Flaming Arrow Patrol

Stag Patrol

Panther Patrol

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WELCOME TO TROOP 294

“Building tomorrow's leaders one campout at a time”

Troop 294 was chartered in 1982 with the Elk Grove Ward as the chartering organization. Troop 294 is in the Soaring Eagle district of the Golden Empire Council.

Troop meetings are conducted every Wednesday evening, from 7:00 PM to 8:15 p.m. at the Elk Grove building (The second Wednesday of each month is reserved for YW/YM combined activities so the troop will not meet but the 11 year old Scouts will have a meeting that night). Special Troop activities and outings are announced as they are set. Troop meetings normally consist of an opening ceremony, skill instruction, patrol corners for skill practice, game or activity, and a closing.

Troop Leadership is organized in the traditional "Boy Led" fashion, meening that the boys are responsible for the sucess of the troop. Youth leadership is trained in their responsibilities shortly after elections, but prior to taking office. The Patrol Leaders Council are the boys who are ultimatly responsible to plan activities, delegate responsibilities, enforce troop rules and run troop meetings. The Patrol Leaders Council consists of a Senior Patrol Leader (or SPL) who is responsible for the whole troop and who directly works with and guides Patrol Leaders. The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (or ASPL) guides and manages the auxillery leadership such as the Troop Quartermaster, Scribe, etc. The Troop Guide works directly with younger or less experienced scouts to help teach, train, and guide them to sucess and progress within the troop. Finally, the Patrol Leaders themselves are the primary leaders of their respective patrols of between 5 to 8 boys.

The Troop Uniform consists of the Boy Scout shirt (short or long sleeve), black Scout neckerchief with silver trim, gray or custom neckerchief slide, black beret with the silver adult hat device pin, a green web or official leather scout belt, scout pants and socks. Some experienced uniform items are available at no cost to Scouts from our troop uniform bank. The Troop follows the BSA recomendations regarding proper uniforming and encourages boys to wear their uniforms confidently during all troop meetings and activities. For campouts and hikes, we always travel in Field Dress Uniforms to and from the activity, and wear troop activity shirts for strenuous or potentially dirty adventures. Uniform inspections are held quarterly with surprise inspections held periodically.

The Boy Scout Handbook is also required at all troop meetings. We suggest Scouts should also bring a notebook in which to keep his records and any handouts and training materials received.

Scouting encourages a Scout to pay his own way.  Our troop does not participate or organize any fund raising for the troop, but individual and family fund raising for uniforms, special events and Scout Camp are encouraged.  Many members of the ward have offered yard work for scouts to do in order to earn uniform items.  Please contact the Scoutmaster to be put in contact with a member who needs work done.

Our troop is an active one and has at least one outing each month. The location and the activity for these outings are planned in advance by the Scouts during Patrol Leader Council meetings. Troop outings include Weekend campouts, Summer Camp, Hikes, Swimming and council Camporees.

High Adventure Outings are scheduled periodically (normally during the summer). They are extensive trips that last several days and may require extra preparation, training and equipment. Normally a Scout must have his first class rank and be at least 14 years old in order to attend a High Adventure Outing.

Rank Advancement is obtained by doing a variety of activities or skills that begin with some of the very basic items and increase in difficulty as the boy moves up in rank, including merit badges in the later ranks. In the early skills through first class, the Scout's Patrol Leader is the first person to approach for help. He will teach or arrange for someone to teach the particular skill. When the skill is mastered, the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol Leader will initial and date the item in the Scout's Boy Scout Handbook. The advancement guidelines provide additional information on the advancement program.

Merit Badges are designed to teach the Scout to use the resources of the community. Merit badge counselors may be professionals, members of the community or parents with a particular skill or interest in the subject.

Parent/Guardian involvement in the troop begins even before the Scout joins, as you complete the registration form. Adults may be asked to provide transportation for a project, outing or a campout. You may be asked to maintain troop equipment or become a merit badge counselor. As a parent/guardian, you may be asked to be part of the Troop Committee.  The purpose of this committee is to provide support for the troop and carry out the logistics to support the plans made by the Scouts.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the troop at troop294@surewest.net