BSA Troop 199 was established by the congregation of St. Michael’s. The Troop has has been selling Christmas since 1960 at the corner of 67th and Nall. This successful fundraiser supports many of our camping programs plus allows us to tithe to St. Michael’s-our Charter Organization.
Meeting Nights: Mondays, 7 - 8 pm
How Often: First two Mondays and last Monday of the Month
Scout Master/Unit Leader: Jeff Perkins
Contact Info: 913-706-3992, tylcor@aol.com
Assistant Scoutmaster: Bill Schieber
Contact Info: 913-254-1174
Chartered Organization Representative: Steve Adams
Contact Info: 913-599-5906
Camping Program: Monthly camp outs typically the third weekend of each month, plus 10-day camp at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, MO. during the summer.
High Adventure camping opportunities for scouts 14 years old and older. Past High adventures: 2012-Boundary Waters, 2011 Philmont, 2010 Seabase, 2009 Apostle Islands.
Our Troop actively participates in the Mic-O-Say Program. Troop 199 boasts a high percentage of scouts that reach the Eagle Scout rank.
Community Service: Our Troop serves breakfast to those less fortunate every first Saturday of every month at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, KS.
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Below is a 10 minute read for new families to the troop or for those looking for a little more info on how our troop works. Joining a new troop can be an overwhelming experience. Check out the info below, especially the last paragraph, and then jump in and get involved. Boy Scouts is such a valuable experience for our boys/young men. The lessons they learn benefit them now as well as later on in their lives!
Welcome to Troop 199 and Scouting! Scouting was founded by Robert Baden Powell in 1908, and evolved as a method for preparing boys to become good citizens and leaders. This teaching method was designed for the outdoors where boys would develop skills and physical fitness necessary for all aspects of life, provide service to their communities, and have fun while learning. Scouting has evolved over the years to keep pace with our ever changing world. While Scouts BSA began welcoming girls in 2019, our troop remains an all boy troop.
Objectives of Troop 199
Our primary goal is to have a “Boy Led” troop. This means that the boys plan and lead the meetings, organize into patrols or learning groups to work on rank requirement, campout planning, or whatever needs to be done. Scouts who are First Class rank and above meet monthly for planning with the guidance of the Scoutmaster, and make decisions on campouts and meeting agendas. Older scouts are charged with instructing younger scouts and helping them to work on rank advancement. Scouts are encouraged to work together to master these skills. Training is available to the older scouts, and there is a strong adult leader team to back them up as they learn to be leaders.
The patrol method was developed in the beginning of scouting. It breaks the troop down into smaller groups who are encouraged to work together as they learn and advance. The patrol works as a team to set up their campsite and prepare their meals. Patrols develop camaraderie, which makes the work and the learning more fun. Patrols help boys to utilize the new skills they are acquiring, as each individual is essential to the success of the venture. Since our troop is smaller, and we encourage boys to participate as much as they can while still working in the other activities in their lives (sports, music, etc.) it is sometimes difficult to maintain original patrols on campouts, or even at meetings. If there are too many boys missing from a particular patrol, it becomes necessary to combine new temporary patrols. The system works best when all scouts are active participants and attend all events possible.
Participation is a large factor in the success of a scout’s career. The troop has minimum participation requirements for campouts, meetings, service at St. Paul’s, and tree sales, current requirements are determined by the Committee. Our goal, however, is to have maximum participation. It is not valuable to have scouts participate on a level that is the least required to get by. The most successful scouts are encouraged by their parents and peers to attend all events and meetings they are available for, not just the ones they deem “fun”. Scouts will get so much more out of scouting if they learn through experiencing bad weather campouts, “boring” meetings, and hard work on service projects, and gain the knowledge necessary to adapt to different situations and adjust when things aren’t perfect or the weather doesn’t cooperate.
As boys work together in these different situations, they are also learning to work together with individuals who have different thought systems, beliefs, abilities, and personalities. Scouting brings them all together under common interests, and teaches them how to interact with people and learn about the value of the individual as well as the group. Troop 199 is a small enough troop that all boys get to know each other, and friendships are forged across the range of ages as they work together and have fun together. It is valuable both for the younger scout who finds a mentor in an older scout, and the older scout who is learning how rewarding leadership and sharing the knowledge and skills they have learned can be.
