TROOP 85

Boy Scouts of America

Pacific Palisades, CA

www.turnlav.net/85

1. HOW TO JOIN BOY SCOUT TROOP 85

If you want to be a Scout and you think you would like Troop 85, do this:

· Ask your parents to read all the material in this package. It tells about being a Scout, what we do in Troop 85, what you and your parents are expected to do, the cost of the program, and the equipment you will need. Discuss this with your parents. If you have any questions, call Troop 85’s Scoutmaster:

David Turner, Scoutmaster

2006 Glyndon Avenue, Venice, CA 90291

Phone: work (310) 915-7601 evenings (310) 915-5523

Email: dturner@ieee.org

Tom Davis, Assistant Scoutmaster

20859 Cheney Road, Topanga, CA 90290

Phone: (310) 455-7171 Email: tdavis@laschools.org

Jim Suhr, Assistant Scoutmaster

817 Chatauqua, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Phone: (310) 454-6560 Email: jamessuhr@earthlink.net

Neil Shaw, Assistant Scoutmaster

PO Box 619, Topanga, CA 90290

Phone: (310) 455-2702 Email: menlo@ieee.org

· Visit a troop meeting with one or both of your parents. Even if you have already visited Troop 85, we need to meet your parents too.

· Meetings are every Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. at Gabrielson Hall, Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church, 801 Via De La Paz, Pacific Palisades. Pick up a Scout Application at the meeting.

Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades

801 Via De La Paz, Palisades, CA 90272, (310) 454 5529

· Arrange with the Scoutmaster to go on a qualifying hike. The Troop requires that all prospective Scouts participate in a day hike of at least 10 miles. If you don’t really like hiking this is the time to find out because Troop 85 does a lot of hiking and backpacking.

· After you decide that you certainly want to be a Scout in Troop 85, fill out four forms and have your parents sign them.

1. JOIN SCOUTING (fill in the BSA application) ‑ this must be accompanied by a check for $7 payable to Boy Scouts of America.

2. Pay your Troop 85 annual dues, with a $150 check made out to Troop 85, BSA. The check covers your Troop dues for one year ($100) and your portion of our contribution to the Western Los Angeles County Council ($50).

2. Personal Health and Medical Record (at the end of this packet)

3. Authorization for Medical Treatment (at the end of this packet)

4. Consent and Release from Liability (at the end of this packet)

· For the uniform, buy only the short‑sleeved scout shirt. Troop 85 will supply insignia, badges, neckerchief and slide. You’ll wear your uniform to meetings, but not to campouts except summer camp.

· Choose a date for your Scout Induction Ceremony. You must have your uniform and your parent at this meeting. Check the date with your parents and the Scoutmaster.

· Read the Boy Scout Handbook from page 1 to page 14. Study the Scout oath and law (page 9). Read the requirement to become a Scout (page 4)

· At your induction ceremony, before you receive the neckerchief and emblems that mark you as a Scout of Troop 85, you will formally take the Scout Oath and promise to obey the Scout Law.

2. PARENTS LETTER

Dear Parents:

Your son has expressed interest in joining Boy Scout Troop 85. If he’s up to the challenge, you should know what this means both to him and to you.

The goals of scouting are to promote personal growth, character development and good citizenship. In Troop 85 we pursue these goals by teaching boys to take care of themselves and others in the out of doors. Our program involves meeting once a week and camping (usually backpacking) once a month. We have several longer trips each year, including summer camp, cross‑country skiing, and a fifty mile backpack. All boys should plan to attend these activities and come to every weekly meeting. (The fifty mile backpack is generally not available in a boy’s first year, and some schools are in session at the time of our spring ski trip.)

Backpacking is not for everybody: it requires strength and determination. One can’t quit a backpack trip. Before joining Troop 85 a boy is required to complete a ten mile hike with the troop. Any boy in good health can do this, but if he doesn’t want to then probably our troop is not for him.

For some boys sports are their most important activities. We try to make provision for sports without interfering, but if a boy can never miss a sports event to go on a scout trip he should think twice before joining.

Boy leadership is the essence of Scouting. This means that in many activities your son will be supervised by another boy, or he may himself be the leader of a group. Although every Scout outing is supervised by at least one adult leader, these adult leaders are not baby sitters. Your son will be doing things with other boys, just as he would at home. We ask that you accept the risks as well as the advantages of the Scout program, by signing a release and fully accepting the responsibility it implies.

The Scout program is supervised by dedicated adult leaders. A few stay forever, but most serve only while their sons are Scouts. We invite and welcome your participation in the troop. Each year we need at least one new Assistant Scoutmaster and two or three dedicated volunteers who will take on some other duties. We expect each family to fill one committee position for at least one year during their son’s membership. Also, we expect each family to be available to drive on one long trip or two short trips each year.

