Although Troop 400 embarks on a number of adventures each year that take us far and wide from our hometown, the glue that really holds our group together is the weekly Troop Meeting. We come together for two hours every Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM in the Liverpool Elementary School gymnasium, where we prepare for camping trips, work on advancement requirements, and have fun playing some rather unique games.
The content of each troop meeting varies from week to week, but we tend to follow a consistent structure that includes a number of distinct parts:
The Opening
The Senior Patrol Leader calls the meeting to order, and scouts fall into muster according to their patrol. The SPL leads the troop in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Scout Oath and Law, and together with the Scoutmaster, he shares troop news and makes announcements related to upcoming outings.
Patrol Corners
Following the Opening, the SPL dismisses the scouts to their Patrol Corners. These are specific locations around the gymnasium designated as the headquarters for each of the troop’s patrols. Patrol Leaders conduct a short patrol meeting that covers any business pertinent to their individual patrol, and may plan the details of their next patrol meeting.
Scout Skills Presentation
This is the heart of the troop meeting. Depending on the week, the Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader, or a designated patrol will lead the entire troop in instruction of a specific skill from the Boy Scout Handbook required for advancement. It is here that scouts learn the details of the skills they will later put into practice during camping trips. First aid, knot tying, fire building, meal planning, orienteering, civic responsibility, and many other topics may be covered.
The nature of the instruction tends to correlate with skills that will be important for upcoming events. On certain occasions, guest speakers from the community will come in to share knowledge specific to their profession, such as a police officer or a wildlife rehabilitator. In some cases, merit badge instruction may be offered during this time, usually over the course of several weeks.
Game
Once the Skills Presentation has ended, scouts prepare to play any one of a number of unique games that test their physical fitness and mental sharpness. Many of these games were created by members of Troop 400, and have strange names like Polish Throw-up, Schapley Ball, Kings, Tin Foil Ball, and Stop-Go-Bomb-Freeze!
Closing
Many scouts are inclined to have the Troop Game go on forever, but our meetings end promptly at 9:00 PM. So ten minutes before parting ways, we ‘circle up;’ that is, each of us crosses our left arm over our right, and interlocks our hands with the scouts to either side of us. In this way, we form an unbroken circle, and united in this way, we sing a short series of songs that call to mind our commitment to the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America.
We’re anxious for you to see us in action. Please join us any Wednesday night at Liverpool Elementary. We look forward to meeting you!
