Troop Planning Guide

Transcription

1 Troop Planning Guide Daniel Boone Council Boy Scouts of America

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3 3 Aims and Methods of Boy Scouting The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the "Aims of Scouting". They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below, in no specific order to emphasize the equal importance of each. Ideals The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Boy Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes. Patrols The patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in both group living and participating in citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives. Outdoor Programs Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. It is here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for God's handiwork and humankind's place in it. The outdoors is the laboratory for Boy Scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources. Advancement Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others. Association with Adults Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of their troops. In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to boys, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them, can make a profound difference in their lives.

4 4 Personal Growth As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is so successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Boy Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting's aims. Leadership Development The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership role of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting. Uniform The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good, and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a worldbrotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.

5 5 Districts and Council Information The Daniel Boone Council is divided into five districts to better administer Scouting within the geographic communities of western North Carolina. Each is led by a team of volunteers (District Committees and Commissioner Staffs) with the help and encouragement of at least one full time professional Scouter (District Executive). Districts support the community organizations (such as churches, service clubs and veterans organizations) that charter Scouting units, the volunteer leaders who work directly with youth members, as well as the unit level volunteers who help administer the pack, troop, crew or post program. Check out the Council Website at Camp Daniel Boone Cataloochee District: Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties District Executive, Kirby Thompson Kirby.thompson@scouting.org Nantahala District: Cherokee, Clay and Graham Counties District Executive, Caitlin Meeks Caitlin.meeks@scouting.org Soqua District: Buncombe County District Director, James Hulgan James.hulgan@scouting.org Terrora District: Henderson and Transylvania Counties District Executive, Lauren Lampley Lauren.lampley@scouting.org Toe River District: Avery, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey Counties District Executive, Alice Courtland Alice.courtland@scouting.org Get the Council Newsletter at Newsletter.aspx BSA National Website: Create you re My Scouting Account at Council Service Center 333 West Haywood Street Asheville, NC Phone (828) FAX (828) Hours: Monday Friday 8 AM to 5 PM Asheville Scout Shop Hours: Monday Friday 8 AM to 6 PM Saturday 10-3

6 6 Quality Adventure Begins with Program Planning Fail to Plan = Plan to Fail Troop program planning is an annual process where a unit works through the patrols and patrol leaders council to develop a plan for adventure. It is the process of selecting great activities and themes, then developing an annual unit calendar and an annual unit budget to support those activities. Benefits to a strong unit program include: Well run high quality activities for youth Stronger parental involvement More youth participating in outdoor programs, including summer camp More funding with less fundraising, reducing out of pocket expenses for parents Allows families to plan for annual events Step 1: Planning your Adventure! / Pages 6-9 Plan and execute your program to achieve the Journey to Excellence Award. On the following pages, you will find information to create your plan for your ideal year of Scouting. Step 2: Funding your Adventure! / Pages Begin by planning your budget. Include unit expenses and activity costs. Be sure to include your Scouts in the budget building process. Use the budget planning worksheet on page 12 to help find the total cost of your program and how to fund it. Step 3: Organizing your Adventure! / Pages Next is making sure that your troop is organized and has many adults serving in a variety of leadership positions. The more families that are involved in planning and running your troop the less load it is on one individual. Step 4: Preparing your Leaders and Families for Adventure! / Pages Every boy deserves a trained leader. We want to make sure you understand how Scouting works and provide you the resources to deliver a fun and fulfilling program. The BSA provides a wealth of training opportunities at every level of Scouting. Whether you re a first time Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, or a high adventure veteran, there s a training course for you. Continual learning is the key to the success of our programs. Step 5: The Adventure! / Pages This is why we participate in Scouting. This section covers many of the amazing activities that troops can participate in. Step 6: Recognizing and Celebrating the Adventure! / Pages Everyone loves a great party and celebrating the achievements of our sons. This section covers an introduction to the importance of timely recognition and recourses for having great Court of Honor programs.

