Parent s Guide Navigator/Adventurer Unit Trail Life USA-Troop 1199 Chartered to Calvary Nexus Church Camarillo, CA

Transcription

1 Parent s Guide Navigator/Adventurer Unit Trail Life USA-Troop 1199 Chartered to Calvary Nexus Church Camarillo, CA Welcome to the Trail Life USA! By becoming a parent of a trailman in Troop 1199 s Navigator/Adventurer unit, you are setting your son out on a grand adventure. This is a tremendously important and rewarding endeavor that you will be able to share with him. This guide has been prepared to help you support your son and describe some of the unique features of the Navigators & Adventurers. Your primary source of information should be the Trail Life Handbook which is a wonderful reference for everything your son will experience. Welcome to the Troop!

2 Contents I. Welcome a. Who we are II. Troop Organization/Leadership a. Troop Positions b. Boy Led c. Patrol Method d. Officers Cabinet III. Trail Life Aims and Methods a. Word of God b. Ideals of Trail Life USA c. Patrol Method d. Outdoor Programs e. Advancement f. Association with Adults g. Personal Growth h. Leadership Development i. Uniform IV. Adult Leaders a. Program Leaders b. Troop Committee c. Parents V. Freedom Award VI. Annual Schedule VII. Troop 1199 additional information a. Troop Sign ups b. Grub Master c. Training and Child Safety d. Vanguard e. Permission slips VIII. Adult Resource Survey IX. Trail Badge counselor survey X. Troop 1199 Summary XI. Troop 1199 Pack Check List

3 I. Welcome to Troop 1199 You probably have many questions about the troop, what your son needs, and how you can help ensure that your trailman has an active and rewarding time in the troop. The paragraphs that follow will outline some of the troop s procedures, give you some idea of what to expect from the Troop 1199, and provide some tips on equipment if you are contemplating making some purchases. If your trailman has just bridged into the Navigator/Adventurer unit from the Woodland Trail unit or is coming into Troop 1199 from the BSA program Cub Scouts, the first thing you will notice is that the two programs are very different and do not be surprised if it takes you several months to adjust. The Navigator/Adventurer program is completely planned and executed by the trailmen themselves...it is a boy-run organization, and as a result, at times it may seem a little disorganized, but this is how the boys learn BE PATIENT The program is more vigorous...in addition to the regular Sunday troop meetings at 2pm, the trailmen participate in a wide range of activities from camping to service projects Your son will be spending more time on trailman-related activities in the Navigator/Adventurer unit than he did with the Woodland Trail Boys who are Navigators are in grades 6-8. These boys are working on rank advancements that form the foundation of later adventures. They will be focused on the basics of patrol life and how to depend on their patrol mates for a comfortable experience. Boys who are Adventurers are in grades These young men are focused on awards that represent increased independence and leadership skills. Adventurers are called to lead the younger members of their patrol for the benefit of all. They have the opportunity to join additional Adventurer patrols that can partake in greater High Adventurer activities. a. Who we are TLUSA Troop 1199 is chartered by Calvary Nexus Church in Camarillo, CA and is part of the ministry of the church. The Troop s objective is to train the next generation of men to be leaders in their families and communities by preparing them to make sound ethical and moral decisions based on God s Word. The Troop s theme verse is Psalm 119:9, How can a young man cleanse his way By taking heed according to Your word (NKJV). The troop conducts monthly campouts that includes a variety of experiences ranging from car camping to High Adventure Backpacking. Every summer our trailmen, starting in 2017, will schedule a week long outdoor adventure for the entire Navigator/Adventurer unit. Additionally, each summer starting in 2017 we try to "showcase" a major High Adventure trip for our more experienced Adventurers. These High Adventure trips could be a trip to climb Mt. Whitney or the boys could choose to take a trip circumnavigating Catalina Island. The choice will be the individual Adventurer patrol s choices. Obviously these trips are designed for the older, more experienced trailmen and are only available on an invitation basis based on the trailman s rank of Horizon. We hope your son will be with us on our next adventure.

