Table of
Contents
Introduction 3
History
Philosophy
Uniforms and Equipment 5
Uniform
Sales locations
Equipment
Sales Locations
Unacceptable equipment
Troop Organization 9
T.O.
Greenbar Profiles
Current Leaders
How Advancement Works 13
Advancement Standards
Your Part 16
Youth Member
Family Members
Nutrition 18
Nutritional Basics
Trail Snacks
Gourp
Trail Lunches
Our Commitment 21
Meeting Times and Places 22
Codes of Conduct 23
Youth Members
Parent and Siblings
Forms and Releases 25
Medical forms
Firearms release
Custodial Designation
Introduction
History — Troop 286 was founded in 1992 in order to provide boys and young men with the challenges and experience that they will need in order to grow into responsible active citizens within their community. The Prunedale community’s growth had reached a point that challenged the existing troops at that time to handle the increasing numbers of youth interested in the scouting movement. The leaders of Pack 286 visited and met with the adult leaders of all of the boys scout troops in Prunedale. None of the troops in the area were interested in accepting the growth that would be brought about through an alliance with Pack 286. The members of Pack 286’s committee met and determined that it was necessary to establish another troop in the Prunedale Area in order to satisfy the continued scouting desires of Pack 286’s youth members.
In June of 1992 the first three members of Troop 286 crossed over from the Pack to the troop and held their first camp-out under the leadership of Scoutmaster Jeff Pererria. Since that time and under the supervision of Jeff and our current Scoutmaster Doyle Scoggins, the troop has held several hundred trips, activities, training sessions, and meetings.
Among the notable activities and achievements during these first few years have been: two members venturing to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico; a member attending the 14th National Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia; a member attending the 1998 International Scout Jamboree in Chile; the only troop in the council to establish and maintain an annual 50-mile high-adventure backpack program; placing in every competitive event in the 1996 scout-craft skills competition; planning and construction of a state-of-the-art fuel depot for Pico Blanco Scout Reservation; annual participation in the California International Airshow; and first place award for scout troops competing in the 1998 Scout-o-rama.
In late 2000, the Echo Valley Parent Teacher Group decided to cease sponsoring any youth groups outside of the school and withdrew its support for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts. Troop 286 shifted to an alliance with Grace Community Church and changed the troop number to Troop 289 at that time.
Since that time, the troop has provided service to the Grace Community by various minor service projects as well as building a large brick BBQ and installing 4 light poles.
Troop 286/289
has produced one Eagle Scout, and at this date has a second member standing for
his Eagle board. Our over-ridding philosophy
is to produce quality and not quality. The Eagle Board commented that the Troop’s first Eagle was
the most prepared, most poised candidate that it could ever recall.
Philosophy — Troop 289 is unquestionably committed to the “boy-run” scouting philosophy. All decisions, actions, and activities are initiated, planned, and carried out by the Youth Leadership Council (known as the Greenbar). This philosophy provides for the greatest possible development for each member. The individual members learn to develop and improve their planning, goal setting, leadership, time management, interpersonal, public speaking, and supervisorial skills.
The Greenbar plans activities that are not only fun but challenging, and are in keeping with the goals of the troop and the Scouting organization. Each youth member will be called on from time to time to provide training and support of others within the troop. Each member will additionally be assigned a responsibility to support either their patrol or the troop. Boys will have responsibilities for finances, troop equipment procurement and maintenance, advancement progression, food planning and preparation, clean-up, operational discipline, and all the other aspects of a fully functional community.
Since this leadership training is a hands-on situation, it should be noted that at times the youth may fail. Further more the adult leadership will allow them to fail. Mastering the techniques involved in achieving goals is integral to the maturation process of tomorrow’s leaders. The over-riding philosophy is for the boys to learn how to control events through advance planning and outstanding implementation and follow through.
At times this will create trying demands on us as parents. It is natural for us to be moved to step in when our experience allows us to see difficulties that have arisen, or are about to arise. However, we must be aware that when we do so, we remove the opportunity for our sons to learn how to handle that, and similar situations that will undoubtedly come up again and again in their future. Unquestionably, as adults our planning and leadership skills are vastly superior to the youth member’s, but it is our job to provide an environment for the boys to gain experience of their own.
Adult participation is limited to advisory roles only. This places a strict discipline on all participating adults to remain out of the functional operation and resist the temptation to “parent”. There are numerous support roles that we require of the parents. We need mentors for specific troop and patrol level leaders, parents to support individual patrol activities, and most regularly transportation and safety supervision on activities and trips.
