Hello Den 2!  We're just a few short months away from all of your joining us here in the Troop so I wanted to share more about the fun things the Troop has been doing since my last newsletter.  In the last month, we've:

• Helped setup and decorate Santa's house in Zelienople
• Held meetings to complete rank advancement requirements and learn about winter first aid and event preparedness.
• Celebrated the holiday season at our Troop Christmas party with a white elephant gift exchange, a movie, and pizza.
• Honored Gregory Burnet in his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
• Welcomed the Troop's 101st Eagle Scout (Aydan Clark)

And we're not done yet.  In January, the Troop is holding a ski trip at Peak n' Peak and our next Court of Honor where we'll award our Scouts with their rank advancement and merit badges earned since August.

In today's newsletter, I'd like to talk a little bit more about the concept of the Youth Led Troop, how parental involvement changes in the Scouts BSA program, and how you can use your talents to support the Troop. Learn more below.

I hope that you and your whole family are able to enjoy a safe, healthy, restful, and happy holiday season. Until next month, stay safe and stay Scouting,

Mr. Maloney

Scoutmaster, Troop 457

One of the core principles of Scouting is that the YOUTH, not the Adults, are responsible for leading the Troop. Adult leaders are there to guide and mentor the youth, ensure that the Troop adheres to the requirements of the Scouting program, and ensure the safety of our members during Scouting activities.

The Youth-led Troop means that it is our Scouts responsibility to plan and run our Troop meetings and events. This is accomplished through several mechanisms:

• Scout Leadership Structure: Scouts in the Troop are elected to leadership positions that include additional responsibilities for running portions of the Troop or Patrol. All Scouts must fill a leadership position for a period of time to earn later ranks (Star, Life, and Eagle) and the structure allows Scouts to develop their leadership skills in lower stakes situations within the Troop.
• Annual Planning Conference: Once a year (typically in September), the Troop conducts our Annual planning conference where members brainstorm activities they’d like to participate in for the upcoming calendar year. The Troop then discusses the activities and votes which to include in our calendar.
• Monthly Patrol Leaders Councils: The third Tuesday of every month is our Troop’s Patrol Leaders Council ("PLC"). The PLC is the Scout’s opportunity to plan what to do in the next month’s activities and assign responsibility to a Scout or Adult to help plan the activity. 

The Youth-led Troop concepts is often one of the most challenging changes for Scouts and adults joining from the Cub Scout program. In Cub Scouts, Adult leaders decide on what events / activities the Den or Pack will do at a meeting, plan those activities, and ultimately run the meeting.

In a Scouts BSA Troop, you’ll find our youth leaders leading the meetings, running activities (or delegating those activities to another youth or adult leader), and making important decisions about how the activities are run. The Scoutmaster and other leaders will make suggestions to our Scout leaders to ensure the health, safety, and enjoyment of the Scouts.

While the Scouts BSA program places additional responsibility on the youth to plan and coordinate events, there are still several easy ways that adults can continue to be involved in their child's Scouting adventures.

• Attend Parent Meetings: The easiest way to be involved is simply to attend our monthly Parents Meetings.  Held immediately after the PLC meetings, we will review the Scouts' plans for the upcoming month (and beyond) and look for ways that the adults can help support those plans. 
• Participate in a Board of Review: Another great way to get involved is to participate in a Board of Review.  Held during Troop meetings, a Board of Review is the final requirement for Scouts to earn a new rank.  As a participant, you'll have the opportunity to get to know other Scouts and learn more about the skills your Scout will be developing in the program.
• Help plan an event: When you attend our Parent Meetings, you can also volunteer to help plan or coordinate Troop events.  We'll always pair new adults with existing members so you can learn how we've planned these events in the past.
• Participating in Troop Activities: BSA policy requires "two deep leadership" for all Troop activities.  By participating as an unregistered adult, you help us meet those requirements and ensure we don't need to cancel scheduled events.

Parents that are willing to spend a little more time sharing their talents can also register with the Boy Scouts of America to be an adult leader.

• Merit Badge Counselor: The Scouts BSA program offers almost 140 merit badges where Scouts can learn about a variety of topics.  As a Merit Badge counselor, Scouts from our Troop (or even Council-wide) can reach out to you to help them earn a Merit Badge.  You'll get to work with the Scout to fit the merit badge into your schedules.
• Assistant Scoutmaster:  In this role, you'll help me to deliver the Scouts BSA program to our Troop by helping to teach and mentor our Scouts as they rise through the ranks.
• Committee Member:  Committee Members are parents who support the Troop behind the scenes.  Our Committee Members help plan events, interface with the community, run boards of review, and more.

Some Troop activities can only be attended by Registered Adult leaders (e.g. Summer Camp, High Adventure trips) and these leaders also help us to support the two-deep leadership required by the BSA's Youth Protection guidelines.  You can learn more about how to become a registered adult leader at the following links:

• How do I apply to be an adult leader?
• How do I apply to be a Merit Badge Counselor?