One of our main goals is for the boys to move through rank advancement. The more work they do on these skills, the more confidence they gain. It is important for older boys and adults both to work with requirement instruction to accomplish this goal. If there is an adult or group of adults in charge of each age level, this works even better. We want the boys to succeed early in their scouting career, so they will continue to advance and achieve their Eagle rank. There are many advancement requirements to be completed in the first ranks, so it is vital that the scout attend as many meetings as possible and come to campouts, and to bring books with them every time. It may seem overwhelming to them at first, but many of the requirements are quite easily accomplished, and the page number containing the information needed is listed right in the requirement. Requirements do not need to be completed in order, and scouts can work ahead on requirements for higher levels before they achieve the rank they are currently working on. Merit badges are divided into Eagle required and general badges, and our goal is to focus on earning some Eagle required first with other badges mixed in for fun. Many of these badges are earned at summer camp, and a structure is in place for younger scouts to start them out on this track, earning Eagle required badges right away. The Advancement Coordinator monitors badges earned and keeps this in the troop records. Merit Badge Forums are also a great place for scouts to earn badges, focusing on Eagle required first. This works to the advantage of the older scout who is ready to work on his project, as most of his Eagle required badges have already been completed.
Scouts who have completed 8th grade are eligible for the annual High Adventure trip. The older boys who will attend form a group the year before the High Adventure to plan where they want to go and how they will accomplish it. These boys and adults work together to plan, make payment arrangements, and secure any documents and training needed for the trip. Examples of past High Adventures are: Philmont, Rocky Mountain High Adventure, Sea Base, Sea Kayaking and Boundary Waters canoeing.
Attending summer camp at Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, MO, is a long time tradition. Participation in the Honor Program there, Mic-o-Say, is a privilege earned through rank advancement and leadership. The first step to participation is available to boys who have achieved Star Rank and meet troop qualifications for nomination. To continue in this program boys must continue in their rank advancement, leadership, and troop participation to earn nominations for elevation each year. For most scouts this is a coveted award, but it is voluntary. Adults are encouraged to participate in this program if they are interested.
Troop 199 also participates in the national Honor Program, Order of the Arrow. Scouts are elected by the other scouts for admission into this program. To be eligible scouts must be First Class rank and meet certain camping requirements. Adults are also encourage to participate in this program, and a troop leader should be in position to serve as a liaison.
Our troop’s annual fundraiser is our Christmas Tree sale. This sale requires a short period of intensive involvement from the entire troop, but it funds most of our campout costs, a portion of summer camp, registration fees, and more. This is a great opportunity for the boys to learn salesmanship skills and public speaking. It is really a fun experience, for the time of year is very festive and upbeat, and our customers come to seek us out and are very happy to buy nice trees while supporting scouting.
Expectations for boys
Our troop meets weekly on Mondays at 7:00pm. The regular meeting is replaced once monthly by the Senior Patrol Leader Meeting for boys with leadership positions at 6:00pm and the adult Committee Meeting at 7:00pm, typically the Monday following a campout. Campouts are planned by the boys at the Senior Patrol Leader Meetings with the guidance of the Outdoor Coordinator and Scoutmaster. Attendance at meetings and campouts, especially summer camp, is crucial to rank advancement and progression.
While boys often work with their parents to earn requirements in Cub Scouts, now the boys will work on badge requirements and rank advancement during Scouts with their peers and take responsibility for their own work. This can happen during meetings, at Merit Badge Forums, and at campouts. Older Scouts or adult leaders work with the boys to help master the rank advancement skills, and leaders will sign the Scout book. Scouts should bring their book with them to all meetings and campouts so they can get items signed off immediately after completion. Leaders cannot sign off for items they did not participate in or have knowledge of, so having the book is essential. Summer camp is an immersive experience where boys will go to merit badge classes and complete them, but also work with their peers on rank advancements. They really accomplish a lot during this time and take pride in their work. Although it is a good idea for parents to also help their Scout with motivation and keeping track of their achievements, it is ultimately the boy’s responsibility. Scouts should check in with the Advancement Coordinator at weekly meetings to update their achievements in our computer records.
