Troop 1 - Mendham, New Jersey
Troop Purpose, Goals and Methods
PURPOSE
Our purpose is to provide for boys an effective program designed to build desirable qualities of character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and leadership, and to develop in them personal fitness, thus to help in the development of American citizens who:
GOALS
Troop 1’s goals are the three primary aims of Scouting:
1. Growth in moral strength and character
2. Participating Citizenship
3. Development of physical, mental and emotional fitness
METHODS
Troop 1 uses the following eight methods to accomplish the aims of Scouting:
1. Ideals. The ideals of scouting are spelled out in the scout oath, law, motto, and slogan.
2. Patrol Method. The patrol method gives scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship.
3. Outdoors. Scouting is designed to take place outdoors.
4. Advancement. Scouting provides a series of skills to learn and goals to reach through the advancement method.
5. Adult Association. Scouts learn from the examples set by their adult leaders.
6. Personal Growth. As scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth.
7. Leadership Development. Boy scouts encourages each scout to learn and practice leadership skills.
8. Uniform. The uniform makes the scout troop visible as a force for good, creates a positive youth image in the community,
and gives scouts a sense of belonging.
PURPOSE
Our purpose is to provide for boys an effective program designed to build desirable qualities of character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and leadership, and to develop in them personal fitness, thus to help in the development of 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 and stable values firmly based on religious concepts;
- Have a desire and the skills to help others;
- Understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems;
- Are knowledgeable about and take pride in the American heritage and understand America's role in the world;
- Have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and
- Are prepared to fulfill the varied responsibilities of participating in the giving of leadership to American society and the forums of the world.
GOALS
Troop 1’s goals are the three primary aims of Scouting:
1. Growth in moral strength and character
2. Participating Citizenship
3. Development of physical, mental and emotional fitness
METHODS
Troop 1 uses the following eight methods to accomplish the aims of Scouting:
1. Ideals. The ideals of scouting are spelled out in the scout oath, law, motto, and slogan.
2. Patrol Method. The patrol method gives scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship.
3. Outdoors. Scouting is designed to take place outdoors.
4. Advancement. Scouting provides a series of skills to learn and goals to reach through the advancement method.
5. Adult Association. Scouts learn from the examples set by their adult leaders.
6. Personal Growth. As scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth.
7. Leadership Development. Boy scouts encourages each scout to learn and practice leadership skills.
8. Uniform. The uniform makes the scout troop visible as a force for good, creates a positive youth image in the community,
and gives scouts a sense of belonging.
Troop Structure, Operations and Program
Troop 1 Mendham brings Scouting to life in an efficient way. The Troop works hard to make sure that its program places no unnecessary burdens on Scouting families, and has set up a structure that helps to balance time in Boy Scouts with other responsibilities.
TROOP STRUCTURE
Troop 1 Scouts are organized into Patrols, the basic structural unit of Scouting. Each Scout Patrol typically has six to eight members and is lead by a patrol-elected scout Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader.
The Patrols collectively make up the Troop which is led by a troop-elected scout Senior Patrol Leader and one or more Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders. The Patrol Leaders form the Patrol Leaders Council, which is chaired by the Senior Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leaders’ Council plans and runs the Troop’s day-to-day activities. The Council meets monthly to make decisions about Troop events, summer camp locations, Troop projects and other important matters. All matters of significance, including all trips and schedules, are determined by the scouts. Troop 1 is fully Scout-led.
Troop 1 seeks to provide every Scout with a significant opportunity to put leadership skills into action. To that end, elections are held twice a year. We believe that the boys themselves are the best judge of when they or their peers are ready take on the responsibility of leadership. At Troop 1 younger Scouts can, and often do, run for and succeed in leadership positions.
The Patrols collectively make up the Troop which is led by a troop-elected scout Senior Patrol Leader and one or more Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders. The Patrol Leaders form the Patrol Leaders Council, which is chaired by the Senior Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leaders’ Council plans and runs the Troop’s day-to-day activities. The Council meets monthly to make decisions about Troop events, summer camp locations, Troop projects and other important matters. All matters of significance, including all trips and schedules, are determined by the scouts. Troop 1 is fully Scout-led.
Troop 1 seeks to provide every Scout with a significant opportunity to put leadership skills into action. To that end, elections are held twice a year. We believe that the boys themselves are the best judge of when they or their peers are ready take on the responsibility of leadership. At Troop 1 younger Scouts can, and often do, run for and succeed in leadership positions.
