How many boys are in your Troop?
We have 22 boys ranging from Scout to Eagle.
How long has your Troop been established?
Troop 6 was established in 1917 and our chartering organization is First Presbyterian Church, Bismarck, ND
Do you limit the number of boys in the Troop?
Never! Scouting is for every boy that meets the criteria set forth by the Boy Scouts of America.
Where and when do you meet?
We meet at First Presbyterian Church every Tuesday evening from 7:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. Occasionally, we meet at alternative locations. Parent/Committee meetings are the second Tuesday of each month.
To observe a meeting, may we just drop in or should we give advance warning?
Normally, the PLC (Patrol Leaders Council) likes to have some advanced notice that the Cub Scouts are going to visit so they can make sure they have enough resources and age appropriate activities planned around your visit. However, if it is just one or two Scouts, we encourage you to just drop in anytime.
How is the Troop organized?
The Troop is organized in accordance with the BSA handbook. SPL, ASPL, and Guides form the Leadership Corps Patrol under the guidance and direction of the Scoutmaster. Individual Boy-led Patrols under the guidance and direction of the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters assigned, have Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders and Patrol Quartermasters. The Patrols make up the Troop which is the shell, in which the Patrol Method functions. Other leadership positions such as Librarian, Scribe, Webmaster, Historian, etc. are all members of various regular Patrols.
How many Patrols do you have?
Currently we have two standard Patrols and one Leadership Corps Patrol.
How many boys are typically in each Patrol?
Four to eight boys make up a Patrol, in which they pick their Patrol Members, Patrol Names, Patrol Flags, and Patrol Cheers.
How is the Patrol leader selected?
The Patrol Leader (PL), Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) and Quartermaster are elected by the Patrol members or the rest of the Troop
What is your Troop’s philosophy with respect to the boys' involvement in Troop activities/events/planning (i.e., would you consider it a “Scout-led” Troop or more of a “Leader/Parent-led” Troop?
Troop 6 is a Scout Run/Led Troop, with Scoutmaster Oversight and Guidance. The Scoutmaster Staff always employs the EDGE principles (Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, and Enable). The Scouts and Patrols of Troop 6 plan in their Patrols and through the PLC (Patrol Leaders Council) and execute their plan, again with the help and guidance of the Scoutmaster Staff and Committee. With respect to involvement, many would like to associate a percentage of time or attending a number of meetings to be considered active. We suggest that it depends on the Scout. Many Scouts and families are extremely busy with sports, band, school activities, and other events that make it hard to compete with Scouting. Troop 6’s philosophy is not the end all be all, and if we chose to set some artificial standard, the Scouting program could almost always lose. Our experience has shown that if the Troop meetings and outings are fun and rewarding, the Scouts will want to attend, or they will make more of an effort to make the events.
We think that the involvement of our older Scouts, even after they are awarded the Rank of Eagle Scout, speaks volumes about our program. We have had many Eagle Scouts attain their rank at 14, 15, or 16 and stay active until they "age out" at the age of 18.
Do you have any Merit Badge counselors or programs within the Troop?
Troop 6 has many registered merit badge counselors.
How pro-active is the Troop in helping the boys achieve First Class?
Troop 6’s goal is to get every boy to the rank of First Class Scout - many within the first year. It is those requirements that make up a well-rounded Boy Scout. The Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks are there to develop the leadership for any Scout that wishes to achieve those goals. We have generally found that we would like them to achieve the First Class Scout rank in about one calendar year (+/-) after joining the Troop. We have found this time frame is fairly well suited to maintaining their interest in Scouting. However, each Scout's pace is completely up to them and we don’t apply any pressure to make advancement ranks on any time lines.
How pro-active is the Troop in helping the boys achieve Eagle Scout?
Troop 6 is extremely pro-active in helping any Scout achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. However, we do not push the Scouts; instead, we strongly encourage them to achieve the rank.
What things have you found helpful in keeping the boys involved/interested on the trail to completing Eagle Scout?
This is a challenge for any Troop. It has been proven statistically that Scouts who don’t achieve the Eagle Rank before age 16 usually don’t achieve it until just prior to their 18th birthday. Parents are the most influential motivation a Scout can have to achieve the Eagle Rank. However, the relationships the Scouts form with some of the Scoutmaster Staff also play a significant role in shaping the desires of Eagle candidates. Again, if the Scouting Program the Scout’s plan, lead, and run are fun and rewarding, the Scouts remain involved and interested, and the end result from that is natural and positive.
Where do you usually go on Outings?
This depends on the imagination of the Scouts and the PLC. If the Scouts of Troop 6 can dream it, it can become a reality.
Where do you go for Summer Camp?
We go many places. We have chosen to visit Summer Camps from throughout the upper midwest region to make the experience more rewarding and continuously interesting for each Scout from year to year.
Does your Troop do any high adventure camping trips?
Yes,Troop 6 has gone to Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico. It has plans to return to Philmont every three years, if eligible.