4 The boys develop an annual calendar during their program planning session in the summer for the next school year that includes monthly campouts, community service projects, fundraising activities, Courts of Honor, a Family Campout and various day events that include sports and other fun activities. Troop 1199 is truly a boy-run organization. The youth plan and execute their own program. The Troop has an experienced trained Troopmaster and a strong staff of trained Trail Guides to provide the youth leader s guidance as needed. An organized and well-staffed Troop Committee provides the logistical support. We meet on Sunday afternoons (except major holidays and after campouts) at 2PM at Calvary Nexus Lewis Campus II. Troop Organization/Leadership So how does a boy-run organization operate? In Trail Life USA, we call it the patrol method and the aim is to challenge the trailman to do things that he has never done before and to grow in the process. I. Troop Positions The troop elects one older trailman as the First Officer (FO), who then chooses a Second Officer (SO). The FO serves as the overall leader of the troop, and runs the troop meetings and directs the trailmen on campouts. The SO is his primary assistant and serves to help lead the troop in the absence of the FO. Other troop officers may include: Quartermaster (manages troop equipment) Librarian (manages trail badge books) Scribe (keeps troop records and manages dues for the troop) Chaplain s Aide (leads prayers and chapel services at campouts) Instructors (Provides instruction on outdoor skills during campouts and meetings) Guides (To guide new trailmen) Webmaster (maintains troop website) Historian (maintains troop records and pictures of outings) II. Boy-Led Boys may join the Navigators/Adventurers as a continuation of their Trail Life experience in Woodland Trail - this is where the majority of trailmen come from. The Navigator/Adventurer program is a big change from Woodland Trail. The biggest change that it is boy-led instead of adult-led. Parents should resist the urge to take charge when the boys seem disorganized; instead, become a mentor to your trailman and encourage him to seek advice from the senior trailmen in his troop and exhibit good leadership skills, which begins with being a good follower. The following is a diagram that shows how the adult and trailmen leadership operate together as a team:

5 Essentially, the job of the Troopmaster is to act, along with the Trail Guides, as a resource person to assist and provide guidance to the trailmen as they plan and execute their program. He is ultimately responsible for the actions of the troop and, therefore, reports their activities to the troop committee. He is also the liaison between the trailmen and the adults on the committee, expressing the trailmen's needs and obtaining the committee's assistance, both financial and help in kind, to support the trailmen's program. The Trail Guides are assigned to each patrol where they interact with the Patrol Leader and his patrol. The First Officer has a Staff to help him discharge his duties. The Second Officer is his primary assistant and serves to help lead the troop in the absence of the SPL. The Quartermaster is in charge of the troop

6 equipment while the Scribe handles the paperwork and dues for the troop. If necessary a senior trailman (Youth Trail Guide) is appointed to help the first year trailmen while the Adventurer Patrol Crew Leader is elected to lead the High Adventure patrol on their various "high adventures". c. Patrol Method The trailmen are organized into patrols. Each Patrol elects a patrol leader (PL) who then assigns an assistant patrol leader (APL), scribe, Quartermaster, Cheermaster, Grubmaster. Each year, new trailmen that join are placed into existing patrols where they can be mentored by older trailmen. The patrol will experience the trail life together as a family unit within the larger troop structure, helping each other to advance and performing many activities as a team. The trailmen themselves have a much more difficult job than the adults. The trailmen leadership is elected by the trailmen on a semi-annual basis. The First Officer (FO), his Second Officer (SO) and Staff are responsible for planning the program and administering the troop. Together with the Patrol Leaders, these trailmen comprise a cadre called the Officers Cabinet. The Cabinet meets one time each month to ensure that all arrangements have been made for each of the activities planned. The most difficult job of all belongs to the Patrol Leaders. These trailmen must build a team from the trailmen assigned to their patrol and are responsible for discipline of the patrol, menu and equipment planning for campouts and transportation for all events. It's a tall order for a teen or even pre-teen boy but you will be surprised at what a boy can do if given the opportunity! The patrols will often meet outside of our regular troop meetings to do the planning necessary to carry out the program. These meetings are run by the patrol leader and might include Christian education, preparation for a Troop contest or planning for an upcoming campout. It is permissible, too, for each patrol to participate in activities separate from the troop. Patrol leaders may occasionally be given permission for a patrol campout or a service project for just their patrol. Being a Patrol Leader or First Officer is hard work and the trailmen find that changing leadership every 6 months allows them to take a break and enjoy being just a member again. However, if a boy is enjoying his leadership position, he is welcome to run for his position again or seek a new position in the troop. We usually install our new leaders at one of the quarterly Courts of Honor. Shortly after the boys are elected we hold a training event at one of the Officer Cabinet meetings to help train the new staff on their responsibilities and also teach them how to become leaders. This allows the new leaders to be prepared for the next six months of activities and to relish the responsibilities of their new position. We re sure that if your son is elected to one of these positions, you will be informed, with pride, of his new position and, with excitement, of his desire to be in a leadership position. Train em, Trust em, Let em Lead! Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts d. Officers Cabinet The FO, SO, & PL s, get together with other troop officers form the Officers Cabinet, which meets once a month to plan the upcoming troop activities. Our cabinet meetings are typically held on the Sunday after the monthly campout.

