Boy Scout Troop 107 - Corona, California, USA

Select from the following topics:

About Troop 107 | About Boy Scouting | Troop 107 Policies

ABOUT TROOP 107

Our troop does activities like camping, backpacking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, swimming, and much more! We try to do a service project each month in addition to going on outings. We also have regular meetings where we practice for our big outing by doing first aid, knots & lashings, wilderness survival, and earn ranks. If you join our troop, you can run for leadership positions and influence where we go and what we do. Our adults are NOT in charge, the boys are!

ABOUT BOY SCOUTING

What Is Boy Scouting?

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth. Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.

Boy Scout Program Membership

Boy Scouting, one of the membership divisions of the BSA, is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old. The program achieves the BSA's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.

Volunteer Scouters

Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Boy Scouting program. They serve in a variety of jobs - everything from unit leaders to chairmen of troop committees, committee members, merit badge counselors, and chartered organization representatives. Like other phases of the program, Boy Scouting is made available to community organizations having similar interests and goals. Chartered organizations include professional organizations; governmental bodies; and religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and citizens' groups. Each organization appoints one of its members as the chartered organization representative. The organization is responsible for leadership, the meeting place, and support for troop activities.

Who Pays for It?

Several groups are responsible for supporting Boy Scouting: the boy and his parents, the troop, the chartered organization, and the community. Boys are encouraged to earn money whenever possible to pay their own expenses, and they also contribute dues to their troop treasuries to pay for budgeted items. Troops obtain additional income by working on approved money-earning projects. The community, including parents, supports Scouting through the United Way, Friends of Scouting campaigns, bequests, and special contributions to the BSA local council. This income provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and professional service for units.

Aims and Methods of the Scouting Program

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 random 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 group living and participating 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 members can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through 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. In the outdoors the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. The outdoors is the laboratory in which Boy Scouts 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.

Associations With Adults

Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the troop. 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.

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 as 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 world brotherhood 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.

TROOP 107 POLICIES

Patrol Leadership Method:

Troop leadership is divided into two distinct segments; scouts and adults. Most leadership functions are delegated to the scouts themselves. Troop 107 employs the patrol leadership method. The troop is divided into a number of smaller segments called patrols. Each patrol has a leader and an assistant who are responsible for its overall function. Overseeing the patrols is the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and his assistant. The SPL and the individual patrol leaders make up the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC).

The PLC plans and organizes the troop's activities and functions. This leadership method has proven to be very effective in developing young boys into strong leaders.

The troop is overseen by a group of adult leaders who are responsible to ensure that the overall goals of Boy Scouting are achieved. The adults also provide guidance when and where it is appropriate. However, the primary function of the adult leadership is ensuring the safety and well being of the scouts.

The primary difference between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts is the boys not the adults run the show. Sometimes it may appear chaotic, but the method does work and has proven to provide the most benefit to the scouts themselves.

Uniform Policy:

Troop 107's policy is consistent with national BSA policy. All scouts are required to have a complete field uniform when participating in Troop related activities. Information regarding uniform articles and insignia can be found in The Boy Scout Handbook. Uniforms don't have to be new as long as they are in good repair. Garage sales and thrift stores are good sources for many uniform items. Remember that a scout is thrifty! If you can't afford all the uniform items at first, please purchase the shirt and hat first. Mr. D's Camping supplies in Corona carries a full line of BSA clothing and equipment.

Class "A" uniform:

Shirt (short or long sleeve)

Insignia (Council Patch, troop numeral, etc.)

BSA cap

Socks

Trousers (short or long)

Belt with buckle

Neckerchief (Troop neckerchief is generally supplied by the troop)

Class "B" uniform:

We also have troop T-shirts that are available for purchase by troop members. These unofficial uniforms are used primarily for camping and other activities for which the official field uniform is not appropriate.

BSA Handbook:

Each new scout is required to have his BSA handbook as soon as possible after joining the troop. The Boy Scout Handbook contains critical information that each scout needs to participate in our program. Handbooks can be purchased anywhere uniforms are sold.

Required Information:

Parents are required to complete a medical history form and a troop covenant before their son can participate in any outdoor activity with the troop. The medical form provides leaders with critical information in the event of sickness or injury. The covenant authorizes the troop to seek appropriate medical treatment as may be necessary. These forms are available from the troop leadership. Another form is required to provide the troop with information pertaining to your automobile and motor vehicle insurance coverage. For a parent to transport any scout other than their own to any scout function or activity, they must have adequate insurance coverage and seat belts for each passenger. This form is also available from the troop leadership.

Troop Dues:

Weekly dues are $1.00 per Scout and are generally collected each quarter. The Troop Treasurer (Adult) and Troop Scribe (Scout) are responsible for the collection of all dues. Parents or Scouts may elect to pay every week $1.00 or every quarter $13.00. The scout pays for the week even if he does not attend the meeting.

Additional Fees:

Throughout the course of the scouting year, additional fees are required to be paid by scouts. These are primarily for the various outings and activities that occur during the year. Campouts are most likely to require additional fees. If the scouts choose to camp at an area that requires a fee, that fee is divided equally among the number of campers attending the outing. Also included in the fees is money for food and transportation. Scholarships are available through the Troop Committee.

Troop Camping:

An active camping program is a key element to Troop 107's outdoor program. The Troop camps throughout the year in all types of weather conditions except severe electrical storms. The Troop normally schedules one campout or day activity each month. Monthly Troop campouts/activities can either start on Friday afternoons or Saturday mornings and end on Sunday mornings. We're lucky in this area to have an abundance of campgrounds available for our use. For weekend outings, we try to stay relatively close to home to ease logistical problems associated with traveling a long distance with 10 or 20 boys. Parents of new scouts should refer to The Boy Scout Handbook for a listing of personal gear and clothing required for each scout. Once again, thrift shops and garage sales are good sources for used camping equipment. If you're going to purchase a tent for your scout, it's recommended that you don't go overboard. A small, inexpensive dome tent is sufficient for short-term camping. The tent should be easy to set up by one or two scouts in dwindling light. Canvas tents should generally be avoided simply because they require more dedicated effort to maintain.

Menu Planning and Purchasing:

Each patrol is responsible for purchasing its own food for campouts. The patrol, as a group, decides what their menu will be for the outing. This occurs or should occur a minimum of two weeks prior to the campout. Once a well-balanced menu has been written and approved, the patrol then sets a budget target for their food and other supplies (e.g., charcoal, propane, trash bags, etc.).