7 Program Planning: The Basis of a Successful Troop Program planning is a simple but critical part of your troop s success. Throughout the process, remember that your goal is to deliver a high quality program to each boy and his family. It should be fun, exciting and focused on the purposes of Scouting. Setting an Annual Program Plan provides direction, a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment in a job well done. Planning also makes the best possible use of your valuable volunteer time. One of the most important responsibilities of the troop committee is to keep the troop operating with a first-rate, yeararound program. The quality of the program will depend largely on the troop committee giving the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters the support they need. STEPS FOR A GREAT ANNUAL PROGRAM PLAN Prior to the scheduled face-to-face conference complete the following steps: Step 1 Gather the following key information: 1. Key school dates, like holidays and exams 2. Community event dates 3. The chartered organization's key dates 4. Personal dates that may affect the troop's activities, such as the Scoutmaster's anniversary cruise 5. Key district and council dates 6. Data collected from the Troop Resources Survey 7. Last year's troop annual plan, if you have one 8. Troop priorities and goals 9. Scouts' advancement records 10. General outline of next year's program Step 2 Discuss this process with your senior patrol leader, explaining the importance of this process and his role in it. Discuss your options for programs and activities and your troop goals. Share your draft outline for next year's program and ask him for his input and thoughts. Be flexible at this point. Review this presentation so he will understand the agenda and work ahead. Step 3 Your senior patrol leader shares the draft plan with patrol leaders, who then share it with Scouts to get their input and ideas. Patrol leaders schedule a meeting to gather information and ideas from the Scouts. Take good notes. Step 4 Invite the following people to attend the conference to maximize the efficiency of your planning. 1. Your troop's youth leaders 2. Troop committee members and other adult troop leaders 3. Chartered organization representative 4. Your unit commissioner (optional) 5. Anyone else who might be helpful, such as other parents 7

8 8 The Troop Annual Program Planning Conference It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what keeps Scouts in the program. They like to have fun, do really cool, challenging stuff, go places, and learn things, even though they might not want to admit it. That is what we call program, and it doesn't just happen by chance. It takes planning and preparations, starting with your patrol leaders' conference. Use these ground rules while discussing ideas at your conference, and you can add your own rules too: It is important to respect the views of each other. Listen and don't interrupt. Keep focused on your task to plan your annual program. Don't get sidetracked. Write out your ideas so everyone can see them. Be in agreement. Step 1 Your Scoutmaster leads a discussion on your troop's goals for the coming year. Write the goals on a flip chart or eraser board, and agree to a list of goals. Step 2 Share the draft printed calendar that shows the dates you researched with the rest of the meeting attendees. Ask if anyone has any other dates they need to add. Step 3 Take a few minutes to discuss these dates and events. Once you feel comfortable with this stage of the calendar, you might even take a vote to approve the dates you have so far. Step 4 Senior patrol leader shares updates from patrol leaders about what Scouts want to do. This can be the most challenging exercise in your program planning conference, so take as much time as you need. You could use the troop program features as a base for your Scouts' desired programs or themes. You might take it one month at a time. Don't forget to add in advancement opportunities. The flow of your troop's program is up to you and could be driven by your goals. As an example, if one of your goals is for the troop to take a wilderness trip to Alaska, some of your programs could focus on traveling to Alaska, wilderness survival, trip planning, wilderness first aid, and van safety. Again, as you agree on a monthly feature or program theme, write it on a flip chart or board and take a vote. Designate someone to write all this in a master calendar and take good notes! Step 5 Add other important dates such as: 1. Boards of review 2. Courts of honor 3. Troop open house 4. Service projects 5. Webelos-to-Scout transition ceremonies 6. Any other dates already planned this far in advance At this point you should have a complete annual plan, a calendar, and a set of troop goals.

9 9 Step 6 Hold a final discussion on the plan, calendar, and goals, and then take a vote for approval. Once you approve your annual plan, it will go to the troop committee for final approval. Step 7 To make this plan a truly valuable tool, it must be shared with each Scout family, your chartered organization, and all other interested parties. This is a must! Your plan will be a living, breathing document. For it to have real value, you must follow it, share it with everyone, and review it regularly to see if modifications have to be made. Good luck on another great year, and don't forget to share your plan and calendar with every Scout family! Sample Troop Calendar August Theme: Cycling Outing: Bike Hike Board of Review Date: Aug 10 Other: Troop Picnic / COH November Theme: Citizenship Outing: Kings Mtn SP Board of Review Date: Nov 8 Other: Service Project February Theme: First Aid Outing: Camp Grimes Board of Review Date: Feb 7 Other: Camp Card Sale OA Elections May Theme: Cooking Outing: Backpacking Board of Review Date: May 10 Other: Unit Elections September Theme: Nature Outing: Backpacking Board of Review Date: Sept 18 Other: Service Project December Theme: Computers Outing: Science Museum Board of Review Date: Dec 8 Other: COH March June Theme: Pioneering Outing: Daniel Boone Board of Review Date: March 18 Other: COH Webelos Crossover Theme: Camping Outing: Summer Camp Board of Review Date: June 28 Other: Begin plan for next year October Theme: Climbing Outing: Camp/ Climb Board of Review Date: Oct 16 Other: Popcorn Sale Fall Open House January Theme: Snow Sports Outing: Klondike Derby Board of Review Date: Jan 18 Other: April July Theme: Woodworking Outing: District Camporee Board of Review Date: April 16 Other: Service Project Theme: Water Sports Outing: Rafting / Camp Board of Review Date: July 18 Other

