Overview

• Troop 127 is a Scouts BSA Troop in the Northern Lights District of the Glacier’s Edge Council of Scouting America
  • More on our council and district
  • We are a family troop that includes children of any gender aged 11 through 17
• The Troop meets every Thursday at 6:30 PM at Lakeview Lutheran Church at 4001 Mandrake Rd, Madison, WI 53704 (corner of Northport and Mandrake)
  • The first Thursday of the month is usually a PLC meeting followed by a committee meeting.
• Roles of Adults in the Troop
  • It is typical and encouraged for all families to have adult volunteers in the troop
  • Roles include:
    • Adult Troop Leaders
    • Committee Members
    • Merit Badge Counselors
    • Outing Chaperones/Drivers
      • Anyone attending an outing must be registered with the Troop and have current SYT Training
• Safeguarding Youth
  • There are some rules that adults must commit to following that help us keep scouting safe for children
• Contact Information
  • Committee Chair: Jonathan Stevens
    • Email: jonathan@troop127wi.org
  • Scoutmaster: Matt Meyer
    • Email: matt@troop127wi.org
• Troop Mail List
  • Troop communications are typically sent out via a group mailing list
  • To add your email to the list, contact Jonathan or Matt (see above)
• Troop Calendar
  • The Troop Calendar can be imported to most calendar apps from this link: https://api.scouting.org/advancements/events/calendar/36895
  • The Troop Calendar can also be viewed on the Troop website here: https://troop127wi.org/events.html
• Uniforms
  • Field (or ‘Class A’) uniforms are worn by scouts and leaders to most meetings,and when travelling to/from outings
  • Activity uniforms (or ‘Class B’) are worn to meetings in the summer, and for some activities and outings
  • More on uniforms

How Scouts BSA Works

A Scouts BSA Troop is a youth club that follows a program set by Scouting America. This program is based on one originally developed in the early Twentieth Century. The club is chartered by an organization to further the mission of that organization.

Aims and Methods of Scouting

The aims of scouting are:

• Character Development
• Leadership Development
• Citizenship Training
• Personal Fitness

We hope to achieve these aims through the following methods:

• Ideals
  • These are spelled out explicitly in the Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan
• Patrols
  • The Patrol Method develops leadership and teamwork abilities in a small group setting before it is applied on a larger Troop setting.
• Outdoor Programs
  • Weekend campouts and other outdoor activities are a key part of the Scouts BSA program. Weekend camping establishes self-reliance as the Scouts learn to work together and survive on their own. A new Scout will need their own backpack, sleeping bag, and entry-level hiking boots. The backpack provides an excellent place to store Scouting gear.
• Advancement
  • Advancement creates a challenge to all Scouts by providing them with a series of obstacles to overcome. Furthermore, it provides a rewarded sense of accomplishment for the Scouts hard work and determination.
  • Advancement is a method, it is not a goal. If the aims of scouting have been achieved for a scout, the program has been successful, regardless of whether the scout achieves Eagle or any other rank.
  • Advancement and Awards
  • Merit Badges
• Adult Association
  • Adult Association provides role models for the Scouts to observe and also creates a setting where adults and boys work together to achieve common goals and have fun while doing so. Every family is expected to help out, either by serving as Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Member, Merit Badge Counselor, or as a driver for outings. You will find that if you participate as a family, you will get a lot more out of the Scouting program, and will progress a lot further. Behind every successful Scout, is a supportive family. Your family involvement is important!
• Personal Growth
  • Personal Growth is developed as Scouts provide service, advance, and develop a plan for the Scouting years. Our service projects include the community at large, our chartered organization, and Scouting itself. Examples include our spring food drive, various conservation projects at Warner Park, and helping our local Cub Scouts in Pack 127. Representatives of our Troop participate in faith services during Scout Sunday at Lakeview Lutheran. All these activities provide an opportunity for the Scouts to grow as individuals and members of their community, and/or religious organizations.
• Leadership Development
  • “The Scouting program encourages Scouts to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership and becoming a servant leader helps a Scout accept the leadership role of others and guides them towards participating citizenship and character development.”
• Uniform
  • The uniform identifies a scout to the community, and to other scouts around the world.
  • More about uniforms in the next section

Uniforms

Field Uniform

The Field Uniform, sometimes unofficially referred to as a ‘Class A’ uniform, is the tan Scouting America shirt and olive Scouting America pants, along with other accessories. The troop wears Field Uniforms for most meetings, and when travelling to and from outings.

Activity Uniform

The Activity Uniform is any scouting-related shirt or sweatshirt. For troop activities, these would preferably include our Troop number. We wear these during the summer, and for activities that may damage the uniform.

Obtaining Uniforms

• Details on Scout and leader uniforms can be found here: https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/resources/scouts-bsa-uniform/
• New uniforms may be purchased at the Scout Shop at 5846 Manufacturers Dr., or the online Scout Shop at https://www.scoutshop.org/uniforms/scouts-bsa.html.
• Used uniforms are available for purchase online and in thrift stores.
• The Troop also has a uniform closet with uniforms available for checkout for a small donation, please check with the Scoutmaster.

