Overview

Boy Scout Troop 8 embraces the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) mission statement “to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”

The aims of the BSA are: growth in moral strength and character, participating citizenship, and development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness.  These aims are accomplished through several methods: ideals (Scout Oath and Law), patrols, outdoors, advancement, adult association, personal growth, leadership development, and uniforms.

About our troop:

  • Chartered in Fall of 1989

  • Sponsored by Strawbridge United Methodist Church

  • 193 Eagle Scouts since 1989

  • Part of the Flaming Arrow District of the Sam Houston Area Council

  • Consistently earns the annual Quality Unit Award

  • Commitment to BSA’s Youth Protection Program

  • All outdoor activities are supervised by a registered adult with the BSA required level of training and focused on safety

  • The Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath and Scout Law are part of the opening ceremony for every Troop Meeting

  • Scouts learn to recite and explain the Scout Oath and Law in their own words

  • Service projects are part of the Scouting experience

A boy who has completed the fifth grade or is eleven years old, or has earned the Arrow of Light Award but is under 18 years of age meets the age requirements to become a Boy Scout.

Scout Skills

Skills are taught at troop meetings and during camp outs.  Camping provides the environment for hands-on application of the skills needed by each Scout.

Troop 8 is a camping troop.  We have one weekend camp out or day hike every month except for June or July.  We camp when it is hot, cold, wet, dry, windy, calm, or any combinations of these. Most of the camp outs and day hikes are at BSA Scout Camps or state or national parks.

For June or July we schedule a seven-day summer camp out at a BSA camp.  Our summer and winter (December) camp outs are focused on advancements and merit badges, in addition to having fun.

Buffalo Trails Scout Camp - Summer Camp 2016

Buffalo Trails Scout Camp - Summer Camp 2016

Advancing through the ranks is a way to demonstrate increasing skill levels. Scouts are encouraged to advance at their individual pace.  Summer and winter camps are focused on scout skills, merit badges, and advancement.  Additional focus is provided on Life Scouts as they work towards the Eagle rank.

Basic skill training for new scouts is held in May each year.  Here new scouts will work with older scouts on requirements for advancement.  Saturday evening includes an induction ceremony for all new scouts.

Leadership

Simply put, the Troop is run by its boy leaders.  The senior boy leader is the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).  Helping the SPL are the Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, the Patrol Leaders Council, and the other leadership positions within the Troop.

The Scoutmaster and his assistants train the boys to be leaders, make available the resources and guidance they need to lead well, and then step into the background and let the boys do their jobs.  Needless to say, these leadership roles are frequently assumed by Scouts lacking in experience or knowledge.  That is expected and the Scoutmaster, his assistants, and role mentors do monitor the boy leaders and Troop activities providing support to the boy leaders.

Elections for the Scout leadership positions are held every six months.  Consequently Scouts will rotate between leadership and individual contributor roles during their Scouting experiences.

The Scouts in Troop 8 are organized into 8 patrols.  Scouts in a patrol are approximately the same age and skill level.  Webelos joining the Troop are usually kept in the same group.  Camping and formations are done in patrols.  Each patrol has its own leaders, who serve for six months when new leaders are elected by the patrol members.

Adults provide a valuable role model for the Scouts.  The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters provide training and guidance to the Scouts.  The members of the Troop Committee provide administrative support for the Troop.  Registered leaders are expected to complete the appropriate Boy Scout Leader Training.  There are currently over 50 registered adult leaders in Troop 8.