What kids are a good fit for Troop 73?
Troop 73 offers a great program, but it is not a “one size fits all” operation. A scout troop should be a happy “home away from home” and a fun and exciting adventure. Over the years, we’ve observed some trends in the boys who find us to be a happy home.
What has worked well:
- Bright kids, quirky intellectuals, and quiet kids who are active but not into the competitive sports scene.
- Athletic boys who balance recreational sports with other interests.
- Boys with diverse interests (we have lots of band kids and science types).
- Boys who actively enjoy the outdoors.
- Boys who enjoy digging deeply into activities and working to excel.
The trend is that we tend to be a happy home for boys who come and participate frequently. There is often a great deal of synergy between Troop and school, sports, science projects, college essays, and the like; where the troop introduces boys to a subject they persue in other venues, or we give them a practical outlet for the skills they’ve acquired academically. For us, climbing systems are an application of trigonometry and vector forces; where a boy is just as comfortable canoeing down a river for a week as he is developing a new sub-system for a robot.
What hasn’t worked well:
- Athletes for whom sports is a consuming passion, with year-long travel-team commitments.
- Less active boys with primarily indoor interests who are not comfortable with outdoor athletic / adventure activities.
- Families who want to use scouting as an “occasional” activity when there is a hole in their schedule.
- Families for whom external advancement recognition and getting quickly to Eagle is of consuming importance.
- Parents looking for a highly organized, parent- or adult- run experience or are uncomfortable with youth taking responsibility and leadership roles.
We would be happy to discuss your son’s interests and inclinations, and to work with you on helping him find a scouting home, either with Troop 73 or with one of them many troops in the area.
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