Troop 113 received it's first Charter from the Boy Scouts of
America in 1940. The Chartering Organization is the Centerport Fire
Department. Troop 113 has recruited new Scouts from a number of
local Cub Scout Packs. Our Troop is active and large, we currently
have 48 boys! The Scouts have participated from time to time in
various Cub Scout ceremonies and activities. There are trained Den
Chiefs that help Cub Scout Den Leaders with their meetings.
A calendar is distributed in early September. It lists all the
Scouting activities for the year. In addition to the written
calendar, we also have this web site that also lists all
activities, trips, and scouting events planned for the year.
Suggestions and additions are welcome and appreciated by our Web
Master, Mr. Pete DiSpirito.
- MEETINGS
Scout meetings are held on a bi-weekly basis, usually on the 1st and
3rd Mondays of the month at the Washington Drive School in
Centerport. The meetings begin at 7:45 P.M. and end around 9:00 P.M.
Please be prompt in picking up your son(s). The Patrol Leaders may
schedule patrol meetings in the off week.
Scouts are expected to be in full uniform for all meetings. Note: If
you have an older scout that has outgrown his uniform, please feel
free to donate that uniform (or part) to younger scout. It is also
recommended that all Scouts bring their handbook, notebook and pen
or pencil.
Meetings are run by the Scouts. The adult leaders are there to
supervise. Important dates are discussed and permissions forms are
distributed during these meetings, so please ask your scouts about
the meetings as soon as he gets home. Additional items distributed
at meetings include activity/trip permission slips, directions, and
essential trip information.
-
TROOP LEADERSHIP
The Troop has a Senior Patrol Leader and two Assistant Senior Patrol
Leader. These positions are held by Senior Scouts, (Senior Scouts
have achieved the rank of Star or higher). Their job is to run the
meetings and to make sure that the patrols are functioning properly.
Troop 113 also has Troop Guides. The Troop Guides are Senior Scouts
that work closely with the new Scouts and are responsible to help
them advance in rank from Scout to First Class. One Troop Guide is
assigned to each patrol.
One of the most important positions is that of the Patrol Leader.
The Patrol Leader is responsible for running his patrol and
coordinating the members of that patrol in preparing for the various
trips. This is achieved by delegating responsibilities and duties in
the acquisition of various supplies and sharing the load of carrying
patrol equipment on hikes and campouts. The Assistant Patrol Leader
helps the Patrol Leader in the execution of his duties and will
become acting Patrol Leader in the absence of the Patrol Leader.
A Patrol is a group of Scouts (not more than eight) that identify
themselves by a patrol name, have a patrol flag, and a patrol yell.
This group of Scouts will usually camp together on trips and share
the responsibilities of cooking, clean up and caring for the
Patrol's equipment. All Scouts will have the opportunity to rotate
into positions of leadership and responsibility. This will enable
the Scout to develop his leadership and problem solving skills. If
any Scout has any questions or concerns he should follow the chain
of command. The chain of command begins with the Patrol Leader. If
the Patrol Leader can't help or have a solution, the Patrol Leader
will go to the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and the Senior Patrol
Leader who will go to the Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster if
the problem or question cannot be solved or answered. It is done
this way to help develop and sharpen the problem solving and
leadership abilities of the Scouts. Solving problems without going
to the adult leadership helps build character and self esteem.
- THE TROOP COMMITTEE
The Troop Committee is made up of parents that administer the Troop
Program (calendar of events) and is responsible for making the
arrangements for the various activities and trips. The Committee
meets every third Tuesday of the month.
The Committee also is responsible to administer the Boards of
Review. A Board of Review is made up of three committee members that
interviews the Scout one at a time when the Scout is ready to
advance in rank. The Board can ask any question about a requirement
for that particular rank or ask the Scout to demonstrate a
particular skill requirement needed to know for that rank, i.e.
demonstrate the tying of a particular knot. The Committee and the
Committee Chairman also monitors the progress of the Troop and
insures that the Scoutmaster is doing his job by fulfilling the
Troop program.
