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Welcome to Troop 777

RESOURCES

Troop Library

Are you working on a Merit Badge and need the matching Merit Badge Book? Before you run out and buy a copy, check to see if the book you need is available in our troop's library.

If the troop has it, you may request the book from the troop's Librarian via email (librarian @t777.org) and he will bring you a copy at the next scheduled troop meeting.

Browse the Troop Library
(last update: 02/01/2012)

Scouting Related Web Sites

BSA National:
The national organization. Lots of general information on Scouting.

San Diego-Imperial Council: Our local source for adult leader training, Official BSA items, and information on Scouting activities. Located near Balboa Park.

Pacific Coast District:
Our District which covers Del Mar to Carlsbad (roughly). The district offers Roundtable meetings on the 2nd Thursday of the month for area units to trade ideas and help each other out.

US Scouting Service Project

Scouter Network

MacScouter

For Scouts

RANK ADVANCEMENT:
The scout program is based on rank advancement. Every scout entering the troop comes in without rank and will need to work with the Scoutmaster to earn the rank of Scout.

The ranks of Tenderfoot , Second Class, and First Class follow; these ranks will help the scout learn basic scout skills. Scouts work with the Troop Guide and his patrol to earn Tenderfoot rank. The following guidelines apply for each of these ranks and are the responsibility of the scout:

1. Bring your scout handbook to all meetings and outings (Be Prepared).
2. Participate in activities where rank requirement(s) is taught.
3. Review rank requirement(s) with any scout of First Class rank or higher who will test and sign-off in your handbook.
4. Once all requirements for the new rank are signed off, contact the Scoutmaster to arrange your Scoutmaster Conference (Call him - - do not email). The Scoutmaster will review your knowledge and discuss your progress and goals with you.
5. Contact the Troop Advancement Chair to schedule your Board of Review (Call him - - do not email) where three members of the Troop Committee will ask you questions about your participation in the troop and ask for feedback about the troop.
6. You earn your new rank on completion of the Board of Review; the Scoutmaster will announce your achievement at either the next regular troop meeting or Court of Honor.

The ranks of Star and above require the scout to dedicate himself to complete merit badges, to take part in service projects, and to actively participate in the Troop Leadership Council (TLC). The following guidelines apply and are the responsibility of the scout:

1. Regularly attend troop meetings and mentor younger scouts.
2. Work on and complete required merit badges.
3. Actively participate on service projects.
4. Serve in a leadership position, actively attending TLC meetings and fulfilling the duties of your elected position. You will be assigned a mentor who will help you set goals, provide feedback on your progress, and answer questions. At the end of your term in position, you will arrange a meeting with your mentor to discuss your progress towards your agreed upon goals; your mentor will need to sign-off on your leadership requirement.
5. Verify rank requirements by requesting a Scout History Report from the Advancement Chair.
6. Contact the Scoutmaster to arrange your Scoutmaster Conference (Call him - - do not emailwhere he will review all your requirements, sign them off as well as discuss your progress and goals.
7. Contact the Troop Advancement Chair to schedule your Board of Review (Call him - - do not email) where three members of the Troop Committee will ask you questions about your participation in the troop and ask for feedback about the troop.
8. You earn your new rank on completion of the Board of Review; the Scoutmaster will announce your achievement at either the next regular troop meeting or Court of Honor.

The rank of Eagle will require the scout to plan, develop, and lead a service project while working with the Eagle Project Coordinator assigned to you. Please refer to the The Eagles' Nest page for more details and information on planning your Eagle project.

Scoutmaster Conferences and Boards of Review can be done at any time throughout the scout year. Schedule these once you have met the above guidelines. Plan ahead ... do not wait until the last minute before an upcoming Court of Honor.

Advancement Requirements by Rank (click a rank to view rqmts):
View Tenderfoot Requirements View Second Class Requirements View First Class Requirements View Star Requirements View Life Requirements View Eagle Requirements View Eagle Palms Requirements
Alternate Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, & 1st Class Rank Rqmts
2010 Rank Requirement Changes

POSITIONS OR RESPONSIBILITY:
Positions of Responsibility (POR): Guide to leadership roles that scouts perform to achieve Star, Life or Eagle ranks.
Click on a patch to view its position's description and list of responsibilities:
View SPL Requirements View ASPL Requirements View Patrol Leader Requirements View Asst Patrol Leader Requirements View Troop Guide Requirements View Den Chief Requirements View Quartermaster Requirements
View Scribe Requirements View Historian Requirements View Librarian Requirements View Instructor Requirements View Chaplain's Aide Leader Requirements View OA Representative Requirements View Jr Asst SM Requirements
View Leave No Trace Trainer Requirements View Bugler Requirements          

Elected Positions: Senior Patrol Leader and three Asst Senior Patrol Leaders (elected by troop), Patrol Leader (elected by patrol) and Asst Patrol Leader is selected by the Patrol Leader. Elections are held twice per year. The new SPL will assign scouts to each of the other positions.

