New Scout Information
Welcome to the exciting world of Scouting with SSA Troop 3! We are a boy led organization. Come visit us anytime. Join the troop, and then let’s have fun and go camping! We meet at Spiritus Sanctus Academy (Plymouth) School 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday (except for the Monday following a weekend outing - outings are usually on the 3rd weekend each month). Check out our website: http://ssatroop3.com for our calendar of activities. We are in the Huron Trails District of the Southern Shores Council. Our charter organization is the SSA Plymouth.
We usually have an outing once a month year-round. We attend a one week Summer Camp in June or July. We camp in tents in September, October, April, May, June, and at summer camp. Once a month, the junior leaders of the troop meet with the Scoutmaster as the Patrol Leader’s Council (PLC) to plan the next month’s meetings. The troop has a committee of interested parents that help provide the opportunities for the scouts to camp, advance in rank, learn leadership skills, and have fun.
A Boy Scout Handbook is the first item that is needed for the new Scout. Please go over the pamphlet in the front of the handbook with your son. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters record your son’s advancement in rank in the handbook. This is in addition to all of the valuable information within it.
Each scout is expected to have a complete uniform at all scouting functions. A 'Class A' uniform includes: shirt, pants (Scout pants, or khaki pants or blue jeans are acceptable in our troop), socks, gym shoes, scout belt, neckerchief (available from Scout Store - red with white imprint) and slide. A complete uniform includes all patches. We understand that uniforms are expensive, so you may start with a shirt and then gradually add pieces. Within a month of joining, a scout should have a full uniform. A 'Class B' uniform is a troop t-shirt with the troop logo on it, it is normally used on outings only.
Every boy is expected to earn the Scout (Joining) badge within the first month or so. Boys crossing over from Webelos should already know the information required for the Scout Badge. For any boy who has not gone through the Webelos program, any older scout or Assistant Scoutmaster is willing to help the new scout to learn what is needed. The next steps in the Boy Scout Trail are Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. It is reasonable for most boys to achieve these three ranks within the first twelve months if they attend all troop meetings and outings offered. It is highly recommended that scouts attend summer camp, especially the first year. After a scout reaches First Class, he is ready to work on merit badges. A scout may earn a merit badge before First Class, but it is encouraged that he wait until after attaining First Class.
Unlike Cub Scouts, each scout advances at his own pace. There is no race or competition. A scout may approach any Assistant Scoutmaster, the Senior Patrol Leader, or the Scoutmaster at anytime for help in learning and testing for any rank requirement. After all requirements except Scouting Spirit, Scoutmaster Conference, and Board of review, the scout will ask the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference. The Scoutmaster will conduct the conference and discuss Scouting Spirit with the scout. After the Scoutmaster Conference, the scout will ask the Advancement Chairperson of the Troop Committee for a Board of Review. Several adults, (committee members and/or interested parents, excluding the scout’s parents and Assistant Scoutmasters), will review with the scout what he likes and dislikes about scouting and the troop, doing a good turn (deed) daily, and Scouting Spirit. The scout is immediately recognized for his advancement that night, at the closing ceremony, with his new badge. He is formally recognized at the next Court of Honor in front of his parents and the families of the troop.
After attaining First Class, the scout is ready to earn merit badges. The scout asks the Scoutmaster for a merit badge blue card, (application). The Scoutmaster may choose not to give out a merit badge blue card if the scout has not attained the rank of First Class or has too many merit badges started. The scout is ready to find a Merit Badge Counselor. These are people in the troop or the district that have expertise in the merit badge subject. The scout contacts the Merit Badge Counselor to meet and work on the merit badge. This might take several meetings. Remember that in scouting one adult is never alone with just one scout. Two scouts, two adults, or a scout’s parent need to be present. After the merit badge is completed, the scout turns the blue card in to the Scoutmaster. The merit badge will be presented at the next Court of Honor.
If a scout attends summer camp, he can earn several merit badges. Many summer camps offer between twenty and forty different merit badges. Some of these merit badges are much easier to do at summer camp than at home. On occasion, partials are given out at summer camp. Quite often, the most difficult work has been done at summer camp. These partials can be finished at home, with a local Merit Badge Counselor.
Troop 3 has a calendar that is put on the website. It has outings, Parents Meetings, committee meetings, Patrol Leader Council (PLC) meetings, and other dates to keep in mind. Permission slips for outings are available on the website and at troop meetings. Each scout is encouraged to keep a copy of the troop roster so that if he has any questions, he is able to contact someone for the answer.
Each scout is responsible for the annual $110.00 dues which needs to be paid by December 31st each year. Dues cover patches and Council registration for the new charter year that starts March 1st. Scouts pay for campouts which are typically $20. A week of summer camp typically costs $325-400 per boy or $100-125 per adult.
