BSA Troop 466's Adventurous Backpacking Trip

Introduction

On the weekend of October 26th and 27th, BSA Troop 466 embarked on an exciting backpacking trip that not only tested their hiking skills but also strengthened their camaraderie. This adventure was a perfect blend of nature, physical activity, and a whole lot of fun!

The Journey Begins

• Departure Date: October 26, 2023
• Destination: A beautiful trail surrounded by stunning fall foliage
• Participants: Troop members and adult leaders

As the troop gathered early Saturday morning, excitement filled the air. The members packed their bags with essentials, ensuring they were well-prepared for the adventure ahead. With a quick briefing by the scout leaders, they set off on their 5-mile hike through the scenic trails.

Exploring Nature

The 5-mile hike was more than just a physical challenge; it was an opportunity to immerse themselves in nature. Here are some highlights from the hike:

• Scenic Views: The trail offered breathtaking views of the autumn leaves, showcasing vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
• Wildlife Encounters: Scouts were thrilled to spot various wildlife, including deer and a variety of bird species.
• Team Building: The hike encouraged teamwork as scouts helped one another navigate tricky parts of the trail and shared stories along the way.

Fun and Fellowship

Upon completing the hike, the troop set up camp and prepared for an evening filled with fun activities. The camaraderie among the scouts was evident as they engaged in various games and shared laughter around the campfire.

Conclusion

As the trip came to an end on October 27th, BSA Troop 466 returned home with full hearts and unforgettable memories. The backpacking trip not only allowed them to enjoy the beauty of nature but also reinforced the values of friendship, teamwork, and adventure.

Here’s to many more exciting adventures for Troop 466 in the future! 🌲🥾🔥

Troop 466's Heartwarming Act of Kindness

 

In a recent heartwarming initiative, some of the scouts of Troop 466 exemplified the true meaning of community service by coming together to make a tangible difference. With unwavering dedication and a shared goal of giving back, these young scouts spent hours meticulously crafting 120 sandwiches with love and care.

Their destination? Shepherd's Table, a beacon of hope for the less fortunate in our community. This local food bank not only provides nourishment but also offers a sense of dignity and support to those facing hardships. Troop 466's commitment to this cause goes beyond simply providing sustenance; it embodies the values of empathy, generosity, and solidarity.

Sweep the creek

 Earth day Sweep the creek cleanup,

In Memoriam: A. Surjalal Sharma (Asst. Scoutmaster)

  It is with great sadness that Troop 466 announces the passing away of former Assistant Scoutmaster A. Surjalal Sharma.  "Surja" as he was commonly known, passed away on January 5, 2024.  He served as an Assistant Scoutmaster with the troop for a number of years.  Both of his sons (Tonku and Khagi) both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

We send our deepest condolences to his wife, A. Dilly Devi and sons (Tonku and Khagi), as well as, Tonku's wife Chris.

Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs - Updated on August 2, 2023

 We have posted it below.  However, I have decided to include the text here, and if you want, here is the link:  https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/yp-faqs/

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Adult Supervision

Q: If my son or daughter is meeting with a registered merit badge counselor and is the only Scout present, is supervision by two registered adults still required?

A:  No, provided you as the parent or legal guardian are present during the merit badge counseling session.  If more than one Scout is present, all Barriers to Abuse supervision requirements must be met. 

Q: If my son or daughter is the only Scout present for a unit fund-raising activity such as neighborhood or storefront sales is supervision by two registered adults still required?

A:  No, provided you attend with your child during the entire fundraising activity.  If more than one Scout is present, all Barriers to Abuse supervision requirements must be met.    

Q: Why is a female adult 21 years of age or over required whenever female youth are present, but not the other way around?

A. The requirement to ensure that a registered female adult is present at activities serving girls is not dissimilar to policies we’ve enacted in the past for Venturing when male and female adult leaders were required for certain co-ed activities. At this time, we believe that these are the best, most appropriate measures for our movement. We hope you understand that these requirements were given substantial and thorough consideration.

Q. Do Lion and Tiger Den meetings require two-deep leadership since adult partners are present?

A. Yes.  A Lion or Tiger adult partner is not considered a registered leader for meeting two-deep leadership requirements.  Lion or Tiger partners, as well as other pack leaders, provide a pool of adults who could be registered as an assistant den leader to meet this requirement.

Q. If only one leader shows up, does that mean we have to cancel the meeting or activity?

Q: Does a Cub Scout parent or legal guardian have to be a registered leader to participate in a Cub Scout overnight program with their own child/ward?

A. No. However, they cannot serve as unit or den two deep leadership or supervision. 

Q: What is an adult program participant?

Q: I am an adult attending a pack, troop, crew, or ship overnight activity, do I have to be registered?

Q: I am an adult attending a district or council overnight activity, do I have to be registered?

A. Yes, if you participate/stay overnight, you must be currently registered as an adult volunteer or an adult program participant. Adult volunteers must register in the position(s) they are serving in.

For example, an adult volunteer attending an overnight Order of the Arrow event must be registered in a unit, district, or council position. Adults may select from the list in the FAQ below of adult leader position options provided in the “Registration Guidebook of the Boy Scouts of America” that is available for their unit, district or council position. Registration as a merit badge counselor does not meet this requirement.