When boys have finished all the requirements for rank advancement, they request a meeting with the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster conference, where their progress thus far will be discussed. Following that they will meet with 3 adults for a Board of Review, where they will again discuss progression, goals, and any ideas or concerns the Scout has. It is preferred that the boy ask the 3 adults to participate in the Board, but they will be assisted on this task at first. Both the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review require full Scout uniform. When both are completed it is important for the Scout to report to the Advancement Coordinator.
Scouts will participate in various activities as patrols. It is critical that boys follow through on patrol responsibilities, especially involving campout meals. If a boy has to cancel campout attendance, they are still responsible for getting food items to the church at the campout meeting time. Working together as a team helps the patrol and the troop to function well.
Scouts should also take responsibility for packing for campouts. Information will always be reported as to weather conditions and how to pack, and boys need to know how to follow these instructions. This will provide them with safe and enjoyable camping experiences and avoid unnecessary trips from someone bringing gear from home after the troop is already at the campsite. Scouts will tent with other boys their age, so coordination between tent mates is essential.
Service is a critical part of the Scouting program and is required for advancement. Our troop has a unique opportunity for service hours as we assist St. Michael’s by covering the first Saturday of the month where they serve breakfast at St. Paul’s. Our troop is very committed to this service, and attendance at this event is a troop participation requirement. Boys, parents, and siblings are welcome and there are different levels of jobs for different ages. This is a great experience for the boys to work together to help others, and they usually have a lot of fun getting the job done.
Christmas tree sales, our sole fundraiser, is an area where Scouts have lots of different tasks to do at different times, and there is a troop participation requirement for this as well. During active tree sales there are no regular weekly scout meetings, however boys are developing their leadership skills through interacting with the customers, other boys, and parents who are working alongside them. Since there is not as much work done on advancement during this time it is extremely important that boys participate in every meeting and campout possible during the rest of the year.
As scouts progress through the ranks they will assume more leadership over time. Once they reach First Class, holding a leadership position is a large part of their rank advancement. There are many levels of leadership, and the higher positions may require additional training to be considered for election. Scouts with leadership positions become eligible and are strongly encouraged to attend Senior Patrol Leader meetings once monthly. These boys have a larger say in how our troop is run, and help make decisions on campouts as well as what is scheduled for meeting time.
Expectations for parents
While our goal is to have a boy-led troop, participation from the adult leadership which is largely made up of parents is essential to the smooth functioning of the troop. There are many ways for parents to become involved, and everyone should contribute.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our troop website. There are rosters of scouts and parents in case you need to contact someone. There are links to training and other information. The events area is important to monitor, as there are many events which require signup on the troop website. Please RSVP whether your scout is going or not, so we know you have seen the signup and we have a better idea in advance of an event what our numbers are looking like. You can always go back in later and change the response if your availability changes, but please contact the appropriate event leader if you cancel close to the date of that event.
General troop emails will go out from the website weekly, and intermittent emails will go out depending on the events and needs that week. Please watch for these emails as it is our primary means of contact. Occasionally there will be last minute changes, for instance when there is bad weather predicting during a campout, and it is important that you and your scout are aware of important announcements.
Parents should recognize that their scout is learning skills for himself, and act as a leader while on activities instead of a parent. Scouts should be allowed to learn with their patrol and troop, and make their own mistakes in the process. Scouting is a place where youth can make mistakes and learn from them in a safe environment.
Adults can sign off completed rank requirements when they see that the scout has achieved the goal of the requirement. Scouts should be able to demonstrate the activity or explain the information learned in order to be signed off. If the item requires demonstration, the adult must be present for the activity. In other words, if the activity involves setting up a tent, cooking on a campout, or using a compass for a hike, the adult must be on the campout where the action is carried out. Parents should not sign off items for their own scout unless they are signing for a group of scouts who participated together. Weekly meetings are another good time for parents to be available to listen to scouts give explanations or demonstrations and sign off on those skills.