- ADVANCEMENT
- New scouts must purchase The Boy Scout Handbook, and know the
Scout Oath, the Scout Law, Motto and Slogan. Page 9.
- The first rank attained by the new scouts is Tenderfoot.
Information on Tenderfoot rank begins on page 31 in the handbook,
with additional information on pages 438 - 439. Requirements can
be worked on at home, at the bi-monthly scout meetings, camping
trips, and at patrol meetings. When all requirements are completed
and initialed by a Scout Leader, your scout must schedule a Scout
Master Conference. The Scout Master will then schedule a Board of
Review with the adult leaders. At that time your scout will be
asked questions by the three adult leaders (members of the Troop
Committee) in which he will demonstrate his knowledge of the
specific advancement material for that rank.
- After your son has achieved the rank of Tenderfoot, he may
begin work on the next rank which is Second Class. Please see
pages 440-441 of the Scout Handbook for a detailed list of
requirements. Again, when all requirements are completed and
initialed by a Scout Leader, your scout must schedule another
Scout Master Conference. The Scout Master will then schedule a
Board of Review for Second Class with the adult leaders.
- After your son has achieved the rank of Second Class, he may
begin work on the next rank which is First Class. Please see page
444 of the Scout Handbook for a detailed list of requirements.
Again, when all requirements are completed and initialed by a
Scout Leader, your scout must schedule another Scout Master
Conference. The Scout Master will then schedule a Board of Review
for the First Class rank with the adult leaders.
- After your son has achieved the rank of First Class, he may
begin work on the next rank which is Star Scout. Please see page
442, 443, and 444 of the Scout Handbook for a detailed list of
requirements. Note, to attain the rank of Star Scout, your son
must complete six (6) merit badges. Merit badges are worked on in
groups, never alone. Usually a few Scouts get together, decide
which badge to begin work on, then schedule a group meeting with
the merit badge counselor. Again, when all requirements are
completed and initialed by a Scout Leader, your scout must
schedule another Scout Master Conference. The Scout Master will
then schedule a Board of Review for the Star Scout rank with the
adult leaders.
- After your son has achieved the rank of Star Scout, he may
begin work on the next rank which is Life Scout. Please see page
445 of the Scout Handbook for a detailed list of requirements.
Note, to attain the rank of Life Scout, your son must complete
eleven (11) merit badges. Merit Badge books may be purchased or
borrowed from the Public Library, or from the Troop Librarian
(when available). A list of Merit Badge Counselors is available
upon request from our troop. A “blue card” for the particular
badge to be worked, must be obtained from the Scout Master before
meeting with a Counselor. It is the scout’s responsibility to
telephone the merit badge counselor, and arrange an appointment to
begin working on any particular badges. NEVER LOSE the BLUE CARDS,
they are the official record of completion of particular badge
requirements. Badge requirements must be repeated should a Blue
Card be lost or destroyed. Lost Blue Cards cannot be replaced.
Again, when all requirements are completed and initialed by a
Scout Leader, your scout must schedule another Scout Master
Conference. The Scout Master will then schedule a Board of Review
for the Star Scout rank with the adult leaders.
- The most senior rank for a Scout is Eagle. Please see page
446-447 of the Scout Handbook for a detailed list of requirements.
Note, to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, your son must complete
twenty one (21) merit badges and complete an “Eagle Project”.
Twice a year the Troop holds a Court of Honor (September/March)
This is one of the events in which parents and siblings are invited
to attend. Rank advancement, merit badges and awards are presented.
Parents will be notified in advance as to the date , location,
cost, or contributions needed. All scouts must hand submit their
blue cards to the Scout Master in advance in order to be awarded
advancement or badges at a Court of Honor. Any questions concerning
blue cards, merit counselors, badges, etc. should be referred to
any of the scout leaders, older scouts, or call Pat DiSpirito at
(631) 423-4664.
When a Scout reaches the rank of Eagle Scout (Scouting’s highest
rank) his family holds a separate Eagle Court of Honor. Printed
invitations are sent out and all Scouts and their families are
invited. This is a very special event for the Scout. Please RSVP
when you are invited and join us in this special celebration.
