Backpacking in the Sunol Wilderness
Troop One Meeting
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Backpacking in the Sunol Wilderness |
Troop One Meeting |
While we're like other Boy Scout troops in that we share the same goals and we do many of the same types of things (camping and hiking, merit badges and rank advancement, as well as community service), the way we go about Scouting is uniquely Troop One's.
Founder of the World Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell, believed that every Scout deserves a trained leader. That's why Troop One requires Brownsea National Youth Training in order to become a patrol leader; it's the only troop in the Piedmont Council that requires this training for patrol leaders. Brownsea is a week long sleep-away camp where Scouts (13 years or older and only and have a minimum of First Class rank) learn traditional Scouting skills (knots and lashings, meal planning, and campfire programming, just to mention a few) along with how to teach those skills. When the Brownsea staff is not teaching the Scouting skills, they're instructing on patrol dynamics: how patrols "form, storm, norm, and perform." It's the part of the course that comes from a Harvard MBA course (where else but in Scouting are thirteen year olds going to get a Harvard education?). Every Troop One patrol leader is trained at Brownsea so he is comfortable in his role at leading others and is positioned for success.
Troop One is Scout led. In order to be Scout led, as opposed to "boy led," the leader must be training in the ways of Scouting. With our Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, and Patrol Leaders, all trained in the ways of Scouting through Brownsea, the troop meetings, outings, and events are Scout lead, organized and managed by Scouts.
Troop One is the most traditional of Boy Scout troops in the Piedmont Council. Troop One Scouts wear the traditional Field Uniform, as envisioned by Founder Baden-Powell. This is what is worn to troop meetings and when go out as a group. On special occasions, Full Class A is worn, which includes the merit badge sash and any special medals. The uniform we wear is a representation of the traditions of Scouting that we embrace.
Troop One was the first Boy Scout troop in Piedmont. In 1921, James Tyson, Jr. was the first Troop One Scout to earn the rank of Eagle. Since Mr. Tyson's day, there have been over 180 Troop One Eagle Scouts. Although there have been 15 Piedmont troops (Troops One through 15), one out of every five Piedmont Eagles Scouts belongs to Troop One. Troop One provides an excellent environment for those who wish to attain the rank of Eagle. With so many on that same path, there are plenty of fellow Scouts to discuss potential projects, share project challenges, and help with the project.
There are also those Scouts who are not motivated by rank advancement, but by the fun outings we go on and the friendliness of Troop One. Please take a look at the Troop One Gallery to see the kind of fun things we do in and out of Piedmont.
To learn more about us, we encourage and invite you to attend any of our meetings. We meet for one hour on Tuesday evenings, starting at 7:30pm during the regular school year at the Piedmont Community Church (in the Kettleman Room, at the top of the main staircase leading from the street to the church). You, too, maybe part of the Troop One future!
