BSA Longhorn Council Tejas District

Longhorn Council Scout Show 2005 – Troop 421 “Best In Show”

Background Information

Troop 421 was formed in December 1988 and is sponsored by Grace Presbyterian Church. The Troop maintains a strong positive relationship with our sponsoring organization. Troop meetings are held at Grace Presbyterian Church (behind Kohls on South Cooper) on Mondays from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. Currently, we have 42 Scouts and 45 adults registered in the troop. Programs are competitive, physically demanding, and focused on advancement. A list of the troop’s key events for 2004 and 2005 as well as planned themes for 2006 is shown below.

Troop 421 is a boy run troop. The troop is led by a Senior Patrol Leader. Each patrol within the troop is lead by a Patrol leader and has a Troop Guide whose focus is the advancement of the younger Scouts. The boys select the events and themes for the next calendar year at a planning meeting in August. At Patrol Leader’s Councils (PLC) held the first Monday after each campout, the boys prepare detailed plans for the meetings and campout for the next month. The PLC replaces the regular troop meeting for that week. The boys plan, camp, and compete as patrols. The boys within each patrol plan their own menus, buy and prepare their own food, and clean their own dishes. As a general rule, the boys and adults cook separately. The boys elect their own leaders. Elections are held in December and June and become effective on January 1 and July 1 respectively. The senior boys (First Class and above) sign off on all rank advancement requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class except for Scoutmaster conferences and committee boards of review.

While the boys make the decisions and plan the programs, adult involvement is required to keep the troop running smoothly. While the troop committee supports the logistical needs of the troop, the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters mentor the Senior Patrol Leader and members of the Patrol Leader’s Council. Junior Leader Training is conducted semi-annually by the Scoutmaster.

In addition, committee positions such as quartermaster mentor their junior leader counterpart in the troop. Troop 421 firmly believes in the concept of “failing forward”. Although a poor decision can occur even with mentoring by the adult leaders, every poor decision by the boys creates a wonderful opportunity for a “teachable moment”. The adult leaders do not wish to eliminate these opportunities by making or overruling the decisions of the boys unless they involve a key issue such as safety.

Camping

Troop 421 has a year round outdoor program. The troop camps out 11 times per year including a week of summer camp normally in June. Due to fund raising activities, the troop does not camp out in February. The troop is well stocked with equipment. Equipment owned by the troop includes:

1) 2 trailers for the transportation of troop equipment and personal gear

2) fully stocked chuck boxes (one for each patrol)

3) ice chests, food totes, water jugs, tables (one for each patrol)

4) lanterns & stoves (one for each patrol)

5) dutch ovens & cast iron skillets

Troop equipment is kept in a nearby storage facility leased by the troop. The boys provide their own tents. The troop cooks primarily over propane stoves and charcoal. Release forms are required for each campout for each boy. On campouts, medications are held by the Scoutmaster and are provided as prescribed to the boys. Attendance at summer camp requires a current physical and the troop committee includes a physician who has graciously volunteered in the past to provide free physicals during a troop meeting just prior to summer camp.

Advancement

Most campouts feature activities that address either rank advancement requirements for the younger Scouts or merit badge requirements. The older and more experienced Scouts teach the skills and sign off on requirements for Scout rank advancements (Tenderfoot through First Class). There are four primary avenues for the Scouts to earn merit badges. First at summer camp, there are many merit badges that are offered and that can be completed during a one week summer camp. Second, most troop monthly themes are aimed at specific merit badges and are planned to meet key requirements for these merit badges. Third, merit badge counselors within the troop sponsor Eagle required merit badge classes outside of the meeting time. Fourth, Troop 421 attends a merit badge college generally once a year in the November through January time frame where Scouts have an opportunity to work on 3 merit badges over a 2 to 4 week period. While the troop program is designed to create opportunities to complete merit badges and rank advancement, it is ultimately the Scout’s responsibility to show the initiative and complete all of the requirements. The troop has many merit badge counselors within its own ranks minimizing the need for boys to seek out counselors from other troops within the district. The troop has a large stocked library of merit badge books. Board of Reviews for rank advancements are generally held the same night as the PLC each month. “Court of Honors” are scheduled quarterly.

Service To Others

Troop 421 participates in a number of service oriented activities including:

Service projects at Grace Presbyterian Church (leaf raking in December is common)

Food Drives in support of the Grace Presbyterian charity pantry (every Court of Honor)

Scout Sunday (February)

Adopted the Sid Richardson canoe basin (August or September for last three years)

Eagle service projects throughout the year

Youth Protection

In early 2002, Troop 421’s charter organization instituted an aggressive youth protection policy that exceeds the BSA Youth Protection training and two deep leadership requirements in that it requires an annual local, state, and federal background records check for adult Scouters in the troop. The troop naturally supports this measure intended to keep our youth safe. A nominal fee is charged at the annual recharter for the background check of all adult Scouters in the troop.

Fund Raising and Finances

Catering of Cub Scout Blue & Gold banquets is the primary fund raiser for Troop 421. The troop typically caters 4 to 6 such events each year. Although this makes February Fridays and Saturdays busy for the troop, each banquet requires only a small percentage of the troop (both youth and adults) and this prevents the every Scout from having to support every banquet. By working at a banquet, a Scout and his parent(s) earn money both for the troop and for their family (50/50 profit split). The money earned for the family is in the form of “Scout Bucks”. Each family has a “Scout Bucks” account from which the Scouts and Scouters in the family can make withdrawals to reimburse any Scout-related expense.

