must have a signed permission slip in order to go camping.

Fundraisers

The Troop's major fundraisers are a Spaghetti Dinner every April and a Pancake Breakfast every October. They provide funds for the Troop's needs (such as tents, stoves, etc.) as well as for your son, to be put in his individual account to defray the costs of some of the outings. Personal accounts can be used for any outing but are usually earmarked for Summer Camp or High Adventure. From time to time other fundraising opportunities (for the boys' personal accounts) arise and will be announced in future Troop newsletters and meetings.

Summer Camp

Troop 850 attends a week of summer camp every year at Camp Friedlander in Milford. Camp is six nights long (starts on Sunday, ends on Saturday). Activities at camp include crafts, swimming, boating, rank advancement, and merit badges. New Scouts are highly encouraged to attend. This is an excellent opportunity to learn many of the skills needed to make your son's Scouting experience a positive one.

In order to attend summer camp, each Scout is required to have a physical examination form completed by the parents and the family doctor and on file with the Troop and the camp. The doctor's examination is good for three years, but should be reviewed annually for any changes or corrections.

High Adventure

Every year, the senior Scouts (age 13 and First Class) go on a high adventure trip. These trips are more demanding than regular monthly trips and require strong leadership and Scouting skills. The troop general has a four year high adventure cycle: Kayaking in West Virginia, Sail Boating in the Florida Keys, Canoeing in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and a week-long backpacking trip. These trips may change depending the popularity among the boys and the availability of the facilities.

Uniform

The Scout uniform helps to achieve the objective of Scouting. The uniform by itself cannot make a good Scout or a good Troop, but its use has been proven to improve both the Scout and the Troop because it is a visible symbol of Scouting unity. Troop 850 encourages a complete uniform. The Scout will receive a neckerchief and patrol emblem from the troop. The BSA khaki shirt is essential and should be worn to all meetings (other than meetings during May through September, when Troop t-shirts may be worn) and activities. Green BSA shorts/long pants are encouraged but not required. Please refer to the uniform inspection sheet enclosed in the Boy Scout Handbook for more information on uniform items and placement of insignia.

And Finally. . .

You are joining a great organization that includes tens of thousands of adult leaders, interested parents, and the BSA professional staff. Scouting is more than just learning outdoor skills. The Troop teaches leadership and community skills, but most important of all, life skills. Scouting also shows the boys how they can keep themselves strong and healthy, make the most of school, and gain an appreciation for the outdoors. With hard work and dedication your son will be able to serve as a leader in Troop 850 and advance along the trail to Eagle Scout.

However, above and beyond anything else, the boys and us "big kids" are in Scouts to have fun!!