As you begin your journey to Eagle Scout in Troop 285, there are certain requirements that you and your parents need to know about.
Meeting Schedule –
Troop 285 meets every Monday night from 7 PM to 9 PM at our meeting hall at St Paul's United Methodist Church 9500 Constitution Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112 Click here for a map) Exceptions to this schedule are the Monday between Christmas and New Years days, and the Monday when we are all at Long Term camp (in late July). Scouts progress faster if they attend most Monday night meetings, because we work on advancement and merit badge requirements at every meeting.
Scout Uniform –
Troop 285 is a “full uniform” troop as voted on by our Scouts; it makes us look sharp. You will be expected to wear the official Scout shirt, pants or shorts and belt to each meeting. You will be issued a troop neckerchief during your crossover ceremony or at our next court of honor. You only wear the neckerchief on special occasions (courts of honor, boards of review, public activities). Hats are not worn in our meeting hall. If you want to buy new uniform items, they can be found at the Scout Shop, at the Scout Office, 5841 Office Boulevard NE; Albuquerque, NM. As a service to our new Scouts, the troop maintains a supply of used uniform items downstairs in its equipment room. These are items that are in good condition and have been donated by our older Scouts who have outgrown them. They are available to anyone that needs them. Accordingly, older Scouts are encouraged to donate good, usable uniforms that they’ve outgrown.
Scout Handbook –
You need to purchase the current Scout Handbook (from the Scout Shop) and bring it to every meeting. Advancement requirements are signed off in the book so it is an important record of your work. The Handbook comes in three binding forms – paperback, spiral back, and hard back. The paperback is “good”, and the cheapest. The spiral back will last longer, but still has thin covers that need to be protected. So, when you get your first handbook, you should also purchase a protective cover for the handbook. The black nylon version and the clear vinyl versions are the most popular. These covers make the book last about twice as long as normal. IMPORTANT: In the front of the Handbook is a detachable section on youth protection that you and your parents are to read, discuss, and sign. Reading this is a requirement towards earning your first rank: “Scout”.
Eagle Book –
This is a scrapbook used for recording each Scout’s journey to Eagle Scout. We recommend starting with a 3-inch 3-ring binder (ones with a clear pocket on the outside of the front and back covers are best) and a supply of clear sheet protectors (with pockets to insert photos, full page sheets, etc.). You should personalize your Eagle Book by creating your own cover. You are to place handouts for camping trips and other activities, lots of photos, awards, certificates, and rank advancement and blue merit badge cards into the protective pages roughly in chronological order. You are encouraged to also include documents and photos from your Cub Scout days as well. At the front of the scrapbook should be your Activity Logs (see Mr. Coles for a copy or you can download a copy here). These logs are where you enter the names and dates of our camp-outs and other activities for the current year – and whether you attended. You should start a new log sheet each calendar year. You do not need to bring your Eagle Book to the Scout meeting every week; only for your Boards of Review.
Notebook & pen/pencil –
We encourage you to bring writing paper and a pen or pencil for notes. A spiral-bound steno pad or a 1-inch 3-ring binder with some school paper is perfect.
Simple day-pack or briefcase -
In order to keep every thing together that needs to come to Scout meetings, a small briefcase or day-pack works well. Put your Scout Handbook, your notebook and pencil or pen, and if you want, your Eagle Book, all in that pack so you can grab it on your way to the weekly meetings.
Physical Fitness Requirement –
Requirements 10a and 10b for the rank of Tenderfoot (“showing improvement in 5 physical activities over a 30-day period”) is to be performed at home or at a nearby playground with your parent’s supervision. See Mr. Coles for a log sheet. We highly recommend that you complete this when the weather is nice, rather than waiting until it is really hot or cold. This is one of a few Basic Skills requirements that can be directly supervised by your parents. Most other requirements require that you demonstrate what they have learned to an adult leader in the Troop (the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster). This activity is an exercise program that also teaches you to keep records. Although you may prefer to postpone this requirement, it also teaches you self-discipline and motivation. You cannot advance to Second Class until you earn Tenderfoot so we recommend that you set aside some time every other day for 30 days for this requirement and get it done.
