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Why Choose Troop 278?
If you are a WEBELOS2 Scout looking to join a Boy Scout
Troop or you are transferring in from another Troop why would you choose Troop
278 Vs. any other Troop in this area?
We know you have a choice - so we recommend you come
and visit us at a Troop meeting (and visit other Troops too) and decide for
yourself...
However here are what we consider to be the themes that may
be different in our Troop in than others:
- Our aim is to have fun in all things we do - we
believe boys who have fun stay with the Troop & Scouting
- Our emphasis is on being a Boy Led Troop - adults
support the program and ensure safety - the Boys choose their own activities
& meeting themes and run the weekly meetings. Since the Boys have more
control over the Troop they feel more responsibility for it.
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Our very active outdoor
activities program. We have at least one monthly activity every month. We do
lots of camping & backpacking & hiking. We also go climbing, swimming,
driving, horse riding, whitewater rafting, skiing etc. Boy Scouts is much
more about challenging adventure and self sufficiency than Cub Scouts was.
We do however focus on safe & age appropriate activities. Older Scouts can
participate in high adventure activities out of state while all Scouts can
attend a week of summer camp at Camp Geronimo.
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Our focus is on providing rank advancement opportunities and support - however we do not
expect/require all Scouts to advance in rank at a predefined rate. We do achieve very good results with this
advancement process and have produced many many Eagle Scouts from
Troop 278. However we do also have Scouts who take a 'time-out' from rank
advancement and yet they remain active and enjoy our outdoor activities program.
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Sufficient fundraising
opportunities so all Scouts can raise individual funds to pay for their
Scouting experience - whether through family necessity, or to grow a sense of
personal responsibility to 'pay your own way'. We have an annual fundraiser
that we ask all Scouts to participate in to raise funds to cover the basic
operating costs of the Troop.
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Our development of a strong group of adult
volunteers in Troop support positions as Scoutmasters, Committee Officers
and other roles. We spread the load well across parent volunteers engaging
people in their areas of expertise/ability. We always seem to have adequate
adult support for our activities.
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Internet technology expertise - we
have an active and current website with hundreds of pages of relevant
Scouting information, calendars, archives of committee minutes &
newsletters, Scouting links, troop forms, program & contact information. We also
publish a monthly email newsletter to all Troop members and timely news
updates as reminders for upcoming events. Troop information is readily
available to all.
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Our non-denominational Troop
is open to Scouts of all faiths and we have a wide mixture of attendees not limited to
our sponsoring church organization.
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Our strong presence in the Walpi Kiva Chapter of the Order of the Arrow from both youth and adult
members of the Troop. This keeps youth members engaged in Scouting well
beyond attaining their Eagle rank.
If you are looking for an active fun Troop
that will challenge you and provide you great opportunities for advancement -
you are looking in the right place.
Alternative Scouting options to consider:
Some Troops focus on a more prescribed
plan for advancement than we do...
Some Troops are less physically demanding
with fewer backpack trips, hikes & adventure activities...
Some Troop's meetings are more organized
because Adults run most aspects of the Troop meetings...
Some Troops have a small core team of
adults who take care of all Troop activities..
Some Troop do less fundraising but
require significant annual fees from every Scout family
Some Troops have a stronger religious
sponsor alignment than we do
Some Troops make Scouting a much more
serious activity than we do...
You may decide you like some of the
features of the alternatives - they are quite valid choices of how to run a
Troop and can provide a good experience with different results.
However we consciously choose to run our
Troop the way we do because we believe in our approach - it is not by accident
or chance that we work the way we do...
We accept that sometimes our meetings
seem a bit chaotic (but the Boys get experience running things).
Sometimes there are too many Troop events
scheduled to
possibly attend them all (but we don't expect you to...)
Sometimes Scouts need a prod to get back
on the advancement track - but sometimes taking a break is good or fits in
with a tough school schedule (and virtually all who stay engaged get back on track & succeed)
We do expect parents to help out in our
Troop (but those that do are rewarded with fun experiences AND a Scout who excels)
In everything we do we do expect to have
fun (and that really works!)
You Decide!
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