Troop Structure

Our Chartered Organization

Our chartered organization is Wild Warner. Wild Warner, Inc. is a nonprofit advocacy group for the “wild” side of Warner Park. Our current Chartered Org. Representative is Marie Jacobson.

Council and District

The Northern Lights district

• The district covers about a third of the council, and provides support to the scouting units within its boundaries
• “Our mission is to help units on their journey to fulfill the mission of Scouting America by providing foundational support and resources in the areas of finance, membership, program, training, advancement, risk management/safety, and commissioner service.”
• Our unit commissioner is currently Steve Kimball
• Website: https://www.glaciersedge.org/northern-lights-district/
• The district has a monthly roundtable for leaders, usually the first Wednesday of the month at 7PM at Harvest Intermediate School in Deforest. Check the website above for complete schedule and topics

Glacier’s Edge Council

• The Glacier’s Edge Council provides Scouting services to communities in the counties of Adams, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Sauk, Rock, Walworth in Wisconsin as well as Winnebago and Boone counties in Illinois.
• The council maintains a camp, Ed Bryant Scout Reservation (EBSR), at Castle Rock lake near Mauston.
• The council office is at 5846 Manufacturers Dr in Madison. There is also a Scout Shop at this address that sells uniforms, books, and other scouting-related gear.
• Website https://www.glaciersedge.org/

Adult Troop Leaders

These adults are tasked with guiding the youth in the troop to make sure they are planning and executing the program

• Scoutmaster
  • Appointed by the Charted Org. Representative
  • Guides the youth leaders in running the troop
  • Makes sure Scouting America rules are followed
• Assistant Scoutmasters
  • Same general duties as Scoutmaster, but often focused on a particular area of the program, or a particular patrol

The Troop Committee

The committee is a group of adults, primarily parents, that handle the admistrative business of the troop. They schedule the activities that the Troop plans, handle financial bookkeeping, make sure adults in the troop are properly trained, etc.

• The Committee Chair
  • Appointed by the Chartered Org. Representative
  • Organizes the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated, and completed
  • Maintains a close relationship with the chartered organization representative and the Scoutmaster
  • Interprets national and local policies to the troop
  • Prepares troop committee meeting agendas
  • Ensures troop representation at roundtables
  • Secures top-notch, trained individuals for camp leadership
  • Handles the unit charter
• Committee Members
  • Handle adminstrative functions of the troop
  • Some committee members have specialized roles:
    • Secretary
      • Handles committee meeting minutes and notices, publicity, newsletters, etc.
    • Treasurer
      • Handles troop funds and budgeting and associated record keeping
    • Outdoor Activities Coordinator
      • Secure campsites, coordinate transportation, ensure a monthly outdoor program, and promote attendance at outdoor activities
    • Advancement Coordinator
      • Encourage advancement, maintain advancement records, arrange courts of honor, recruit merit badge counselors
    • Chaplain
      • Provide spiritual services, guide the Chaplain’s Aide, encourage scouts to earn religious emblems
    • Training Coordinator
      • Promote training opportunities and ensure training compliance
    • Equipment Coordinator
      • Work with the quartermaster on inventory, procure new equipment for the troop
    • Membership Coordinator
      • Develop a membership plan that promotes recruitment and retention, work with local Cub Scout packs on transition from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA

Merit Badge Counselors

Merit Badge Counselors are leaders who have signed up with the council to offer to help scouts earn particular merit badges. Many of the leaders in our troop are also Merit Badge Counselors. Any parents who have a hobby, profession, or special interest that lines up with any merit badge are encourged to register as counselors. Any scout who is interested in a merit badge and needs to find the counselor should contact the Scoutmaster.

Safeguarding Youth

• Any adult attending a youth outing must be registered with the Troop, and must complete Safeguarding Youth Training(SYT)
  • Any adult that has not completed SYT in the last year will have their membership suspended by the council
• Any scout activity must have at least two registered adults aged 21 or older.
  • Our preference is for three adults
  • For our family troop, at least one of the adults must be a woman
  • If only two adults are present, they cannot be a married couple
• One-on-one contact between adult leaders and youth members is prohibited both inside and outside scouting
  • This includes electronic communication
• Adults and youth should have separate restroom facilities. If this is not possible, adults and youth should not use the facilities at the same time
• Discipline must be constructive, and must not involve isolation, humiliation, or ridicule
• Scout leaders are mandated reporters, and are required to report child abuse and/or neglect to county authorities or law enforcement
• Overnight Accommodations
  • Youth and adults must tent separately
    • Exception: a parent may tent with their child of the same gender
  • Youth tenting together must be no more than two years apart in age and of the same gender
  • Male and female adults may not tent together, excepting spouses
  • Cabins:
    • Whenever possible, separate cabins or lodging should be provided for male and female adults as well as for male and female youth.
    • If adults and youth of the same gender occupy single-room accommodations, there must be a minimum of two adults and four youth, with all adults being Youth Protection trained.
    • Physical separation by other means, including temporary barriers or space, should be used only when no other arrangements are possible.