Troop 121 - Clinton, NJ
Scout-led Troop in the greater Clinton area
Why Join Scouting?
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We have fun, and you will too!
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Each boy and girl has the potential to be a leader
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Scouting builds character
Why Join?
Scouting is Fun!
Do you enjoy the outdoors? Do you enjoy going places? Trying new things? Then Scouting is for you!!!
The Scouts BSA program allows Scouts to (1) Try new things, (2) Provide service to others, (3) Build self-
confidence, and (4) Reinforce ethical standards. In Scouting, boys and girls start with their best “right
now” selves and grow into their very best “future” selves. It’s fun, hands-on learning and achievement
that puts them in the middle of the action and prepares them for today – and for life.
First and foremost, Scouts BSA is an age-appropriate experience-based program that moves beyond
mere discovery and challenges each Scout to forge a path for their future. Through skills needed for
advancement and the merit badge program, Scouts are invited to understand and use different aspects
of the outside world, their communities and country, leadership skills, arts and crafts, STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and math) skills, and their relationship to God, in a fun way. In doing so, Scouts
strengthen their relationship with their parent or guardian and are mentored by trained leaders.
Scouts in between the ages of 11 and 17 are organized into patrols, led by other Scouts who are trained to be Patrol Leaders. Each patrol operates as a small group during outings and other trips and help to plan different troop meetings. The troop, as a whole, is led by a Scout who serves as the Senior PatrolLeader, and the Patrol Leaders’ Council. The Patrol Leaders’ Council makes sure that the troop is having fun by setting the program for the year, and organizing as many fun outings as possible.
Why Join?
Scouting Builds Character
The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
There are four aims of Scouting: citizenship, character, personal fitness, and leadership.
BUT DOES IT WORK? Yes! Yes, it does!
Scouting was put to the test over the course of three years, when a research team from Tufts University worked with the Boy Scouts of America’s Cradle of Liberty Council to measure the character attributes of both Scouts and non-Scouts — all with a goal of better understanding the character development of youth as it was happening. The project, which was funded by the John Templeton Foundation and led by Dr. Richard M. Lerner, surveyed nearly 1,800 Cub Scouts and nearly 400 non-Scouts under age 12 using both interviews and survey data. In the beginning, there were no significant differences in character attributes between the two groups. By the end, however, the differences were striking in several areas, namely:
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Hopefulness (hopeful future expectations)
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Helpfulness
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Obedience
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Cheerfulness
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Kindness
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Trustworthiness
Simply put, the more time kids spend in Scouting, the better the outcomes in character development. Scouts are more likely to embrace positive social values than non-Scouts. And Scouts who are more engaged in the program report higher outcomes in nearly every category listed above.
Why Join?
Leadership!
The vision of the BSA is that we will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.
Leadership is what many people think about first when they think about Scouting. Those who have earned Scouts BSA’s highest rank – Eagle Scout – have risen to the highest levels within both the private and public sectors, and most have served with distinction. Leadership development is embedded throughout all aspects of the Scouts BSA program.
Scouts BSA Troop 121 and Troop 610 are Scout-led troops. Once each Scout has established himself or herself through the early parts of rank advancement, they are trained, plan, and implement their vision for the program year. As with anything in life, practice makes perfect. So, our adult leaders try not to do anything the Scouts can do themselves – while facilitating difficult decisions and handling those tasks the Scouts are not able to accomplish.
Planning service projects is another opportunity to develop leadership. From simple service projects lasting a few hours, to the Eagle Scout Service Project, we channel our Scouts’ leadership to improve our local community.