Welcome

Scout Troop 224

Click here to download a printable Troop 224 Parent Guide

Chartered Organization (Sponsor)

Every Troop belongs to an organization. The Chartered Organization for Troop 224 is the St. Maria Goretti Church.  The Chartered Organization shares our objectives for the boys and insures that there is adequate, trained leadership.  A Charter Organization Representative acts as liaison between us and the church.

Troop Committee

The Troop Committee Functions as an administration and support organization for the Troop. The Troop Committee takes care of the non-program issues surrounding the Troop - for example: newsletters, troop funds, fundraising activities, membership drives and Cub Scout pack coordination, tour permits and coordination of outings, advancement records, procurement and maintenance of Troop equipment.

The committee meets monthly.  The meetings are open and attendance is encouraged by all parents and other interested adults.

Troop 224

Troop 224 will hold meetings twice a month as scheduled on Sundays from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at St. Maria Goretti in Fr. Molloy Hall.  Changes to the meetings schedule will be announced as early as possible to allow for proper planning.  Troop 224 does not usually meeting immediately following an overnight activity.

Adult Leadership

Two registered adult leaders, or one adult leader and a Scout parent, both of who must be at least 21 years of age, are required for all Troop 224 meetings, trips or outings.  One of these adult leaders or Scout parents must be youth-protection trained as defined by the Council Office.

Patrol and Patrol Leaders

The Troop is a group made up of several patrols.  Each Patrol usually consist of a Patrol Leader and no less than four Scouts and no more than eight Scouts.  The boys in a patrol elect their patrol leader who in turn appoints the assistant patrol leader.  The Senior Patrol Leader is an elected position.  The Senior Patrol Leader selects his Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.  The Patrol Leaders, with the Senior Patrol Leader as their head, form the Patrol Leaders' Council, which plans the activities and runs the Troop Meetings.



Elections for Patrol Leader are held in September and March of each year Elections for Senior Patrol Leader will be held in October and April of each year.

Troop Parents

The role of parents within Troop 224 is to be supportive of the Troop's efforts and to provide the atmosphere Scouts need to learn and excel.  Parents should try to:

  1. Read their Scout's handbook and understand the purpose and methods of Scouting.  Parents should attend an informal Boy Scout Fast Start by the Troop Committee.
  2. Show support to both the individual Scout and the Troop by attending all Troop Courts of Honor.
  3. Assist, as requested, in all Troop fund-raisers and other such activities.  All such assistance lowers the cost of the program we offer to the Scouts and therefore, lowers each family's cash outlay for their Scout (s)
  4. Be aware of the Troop program and annual calendar.

Advancements

Achievements include:
  • Learning skills that qualify for Scouting's more rugged and exciting outdoor challenges.
  • Developing body and mind, growing self-confidence, and helping younger Scouts climb the advancement Ladder.
  • Discovering how it feels to go further-in so many ways-than he ever though he could.

We don't look at advancement as a goal, but as a natural outcome of a planned, quality Troop program.

There are four steps of advancement:
  1. The Boy Scout learns.
  2. The Boy Scout is tested.
  3. The Boy Scout is reviewed.
  4. The Boy Scout is recognized.

All parents of Troop 224 Scouts are encouraged to become Merit Badge Counselors.  Please fill in the attached Troop Resource Survey and return to a Troop Leader.

Merit Badges

Board of Review

When a Scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, he appears before a Board of Review (BOR) composed of members of the Troop Committee.  The purpose of the review is not an examination.   Rather it is to determine the Scout's attitude and acceptance of Scouting's ideals; to ensure that the requirements have been met for advancement; to discuss the Scout's experiences in the troop and the troop's program; and to encourage him to keep working towards advancement.  A Board of Review may also be held to counsel a boy about his lack of progress toward advancement.

Courts of Honor

Troop 224 will conduct a Court of Honor once a quarter.  The Court of Honor recognizes all Scout appointments, elections, awards, and advancements since the last Court of Honor.  Adult recognition may be presented prior to the opening of the Troop Court of Honor.  It is the responsibility of the Troop's Patrol Leader's Council to plan and conduct the Troop Courts of Honor.  The Troop Committee will support the Courts of Honor as requested.  The Court of Honor is a public ceremony, and is a chance for the Scouts to be publicly recognized for their achievements.  Parents and all other interested individuals are encouraged to attend.

Rechartering and Fees

The process of rechartering is the annual collection of registration fees for the Scouts and Leaders.  The Troop also makes a formal visit to the chartering organization to renew their commitment for the coming year.  The process of rechartering the Troop must be completed by the end of December of each calendar year.

Annual Registration Fees

How much does Boy Scouting cost?  As little as possible, but nothing worthwhile is free.  The annual fee for each Scout in Troop 224 is $60.00 plus $10 for one registered adult.  Each Scout must have one registered parent in the Troop.  
This fee includes:

  • National BSA membership
  • Insurance
  • Troop membership (Pays for badges, awards, and other expenses incurred by the Troop as a whole)

Fees for Outings/Activities

Individual activities may have fees associated with them.  If so, the parents will be notified.

Fundraising

Additional funds are raised by the boys through various fundraising activities.  The Troop plans to do two to three major fundraising projects a year.  Our fund-raisers will be designed so that once the Troops budget is met, additional funds raised by your son will be put into his individual account to defray scouting costs.  Details on this year's fund-raisers will be available at future Troop meetings.

Friends of Scouting

Each year, the Council operates its Friend of Scouting (F.O.S) campaign to raise money for the Council operations.  The Council is responsible for maintaining the Council Camps, the Council Scout-O-Rama, the Council Camporees, as well as other Council activities, Local BSA administration and local advertising.  Contributions are voluntary, but the Troop has a good record of support for this activity.  As years go by F.O.S is becoming a critical source of BSA funding.