BSA Troop 1424

New Hope Lutheran Church 1424 Murphy Road Missouri City, TX 77459 www.bsatroop1424.com

Troop Background & General Information

For the past 100 years the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America has been to provide an educational program to build character, train in citizenship, and develop physical fitness in boys and young adults. Troop 1424 pursues these goals in its programs. CHARTER ORGANIZATION Troop 1424 is in its 31st year and our charter organization is the New Hope Lutheran Church. The church provides meeting and activity facilities, storage for our equipment and garage sale items, and a shed to store the troop trailer. The troop performs various service projects for the church. Church membership is not required for troop membership. MEETINGS The troop meets every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:00 except during the month of July and during school holidays or during the week of midterms or final exams. The Tuesday after campouts is not a regular troop meeting, but is a time reserved for the troop boy leadership and adult troop committee to meet for planning purposes. The general structure of the meetings is similar each week and includes an opening ceremony, announcements, patrol meetings, advancement/merit badge work, Scout skill, game and a closing ceremony. The meetings are planned and led by the troops boy leadership. CAMPING Camping is a key activity and we generally camp every month except June/July which is when we go to summer camp. During spring break we have an extended weekend camp and also a long-term winter camp during December. Weekend camping locations typically consist of Scout camps, National Forest Service recreation areas or Army Corps of Engineers parks, State or County parks, or private property made available to the troop. Group camping gear is provided by the troop including tents, stoves, gas lights, cooking gear, etc. Each Scout furnishes their mess kit, sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, canteen/water bottle, and all other personal gear. Scouts camp as patrols and sleep in troop-provided, 2-person tents. Normally we do not allow Scouts to bring their personal tents. Electronics (music, phones, games, etc) are allowed during troop travel, but these must be locked away in the vehicle once we arrive at our destination. Inter-active board games and ball games are encouraged during available time on camp outs. The Scouts also buy food, cook meals and dine with their own patrols. On some occasions patrols are combined on a campout or we may cook and dine as a troop.

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

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BSA Troop 1424

New Hope Lutheran Church 1424 Murphy Road Missouri City, TX 77459 www.bsatroop1424.com

Monthly campouts are a fundamental part of Boy Scouts and the Troop attempts to select monthly camping activities that give a variety of locations and experiences for the Scouts. Recent monthly campouts include: Year 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Camp Quintana Colorado Bend SP Aransas Natl Wildlife Refuge Trinity River Webelos Woods San Marcos River USS Lexington Texas A&M Vet School Double Lake Rec Area Village Creek SP Hill Country SNA Location Surfside, Texas Lampassas, Texas Bay City, Texas Anahuac, Texas Granado, Texas New Braunfels, Texas Corpus Christi, Texas College Station, Texas Cleveland, Texas Lumberton, Texas Blanco, Texas Feature Beach Camping Backpacking Wildlife / Merit badges Canoeing Webelos Intro Canoeing Sleep on-board Veterinary Medicine MB Backpacking Canoeing Backpacking

Summer camp is one of the highlights of the year and where the Scouts develop many memories. Summer camps are selected to provide an opportunity to see different parts of the country and we try to go areas for summer that offer a milder climate and different topography for the scouts to see. Recent summer camps include: Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Camp El Rancho Cima Kia Kima Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch Camp Daniel Boone Camp Frank Rand Location Texas Hill Country NE Arkansas West Texas Western North Carolina Northern New Mexico Feature Hill Country and Blanco River Ouchita Mountains Davis Mtns, horseback riding Backpacking, rafting Rocky Mountains

In general the Troop tries to attend at least one high adventure camp every two years. Recent high adventure camps include: Year 2012 2011 Winter 2011 Summer 2010 Camp Philmont Scout Ranch Northern Tier Florida Sea Base Philmont Scout Ranch Location NE New Mexico Northern Minnesota Florida Keys NE New Mexico Feature Backpacking Extreme winter activities Scuba & Snorkeling Backpacking

