11 Jan 2008

To: Troop 23 SPL and PLC

From: Scoutmaster Burns

Subject: Planning Guidance for 2008 – 2009

1) The ground rules. Troop 23 is responsible for its own calendar, but within the guidance of the Scoutmaster. This document lays out my guidance. Additional resources include the District and Council Calendars, the School Calendars for 2008 – 2009, The Guide to Safe Scouting, past years Troop calendars and a Holiday Schedule. This document goes hand in hand with the Troop Planning Worksheet.

2) There are certain areas that we as a troop must have as part of our plan. Such as “Troop Celebrations/Management”. All the items in “Troop Celebrations/Management” must be done to be a successful unit. We also need a minimum of 10 nights of camping. This document will cover each area of the Troop Planning Worksheet. There are lots of things we can do as a troop. Not all are on the Troop Planning Worksheet, so if you have an idea for another event, feel free to offer it up to the PLC. A great example of this was Jordan’s idea a couple years ago to do Battleship Cove. Just remember your Scout leadership training. Have a vision, have goals that support the vision and have a plan to attain your goals to help the PLC understand what you want to do.

3) A scout is reverent. The Troop needs at least 3 activities this year to demonstrate reverence and re-enforce to its members the ideals of reverence. There are several listed, again more ideas are welcome. Feel free in innovate!

4) Community Service. This is an important part of who we are as Scouts and helps us to give back to the community and nation that provide us with so much. We need at least 5 Community service events. This is also important for Scout Advancement. Currently we are committed to maintain the Wentworth Trail on Mtn Israel. It is up to the PLC weather we renew that commitment. If we do. The Army Reserve is willing to coordinate with us on the trail and send soldiers to support our efforts in 08. Again, there are a number of great projects and efforts we can under take or assist with.

5) District & Other Events. All the other events are up for discussion, including our own Canoe Regatta. I do want us to participate in at least 2 district events.

6) Fundraising. This is an important part of Scouting. As you have all heard me say; a scout should strive to pay for his own program. You as a troop leader need to make sure we provide the scouts in the troop with plenty of opportunities to do that. We need at least 2 fundraisers. Popcorn Sales are required if we want to maintain our quality unit status. I have been approached by scouts interested in going the high adventure bases, national jamboree and even world jamboree. All are possible, but they will require a commitment in fundraising to get us there.

7) Day Events. There are no requirements here. These are just fun and in some cases advancement oriented event to let us have fun.

8) Troop Celebrations/Management. We can add more. We must do all that are listed.

9) Recruiting Events. The longevity of the troop depends on us bringing new scouts in. We must do at least 4 of these including a WEBELOS Campout and a Troop Open House. We need to coordinate these with the WEBELOS leaders in Pack 23.

10) Hiking – Backpacking Program. Do we want a hiking program in 2009 and if so where? There are Hut Hikes that we have not done. There is a lot of potential here. Biking; we have had 1 patrol do a day trip around Bow Lake, do we want to try some bigger adventure?

11) Camping Program. We need at least 10 nights of camping. This is not a program in a vacuum. Other events that involve camping qualify, but we do need at least 10 nights of camping. Winter Freeze would be an example of a night that counted as a district event and a camping night. We can also be creative here with E-Prep, POW-WOW or Bike Trip campouts.

12) Canoe Program. Do we want to have a Canoe trip next year? It has been a few years since we did Canoe MB. Maybe a day or campout focused on that would be good. (Like we did at Squam Lake 5 years ago).

13) Patrol Events. One of the real successes of the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 years were that we finally got all the patrols going with Patrol Events. We need to keep this going. So I am insisting that we have 2 blocks of time set aside for Patrol Events and we schedule the fall ones on this schedule. There are lots of things that can be done, but we need a date certain and an event from each patrol.

14) Summer Camp. While we are not locked into Hidden Valley or camp Bell. We do have a standing reservation for week 3 at one or the other. We do not need to “pick” a camp right now. We do need to confirm that we will go week 3 if we are going. We can decide on Bell or the Valley while we are at camp this summer.

15) Again, other ideas and inputs are welcome. The PLC needs to confirm the details. I do expect that if the PLC makes a decision that all patrol leaders do their best to support it and attend the event with their patrol.