7 III. Trail Life USA Aims and Methods The Trail Life program achieves its Aims (goals) of Character Development, Citizenship Training, and Personal Fitness (physical, mental, moral and emotional) by the following methods: The Patrol Method Leadership Development Advancement Association with Adults The Outdoor Program The Uniform. Opportunity Standards Spiritual Development Each of these methods is essentially important. Here is a brief summary of each of these methods (you will read more about these later): I.The Patrol Method The patrol method gives trailmen an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows trailmen to interact in small groups where members can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through elected representatives II.Leadership Development Troop 1199 encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills, such as planning, organization and decision-making. Every trailman has the opportunity to lead in some way, whether as part of a team, as the leader of his patrol, or as the First Officer or another youth leader in the Troop III.Advancement Trail Life has a system of ranks in which trailmen learn progressively more difficult skills and take on progressively greater responsibilities. Trail Life provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The trailman plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The trailman is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a boy grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others. i. Trailman Handbook The Trail Life Handbook is a valuable resource for all trailmen and is an important part of his advancement. It is important for your trailman to bring his handbook to all Trail Life meetings and camping events for two reasons. First, the Trail Life handbook is the primary reference source for rank advancement requirements. It identifies and explains everything needed for all ranks advancements up through Ready Trailman, and lists the requirements for higher ranks. However, the handbook should not only be used to record rank

8 advancements but is a valuable resource for all trail skills. For example, if a boys doesn t remember how to do a certain lashing or first aid technique, he can refer to the handbook to refresh his memory. The handbook is the key to his trail life knowledge. The handbook also serves as the tangible record for completion of these requirements. Patrol Leaders can sign off any requirements that they themselves have signed off in their books. If the Patrol Leaders aren t available, then the FO/SO/Guides/Instructors can sign off if they are Horizon or above. In rare instances, the TM or Trail Guides will sign off a requirement for Recruit, Able or Ready Trailman. However, the TM/Trail Guides are responsible for signing off requirements Horizon, Journey, and Freedom Once the trailman has completed the necessary elements for his rank advancement he should request a TM conference and when complete, can set up a Board of Review (BOR). The troop requires a trailman be in full Class A uniform for all TM Conferences and BORs. After successfully completing these events, the trailman will turn in his Trail Life Handbook with the approved requirements for the rank to the Advancement Chair so they can be updated in the TroopTrack software. If your trailman does not have his book, no one can sign him off on rank requirements! IV. Associations with Adults Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Trail Life leaders can be positive role models for the members of the Troop. In many cases, a Troopmaster, Trail Guide, Trail Badge Counselor or other adult volunteer who is willing to listen to boys, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives. V. Outdoor Programs Trail Life is designed to take place outdoors. Outdoor programs are important because they provide trailmen with the opportunities to practice the skills and activities they learn about in Troop meetings, and to engage in the activities which are required for rank advancement and various trail badges. Being close to nature also helps trailmen gain an appreciation for God's handiwork and our place in it. The outdoor programs also help our trailmen learn about ecology and practice conservation, including the principals of Tread Lightly. VI. Uniform Like most sports teams, we expect our trailmen to wear the uniform when they are meeting as a Trail Life unit, and to wear it properly. It is a visible symbol in our community at large of who we are and what we do. Accordingly, we expect all trailmen to behave according to the Trailman s Oath and Motto whenever wearing their uniforms. Not only when wearing the uniform but more importantly when they are not wearing the uniform