First weekend camp-out -
For your Scout’s first camp-out, minimal camping equipment is needed. Troop 285 supplies most cooking and eating equipment. Each patrol usually plans its own menu and buys the food. Click here for a list of items that your Scout should bring with them to there first camp out. Bringing items in a duffel bag or small suitcase is preferable to investing in a pack frame at this time.
Long Term Camp-out –
This is a week-long camp-out held each year during the 3rd or 4th week of July - so mark your calendar. You are STRONGLY encouraged to attend this camp-out, as our new Scouts can earn most of the outdoors-related requirements for the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class in just this one week.
Medical Exams and Forms Completed –
BSA recommends that every 12 months, every Scout (and adult leader, too) get a physical exam and have his doctor complete BSA’s® Annual Health and Medical Record form. Sometimes it can be hard to schedule a physical just before Long Term camp, so please schedule your exam early and turn in the completed form to the troop. If you have financial difficulties, have no regular family-practice doctor, or another problem getting the exam, please contact the Scoutmaster for assistance with this important item.
If you have a medical condition that we should watch for, we can ensure that you take your medication on time. We also can help plan menus around your special food allergies or other concerns. Please make sure that the Scoutmaster is informed. We keep such information confidential and minimize its distribution to those adults who need to know.
Announcements Sent Home –
You will be given handout sheets for all major events, usually at the Monday meeting a week or two in advance of the event, such as a campout, service project, Eagle project, Scout Sunday, etc. Please give these to your parents so they can mark them on your calendar. We suggest also putting these announcement sheets on the refrigerator (or wherever you keep reminders). Then, after the event, you should put them into your Eagle Book as your memento of the activity. We also provide notices of major activities by email, so if you or your parents have an email address that you check regularly, please provide that to our Troop’s Advancement Committee chair.
Parent Participation –
All of our Scout activities are open to the Scouts’ parents, and normally are open to any other family members, if the activity is suited to their ages and abilities. For example, a canoe trek that needs strongly developed watercraft and swimming skills would be restricted to just parents who have been training for the trek along with the Scout. But monthly camp-outs at various scenic spots around the state are fantastic opportunities for the whole family to get into the great outdoors.
In fact, the success of Troop 285 depends upon the strong participation by parents in the program. The adult leaders of Troop 285 strive to help every scout advance within the troop, be involved in as many activities as possible, and grow into the best scout possible. However, our influence is limited. Active parental participation is essential for the success of your scout and his troop. Joining in the scouting experience along with your child(ren) encourages his advancement within the troop. In addition, you will play an important part in his overall character development. Here are some ways a scout parent can participate and help their own scout and troop:
At the very minimum, you are encouraged to attend the weekly meetings, if only for the opening and closing announcements. During this time, you will learn about upcoming activities, important announcements, and many other items that are important to your scout and the troop.
More than just attending meetings, your help and participation in the meetings would make a huge difference. Anything from assisting in teaching basic skills to becoming a merit badge counselor and teaching a merit badge or two is extremely valuable.
Sign up to be a merit badge counselor (contact Sara Lein to find out more about becoming a merit badge counselor).
Come on the troop camping trips or volunteer to be a camp master for a weekend camp out. The troop goes on 10 camping trips every year. Since having a Camp Master is mandatory in order to have a camp-out, Camp Masters are always in demand and extremely necessary.
Financial Aid –
Finally, if you are unable to attend a camp-out due to financial problems, please know that Troop 285 has a camping scholarship fund to help our Scouts go to camp. If you need financial assistance, just tell our Scoutmaster and he will help you get to camp. He will also keep your request a secret so none of the other Scouts will know.