Boy Scout Troop 174
Meetings Wednesday Evenings 7-8:30,
Simsbury United Methodist Church (Wesley Hall)
799 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06070
“Fun With a Purpose”
Chartered by the Civitan Club of Simsbury and the Farmington Valley
Dear Parents and prospective Boy Scouts,
The adult leaders and Boy Scouts of Troop 174 would like you to consider joining our Troop and becoming a Scout.
Why should you join scouting and Troop 174?
Scouting provides boys with an opportunity to try new things, learn through the experiences of camping, hiking, leadership, and community service. These scout activities build self-confidence, and reinforce ethical standards. The skills the boys learn in scouting help them overcome obstacles and challenges with courage and character throughout their lives. Scouting fosters self-esteem, a sense of value and belonging, a sense of accountability and teamwork. This is true of scouts in Troop 174.
Monthly Trips:
Our monthly activities emphasize scout education and leadership development with a focus on “fun with a purpose” which is our Troop motto. Activities are selected by the scouts and approved by the Scoutmaster. Some of our past trips include:
Block Island & Fishers Island - (ferry to the island and then bicycle back packing and camping)
West Point - Football game, tour of the facility and camp out
New York City and Boston hikes - historical walking tour of the cities and visiting many major attractions
USS Intrepid in NYC - tour of the historic aircraft carrier
Gettysburg - tour of the historic battlefield and camping onsite
Lake Placid - skiing / snow boarding
Klondike Derby - annual council Boy Scout winter skills competition and camping
Tuckerman’s Ravine - spring hike and ski / snow board down the ravine
Rock Climbing - at numerous regional rock walls on trails and mountains
White Water Rafting - in the Adirondacks and West Virginia Canoeing
Backpacking on the Appalachian Trail and the White Mountains
Summer Boy Scout Camp (Camp Workcoeman) on West Hill Lake in New Hartford
High Adventure - Philmont Scout Ranch - 2 week backpacking in northeastern New Mexico (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011)
Scuba diving in Honduras
Canoeing on the Farmington River
Numerous Connecticut and Massachusetts mountains, trails, rivers and camping locations
These are more than trips. Our scout program helps boys grow mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. The skills they learn in Scouting will help them to succeed throughout their lives.
Scouts, Sports, School and other activities:
We encourage your son to participate in sports, school clubs and other activities. We believe in a healthy balance of extra curricular activities including boy scouts. In fact, most scouts in Troop 174 participate in sports whether it is at the high school level (Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity), Simsbury Little League, Babe Ruth, Simsbury Soccer Club, Simsbury Football, Simsbury Lacrosse, wrestling, fencing, etc. Boy scouting need not be all consuming. The boys are welcome to come to meetings and activities after practice or games. If it is important that your son participate in scouting, then you can find ways to balance school and other activities.
Adult Leadership:
Troop 174 is fortunate to have over 12 adult leaders and 50 enthusiastic boy scouts ready and willing to learn and apply new skills. What this means to our boys is that each scout has one on one access to the adult leaders and the Scoutmaster which is an essential ingredient for boys to realize the most value from the Scouting program and advance in rank at a pace comfortable to each boy and his parents. Our Troop is also small enough so scouts and parents are welcome on each outdoor activity. Further, we feel that our Troop size promotes camaraderie and greater leadership opportunities for developing scouts as well as allowing development of deeper personal relationships.
What sets Troop 174 apart?
Scouting is a boy led program. What this means is that our scouts learn and practice their leadership skills. Because of our cohesive group, each scout has the opportunity to step up and take on a leadership position as they advance through their ranks towards Eagle Scout. Weekly meetings are boy led as well and provide the scouts an opportunity to plan, organize and lead. Outdoor trips and activities are also boy led, often by the most senior boy leaders, but always under the watchful eye of multiple trained and skilled adult leaders as safety is of paramount importance.
Advancement:
The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others. Since inception in 1971, Troop 174 has honored 108 Eagle Scouts - an average of almost 3 per year! The Troop 174 Class of 2010 had 8 out of 9 scouts earn the rank of Eagle!
Parental Involvement:
The best way to ensure a Scout’s success and longevity is to have his parent involved. The largest “Patrol” on our camping trips is typically the “Geezer Patrol” and we have the best meals! While we strongly support a “Boy Run Program” and do our best to guide but not interfere, we all enjoy the outdoors and the camaraderie. Parents are welcome on every event.
Funding
Raking leaves in the fall, and selling Christmas Trees in December, generates sufficient funds to cover Troop expenses. In addition, Scouts can earn significant personal “escrow” funds. These funds can be used for Scouting related expenses and equipment.
Web Site - for photos, Troop calendar, and to learn more, visit our website at: http://www.troop174.scoutlander.com
When and Where?
Our Troop meets every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. Meetings are typically in Wesley Hall at the Simsbury United Methodist Church in downtown Simsbury, however may be outdoors in fall and spring. Meetings officially start at 7:00 pm but leaders are always available at 6:30 pm to help the boys with their advancement skills and merit badge requirements.
Give your son a valuable gift by encouraging him to join Boy Scouting and Troop 174. The time you invest in him today will make a difference in the person hebecomes tomorrow.
Please contact any us for further information or feel free to visit any Scout meeting on Wednesdays at 7 pm at Simsbury United Methodist Church. We sincerely hope to see you there.
John Burrows
Scout Master
860-408-1459
jtburrows@comcast.net