9 VII. Opportunity As trailmen plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. Placing young people in an exciting and challenging environment lets them make discoveries about the world and themselves that cannot be learned any other way. Trailmen will grow as they participate in community service projects and treat the Golden Rule as a way of life. VIII. Standards The standards of Troop 1199 are spelled out in the Trailman s Oath, motto, and principals of Tread Lightly. The trailman measures himself against these standards and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes. As the young man experiences the program, he will see that it is only with God s grace that he can become the man of God he was intended to be These ideals are the personal behavior guides and standards that the boy commits to when he joins Trail Life. In addition, Trail Life USA was born out of the Boy Scouts of America and before that the work & vision of Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Even though Trail Life is a brand new movement dedicated to guiding generations of courageous young men to honor God and lead with integrity, we strive to honor the legacy of the scouting tradition. We will honor our roots in the scouting brotherhood by continuing to acknowledge the Scout Law or as we dub it the Trailman Creed. We will then raise the standard set before us and carry it to new heights Trailman s Oath On my honor, I will do my best to serve God and my country; to respect authority; to be a good steward of Creation; and to treat others as I want to be treated. Trail Life Motto Walk Worthy Tread Lightly Travel Responsibly Respect the Rights of Others Educate Yourself Avoid Sensitive Areas Do Your Part Troop 1199 Trailman Creed As a Trailman I will be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

10 IX. Spiritual Development The ultimate health and safety issue that we can address is protecting the image of God within us. A right relationship with Jesus Christ is the key to a fully realized manhood. The Manhood Journey and Band of Brothers discipleship programs will be a key part of the trailman s personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his Troopmaster will help each trailman to determine his own spiritual growth. To delve more deeply into the methods of Trail Life, it s important to understand the Troop organization. IV. Troop Officers I. Program Leaders i. Troopmaster The Troopmaster is the key adult leader of the boys in the troop. He does not usually provide direct leadership to the trailmen, but rather serves as a mentor to the First Officer and the Officers Cabinet and ensures that the patrol method is functioning. He meets with each scout individually at each rank advancement for a Troopmaster s conference, and provides words of wisdom as a Troopmaster s Minute at the end of each meeting. The job of the Troopmaster is to act, along with the Trail Guides, as a resource person to assist and provide guidance to the trailmen as they plan and execute their program. He is ultimately responsible for the actions of the troop and, therefore, reports their activities to the troop committee. He is also the liaison between the trailmen and the adults on the committee, expressing the trailman's needs and obtaining the committee's assistance, both financial and help in-kind, to support the Trail Life program. ii. Trail Guides Trail Guides are appointed by the Troop Committee to assist the Troopmaster in the running of the Navigator & Adventurer program. They can be assigned to serve as a mentor to individual patrol leaders. A complete list of Trail Guides can be found on the troop roster. All parents interested in becoming a Trail Guide should talk with the Troopmaster. Train scouts to do a job, then let them do it. Never do anything a boy can do. Lord Robert Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts

11 b. Troop Committee The Troop Committee sets policy for the troop, manages finances, forms Boards of Review for rank advancement, and provides support to the trailmen. Key positions on the troop committee include: i. Chartered Organization Rep The Chartered Organization Representative is the direct contact between the unit and the Chartered Organization. This individual is also the organization's contact with Trail Life. The chartered organization representative may become a member of the district or area committee. The Chartered Organization Representative appoints the unit committee chair and approves all leadership positions in the Troop ii. Committee Chair - OPEN The unit committee chair is appointed by the chartered organization and registered as an adult leader of the TLUSA. The unit committee chairman appoints and supervises the unit committee and unit leaders. iii. TroopMaster Joshua Sanders The Scoutmaster is the adult responsible for working directly with the Trailmen to help them create the program for the troop. The Troopmaster trains boy leaders to run the troop by providing direction, coaching, and support. iv. Troop Chaplain Roger Halcomb The unit chaplain is appointed by the committee chairman to provide spiritual tone, guide the chaplain aide, give spiritual counseling, and promote the regular religious participation of each member. v. Secretary - OPEN The unit secretary is appointed by the committee chairman to keep minutes and records, send notices, and handle publicity. vi. Advancement Chair Kelly Sanders The unit advancement chair is appointed by the committee chairman to ensure that the unit holds Boards of Review as required, quarterly courts of honor, and is responsible for record keeping and submitting advancement reports. vii. Treasurer Ryan Jennings The unit treasurer is appointed by the committee chairman to handle unit funds, pay bills, and maintain patrol accounts. viii. Membership Chair - OPEN The unit membership chair is appointed by the committee chairman to help ensure a smooth transition of new Trailmen into the unit and orientation for new parents. ix. Fundraising - OPEN The Unit Fundraising Chair is appointed by the committee chairman to help the troop coordinate and supervise all Troop Fundraising. x. Outdoor Events Chair - OPEN The Outdoor Event Chair is appointed by the committee chairman to supervise the event sign ups and make sure permission slips are available for all outings.

