Welcome to Troop 114 in Tallahassee, Florida!
What Is Scouts BSA
Scouts BSA is a year-round program for youth 11-17 years old that provides fun, adventure, learning, challenge and responsibility to help them become the best version of themselves.
Goals of Scouting
The main draw of Scouting for kids is to have fun. They have fun learning new skills, meeting new friends and going on outdoor adventures. As they get older, many enjoy camping with their friends, holding leadership positions such as Patrol Leader and working toward the rank of Eagle Scout.
In Scouts BSA, one of the primary goals is to develop character as embodied in the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan. As the Scouts get older, leadership development plays a more important role. We strive to develop leadership skills such as planning, organization, and communication. This is accomplished by having the Scouts lead the Troop.
Moving Up To Scouts BSA
The biggest difference between Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA is that in Cub Scouts, adults are the leaders and in Scouts BSA, the Scouts are the leaders. Here, the Scouts plan and run the meetings and outings with the assistance and support of the adults. There is a greater emphasis on outdoor activities and skills such as such as camping, hiking, and fire starting. The Scouts also are expected to demonstrate personal responsibility. They should start being responsible for themselves and, as leaders, responsible for less experienced Scouts in their Patrols. Our Troop program is structured so that there are ample opportunities for rank advancement, either through skills training or leadership roles. An active Scout can typically earn his First Class rank after about a year, and many Scouts go on to earn their Eagle Scout rank.
The First Year
The first year for Scouts is an important transition. They enter a Troop as the youngest members of their group, which can be intimidating to a Scout who was previously one of the oldest in Cub Scouts or elementary school. It also can be an adjustment to go from an adult-led program to the Scout-led program. We understand the transition and make the first year a fun and memorable one. We welcome young people new to Scouting as well. New Scouts with no prior Scouting experience often thrive in this environment and quickly catch up with their more experienced peers.
The first-year program starts with the patrol structure. We match Scouts in patrols with others their own age, so they are forming bonds with those who will be their cooking, camping, and skill building buddies. Often these groups are made up of Scouts they know from school or previous scouting experience. They work together with those in their patrol to organize by electing a Patrol Leader who works to lead the group in meal planning, cooking, and various advancement opportunities. The bond that is formed in a patrol is often compared to those formed on sports teams and can often be a permanent one.
Troop Organization
Scouts are organized in a Troop and the Troop is run by the Scouts using the Patrol Method. The Troop is led by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL). The Troop is subdivided into Patrols led by a Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader. New Scouts are placed in their own New Scout Patrol for the first few months, and eventually become a member of one of the existing Patrols.
The adult leader is the Scoutmaster, supported by a team of Assistant Scoutmasters and the Troop Committee. There are many roles for adults in the Troop, and we encourage all adults to help in some way. The more volunteers we have, the higher-quality program we can provide for the Scouts.
Where & When Do We Meet
Troop 114 meets on Monday at Christ Presbyterian Church, 2317 Bannerman Rd., Tallahassee, from 7-8 p.m. The Patrol Leaders Council meets the first Monday of each month; the full Troop meets all other Mondays except holidays. See our calendar on troopwebhost.org/Troop114Tallahassee for details.
What Does My Scout Need
Each Scout needs to complete an application and BSA Medical Forms. Also, each Scout needs an official Scouts BSA Handbook and uniform consisting of a Scout shirt, pants and belt. The shirt needs Unit 114 numbers, a World Crest emblem, Suwanee River Area Council patch, Arrow of Light if earned as a Cub Scout, and Religious Knot if earned. Troop 114 purchases a BSA Scout Handbook, Troop neckerchief, Troop t-shirt and patrol patch. The Troop will supply other patches for position and rank.
The Camping Experience
Troop 114 prides itself on diverse camping experiences throughout the year. Weekend outings typically begin Friday evening and return Sunday. Our Troop plans an exciting schedule of activities each year. Previous year schedules include:
• Camping and Zipline Outing
• Three Rivers State Park
• Ochlockonee River State Park
• Seminole State Park
• William J. Rish Park Family Campout
• Summer Camp at Wallwood
• Summer Camp at Rainey Mountain
• Northern Tier High Adventure
• Sopchoppy City Park Campout
• Goose Pasture Canoeing Trip
• Little Saint George Hike-In
• Winter Camp at Camp La-No-Che
• and much more! |
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As Scouts advance, there are opportunities for high adventure camping. Northern Tier in Minnesota, Sea Base in the Florida Keys, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia are all camping experiences available to Scouts in Troop 114.