Parents often ask what they can do to help ensure their son is advancing in scouts.  Here is a list of a few steps you can take:

• Step1 Make sure your son participates in Troop meetings, outings and activities. This is where most of the advancement happens.
• Step2 Encourage your son to talk to his Patrol Leader, a Troop Guide, or the Senior Patrol Leader to get help with advancement.
• Step3 Talk to the Scoutmaster and assistants if you have any concerns about your sons' advancement. They can have a Scoutmaster Conference with your son and evaluate if there are issues of concern. They can offer your son some advice on the best way to proceed and may even ask the Patrol Leader to work with your son on a specific area.
• Step4 Do not sign your son off on his advancement.
• Step5 Let your son advance at a rate he is comfortable with.
• Step6 Be supportive of your son, but not pushy.
• Step7 Participate in adult training classes (Fast Start, New Leaders Essentials, Youth Protection, etc.) to better understand how the Scouting program works.
• Step8 Be supportive of the scouting program, find a way to help the troop that isn’t directly working with your son.  This will show him that you support him while affording your scout the independence he needs.

These courses can help adult leaders deliver quality Scouting experiences to youth. A log-in is required, however anyone may create a user account and view the courses. Registered members of the BSA may provide their member numbers (as part of the user profile) to receive credit.

• Training from BSA National
  
  • Boy Scout Leader Fast Start
  • Pack Committee Training
  • Venturing Advisor Fast Start
  • Youth Protection Training for Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leaders.
  • Safety Afloat
  • Safe Swim Defense
  • Troop Committee Challenge
  • Additional Training

Go to www.olc.scouting.org to take any of the above online training.  Be sure to print out the card at the end of the course and bring in to the next troop meeting and give to Dotty Rowan.

The North trail district uniform closet is in desperate need of any old uniforms that you no longer use and are willing to donate to  scouts and adults who otherwise can’t afford them.

Please bring them to tomorrow’s meeting or let me know where I can pick them up.  Uniform items can be brought to any Monday night troop meeting.

We take both Cub and Boy Scouts uniforms.