12 xi. Troop Equipment Coordinator - OPEN The unit equipment coordinator is appointed by the committee chairman to work with the youth Quartermaster and is responsible for inventory, storage, and maintenance of unit equipment. We welcome all parents to join the troop committee or take an active role in open Troop positions. Please note that the Troop Committee meets monthly and the meeting are generally held on the third Wednesday of the month. The meetings are held at the Sanders home at 3:30pm. All parents are invited to attend. It is a good opportunity to meet the other parents and to provide input into planning our program. It is the expectation of the Troop that ALL adults participate in some way to help the administration of the troop. From Committee Chair to arranging transportation, everyone needs to have a role. c. Parents Parents who are not registered leaders with Troop 1199 are under the authority of the registered adult leaders and must follow all troop policies. We would also encourage you to take Youth Protection Training every two years. The role of parents within Troop 1199 is to be supportive of the Troop's efforts and to provide the atmosphere trailmen need to learn and excel. Parents should: 1. Read their son's handbook and understand the purpose and methods of Trail Life. 2. Actively follow their trailman's progress (or lack thereof) and offer gentle encouragement and a push when needed. 3. Show support to both the individual trailman and the Troop by attending all Troop Courts of Honor. 4. Assist, as requested, in all Troop activities. 5. Be involved. 6. Be aware of the Troop program and annual calendar. 7. Be aware of the trailman signing up for events. 8. Be aware of the trailman dues and payments. 9. Be prepared to drop off and pick up trailmen on time. Please direct any questions you may have to the uniformed adult leaders so that we can ensure you obtain correct information and can also use your questions to identify any potential issues that need to be addressed by uniformed leadership with the Troop s youth leaders. Some of the ways parents can help: Promote the Patrol Method and Boy Run Troop Philosophy. When your son has a question, have them address it with their patrol leader first. If the patrol leader cannot answer, then the Second or First Officer should be the next line of authority. The adult leaders will steer the boys back to the patrol method. Unless there is a safety issue or personal question, the adult leaders will promote that methodology.

13 Provide transportation to/from events (vehicle info needs to be on file with the event coordinator). Attend campouts if needed (make sure you have a medical form on file with the Medical Records officer). All parents must adhere to the Boy run troop philosophy if attending campouts or events. Take Youth Protection Training Help the event parent plan the event or campout Attend Courts of Honor and special events Sign up as a Trail Badge Counselor Monitor trailmen through their advancement Help with fundraising Become a registered committee or program leader to lead boys directly or help with events and serve on Boards of Review. Please fill out the Parent Resource Survey that will be sent to you via so we might leverage the unique gifts God has given you to serve His kingdom. Your help is greatly appreciated. V Schedule 4/9 - Wills-Rice Loop Hike 4/30 - Soltice Canyon Hike 5/5 Day of Prayer Service Project 6/3 6/5 - Nav/Adv Campout 6/25 - Troop Hike 6/26 TL Founding Sunday Service Project 7/30 - Troop Hike 8/7 - Church in the park Service Project 8/26 8/28 Nav/Adv Campout VI. Troop 1199 additional information I. Troop Sign ups Sign-ups: Prior to any troop outing, trailmen need to sign up by putting a check next to their name on the corresponding sign-up sheet or mark the RSVP link in TroopTrack. These sheets give the event coordinators a count of the trailmen attending so they can plan for transportation and other logistics. Sometimes trailmen sign up without informing their parents, so please make sure you are checking the sign-up table regularly and talking with your scout about his attendance at the upcoming events. You can also determine events your son has RSVP d too by going into TroopTrack and following the directions in the screenshots below II. Grubmaster The Grubmaster is the trailman assigned to purchase the food for the each patrol. It can and will eventually be your trailman. A week or so before the campout the patrol plans the campout menu. Before the menu is approved, the patrol leader must have the menu approved and signed off by the FO and Trail Guide for that patrol.

