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Boy Scout Troop 370
(jacksonville, North Carolina)
 
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We're looking at troops. What should we look for?


WHAT should you look for when you visit a troop?
WHAT are some signs of a "good" unit?

Keep these questions in mind...
  1. How is the attendance?  (low enrollment and/or attendance may indicate a troubled program.)
  2. Were the boys AND leaders in the proper uniform?  (RUN from any troop that allows the "bluejean brigade", where they are only in uniform from the waist up.  If they don't promote the basic uniform, rest assured that OTHER THINGS are missing too.)
  3. Are boys advancing at an individualized rate?  Is there a mix of ranks among the Scouts, even in the same patrols?  (Right answer is "yes")
  4. How many EAGLES did they have last year?   (BEWARE of "Eagle Farms". On average, only 2 per 100 boys in Scouting make it to Eagle.  Rates higher than average demand scrutiny as they may be too lax about advancement requirements, or may indicate an "adult prepared" agenda.  "EAGLE" is earned by the BOYS making the effort to achieve on their own initiatives, not by being "spoon fed" an agenda of merit badge coursework over a pre-defined schedule.)
  5. Were YOU welcomed?  Did they make you feel genuinely welcomed and wanted?
  6. WHO is TEACHING?  Boys, or adults?  (With the exception of  "advanced" skill instruction, boys should be running the meeting, not adults.)
  7. Are they having FUN?  Do boys look interested, or bored?
  8. Are there boys of various ages?   (Big gaps in enrollment may indicate periods of a problem program or "issues" with the adult leadership.)
  9. How long has the Scoutmaster been the Scoutmaster?  (A "new guy" may be lacking experience, and "old timers" generally lack "updated program" changes.)
  10. Is there room for you as a leader or on the Troop Committee?  If you're told,  "we're all full", that is NOT a good sign!
  11. Are the boys well behaved?  Do they respond to the "Scout Sign" or was someone screaming "SIGNS UP!!!"?  Any screaming is a warning sign.
  12. Ask what trips they've had, and what they have planned.   Do they do the same thing every year, or are they always trying something new and exciting?
  13. WATCH YOUR SON!   Did he blend in?  Did the boys make efforts to include him?
  14. Watch for different "stages" of the Troop meeting.  There should be distinct periods of Skill Instruction, Patrol time, Inter-patrol Activity, and some formal opening and closing ceremonies. 
  15. Finally, what are the facilities like?  Is there adequate meeting space.. storage space...space to "do things"?

Joining Troop 370


We invite parents and boys to visit Troop meetings and ask questions prior to committing to join the troop. To become a member of Troop 370, you need to turn in the following items to the Scoutmaster:
- Wednesdays 7:00pm - 8:30pm
- Email: troop370awesome@gmail.com

1. Completed BSA membership form with parent/guardian signature (remember to fill out health history on back of form.)

2. $25.00 registration fee (includes council fee, Boys' Life subscription, and troop neckerchief upon achieving "Scout" rank).

3. Completed Personal Health and Medical Record with parent/guardian signature.

Parents of new scouts should meet with a troop leader (normally the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster) for a parent orientation to Troop 370.

A boy may visit our troop meetings as many times as he wishes without joining.  However, he must join the troop to participate in special activities and camping trips.

Membership

Membership in Troop 370 is open to any young man, aged 11 through 17 or who have completed the 5th grade. Membership is also extended to young men aged 10½ who have completed the Arrow of Light program of Cub Scouts.