Troop 425

1. Fast Start Training & Youth Protection Training

The first step in getting trained is to complete Fast Start and Youth Protection Training. Both are available on line.
Fast Start Training - Boy Scout - Venturing (Also available on VHS from the Scout Office) Youth Protection Training (Class is available at March and May 2005 Roundtables.)

2. New Leader Essentials

This is the second step in getting trained. New Leader Essentials (NLE) is taught at Roundtable in February and April 2005.

3. BSA Leader Training

Pre-registration is required.  Please contact Eirene Oliphant at (913) 782-7948 or at dmblnd@comcast.net to register or if you have any questions. Note: To complete the Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster training you must complete Outdoor Leader Skills to receive the Trained patch.

KNOW YOUR CHARTER ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE (COR):

The COR provides the interface between the Charter Organization, in our case HUMC, and the Troop. The COR is responsible for appointing the Troop Committee Chair and Scoutmaster and ensures the Troop complies with rules and regulations and receives support from the Charter Organization.

SERVICE PROJECTS – PRIOR APPROVAL REQUIRED!

Service projects benefit the community at large, a nonprofit or charitable organization. Service hours are awarded for participation in approved service projects. The Scoutmaster and/or Troop Committee must approve Service projects in advance. Scouts are encouraged to participate in troop-wide service projects rather than individual activities. However, individual activities may be approved by the Scoutmaster in advance. Fund raising activities, leadership duties, and commercial activities will not be approved for the award of service hours.

LET’S GET INVOLVED!

Your willingness to get involved is greatly appreciated by the Troop Committee, COR and Scoutmaster. Our committee vacancies have been filled but we always need help with activities. See our ScoutMaster or Troop Committee Chair and ask what you can do. Thanks!

Adult Leader Training:

Duties include identifying and publicizing adult training opportunities; ensuring that adult training records are maintained; and recruiting and maintaining a roster of qualified merit badge counselors in the troop. We need more trained adults. We encourage all adults to receive Youth Protection (2-3 hours), Health and Safety (1-2 hours), Merit Badge Counselor (30 minutes) and Boy Scout Basic Leader Training (usually 8 hours on a Saturday and a Friday/Satuday campout).

WEB SITES/PHONE NUMBERS FOR EQUIPMENT:

• Coleman Factory Outlet in Branson, MO (Note: 20% Scout discount!) - 417-334-1718
• Campmor -- www.campmor.com  – 800-226-7667
• Sierra Trading Post -- www.sierratradingpost.com  -- 800-713-4534
• REI -- www.rei.com  -- 800-426-4840
• BSA -- www.bsa.scouting.org  – 800-323-0732
• Sportsman's Guide -- www.sportsmanguide.com  -- 800-888-3006

Troop Committee Update:

Troop Committee Update: The Troop Committee generally meets the Wednesday before a scheduled campout, 7:30PM at HUMC, or when called by the Troop Committee Chair. All registered adults are voting members of the committee but any interested adult is invited to attend.

Insurance Coverage: (Parents Please Read Carefully)

AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY INSURANCE: You may not drive during Scout activities unless you have at least the minimum amount of liability insurance required by the state in which your vehicle is registered ($50,000; $100,000 and $50,000 is the minimum most places). Further, you may not drive and haul Scouts for any activity unless you are listed as a driver on the tour permit and your insurance information is on file with the Troop (See K. Sickendick or M. Gaffney for registration forms). If you comply with these requirements, the BSA general liability policy will cover you for any claims in excess of your policy up to $15,000,000. If you do not comply with these requirements the BSA general liability policy may not apply and you will be liable for any excess.

COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL LIABILITY: The BSA general liability insurance program is designed to provide insurance protection for all official Scouting activities, that is those, properly approved by the Scoutmaster, Troop Committee, Charter Organization and registered with district and council. The coverage limit is $15,000,000. Only registered adult volunteers are covered! In the event of a car or boat accident, the policy covers the excess over the personal policy limits. In the event of other occurrences, such as a lawsuit over failure to supervise, the policy provides primary coverage and the volunteers personal liability insurance is not affected. The high limits of the BSA policy are intended to prevent volunteers from placing their personal assets in jeopardy.

COUNCIL ACCIDENT & SICKNESS INSURANCE PLAN: The accident and sickness plan covers all registered scouts and adult volunteers while participating in any official Scouting activity.

ALL SERIOUS INCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS OR SICKNESS, OR IF A SUMMONS IS SERVED ON A VOLUNTEER, MUST BE REPORTED TO THE SCOUTMASTER AND TROOP COMMITTEE CHAIR, AND TO THE COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER AT 816-942-9333.

REGULAR PARENTS’ MEETINGS:

Regular information meetings are being planned for parents to ensure more accurate and timely dissemination of information and to encourage participation. Meetings will be held during regular troop meetings, USUALLY the Monday following the first Thursday of the month, 7:30 PM at the Heritage House.

TROOP EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE:

TENTS.The Troop owns Kelty tents, 2-man and 3-man. We selected tents carefully as we wanted a good quality, durable tent that could be used for long backpacking trips. The Kelty tents we own are very good quality, light, suitable for 3-season camping (we have actually used them sub-zero) and they are easily maintained. However, care must be exercised in setting-up, striking, cleaning and storing tents to avoid damage. All scouts and adults are responsible for the care and maintenance of any Troop tent. Remember that the tent you use this weekend may be the tent you sign-for for next High Adventure trip! Everyone has a vested interest in seeing that our tents remain clean and serviceable. Never take food or any drink except water inside a troop tent. Residual crumbs and stains may be enough to attract a bear!

Never have any source of flame inside or near a tent. They are flame retardant not fire proof!

Never unzip rain fly zippers from the top down to exit or enter. Always unzip from the bottom up. Zip and unzip slowly to avoid catching the zipper flies.

Never carve or cut with a knife inside a tent! One slip and you have a hole! Never wash a tent with soap and water! Use only warm water and a soft sponge to wash. If you have filth that can't be removed with only water, advise the Troop Quartermaster or the Troop Committee Quartermaster.

Never lay out a tent to dry on grass you want to keep! Ten minutes is all it takes to turn the grass yellow if the sun is hot. Never lay out a tent to dry on hot concrete or asphalt! The heat build up destroys the fabric finish and waterproof quality.

Never leave a damp tent rolled in a tent bag. Always air dry your tent as soon as you get home from a campout to avoid mildew and damage to the tent. In fact, in the military they teach that a soldier is not to get cleaned-up before he/she has cleaned his equipment! Scouts might want to follow that same rule because Scouts also need to rely on and live with their equipment in tough conditions! Always hang or set up tents in a cool dry area to dry and air the tent (dry basements are the ideal location). A tent usually should be setup and allowed to air dry for 24 or more hours after use. Don't assume that because it didn't rain on the campout that the tent doesn't need to be aired and dried - the condensation of Scout's breath is enough to cause mildew that damages the tent finish. Always unzip the fly and tent doors and shakeout all debris before rolling and storing a tent. Always store the tent with the fly attached. This makes for easy setup in the field after dark. Always fold the tent in thirds and role the tent around the bag containing the tent poles and stakes. This ensures the tent body does not develop permanent creases. This also ensures that the tent poles do not get bent in transport. Always report any defects in a tent to the Quartermaster!

Always pin down two corners of a tent first thing when erecting on a windy day. Pin down the corners on the side the wind is blowing from.

Always put the tent bag, pole bag and tent peg bag in your pocket until the tent is completely set up so they don't blow away. When the tent is up, put all the little bags in the big tent bag and place inside the tent. Report any lost equipment to the Scoutmaster, Quartermaster or an adult leader prior to leaving the campsite so a search can be done.