Belgrade Community Church

What is the time commitment or schedule?

Scouting typically has three major events: 

• Once per week troop meeting that is 1.5 hours on Monday evenings
• Once per month campout: these are optional based on the scout's interests and are usually a weekend in length
• Long-term campouts:  usually one week, once per year (for example, Summer Camp, NYLT, Jamboree)

Additionally:

• As a Scout selects additional activities to participate in there are multiple events available
  • Troop and patrol leadership positions
  • Volunteering, known as service hours
  • Merit badge events
  • Fundraising

The schedule is posted on our calendar

What are the costs involved with Scouting?

We would like a Scout to primarily fund his own Scouting adventure.  Part of Scouting is learning to take responsibility for yourself and earning your way to the activities you would like to participate. 

Troop 649 offers two ways a Scout can fund his own experience:  fall popcorn sales and year-round sandbag sales.  A Scout can fully fund his program with these two activities.  All Scout funds earned are held in an Individual Scout Account (ISA) within the Troop.

Dues are $5/month.  Campouts are around $35/weekend.  Summer camp is $250-350 depending on location and travel.

The Troop 649 Committee has set up a scholarship fund for any Scouts that need assistance in starting their Scouting adventure from a financial standpoint.  Please contact the Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman for more information.

Who can I talk to about more specific questions I have or my son has?

Please come to a Monday evening Troop meeting.  This will not only give you access to several adult leaders, it will also let you talk to other Scout parents as well.

Additionally we have several troop contacts listed on our contact page.

How does my Scout get credit for his accomplishments?

All through out we try to emphasize the scout is responsible for his progress.  The Scout must complete all activities, and sometimes the follow through is the bigger challenge.  Individual responsibility is especially important as it comes to rank advancement and merit badge completion.  The recognition the scout receives for advancement means more if he knows he was responsible for driving the follow through to completion.

Scouts will track their progress in either a merit badge book or their individual Scout Handbook.  They will also need to enter the accomplishment in the Scoutbook account, an online tracking tool for the Scout's progress.  Once this is complete, the Scout can approach his Merit Badge Counselor or any of the adult leaders (other than their parent) to have them review and sign off on the achievement.

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