10 10 Planning Objectives Outdoor Program Providing monthly program activities with a minimum of 6 or seven outdoor activities annually for the boys in the troop is critical to running a successful program. Attending roundtable, talking with other leaders and involving your Scouts in program planning is a great place to start when deciding where to go on outdoor activities. Activities can include day trips as well as overnight experiences. Troop Communication A consistent concern of parents is that they are communicated with effectively by the Troop leadership. Consider putting together a monthly newsletter with upcoming events, items for families to be aware of and reminders about deadlines. Develop a unit website, or facebook page. The more communication that you have with your families the happier they will be and the more likely those parents will be to be an active participant. Advancement The program must be developed to encourage Scouts to achieve advancement. Advancement recognition must be presented in a timely manner. An important milestone is to encourage every new Boy Scout to achieve the First Class rank in months. Advancement should be presented every quarter at a Court of Honor. Providing a meaningful ceremony to the boys and their families can build ownership for parents in their son s advancement. By being recognized regularly, a Scout s self esteem is further developed as he learns about progressing through his rank requirements. Know and understand the advancement process for Boy Scouting. Ask for help if you need it. Use the Online Advancement process when possible. Keep accurate records for every Scout. Unit leaders should use the Troop Program Features and Troop Meeting Plan worksheet to help plan their meetings. Service Projects Scouts across the nation are answering the call to service. Scouting fosters a spirit of citizenship by service to others. It is recommended that units do at least one service project for their Charter Partner each year. It is also good to plan to do a minimum of 3 annually. Service hours should be reported to the community service website. The link can be found on the left side of the Daniel Boone Council website. If you need your log-in information please contact the council office. In ,000 hours of community service were recorded by Daniel Boone Council units! Project ideas include Scouting for food, Adopt a School, Messengers of Peace, working with Charter Partner and local civic clubs.

11 11 Troop Budget Planner UNIT DETAIL: TROOP OPERATING BUDGET Date budget completed: Scoutmaster: Assistant Scoutmaster: Committee chairperson: Treasurer: Popcorn chairperson: Camp Card Chairperson INCOME (Complete the expense side first, then return to this income worksheet) A) TOTAL UNIT BUDGETED PROGRAM EXPENSES Troop No. District: Projected No. of Scouts: Projected No. of registered adults: INCOME: Annual dues (monthly amount x 10 or 12 months) Surplus from prior year (beginning fund balance) B) INCOME SUBTOTAL Dues Amt X 10 Months # of Scouts C) TOTAL FUNDRAISING NEED (A minus B) Popcorn Sale Revenue (Check with your local council for commission percentage and bonuses.) Need Commission = Troop Goal Popcorn Sales Goal per Scout = Troop Goal # Scouts = Scout Goal Camp Card Sale Revenue Camp Card Commission is 50% Need Commission = Troop Goal Camp Card Sales Goal per Scout Troop Goal # Scouts = = Scout Goal

12 12 EXPENSES Troop Operating Budget Annual Cost Per Person No. of Scouts/ Adults Total Unit Cost PROGRAM EXPENSES: Registration and insurance fees Total youth + $26 ea. $26.00 Boys' Life Total $12 ea. $12.00 Unit charter fee Yearly flat $40 Advancement $9.00 Camping trips (1) Camping trip (2) Camping trip (3) Camping trip (4) Camping trip (5) Camping trip (6) Camping trip District events Camporees (2) Special activities Field trips Other (1) Merit badge day, first aid rally, Etc Location Handbooks One for each new $10 $8.00 Adult leader training Unit equipment purchases Leader camp fees Leader recognition TOTAL UNIT BUDGETED PROGRAM EXPENSES: INCOME: Annual dues (monthly amount x 10 or 12 months) Surplus from prior year (beginning fund balance) Other income source INCOME SUBTOTAL: TOTAL FUNDRAISING NEED: Outdoor Skills Tents, cook stoves, etc. Thank yous, veterans awards

