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BSA Troop 21 of Bend is proud to be one of the oldest established Scout Troops in Central Oregon, having served local youth and our community since 1936. We are part of the Fremont District and the Crater Lake Council of Boy Scouts of America. Our chartering sponsor is the First United Methodist Church of Bend. We are currently one of the largest troops in the area and one of the most active.
Troop 21 has been blessed over the years with an involved an committed sponsor, with dedicated Scouts, with dedicated parents who donate their time and talent to working with the Troop, and with tremendous support from the community. As a result, Troop 21 has been able to provide focused guidance for individual boys, and has been able participate in many outdoor adventures.
Troop 21 has been recognized as a National Quality Unit many times, demonstrating our commitment to the Ideals of Scouting, to a robust Outdoor Program, to Advancement, and to Community Service.
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The Aims of Scouting are straightforward - to provide young men and women with a venue through which they can :
· Acquire specific skills and the confidence that comes with possessing those skills,
· Develop and exercise their own personal style of leadership,
· Develop a sense of participatory citizenship and a sense of duty to others, to community, to nation, and to God.
The Aims of Scouting are delivered through the Scouting Method:
· The Patrol Method - Scouts run the troop and work together as cohesive units. Troop 21 features six patrols, including special patrols set aside for Venture / Leadership Corps Scouts (ages 14 and up, rank of First Class or above) and for New Scouts (incoming Webelos and new scouts - assigned a special older Scout Troop Guide and an adult Assistant Scoutmaster).
· Outdoor Activities - Providing the opportunity to learn and apply skills, and to develop self-confidence. Troop 21 schedules an outdoor event at least once per month throughout the year.
· Learning Activities - Either in the form of guest speakers, troop programs, or field trips.
· Service Activities - Engaging in service projects throughout the community during the year.
We believe strongly in the ideals embodied in the Scout Law, the Scout Oath, the Scout Motto, the Scout Slogan, and the Outdoor Code. We believe in these simple words can be found the essence of social, philosophical, and religious thought from the past two millenia as to just what it really means to be an individual of honor and integrity. To be well rounded and prepared, and to be committed to family, community, one's faith, and to one's nation. To be dedicated to the cheerful service of others.
Scouts run Troop 21. The Scouts set the calendar, decide which outdoor events to schedule, decide which merit badges to offer during the year, and decide which service projects to undertake. In addition to the Annual Planning Meeting, there are monthly Patrol Leader Council meetings where the boys plan the details of the month to come. We believe strongly in the Patrol Method, where the boys work together in teams, learning to distribute workloads, accept responsibility for assigned tasks, and to exercise responsible leadership.
Adult leaders and parents are there to provide guidance, logistical, and financial support. Our role is to support the boys as they grow in exercising their leadership skills, and to make available to them as many opportunities for advancement and service as possible.
In a nutshell - we believe that Scouting develops young people of character. Young people of character grow up to be tomorrow's citizens of character. And citizens of character form the backbone of communities of character.
We believe in trying to help every Scout reach the rank of First Class within one year. The rank of First Class represents the culmination of basic skills such as outdoorsmanship, first aid, communications, cooking, and survival. This prepares the Scout to assume more leadership in the Troop and to start assisting in the instruction of other new Scouts.
We believe strongly in assisting every young man who strives for the rank of Eagle Scout. Less than 2% of all Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout, and Troop 21 is very proud to have a strong heritage of Eagle Scouts. The Troop participates in Eagle Service Projects, and we strive to provide opportunity to earn the required merit badges for Eagle. During the Troop meetings, specific time is set aside for advancement, either to work on an Eagle required merit badge, or to work on Trail to First Class skills.
Troop 21 believes in service to others. To obtain the rank of Second Class, one hour of community service must be performed. The ranks of Star and Life each require six hours. The Eagle Service Project requires at least 100 man-hours of service time. In addition to participation in rank related service projects, the Troop undertakes service projects throughout the year to assist the needy, community organizations, churches, schools, and local municipalities. We also give back to Scouting, by participating in Cub Scout and District activities.
One of the reasons that Troop 21 is such a dynamic, involved Troop that can offer so much to the boys is because of the high level of parental involvement. It takes more than a Scoutmaster and a few Assistant Scoutmasters to help run a Troop. There are positions on the Troop Committee such as newsletter, finance, sponsoring organization representative, flag chair (you have seen our flags out around town along the streets on major holidays?), advancement chair, District representative, and committee chair. In addition, the Troop has Assistant Scoutmasters dedicated to serving the new Scouts, to serving the older Venture Crew Scouts, to working with Trail to First Class Scouts, and to working with Scouts on the road to the rank of Eagle. And last, but certainly not least are the parents who help drive to outings, who help set tables for Courts of Honor, and who assist with all the miscellany.
Return to the Troop 21 Home Page
http://www.bsat21.org/aboutt21.html