ADULT LEADERSHIP
Troop admininstration is provided by the adult Troop Committee which consists mostly, but not exclusively, of interested Scout Parents. The Troop Committee Chairman manages the logistics and finances of the Troop, while the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters oversee the boy-run activities. The Committee facilitates and supports the boy-planned scout activities by providing transportation and facilities and performing other duties that necessarily must be done by adults such as Treasury, Fundraising, Publicity and Internet support. The Committee is also responsible for conducting Boards of Review which are required for Scout Rank Advancement, from Tenderfoot to Eagle. Committee members may also serve as Merit Badge Counselors and Special Project Advisors to individual Scouts on their journey to Eagle. The Troop Committee meets monthly from September to June.
The Troop’s Scoutmaster has overall responsibility for the delivery of an effective Scouting experience to the individual Scouts, and he mentors the Senior Patrol Leader in his management of the Troop. Scoutmaster conferences with each Scout provide an opportunity to discuss each boy's Scouting journey including individual advancement and leadership plans. The Scoutmaster also manages the Troop’s Scout Rank Advancement Program.
The Assistant Scoutmasters support the programs developed by the Patrol Leaders Council by mentoring senior Scouts and working to ensure the health and safety of the participants. Each Assistant Scoutmaster is assigned to a Patrol to serve as a resource for the Patrol Leader, Scouts and parents. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are commissioned by the local council and have BSA safety training in Youth Protection, as well as other areas specific to outings that they will be supporting (climbing, boating, swimming, trekking, etc.). They refresh their training periodically as required by BSA. In addition to attending Troop meetings and outings, the Scoutmaster group meets monthly September through July.
Troop 1 requires that at least two adults leaders must be present at every Scout event, trip or meeting. This “Two Deep Leadership” ensures the safety and well-being of the Scouts.
The Troop’s Scoutmaster has overall responsibility for the delivery of an effective Scouting experience to the individual Scouts, and he mentors the Senior Patrol Leader in his management of the Troop. Scoutmaster conferences with each Scout provide an opportunity to discuss each boy's Scouting journey including individual advancement and leadership plans. The Scoutmaster also manages the Troop’s Scout Rank Advancement Program.
The Assistant Scoutmasters support the programs developed by the Patrol Leaders Council by mentoring senior Scouts and working to ensure the health and safety of the participants. Each Assistant Scoutmaster is assigned to a Patrol to serve as a resource for the Patrol Leader, Scouts and parents. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are commissioned by the local council and have BSA safety training in Youth Protection, as well as other areas specific to outings that they will be supporting (climbing, boating, swimming, trekking, etc.). They refresh their training periodically as required by BSA. In addition to attending Troop meetings and outings, the Scoutmaster group meets monthly September through July.
Troop 1 requires that at least two adults leaders must be present at every Scout event, trip or meeting. This “Two Deep Leadership” ensures the safety and well-being of the Scouts.
TROOP MEETINGS
Troop 1 meets, either for a troop meeting or an outing, every week (except during school vacations and certain other holidays). Troop 1 meetings are held on Sunday evenings at 7:30-8:30 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Mendham, unless otherwise indicated on the Troop’s website. The program for each meeting is planned by the boys, and run by the Senior Patrol Leader with mentoring from one or more of the Scoutmasters.
Patrols take turns, on a rotating basis, developing a theme for each meeting that is both interesting and fun and includes important activities such as earning a merit badge or preparing for an upcoming Troop event or trip. The meeting program is then presented to the Patrol Leaders’ Council for their suggestions and ultimate approval. The Troop meetings also give Patrols an opportunity to meet together and coordinate Patrol activities and other matters. Patrols typically meet independently at least once a month as well. The Troop does not meet on Sundays following an overnight Troop outing such as a camping trip.
While not mandatory, participation in Troop meetings has been found to be very helpful to a Scout’s success in the program. Troop meetings are an opportunity to make a new friend, learn a new skill, prepare for an upcoming event, move down the advancement trail, or practice exercising boy leadership. That said, many of our Scouts are active in athletics or other activities. We understand that each Scout, and his parents, will find the balance between Scouting and other activities that is right for him.
ADVANCEMENT
At Troop 1, we believe that the journey is every bit as important as the destination. Too often the great opportunity to empower boys by allowing them to take personal responsibility for their achievements is wasted when organizations make “checking off the next box” their priority. Troop 1 provides a strong training and support system but the responsibility for rank advancement is placed squarely on each scout’s shoulders, just as it was in 1935 when the American Scouting program was developed here in Mendham. The results that this approach produces are remarkable, both in the success of the scouts in the program and in the new found confidence in their own abilities that it brings to all aspects of the scouts lives.
