About Troop 248Basic InformationWho: Boys age 10 through 17 Click Here for additional information of interest to parents of scouts in our troop. The MissionBoy scouting promotes the development of character, citizenship, and personal fitness during the sometimes turbulent years when boys become men. The core values of scouting are perhaps best summed up by the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, which read:
To some these ideals may seem old-fashioned. To us, they are timeless and are as relevant today as they were a hundred years ago when scouting first began. The MethodBoy scouting is led by boys, using the Patrol Method. The fundamental organization in scouting is a patrol. Patrols are made up of 4-8 scouts, and function as independent units during campouts. They plan their menus, buy food, set up camp, cook, clean up, and attend to camp chores together. The patrol is led by a scout, who is chosen by the patrol. During weekly meetings each patrol has a specific duty, such as organizing the program for the evening or performing the opening and closing ceremonies. The troop is led by the Senior Patrol Leader. The SPL is an older scout, elected by the troop, who oversees the operation of the troop both during meetings and during camping trips. He is assisted in this by an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and various troop officers such as the Quartermaster, who is in charge of the troop's equipment. The SPL, ASPL and patrol leaders comprise the Patrol Leader's Council (PLC), which is the governing body of the troop. The PLC meets weekly to plan out the troops activities and organize camping trips. Ideally, the adults do as little as possible. The function of the adult leaders is to provide advice and keep the boys safe. The Scout Master, aided by the Assistant Scout Masters, make sure that Scouting remains a safe and enjoyable experience for all involved. They, and the Troop Committee, facilitate the program goals of the PLC. Advancement is an integral part of scouting. The first rank (Boy Scout) revolves around the ideals of scouting: the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, and so forth. The next three ranks (Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class) focus on teaching outdoors skills such as cooking, camping, and hiking, while reinforcing the ideals of scouting and service. When a scout reaches First Class he is considered to be a qualified outdoorsman, capable of undertaking rugged outdoors adventures such as winter snowshoeing or a Philmont trek. The final three ranks (Star Scout, Life Scout, and Eagle Scout) revolve merit badges, service, and leadership. The scout, in earning merit badges, acquires more advanced outdoor skills and, through badges such as Citizenship in the Community, learns more about the ideals of scouting. Advancement through these ranks also requires the scout to participate in the leadership of the troop and the completion of a number of service projects.
At the end of it all the final rank of Eagle Scout is attained. Any scout can become an Eagle if he wants to badly enough but, in truth, most don't. Troop 248 has been lucky over the years and has produced more than its share of Eagles. Click on the image above to see our Roll of Honor. The ProgramTroop 248 does all this in an outdoor-oriented program. To some extent this is because it is fun to spend time outdoors. But, more importantly, the outdoor program provides an ideal environment in which to promote the ideals of scouting. When we go camping or hiking, it is the scouts to plan their menu, buy their food, and prepare their meals. It is the scouts who assign duties, such as cooking and cleanup, and who provide supervision to make sure that these necessary tasks are completed properly. The younger scouts learn to cooperate; the older scouts learn to lead. Each year we undertake a number of trips that intentionally challenge the stamina and skills of the troop. This includes at least one backpacking trip. Everyone has to carry their load, no slacking! We also have, at least once a year, a venture trip, open only to the older and more experienced scouts, that provides a further degree of challenge. For the last several years this has included a winter snowshoeing trip in the White Mountains. Hiking up a mountain in sub-freezing (sometimes sub-zero) temperatures with a heavy pack isn't easy. It wasn't meant to be easy. This last summer members of the troop participated in one of the ultimate venture experiences: a two week trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, where we spent eleven days on the trail, hauling fourty to fifty pounds of gear each over mountain passes as high as 10,800 feet. Advancement is a key part of the program. As a scout progresses through the program he advances in rank. The first step is scout, where he learns about the core values of scouting as expressed in the scout oath and the scout law. The next three steps, tenderfoot, second class and first class, teach core outdoor skills. By the time a scout has reached first class he is ready to participate in the venture program. From there, the more advanced ranks of star scout and life scout require the scout to take on positions of leadership and responsibility within the troop and to learn advanced skills by earning merit badges. Finally, there is the most advanced rank: eagle scout. This is a distinction you carry for life. Once an eagle, always an eagle. We also provide an opportunity to spend a week at summer camp. In recent years we've been going to Camp T.L. Storer, located in the lakes district of New Hampshire. The activities at the camp focus on swimming, boating, sports, and other traditional summer camp activities. At the same time there are opportunities to learn the skills needed for the ranks through first class and the merit badges needed for star, life, and eagle. As always, it is the boys who lead the boys during summer camp. Scout camp is a great way to get outdoors, have fun, and learn.
Our outdoor program teaches respect for the outdoors and for the environment. Nature is to be enjoyed, not abused. Leave no trace, take nothing but pictures. We teach camping, hiking, and other skills that can be enjoyed throughout life. Many scouts go on to become life-long outdoorsmen.
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