Membership – Membership in Troop 777 is open to any boy of Scouting age who wants to be a Scout. Pocatello’s Central Christian Church sponsors the Troop as a service to the community.

To Join – Come to any regular Troop meeting and bring a parent or guardian. You will need to fill out a membership application form, and you will need a Boy Scout Handbook and a uniform(shirt, pants, belt), which you can buy at the Scout Office on Pocatello Creek Rd. The Troop will furnish you with the 777 numeral patch and a Troop neckerchief when you complete the joining requirements on page 4 of the Boy Scout handbook.

Troop Meetings – The Troop meets in the basement of the Central Christian Church, on Monday evenings from 7 pm till 8:30 pm. (except when there is no school for any reason, no school – no scouts)

Activities – The heart of what the Troop does are vigorous and challenging outdoor activities. These include camping, hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing. (among other things!) You prepare by participating actively in Troop meetings and by learning and practicing the skills you will need.

Campouts – The Troop tries to have at least one overnight or longer campout each month of the year. Most start from the Central Christian Church’s parking lot on Friday evening or early Saturday morning and return late Sunday afternoon. A flyer describing the upcoming outing is distributed to all Scouts at the meeting before each campout. It tells where, what, when, how, etc. Be sure to deliver your copy to your parents so they will know what’s going on. You probably already own or can borrow most of the camping gear and outdoor clothing that you will need. If you need something else, Troop leadership will inform you and your parents of this.

Parents’ Part In The Troop – Your son will benefit in Scouting in direct proportion to the interest and encouragement you show in his Scouting career. You are encouraged to attend at least one campout after your son joins. (Don’t worry about food – the Long-John patrol of adults take turns cooking, and we eat well) This will give you a chance to see how things are done and to help them get done. If you can, please join the Troop Committee. It meets once a month to work out plans and policy, and to do a lot of the detailed background work needed by the Troop. If you would like to work with the Scouts directly, there are plenty of opportunities and needs for your services.

Cost – Annual dues for the Troop are $55 or $4.75 per month for each month your son joins after January 1st. This is collected when you join, or when the Troop re-charters in November. This money covers National registration, BSA Insurance, Boy's Life magazine, and badges and supplies. Other Troop expenses are paid from the proceeds of the regular Troop fundraising activities approved by the Troop Committee. Each Scout pays his share of the patrol food bill for each campout. This usually amounts to about $8 for a weekend campout. Cost for Summer Scout Camp is generally in the neighborhood of $150. All Scouts will have the opportunity during the year to earn money to help pay their own way which will help ease the burden on their families.

Contacts- Please contact the following whenever you have any questions about Troop activities, policies, or when you need information or have any problems regarding the Troop.

Scoutmaster

Brad Barbre 237-5923

Assistant Scoutmasters

HalHatfield 637-8298
Chris Converse 637-2836
Jan Cooper 637-0385
Tom Lawson 406-6621
Troy Crawford 237-8262

Charter Organization Rep.

Christy Barbre 237-5923

Equipment For Troop Camping
(Notes and thoughts from the Scoutmaster)

To participate fully in the Troop’s outdoor program you will need a certain amount of equipment. You may already have what you need, or maybe you can borrow it from a friend or relative. If not, the Scoutmaster may be able to arrange for you to borrow what you need for a campout or two – long enough for you to see what everyone else has and how they use it.

The Best Kind – In any event, you don’t need a lot, and you don’t need the most expensive kind. You do need outdoor equipment that is rugged. Even with the best care, it will see a lot of rough use. In general, if clothing or equipment for outdoor use looks fragile, it probably is, and you will be disappointed. The “best kind” is what suits you, fits you, does the job, and lasts, for the least amount of money. If everything else is equal, choose the one with the lightest weight, every time. On a hike, you’ll have to carry it, and the lighter your pack is, the more comfortable you will be.

Where To Get It – A few items, such as sleeping bag and pack, are specialized outdoor equipment. A lot of stores in town sell this kind of stuff. A lot of it is plain junk, not worth the money. Full lines of good outdoor equipment are sold at Ace Hardware. Look at their stuff first and then compare to anyone else. Ace Hardware will also give registered Scouts a 10% discount off regular priced merchandise. In mail order catalogs and online at REI.Com, REI carries many of the same brands, plus their own. You might also look at “Official Scout” equipment. It’s good standard equipment, but generally costs more for what you get. It can be found online also at www.scoutstuff.com. Many of the items you can find around the house, or at worst, the used store. Use your imagination and save yourself some money – you don’t need the latest and fanciest.

Basis Equipment List – You will need this list of equipment on almost all Troop campouts. By itself, it will see you through most spring, summer, and fall outings. Add a few clothes and some minor items, and you’re ready for winter camping.

Sleeping Bag – The cover should be a mummy type with a nylon shell for strength and light weight. The insulation should be synthetic. Please do not buy a down sleeping bag. A bag that is rated to +10F or 0F is about right. If it’s rated much lower, it will be heavier than you want and too warm in the summer. (If it gets colder than that on a winter campout – which doesn’t happen very often – you can always wear more dry clothing to bed and still be comfortable). The sleeping bag should have a waterproof stuff sack to put it in and you need to be able to lash it securely to your pack for hiking.

Pack – A pack with an external frame is recommended for beginners. It must have a full, padded waist belt as well as padded shoulder straps, and it must fit you. It fits if the waist straps fit firmly around your hips just below your belt, the shoulder straps are suspended a couple of inches below the nape of your neck, the straps are comfortable, and nothing digs into you. Most of the weight of your pack should rest on the waist strap, with only a small part on your shoulders. As for the pack bag, two main compartments are usually more useful than one large one. Most bags have two or more side pockets for small items.

Eating and Cooking – Here’s where you can use your imagination. For eating, you might use a small plastic bowl, a microwave TV-dinner plate, and a plastic cup, with an old fork and spoon. (The Scout will use a pocket knife to cut his meals). A small pie pan would do, as would a plastic fork and spoon. Use your imagination. A mess-kit can be obtained from any local retailer. On backpacking trips these will work the best.

Water Bottle – Almost any lightweight container will do. A wide mouth plastic container will work the best, but they are a little expensive.

Personal First Aid Kit – It’s best to assemble this yourself. It will contain soap, band-aids, and a few other minor items – see the “First-Aid” section of the Boy Scout Handbook. Be sure to include any medications you may need.

Flashlight – A small, lightweight penlight is all you will need. They are rugged, lightweight, and waterproof. A headlamp works great and frees up your hands.

Fire – Put matches in a small, solid container to keep them dry and unbroken. Put that in your First-Aid kit in case of emergency. Put a disposable butane lighter in a pocket of your Backpack for everyday use. Remember not to play with it as one of these times you will need it and if it is out of fluid you might be sorry.

Compass – You will use one often. The recommend type is a Len static Compass.

Knife – You will need a pocket knife. A standard Scout knife is recommended. Never bring a sheath knife or a hatchet.

Rain Wear – A poncho is preferred, because it can also be used under your sleeping bag to keep it clean and dry. A rain coat can also be used. You have a choice: an inexpensive plastic one won’t last long, while an expensive one will last considerably longer. In a pinch you can use a 30-gallon garbage bag. Cut a hole for your head and slip it on. You will also need a ground cloth. It will be used under your tent to help keep it and you dry during extreme weather. A blue tarp or a piece of 3 mil thick polyethylene will work great.

Winter Camping – For camping in the winter you will need insulation to put between you and the cold ground. A closed cell sleeping pad works great and it will not absorb any water. Self-Inflating pads also work great but they can be somewhat expensive.