Troop 289
focuses on wilderness experiences such that the youth are challenged to gain
self reliance and teamwork skills in various, and at times hostile,
environments that demand that they put forth their best effort. There is no tolerance for thought-lessness, intentionally
disruptive, destructive, or disobedient behaviors.
We realize that in a busy culture such as this one, there will be many demands on each individual’s time. Certainly there are many valuable opportunities available to youth today. Various sports, school, and career oriented programs will vie for time with Scouting, and each member will need to learn to chose where to invest his time for his own greatest benefit.
Scouting is a year round activity that develops and promotes certain personal developments that most other programs can not develop. We understand that there will be times during which a member has higher priority commitments elsewhere. However, the youth member and parents need to understand that those decisions will impact the benefit and support that the Troop will be able to provide.
Members are encouraged to broaden their horizons, but to keep in mind that there are required aspects to the scouting program. A youth who chooses to participate in other programs may limit his ability to properly discharge responsibilities relating to troop office, and as such will not be able to hold those offices. Active leadership within the troop must be demonstrated for certain rank advancements, and outside activities need to be planned accordingly.
The bulk of our troop activities provide for hands on experience in the basic scout-craft skills and in leadership practice. Some of our activities raise the funds required for the organization to operate, and/or provide for the health and welfare of our community. Some of our activities are purely for fun and pleasure.
The youth members and parents need to understand that
advancement will be limited if the “work trips” are missed. Further they need
to accept that the fundraising and community service activities are integral to
the viability of the troop and must be attended. And finally, they need to understand that
this troop operates as a team, and you can’t be a part of the team for the fun
stuff if you aren’t a part of the team for the hard stuff.
Uniforms and
Equipment
Uniform — All members are required to attend meetings, fund-raisers, and specified events in uniform. The uniform provides a basis to develop group identity, mutual respect, identify leadership, and pride in goals and accomplishments. A full uniform as defined by this organization consists of either a long or short sleeved scout shirt with appropriate council, troop, rank, and patrol patches; troop scarf; individual scarf slide; patrol hat; jeans, scout shorts, or appropriate slacks, and appropriate footwear.
Additionally, each patrol will design a patrol tee-shirt that will be worn during travel to and from trips. It is the judgment of our organization that full uniforms do not belong on most trips due to the cost and potential for damage.
Uniforms, whether full or tee-shirt, are an important part of developing within the boys an understanding that they should be proud of who and what they are. They should not be ashamed of, or try to hide, the things that they believe in. Learning to wear their uniform with pride is an important factor in learning to resists negative peer pressure.
Sales locations — Uniforms may be purchased at the following locations:
Monterey Bay Area Council Scout Shop
55 E. San Joaquin Street
Salinas CA 93901
(831) 422-5338
Harvey Bs
356 Main Street
Salinas CA 93901
(831) 422-2806
Garage Sales, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other resale locations may also from time to time have uniforms for sale.
Equipment — Troop 289 is a very active outdoor organization that pursues outdoor activities year round. We camp anywhere from sea level to over 10,000 feet, in summer time and winter. We participate in four different camping modes; facility camping, dump camping, short backpacking excursions, and long-range backpacking excursions.
Facility camping — Our annual snow ski weekend during which we sleep in a large dormitory style cabin, and our periodic trips to camp over-night on a World War II submarine are examples of facility camping.
Dump camping — Our annual camping trip at the Manteca Waterslides, and Memorial and Labor day trips to Pico Blanco scout reservation where we tent camp out of cars utilizing ice chests and food storage lockers are examples of dump camping.
Short backpacking excursions — Weekend backpack trips in the Ventanas, Sierras, and other wilderness areas where the members will carry all of their equipment and food on their backs for up to 10 miles a day are examples of short backpack excursions.
Long-range backpacking excursions — Each year we go on a week-long backpack trip. Based on size, strength, and skill the boys will either spend the week in a base camp, or spend the week hiking over a 50-60 mile course. These trips are long-range backpack excursions.
Each type of camping has different equipment requirements.
We have included an equipment list complete with required and optional items noted. Since our organizational focus is on back-country camping, the equipment list focuses on those items appropriate for that venue. Before purchasing any equipment, we recommend that you speak with knowledgeable individuals within the troop.
Due to the carrying weight restrictions, the list of clothes and equipment is fairly spartan. It may not include many items that you anticipate, but this list has been assembled based on over 100 years worth of outdoor experience, and is designed to cover all needs.
Also, please note that the required equipment consists of a blend of what is in the pack and what is on the individual. In all equipment selections, size and weight is critical.
