UPD8

Senior Patrol Leader Minute

It’s been a month since I’ve began working as your senior patrol leader for Troop 25. Here’s what’s new:

Eagle Project Update

My project is to plan and build an 8 x 20 ft pressure treated footbridge over a stream. The bridge will allow our cross country and track teams to compete and train on our  trails that are located behind the school. After waiting months for many boards, committees, and agencies including the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and US Army Corp of Engineers, we finally have approval for a footbridge over a small stream. Many thanks to all these decision makers. I hope to tackle this project within the next month or so.

Recent Troop Meetings

This past month we worked on:

• to learn how to tie a tie 
• making a camp gadget
• using a GPS on a short night hike to retrieve a prize
• working as a first responder on three different mock first aid drills

Some scouts mastered these skills and had them signed off in their handbooks, while many are still working to master these skills.

Advancement

Here’s what I’ve learned: Many scouts are anxious to advance. My advice is to read your scout handbook. A well read book is easily recognizable. I read my scout handbook all the time, and I’ve learned lots of things from it. When I plan a meeting, I assume you’ve read the scout handbook. If you don’t read, or especially bring the book, it will be extremely difficult to advance. Not much of a reader or prefer to listen to an audio version of the scout handbook? See this link.

Scouts learn skills by working on their own, with parents, patrols and the troop. Skills take time to learn. The more time you put into practicing, the faster you will learn. 

Activities

Did you know you can have patrol-specific meetings, activities, and outings? You can! You just need a couple of leaders that have passed YPT training. Talk to your patrol leader. Plan something fun for just your patrol! Get your patrol members’ numbers, emails, and other contacts for easy communication. Let Chris and I know if it’s something you think the whole troop would enjoy.

Think carefully about the activities you want to do in scouting this year.

• Hiking: Where? How far? What seasons?
• Biking: Will you try to earn a merit badge too? It’s not easy, but it is fun.
• Merit Badges: Colleges? Know a counselor? Summer camp? Get your Eagle merit badges, one way or another.
• Camping: Hidden Valley, High Adventure? Camp Bell? Will you try Provo? Up to you.
• Advancement: What rank are you planning to be next month, in the next six month?  Have a goal.
• Travel – Where? When? How?

Ideas for Meetings

Remember to throw in some fundraising and community service. Put your specific ideas on a list with your name and give it to your patrol leader. He will present your ideas at our Patrol Leader Council conference. 

Let’s make this an epic year. We have a great group of scouts. Thank you for all your hard work and attendance.

YIS,
Kenny