Re: An Introduction... and a few questions
John Durbetaki (JohnDurbetaki@WORLDNET.ATT.NET)
Fri, 22 Aug 1997 23:44:11 -0700
Clayton J Hanson wrote:
>How can I (and the Troop Advancement Chairman) convince the Troop
>Committee, that their schedule is ill-conceived and should be changed?
A Troop is to be boy run. So, get the PLC together and make a schedule
that works for you. Get the video and guide called "Troop Program
Planning Guide". The Scout Shop should have it, or you may be able to
borrow it from the council office. Watch all of it, multiple times (even
the part that says for the Scoutmaster). Yeah, the video is a bit hokey,
but the end result is that the boys plan stuff, not the adults. It takes
all day to do this at a minimum, if you are prepared.
>Second, how can I make certain that the future SPL will be able to serve
>as a good example and leader to boys who are only two years younger than
>him (as both SPL candidates are just turning 14 and the average age of
>the troop is about 12)?
You can't be certain anyone will be a good example and a leader. You
can, however, train people so that they are prepared to be leaders. JLT,
Polaris, Sogus are all available in CPC (although training just finished
up for the summer season). Checkc for when JLT will be run again by
council. Also, you can have and adult in your troop learn to train and
have them put on JLT. Also, talk to your DE and find out who might be
able to help in this area.
>Finally, does anyone know of any truly great low elevation (as in
>snow-free) camping areas within about two hours of Portland, Oregon?
Go to REI and look through the books on hikes and camping spots. I got a
few books and found alot of neat places. But, it kind of depends on what
kind of camping your Troop likes. If you like tailgating (car camping),
check out Seaquest (near Mt. St. Helens) as the ranger loves to have
Scouts do service projects (discuss it with the ranger). Many parks
(State and County) are around and during the off season are pretty wide
open. Also check out BLM land. Also, check with the forest service
offices and the ranger districts as they can suggest many alternatives.
If you like hikes, those books at REI (they may also be at Powells or
other places) have lots of places (try Ape caves, or the Mt. St. Helens
loop or up the Columbia Gorge). My Troop loves to go to Barview
(Tillamook County, the jetty park just up the coast from Tillamook) in
the windiest and nastiest weather (March on the Oregon coast), where it
blows so hard that boys under 90 pounds can barely stand up on the
beach. Also, most of the council camps are available year round.
However, I can't answer as to "truly great", because you did not
describe what the Troop is interested in.
YIS,
John Durbetaki
SM T855, CM P729
Hillsboro, Oregon
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