While Troop 935 is a Scout lead troop, parent/guardian involvement is highly encouraged. It is our experience that the boys who excel in Scouting have a strong mature person supporting them. In light of this, any parent/guardian of a Scout can be active in the troop and help in any manner they wish, and can spend as much or as little time in support of the Troop. They do have to register with the Council and that form can be obtained within the troop. The following are activities that a parent/guardian can become involved in:

Adult Patrol Advisor (APA)– This role allows you to help the boys in their Scouting activities, participate in all troop activities, and provides adult supervision to the Patrol. This is probably one of the most active roles a person can participate in. Both this and Assistance Patrol Advisor are very active in the Patrols activities, advancement in rank, assist in all camping activities, and provides adult guidance when necessary.

Assistance Adult Patrol Advisor – Again this role allows you to participate in all Troop/Patrol activities. You would assist the Adult Patrol Advisor.

Troop Committee Organization - These roles allow a person to be as active as they wish. The roles available are:

Secretary – Handles minutes of meeting; Sends out committee meeting notices and various other duties of this position

Treasurer – Handles troop funds; Pays bills on the recommendations of the Committee; Maintain checking and saving accounts; Trains/supervises troop scribe’s in record keeping; Supervises money-earning projects; Reports to the Troop committee at each meeting

Outdoor/Activities – Help in securing camping sites

Transportation coordinator

Ensures a monthly outdoor program

Promotes the National Camping Award

Secures tour permits for the troop

Advancement – Encourages scouts to advance in rank

Develops and maintains a merit badge counselor list

Secure badges and certificates

Perform rank advancement reviews

In this area, the Troop needs volunteers who will work as part of the Rank Advancement Review Committee. As Scout’s complete their rank advancement a committee of 3 persons will sit with the Scout, review the steps that the Scout has undertaken to qualify him for the rank he is being reviewed for. It is a very informal process. It also is a time that we can find out what’s important to each Scout, and ensure that we are providing the program that keeps the Scouts interest high.

Chaplain – Provides a spiritual tone for troop meetings and activities. Give guidance to the chaplain aid. Visit homes of Scouts in time of need. Encourage Boy Scouts to earn their appropriate religious emblems.

Training – Setup training sessions for adult leadership

Maintains training material, or makes it available from the council

Responsible for BSA Youth Protection training

Equipment Coordinator – Attends to the needs of the troops

Quartermaster equipment / camping supplies

Responsible for troop trailer

This is another area that we need assistance in. With the size of Troop 935, there are always opportunities that present themselves that are in need of repair or replacement. With the vast amount of equipment that we use in support of the Troop, this area always needs help.

As you can see there is a place for everyone. People that fill these positions make a commitment to the Troop. Many of the adults that currently fill these positions have done

this for many years. Each of these positions is supported by many of the adults that can’t make a long-term commitment, so there is a place for everyone. There are many short term or spur-of-the-moment issue that you can perform. Don’t let all the formality discourage you. Everyone works together so it makes is fun. These positions are filled with volunteers who want to make a commitment to the troop and are interested in their son’s activities.

There are also many achievements that an adult within the Scouting organization can earn if they so wish.

Several times a year the Scout Council offer adult training sessions that you can take advantage of. These are called, Fundamentals of Scouting and are provided by the district council. They are normally presented twice a year and require one full weekend at an area Scout camp and two Saturdays prior to the weekend ordeal. It is a must for any Adult Scout Leader.

Merit Badge Counselor – There are approximately 115 merit badges that a Scout can earn. The Merit badge Counselor is a person that is knowledgeable in specific areas of different merit badges. Their role involves being available to discuss the requirements of the merit badges, have a broad knowledge of the subject matter, and why a Scout would want to earn the specific badges. You would spend time with the Scouts to help them see beyond the requirements of the badge and discover ways to continue learning the subject. The Scout must do the work and research for these badges, but it still takes a person knowledgeable in the subject matter to ensure that the Scout fully understands what the badge requirements are about. This person will also sign-off that the Scout has met or exceeded the requirements of the badge. Many of the current badge counselors have a very in-depth knowledge of many merit badges. Merit Badges are listed in the back of the Boy Scout Handbook, and give a basic idea of what they cover.

Camp-Outs Each month the Troop sponsors a weekend campout, at one of the Districts Camps, or a state parks. We try to keep these campouts within a 175-mile radius of the Tulsa area. When these events take place a group of adults are required to support this activity. Not only providing transportation, but also assisting in the activities that go along with camping. It is very enlightening to see your son’s take charge of their camp, setting up their dining area, erecting their tents and preparing their meals. Yes, each Patrol is required to cook for themselves. They plan this all the week prior to the campouts in their corners at the normal Scout meetings. You would be surprised to see that these kids come up for meals. Adults may learn a few things about menu planning and preparation.

Here is where the fun begins for the adults. The adult members, better known as the ‘LUMBERJACKS’ have their own area of camp. We always have someone that is ready to showoff his or her latest ‘culinary’ skills. Yes, we do eat well. Everyone pitches in to help with the varied activities of camping. Normally, the person in charge of that weekend campout, will prepare a duty roster. So don’t get scared off of participating in these fun weekends.

If you would like to know more what Scouting could do for you, your family and your son, please do not hesitate to ask any one of the adults at any meeting. Eric Kingery, our Scoutmaster, and general leader of the Troop, would be more than overjoyed if you stopped to ask him any questions.

Come and enjoy the excitement of being involved in the best Boy Scout Troop in the Tulsa area.

We hope that you can find some amount of time to commit to the Troop. Without continue involvement by the adults, the troop cannot prosper. Take time to enjoy life and watch your son grow to maturity. It’s very exciting to watch the Scouts mature over the years of their involvement in Scouting. Many of our Leaders of the community, state, and the world were once a Boy Scout and many made the ultimate commitment of Scouting and earned the Rank of Eagle. Be there to see your son reach that milestone in his life.