Philmont Scout Ranch is located in northern New Mexico and is s BSAs premier high adventure base where crews participate in 11-day backpacking expeditions in the Rocky Mountains. We generally try to send a contingent to Philmont every two years.
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

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BSA Troop 1424

New Hope Lutheran Church 1424 Murphy Road Missouri City, TX 77459 www.bsatroop1424.com

Florida Sea Base is another of BSAs high adventure camps and is located in the Florida Keys. Sea Base offers opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling. Northern Tier is the other BSA high adventure camp and is located in Northern Minnesota. This camp has year around programs, and our Troop has participated in the winter program that includes winter activities along with the opportunity to build and sleep in an ice cave at night. The troop also does winter camp. For several years we conducted our own winter camp program at a Scout camp on South Padre Island. In 2009 and 2010 we went to winter camp at Lost Pines Scout Ranch near Bastrop, Texas. Lost Pines has a particular camp program focused on Eagle-required merit badges. ADVANCEMENT Although we work on advancement and merit badges at almost every meeting, Scouts advance at their own pace. The initial advancement steps are focused on learning Scout skills (first aid, cooking, knots, fire building, etc) for the ranks up through First Class. Most summer camps have programs focused on teaching these skills, and our troop guide and all the older scouts are willing to help a young scout learn these skills. Final approval of advancement steps is provided by a Scoutmaster and a Scout receives a Board of Review by a committee of adults for each rank advancement. To maintain accountability, parents do not approve the advancement for their own son. We expect a scout to attend a minimum of 50% of troop activities to be eligible for advancement. Our troop has produced about 35 Eagle Scouts since its inception in 1980 and the majority of these Eagle Scouts have attained this rank in the past 10 years. The troop has a Life-to-Eagle coach, Howard Weliver, who guides and encourages Scouts through the final hurdles to Eagle. In 2011, 6 scouts in the troop achieved the Eagle rank. FUND RAISING As a troop we see fundraising as an opportunity for the Scouts to learn to earn their way. Our primary fundraiser is our semi-annual garage sale usually held in November and April or May. The proceeds are split between the troop (40%) and the Scouts (60%) who work at the garage sale. Scouts receive funds based on the number of hours worked just like a job. This money is maintained in an account for each Scout and goes toward their summer camp fees and can easily pay for all the cost. If a scout leaves the troop, his funds are placed into the general troop fund. We also provide opportunities to sell popcorn, sell Scout Fair tickets and sell Entertainment books with the funds from these fundraisers going to the Scout accounts. These fundraisers are done individually instead of a group effort like the garage sales. We may also have a special fundraiser like a car wash to raise money for summer camp. LEADERSHIP Boy Scouts is a boy-led and boy run program and we strive constantly to make sure that happens.
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

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BSA Troop 1424

New Hope Lutheran Church 1424 Murphy Road Missouri City, TX 77459 www.bsatroop1424.com

The troop is run by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). The Assistant SPL is the successor to the SPL after the SPL completes his six-month term. The scouts elect the Assistant SPL and their respective Patrol Leaders and assistant Patrol Leaders each March and September. Additional leadership positions which are appointed by the SPL are: Troop Guide, Scribe, Historian, Quartermaster, and Librarian. Adult leadership basically constitutes setting behavior and safety limits on the scouts and their activities, providing resources and transportation for scout activities, and supporting the youth leaders in their roles. BSA and our troop adhere to the two-deep leadership rule. In essence no scout will ever be alone, one-on-one, with any individual adult that is not a relative. Our troop has taken this a step further requiring a minimum of four-deep leadership for our campouts so that if the troop is split up on an outing, there is two-deep leadership for each group. The troop has a broad group of adult leaders with many years of scouting experience and BSA training. Specific adult leaders and current roles are listed under contact information below. SERVICE PROJECTS The troop conducts service projects in several different ways. Scouts participate on Eagle projects for the receiving organization. We perform service for New Hope Lutheran Church on an as-needed basis. We perform conservation projects at the camps and parks where we weekend camp. We also provide service at the annual Sprint for Life Run fundraiser for ovarian cancer research. TROOP EQUIPMENT Over the years the troop has acquired a fair amount of equipment including a large trailer, tents, stoves, lanterns, Dutch ovens, propane gas tanks, cooking gear, etc. We are continually replacing equipment when it breaks or becomes worn out. Funds for equipment replacement comes from annual dues and garage sale proceeds and parents have never been assessed a special fee to cover these costs. FINANCES Annual dues are $75 due in December and include all monies owed to National BSA and the Sam Houston Area Council including a Boys Life subscription. Semi-Annual camping fees are $75 which covers transportation and food for the camp outs at roughly $15/scout/campout. Special outings may require a supplemental fee to cover admission or unusual transportation costs. Semi-annual camping funds not utilized are added to each Scouts summer camp funds. Summer camp normally costs between $250 and $500/Scout depending on where we go for camp and the transportation cost. This is in addition to the other troop fees mentioned above, but summer camp expenses can easily be covered by fundraisers.

