Annual Program

Our annual program varies slightly according to the plans and goals of the youth, but generally includes the following features:
  • Weekly meetings
  • Monthly camping – usually Friday evening until Sunday morning
  • Several special camping events:
    • January: Klondike Derby – camping, skills events, sled race
    • April: New Scout Campout
    • May: Family-focused canoe trip on Shenendoah River
    • June: Week-long summer camp
    • October: District Camporee
    • November: Mission Impossible – recruting and troop skills event
  • Patrol Leaders Council – meet regularly throught the year
  • Leadership Elections – spring and fall, followed by training event
  • Court of Honor – after leadership election and training
  • Merit Badges: 
    • Merit Badge University – held in conjunction with Boys Troop, offers multiple (10+) badges over 2 weekends in February
    • Summer Camp – scouts can typically earn 4-6 merit badges in a week
    • Individual work throughout the year
    • Occasional group work on badges selected at troop or patrol level
  • Service projects
    • Annual spring cleanup of CUMC grounds
    • Scouting for Food – collecting for area food banks, in early November
    • Eagle projects to support the community
    • Grace Ministries – monthly charity service at CUMC

New Scout Program

All new scouts (who haven’t yet earned Scout rank) are enrolled in our New Scout Program, and placed in a single patrol, the Neutrons. For the first few months after joining, the troop tries to focus regular meetings on items that will help the new scouts integrate into the troop and begin advancement.
 
In late April, the troop hosts the New Scout Campout, where the older scouts teach the new scouts key skills, including First Aid, Flags, Axes and Knives, Fires, and Knots. This is a key step in the scouts’ advancement, and it is highly recommended that all new scouts attend. Parents of new scouts are also strongly encouraged to join us for this campout, to get a better idea for how the troop operates and see their kids earn their first rank.
 
Most area summer camps have a special program for new scouts, but in general, that program ends up repeating what we’ve learned at the New Scout campout. Instead, our troop runs its own program for Nova Corps at Summer Camp. We generally sign the patrol up for two Eagle-required merit badges (Swimming and First Aid), as well as a third “fun” badge to be completed as a group. Then the rest of the day is spent working on different advancement requirements and just having fun.
 
The general plan for new scouts is to help them to reach the First Class rank within a year of joining the troop.

Part of the CUMC Family

Our troop is part of the larger CUMC Scouting Family, and we don’t stand alone. For example, we support the pack by helping out at Pinewood Derby, and providing leadership opportunities to serve as Den Chiefs. Our Venturing Crew frequently joins us for camping events, and occasionally hosts special campout events such as rock climbing at Great Falls. 
 
Finally, we have a close relationship with the Boys Troop. Multiple adult leaders support both troops, providing their experience and expertise to all Scouts BSA youth at CUMC. We plan to meet at the same time as the Boys Troop (in separate rooms) so that adult leadership, and scouts, can work together during the meeting on special projects or administrative tasks. Finally, we support multiple shared two-troop events throughout the year:
  • New Scout Campout (April)
  • Family Canoe Trip (May)
  • Summer Camp (June)
  • Mission Impossible (November)
and hopefully more! (especially district-level events such as Camporee or Klondike Derby)