The Troop conducts Rank Advancement Sessions thirty minutes prior to its Sunday meetings (7:00 PM – 7:30 PM) with a special emphasis on working on the requirements for the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks. While this advancement session is not mandatory for members of the Troop, most Scouts find it an efficient way to progress to First Class. These half-hour sessions each week give the advancing Scout the chance to work one-on-one with senior Scouts on these skills and significantly improve the quality of his Scouting experience. Scouts are strongly encouraged to bring their Boy Scout Handbooks to these rank advancement sessions so that their progress can be noted and “signed off” by senior Scouts.
SUMMER SCOUTING OPPORTUNITIES
Each summer the Troop spends a week at Winnebago Scout Reservation. All boys are strongly encouraged to
attend camp with the Troop in this nationally recognized location as the week builds strong bonds within the patrols, provides advancement opportunities and gives each scout the opportunity to stretch themselves by learning new skills and tackling new challenges.
Troop 1 also provides additional high adventure activities for scouts who are ready for a bigger challenge. Some of these trips are designed and organized by Troop 1 adults and have included white water rafting and backpacking in the Alps and Pyrenees. For Troop 1-designed trips, participation is open to all Troop 1 Scouts, regardless of age, who are able to meet the physical demands of the trip. We also send crews to BSA's national high adventure camps, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and Sea Base in the Florida Keys, at least every other year. BSA national camps have some age restrictions. Each trip is unique and designed to leave lasting memories and instill confidence in the participants.
Patrols take turns, on a rotating basis, developing a theme for each meeting that is both interesting and fun and includes important activities such as earning a merit badge or preparing for an upcoming Troop event or trip. The meeting program is then presented to the Patrol Leaders’ Council for their suggestions and ultimate approval. The Troop meetings also give Patrols an opportunity to meet together and coordinate Patrol activities and other matters. Patrols typically meet independently at least once a month as well. The Troop does not meet on Sundays following an overnight Troop outing such as a camping trip.
While not mandatory, participation in Troop meetings has been found to be very helpful to a Scout’s success in the program. Troop meetings are an opportunity to make a new friend, learn a new skill, prepare for an upcoming event, move down the advancement trail, or practice exercising boy leadership. That said, many of our Scouts are active in athletics or other activities. We understand that each Scout, and his parents, will find the balance between Scouting and other activities that is right for him.
ADVANCEMENT
At Troop 1, we believe that the journey is every bit as important as the destination. Too often the great opportunity to empower boys by allowing them to take personal responsibility for their achievements is wasted when organizations make “checking off the next box” their priority. Troop 1 provides a strong training and support system but the responsibility for rank advancement is placed squarely on each scout’s shoulders, just as it was in 1935 when the American Scouting program was developed here in Mendham. The results that this approach produces are remarkable, both in the success of the scouts in the program and in the new found confidence in their own abilities that it brings to all aspects of the scouts lives.
The Troop conducts Rank Advancement Sessions thirty minutes prior to its Sunday meetings (7:00 PM – 7:30 PM) with a special emphasis on working on the requirements for the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks. While this advancement session is not mandatory for members of the Troop, most Scouts find it an efficient way to progress to First Class. These half-hour sessions each week give the advancing Scout the chance to work one-on-one with senior Scouts on these skills and significantly improve the quality of his Scouting experience. Scouts are strongly encouraged to bring their Boy Scout Handbooks to these rank advancement sessions so that their progress can be noted and “signed off” by senior Scouts.
SUMMER SCOUTING OPPORTUNITIES
Each summer the Troop spends a week at Winnebago Scout Reservation. All boys are strongly encouraged to
attend camp with the Troop in this nationally recognized location as the week builds strong bonds within the patrols, provides advancement opportunities and gives each scout the opportunity to stretch themselves by learning new skills and tackling new challenges.
Troop 1 also provides additional high adventure activities for scouts who are ready for a bigger challenge. Some of these trips are designed and organized by Troop 1 adults and have included white water rafting and backpacking in the Alps and Pyrenees. For Troop 1-designed trips, participation is open to all Troop 1 Scouts, regardless of age, who are able to meet the physical demands of the trip. We also send crews to BSA's national high adventure camps, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and Sea Base in the Florida Keys, at least every other year. BSA national camps have some age restrictions. Each trip is unique and designed to leave lasting memories and instill confidence in the participants.