Purchasing proper backpacking equipment is a confusing issue. Quality is not as apparent as you might hope. Many items look as if they are well conceived and designed. However, experience shows that many of those items are not suitable for our uses. The two most important design requirements for backpack equipment are size and weight. Novice backpackers should limit their food and equipment weight to 25 percent of their body weight.
The first items that need to be acquired are;
An inexpensive youth sized backpack.
A light (6 lb. or lighter) tapered or mummy styled sleeping bag.
A closed cell foam mat.
Most of the remaining equipment will be items that you likely have around the house.
Do not succumb to the temptation to run out and sink a lot of money into specialized equipment. Most often we experience new members loading up on heavy equipment such as tents, mess kits, and air/foam combination mats. By the time the weight of these items are added to their pack and sleeping bag, they have often exceeded their carrying capacity without having clothes and food loaded.
Remember, your son has a weight limitation right now, and he will most likely outgrow at least one backpack, sleeping bag, and pair of boots in the next few years. Many retailers are busy pushing equipment that is trendy and fashionable, as such it is not necessarily the most appropriate for use. Doing your homework first will not only save you money, but it will save your son weight.
Equipment List
In Backpack
2 pair regular socks 1 pair boot socks
1 pair underwear (2 on long range trips) 1 tee-shirts
1 pair shorts
1 pair lightweight thermals (optional sweat pants)
Sweat shirt (optional on summer trips) Wool/flannel shirt
light jacket or vest poncho (waterproofed)
stocking cap sleeping bag
mat ground cloth
waterbottle/canteen water purification supplies
1 Sierra Cup
spoon (optional fork - no butter knife, use pocket knife if needed)
optional plate (or frisbee/paper plates, or second sierra cup to eat from)
Lunches (required number, per trail lunch menu in this booklet)
gourp and snacks ( from approved snack list)
small “AA ”or AAA style flashlight (with fresh batteries)
50 feet 1/8” or 1/4” nylon rope
matches (in waterproof cont., approximately 25, or disposable lighter)
small tube liquid or small bar soap tooth paste (no mint)
tooth brush dental floss
small hand towel wash cloth
toilet paper (1/2 roll in plastic bag, with center roll removed) whistle
sunglasses (optional on certain trips, required on others) lip balm
sunscreen bug repellent
pencil or pen small pad of paper
4 kitchen garbage bags compass
dental floss large trash bag
Optional: (this may be limited by size and allowable weight of pack, allowable weight determined by size, age, and skill of youth member)
moccasins/watersocks swimsuit
fishing gear survival books
bird books carving knives
field glasses musical instruments
gum scout handbook
topographic maps candle lantern
backpacking oven
By Eating group: (these items will be
assigned by the patrol leader prior to each trip)
trowel (1 per eating group, 5"x7" blade)
rain fly/tent (1 for every two or more people depending on size)
stove (1 per eating group)
fuel (2 oz per person per meal)
first aid kit
food
pots
cleaning supplies
On person:
1 pair socks 1 pair boot socks
1 pair underwear 1 pair long pants
1 tee-shirt 1 long sleeve shirt
1 pair of boots 1 hat
pocket knife personal first aid kit
Equipment not
allowed:
sheath knives
firecrackers/fireworks
candles (unless in candle lantern, with approval only)
weapons (includes BB/pellet guns, slingshots, firearms)
no electronic games or musical devises
no games that limit the number of participants by their nature
Sales Locations — Equipment may be purchased at the following locations:
Monterey Bay Area Council Scout Shop Outdoor World
55 E. San Joaquin Street 2222 North Fremont Boulevard
Salinas CA 93901 Monterey CA
(831) 422-5338 (831) 373-3615
Big 5 Sporting Goods Rite Aid Pharmacies
1000 Northridge Shopping Center 17579 Vierra Canyon Road
Salinas CA 93906 Prunedale CA 93907
(831) 449-6767 (831) 663-3816
(REI) Sports World
Cupertino CA San Jose CA
(408) (408)
Garage Sales, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other resale locations may also from time to time have equipment for sale.
Troop
Organization
Troop Organization — The Troop is organized as most corporations. There are many different tiers of responsibility built into the organization. These tiers allow the youth to begin learning leadership skills early with small responsibilities and high potential for success. As their abilities grow, so do the responsibilities that they are exposed to. They will start with being responsible for a small facet of the organization such as, gathering firewood on trips or cleaning the cooking equipment. As they evolve they will graduate to such responsibilities as training the individual responsible for the over-all operations of the troop.
