For the Scouting Year

2009 – 2010

Welcome to the 24^th Kitchener Scout Troop.  We have assembled this information to help you ‘Be Prepared’ to have a great time at Scouts. Please read it carefully.  If you have any questions, please ask.

Your Leaders this year are:
Scouter Jim Carse
Scouter Holger Fischer
Scouter Matt Carse

We meet at …

St. James’-Rosemount United Church, 171 Sherwood Ave., Kitchener.

We enter using the main entrance doors that face the Parking Lot and follow the stairs down to the gym.  All other areas are OUT OF BOUNDS.  Special outings usually begin in the church parking lot but occasionally we may meet somewhere else so watch the Troop Calendar and the Troop News for details.

From time to time we will meet at our Camp Mohawk in the Bridgeport area of Kitchener.  Map.

We meet on…

Mondays starting September 14  through until early June.  We will not meet when Monday is a legal holiday or during Christmas and March Breaks.  Occasionally we will meet on alternate days so watch the Troop Calendar closely.

Our meetings will start at…

7:00 PM sharp.  All Scouts should arrive about 10 min. prior.  The Duty patrol should arrive about 15 minutes early to get set up.  Sometimes we have special starting times so watch your schedule and notices.  We will finish our meetings at 8:45 each week.  Please be sure that someone comes to meet you promptly as we do not want you walking home alone after dark.

Attendance…

If you are going to miss a Scout meeting for any reason, we request that you call and notify your Patrol Leader that you will be absent.  You will not earn any points for your Patrol if you are away, but if you call, your Patrol will not be penalized for your absence.   If you arrive to our meeting late, while our opening ceremony is in process, we request that you wait in the stairway until the opening, Flag Break, Prayer etc. are complete.

Safety and Security

Arrival

Your leaders will unlock the doors at 6:45.  If you arrive before this, wait in the area just outside the door.  If your leaders are not there, you may not enter the church even if the door is unlocked.

Depart

When you are dismissed after our closing, you are expected to collect your belongings and prepare to leave promptly.  You may not leave the Sidewalk area immediately outside the doors until some one arrives to retrieve you.

Skateboards & Scooters

Due to safety concerns, liability and an enormous amount of litter that seems to accompany them, Skateboarding is not permitted on church property.  We request that you to leave them at home.

Bikes

Bikes are not permitted in the church.  They may be locked to the fence behind the gym.  We still expect you to be accompanied on your ride home.

We take our bikes to some of our camps at Provincial Parks as well as some other bike hikes.  If your bike is not in safe operating condition, you will not be able to ride with us.  We take this very seriously because when we bike as a group your bikes condition affects everyone’s safety – not just yours. If your bike doesn’t meet these guidelines, you shouldn’t be riding it and you won’t be able to ride it with your fellow Scouts.  This means:

• Size must be appropriate for you.
• Seat and handlebars must be properly adjusted
• Both Brakes must be fully functional and properly adjusted.
• Bell or other warning device must be working
• Gears operational if equipped.
• Tires properly inflated.
• HELMET must be properly Fitted and adjusted.

Electronics

Please leave your MP3 Players, cell phones and other electronic gadgetry at home.  Don’t risk losing them or having them damaged, – Please do not bring them to meetings or camps.

Badges and Awards…

Your Scout handbook will explain most of the details about the badges that you can earn as a Scout.

The Challenge Badges (round, Personal interest) will be passed by you leaders at most regular meetings.  Advise your leaders at inspection time and they will try to allow time to view your presentation.  Make sure that you are prepared.

Achievement Badges (Diamond, skill developing) will be worked on as a Troop for the most part.  You can still work on these requirements yourself if you like.  Each requirement will need to be passed by one of your leaders at any regular meeting night or by special arrangement.

All earned badges should be sewn in place by the meeting after they are presented or points will be lost.  Lost badges will cost $2.00 to replace.

Equipment

We hope that as a Scout you will join us in all of our outdoor experiences.  In true Scouting Fashion, our outdoor experiences will go on rain/snow or shine, warm or cold.  In an effort to help you have enjoyable experiences, we encourage you to be equipped effectively.  Please don’t feel that you have to go out and buy all this tomorrow just for Scouts.  In many cases you will need this gear anyway.  We encourage you to keep your Scouting activities in mind when you shop and buy quality, NOT fashion.  Here are a few things we highly recommend:

• Rain Gear: Experience has shown us that a rain suit is far superior to a poncho.  If you keep dry, you can keep warm.
• Sleeping Bag: should be good to at least –15C.  We also suggest some type of additional liner for winter camps. (Fleece works great)  A good, sturdy stuff sack is a must for your sleeping bag.  A compression sack is even better.  Garbage bags are completely unacceptable.
• Winter Clothing:  Boots that are water-proof and have removable thick felt liners are recommended for warm feet.  Mittens are warmer than gloves especially when they are wet.  An extra toque is needed for wearing to bed at winter camps.  Keep layering in mind when buying coats and pant.  Buy quality, not fashion

• Dishes:  Scouts are required to bring their own dishes to all of our camps (except Fall Camp)  we recommend Melmac type plate, bowl, and mug as they are durable and do not transfer heat near as fast as metal mess kits.  A knife fork and spoon will complete the set.  Keep it all together in a mesh ‘ditty’ bag.
• Back Pack: This will make your trips into campsites much easier with your belongings on your back and your hands free.  Plastic bags are useless.  Hockey type bags are very awkward for Scouts to hike into camp with.
• Knap Sack: The one you use to take your books to school is fine.  You’ll need this on hikes to pack your survival kit, rain gear, dry socks and a snack/drink.etc.
• Knives:  Once you have earned your ‘Knife Card’ and have your parents permission you may carry a pocket knife, Multi-tool or Lock Blade.  No blade length is to exceed 3½” (90mm)