INFO

LEADERSHIP:

• Scout Master: Alex Correa

• Committee Chair: Andrew Parker

MEMBERSHIP FEES:

• Monthly membership is $5

• Joining Fee $20 (cost covers Troop 218 numbers, handkerchief, bolo and applets and future merit badge patches)

• National BSA Membership Fee is $85, the first year your membership can be transferred over to Troop 218 

ITEMS NEEDED:

• Scout Book - Scouts will need to bring their book to every meeting

• Uniform - specifications are in scoutbook, https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/troop-resources/scouts-bsa-uniform/ 

• Class B Shirt - $16 purchase from Troop

PARENT INVOLVEMENT:

The troop is only as good as its leadership and parent involvement, so I hope that you will attend meetings and participate. If you do not want to help with committees or leadership we hope that you will stay engaged and help guide your scout at home. It can be overwhelming with all the new stuff to learn. But we will walk you and your scout through it. 

The Troop asks that one parent from each family volunteer to be a merit badge counselor. This is not something needed right away after joining. Many volunteer for merit badge counseling that involves what they do for a living. We once had a dad that was a lawyer and he volunteered for the law merit badge. We had a parent that grew up in a family that showed dogs and she helped with the dog care merit badge. There are so many to choose from and it is a great way to work with the boys and get to know the scouts in the Troop. 

SUMMER CAMP:

This is something we all believe is so important to do in the first year. This year's summer camp will be at Camp Constatin (https://circleten.org/posts/29098/camp-constantin).

 One thing about our troop that is different is we do not require a parent to be an ASM (Assistant Scoutmaster) to attend summer camp. You do have to have your YPT training and be a registered adult. I can't even tell you how great of an experience summer camp is and how much of a head start it will give your scout. First year scouts will participate in "Trail to Eagle". It's a half day class each day. It will cover items from different ranks. Our troop works hard to get new scouts to Scout Rank right after they join. 

Until you buy the book you can look up the rank requirements here: https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/524-01219_Rank_Requirements_PrintSpreads.pdf  (page 3). That first rank gives your boy that extra confidence boost that will launch them into their scout experience, summer camp helps with that. Please let us know if you have any questions, everyone in our group has been to summer camp and can help with any of your questions.

FUNDRAISING:

We encourage scouts to participate in fundraising. It is so vital to their growth in Scouting. It teaches so many lessons. We have three fundraising events in the year. We sell a spiral fried potato which we call Spudnadoes. We do this twice a year at Budafest and Weiner Dog Races. All profits (after expenses and a small amount set back for the Troop) go to the scouts that worked. The money gets put in their scout account and can be used for scout related activities and events. We also participate in popcorn sales as well. We do booth sales and divide the amount after paying BSA per hour per scout that worked. So, scouts have the opportunity to earn money. This does take parent involvement but is so rewarding for the scout.