TROOP PLANS FOR JANUARY
⚜January is essentially a month of preparation for Scout anniversary week, and since local activities vary so much over the country, it is difficult to suggest four weekly meetings that will be usable by every Troop. Some Units will devote the entire month to preparation for window displays and live expos, open-house nights, Scout Sunday, participation in Council or District activities and other events celebrating Scouting’s birthday. Other Troops will be able to carry on such preparation, and still spend time on training in some skill or series of Scoutcraft projects.
The Scoutmaster’s Program Notebook suggests handicraft as the theme for the month—building Scout Week displays, model making, and making camp and activities equipment.
First Week
Opening—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook, pages 142-144)
Game—Crows and Cranes (page30)
Scoutcraft—Demonstration of what to make for the Scout Week window display. Each Patrol to collect material and make one part of exhibit. Explanation of what skills will be demonstrated in live expo, and assignments made to Patrols (pages8,9)
Patrol Corners—Patrol business. Attendance, dues. Start planning Patrol part in Troop window display and live expo. Continue preparation at weekly Patrol Meeting.
Game—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook, page 422)
Announcements—Scout Week Plans. Winter Camp. Scoutmaster’s Minute.
Closing—Songs (Songs Scouts Sing)
Second Week
Opening—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook, pages 142-144)
Game—MM! U See ’Um (page30)
Scoutcraft—Start collecting Patrol material for Window display. Practice for live expo. Plan for open house, parent’s night, or part in Council or District activities.
Patrol Corners—Patrol business. Continue work on handicraft for window display, or making camp and activities equipment. Practice for Patrol part in live expo, or other Troop activity.
Game—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook—page 422)
Announcements—Progress of Scout Week plans. Troop business. Winter camp. Scoutmaster’s Minute.
Closing—Songs
Third Week
Opening—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook, pages 142-144)
Game—Newspaper Study, (page30)
Scoutcraft—Winter camping techniques—clothing, equipment, menu planning (pages26-27) (See also NovemberScouting, page 16)
Patrol Corners—Patrol business. Continue handicraft activities. Practice for live expo, open house, or parents’ night demonstrations.
Game—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook, page 422)
Announcement—Scout Week plans. Winter camp. Scoutmaster’s Minute.
Closing—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook)
Fourth Week
Opening—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook, pages 142-144)
Game—(Page30)
Scoutcraft—Plans for Winter Camp. Tent pitching, bed making, keeping warm, cooking, etc. (Pages26and27, also NovemberScouting, page 16)
Patrol Corners—Finish preparation for Scout Weeks handicraft and live expo, or skill demonstration for open house. Hold dress rehearsal, for staff of part in live expo and open house. Turn in all handicraft projects, ready for placing in window.
Game—(Scoutmaster’s Handbook—page 422)
Announcements—Meeting place for start of camp trip. Scout Week plans. Scoutmaster’s Minute.
Closing—Songs.
Overnight Camp
P.M.
3:15 Troop meets. Patrol Leaders check Patrols. Inspection of Packs.
3:30 Leave for camp site.
4:30 Arrival at camp site. Half of Patrol pitches tents, makes beds, etc. Other half prepares dinner.
6:00 Dinner
6:30 Clean-up. Inspection of Campsite.
7:00 Games
8:30 Campfire
9:00 Taps
2nd Day
7:30 Get up. Build fires. Cook breakfast.
8:15 Breakfast. Clean-up.
9:00 Inspection of camp
9:30 Winter nature hike. Look for tracks and other animal signs (and animals themselves). Make casts of tracks for Patrol Den.
11:00 Start lunch.
12:00 Lunch. Clean-up.
1:00 Games
2:30 Break camp.
3:00 Leave for home.
4:00 Arrive home.
Handicraft ideas will be found in DecemberBoy’s Lifeand in the Handbook for Boys. Look in your Scoutmaster’s Program Notebook for list of freeBoy’s Lifereprints suggesting handicraft projects.