Although the troop makes most of its money via Blue & Gold Banquets, the troop participates in several other fund raising activities. The troop places flags at residences in the Wimbledon Subdivision on major holidays (6 per year). The troop participates in the fall popcorn sale. Additionally, the troop has its own aluminum can recycling program with which it has managed to buy the two trailers that the troop owns.

For campouts, expenses are handled as follows. The troop covers the cost of fuel (propane and charcoal) and park fees. Some campouts/events such as Score-O, Dyno-Rock, horsemanship (at SR2), deep sea fishing, shooting sports, and the Longhorn Council Camporee require participation fees which are determined by the event host and which are paid by those attending. Since the boys plan their own menus and buy their own food, food costs for each campout are handled on a patrol basis. Food costs per boy for a campout range from $8 to $15 depending on the menu planned.

Parent Participation

Troop 421 encourages troop program involvement for the parents of all Scouts. There is a strong correlation between adult involvement and the success of the Scout whose parent is involved. Consequently, parental involvement benefits both the son of an adult volunteer and the troop at large by helping to deliver the “Scouting Experience”. Troop 421 is always interested in the unique contributions that a new adult leader can bring to the troop. Whether serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster or a key member of the troop committee, driving Scouts, pulling trailers, serving as a merit badge counselor, or taking the lead in the logistical planning for events such as campouts, we need every adult to contribute periodically to the program of the troop. We can never have too much help. Committee meetings are generally held during the first regular troop meeting of the month (excluding PLCs and Courts of Honor).

Visiting Or Joining Troop 421

Troop 421 invites all Webelos Scouts to come either individually or as a den/patrol to visit and participate during a troop meeting and/or campout. Since some meetings are dedicated strictly to planning (Patrol Leader’s Council) or elections, it is highly recommended that you contact the troop before visiting. If you are interested, please contact the Scoutmaster, David DuBois, at (817) 467-2591 or david [dot] dubois [at] sbcglobal [dot] net

If you or your group decides to join Troop 421, please contact David DuBois as soon as possible. Each scout wishing to join the troop will need to participate in a Scoutmaster conference and complete a form to join the troop. If your Webelos group is bridging to Boy Scouts, Troop 421 would like to have a group of scouts and adult leaders at your bridging ceremony. Also, Troop 421 includes a group of scouts that have made and procured Indian regalia and they enjoy supporting bridging and Arrow of Light ceremonies for scouts joining Troop 421. It is important though that at least several weeks notice be provided so that all of these arrangements can be made. If you have any questions regarding Troop 421, please do not hesitate to contact David DuBois.

2006 Monthly Themes and Events

Month Activity or Theme

January Weatherford Merit Badge College, Shooting Sports Saturday event

February Blue & Gold Banquets, First Aid Saturday event

March Horsemanship

April Tejas District Camporee

May Basic Skills Campout; Dr. Pepper tour; Longhorn Council Scout Show

June Spelunking at Longhorn Caverns

July Summer Camp at Camp Hale, Indian Nations Council, OK

August Canoeing, Kayaking, Sailing at Sid Richardson; Troop Annual Planning Meeting

September Service project at Sid Richardson Canoe Base

October Whitewater canoeing, Webelos Camporall

November Crystal mining (Geology)

December Backpacking Campout; Service Project (leaf raking) at Grace Presbyterian

2005 Monthly Themes And Events
Month Activity or Theme

January Weatherford Merit Badge College; Pioneering Campout

February Blue & Gold banquet catering (fundraising)

February Scout Sunday; Realistic First-Aid event

March Longhorn Council Spring Orienteering Meet Campout

April District Camporee (normally at SR2)

May Basic Scout Skills Campout with Dublin Dr. Pepper tour

June Summer Camp (Buffalo Trails)

July Deep Sea Fishing Campout

July National Jamboree ( 7 Scouts and 1 adult from Troop 421)

July Philmont Treks (2) (Venture 421 with some Troop 421 Scouts)

August Water Sports Campout; Troop Annual Planning Meeting

September SR2 Canoe Base Service Project Campout

October Backpacking Campout (Camping, Backpacking, and Hiking MBs)

November “Live Aboard” Program at USS Lexington, Corpus Christi

December Campout with Fossil Rim drive through day trip (Mammals Merit Badge)

December Service Project (leaf raking) at Grace Presbyterian Church

2004 Key Events For Boy Scout Troop 421
Month Activity or Theme

January Wilderness Survival Campout at SR2

January Weatherford Merit Badge College

February Realistic First-Aid event

February Scout Sunday; Realistic First-Aid event

March Backpacking Campout

April Tejas District Camporee (normally at SR2)

May Basic Scout Skills Campout

June Canoeing Campout

July Summer Camp at Camp Hale, Indian Nations Council, OK

August Shooting Sports Campout; Troop Annual Planning Meeting

September Sid Richardson Canoe Basin Service Project Campout

October Score-O at SR2

November Pioneering Campout

December Service Project (leaf raking) at Grace Presbyterian Church