The troop members are separated into Patrols. Each patrol contains from 4 to 8 boys. Each patrol will have a youth leader (the Patrol Leader), an assistant youth leader (the Assistant Patrol Leader), as well as boys who are responsible to keep track of the patrol’s finances, equipment, advancement, timeliness, and discipline.
The number of patrols in the troop will be limited only by the number of members. One patrol is routinely designated as the “Senior” patrol, and is made up of the older members who are troop officers. Each patrol will choose a name, make a flag, and make up an individual patrol yell.
The troop will have individuals that are responsible for finances, equipment, advancement, timeliness, discipline, communications, and leadership and training. The Troop Leadership Council (known as the Greenbar) is composed of the troop leadership individuals, the patrol leaders, and the assistant patrol leaders. The Greenbar operates as any Board of Directors would with various assignments and committees designed to carryout the plans that it makes.
Youth members will be responsible for making campsite reservation, planning hiking routes, organizing transportation, recruiting adult leaders, planning advancement ceremonies, performing service projects, and assisting the training of individuals who are lower in rank than themselves.
The Greenbar is chaired by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), who is also the over-all operations manager for the troop. The SPL reports to the Junior Assistant Scoutmaster(s) (JASMs), who also assist in his training and control of various facets of the organization. The JASMs report directly to the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Troop Committee Chair.
On the following page you will find an organizational chart to help you understand the structure.
Table of Organization — Troop 289’s organizational chart begins and ends with the youth. There is a separate support chart that ties in to incorporate the adults, but please note that in the organizational chart there are no adult leaders in the direct troop organizational chart.
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
(JASM) (JASM)
(responsible for Youth Leaders) (responsible for Patrols)
Senior Patrol Leader
(SPL)
Assistant SPL Assistant SPL
(ASPL) (ASPL)
Troop Scribe Troop Quarter Master (QM)
(responsible for finances) (responsible for equipment)
Troop Guide Bugle Call Editor
(responsible for training) (responsible for communications)
Troop Librarian Den Chiefs
(responsible for troop literature) (responsible for Webelos Recruiting)
Troop Bugler Master-at-Arms
(responsible for timeliness) (responsible for discipline)
Patrol Leader Patrol Leader Patrol Leader
(PL) (PL) (PL)
Assist. Patrol Leader Assist. Patrol Leader Assist. Patrol Leader
(APL) (APL) (APL)
Patrol Scribe Patrol Scribe Patrol Scribe
Patrol Quartermaster Patrol Quarter Master Patrol Quartermaster
Patrol Guide Patrol Guide Patrol Guide
Patrol Master/Arms Patrol Master/Arms Patrol Master/Arms
Greenbar Profiles —
JASM — Junior Assistant Scoutmasters are past SPLs. They provide support to the SPL. They assist with the SPL’s training and help him obtain results from the remaining Greenbar members. They function as additional eyes and ears to assess the functioning of the troop and patrols and prompt the SPL when actions are needed to improve the operation.
SPL — The Senior Patrol Leader is the chief functioning officer of the troop. He is responsible for the implementation of the training and activity plans. All issues are cleared through this position. The SPL must have attained the rank of Star or higher and be a past Patrol Leader.
ASPL — The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s) function as directed by the SPL and fill in during his absences. They will be assigned specific areas of responsibility. They must have attained the rank of First Class or higher and should be past Patrol Leaders or troop officers.
Scribe — The Scribe controls all finances. He collects and records dues in conjunction with the Patrol Scribes. He approves and pays out expenditures by patrols for food and by troop officers for equipment and reservations. He also tracks meeting attendance.
QM — The Quartermaster is responsible for all troop equipment and the repair and maintenance thereof. He assigns equipment to patrols and periodically assesses it’s condition and submits replacement needs to the Scribe.
Guide — The Troop Guide is responsible for overseeing that the advancement process supports the individual boy’s needs. He is responsible to update the advancement chart, and prompt Patrol Leaders as needed to assure that they and their boys are progressing.
Bugle Call Editor — The Bugle Call
Editor is responsible for the over-all communication of troop activities and
plans. He is responsible for the monthly
production of the “Bugle Call”, our troop newsletter.
Troop Librarian — The Librarian is responsible for maintaining the library of merit badge pamphlets and training materials. He is also responsible for tracking and recording trip and activity attendance.
Den Chiefs — Den Chiefs are assigned to work with specific dens of Webelos scouts during their second year in order to ease the transition into scouting and to help the Den Leader in controlling his/her meetings.
