First Year Scouts -
The fundamental Scouting skills are what all the subsequent years are built on. The skills that you learn leading up to first class will carry you through the ranks to Eagle and also give you the knowledge you need to delve into high adventure.
During your first year with 845 a strong emphasis will be placed on learning the skills up through first class. I'm sure you've browsed around the website a bit so you know we won't be heading to the library to do this. Throughout the year, Scouts work on skills at meetings and then apply the skills while on the next campout.
When we have a new round of scouts come in we'll put together a weekend called BSA 101. On this introductory weekend Scouts learn the very basics of setting up tents, cooking, starting fires, packing and anything else needed to slingshot them into the fastlane of normal 845 weekend outings.
Most of our first year scouts also attend at least one summer camp with the troop. This is also a fantastic opportunity to not only get a solid week of camping under their belt, but also to advance in rank, and grab a few merit badges while they're at it.
As a first year Scout here's some things you should do:
- Get all your registration and medical forms filled out and turned in
- Get a full uniform
- Look through your book and become familiar with the Scouting program and the first few ranks
- Pick up some of the basic gear like a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and some warm clothes
- Go on trips - This is was scouts is all about so go on as many as you can
- Start working your way towards First Class, you should try to get there in your first 18 months