We are often asked questions regarding the troop set-up. How the troop is run and by whom, how to join the troop, and more. Here are some examples of frequently asked questions from both parents and scouts. 

In Troop 5, we use a system of patrols to keep the scouts organized, while certain scouts keep troop gear organized. To elaborate, there is one senior patrol leader who is in charge of the whole troop. He communicates with everyone in a leadership position, especially adult leaders and patrol leaders. There are about five patrols in the troop and each patrol leader is in charge of their own patrol. They plan patrol meetings and trips and communicate with the senior patrol leader about their patrol affairs. The senior patrol leader also maintains communication with the troop guide. The guide is in charge of a patrol of new scouts. He tells troop instructors what the new scouts will learn and they teach them. All troop supplies are maintained and organized by scouts in positions such as librarian and quartermaster. When new supplies need to be bought, these scouts will turn to the adult leaders to help make a budget and get the new gear. Troop 5 is a boy-led troop.

Troop 5 is lead by the scouts with the adults providing guidance. We believe that having the scouts run the troop meetings and events will help them grow as leaders and learn to work better with their fellow scouts. Do the scouts work as efficiently as the adult leaders? Of course not! But that's the point. The program is set up for scouts to learn from their mistakes because that really is an important skill to develop. Through running the troop, scouts learn better planning skills, communication skills, and cooperation with all sorts of people. 

The adult leaders help the scouts run the troop and guide them through leadership. If a scout chooses or is elected into a leadership position, they are not immediately a leader. A patrol leader, for example, is elected into his position, he won't know what and how to run his position immediately after elected. He will go to the scoutmaster or an assistant scoutmaster for advice on how to be a good patrol leader. If they are struggling they can go to an adult leader for guidance. However, the scoutmaster will NOT do the job for the scout. He will NOT tell him exactly what to do and when, that is up to the scout. The adults are there for guidance but once a scout no longer needs that guidance the adult leader will no longer help him. Also, the adult leaders will help scouts such as the librarian and quartermaster make a budget and buy new troop supplies or help scouts in charge of troop events with the logistics of the event. Whenever a scout has filled every other requirement for a rank they will have a scoutmaster conference in which the scoutmaster decides whether they are worthy to move up to the next rank. The scoutmaster will decide based on how well they've been doing in boy scouts and if they bring the scout oath and law into their every-day life. 

Yes, he will be perfectly safe. We take many safety precautions to make sure nobody gets hurt on our trips and if they do, they will receive medical attention ASAP. We understand your concern for your child especially in the wilderness but all scout leaders know basic first aid, we carry troop first aid kits on every trip, and the adult leaders come on trips and can contact emergency vehicles if there is a situation, though the event of an emergency is unlikely. No scout is allowed to go anywhere alone, in addition, all scouts must tell either the a scout leader or adult leader where they are going and approximately when they should get back. 

At the end of his journey through scouting, each scout should be a true leader. As the scout law states, a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. It is quite clear that the boy scout program was made to teach young boys moral values so they can grow to be good citizens and respected adults. We hope that your son will blossom into a leader and a wise man with a bright future ahead of him.  After all, of the twenty-four men who stepped foot on the moon from the Apollo 9 through Apollo 17 missions 21 were scouts, including Neil Armstrong.

Eagle scout is the highest rank in the boy scouts program and getting it is no small feat. If you achieve the rank of eagle scout, it means you have been judged by your local council and they believe you're a true leader and a responsible figure. By the time you have reached your eagle board of review, you have been transformed into a leader who understands the scout oath and law and uses them in his everyday life. Becoming eagle will follow you for the rest of your life as you go into the adult hood and the real world, the leadership skills you learned in scouting will help you be someone to look up to at the work place and the moral values you held in your life as a scout will prepare you to be the best person you can be. In short, nothing can be more important, or more powerful on your character as you mature than achieving eagle scout. 

You must always pack light for a camping trip. For a weekend trip away from home you won't be needing fifteen shirts, twelve pairs of jeans and thirty pairs of underwear. You should only pack the necessities. About two or three t-shirts, pants, one or two pairs, underwear, three pairs, three pairs of wool socks, soap, and personal gear such as a mess kit. Keep in mind that you will be carrying your pack at least as far as the campsite which can be quite far. On some backpacking trips you may even need to wear the same outfit for a week just to carry all the troop supplies!  Also, you should decide what to pack according to the weather. You should check the weather forecast before going on a trip. If it'll be cold, pack a warm jacket and some thermal underwear, if it's hot, pack t-shirts and shorts or cargo pants. NO JEANS for hot weather.