- MERIT BADGES
There are currently 118 merit badges offered to the Scouts. Twelve
badges are required for the Eagle Rank along with nine others for a
total of 21. All Scouts are encouraged to work on merit badges
during the year (not just at camp). Merit badges are worked on with
an approved merit badge counselor. The Matinecock District publishes
a list of approved merit badge counselors. For obvious reasons it is
not recommended that a Scout meet with a merit badge counselor
alone. He should have another Scout, (the buddy system), or an adult
to go with him.
Before a Scout starts a merit badge he should be familiar with the
requirements for that badge. He can do this by obtaining the merit
badge booklet from the Scout Shop. He must also obtain a signed blue
card (application for a merit badge) from the Scout- master and
present it to the merit badge counselor. Upon completion of the
merit badge the blue card is then signed by the merit badge
counselor and is given back to the Scout who will return it to the
Scoutmaster and have it recorded with the District. When the merit
badge is awarded to the Scout he will receive the merit badge patch
and one part of the blue card. This part of the blue card is
very important. If the Scout intends to go all the way to
Eagle he must at that time present all his blue cards to the
Advancement Chairman of the District.
- SCOUT CAMP
In 2001 the Troop will attend camp at
Yawgoog Scout Reservation in
the Narragansett Council in Rockville, Rhode Island. This year we
are scheduled to arrive at the camp July 8 and depart July 15.
Yawgoog Scout Reservation is an 1800 acre camp. Here the Scouts can
work on merit badges, advancement in rank, go hiking, canoeing,
swimming, learn to swim, acquire scouting skills and apply those
skills immediately in the camp environment.
The Troop will travel to the camp via the Cross Sound Ferry to New
London, Connecticut. Here the trip to the camp is approximately a
twenty minute ride. The Troop usually needs drivers to transport the
boys to the Orient Point Ferry Terminal. If the drivers do not cross
with the Troop, some boys will have to use the camp busses that meet
the ferry in New London. We must supply two adult leaders at all
times for each day of summer camp. We will schedule adult leaders
and parents to rotate in and out every two days.
- TRIPS
We try to plan one camping trip a month. Please refer to your
calendar or the Web site for dates and locations. Campouts are a
time for learning, games, working on advancements and most of all …
fun! The Scouts enjoy the campouts the most, so try to keep your
schedule free on those dates so that your son may attend. Note:
Dad’s and Moms are also welcome!
Permission forms are passed out at troop meetings, however, they can
also be accessed and printed via our Web site (click
here). Trip departures are usually scheduled on Friday
evenings or Saturday mornings. Permission forms must be
handed in to the scoutmaster before departure. Scouts will not be
permitted to accompany the troop unless the necessary forms signed
by a parent or guardian are given to Scout leaders.
We ask that all parents take turns and chaperone camping trips.
Proper supervision is extremely important and help is always
appreciated. Please let the Scout leaders know as soon as possible,
which trips you’d like to attend, and if you can drive.
Cooking is almost always done by patrol. The boys in a patrol plan
their meals at a scout meeting or patrol meeting . One scout in the
patrol will be asked to purchase the menu items needed. Each scout
is required to pay for his share of the food. The cost is between $5
and $10 per person, depending on the items on the menu. Please be
sure to reimburse the patrol member for the food by the campout
date. If either you or your son needs to cancel attendance on a
campout (or any other trip) at the last minute and the food has been
purchased, we ask that you reimburse the scout buying the food. The
scout will also be responsible for fees paid in advance by the troop
should he cancel.
There are several trips that are considered to be favorites and are
usually slotted on the calendar. These trips will continue to be
scheduled until the Scouts decide that they no longer hold their
interest. Generally, the Scouts will submit suggestions through
their Patrol for the kind of trips they want to have. The Troop
Committee will look into the feasibility of these suggestions. If
they are considered doable then the Committee will make the
necessary arrangements. We do it this way so that we can have a
Scout run program. In September the Troop kicks off the year with a
campout at the Eaton's Neck Coast Guard Station and Lighthouse and
ending the weekend with our family picnic and Court of Honor at that
location. The Scouts will receive their advancements in rank and
merit badges earned at Scout Camp. As the Troop moves into its
program year this first campout is followed by hikes, our annual ski
trip to Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass., our winter campout,
and canoeing in May, just to name a few.