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

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BSA Troop 1424

New Hope Lutheran Church 1424 Murphy Road Missouri City, TX 77459 www.bsatroop1424.com Winter camp is usually cheaper than summer camp normally costing between $150 and $200/Scout depending on where we go for camp and the transportation cost. Like summer camp, fundraising balances can be used for winter camp expenses. We try to set our camping fees where adult volunteers who attend do not have to pay camp or transportation costs. It is the troop philosophy that our adult volunteers contribute their weekend time, their vacation time from work, and often their vehicle mileage to support our camping program and should not be burdened with additional costs. SCOUT RECOGNITION We have 3 Courts of Honor per year where we recognize Scouts for their advancement and merit badges and any special awards. The Court of Honor is a family affair with a cover-dish dinner in the New Hope church gym or fellowship hall. We often have guest speakers as well. Scouts will emcee the Court of Honor as one of the requirements for the Communications merit badge. We also usually have 1 or 2 Eagle Scout Courts of Honor each year. SCOUT UNIFORMS Class A uniform is the normal uniform to wear to meetings, when traveling to camps, and at scouting events. This includes button-up scout shirt, convertible pants, socks, and belt. The troop does not require neckerchiefs or hats. A hat is optional as is a bolo tie. The troop has printed green Class B troop T-shirts that are available (most sizes available). T-shirts may also be printed for special trips and events and will be made available at cost. Military look-alike and camouflage apparel are discouraged as are T-shirts with inappropriate messages. CONTACT INFORMATION Scoutmaster: Mike Schultz (281) 431-4150 or (281) 813-6434 Assistant Scoutmaster/Life to Eagle Coach: Howard Weliver (281) 499-3977 Assistant Scoutmaster: Ronnie Brennan (281) 437-6576 Assistant Scoutmaster: Tracy Fowler (281) 494-9630 Assistant Scoutmaster: Doug Farley (281) 438-3899 Assistant Scoutmaster: Dean Gore (281) 403-6598 Assistant Scoutmaster: David Molina (832) 428-5020 Assistant Scoutmaster: Derrick Heyward (832) 372-2877 Troop Committee Chair: Joe Alcorn (713) 751-9381 Charter Organization (CO) Representative: Susan Kronenberger (281) 431-0160 Troop Advancement Chair: Clinton Miller (281) 437-3024 Troop Treasurer: Rick Hajek (281) 438-0251 Troop Secretary: Vacant Outdoor Program/Transportation Chair: Lisa Ortiz (832) 875-8270
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

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BSA Troop 1424

New Hope Lutheran Church 1424 Murphy Road Missouri City, TX 77459 www.bsatroop1424.com Health & Safety Chair: Ginny Farley (281) 438-3899 Troop Quartermaster: Doug Farley (281) 438-3899 and Ron Hood (713) 826-6293 Troop Communications: Catherine Brennan (281) 437-6576 Troop Fundraising: Jim Jarecki Troop Membership: Vacant Troop Training: Derrick Heyward (832) 372-2877 Troop Chaplain: Vacant Troop Webmaster: Mike McNeff (713) 503-9775

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

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