Note: Assistant Patrol Leader does not count towards the leadership requirement for Star, Life, or Eagle. Bugler can apply as the leadership requirement for Star or Life, but not Eagle.


ELECTIONS:
SPL candidates are required to give a speech on election night; this speech must be written and approved of by the scoutmaster prior to election night. This speech should answer these 4 questions:

1.       What do you think is important to the troop (treks, advancement, meetings, games)?
2.       What do you plan to do as SPL?
3.       What experience do you have in the troop (rank, years active, treks, leadership position)?
4.       Why are you the best candidate?

Patrol Leader candidates should have similar speeches ready so that your patrol members can make good choices when they vote.The elected patrol leader will select an Assistant Patrol Leader from interested scout(s) in his patrol.

For all other positions, if you are interested you must bring a letter to the new SPL on election night. The letter should state:

1.     Who you are
2.     The position you want
3.     Why you are a good candidate for the position
4.     What you will do in that position
5.     Signed with your name, phone number, and email address

MERIT BADGES:
Merit badges are focused learning skills in specific areas of interest; there are over 120 merit badges that can be earned. Merit badges are not required for the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class.  For the remaining ranks of Star, Life and Eagle, earning merit badges is mandatory, however you do not have to wait until these higher ranks to work on merit badges.

A scout may choose to work on a merit badge alone, along with a group of scouts, as part of a patrol activity, or at organized events such as summer camp or scout fair. A scout should take the following steps when earning merit badges:

1. Find and meet the merit badge counselor before working on your merit badge.
2. Contact the Scoutmaster to let him know you want to work on the merit badge and request a 'blue card'.
3. Obtain the merit badge book from the Troop Librarian, or Scout store, and read it.
4. Work with your merit badge counselor to complete all activities and requirements.
5. Review completed activities and requirements with the merit badge counselor.
6. Have your 'blue card' signed off by your merit badge counselor; the merit badge counselor will keep one portion of your 'blue card'.
7. Have your 'blue card' signed off by the Scoutmaster.
8. Submit your 'blue card' to the Advancement Chair.
9. Receive your merit badge and one portion of the 'blue card' at the next Court of Honor.

The Troop Librarian manages our library of merit badge books which are loaned out to a scout while he is working to earn a merit badge.  The scout should promptly return the merit badge book to the librarian as soon as possible after completing work on the merit badge.

Merit badge books may also be bought at the Scout Store Online, at the Scout Shop located near Balboa Park at 1207 Upas Street (map), or at the Be Ready Disaster Preparedness Store in Oceanside located at 602 Garrison Street (map).

Other Merit Badge Resources:
 - For merit badge requirements and printing merit badge workbooks: MeritBadge.org.
 - To find a Merit Badge Counselor: By Zipcode in the SD-Imperial Council
 - To find a Merit Badge Counselor within the troop, go to the administrative documents portion of the troop website.

 
Individual Scout Record:
Handy form to help keep track of scout's personal data, leadership positions held, merit badges earned, and rank advancement progress.
Backpacker's Checklist and Ten Essentials:
Print this list out, fold it in half, laminate it (clear packaging tape works well), and keep it with your pack.
Lightweight Backpacker's Gear List:
Details on how you can outfit yourself, and lightweight, for a backpack trip.
Backpacking Material:
Helpful information, created by other scouts, to help you get started with backpacking.
Cookmaster Planners:
Here is everything the Cookmaster needs to plan meals for a trek. As Cookmaster, you are responsible for making menus choosing cooking equipment, buying food, distributing food and equipment, and making duty rosters. This is a critical job for any trek and it needs to be done carefully. Using the Planner will make your job easier.
Food Pantry Items:
List of available food items in the Troop Food Pantry; please request items from the Troop Quartermaster along with your equipment request. (UPDATED 03.25.2011)
Distance Converter:
Handy tool for measuring distances in the field using your stride. A very important tool for orienteering activities. Print it out on thick paper, cut it out and use an old service pin to pin it together. You can spray it with a clear laquer or laminate it to make it more durable. Keep it with your compass so you'll always be prepared!
Patrol Meeting Agenda Template:
Simple Microsoft Word document Patrol Leaders can use to plan each of their Patrol Meetings. Use one per patrol meeting and print them out along with the date and who attended. You will present these agendas to the Scoutmaster to show your activity as a Patrol Leader.
Scout Uniform Badge Placement Sheet:
Where do I sew all the badges on?
Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet:
Handy checklist for uniform inspections.

