Being fully engaged in troop outings is paramount to a Scout’s advancement, leadership and enjoyment in Troop 1022.

How Fully Participating in Outings Benefits Your Scout
The Scouting program employs eight (8) methods to achieve four (4) aims for our young people. The Aims & Methods of Scouting are listed below. A successful outing for your Scout will result in (i) advancement progress, (ii) greater patrol spirit, (iii) leadership development and (iv) life skills (e.g. cooking). Looking through the lens of advancement, the most easily measurable of the methods, here are key reasons that full participation is important:

  • Rank Requirements – time at each and every outing is planned for Scouts to work on requirements for Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. It is impossible to plan this time around Scouts who arrive late or leave early.
  • Camping Nights – required to advance to First Class and earn the Camping Merit Badge. Consistent camping also maintains eligibility for election to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society.
  • Leadership Credit – every Scout who choose to serve in a Position of Responsibly needed to advance to Star, Life and Eagle signs an electronic contract with the understanding that the Scout will only receive credit for a particular month if the Scout attends the entire duration of the monthly outing. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Scoutmaster and only with advanced notice.
  • Scout Spirit & Patrol Spirit – If Johnny leaves early, Timmy wants to know why he can’t leave early too. Scouts who are not fully engaged in the outing kills patrol spirit. Patrol spirit is essential to a vibrant troop. Scout spirit is a requirement of every rank. Consistent partial participation demonstrates a lack of Scout spirit.

Aims of Scouting

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

Methods of Scouting – The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.

  • Ideals
  • Patrols
  • Outdoor Program
  • Advancement
  • Association with Adults
  • Personal Growth
  • Leadership Development
  • Uniform