There are also opportunities for adults to become certified to instruct merit badges. Our troop has a strong core of adults who can help scouts finish badgework they begin at forums or summer camp and need to complete items to earn the merit badge. Special badges can also be taught in our own troop when adults work with the Scoutmaster to schedule training time.
Once boys have finished a rank and their Scoutmaster conference, they will need to find 3 adults for a Board of Review. When there are enough adults available during meetings, several boys can complete rank advancement during meeting time. Sometimes the Scoutmaster will ask for volunteers to show up early or stay after meetings in order to keep the momentum of advancement going. This can also happen at campouts and there is often lots of advancement at summer camp.
Scouts BSA requires “2 Deep Leadership” for safe scouting – this means that there are always 2 adults present with a scout. For this reason, and for safety, we need adults for all campouts. There is a minimum of 4 adults for a campout to maintain 2 Deep Leadership, and it is best to have even more. Transportation is a huge part of this requirement, but also management of the campout and overseeing the boys is best when there are extra adults. Adults of scouts assigned to bring food items should help their scout shop with a budget in mind, and save the receipt to submit for reimbursement.
Summer camp will require even more parents, with at least 6 per day of camp. Adults can come as many or as few days as they have available, and a sign up list will go out before camp to make sure we are appropriately staffed. An adult who is able to attend the full camp volunteers as Camp Scoutmaster, and helps organize and guide the summer camp experience.
Adults are also needed for our St. Paul’s service day, both for driving scouts to the church and for performing adult only duties in the kitchen. Older scouts typically run the kitchen and how the serving line is set up, so it is usually pretty easy for adults to help out.
Christmas Tree sales is where the whole troop kicks in. Scouts and parents set up the lot before the trees arrive. Tree delivery day(s) is all hands on deck. The more people we have for unloading trees, the more smoothly things go, and the more quickly we get done. Boys can come and go as they have available time for sales, but adults have a minimum shift requirement to fulfill. A sign up will be in place for proper scheduling, and parents will be contacted if time is getting close and they are not signed up for the full amount of shifts. This is our ONE fundraiser of the year, and it is imperative that the whole troop participates. It is a short period of intense involvement, but it is really fun! Scouts learn a lot and mature in their involvement with the public, and people come to us for this sale, and are happy about it!
There is training available at our council for all adults to become leaders in the troop. All participating adults are required to take the online Youth Protection training and keep it updated, as well as completing a background check. These have been put in place to protect the safety of our youth. There is additional training, most of which is available online, that helps new parents to understand how Scouts BSA is run. While this does take some time out of your schedule, it is valuable a successful scouting experience for your scout. There is a link to our council on the website where you can check out available training.
Opportunities exist in our troop for help at all levels. There is a need for adults who will be in charge of each level of advancement to keep the momentum going. First year scouts especially have a lot of things to monitor as they learn and progress in the troop, and summer camp has a higher requirement of supervision and assistance for these scouts. When there are adults in charge of each age level, it is easier to focus on the advancement and involvement level of the boys and provide support and encouragement to keep them interested and progressing. An Eagle Coordinator helps the boys as they approach this level and consider ideas for projects, and provides them with the proper paperwork for their project, timelines and dates for meetings, and adult support for their Eagle Board of Review.
There are also Troop Committee positions that need to have trained leaders in place for optimum functioning of the troop. But perhaps the most important position that needs to filled on the Troop Committee is parents! Families should make their best effort to send a representative to each monthly Committee Meeting. This is the most important contribution you can make to your scout’s experience. This is where important items are discussed, voted on, and decided. This is how YOU have a say in your troop. This is where you learn what is happening, what is coming up, what is needed, what your scout should be doing. When parents do not attend these meetings, they miss a vital part of their scout’s experience, they don’t get questions answered, they don’t get to ask questions before decisions are made. When there are few parents attending meetings, things don’t always get done – campouts may be cancelled, events dropped, items postponed due to low involvement. When there are lots of parents at meetings, there is improved communication, knowledge and experience can be shared, and friendships can be forged – and the whole troop benefits! YOUR contribution matters!