Troop Outings
Everything you wanted to know about our outings, including how we plan, manage, sign-up, and pay for our different outdoor adventures.
Planning
On outings, Scouts are responsible for organizing, planning, and leading the trips. Adult uniformed leaders are responsible for health and safety. The Senior Patrol Leader (or their designee) is in charge of the outing. Each patrol is responsible for their own menu planning, purchasing, cooking, and cleanup. Patrol members set up tents, gather wood, build a fire, cook for themselves, and operate as a group. To aid in this planning process, there is a Duty Roster and Menu Planning Form available.
Medical and Permission Forms
All participants (Scouts and adults) who attend one of our outings must have a current signed Annual Health and Medical Record Form (minimally Parts A & B) on file with the Troop. Additionally, all Scouts (minors) must have a current signed Blanket Activity Consent and Release Form on file. These forms are an essential component of our health and safety program and are carried by the adult trip leader on every outing. As specified in the Troop Handbook, everyone with a “need to know”, including all attending adults, will have access to these forms in an emergency.
Signup and Payment
The Outings page on the BT8 and GT8 websites is divided into different sections showing the “next” outing on the schedule, all “future” outings in the current program year and beyond, and archives of past outings, organized by program year. Registration for an outing is a simple three-step process:
Click on the name of the outing for more detailed information, including driving directions, maps, and other information you'll need to fully understand it. The link will take you directly to the calendar entry for the outing.
Register online for the outing (when activated). If there is payment associated with the outing, you'll have an opportunity during registration to pay electronically (preferred) using PayPal. Registration for most outings must be completed one week prior (by the posted closing date) and is required. The registration process may also be used to indicate that you will NOT be able to attend (with "regrets"), which helps greatly with planning. Registration is accessible through the outing link (step #1), by clicking on the event in the Calendar, or through a link on the Home page (right-hand column).
Because there is a great deal of logistical planning associated with each outing, registering on the website implies an obligation to pay the registration fee and payment at time of registration is expected. Registration should not be initiated as a placeholder action or if you think you “might” be interested. Non-uniformed adults who wish to participate on an outing must speak with the Scoutmaster first. All adults must have completed Youth Protection Training and have a current BSA Medical form (Parts A and B) on file with the Troop. The Scoutmaster will determine whether your participation is appropriate. If there is a “Photos” link associated with an outing, it means that there are photographs available for viewing and downloading. The Troop uses Google to catalog and store photographs from our outings.
Annual Outdoor Program Planning
Each year, typically over the summer, Scout leaders and older Scouts meet to plan the activities for the upcoming program year, deciding on what activities they’d like to take on for the upcoming year and when they’d like to do them. Because planning logistics are often complicated, Uniformed Adult Leaders are typically employed to take on these chores. Transportation to/from outings is a Committee responsibility and all parents are expected to volunteer to drive when requested.