14 The amount of food to purchase is based on the amount of trailmen attending the campout, from their patrol, and the total food cost is divided by the amount of boys in attendance. The Grubmaster should purchase the food with healthy and good foods in mind. And that a trailman is thrifty during the purchase. Meaning a scout should not purchase expensive products when other good products are available at less cost (A typical fee for a weekend campout should be between $2.50 per meal per trailman). The Grubmaster should call each person in attendance in advance and tell them how much the grub fees are. If a trailman has food allergies it is the responsibility of the trailman to tell their patrol during menu planning to see if they could work around the allergy. The trailman s parent should work with the Grubmaster to purchase food that the trailman can eat during the campout. If the food allergies are severe enough to warranty the trailman to bring their own food this should be approved by the TM. It is suggested the Grubmaster collect the money due during the muster before the campout. Collecting the money later is much harder. If a trailman drops out of a campout that they have signed up for after the grub has been purchased, that trailman is still responsible to pay the Grubmaster for the cost of their food. No exceptions. If a trailman does not pay the Grubmaster for their part of the food, and after two weeks has passed, the treasurer will be notified and the trailman s parents will be contacted immediately so payment can be made to the Grubmaster. Parents can help during the grocery shopping to help the trailmen understand additional foods required for menu items. For example if menu item is hamburgers the trailman will need meat, buns, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, etc. It is highly recommended that the trailmen plan to use a Dutch oven during at least one cooked meal. There are many websites that have 100 s of recipes available. Encourage your trailman to use and prepare a meal with a Dutch oven. Trailmen should cook food and not use processes food. For example it the dinner meal is spaghetti and meat sauce, a trailman should not purchase cans of spaghetti with meat sauce. The meat and pasta should be cooked during the campout. A vegetable side dish and some garlic bread! III. Training and Child Safety Trail Life USA has had a very strong program in place to protect our youth from abuse of all kinds. Hazing, bullying, harassment, name-calling or any other sort of physical or emotional abuse will not be tolerated and trailmen or parents engaging in such behavior may be asked to leave the Troop. Similarly, no corporal punishment by adults is allowed. We require all of our leaders to be trained in Youth Protection, and to refresh that training every two years. At present, such training is done on-line through a short, interactive training program. There are some rules we follow that you will hear about, such as two-deep leadership. That means that every Troop 1199 event or activity needs to always have two registered leaders who have taken youth protection training present for the event. There is also no one on one contact. An adult should NOT be a situation where a he or she is alone with a single trailman. Ever.

15 There are other rules and policies as well, and we encourage all adults to take the training and learn about Trail Life s Youth Protection Training. This training is required of any adult that will be attending, or driving trailmen to, a Troop event (other than Troop meetings), or acting as a Trail Badge Counselor. YPT training is valid for two years. If such training expires without renewal, the adult in question will not be allowed to participate in, on, or drive to the event, or act as a Trail Badge Counselor, until such training is updated. Uniformed leaders are also required to obtain additional training regarding outdoor skills to be taught to the Trailmen, as well as hazardous weather training. Further training may also be required depending on the nature of the activities in which the Troop is engaged (e.g., wilderness first aid, CPR, Safe Swimming, Boating, etc.). IV. Vanguard Vanguard is an intense service and discipleship opportunity for the brightest and most deeply devoted young men in Trail Life USA. Through Vanguard Trail Life creates a culture and a cadre of elite young men who are on fire for Jesus Christ, who are excellent leaders, and who are passionate about serving God through Trail Life USA. These young men help build the overall organization and serve it by helping to lead area, regional & national events. The Vanguard program trains these young men to be Trail Life USA s future leaders at all levels. Vanguard can be likened to a volunteer internship, or a Junior Commissioner Program For the discipleship aspect the Vanguard program encourages young men to walk closely with God through personal Bible study, purity, and prayer. A Vanguard Unit studies the Bible together in a way that Christian young men can relate and grow. The Vanguard program provides a framework that allows each member to become strongly grounded in his faith and to walk in purity These young men are part of a program that is full of epic adventure, vigorous training, and discipleship. i. Eligibility The Vanguard membership requirements are: Be a registered member of an established troop with Trail Life USA. He must be at least 15 and finished 9 th grade upon appointment to the program Must be a disciple of Jesus Christ and be able to state his testimony on the membership application Must be able to attend Vanguard Training which is a 10 day training academy that consists of a 3 day Wilderness Leadership School, a 4 day Wilderness Backpacking Trip and the 3 day VAULT session that culminates in a solo night of sleeping and reflecting in the outdoors. V. Permission slips Permission slips are collected prior to any scout event that occurs outside our normal meeting time and location (such as campouts). These permission slips, along with sign-up sheets, are displayed weekly