The cost of such an extensive program is considerable. Details are listed on a separate sheet. No boy is denied membership because his family cannot afford the cost; if this presents a problem you should talk with the Scoutmaster about it.

We welcome your son’s interest in Troop 85, and we look forward to offering him an excellent scouting experience. It has been a wonderful and valuable experience for those of us whose boys have been in the program, and we expect it will be great for you and your son.

Sincerely,

David Turner

Scoutmaster

3. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of Troop 85 is to provide the youth of our community with enrichment by involvement in the Boy Scout movement. Specifically, for each individual boy, Troop 85:

· Provides high‑adventure outdoor experiences

· Teaches self‑reliance and survival in the wilderness

· Teaches and practices the values and principles of the Boy Scouts

· Helps develop an appreciation of nature and the outdoors

· Teaches leadership skills

· Offers an opportunity for community service

These goals are achieved through an aggressive and challenging outdoors program built around wilderness backpacking and traditional camping, and within the framework of the Boy Scout advancement program.

These programs together with a strong emphasis on the development of the individual boy permit Troop 85 to offer an experience that is a true alternative to that offered by other Boy Scout troops in the community.

4. SUMMER CAMP

Normally, Troop 85 goes to Summer Camp during the first or second week of July. Scout camp provides the best possible introduction to Scouting. Every boy who joins Troop 85 should attend camp for at least his first year; most of them will want to go again and again. Over the past few years, Troop 85 has been attending one of two excellent Boy Scout camps; Camp Chawanakee and Camp Emerald Bay.

CAMP CHAWANAKEE ‑ is located on the south shore of Shaver Lake in the Sierra, east of Fresno. It belongs to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts, but like all Scout camps it welcomes troops from anywhere. Troop 85 has always had one of the campsites right at the lake’s edge; usually Mariposa or Tamarack. Chawanakee has superb waterfront facilities with swimming, rowing, canoeing, and sailing programs available. There are nature merit badges (five different badges), pioneering (building towers or bridges with poles and ropes), orienteering (map and compass), handicrafts, archery and rifle shooting. We do an overnight trip across the lake in canoes, sleeping under the stars and cooking without utensils. For boys who perform a personal service project for the camp the “Tribe of Chawanakee” gives recognition and membership in a special group of campers.

CAMP EMERALD BAY - is located at the other end of Catalina Island from Avalon. Like at many other Boy Scout Camps, the highlight consists of all the waterfront activities. In addition there is opportunity to earn many other merit badges that would be difficult to earn away from summer camp. There is an overnight trip across the bay in canoes in order to have a night and day away from the camp environment. For scouts who have earned all the merit badges they need, a Scuba Diving class is part of the program.

Which camp is best? That’s hard to answer as each has unique features that appeal to different individuals. We’ve had a great time at both. The decision as to which camp to attend will be made in January taking into account the requirements of everyone in the troop. In January, we will make our reservation. The final deadline for camp registration is in May. We normally reserve space for up to 15 boys. It is a strict policy of the Boy Scouts of America that at least two adult leaders be present at all Scout activities, Therefore it is necessary that 2 adults plan to spend the week at summer camp with the boys. Experience is not needed, although ability to swim is highly desirable.

The estimated fee for summer camp will be $300, to cover the camp fee, gasoline for the drivers, and a camp neckerchief or T‑shirt. The full fee is due in May.

5. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT

Troop 85 does a lot of backpacking and hiking. Proper equipment is important and adds to the enjoyment of that activity. On the other hand, the use of ill‑fitting, poorly designed, or badly manufactured equipment can often contribute to a very bad experience. Unfortunately, the proper equipment is often expensive. You may have some reservations about spending a lot on equipment when you don’t know if your son is going to stick with it or not. In such a case, you may be tempted to economize through the use of cheaper or hand‑me‑down equipment. Please resist this temptation. If you’re not ready to invest in equipment, then rent good equipment from some reputable outfitter, such as A‑16.

When it comes to backpacking, your old pack probably won’t fit an 11‑year‑old boy. Cheap packs often lack necessary support and can’t be adjusted to fit. Even a good quality adult pack is inappropriate for a youth. Fit and comfort are everything, otherwise it can be a miserable experience. See Section 5.3 for more information on packs for boys and those with slight frames.

The Troop visits areas (e.g., high altitude camp sites) where the temperature may drop sharply overnight. Your son will need a warm outdoor bag. In general, you can forget the bag he uses when he stays overnight at a friend’s house. Invest in a good bag ‑ being cold at night is also a miserable experience.

The good news is that good equipment lasts for a very long time (my down sleeping bag that I got when I was in Scouts was finally replaced after 25 years and I still occasionally use it). Good equipment is often on sale ‑ watch for the sales. Renting is a good initial compromise. You get to use good equipment, you get to try out various manufacturer’s models, and the cost is reasonable.

