Happy 2017!

Welcome to 2017, Happy New Year!
Hopefully you all had a fantastic holiday with your family and friends. This time of year it is a good time to get some rest, catch-up with loved ones, and think about the coming year. As I think about the coming year, I can see we have many opportunities to grow and learn.
In 2017, Troop 283 our Scouts will continue to grow, evolve and mature. Last month, I shared some thoughts about one of the methods of Scouting, Association with Adults in addition to ‘Helping Others at all Times’. These are part of the foundation of the vision that Baden Powell sent forth in years past. As we enter into 2017, I am looking at how our Troop can further grow our Scouts and our Leaders further through our Outdoor Programs as well as the Patrol Method. In 2016, we embarked on setting new standards where are Troop and Patrol Leaders from all areas come together monthly to work and grow together. This coming year, I am looking forward to the Scouts in these roles growing both individually as well as within their Patrols. As we think about how Scouts grow into leaders, they learn by doing. When they work as a group, they learn to discuss, come to agreement and lead a direction forward. Then this group of Scouts can lead a larger group in an agreed to direction. This is peer leadership, and this is part of what Scouting can teach our sons. This leadership and growth happens in our Patrols who then lead our Troop in our Outdoor Program. We are going to be working this coming year on both, and I look forward to December 2017 when we can reflect back and see how both have grown in our troop.
Thank you for all you do and support in our Troop 283 and in the Scouting movement as a whole. I am excited to see our growth in 2017, and I look to our sons in leading this effort.
 
Yours in Scouting,
SM Smith

​
​