Deacons Patrol Welcome Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the deacons patrol of Troop 831! We have a great time here while developing a lot of important skills along the way. This document is a quick-start guide for new scouts joining Troop 831 as well as their parents. Scouts should also consult resources like the Scout Handbook, BSA's website, and items listed at the end of this document. It is advised that all new scouts and their families read this guide in its entirety to understand key expectations, processes, and their rationale, and then use it as a reference in the future. Numerous refinements are planned, and please provide feedback or any suggestions.

Benefits of scouting

Participation in scouting requires significant effort and commitment from scouts and their families. So why do it? There are many reasons, including some that are specific to individual scouts, but following are several key benefits appreciated by most participants.

Scouts develop new skills and acquire knowledge that will serve them well for their entire lives. They will serve better in virtually all future roles, including as students, employees, leaders, citizens, husbands, and fathers. The scouting program stresses many desirable values that many would agree are all too elusive in the world today, such as trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift, bravery, cleanliness, and reverence¹.

Scouts gain exposure to new domains and disciplines, potentially helping them identify career interests or passion for a new hobby. Merit badge instruction is provided by experts and enthusiasts who demonstrate the value of their topics (the Why) in addition to just conveying information (the What). Time with these merit badge counselors is invaluable to scouts learning how to engage with adults, and offers positive examples who scouts can develop lasting mentoring relationships with.

Additionally, scouts build leadership experience and develop an appreciation for nature. They get their teenage years started on the right foot, having a better sense for what is good, recognizing the value of hard work, and establishing stronger self-esteem after overcoming difficult challenges on their journey to eagle. Scouts have the opportunity to build quality, lasting friendships. Earning the rank of eagle signals to others that the scout (or former scout) is disciplined and embodies the values off scouting. Because of these and other benefits, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has selected scouting as its activity program for young men.

Activities

The deacons patrol meets regularly to learn, work, play, and serve together. While ad-hoc activities are occasionally scheduled, the patrol generally follows a consistent schedule.

Patrol meetings

The deacons patrol usually meets weekly during Mutual (Tuesday evenings during the 2016-2017 school year). We begin promptly at 7:00 pm and end by 8:30. If the meeting finishes early, we often have social/activity time outside or in the gym.

Patrol meetings are when most of the troop’s advancement work is completed. Scouts work on merit badges taught by various expert counselors (not regular scout leaders).

Campouts

During most months, the troop goes on a single overnight campout. This usually takes place nearby at Jordan Lake, Umstead Park, or Falls Lake, but we occasionally travel to locations like Pilot Mountain (for rock climbing) or the Great Dismal Swamp (for canoeing). Campouts usually feature an activity to complement the current merit badge being worked on (e.g., water sports, fishing, shooting).

Once or twice a year, the Occoneechee council conducts a camporee weekend, inviting all troops from across the council. This is a good chance to meet others, and the scouts have a lot of fun competing and being tested on scouting skills.

When camping, scouts practice the principles of Leave no Trace in order to minimize impact on the wilderness, and in the case of food, to avoid attracting animals to the campsite. Scouts should be familiar with the packing list provided later in this guide and be prepared by brining all of the recommended items.

Court of honor

Each spring and fall, the troop and ward acknowledge the hard work being put forth by the scouts and their families during a court of honor award ceremony. The scoutmaster presents the earned awards and shares stories of the adventures and accomplishments from the previous six months.

Scouts earning their Eagle rank may choose whether to receive their award at the general troop court of honor or hold a separate ceremony.

Scout camp

Each summer, Troop 831 participates in a five-day overnight summer camp. This setting is ideal for working on skills and badges that require extended time, an outdoor setting, or more established facilities or resources than what is typically available during weekly meetings or monthly campouts.

Historically, Troop 831 has alternated between attending camp at an established facility with prepared programming, instructors, food, and other resources, and creating its own ad-hoc summer camp. Our local council offers summer camp at Camp Durant in Old Carthage, NC, where troops from across the council attend together. Our troop has started conducting its own summer camp every three years. This allows us to customize the experience for our troop’s needs and has proven to be a lot of fun and a great experience.

Expectations

In order to provide an optimal experience for all and maximize the benefits of the program, scouts and their families are expected to fulfill a nominal set of responsibilities. Failure to meet these obligations diminishes overall quality and limits the value otherwise available to the boys.