Troop Bugler — The Bugler is responsible to see to it that the troop maintains timeliness as required. It is his responsibility to assure that meetings begin and end on time and that trips are operated in such a fashion as to assure timeliness for leaving and returning.
Master-at-Arms — The Master-at-Arms is in charge of assuring that the troop meetings can proceed in a disciplined and orderly manner. He maintains quiet and order. He is involved in the conflict resolution process at all levels.
PL — The Patrol Leaders are responsible for the over-all operation of a group of boys numbering up to 10 individuals. They must see that attendance, advancement, and safety are in order. They train and lead the troop sub-units.
APL — The Assistant Patrol Leaders assist the Patrol Leaders as assigned and stand in for them during any absences.
Current Leaders —
JASM (Junior Assistant Scoutmaster) —
Geo
SPL (Senior Patrol Leader) —
Adam Wachtel
ASPL (Assistant Senior Patrol Leader) —
Jordan Fries
Scribe
QM (Quartermaster) —
Jordan Fries
Guide —
Bugle Call Editor —
Librarian —
Cole Smith
Den Chiefs —
Bugler —
PL (Patrol Leaders) —
Cole Smith
How Advancement Works
Advancement — In Troop 289 the burden of advancement falls squarely on the individual boy. The troop will conduct training sessions on many different subjects. There will be untold opportunities to gain skills during our regular activities, and leadership chances abound. However, in this troop, the member is responsible for seeing to it that he makes use of these opportunities.
Troop 289 prides itself in developing individuals who are self directed and self motivated. We hold our standards high. It will not be enough to have read the information, nor will it be enough to be able to struggle through proof of a particular skill. You will need to be able to show your mastery of a skill in order to satisfy one of the youth leaders and get them to sign off on your advancement record.
As you progress through the individual requirements of your advancement levels, you will need to read and study the materials in your handbook. You will then need to practice those skills under the tutorship of an accomplished member. Once you believe you have mastered a specific skill you must then demonstrate that skill to your patrol leader, the troop guide, ASPL, SPL, or JASM. If you have satisfactorily proven your skill, they will sign off on your advancement card and book.
When you have completed all of the skill requirements for a particular badge, you must then make an appointment with the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster’s conference. Once he has been satisfied that you have learned your required skills, he will ask you for your plan for advancement through the next rank.
After the Scoutmaster’s conference you will need to schedule a Board of Review. During the Board of Review you will be asked to explain how being a scout is helpful to you in your life. You will be asked to illustrate the Scout Law and Scout Oath in action, and you may be asked to explain how scouting will fit in your future.
Once you have passed your Board of Review you have officially attained your new rank, and may wear the insignia of that rank until such time as an official presentation is made at a Court of Honor.
Unlike many other scouting organization, we place great emphasis on young men learning that gains in life come from their own motivation to improve their condition. We provide a routine presentation of skills and opportunities to practice those skills. The boy must learn to harness his own personal motivation to advance. He, and he alone will be responsible for going to the appropriate youth leader and asking for time to demonstrate his new found skills. Adult and youth leaders will provide periodic reminders of when Courts of Honor are planned, but they will not spoon feed the boy through the advancement process. We expect the individual member, not his leaders or parents, to develop and exhibit the drive to ask for assistance and to advance.
Remember, we will provide the opportunities for advancement…..But you must be the one to take advantage of them. We will not do it for you. Remember the old saying…You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
The Standards — For each rank in Scouting, the adult leaders have developed specific expectations from the youth before they will be able to be passed by a Board of Review for a specific rank. In all things scouting the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, and Scout Slogan illustrate the expected performance criteria for scouts. As the boys age and ascend through the ranks, the expected adherence to the standards increases from mere commitment to near absolute perfection.
For youth members standing for their Scout badge there is almost no conceivable possibility that they will be dismissed by the Board. For them the goal is to get them to present themselves in proper, respectful fashion and undergo what may well be their first experience answering for their behaviors and explaining their goals to adults other than their parents. This Board is not required by the scouting organization, and in fact we are not always in a position to hold it for all boys. It is however a great training opportunity for those boys who do participate in a Board at this level.
For youth members standing for their Tenderfoot badge our expectation is that they understand how the troop and patrol works and what their part in each is. They are expected to be able to speak about experiences that illustrate how they have begun to incorporate the Scout Oath and Law in their lives. They may additionally be asked to relate how the Scout Oath and Law would impact individuals that they know and what benefits they would see. We will attempt to implant the idea that they should use these standards when picking friends and associates.
