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Dear Scouts,
The Fall Court of Honor last Tuesday was a great opportunity to reflect on many of the accomplishments that each of you have been working on. Many merit badges and rank advancements were recognized including two eagles scouts, special awards like 50 Miler, 3-Point Awards (Friendly, Courteous, Kind) Wilderness Camping, and some merit badges like Radio and Scuba were highlighted. Those on the Bedford Flag trail will also get recognized at a later date when the medals are received. You should all be proud of your accomplishments and share and encourage others. If you did not receive a badge or if you have any questions, please contact me and we will sort it out! As for advancements, the process is a scout learns, is tested, is reviewed and is recognized. There are many learning opportunities provided by the Troop and Council. If you are interested in merit badges, first start off by getting a blue card from me, your Scoutmaster. This makes the tracking progress a lot easier. As you are tested and reviewed, see your Patrol Leader first, because they can sign off up to the rank they currently have. If they cannot sign off, see your ASPL and/or SPL or your Scoutmaster for sign off. This sign-off happens in your Scout Book, so always have that ready at meetings or on trips. Keep good records and in the back there are logs for service hours, camping nights, biking and hiking miles. It’s good practice to keep those up to date and serves as a record for boards of review. At any time during scouting, not always at the end of an advancement, you can request a Scoutmaster conference. I like to conduct those before or after meetings or on camping trips where we have plenty of time. Our meetings are planned and doing one in the middle of the meeting means you are missing out or missing out helping others and being part of the troop. The purpose of the Scoutmaster conference is to check in on your progress learning and putting into practice the scout oath and law. I often ask for examples in everyday life of where you have been kind, helpful, or thrifty. So please think about some examples. When you are ready, I’ll schedule a board of review; that is not your job. My job is to make sure you are ready and if so, schedule or arrange a board of review. These adults will ask you questions about your progress, and you can use the examples you shared with me. They might also ask you what is working well in the troop and patrol and it’s an opportunity to share with them your scout journey and feedback. The board assesses the quality of the experience and decide or determine the requirements have been met. No worries, I won’t request a Board of Review until you are ready. I also introduce you to the board. The board is not a job interview but a dialog with adults scouters (adults who help with the troop). The first Board or Review is always a challenge and each one is a new experience that will help you grow. We have an exciting program year in front of us and back to full swing managing COVID. I’m sure there are now flu and colds so if you are not feeling well then best to stay home for the protection of others. I’m most pleased with individual, patrol and troop progress on living the scout oath and law. We live by a law – it is not merely a guideline. Each week and sometimes more, we recite this oath and law. No one is perfect and sometimes stray but if you keep the oath and law forefront that will serve you well now and in life ahead. Each day you have an opportunity to put the oath and law into practice and one simple way is to do a good turn daily! Well done scouts. I’m very proud of all your accomplishments but more pleased with how you behave individually and to each other as a troop and put the scout law into practice. Do your good turn each day, not just when scouting. Yours in Scouting, Mr. Duggan
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Dear Scouts,
This past week, we had a successful "Parents Meeting" where we discussed the role that adult leadership plays in supporting the Troop. I am very heartened to see so many parents willing to get involved, especially as we have a number of parents who sons are "aging out" this year. The Troop is growing and doing really well, and that only happens when your parents get involved and provide all types of support. So be sure to thank them (and all the adult leadership) for all they do to make scouting the fun and enriching experience we know it can be. Let your parents know that we will be in touch about volunteering soon. And don't forget to invite your parents to our Court of Honor on Tuesday! Do your good turn each day, not just when scouting. Yours in Scouting, Mr. Duggan Dear Scouts,
TL Storer Camporee, led by SPL Matt, was a great opportunity to spend the weekend camping over a beautiful fall weekend. Thanks to Mr. Smith for camping out and many adult drivers who helped shuttle scouts up to and from Barnstead NH. That helped a lot. Scouting happens during events and outdoor experiences like this. We use our meetings to plan, prepare, sometimes skill-up, so that we can conduct scouting over the course of these events. The meetings in-and-of themselves are a way or a method we use to conduct our outdoor program. This helps us “Be Prepared”. It’s not always fun but going through a planning process, understanding what gear is needed from personal gear, patrol gear and troop gear. I strongly encourage new scouts to come to as many events as possible to experience what scouting and boy-led experiences are. You won’t get that from the meetings but only during an event. I’m especially proud of our senior scouts including Cameron, Lucien, Jonah and Lucas (all who attended the Camporee), who make our outdoor program come to life. Cameron used the camporee to do some wilderness survival camping by taking and enlarging a hole in the ground, covering it up with leaves and setting up camp without tent and sleeping in it. Lucien, Lucas, Jonah and Cameron were very good at helping the new leaders as they themselves are veterans of many nights of camping. They jumped into service projects around camp, cutting trees, clearing brush and we even hung signs up in the dining hall (yea!) that we had made from earlier years. They help craft the culture of the troop from how we set up & prepare camp, muster, organize, prepare meals, cleanup, conduct campfire programs and break down the camp and get everyone to and from where they need to be. They always leave the place better, certainly cleaner, than they found it. This weekend is the Town’s Drop Off / Swap Off. It’s a great time to do service for our town and put the scout law into action. It’s also a great time for scouts to think about being Thrifty. See you this weekend. Do your good turn each day, not just when scouting. Yours in Scouting, Mr. Duggan Dear Scouts,
The SoA Council Camporee is this weekend. This is a chance to learn, camp and advance (if you want) at TL Storer. It will be cold, colder than you are used to as we are further north (colder). I’m fine if you bring shorts, but I’m not ok if that’s all you bring. We will have a gear check before going - gear should include pants, boots, hats, gloves - so be prepared. We will also need to setup camp, post a duty rooster, and manage trash, fire, water jugs and weather report. Scouts will need to follow the buddy system. This is a good tune up for our troop. The weekend after is the Town’s Drop Off / Swap Off, a great time to do service for our town. That weekend, live the scout law like you do in everyday life but especially be friendly, courteous and kind as you represent Troop 132 and the Town of Concord to all the other troops we will be working with. Do your good turn, each day and you can start by helping your patrol pack tomorrow and helping each other prepare. Yours in Scouting, Mr. Duggan |
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