Troop 71 would like to welcome all new scouts who have decided to seek adventure and excitement by joining our troop. Troop 71 is dedicated to the mission of preparing young people in the making of ethical choices over their lifetimes. We do this by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Laws. It is our hope that the scouts will develop a deep appreciation for the outdoors and together as a team overcome obstacles and make friends for life.
Rules- Troop 71 is sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. We follow all policies and guidelines sanctioned by the BSA. Many of these rules are contained in "The Boy Scout Handbook" 1998.
Safety- There is some risk in any Boy Scout activity. Troop 71 expects that you have discussed with your son the importance of safety and explained that good behavior is essential for the safety of your Son, other Boy Scouts, Adult Leaders, and any others that may be present. In the event that a scout participates in bad and/or dangerous behavior, they will no longer be allowed to continue with the activity and the parent will be called and asked to pick up their son.
Two Deep Leadership- Troop 71 adult Leaders take every precaution possible for the safety of the scouts. They realize the importance of safety and discuss safety precautions with the Boy Scouts during all activities. There will always be two registered Adult Leaders on overnight activities. Parents and guardians are able to attend events, and will agree to register with the Boy Scouts of America if an event is an overnight activity.
Youth Protection- All parents and guardians must complete the booklet "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parents Guide" prior to a boy becoming an official Boy Scout. This booklet provides information regarding child abuse, ways to discuss abuse with your child and activities you can share with your child on requirements to becoming a Boy Scout
Standing Meetings
* Troop Meetings: Held every Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at Camp Kishwaukee
* Committee Meetings: Held every third Thursday at 8:30 PM at Plano Middle School. The troop meetings will have an early dismissal at 8:00 PM on those evening. The public is welcomed to attend.
* Patrol Leaders' Council: Held every first Tuesday at 8:30 PM, these are for older scouts who hold leadership positions.
Dress Code- All scouts are expected to have a uniform and wear it as a sign of scout spirit. For all troop meetings, public events or when traveling to and from an event, the scouts are expected to be dressed in their "Class A" uniform:
* a tucked in official BSA shirt with red loops on the applets
* a purple Troop 71 neckerchief with a slide
* the correct troop numeral "71" on the left sleeve
* correct rank on the left pocket
Scouts pants (or in the summer – shorts) are not mandatory however necessary to participate in special "Courts of Honor".
Boy Scout Handbook- For all troop meetings and events a scout should always have in their possession "The Boy Scout Handbook".
Forms- Every event that a scout attends requires a permission slip that is signed by a parent or guardian. For summer camp an official medical form must be completed by the scouts physician. If a scout has already had a physical, just bring the form to your physician and they will gladly complete the form. The form needs to be turned into the scoutmaster two weeks prior to the start of summer camp.
Event departures and arrivals- For most events the troop will gather at the east entrance of Plano High School and file into vans. The scouts will be told what time the caravan will depart and the troop will keep to the schedule. If you arrive late the scout is responsible for getting to the event.
Pictures- Periodically we photograph the scouts performing public service or celebrating a significant accomplishment. These photographs will be published in the local newspapers. At no time will the full name of any scout be used in these publications without parental permission.
Court of Honor- As scouts complete merit badges and activities they will be able to advance in rank: Boy Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. A Court of Honor is held three times a year (February, June, and August at the Family Picnic) to publicly acknowledge the scouts achievements and the parents are expected to attend.
Troop Committee- The Troop committee manages the finances, fundraising, policy, events planning, maintenance of the camp and other issues. The Committee Chair (Mike Nadeau 630-552-1951) is the person responsible for moderating the meetings and ensuring the subcommittees carry out their responsibilities. The Committee Members are concerned parents interested in the welfare of the troop. Parents are welcomed to attend the committee meetings at any time. They are held the third Tuesday of every month at 8:30 at Plano Middle School.
Adult Leaders- The adult leaders of Troop 71 are volunteers who believe that scouting is a positive and life transforming experience for young men. As such they are dedicated to instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Laws. The Scoutmaster, Tim Tyler, is responsible for bringing learning, adventure and opportunity to the scouts. The Assistant Scoutmasters (all over 18 years of age) are responsible for assisting the Scoutmaster in working with the scouts. Three key volunteers who can assist parents in most issues are the Scoutmaster Tim Tyler 630-552-7862, Advancement Chair - John McGinnis 630-552-8217 and Committee Chair - Mike Nadeau 630-552-1951
Questions- If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to call the Scout master, Tim Tyler 630-552-7862, at any time.
