BOY SCOUT TROOP 99

Chartered by:
Franklin Rod & Gun Club

We invite Webelos Scouts or Scouting-age boys and their parents to visit any of our troop meetings.

For further information contact:

Scoutmaster
Michael Tomaso ~ 508-520-9865 ~ mtomaso@verizon.net>
Committee Chair
Lew Pollock ~ 508-528-6214 ~ LewPollock@verizon.net

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| About Our Troop | Meetings | Boy Leadership | Adult Leadership | Parent Participation | Finances & Fundraising | Troop Activities | Summer Camp | High Adventure | Service to the Community | Rank Advancement |

About Our Troop

Boy Scout Troop 99, Franklin, MA, was established in 2002 and is chartered by the Franklin Rod & Gun Club. Our troop is part of the Seven Rivers District of the Old Colony Council, of the Boy Scouts of America.

Our troop has about 30 members and is very active. We run a year-round program that emphasizes the values of Scouting and strives to develop self-confidence, self-reliance and leadership in our boys.

Meetings

Our troop meetings are held the second and fourth Wednesday evening of each month of the school year (excluding holidays and schools vacations) 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Franklin Rod & Gun Club. The Rod & Gun Club is located at 51 Florence St., on Uncas Pond off of Summer Street in Franklin. Troop meetings are not held during the months of July and August.

Boy Leadership

Troop 99 is a boy-run troop and operates by the patrol method. Older scouts in the Patrol Leader's Council (PLC), with oversight from the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, plan and implement the troop's activities, including our weekly troop meetings and campouts. Scouts who are not on the PLC have opportunities to serve the troop in other leadership positions such as Troop Guide, Librarian, Historian, Scribe, Quartermaster, Chaplain's Aide and Den Chief.

Adult Leadership

Troop 99 has several uniformed adult leaders. In addition to the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, a number of parents serve on our Troop Committee, which provides planning and coordination of the troop program. Many of our adult leaders have been trained in Scouting policies, outdoor skills, and first aid.

Parent Participation

Troop 99 encourages active parent participation. Strong parental support is a key element in maintaining the quality of our troop. In addition to serving in adult leadership positions, there are opportunities for parents to support the troop through fundraising projects, event planning, transportation assistance, merit counseling, etc.

Finances & Fundraising

A yearly $60.00 registration fee is assessed to each Scout for the purpose of covering the troop's BSA re-chartering and registration fees, insurance, awards, etc. In addition many troop outings include a small fee to defer the costs of food and reservations.

Our troop has one major fundraiser each year, which is the Council popcorn sale conducted in October. The success of the fundraiser plays a large part in determining the extent to which the troop can subsidize activity costs.

Troop Activities

Troop 99 participates in a number of outdoor activities throughout the year. In addition to our regular troop meetings we typically plan at least one weekend campout or outdoor activity during each month of the school year (except) December). Examples of past or planned activities include:

Tent & Cabin Camping
Hiking, Backpacking (White Mountains)
Biking (Cape Cod, Nantucket)
Snow Sports (skiing, tubing, snowshoeing)
Order of the Arrow (Ordeals)
Fall/Spring District Camporees
MassJam Jamboree (2008)
Philmont Scout Ranch (2006, 2008, 2010)

Summer Camp

Each year, the Scouts in Troop 99 have the opportunity to attend a week-long, resident summer camp. Our destination is typically Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rockville, RI during the second week of August. In addition to providing an excellent opportunity to work on rank advancement, Scouts are able to participate in numerous activities and programs including swimming, boating, sailing, fishing, shooting sports, challenge center (ropes course), camp craft, etc.

High Adventure

At least once every other year, Troop 99 participates in a BSA High Adventure trip for older Scouts (14 and older). Typically these trips involve a back-country, wilderness experience. In the summer of 2006, a crew of eight Scouts and four adults participated in a 14 day cavalcade (horseback riding) at Philmont Scout Reservation in Cimarron, New Mexico. In 2008, 2 crews (16 Scouts, 8 adults) attended Philmont for a 10 day backpacking trek. In 2010, eight scouts and four adults attended Philmont and also completed a 10 day backpacking trek.

Service to the Community

Troop 99 provides its members with numerous opportunities to participate in community service projects. Some examples are:

Annual Council Scouting for Food drive
Preparation for Friends of Franklin Library book sale
Earth Day Cleanups sponsored by the Franklin Recreation Dept. and Charles River Watershed Association
Franklin Memorial Day observance setup and cemetery re-flagging
Eagle Projects


These projects encourage all Scouts of any rank or age level to participate.

Rank Advancement

Our patrol leaders and older Scouts, under the supervision of the adult leaders, work with the younger Scouts on rank advancement during the year. Boys are encouraged to earn merit badges individually or in groups. Many troop parents are merit badge counselors.

Troop 99 is proud to have had its first member reach the rank of Eagle Scout in 2007. In total, Troop 99 has had eleven scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout with several more close to achieving this significant honor.