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Troop 278 Traditions:
Troop 278 is a Boy Led Troop:
Our regular Troop meetings and the planning for them are led by the SPL with
the support of the PLC & patrols. The SPL & Scouts also participate in
proposing, selecting & voting on the troop outdoor program at our August
Planning Session. The SPL also represents the Scouts at the monthly Troop
Committee meetings.
Troop 278 Is An Outdoor Troop:
We do not focus exclusively on advancement &
merit badges and expect Scouts (and Parents) will take responsibility for owning
their advancement activities & pace.
The Eagles Have Landed:
We certainly provide support and opportunity for advancement, and our record
of Eagle Scouts from Troop 278 shows this works well. Focusing on a varied
outdoor programs allows Scouts lots of varied experiences, leadership
opportunities and enough fun to make it worthwhile sticking with the program...
African
Kudu Horn:
This is a new Troop 278 tradition! Starting in the fall of 2007
the Troop Bugler will open & close our Troop meetings (and campouts & activities
whenever possible). The Troop's horn is an African Kudu Horn (from an antelope)
- the same kind that Baden-Powell used to open the first ever Scout camp in
1907.
This is a
very special horn!
All our
Troop 278 Phimont Crew '07 took turns carrying this horn throughout their 2 week
backpacking trek. The horn was blown at every single campsite, from atop Mount
Baldy at sunrise and most importantly at the Ponil campsite on our last night of
the trek at 11pm, July 31st - exactly 100 years to the minute after Baden-Powell
blew his kudu horn to open that first Scout camp.
Motivated Adults:
We also have good depth and skills across our Scoutmasters and encourage a
very active parental involvement - with always excellent participation in all
Troop events.
Unique Troop 278 Neckerchief:
Your first encounter with Troop 278 tradition is that when you join the
Scoutmaster presents you with the unique Troop 278 neckerchief at Troop expense.
Sing for your Lost Items:
If you leave something behind at a camp or activity - and it makes its way
into our lost & found - you'll have to sing for its return at the next Troop
meeting! (sing anything!)
Badges for Free!:
In Troop 278 all Advancement Patches, Parents Pins & Braids, Position of
Responsibility Patches, Merit Badges, Troop Awards and Special Awards earned by
Scouts are paid for and provisioned directly by the Troop.
The Yellow Peril:
Our Troop Class-B uniform is the bright yellow Troop 278 T-Shirt. Buy
several - you will need them! Some of them become a little less yellow after a
week at camp but at $10/shirt they are a good value. Being bright yellow its
easy to identify our Troop members in a crowd - and the Boys seem to like
wearing them!
Camp Geronimo!:
Annually we hold summer camp at Camp Geronimo in Arizona's Rim Country. As
one of the largest Troops attending camp we lay claim to Site 13 "Potowatomi"
the largest (and best) site as our home base, (and we usually overflow it!). You
enter Potowatomi by crossing one of the 2 entry bridges!
Every year we compete for (and expect
to win) Geronimo's Big-G-Gold Top Award for the Troop!
Scouts individually work on achieving the Geronimo "I Did It All" award
We also always participate in the daily
crack of dawn "Polar Bear Swim" and the end of the week "Scoutmaster Splash".
Weather permitting we hold our own campfires in Potowatomi
Watch Out For The Rocks:
Backpacking with Troop 278 can be risky - be careful rocks don't
accidentally end up in your backpack when you aren't looking...!
Scout-O-Rama:
We always participate in Scout-O-Rama both as a Ticket Sales Fundraiser and
with a Troop booth, recent themes have been "Marshmallow Air Guns", "4 Way Team
Bucket Control" & "Water Balloon Catapult"
Eagle Scout Roast:
As part of every Troop 278 Eagle Court of Honor we have a "roast section"
where other Scouts in the Troop tell of their humorous experiences with the
Eagle Scout being honored. There are always plenty of funny stories to go
around... some of them may even be true!
Quality Unit Award:
Every year we submit for the Quality Unit Award
(and so far so good..!)
Ahhh! - Early Lights Out:
We know we did it right when at the end of a day at camp all the Scouts are
ready for bed by 9pm (or maybe even 8pm or even 7:30pm). The sign of a full days activity and a
good predictor of a good nights sleep and an early start the next day! On most
of our Backpack trips we turn in soon after it gets really dark and the fire
goes out!
Court Of Honor - Activity Slideshows:
At Troop Courts of Honor - before or after we have completed the recognition ceremony we
review the last ~4 months activities with photo slideshows and a brief review of
major activities as well as adult volunteer recognition.
Donuts! Donuts!:
Through the Fall, Winter & Spring Troop 278
Scouts sell donuts, coffee & punch several times a month to the congregation at
Corpus Christi. This is both a service to the church and a fundraiser for
individual Scouts.
Scouts & Leaders - what other 'de-facto' Troop Traditions are we missing
here...? | 
