Troopmaster

Troop 22 uses a software program called TroopMaster to maintain advancement records as well as scout/parent contact and medical information.  It has been an excellent tool, but it requires that the information be entered and maintained.  This past month, we have enabled our scout parents access to this system.  In addition to accessing  your son’s advancement records (including rank and merit badge progress), you’ll also be able to update personal information such as address, phone numbers, email address, doctor information, medications, and more.  This will provide the troop with more complete and accurate contact information and enable completion of Council reports and registration.

You can access TroopMaster Web at http://www.troopmasterweb.com/troop22
If you need to retrieve a lost username and password, please contact communications at this link.

TroopKit

Troopkit is a separate web based application allowing scouts to organize and communicate.  Login and explore the many features of this tool.

From there, a scout can;

• view and register for events such as camping trips
• post meal plans for their patrol
• see a roster of others in their troop by patrol with email links
• schedule scoutmaster conferences and boards of review
• check out merit badge books from the troop librarian
• reserve cooking gear from the troop quartermaster

You can access TroopKit at https://www.troopkit.com
If you need to retrieve a lost username and password, please contact communications at this link.

note – - if experiencing problems, try using your access code for login rather than username and password in the upper login box on troopkit.
A user’s guide can be found here: http://troopkit.com/manual/#user

We are very fortunate to have found a great group of adult leaders who gave up a week of their vacation to escort our boys to Woodruff Scout Reservation in Blairsville, GA. For those whose sons joined Troop 22 just this year, a Fat Loss Cheat nd for those Scouting families with sons attending Woodruff for their first time, please know that our adult leaders will enjoy benefits that will have positive residual effects on the future of our troop.

One of the truly wonderful and beneficial program highlights at Woodruff is their week-long adult training programs. It has been proven many times over that training is the key to success in administering a FUN, enriching, and appropriate Scouting program. The Boy Scouts of America has invested a lot of time and effort to create a rich heritage of guiding boys on their paths to becoming solid men and valued citizens to our communities. So it is with the trip to Woodruff that our adult leaders will be investing more of their time to learn how to better administer the Scouting program to our youth.

But before you begin thinking that these adults will be locked in a stuffy classroom instead of enjoying the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, I can assure you these people will be having FUN both inside and outdoors! From basic Youth Protection Training held in a classroom to Paddlecraft Safety held at the lakefront, there will be plenty of good times to go around. The staff there will make the training memorable and our leaders will get to mingle with other leaders from around the region.

Then there is the Scoutmaster Merit Badge Program. This is unique only to Woodruff, and is not an official BSA program, but it is designed for adult leaders to have MORE FUN while they are at camp. Leaders must choose to complete 12 items from a list of 20 requirements that include

• 5. Go Fishing
• 14. Learn to tie a new knot. Teach it to a Scout.
• 15. Participate in the Polar Bear Plunge. (Troop 22 practically owned this event in 2010!)
• 17. Sit on a rock and ponder life for a while.

And the personal favorite of most of the adult leaders:

• 18. Take a nap one afternoon. (Sometimes stretched over multiple days.)

Wednesday all Scouts and leaders in camp will be treated to a very inspirational flag retirement ceremony held at the lakefront amphitheatre. In an amazing display of patriotism that will bring mist to your eyes, the camp assembles an evening ceremony guaranteed to leave you speechless. Complete with a real 21-gun salute and a roaring campfire, the ceremony involves veterans of the armed forces and fire, rescue, and police departments; the people who have given their lives to insure the peace and safety of our country.

Thursday is typically a favorite day for everyone because that’s the day Scouts and leaders have the opportunity to

• Go horseback riding.
• Go whitewater rafting.
• Stay at camp and hang out.

Oh, yes, and then there’s the Scoutmaster Brunch and Scoutmaster Dinner…and every morning leaders have a special chow line with bonus foods like yogurt, oatmeal, bagels, and juice. (You have to fuel all that fun and learning, right?)

Friday will end the week with an entertaining waterfront show by the amphitheater followed by a fun bonfire and the awards troops and individuals earned throughout the week.

So let’s stop admiring these adults for “giving up” a week of their vacation time, thinking all they’re doing is herding cats (our boys). Let’s think about all the fun we should be having with them right now and admire how they managed to hold all of this “insider information” from you. (The secret’s out now, but remember they’re on a bus heading to camp…they’ll be no torch-bearing lynch mob.)

Of course, let us also be grateful we have so many good people dedicated to making sure the program is FUN for ALL of us.

Here’s hoping you have all been enjoying a great summer!

Yours in Scouting,

Kim Fatica, Assistant Scoutmaster

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