For youth standing for their Second Class badge our expectation is that they have assimilated the Scout Oath and Law thoroughly into their life. They should be able to express their understanding, and cite examples, of the importance of their behaviors and how they impact others. They should be able to illustrate how they have been working for the common good of their patrol and how they have been working within the demands of the troop’s needs. They should be able to express what good they have gained by being associated with scouting, and explain how they resist peer pressure that is negative towards scouting.
For Youth Standing for their First Class badge our expectation is that they can speak clearly about the value associated with adopting the Scout Oath and Law in their life. They should be able to express their understanding of the importance of their behaviors and how they impact others. They should be able to illustrate how they have been working for the common good of their patrol, their troop and what they have do to help others advance their position in the troop and in life in general.
For youth standing for their Star badge our expectations are that they be able to cite several situations in which they have worked to assist others. They should be able to explain how it is that the Scout Oath and Law has assisted them in shouldering leadership responsibilities within the Troop and in their personal lives. Additionally, they should be able to problem solve some hypothetical supervision problems within the organization.
For youth standing for their Life badge our expectations are that they can speak articulately regarding the leadership roles within the troop and how they can be improved. The young man should be able to define a vision of what steps he plans to take in order to bring that vision to fruition. He should be able to solve fairly complicated hypothetical situations involving conflict within the troop. In all these areas, and in fact in every answer, he should be able to illustrate how the Scout Oath and Law provide a set of guidelines that will assist in the orderly and successful handling of any situation.
For youth standing for their mock Eagle Board of Review our expectations are that the young man be able to speak articulately on the long-term value of his scouting experiences. He should be able to illustrate how these experiences and related skills will provide opportunities that would otherwise be denied him. He should be able to discuss motivation, teamwork, and community in terms that are clear, concise, and compelling. He should be able to illustrate how he will utilize the skills that he has gained in his everyday life. He should have an understanding of the debt of honor that rests with him and a concept of how he can discharge that debt.
Your Part
Youth Members — You have responsibilities when you join this troop. We have expectations of you.
Expectation # 1 — School comes first. Be sure that your homework, studying, and special projects are taken care of. Nothing in this life is more important than your education. First thing home on Tuesdays you need to apply yourself to any school assignments so that you are free to attend the meetings.
Expectation # 2 — You need to attend all meetings and actively take part in the training, planning, and games that occur there. You need to be on time and in uniform. You need to pay attention and focus on business.
Expectation # 3 — You need to communicate with your parents regarding the activities and trips that the troop has planned.
Expectation # 4 — You need to attend the trips. It is on the trips that you will practice the skills needed for advancements. Failure to attend the trips will keep you from becoming an effective part of this team, and will also limit your advancement. There are “play” trips and “work” trips. It is expected that you will come on both type of trips.
Expectation # 5 — You are to actively seek to improve your skills and abilities.
Expectation # 6 — You are expected to be aware of every other team member’s situation and assist them whenever possible.
Expectation # 7 — You are expected to arrive at meetings and activities mentally and physically prepared to function as a member of the team
Expectation # 8 — You will work to improve the usefulness and enjoyably of every meeting and activity that you attend.
Expectation # 9 — You will guide your actions and behaviors by the letter and intent of the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Promise.
Family Members — While Scouting is an activity that focuses on the individual youth member and his growth in personal and interpersonal areas, this can only be accomplished through the combined efforts of every family member associated with the troop. Just as we have expectations of the youth members, we also have expectations of the families.
Expectation # 1 — You advise the adult leaders of any and all physical, medical, or psychological issues that your son has been subjected to. This includes such issues as sleepwalking, previously broken bones, vision problems, bedwetting, hyperactivity, depressed moods, etc.
Expectation # 2 — You will learn the advancement program and encourage your son through activities in the home.
Expectation # 3 — You will be called on to provide transportation to and from events.
Expectation # 4 — You will be called on to provide supervision at meetings or events.
Expectation # 5 — While taking part in meetings and events you will maintain actions that are in keeping with the philosophy of Scouting and this troop.
Expectation # 6 — During transportation activities you will provide information relating to your driver’s license and insurance.
Expectation # 7 — At troop/patrol activities and meetings you will function as an integral portion of the team.. You will be expected to defer to the judgment of the adult leaders unless you determine that there is grave danger in doing so.
Expectation # 8 — You will work within the structure of the organization to provide the safest, most beneficial program possible.
Nutrition
The Basics of Nutrition — It is not the intent of this guide to detail all of the basics regarding the major food groups and recommended daily allowances of various nutrients. However, we will review the basic requirements of a balanced diet, as well as some methods to augment that diet. Additionally we will provide some information for your use in preparing for your nutritional requirements in the outdoors.