Several of the Troop parents are approved merit badge counselors in
various categories. The Troop tries to encourage the Scouts to work
on merit badges and/or advancement during these trips.
Fund raising is an important function that the Scouts must attempt.
It helps to reinforce responsibility by contributing to the
financial health of the Troop. Every year we hold a pancake
breakfast and bake sale at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. The funds
usually go to subsidizing activities for the Scouts.
- HIGH ADVENTURE
High adventure is available to Scouts who have attained the rank of
at least First Class and reached the age of thirteen. These trips
usually involve advanced Scout skills and a certain level of
maturity and stamina.
- In August 1996, four Scouts, two parents and a guide went on a
high adventure trek in the Adirondack Region that involved week
long hiking and canoeing. This group covered sixty-two and a half
miles and qualified for the 50 Mile Afoot Afloat award.
- In July 1999 a group of scouts and adults traveled to Maine
where they too earned the 50 Mile Afoot Afloat award while
canoeing down the Alagash.
- In July 2000, along with Venture Crew 113 a group of scouts,
venturers and adults earned the 50 Mile Afoot Afloat award while
they hike to the top of Mount Washington, and they also did some
canoeing.
- In July 2001 Venture Crew 113 went
to the Florida Sea Base for a week. They took the Out Island
Adventure which combined camping on a remote 100 acre island,
snorkeling on coral reefs, kayaking through red mangroves, and
exploring Big Munson Island.
- PARENTAL PARTICIPATION
Unlike Cub Scouts, Boy Scouting is a more independent activity in
that Scouts do not have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian on
trips. This helps the Scout become more reliant on himself and his
fellow Scouts. This helps build a boy's self esteem and realization
that team work is needed to accomplish a common goal. The Troop
never discourages parental participation. There are some parents
that like to attend the campouts because they like camping. Others
see it as an opportunity to share an experience with their sons they
otherwise would not be able to do.
The Troop would need and welcome any adults who would like to join
its ranks as uniformed adult leaders to become Assistant
Scoutmasters or join the Troop Committee. It becomes very difficult
for the Troop to administer the program without parental
involvement. Those adults that do not like to experience the
outdoors through camping must share the load by being designated
drivers providing transportation for the Scouts for trips and other
activities. This is usually accomplished by a rotating schedule so
that no one adult gets an inordinate share of the responsibility.
Parents are also used as a Troop Resource. Many of you have certain
hobbies or have an expertise in certain areas that the Scouts might
benefit from. You may want to share that with the Troop by lending a
hand at certain activities or becoming a merit badge counselor.
- WEBSITE
Troop 113 maintains this website at Troop113CenterportNY.com. It is
updated regularly and includes information on upcoming trips as well
as many great links. Many of the forms are also available for
download through the site.
- DUES
Scout dues is $50.00 per year and is due in September. This amount
covers Suffolk County registration, insurance, Boy’s Life magazine,
and Courts of Honor. Mr. Steve Gross is our Treasurer. If you have a
troop finance question, you can call him.
- JOINING THE TROOP
Any boy who has completed the fifth grade or who has earned the
Arrow of Light Award, or is eleven years of age but not yet eighteen
and completes the following requirements:
- Submit a completed Boy Scout application
- Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance
- Demonstrate the Scout salute, sign and handclasp
- Show how to tie a square knot
- Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath, the Scout Law,
the Scout Motto, the Scout Slogan, and the Outdoor Code
- Describe the Scout Badge
- With your parent or guardian complete the exercises in the
pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A
Parent’s Guide (found in the front of the scout handbook)
- Participate in a scoutmaster conference
When these requirements have been completed you are welcomed
into the Troop as a Scout. Then the adventure begins on the Eagle
Trail.
If you have a question, complaint, or a compliment, please feel
free to call any one of the following troop leaders: Scoutmaster
Jim Rooney or Assistant Scoutmaster's John Sandgren, Peter
DiSpirito, or Paul Edwards.
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