13 13 Why should Your Unit Sell Popcorn and Camp Cards? The Daniel Boone Council popcorn and camp card sales are a very important source of funding for the local Scouting units, as well as the council. The sale provides Scouting units with a safe, coordinated money earning opportunity with no upfront cost to the unit. Popcorn sales can fund the troop needs such as camping gear, program supplies, books, recognition items and major troop expenses. Camp Cards can help scouts earn their way to camp, providing them the opportunity to be thrifty and earn their own way. In 2013 the popcorn sale provided over $140,000 in financial support directly to units in the Daniel Boone Council, and camp cards sales provided an additional $27,000. What does this mean for your unit? You can use the popcorn and camp card sales to fund your entire year s worth of activities. Imagine being able to have great events, campouts and have every Scout participate in summer camp without asking the family for any money! It is possible with these fundraisers! Would you like to Have a cohesive unit of adults and Scouts? Teach the Scouts and the unit the principles of Free Enterprise and paying their own way? Have all Scout activities paid without having to dip into your wallet? Eliminate the hassle of collecting dues every week? Buy great equipment without breaking your budget? Buy your Charter Partner nice gifts each year as a Thank You? Have the most fun with your Scouts? Unit Commissions Popcorn Commissions ranges from 28% to 37% plus prizes for the Scouts. Camp Card Commissions are 50% of gross sales. Benefits There is no up-front money needed by the unit for either sale, and you only pay for what you sold. No extra product! Teaches Scouts the responsibility of earning his own way and builds self confidence. Provides experience in public speaking, salesmanship and financial skill development.

14 14 Important Product Sale Dates Kick-off Popcorn Varies by district. Consult District Leadership Camp Cards Date Set By Unit Sale Starts 26 September February 2015 Sale Ends 31 October April 2015 Payments Due 1 December April 2015 Steps to a Successful Sale Recruit a sale chairman Attend your district kick-off and roundtable events to learn more Set specific goals for every Scout Develop and share with Scout prize/incentive programs Make the sale fun, recognize top sellers weekly Have a celebration at the end of the sale

15 15 Tax ID Numbers Reconciling Checking Accounts Unit Equipment Unit Accounts at the Service Center Unit Money Earning Applications Guidelines for Unit Funds and Accounts Under the Chartered Partner Concept, Chartering Organizations own the Pack, Troop, Crew or Post that is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America s program. To establish an account with a local bank, individual units have two options for obtaining a tax ID number. Units can either use the ID number of their charter organization, or they can apply directly the IRS for their own tax ID number. Often the IRS will provide the unit with a tax ID number over the telephone. Units are not permitted to use the Daniel Boone Council s Federal Tax ID number because ID number transactions are reportable to the IRS and this number was assigned only for activities of the Daniel Boone Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc. The unit committee is responsible for unit finances. A treasurer is recruited to administer the account, and ideally the committee chair should receive the bank statement to reconcile. All unit funds should pass through the bank account including, but not limited to dues, fundraising dollars, popcorn sales income, camping fees and gifts. An exception might be registration fees which are collected as part of an organized School Night event. In this case, fees collected can be transmitted directly to the Scout Service Center. Funds not needed for registration at that time should be deposited in the Unit Account at the Scout Service Center and reserved for Re-charter fees. Unit funds should be deposited in a checking account that requires two signatures on every check. Same family members must not approve payment or be the secondary signatory. The unit leader could be one of the signers, but it is recommended that it be a committee member. Unit leaders night have a petty cash fund (with a limit set by the unit committee) which is accounted for with receipts each month. The chartered organization should audit the unit finances annually and make this data available to the membership of the chartered organization. The chartered organization owns the unit and all of the property and funds used by the unit remain the responsibility of the organization as long as the BSA charter remains in place. A unit is usually an unincorporated association, not a legal entity that can bear title to property. Gifts to a unit are almost never tax deductible. An annual inventory of a unit s equipment should be given to the chartered partner, insuring the units equipment is recommended. If a unit dissolves, or the charter lapses or is revoked and all efforts to reorganize have been exhausted, the charter partner shall apply unit funds and property to the payment of unit obligations and then give the surplus to the Council or another Scout unit. All units can maintain an account at the scout service center for the purchase of patches, pins, books etc., at the Scout Shop or for registration, Re-chartering and Boy s Life subscriptions. A print out of the account activity can be obtained from the Scout Service Center upon request. Only the current account balance can be given over the phone. Unit accounts are provided as an optional complimentary limited service. The funds do not earn interest, nor are any fees charged. Units are responsible for keeping the account in a positive state. All unit conducting a fundraiser must submit a BSA money earning application (#4427) to the Scout Service Center in advance of the event. This will familiarize the unit committee with the BSA unit fundraising policies and allow volunteer District Committees to screen for disreputable companies or conflicting projects, and to approve the project. Approval is generally given at the district level, but is always subject to review at the council level. The council popcorn and camp card sales do not require an application.