Q: What position should I register in to stay/participate in overnight programs?

A. Adults may select from the list below of adult leader position options provided in the “Registration Guidebook of the Boy Scouts of America” that is available for their unit, district or council position. Adult volunteers must register in the position(s) they are serving in.  Adults registering in a unit position must be accepted and approved by the head of the chartered organization or the chartered organization representative.

Unit Positions 

•  Assistant Cubmaster
• Assistant Scoutmaster
• Assistant Webelos Leader
• Assistant Den Leader 
• Chartered Organization Rep. 
• Committee Chairman 
• Committee Member 
• Cubmaster  
• Den Leader 
• Explorer Post Advisor 
• Lion Coordinator 
• Lion Den Leader 
• Mate 
• New Member Coordinator 
• Pack Trainer 
• Post Explorer Post Associate Advisor 
• Post Committee Chairman 
• Post Committee Member 
• Principal / Executive Officer 
• Scoutmaster 
• Skipper 
• Tiger Den Leader 
• Unit Chaplain 
• Unit College Scouter Reserve 
• Unit Scouter Reserve 
• Venturing College Sctr Reserve 
• Venturing Crew Advisor 
• Venturing Crew Assoc. Advisor 
• Webelos Leader  

Council and District Positions 

• Assistant Council Commissioner  
• Asst Roundtable Commissioner 
• Asst. District Commissioner 
• College Scouter Reserve  
• Council Advisory Council 
• Council Assistant Treasurer 
• Council Associate Member 
• Council Camp Staff (Adult)  
• Council Camp Staff (Youth) 
• Council Chaplain 
• Council Commissioner 
• Council Committee Member 
• Council Executive Board Member 
• Council Expl/LFL Committee Chr 
• Council Expl/LFL Committee Mbr  
• Council Honorary Member 
• Council Member-at-Large 
• Council President 
• Council Religious Emblems Coord 
• Council Scout Alumnus 
• Council Service Team Chair 
• Council Service Team Member 
• Council Treas 
• Council Vice-President 
• Dist Exploring/LFL Committee 
• District Chairman 
• District Chaplain 
• District Commissioner 
• District Exploring / LFL Comm Chr 
• District Member-at-large 
• District Religious Emblems Coord 
• District Service Team Chair 
• District Service Team Member 
• District Vice-Chairman 
• LFL Stem Day Camp Staff (Adult) 
• LFL STEM Day Camp Staff (Youth) 
• Neighborhood Chairman 
• Neighborhood Committee 
• Roundtable Commissioner 
• Scouter Reserve 
• Unit Commissioner 

Q: Why does registration as a merit badge counselor not meet the registration requirement to participate/stay overnight?

A. A merit badge counselor is an important position supporting Scouts BSA units; however, a merit badge counselor is not a unit position nor does their district/council role require overnight participation.

Merit badge counselors may select from the list of adult leader position options provided in the “Registration Guidebook of the Boy Scouts of America” that is available for another role they serve in within their unit, district or council to stay/participate in overnight Scouting events and activities.

♦ Q: Do the September 1, 2023, changes mean that third party vendors must be registered with the BSA?

A. No.  Youth Protection and supervision remains the responsibility of the unit and Scout leaders. Vendors and other third parties must be licensed businesses that carry proper liability insurance, units should be sure that they use reputable services.  Vendors such as museums, climbing guides, hiking guides, rafting services all fall into these categories. Unit leadership must ensure that all BSA policies and guidelines are followed when using these services, unit leaders must still have proper training.

Q: Do “Unit Functional Position codes” like Unit Advancement Chair or Unit High Adventure Chair found in the “Registration Guidebook of the Boy Scouts of America” fulfill this registration requirement?

A. No.  

Q. Our Scouts BSA boy troop and our Scouts BSA girl troop are linked and would like to host a joint outing or activity. Do we have to provide adult leadership from each troop?

A. Yes, each troop is a separate unit, and therefore, each troop/unit must provide its own two-deep leadership, meeting the leadership requirements outlined in Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse.

Q. The Barriers to Abuse states “One-on-one contact between adult leaders and youth members is prohibited both inside and outside of Scouting.” What does ‘inside and outside of Scouting’ mean?

A. The BSA has adopted its youth protection policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. All parents and caregivers should understand that our leaders are to abide by these safeguards. Registered leaders must follow these guidelines with all Scouting youth outside of Scouting activities. There are careers that may require one-on-one contact with youth, however aside from those roles, volunteers must abide by the youth protection policies of the BSA even outside of Scouting activities.

This policy is in place to prevent abuse in and out of Scouting.   Adults should never be alone with youth who are not their children.

Q. Does this mean my son cannot have a sleepover if I am the only adult present?

A. Yes, if any of the children other than your own child is a Scout, we strongly encourage all adults to use the Barriers to Abuse in and out of Scouting.

Q. Are there times when youth can gather, meet or conduct activities without adult supervision?

A. No. Two-deep adult supervision by registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required for all Scouting activities and must meet the leadership requirements outlined in Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse. This includes patrol activities.