Boy Scouts of America
The New Scout:
When a Scout joins the Troop, the Scout is placed in a Patrol. Each patrol is led by a Patrol Leader (a Scout). An adult from the Troop is assigned to each patrol and functions as a parent contact for the patrol.
An older Scout may be assigned to new Scouts as a "Patrol Guide” to help the new Scouts feel welcome and adjust to the Troop and its activities.
With the assistance of the Patrol Leader and Patrol Guide, new Scouts quickly make friends and become familiar with Scouting and the Troop.
It is particularly important for new Scouts to attend all regular Troop meetings and as many camping trips and outings as possible so that they quickly get a solid understanding of the breadth of the Scouting experience, their own role in the Troop, and the value of working on advancement.
The New Parent:
We want our new parents to feel at home with the Troop from the very beginning. In fellowship, we provide our Scouts with the best that Scouting has to offer.
You are cordially invited to participate either as an adult leader or as an active parent. We welcome you and your ideas. Many events are planned for the specific purpose of encouraging new parents to meet adult leaders and other parents in the Troop. Please attend as many of these gatherings as you can.
A Troop the size of Troop 11 depends on active adults in a variety of leadership and support roles. It is the Troop's expectation that every parent will assist in some way during the course of the Scouting year. Elsewhere in this handbook appears a roster of volunteer roles which parents can fill to make our program successful for all its families.
You are cordially invited to participate either as an adult leader or as an active parent. We welcome you and your ideas. Many events are planned for the specific purpose of encouraging new parents to meet adult leaders and other parents in the Troop. Please attend as many of these gatherings as you can.
A Troop the size of Troop 11 depends on active adults in a variety of leadership and support roles. It is the Troop's expectation that every parent will assist in some way during the course of the Scouting year. Elsewhere in this handbook appears a roster of volunteer roles which parents can fill to make our program successful for all its families.
Scout Leadership and the Patrol Method:
The Troop is run by the Scouts themselves under the guidance and mentoring of adult leaders. One of the underlying principles of the early Scouting program that still remains today is the "Patrol Method". Scouts work better together when divided into small groups of 5-10 – each patrol develops its own identity and hasactivities of its own apart from the Troop as a whole. A "New Scout Patrol" is formed from new Scouts crossing over from Webelos or just joining Scouts. This allows them to focus on basic Scouting skills. Each patrol is headed up by a TroopGuide who serves as their Patrol Leader for the first few months they are in the Troop. This helps the new Scouts learn about the program and to understand what a Patrol Leader does before having to take that role on themselves. Patrols work together to plan and cook meals at most campouts, compete together at some outings, and work together for service projects and fundraisers. A “Patrol Leaders’ Council” consisting of the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Patrol Leaders meets monthly to plan Troop activities.
Troop Meetings:
The Troop meets each Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. in the lower hall at the Veterans Hall at Royer Park in Roseville.
Troop meetings concentrate on skill development, patrol involvement, competition, games, and fun activities. The Patrol Leaders' Council plans each meeting around a specific theme. All patrols are responsible for setting up and taking down the Hall.
At 8:15 p.m., the Troop concludes its meetings with “circle time” where Scouts and their parents can get updated on upcoming events and other matters. This short gathering provides parents with an opportunity to hear and obtain clarifications about Troop activities and issues.
Troop meetings concentrate on skill development, patrol involvement, competition, games, and fun activities. The Patrol Leaders' Council plans each meeting around a specific theme. All patrols are responsible for setting up and taking down the Hall.
At 8:15 p.m., the Troop concludes its meetings with “circle time” where Scouts and their parents can get updated on upcoming events and other matters. This short gathering provides parents with an opportunity to hear and obtain clarifications about Troop activities and issues.