Service to your community and others is an important aspect of Scouting as evidenced by its inclusion in the Scout Oath wherein a scout pledges “to help other people at all times”. As each scout pursues advancement from Tenderfoot to Eagle, community service is implicitly included in the requirement for each rank wherein a scout is required to “demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law in [his] everyday life”. Even more specifically, the requirements for Second Class, Star, and Life include the requirement that a scout participate in a service project with specified number of hours. For the rank of Eagle Scout, a Scout must plan and complete an Eagle Scout project.
The following guidance is provided to assist in getting started and successfully completing your service
project:
- You can complete the service project requirement for Second Class, Star or Life on your own or do it with others in your troop or patrol.
- The project must be for the benefit of others outside of Scouting and may not be for your immediate family, but Scouts are certainly encouraged to participate in activities such as the Pinewood Derby and other Cub Scout programs.
- For Star and Life projects, the service project must be approved by your Scoutmaster before you start. If you plan to participate in Troop 55’s Adopt-a-Highway or an Eagle project for a Troop 55 Scout, prior approval is not required.
- You should prepare a timesheet to keep track of your service hours and provide it at your Scoutmaster Conference.
- If your service hours were for a project other than those specified in 2 above, you must present a signed note from a parent or the leader of the organization benefited by your service.
Here are some examples of appropriate service projects:
- Adopt-a-Highway or Troop 55 Eagle Scout projects.
- Assist in community-wide “clean-up, paint-up or fix-up” days.
- Maintenance and clean-up of (1) community parks and recreation facilities, (2) cemeteries, (3) historic sites, and (4) monuments.
- Shoveling snow from sidewalks or homes of senior citizens.
- Clothing drives.
- Nonpartisan get-out-the-vote drives.
- Becoming an Emergency Service Unit or participation in lost-person or backcountry searches.
- Visiting nursing homes, assisting senior citizens with chores or aiding shut-ins.
- Collecting toys.
- Participation in conservation work.
- Volunteer work at public libraries, shelters for the homeless or soup kitchens.
- Volunteer service for our sponsoring organization St. Francis Church or your church, synagogue or mosque. This should be other than your normal duties as church member.
Please contact the Scoutmaster before proceeding with a project for St. Francis.
BSA55 COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Adopt-a-Highway*. Troop 55 has “adopted” a 2-mile stretch of Walker Road (between Georgetown Pike and Beech Mill Road). Four times a year we pick up trash along the road and provide a report to the Virginia Department of Transportations Adopt-a-Highway program. Pick-up days are posted on the troop calendar, and are assigned to patrols. Scouts and parents from other patrols are also welcome to attend. Volunteers should coordinate with the designated Patrol Leader and the designated Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator. This activity can be used by the scouts toward community service hours – a requirement for advancement. More important, this is an opportunity for the boys to take pride in helping the community!
Scouting for Food*. We are active participants in the National Capitol Area Council’s (over 70,000 strong!) annual food drive, collecting food products for donation to needy people and families in the community ( ____________________http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/camps/food.html ). Last year Troop 55 collected over 2,000 pounds of food for donation. Scouting for Food takes place over two weekends. The first Saturday donation bags are handed out at a pre-selected area. The following Saturday donation bags are collected, weighed, and the donations delivered to designated collection points. Participation is welcome from all scouts and parents, under the direction of the designated Scouting for Food Coordinator for the troop.
District Camporee. Twice a year (Fall, Spring) we participate in the National Capitol Area Council, Powhatan District’s Camporee. This event provides an opportunity to interact with all the other troops in the District, participate in patrol and troop competitions, and demonstrate new skills. This event also shows the community scouting spirit. Older Cub Scouts, Webelos, and their parents are also invited to the Camporee, providing an opportunity for cubs to meet scout troops, and scouts to provide training or demonstrations of scouting skills for the younger boys. Depending on the theme of the Camporee, our troop will usually design a game or activity for the inter-patrol competitions. Active scout participation and adult volunteers are needed to help with planning and presentation of our troop’s role at the Camporee.
Scouting on the Mall. Every other year we participate in the National Capitol Area Council event on the national mall adjacent to the Washington Monument. Each troop can display Scouting skills, provide games, or other activity demonstrations. Previous years our troop has built structures using lashings and staves – such as a 30’ signal tower in 2002. Active scout participation and adult volunteers are needed to help with planning and construction of our project. This is an excellent opportunity to show troop pride, patriotic spirit, and provide a public demonstration of what Scouting is all about. It is also a unique opportunity to spend time at the center of nation’s capital.
Eagle Projects*. Periodically your son will receive invitations or fliers for Eagle Scout projects. This is a project that the scout must design, organize, and complete to meet the requirement for Eagle. This project must provide a community service benefit. The scout relies on his troop (fellow scouts and parents) to help him complete this requirement while providing a community service. All scouts and parents are encouraged to attend – it’s a great way to help the community, get to know the troop, and learn some new skills! Some recent projects have included: landscaping at a local church, steps along a trail in Riverbend Park, and a dock at a camp for disadvantaged children.
And… over 80 scouts doing a good turn every day!
*Scout participation is counted toward community service advancement requirements.
