Tell me about Troop 306!
T306 is a relatively new scouting troop chartered in 2019 by The West Redding Volunteer Fire Department under the Boy Scouts of America’s ‘Scouts BSA’ program. This program covers traditional Boy Scout Troops and new troops that accept girls. WRVFD also charters Cubscout Pack -118, Redding Boy Scout Troop 15, and Venture Crew 777. But T306 is not directly connected to any of these units and is not Redding-centric. We have members from Easton, Brookfield, Norwalk, and keen interest from surrounding towns.
BSA’s new policy creating girl troops officially went into effect on February 1, 2019. But T306 was active long before we were official. We had already been meeting and going on excursions and working on rank advancement. Now we are officially chartered and official.
T306 meets on Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM during the school year. We usually meet at St. Patrick’s Church, 169 Black Rock Tpke, – but we try to be outdoors as much as possible and occasionally move our meetings to that end. The Scoutmaster sends weekly emails with the Troop schedule and we will publish a school-year calendar and a Troop 306 manual (attached.)
Who are T306’s adult leaders?
Kelly Donahoe is the Scoutmaster. Ray Schaer is a firefighter and the Charter Representative from WRVFD. Kristine Oulman is the Committee Chair. Other leaders include Rose Villani and Neil Erian are our Assistant Scoutmasters. Jay Lubin, VP of Membership at CT Yankee Council of BSA, serves on our Troop Committee.
All of these leaders are either Woodbadge-trained (the highest level of training available from Boy Scouts of America) or Outdoor Leader Skills which covers youth protection training, outdoors skills, and leadership essentials.
What do I have to do to sign up?
Come to the next Troop meeting and complete a BSA form that the Scoutmaster will provide you. Annual dues are $150 plus we hold an annual fundraiser each year to defray activity costs.
Do you need additional adult leaders?
We have sufficient trained leaders but more are always welcome. Leaders can ‘wear the shirt’ which means being trained in and providing important aspects of the scouting program. But there are also opportunities to contribute in ‘non-shirt’ ways like fundraising, organizing summer camp, and more. All parents are expected to contribute in some way. I promise you will find it very rewarding.
What are the differences between boy-units and girl-units within Scouts BSA?
None. Or some. Or considerable. Ok, …that answer takes some explaining.
Scouts BSA has one version of its troop manual detailing rank advancement requirements for all scouts (male and female). Those requirements include considerable outdoor activities, most notably camping. Those are unavoidable – and who would want to avoid them?
But any Troop can do things well beyond the requirements. Visit a museum – sure. Ride a horse – giddy up! Go to the Metropolitan Opera – why not? Learn to sew – T15 teaches male scouts to sew their own buttons, so sure. Learn to shoot a rifle – we can make that happen (but is never required of any scout.)
So, the real answer is: why ask me? As leaders, our job is to make the core experiences available so that scouts can earn their Eagle rank. The scouts will decide on other activities that interest them. Each troop builds traditions of interest that often last generations. We are very curious to learn what interests T306 scouts and are committed to supporting them.
Will the scouts need a uniform?
Yes -but there is no rush. We will share more info on uniform requirements for new scouts as they join. For now, come as you are!
How many scouts are in T306?
As of September 2021, Our troop boasts 21 members which makes us the third-largest female troop in western Connecticut. Interest is high from both Redding and surrounding towns so we will not be a Redding-centric Troop. Our growth and success as a Troop hinge on one thing – FUN! It is contagious.
What about Youth safety?
All leaders are required to complete BSA’s Youth Protection Training which covers extensive scenarios of child mistreatment, abuse, bullying and related. Guidelines require at least two trained leaders at all activities and one of them has to be female. This is taken very seriously within BSA and by our Charter Representative. We strongly encourage all parents of scouts to also take this training (which is online) so that you can help in our efforts and understand our procedures.
Will T306 have summer camp opportunities?
You bet! Summer camp is a wonderful opportunity that all scouts should enjoy. The camp provided by our Council is in New Hartford, Connecticut and is called Camp Sequassen. This summer our troop spent a week there and learned archery, kayaking, rifle shooting, chemistry, woodcarving, wilderness survival, and many other merit badges. (They also won the camp-wide archery, singing, and rifle-shooting contests – but, hey, who’s bragging. 🙂
Is Scouts BSA ‘Co-ed’?
No. T306 only accepts girls and boy-units only accept boys. This policy resulted from BSA’s extensive research into how best to offer the program reflecting that girls and boys develop at different rates. We can coordinate activities with other boy or girl troops in the area under guidelines from BSA. Most notably, Redding Troop 15 includes many siblings of our troops and many of our leaders who previously served in Troop 15. They meet at the same time as we do but at a different location.
Does my daughter need specific gear for camping and outdoor activities?
Yes, but there is probably no hurry. Many of our current members have brothers in other units or have family gear appropriate for camping that we do. The Scoutmaster has more gear than any human should. If your scout is completely gear-less, speak to Mr. Blackwell and he’ll offer suggestions or loan you what you need. If you don’t know much about camping gear, talk to Mr. Blackwell or another leader for guidance! We can save you some money and make sure you get the most appropriate things.
Can I see pictures of Troop 306 activities?
Yes, search “Scouts BSA Troop 306 – Redding, CT” on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/200489850548906/
Also check out these publicity links:
http://hellonewsct.com/scouts-bsa-troop-306-holds-founding-court-of-honor/
What does it mean to become an Eagle Scout?
Scouts advance through ranks as they learn scout skills and serve in leadership positions. A scout who applies themselves diligently can eventually earn the distinction “Eagle Scout.” This is a vaulted title which is shared by Neil Armstrong, Gerald Ford, Stephen Spielberg, Mike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs fame), Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and Sam Walton (founder of WalMart). BSA’s decision to allow for female scout troops has opened this prestigious path to girls. As of September 2019, two Troop 306 scouts have been granted this rank. Eagle Scouts garnish life-long benefits (college admissions, employment, etc) for having achieved this rank but we believe the greatest benefit is the path to Eagle rather than the award itself.