16 16 Troop Committee Resources The key to a successful Troop program is organization. A well-structured Troop Committee allows the Scoutmaster to focus on great Boy Scout activities and ensuring that dens are doing the same thing. They need support from a committee on matters like fundraising, records and registration, planning civic service, and advancement. Your district team (commissioners, committee, executive) are committed to helping units develop and establish functioning committees through individual coaching and training. Remember, the role of the Scoutmaster is to plan for program at the Troop level and work with den leaders, not orchestrate all functions of the Troop that is the role of the committee. Plan for Your Units Long-Term Success It s far better to find 10 people who can do the work of one, than it is to find one person who can do the work of 10! Take a look at your unit is the leadership strategically placed to make your plans for long-term success come true? Each unit position should have volunteer participation and future leadership representation. Seasoned leadership will help us continue to grow and strengthen our unit, serving as top leaders. Experienced parents and leaders act as co-chairs and co-leaders. Newest members can observe, help and learn to take on future leadership roles. Remember everyone has something to contribute and may be waiting for you to ask for help. Positions Name (2014) Name (2015) Name (2016) Chartered Organization Rep Scoutmaster (SM) Committee Chair (CC) Asst Scoutmaster (ASM) Asst Scoutmaster (ASM) Asst Scoutmaster (ASM) Asst Scoutmaster (ASM) Asst Scoutmaster (ASM)) Secretary (MC) Treasurer (MC) Advancement Chair (MC) Activities Chair (MC) Popcorn Kernel (MC) Camp Card Chair (MC) Camping Chair (MC) Membership Chair(MC)

17 17 Re-chartermania The Daniel Boone Council will throw a party in every district in 2014 for the unit volunteers to complete their units Rechartering process and complete the Journey to Excellence paperwork. Every unit is invited, and encouraged to attend their districts Re-chartermania event. Come and enjoy soda and pizza, and complete your unit Re-charter and JTE Scorecard. Assistance will be available to help with the process! Dates for 2014 Re-chartermania events: Cataloochee District : November 20, Sylva First Baptist Church Nantahala District: November 3, Tri-County Community College Soqua District: November 15, TBA Terrora District: January 17, TBA Toe River District: November 6, Spruce Pine First Baptist Church Time and location will be announced closer to the date but make plans now for your unit to be a part of this fun evening. October Re-chartering Timeline Re-charter reminder cards will be mailed to each unit leader and committee chair. These cards will have your Re-charter access code, so make sure to keep them. Instruction packets will be available at October Roundtables. Finalize list of Scouts and Leaders that are participating in Collect $26 per person for annual dues and insurance and $12 per Boy s Life subscription. Log into BSA Re-chartering system and complete the online process. Call your unit commissioner if you need assistance. November Attend Re-chartermania and turn in the completed Re-charter and complete the unit Journey to Excellence paperwork OR get help from district personnel to complete your unit Re-charter and complete the JTE paperwork. List of all activities your Troop participated in 2014 What Should YOU Bring to RE-CHARTERMANIA List of all service projects your Troop completed in 2014 Current roster, printed from the online re-charter system (must have Chartered Org and Committee Chair signatures) If you need help with this process we can do it at Re-chartermania and collect signatures afterward. Troop check book / blank check from Treasurer All new youth applications for those not listed on your current roster All new adult applications. (Ensure all adults have completed youth protection training)

18 18 What Journey to Excellence Brings to Your Troop 1. A framework for planning the next year. The Journey to Excellence standards are based on what successful units do to continually improve. If your unit plans to achieve gold or silver Journey to Excellence, you ll have a strong and active program. 2. A method for evaluating your unit. Journey to Excellence provides tangible measurements based on things you are likely already tracking, such as how many campouts you have, how many youth are advancing, etc. and uses simple ways to calculate your performance. 3. Guidance in areas where you might do better. As you track your performance against the Journey to Excellence standards, you can easily see where you could do better. 4. Specific guidelines and standards of what is considered good performance. Journey to Excellence has specific, simple measurements to help you. You can easily compare what you are doing against the standards. 5. Early warning of potential problem areas. You track any areas where your unit is not performing as you might like and have plenty of time to make corrections. 6. Recognition for good Scouting. You can proudly receive your bronze, silver or gold recognition for your Scouting unit for the year. 7. Benchmarking to get ideas and tips from other good units. You can receive help and best practices in areas where other units have met the gold standard. In areas where you are doing well, you can give help and ideas to other units.