How can you as a parent get involved to help your son with his success? Volunteer as a committee member, Assistant Scoutmaster, or a Merit Badge Counselor. Some parents are too busy to become a registered leader; however they come to many meetings and/or go on several outings. Remember, this is a boy led troop, but they do need our adult help. You just might have some fun too!
Tim Dorweiler, Scoutmaster
We usually have an outing once a month year-round. We attend a one week Summer Camp in June or July. We camp in tents in September, October, April, May, June, and at summer camp. Once a month, the junior leaders of the troop meet with the Scoutmaster as the Patrol Leader’s Council (PLC) to plan the next month’s meetings. The troop has a committee of interested parents that help provide the opportunities for the scouts to camp, advance in rank, learn leadership skills, and have fun.
A Boy Scout Handbook is the first item that is needed for the new Scout. Please go over the pamphlet in the front of the handbook with your son. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters record your son’s advancement in rank in the handbook. This is in addition to all of the valuable information within it.
Each scout is expected to have a complete uniform at all scouting functions. A 'Class A' uniform includes: shirt, pants (Scout pants, or khaki pants or blue jeans are acceptable in our troop), socks, gym shoes, scout belt, neckerchief (available from Scout Store - red with white imprint) and slide. A complete uniform includes all patches. We understand that uniforms are expensive, so you may start with a shirt and then gradually add pieces. Within a month of joining, a scout should have a full uniform. A 'Class B' uniform is a troop t-shirt with the troop logo on it, it is normally used on outings only.
Every boy is expected to earn the Scout (Joining) badge within the first month or so. Boys crossing over from Webelos should already know the information required for the Scout Badge. For any boy who has not gone through the Webelos program, any older scout or Assistant Scoutmaster is willing to help the new scout to learn what is needed. The next steps in the Boy Scout Trail are Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. It is reasonable for most boys to achieve these three ranks within the first twelve months if they attend all troop meetings and outings offered. It is highly recommended that scouts attend summer camp, especially the first year. After a scout reaches First Class, he is ready to work on merit badges. A scout may earn a merit badge before First Class, but it is encouraged that he wait until after attaining First Class.
Unlike Cub Scouts, each scout advances at his own pace. There is no race or competition. A scout may approach any Assistant Scoutmaster, the Senior Patrol Leader, or the Scoutmaster at anytime for help in learning and testing for any rank requirement. After all requirements except Scouting Spirit, Scoutmaster Conference, and Board of review, the scout will ask the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference. The Scoutmaster will conduct the conference and discuss Scouting Spirit with the scout. After the Scoutmaster Conference, the scout will ask the Advancement Chairperson of the Troop Committee for a Board of Review. Several adults, (committee members and/or interested parents, excluding the scout’s parents and Assistant Scoutmasters), will review with the scout what he likes and dislikes about scouting and the troop, doing a good turn (deed) daily, and Scouting Spirit. The scout is immediately recognized for his advancement that night, at the closing ceremony, with his new badge. He is formally recognized at the next Court of Honor in front of his parents and the families of the troop.
After attaining First Class, the scout is ready to earn merit badges. The scout asks the Scoutmaster for a merit badge blue card, (application). The Scoutmaster may choose not to give out a merit badge blue card if the scout has not attained the rank of First Class or has too many merit badges started. The scout is ready to find a Merit Badge Counselor. These are people in the troop or the district that have expertise in the merit badge subject. The scout contacts the Merit Badge Counselor to meet and work on the merit badge. This might take several meetings. Remember that in scouting one adult is never alone with just one scout. Two scouts, two adults, or a scout’s parent need to be present. After the merit badge is completed, the scout turns the blue card in to the Scoutmaster. The merit badge will be presented at the next Court of Honor.
If a scout attends summer camp, he can earn several merit badges. Many summer camps offer between twenty and forty different merit badges. Some of these merit badges are much easier to do at summer camp than at home. On occasion, partials are given out at summer camp. Quite often, the most difficult work has been done at summer camp. These partials can be finished at home, with a local Merit Badge Counselor.
Troop 3 has a calendar that is put on the website. It has outings, Parents Meetings, committee meetings, Patrol Leader Council (PLC) meetings, and other dates to keep in mind. Permission slips for outings are available on the website and at troop meetings. Each scout is encouraged to keep a copy of the troop roster so that if he has any questions, he is able to contact someone for the answer.
Each scout is responsible for the annual $110.00 dues which needs to be paid by December 31st each year. Dues cover patches and Council registration for the new charter year that starts March 1st. Scouts pay for campouts which are typically $20. A week of summer camp typically costs $325-400 per boy or $100-125 per adult.
How can you as a parent get involved to help your son with his success? Volunteer as a committee member, Assistant Scoutmaster, or a Merit Badge Counselor. Some parents are too busy to become a registered leader; however they come to many meetings and/or go on several outings. Remember, this is a boy led troop, but they do need our adult help. You just might have some fun too!
Tim Dorweiler, Scoutmaster