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Published on Saturday, 27 August 2011 21:24

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Welcome to the Troop 603 family! We hope to provide your Scout with a rewarding Scouting experience.We’re sure that you have many questions, such as; What equipment will my son need?What should he pack for a weekend camping trip?What uniform pieces are needed?Where can I go to find out information?We hope to answer some of your questions here.

Uniform:The uniform shirt is required, with proper patches (unit number, council strip, etc.)If the Scout does not own the official BSA pants, blue jeans may be worn, provided they are blue.We would love to see every boy in a complete uniform, shirt, pants, socks, hat, belt, etc…However, we realize that this can be quite an expense, especially since the boys grow out of them so fast.So, do the best you can. Scouts that have reached the Star Rank are required to have the BSA pants.

Scout Handbook:Your son should have this with him at every Scouting related activity.There are times where opportunity only knocks once and a good Scout is always prepared.

Medical Forms:These forms must be completed prior to your son’s participation in any activities.If any medications are needed, they are to be given to the Scoutmaster prior to leaving for an activity.Dosage information and any other instructions should be written.Please put medications in a clear plastic bag and include a piece of paper with your son’s name on it.Medications must be in the original, pharmacy issued container.

Equipment:The troop owns tents, stoves, lanterns, cooking equipment and cooking utensils.A boy who does not get a good night’s sleep, does not have a good time on the campouts.Therefore, we recommend investing in a good sleeping bag and a sleeping pad.The sleeping pad can be as simple as a mat made out of foam, to something more elaborate like a self-inflating sleeping pad.Personally, I use a sleeping pad made by Therma-Rest.I have owned my sleeping pad for 15 years now and it has held up quite well.

A personal mess kit is also a good item to have, since it saves some money on disposable plates and utensils, plus it’s less of an impact on our environment!The minimum necessary is a bowl, spoon and cup.

In the fall, we recommend a good pair of hiking boots.This troop likes to hike!Good footwear is critical.

Again, in the fall, a backpack will be helpful.For now, a duffel bag will suffice.For our spring camping trips, we will be very close to the vehicles and our activity plans do not include hiking.There are many different varieties and styles of backpacks.Don’t be afraid to have your son try them on, load them up with weight, walk around the store, etc...We wouldn’t want him to get 3 miles into a 10 mile hike and discover that his backpack is uncomfortable!Backpacks also make it easier to transport gear.And, a backpack will teach your son how to pack conservatively, since everything will need to go into the backpack.

The equipment list below is provided as a guide.Items that have an ‘X’are things to bring on every trip, regardless of the time of year.Other items are useful in the summer months or the winter months.

What To Leave At Home:Electronic entertainment devices, such as Gameboys, radios, cellphones etc…Extra snacks, candy, soda, etc…

Troop Information:The troop has a website that has a calendar page which is kept current.We also publish a monthly newsletter.Please make sure to provide an e-mail address, if you have one, since a lot of communication happens via e-mail.

Summer Camp:Summer camp provides many opportunities for the Scouts.Each Boy Scout owned camp provides an array of activities designed to challenge each Troop, Patrol and individual Scout.Summer camp provides a vast array of merit badge offerings.Much of the Scout’s work along the advancement trail occurs at summer camp.Many camps also offer a special program designed for the first year Scout

Summer camp also provides the opportunity for the individual Scout to experience a bit of independence, as well as personal responsibility.Best of all, summer camp is a lot of fun!

Court of Honor: Troop 603 will conduct a Court of Honor at least twice a year.Usually, one is held in September and another in March.The Court of Honor is a celebration!We recognize the achievements of each boy; merit badges, rank advancement, special awards, etc…Every parent is strongly encouraged to attend, as this is also a time that the troop leadership uses to pass along important information.

Activity Fee:There is a $20.00 activity fee for every camping trip.This is used to purchase food for the weekend.The troop pays for the campsite rental. Adults transporting boys to Scouting events are not charged (the gas they is usually more than the activity fee).

How much does Scouting cost?:In addition to the monthly activity fee, the troop collects yearly dues.This is usually done in the fall and is currently $35.This money is broken down as follows;$10 goes to cover BSA registration fees, $12 pays for a subscription to Boys Life magazine and $13 covers the cost of the troop provided travel and class 'C' shirt.

The troop also conducts one major fundraiser a year, which is our Christmas Tree Lot. This fundraiser pays for the majority of our activities, and helps to subsidize some of our more expensive activities. In addition to the activities, the fundraiser also pays for equipment, badges and awards, as well as other various expenses. To give you an idea, our annual budget is in excess of $20,000.00 per year.

To help the individual Scout, the troop will occasionally conduct other fundraisers.Any money earned from these additional fundraisers goes directly into each boys “Scout Account”.The Scout Account can be used to pay for the monthly activity fee, yearly dues, summer camp, or any other Scouting related need.

Merit Badges: The merit badge program is designed to provide introductory knowledge and skill in many different areas.Certain merit badges are required for advancement, this information can be found in the Scout Handbook.

Parent Participation:This is always encouraged!With that said, let’s keep in mind that this is a Boy Scout Troop with the goal of developing boys into men of good character, strong values and solid leadership skills.As parents and adults, it is our job to “pick them up when they fall”.We must allow the boys the freedom to fail and learn from the mistakes.

Some areas where you can help are:

Troop Committee:Our committee meets on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month.The committee is charged with setting policy, troop finances, recruiting leaders, conducting Boards of Review, and general support of the program.You do not need to be a registered committee member to attend.

Troop Meetings:If you have an interesting occupation or hobby that you’d like to share, we would love to have you speak at a troop meeting.

Transportation / Camping:Transporting a group of people unable to drive is always a challenge.As a general rule, the troop meets at the church at5:30PMon Friday.If you are willing to drive, please let our activities coordinator know.

Emergency Contact:

Please contact our Activities Chairperson, who has a copy of our travel schedule, camp site information, additional activity information, etc…

Interested? Send an e-mail to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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