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20 20 Preparing your Leaders and Families for FUN! The leadership of the Troop is an important part of the success of the Scouting program. The adult leadership will influence the life of every boy and family involved in the program. It is essential to find qualified individuals to fill the leadership roles within the Troop. Quality, trained leadership helps ensure that the boys have fun while successfully moving through the program. All parents and leaders should be trained to ensure your Scouts are having the most FUN in a SAFE environment. It only takes 3 easy steps! Step 1 Youth Protection Training Go to and create an account. If you are registered please put your BSA ID number your profile, if not please add it to your profile after you become registered. Under the training section on the left side of the website select E-Learning and complete the Youth Protection Training module. Print your certificate and submit it with your application to become registered. Scouting s commitment to youth protection is achieved through the shared involvement of everyone in Scouting! Every leader MUST take this to know how to keep our youth safe in Scouting, and to be registered. Parents are encouraged to complete the training as well. Step 2 Scoutmaster Job Specific Training Attend one of the Scoutmaster Job Specific or Troop Committee Challenge training sessions. Parents are also invited to attend these training opportunities. The course is intended to provide troop leadership with the information and tools they need to lead successful Boy Scout troops. Troop Committee challenge can be delivered to your committee as a group upon request of the district training team. Step 3 Intro to Outdoor Leaders Skills Working as patrols, this hands-on course provides adult leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out-of-doors. Upon completion, leaders should feel comfortable teaching Scouts the basic skills required to obtain the First Class rank. Along with Scoutmaster Specifics this course is required of all direct contact leaders registered in Boy Scout Troops in order to be considered "trained".

21 21 Dates for Boy Scout Training Sessions Scoutmaster Job Specific and Troop Committee Challenge September 20, 2014 Toe River District October 4, 2014 Cataloochee District October 11, 2014 Soqua District November 8, 2014 University of Scouting January 2015, Cataloochee Merit Badge Midway February 7, 2015 Soqua District March 4, 2015 Cataloochee Training Day March 21, 2015 Terrora District Cataloochee: Nantahala: Soqua: Terrora: Toe River: Roundtables 1 st Thursday Sylva Baptist 1 st Monday Andrews UMC 1 st Monday Council Office 1 st Wednesday Cummings UMC 1 st Monday Spruce Pine Baptist Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills June and Camp Daniel Boone (during summer camp) September Terrora District March 27-29, 2015 Camp Daniel Boone University of Scouting November 8, Haywood Community College A fun filled action packed day of training for all Scout Leaders and Parents. Topics range from where to camp ideas, cooking, games, ceremonies, flag etiquette, Unit Admin help, online advancement, job specific training and much much more.

22 22 Camping and Program Opportunities The next section covers just a small snippet of the camping opportunities available to your Troop. Camping has always been a core part of Scouting. The outdoor classroom is both an enjoyable experience and a learning one. We want every Scout to have the opportunity to attend camp. That is why we are committed to keeping our camp fees as low as possible. Contact the Daniel Boone Council Office for promotional materials or more information. Event Date Host District Merit Badge Midway May 17, 2014 Toe River Log Rollin Day (Camp Service Day) May 31, 2014 Camp Daniel Boone Asheville Tourist Scout Night June 28, 2014 Asheville Tourist Boy Scout Shooting Sports Day September 27, 2014 Nantahala Camporee October CDB Klondike Derby Oct 31 Nov 2 Toe Grandfather Mtn Merit Badge Midway January Cataloochee

23 23 Event Date Host District Klondike Derby February Cataloochee SM Job Specific Training March 21, 2015 Soqua and Terrora IOLS Training March 27-29, 2015 Camp Daniel Boone Hungry Games Camporee April 17-19, 2015 David Atkinson / Camp Daniel Boone Camporee May 1-3, 2015 Camp Daniel Boone Council Eagle Banquet May 9, 2015 TBA Log Rollin Day May 30, 2015 Camp Daniel Boone Detailed information on these and other national, council and district level events can be found on the website, and in the weekly newsletter, the Long Rifle. All Scout parents and leaders are encouraged to register to receive the newsletter.

