Parent Information
Participation Expectations for Scouts
Scouting's program assists young men in their development into responsible leaders. However, the benefit derived from the program will be in direct proportion to the time and effort the Scout and his parents put into the program.
Scouting is all about showing up. Scouts who can’t or won’t show up don’t get much out of Scouting.
Troop 70 provides an active Scouting program. To get the most from the program, your son must be present at as many troop activities as possible. The troop calendar is published during the summer (and is available on Scoutbook) to allow for family activities, which might conflict with a troop event, to be planned around the troop calendar.
To be fair to all boys participating in the Troop, each boy is expected to maintain a 75% participation level in Troop activities. Despite all the other activities that compete for a boy’s time, he can maintain a balance between sports, school, church, etc., and remain active in Scouting. Planning ahead and setting priorities will make the difference. Those that master this balance reap benefits later in life.
It’s frustrating when a mere handful of Scouts show up for a meeting or camping trip. When youth leaders are absent things fall flat. Half full patrols can’t function as intended. When patrols suffer so does the troop. The program is full of energy when whole patrols and all the youth leaders are present.
The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, along with the youth leaders and Troop Committee, spend many hours of time planning a program for the Scouts. Your cooperation is needed and expected. There may be times when you do not agree wholly with the operation of the Troop, and in such a case, the Scoutmaster will appreciate your thoughts. Often such discussions have brought improvements and innovations in the Troop's operation.
Greenery Expectations
Since 1966, Troop 70 has sold holiday greenery as its principle fund raising campaign. Historically, every four years, the troop budgets to pay for half of the cost for any Troop 70 Scout who has made his sales quota once in the past two years to attend the National Jamboree. All scouts are expected to participate to sell their individual quota to support the troop. The troop is not supported by any other organization and must fund itself entirely by profits made from this program.
Participation Expectations for Parents
The parents are expected to continuously assist the troop by supporting the scouts and participating in those tasks that the scouts cannot do.
This may include: transportation to an activity, shopping for a trip or chaperoning a trip. It also may include assisting with fundraisers (finances and organization), being an adult leader, serving as a merit badge counselor, and coordinating special events. It is expected that each family take an active role in the troop. Unlike Cub Scouts, parents aren’t required to camp with their sons—but they’re encouraged to attend and camp individually if they’d like.
Although we operate on the basis that the boys learn by doing themselves, we know that your son's interest and accomplishments will directly reflect your participation with him. The time you spend with your son in Scouting is quality time between a parent and son. When you look back on the experiences you shared with your son in Scouting, you will remember those as some of the most rewarding.
The support of the Troop's program and its operation by the participation of the parents and scouts are essential to its continued success.