During the days immediately prior to, and during your outdoor adventures, your diet will be more important than usual. At home, your house, car, bed, and clothes are all designed to reduce the energy that your body expends each day. You live within a very controlled, protective environment. That will not be the case outdoors. There is no heater to warm your room, no heavy bedspread to snuggle under, and no microwave to warm a mug of hot chocolate.
The lack of “conveniences” that we have grown up with increases the demands made on our bodies. Your body will need to work harder, most likely longer, and will sleep less when you are outdoors than usual. These factors require that your system is properly prepared and maintained.
The average calorie requirements for a 13 year old boy is 2800 calories, while a 30 year old man uses 2600 calories. A male requires 20-30% more calories per pound of body weight than does a female. Your daily requirement for protein is 59 grams . Males require 35% more protein than females. These figures assume light activity levels, and average size people.
A 13 year old male’s caloric requirements can easily double during strenuous activities such as backpacking. Thus his usual average requirement of 2800 calories becomes 5600 or more calories per day. This much food is difficult to deal with on backpack trips. Can you eat and process twice as much food as you currently do? And if you could, how much would that food weight? And how much room would it take up in a backpack.
We will need
not only to change the amount of food that you are used to eating, but also the
type of food. Fruits and vegetables are
important in the diet, although the required amounts do not change drastically
during increased activity periods. What
does increase dramatically is the bodies need for protein, energy, and
salt. With the weight of food, you
need to find a group of food products that will deliver increased calories per
pound, increased protein, and increased salt to replace that which you will be
sweating out.
You may enjoy this. Your mother may hate this. You will be under orders to carry and eat, M&M's, salted nuts, Beef Jerky, and other foods that your parents mostly try to keep you away from. They are right, under normal circumstance. However, camping and backpacking are not normal circumstances. It is very important that you have your parents attend one of our meetings so that they can have their questions and concerns answered regarding the food you are being expected to bring.
Sugars, Fats, and salt intakes will be greatly increased. If you do not increase your intake on these items, you will be lying on the side of the trail, not lounging around a high country lake.
SITUATIONAL EATING — At home we have mostly all developed a pattern of eating. We have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each day and perhaps throw in a light snack or two. This works out very well for our caloric and nutritional requirements. Our body is fueled at regular intervals, with enough energy to last it until the next refueling time. However, when backpacking this will change. You will need to learn new habits, and will need to drastically increase your intake. This will be accomplished through training that we will begin on day hikes, but basically boils down to this simple theory: Never go for more than ten to fifteen minutes without taking a sip of water, or putting a bite of food in your mouth. Failure to do this will result in your becoming weak and dehydrated, or place your body in a nutritional deficit such that it starts to consume it’s own muscle tissue to keep moving. Neither of these is an acceptable option when you are on the move.
TRAIL FOODS — Trail food needs to: provide instant energy; provide long-term energy; and replace the salt and protein that your body is expending. Trail foods fall into two basic groups that are designed to fulfill these needs. They either are sugars, or carbohydrates. More often then not the carbohydrates have some salt content with them.
Foods such as M&Ms, hard candy, dried fruits, candy bars, and mint bars provide immediate energy that your body can use. Foods such as salted nuts, beef jerky, cereals, and crackers provide energy that your body must modify before it can use. Although not strictly a food, your body's requirement for water will increase dramatically.
Trail Snacks — Trail snacks can be any item that provides lots of calories, either from sugars, or carbohydrates, a bit of salt, and flavors that will keep you snacking. Some good trail snacks would be:
dry roasted/honey roasted nuts tropical chocolate bars
slim jims/beef jerky raisin boxes
granola bars fruit leather
breakfast bars hard candy
top ramon noodles Lipton Cup-o-Soup
prepared trail mixes cheese
Gourp — Made to be filling and to provide lots of calories real fast, and calories for a long time. Gourp is a combination of simple and complex sugars. These sugars and carbohydrates are converted into energy at different rates, so a handful of gourp will provide a steady stream of energy beginning almost immediately and continuing long after it has been consumed
Start with this base, and add to it, or change it to fit your taste. But, remember to keep it high energy and fairly high in salt. This snack is designed to consume on the trail, while you are walking, and to give you an energy boost to help your shed the fatigue that will otherwise creep up on you.