24 24 Celebrate the Achievement When humans participate in ceremony, they enter a sacred space. Everything outside of that space shrivels in importance. Time takes on a different dimension. - Sun Bear Scouting ceremonies for the presentation of awards, raising or lowering of the flag, opening or closing a meeting are a book in which a great deal is written. Ceremony asks us to stop, listen, and share an important moment. Scouting ceremonies are an enunciation of values and aspirations, a celebration of achievement. Establishing and maintaining ceremony is the Scoutmaster s job. We needn t preside over every ceremony but should see that they are properly conducted and respected. We ought to make our ceremonies simple and meaningful. We may be tempted to change ceremonies often because we fear Scouts will grow bored with them. In my experience Scouts appreciate predictability and familiarity. Repeating the same ceremony also gives scouts more opportunities to understand exactly what is being said. The job of a Scout-aged boy is to question everything and to seek boundaries. They may act aloof or disinterested, adopt an attitude of insincerity or condescension, or otherwise try to disassociate themselves from what their peers may consider silly or to cover their own stage fright. Expecting and, for the most part, ignoring is usually the best way to handle any awkwardness and the occasional reluctance of some Scouts to participate. While Scouting ceremonies ought to be formal and meaningful they shouldn t be staid or flowery. Sincerity is the most important production value, everything else is window dressing. Ceremonies ought to be simple direct and brief: a few words, a salute, a handshake and that s it. Saluting, lowering and folding the flag with respect and a sense of moment leaves a greater impression than listening to a lecture on patriotism. Opening a meeting with the recitation of the Scout oath and law promotes discipline better than rules of conduct listed on the wall. The formal presentation of an award in a candle lit room is a greater reward than simply handing out badges. Clark Green

25 25 Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America is a tradition dating from the inception of the Scouting movement. A fundamental purpose of advancement is the self-confidence a young man acquires from his participation in Scouting. Advancement is one of the eight methods used to achieve the aims of Scouting character development, citizenship training and personal fitness. It is of great importance that advancement recognition is done on a regular basis. Troop Court of Honor s should be held at least three times a year, and four or five time for very active troops. When implemented correctly, the advancement program will: Help build a boy s self-esteem. Help build his self-reliance as he discovers that he is now old enough to assume certain responsibilities toward other people. Give a boy the positive recognition that he needs. Bring a boy and his family closer through the advancement activities that family members enjoy together. Your planned Troop program should produce the achievement of merit badges and rank advancement monthly. If your unit is not achieving this simple goal, your program is ineffective. Scout leaders should use the Troop Program Features and Troop Meeting Plan worksheet to help plan their meetings. Advancement is built right in if followed. Enter earned advancements online monthly using Internet Advancement (instructions can be found on our website). Boys have a ladder to climb, with recognition at each step. Presenting awards to boys in meaningful and timely ceremonies recognizes their accomplishments and encourages them to continue in Scouting. Ideally, recognition should be given at Quarterly Court of Honor s. Another great resource is Click on Scout Source and then select the Boy Scout program tab. Local resources available to you include monthly Roundtable meetings, District Trainers, Advancement team, Commissioners, District Executive, and other Boy Scout Leaders in your district. Pac Free rank advancement will be awarded to units that turn in their re-charter on time, conduct a family FOS presentation, participate in either popcorn or camp card sales and earn at least Bronze level Journey to Excellence. k

26 26 Appendix The next set of pages is information for your reference. It covers great Boy Scout programs that your Troop can work together to accomplish! Service Hours Contest 27 Scout Strong 28 Adopt a-school 29 National Outdoor Awards 30 Letter from Scout Executive, Joshua Christ 31

27 Daniel Boone Council Community Service Hours Contest Making community service a part of your Pack or Troop s overall program is a true win-win for all involved. The community benefits as organizations or individuals receive valuable help. It gives your Pack or Troop s program calendar some additional structure and content. And it teaches your youth some valuable lifelong lessons about being involved in their community and the benefit that can be provided by volunteerism Journey to Excellence calls for Troops to participate in two, three or four service projects; and Troops to participate in four, five, or six service projects. For both Packs and Troops, one must benefit the Charter Organization and all hours have to be logged on the Journey to Excellence website. Because of the importance of Community Service to the Scouting program, we have decided to begin a Community Service Hours Contest to reinforce our message to Scouts. A Pack and Troop in each District will be awarded a pizza party. Here are the guidelines: The Pack and Troop that has the most hours per Scout, logged at servicehours.scouting.org from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 will be awarded the party. 1 Pack and 1 Troop per District will be awarded. One project must benefit the Charter Organization. (You must submit to your District Executive what this project was.) Updates will be provided quarterly via the Long Rifle newsletter. That s all there is to it! Here are some tips and ideas: Choose an adult in your Unit to be responsible for entering Community Service. Include Service projects in your Unit Calendars while planning the rest of your Scouting year. Create and submit press releases and photos to your local paper so Scouts get recognized. Scouts should always wear their uniform (if possible) when completing their Service Projects. Go to for ideas as well as planning forms.