For Parents

Annual Health and Medical Record
This BSA Form was revised in November 2010. All scouts must submit this form annually with Sections A, B, and C completed; scouts without a form on file will not be allowed to participate on treks. It is highly recommended that all parents carefully read Section D of the form. This form is also required of any adult participating in any of the Troop's high adventure activities.

The T777 Parent Guide
This instructional guide will help you to become familiar with our Troop, how we operate, and how we fit within the the BSA program. A must read for new and not-so-new parents.

Youth Protection Guidellines Training (YPG)
We need at least one parent in each family to take the BSA's Youth Protection Guidelines (YPG) course as every troop activity requires two YPG trained adults for supervision. YPG takes only 30 minutes and is offered as a convenient on-line course at the BSA scouting.org website.

Training for Adults
Training for Adults is offered through the Council. Many courses may be completed on-line while other are offered at various times of the year. An Asst. Scoutmaster would need to take four training programs: YPG, New Leader Essentials (NLE), Boy Scout Leader Specific Training, and Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills. A committee member would take YPG, NLE, and Committee Specific Training. Upon completion of these courses, adults may wear the "Trained" patch on their uniform.

For Trek Leaders

General BSA Resource Guide for Scouting Safely
Resource links on the Boy Scouts of America web site covering safe scouting topics, including:
          Guide to Scouting Safely (on-line version)
          Managing Risks
          The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety

Trek Leader Checklist
Are you ready to lead a trek but not sure of what needs to be done? Use this checklist to guide you. There's lots of detail, but you will adapt it to fit your trek. Just remember to start your planning early. Planning for most treks should begin 2-3 months before the trek.

Tour Planning Worksheet (replaces Local Tour Permit Form)
This fillable-PDF form is required for any trip away from the Troop's normal meeting location at St. Andrew's. Please complete and submit this plan at least 21 days in advance to ensure your council has enough time to review the plan and assist you in updating the plan if it is found defective. When review is complete, the second half of the plan is returned to you to carry on your travels.

Trek estimating and accounting form
Microsoft Excel template to help estimate the cost of a trek (Trek Estimate tab) and report the actual expenses of the trek (Trek Accounting tab). Using this form helps the troop treasurer to reconcile the trek accounting and disburse funds for reimbursement.

Troop 777 Trek Form Template (rev. Oct-2011)
Trek Leaders, please use this form to create all troop trek/sign-up forms for troop outings and activities.

Past Troop 777 Trek Signup Forms
An archive for all prior year trek sign-ups.

Check My Certification Status
HALTT and Water Trek Training certifications must be renewed every four years. This is a link to the BSA SDIC High Adventure web site feature that allows you to lookup your expiration date and certification status.

For Service Project Leaders

We get lots of requests for service projects that many adults learn of and offer to lead as their contribution to the troop. If you would like to lead a project, please contact our Service Project Coordinator (service @ t777.org) to let the committee know, and then make use of the sheets below to make sure everyone gets notified and to help the project go smoothly. Please note that every project also requires a Local Tour Permit.

Project Planner
Word document that organizes basic information and gives you tips on how to proceed.

Project Signup
Word documnet that you can modify and use to have Scouts signup for the project.

Attendance Sheet
Word document you can modify to identify everyone that works on the project. This should be turned into the troop registrar so that boys and adults get credited with their service hours.

For Committee Members

Conducting Boards of Review
A board of review is required for every rank advancement. The advancing Scout meets with 3 or 4 Committee members to discuss how they are doing in the Troop and how well the Troop is meeting their needs. Scouts must attend their Board of Review in a full and complete Class A uniform

Gear Related Links

Troop 777 Gear Inventory: List of gear available to troop members for check-out; please request items from the Troop Quartermaster. (UPDATED 03.25.2011)

Adventure 16 (A16):
is very supportive of Scouting as the president of the company is an Eagle Scout. If you go to their store and let them know you are a scout. You may receive a discount.

GoLite:
The first company wholly dedicated to lightweight packs, clothing, sleeping bags and shelters.

Primus:
Manufacturing stoves, lanterns, cooking and camp kitchen accessories since 1892.

North American Gear:
Distributor for Primus gear and Origo Watches offering altimeter, barometer weather watches.

Mammut:
Started making climbing ropes in 1862. Now offering backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, headlamps, clothing, footwear as well as climbing and other snow sports gear.