1 box of cereal- trix, kix, cherrios etc. 1 large bag of M&Ms
1 16 oz jar of salted/dry roasted nuts 1 pound of raisins
Trail Lunch — A trail lunch is designed to give you a balance of nutrition, calories, convenience, and hopefully taste. It will total out close to 2100 calories with roughly 18-20 grams of protein. It also balances out sugars with carbohydrates. To make up a trail lunch, you need the following: As little as it may appear when you put one of these together, if you sit down and relax while eating it, you will be surprised to find that it will be difficult to eat it all.
I will be the first to admit that some parts of this meal are not particularly delightful. However, you are not eating this for enjoyment, rather you are fueling your body to meet the demands that you will be placing on it during a hike/backpack trip. My father used to say to me “eat the food that is put in front of you”. This applies to this lunch. While you may not care for instant breakfast, or salted nuts, or teething biscuits, you need the energy and nutrition that they provide. While you are participating in backpacking, you will be required to pack and eat the following for lunch.
1 cup instant breakfast & milk/fruit drink — instant breakfast: available in lots of flavors, remember to pack along ¼ cup dry milk powder to mix it with. Instant breakfasts with milk provide protein potassium, sodium, and between 25-50% of the normal requirement of 21 vitamins and minerals. You may drink fruit drink in place of instant breakfast, However, only one in three lunches can contain fruit drink instead of instant breakfast.
1-1/2 oz jerky/sausage/cheese — may be any flavor of beef, fish, venison jerky. sausage, salami, or cheese (either sliced or squeeze). Provides protein, salt, calories.
1 oz salted nuts — must be shelled before weighted. Sunflower, peanut, walnut, cashew, almond any kind that you like. Provides protein, salt, carbohydrates.
1 1/2 oz dried fruit — dried apples, bananas, apricots, berries, pears etc., or fruit leather of any flavor. Provides simple sugars, and a wide variety of the various vitamins and minerals that you need.
1 1/2 oz biscuits/pilot bread — pilot biscuits, melba toast, zweibach, teething biscuits, etc., must be hard and non-brittle. Provides a platform to consume peanut butter, honey, molasses on. Provides filler, carbohydrates.
1 1/2 oz hard candy —hard candy. individually wrapped, the kind you can buy out of the big bins at the store. mint, butterscotch, rootbeer, fruit sours etc. Energy, calories pure and simple.
This will produce a lunch that weights in at roughly 9 oz., requires no cooking, can be eaten sitting down or on the go, and most of all will keep you on the go.
Our Commitment
Learning Opportunities — We are committed to providing times and situations that will allow our members to learn. In some cases these will be classroom-like situations, at other times they will be real life learning situations.
Every year we will hold close to 50 meetings each of which will have a learning component to it.
Every year we will hold over 20 events that will provide real world learning experiences.
Every year we will provide experiences that will lead a youth to understand the interconnections in community.
The troop will provide a schedule of activities that is so busy as to overwhelm many families. This provides all of our members to take advantage of the learning opportunities presented.
Safety — We will provide activities in environments that are safe when appropriate measures and actions are taken. We will provide our members with the information needed to protect themselves.
However, you must understand that many of the environments that we will be pursuing activities in have some intrinsic danger associated. Members’ safety will depend on their following instructions and paying attention to each situation.
In life, each action causes some other action or consequence. The youth and parents must understand this, and pledge themselves to thinking through, and understanding the ramifications of their actions.
The environments that we conduct activities in are not at all tolerant of thoughtlessness, disruptive, destructive, or foolish behaviors. Most often those behaviors will lead to natural consequences which can be dangerous.
Personal Responsibility — Our program holds individuals responsible for their actions and inactions. The troop is in charge of internal discipline, and there will be times that a youth member is required to perform some disciplinary related function to underscore the fact that he has acted foolishly, disobediently, or not in concert with the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, or Slogan.
On rare occasions when a member perpetuates a habit of actions/inactions that endanger himself or others, he will be restricted as to his involvement with the troop and it’s activities. The Greenbar leadership (usually including only the JASMs, SPL, ASPL, Master-at Arms) will determine when a member will be restricted from activities.
Adult Leadership — The troop will provide a mixture of trained and concerned adult leaders. These leaders will act as mentors to the leadership within the troop. They will most often function within the chain of command of the troop unless a situation presents itself in such a manner that time does not allow for that to occur.
Adult leaders will maintain the philosophical motivation within the troop and advancement process.
Meeting Time
and Place
Regular Weekly Meeting — Our meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday nights at the Grace Community Church, 750 Paradise Road in Prunedale. Meetings will usually last until 8:30 p.m.
Greenb