28 28 ScoutStrong PALA Challange To keep myself physically strong has been part of the oath that Boy Scouts have followed for more than 100 years. Even with fitness and wellness already one of its aims, the Boy Scouts of America has made a formal commitment to do more to address the major health concerns facing today s youth. In August, the organization launched SCOUTStrong. SCOUTStrong was kicked off by announcing a collaboration with the President s Challenge, the premier program of the President s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, resulting in a Scout-specific Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge. Scouting parents and volunteers can participate in the PALA Challenge with Scouts. Scouts under age 18 earn the PALA by exercising 60 minutes a day for five days a week for six out of eight weeks. Adults earn the PALA by exercising 30 minutes a day for five days a week for six out of eight weeks. There is no cost to participate in PALA. Scouts, parents, and volunteers can improve their fitness by earning the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge award, which is now available in Scout shops. Family members can do this together. The motto for SCOUTStrong is, Fit, Fuel, Fun, emphasizing physical fitness, good nutrition, and having fun. Visit for full details.

29 29 BSA Adopt a School Program VISION The BSA Adopt-a-School is a project designed to begin to proactively address our Community/School Relationships. This process is where true community development work can begin. It truly is a win-win situation for both Scouting and our schools. Council Goal To formally adopt 20 Schools in 2014 To document at least 1,000 service hours on Adopt-a-School projects in 2014 Benefits Improve relationships with local schools Establish a defined community service project that counts towards JTE Hours Increase exposure of Scouting value to schools and local community Increase membership through positive exposure How it Works Unit Leader contacts Dan Rogers to discuss the school they desire to adopt. Appointment is set to meet with Principal of the school to discuss the project. The unit and the school agree to specific projects to be completed. Unit pledges to the project and registers on the website. Unit completes projects and records service hours through the adopt a school website. Recognition Units receive a project patch for pledging to participate. As projects are completed unit will receive color coordinated mini patch for each project. Council and participating schools will receive a certificate of participation.

30 30 National Outdoor Awards Do you enjoy camping under the stars, rafting a whitewater river, or hitting the trail afoot, on a bike, or even on a horse? Can you pitch a tent, find your way, and bandage an ankle using only materials in your Troop? Are you prepared to do any of these in rain, snow, sleet, or heat? If so, the National Outdoor Awards are for you. There is nothing virtual about these awards you can earn them only by demonstrating knowledge and experience in the outdoors. So, if you are a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout and think you are tough and disciplined enough to hike or ride the miles, camp the nights, and run the rivers or lakes, then read on and see if the National Outdoor badges or possibly the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement could be for you! When a Scout excels in outdoor participation, there are new awards to show for it! This program, conceived by the National Camping Task Force of the BSA, includes a series of five badges designed to recognize a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout who has exemplary knowledge and experience in performing high-level outdoor activities. The award consists of five emblem segments positioned around the perimeter of a beautiful center emblem. All are embroidered in full color. The segments represent five areas of emphasis: Riding, Hiking, Camping, Aquatics, and Adventure, with rigorous requirements to earn each segment. The center emblem features an outdoor scene with fleur-de-lis and the words "National Outdoor Awards." Full Details for the program can be found at

31 NOTES 31

32 32 Letter from Scout Executive Dear Scout Leaders and Parents, Thank you for your commitment to the youth in our communities. Your dedicated, selfless service delivers this amazing program of Character Education and Citizenship Training to our young men and women at a time when it is desperately needed. For the program to achieve its full potential it is important to recruit and energize enough volunteers, as well as plan a balanced program of activity, learning and recognition. It is through these activities that the true magic of Scouting happens. Units that deliver a wellplanned monthly program theme and outing attract more adult leadership and youth. Those that then recognize these youth and adults on a regular basis keep them involved. This guidebook is designed to help you and your Troop committee plan and deliver a GREAT program in the coming year for your Scouts. If you have questions, or are unsure how to effectively plan your unit program please contact your Unit Commissioner or District Executive. Our team of district volunteers and professional staff will be glad to help your committee learn and execute this basic, but critical process. Again, thank you for your service, and may your campfire burn brightly, shining a world of discovery on our Scouts. Yours in Scouting, Joshua Christ Scout Executive Daniel Boone Council