5.1 WHAT YOU NEED

Four major equipment items are needed:

1. Pack (with frame and hipbelt)

2. Sleeping Bag

3. Hiking boots

4. Warm jacket

There’s also a list of minor items (mattress pad, flashlight, etc.) needed by each Scout. See section 7 for a complete list. The troop provides tents, stoves and cooking gear. For the first few trips the troop may be able to lend a backpack, and sneakers are acceptable footwear for the spring trips.

5.2 WHERE TO GET IT

We recommend REI, Sports Chalet and Adventure 16 (A-16); they’re here in Santa Monica and Venice.

A‑16 is my favorite store. A‑16 can be trusted to sell good equipment, make sure it fits, and back it up. REI also has strong customer service. At the others you should know what you are doing. Some stores are listed below.

· Adventure 16 Pico Blvd., one block west of Sepulveda

· REI Santa Monica and 3rd Street;

Rosecrans, one block west of Aviation

· Sports Chalet Marina del Rey on Maxella

· Big 5 20th and Wilshire in Santa Monica

5.3 SOURCES FOR SMALL BACKPACKS

PARENTS: IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A BACKPACK FOR YOUR SON, THIS MAY INTEREST YOU.

We usually recommend getting your backpacks from either A‑16 or REI because the staff at both stores is knowledgeable and helpful. However, there are disadvantages to both places. A‑16 tends to be expensive (but the quality of their “house” brands is outstanding) and REI is inconvenient to get to (it’s in Redondo Beach) or in the Valley at Devonshire and Reseda. There are alternatives.

Sports Chalet, another good resource, has a branch in the Marina. It is well stocked in the outdoors department with a great staff.

Model	Recommended Height	Capacity	Approx Price
Shenandoah 2	4 ft to 5 ft 3 in	2700 cu in	$60
Shenandoah 1	greater than 5‑3	3381 cu in	$80
Adirondack	greater than 5‑4	3788 cu in	$90

The pack MUST fit properly to be of any good—a bad‑fitting pack is agony to carry. So, if you want to buy one of these packs have your son try it on. The most important element is the hip belt (the padded belt that goes around the waist). IT MUST, WHEN CLOSED, FIT VERY SNUGLY—otherwise it’s no good. Hip belts are adjustable but some can’t be adjusted tight enough to fit someone of small stature. If you purchase a pack and are unable to get expert advice on fitting have your son bring it to a Scout meeting before he uses it for the first time.

5.4 WHAT YOU NEED FOR A BACKPACKING TRIP

Necessary equipment:

· Backpack ‑ must be a frame pack with hip belt.

· Canvas straps to attach sleeping bag to pack. (NOT bungee cords)

· Sleeping Bag (Hollowfill, Polarguard or Down ‑ Mummy style)

· Foam pad (Ensolite or Ridgerest)

Hiking clothes

· Shorts

· Troop T shirt

· Boots ‑ need not be expensive mountaineering boots but should have vibram soles. Should be fitted with two pair of socks.

· Socks ‑ wear a light pair inside (next the skin) and heavy wool socks outside.

Other clothes (including items worn on trip)

· T shirts ‑ 1 worn ‑ 1 spare

· underpants ‑ 1 worn ‑ 1 spare

· socks ‑ 2 worn ‑ 2 spare

· warm jacket (or sweater and light jacket)

· long pants ‑ 1

· long sleeved shirt

· poncho or waterproof jacket

Other Equipment:

· Water bottle ‑ WIDE MOUTHED liter plastic required – one or two - not a metal canteen

· Flashlight ‑ C size recommended for light weight

· Knife (pocket knife. Sheath knives are undesirable)

· Cup, bowl, spoon (fork optional)

· Whistle ‑ needed in search for lost scouts.

· First Aid kit ‑ 8 bandaids & 2 safety pins in a ziploc bag.

· Map and Compass ‑ optional except required for leaders.

Following items are needed for sun protection, summer and winter:

· Hat

· Sunglasses

· Sun and lip protection ‑ full blockout (45) recommended for snow trips

Other optional equipment:

· Swim suit (optional if you have underwear, but everybody swims)

· Towel (optional ‑ you can always dry with your duty T‑shirt)

· Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, comb, brush etc. as needed.

NO RADIOS OR TAPE PLAYERS

Money: for fast food ‑ $5 for one stop ‑ $10 for two stops. Each Scout is expected to pay for the food consumed during weekend outings at the rate of $3 to $5 per meal.

Keep it light ‑ you will also be carrying half a tent, stove or fuel, and patrol cook pots. Add to this list only if you are very sure!

6. COST OF THE TROOP 85 PROGRAM

6.1 TROOP FEES

You will be asked to pay Troop fees each year of $150 that includes both Annual Dues and a Sustaining Membership. In addition, you will be asked to pay for specific activities as indicated below.

The Annual Dues ($1