16 during our meetings on the table under the window. Please make sure you are checking regularly to ensure you know about the upcoming events, and have completed the necessary permission slips. Medical Forms: TLUSA requires that we keep a current medical form for all trailmen and bring these forms with us on each outing. Medical forms must be updated yearly. There is a separate medical form labeled High Adventure that must be completed by a physician and must be current before your trailman attends any outing of 72 hours or more. Please be sure to download this TLUSA medical form and schedule a physical for your son so that it can be completed. If we do not have a current medical form your child will not be able to attend any outings with us and without the High Adventure form completed by a physician, your son can not attend any extended outings. If you have any questions about medical forms, sign-ups or permission slips, please see Mr. Sanders during a regular troop meeting or contact her at joshuamichaelsanders@gmail.com VII. TROOP 1199 Summary-2016 Nav/Adv Troop Meetings: Committee Meetings: Sponsoring Organization: Executive Officer: Sunday 2:00-3:30 PM Class A uniform, Handbook & pencil required. Generally, 3rd Wednesday of the month, at 3:30PM. Calvary Nexus Church Pastor Bruce Zachary, bruce@calvarynexus.org Charter Org. Representative: Troop Committee Chair: Troopmaster: Membership Chair Treasurer Patrol Dues & Membership New Trailman Training: Adult Committee Training: Roger Halcomb, ; roger@calvarynexus.org OPEN Joshua Sanders, ; joshuamichaelsanders@gmail.com OPEN Ryan Jennings, ; ryanedwardjennings@hotmail.com Patrol Dues are $6.00 a month; Parents pay $50 per year for the membership assessment. The boy pays the Troop Treasurer or the Troop Scribe. During troop meetings, campouts and day activities. Scheduled as needed with Area staff Summer Camp: Scheduled for June or July 2017

17 Trailman gear needed: Troop Provided: Advancement: Sign-ups Permission Slips Trail Badges: Trail Life Handbook, uniform shirt with Troop number patch and shoulder epaulettes, uniform pants, backpack, sleeping bag, pad, flashlight, nalgene bottle, mess kit cup, bowl, spoon, fork, approved pocket knife, good hiking boots, and toiletry articles. Class B shirt. Class B shirts for adults are also available for $15 each. The Troop will provide tents, cooking gear and various patrol/troop camping equipment as available for campouts. Family equipment may need to be borrowed as the Troop s equipment stores are built up Most skills for Recruit through Ready Trailman are taught and signedoff by the Junior Scout Leaders. Troopmaster Conferences and Boards of Review are a good time to review the trailman s progress and get the feedback on troop operations. Parents can help with learning the skills at home. Sign-ups: prior to any troop outing, trailmen need to sign up by putting a check next to their name on the corresponding sign-up sheet or RSVP ing to an event on TroopTrack. Permission slips are collected and required prior to any 1199 event that occurs outside our normal meeting time and location (such as campouts). Taught & signed by registered Trail Badge Councilors. It is the boys responsibility to determine which trail badge he would like to work on and check out a blue card from the troop before he works on any requirements for the trail badge. The boy will be given the name of the Trail Badge Counselor and his phone number. The trailman should contact that Trail Badge Counselor to complete his requirements. When completed, he brings back to the troop for his TM signature.

18 VIII. Troop Pack list-sample The Troop pack list is a useful resource for all trailmen to use to prepare for any campout. It is a guide for trailmen to use to properly pack. The Troop pack list can also be found on Troop 1199 website.