Boy-led troop

Troop 831 is led by the scouts as much as possible. This includes activity planning, conducting of patrol meetings, and carrying out many assignments.

Scouts should be proactive in seeking opportunities to lead. Even if a scout does not hold a formal leadership position, all can seek opportunities to teach others, organize activities, initiate and encourage group service, etc.

We start the year with a planning camp-in where the scouts vote for badges they are most interested in. We follow this prioritization closely, mixing in additional eagle-required badges as needed for rank advancement.

The troop rotates patrol leadership positions regularly so that everyone gets an opportunity to hone their leadership skills. We acknowledge that quorum leadership provides a similar experience and count this toward rank advancement leadership requirements. Scouts typically do not simultaneously hold leadership positions in both the quorum and patrol.

Uniform

Class A uniforms are tan, button-up shirts that badges are sewn to. These are required for all patrol meetings and court of honors unless otherwise directed. They can be purchased at the council store in Raleigh.

Class B uniforms are scout-oriented t-shirts used for activities where class A's would not be practical (e.g., highly athletic or messy competitions that could damage the class A). Troop 831's primary Class B is a red t-shirt with a silk-screened troop logo. One is provided to new scouts joining the troop. Some events, like a scout camp or council camporee, may offer their own Class B for use there.

Attendance and punctuality

Troop 831 maintains an ambitious and aggressive schedule that requires us to make the most of our time at scheduled meetings. We also want to take advantage of the time we have with merit badge counselors who generously make themselves available at our patrol meetings. As a result, it is critical that we start all meetings punctually.

Scouts should be seated in the deacons' room ready to begin by 6:55 pm so that we can begin opening exercises at 7:00 sharp.

Homework

Most scout instruction utilizes the EDGE method (Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable). Merit badge courses typically involves a counselor Explaining and Demonstrating key concepts via an introductory presentation, and Guiding the scouts through a hands-on application of the skill. Scouts are then Enabled to test their knowledge independently on a personal homework project.

Usually, about 80% to 90% of the effort and time required for a merit badge take place over two-to-three patrol meetings. However, scouts often need to supplement with a homework project, such as research or recording an experience. It is unfortunate when scouts miss out on earning a badge after doing 90% of the work because of neglecting to do the homework. A little parental encouragement and follow-up can go a long way in helping their scouts complete their merit badge achievements.

Communications

The scoutmaster typically sends out a weekly email with the upcoming activity plan and any assignments. There is frequently a request for RSVPs, as headcounts may be needed for arranging transportation, registrations, and other planning logistics. Please read and respond to these emails! Time is taken to prepare them because the information is important. At best, scouts have a diminished experienced when they come unprepared because of not getting information (whether from missing or being late to activities, or from not reading the weekly email). At least biannually, scout progress reports are emailed to parents to help with at-home follow up and planning. Parents and scouts are encouraged to reach out to scout leaders at any time with questions, suggestions, or other feedback.

Parent involvement

Parents are welcome to participate in any activity. Only extremely rarely might there be a case where limitations on space, seat belts, funding, or equipment may require us to cap the number of participating parents.

Parents are always encouraged to accompany the troop on overnight campouts. In most cases, this is just to add to the experience and provide more mentorship opportunities for the boys. Occasionally, however, some campouts and activities would simply not be able to be held without parental assistance.

Parents should show interest in their scout's progress and experience. Please enquire about activities and advancement. Providing encouragement and reminding about the long-term benefits of scouting helps motivate scouts to go the extra mile and accomplish their goals.

Helping follow-up with scouts on their homework can make all the difference on whether they end up completing their badge requirements! Parents are also invited to support our Troop Committee and attend its bi-monthly meetings.

Advancement

Scouts should ideally have earned their first-class award in the 11-year-old patrol. This ensures they have the basic camping skills needed to participate in most merit badge and campout activities.

Our patrol moves at a rapid pace that provides the opportunity for scouts to earn their Eagle rank as a deacon if desired. This requires attendance and participation at most scheduled activities and independent completion of homework.

For scouts who want to move at this pace, they could expect to achieve Star rank after roughly six months (depending on when the biannual court of honor is scheduled), Life rank at around their 13th birthday, and would then have one year to complete any remaining eagle-required merit badges and their eagle project.

This pace offers an opportunity, but is not a requirement! Scouts have until they are 18 years old to complete all eagle requirements. However, because the teacher and priest patrols allocate less time for scouting advancement, older scouts will need to drive their progress more independently.