TROOP 15 - COMMITMENT, TRADITION, LEADERSHIP

Troop 15 is part of the Toqua District in the Great Smoky Mountain Council. The troop grew slowly but steadily, starting with two scouts in 1984, and in recent years increased to about 40 boy Scouts. The troop is large enough to support activities that meet a broad range of interests, but is small enough that troop outings are manageable. The troop is now hosted by Two Rivers Church on the border between Loudon and  Knox Counties.

From its first full year, Troop 15 has consistently received both the Quality Unit Award and the National Camping Award. In 2007, as in most previous years, we satisfied all the criteria for the Centennial Quality Unit Award.

These awards stem from a variety of attributes that characterize the troop, including the following:

• A commitment to the traditional values of scouting
• Active leadership by the boys in the troop
• Plenty of adult support
• A diverse and challenging program of outings

Traditional values of scouting

The troop provides an environment in which boys can develop skills through activities that are fun. Along the way, we emphasize a scout’s responsibility to do his best to live up to the Oath he recites and to the points of the Scout Law.

We don’t allow corners to be cut in meeting the requirements for rank advancement or merit badges. Since its inception, Troop 15 has seen over 40 boys rise to the rank of Eagle Scout. And every one of them can be proud to know he earned the rank.

A boy-led troop

Troop 15 strives to implement the Boy Scout principle of relying on the Scouts to lead the troop. This is accomplished in a variety of ways:

• The Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) meets at least monthly to plan the upcoming troop meetings and to flesh out necessary details of the next month’s outing
• Each fall, the major outings for the upcoming year are selected by the troop members from a list of possible outings compiled by the PLC
• Troop meetings are led by the Senior Patrol Leader
• The Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s) direct the activities of patrols during meetings and on outings
• Most scouts hold a leadership position. Examples of leadership positions include SPL, Historian, Quartermaster, Scribe, Guide, or Patrol Leader

Adult support

Troop 15 has almost as many registered adult leaders as boy members. These adults bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the troop. Many participate regularly on troop outings, while others serve vital functions as members of the Troop Committee. This means less burden on key individuals, and plenty of supervision on outings.

In addition to the normal leadership roles, the talents of the adult leaders are employed by two troop programs:

• Each Scout is assigned a mentor when he reaches First Class. The mentor is available as a resource to the Scout as he follows the path to Eagle. He tracks the Scout’s progress, makes the Scout aware of opportunities (such as for completing merit badges), and watches for potential problems (such as a drop-off in attendance).
• A comprehensive set of merit badges is offered. From among the adult leadership, counselors have been identified for all of the Eagle-required merit badges, and all but of few of remaining merit badges. Several new merit badge classes are started every month, following a calendar that gives the boys a clear idea of the opportunities available to them.

Diverse and challenging outings

Troop 15 has at least one major outing each month. Our location in the Tennessee Valley, between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cumberlands, affords us a wealth of opportunities for camping and hiking. Our annual calendar regularly includes

• Backpacking
• Biking
• Caving
• Snow skiing
• A 50-mile canoe trip
• Visiting historical landmarks (such as the aircraft carrier Yorktown and battleship Alabama)

We attend summer camp each July at Camp Buck Toms, the Great Smoky Mountain Council’s outstanding facility located less than an hour’s drive from us. First-year Scouts generally participate in the Dan Beard program, where they work on developing the skills that will allow them to advance through Tenderfoot and Second Class en route to becoming a First Class Scout. Returning Scouts can pursue a slate of merit badges. Older Scouts can challenge themselves further in the C.O.P.E. course or the Mountain Man course.

The troop sends a contingent to one of Boy Scouting’s high adventure facilities (Sea Base, Canoe Base and Philmont) for several years in a row. Members of the troop have attended every National Jamboree held since the troop was established.