Troop 333 - A Flexible Homeschool Troop!
Serving Charlotte Metro North, including North Mecklenburg, South Iredell, and West Cabarrus county, we strive to meet the scouting needs of families who prefer a homeschool troop but can't predict their future school choices.
Last Updated on Wednesday, December 14 2011 01:36
The first annual troop leadership training helped the boy scout troop prepare for the coming year.
Having doubled in size from this summer, the troop had a few new scouts eager to learn more about the scouting program.
Troop 333's first training session was held on Saturday, December 10th from 8am until 5pm and included all scouts of the troop. The all day event was planned to follow the national course guide for leadership training for the scouts. Interspersed with segments on the boy led troop, the patrol method, and other core scouting values and achievements, the scouts played a series of team building games. Mostly interactive, the physical stunts were designed to help the young men overcome obstacles and to think in new ways about the program, each other and the cohesion of the patrol unit.
When confronted with physical challenges the boy scouts had to determine their leader for the activity, and in many cases the natural process of determining leadership was allowed. The idea was to have the boys promote from within based on their human resources, what they knew of each others' skill sets, and the ideas voiced during each activity. The scouts learned more about themselves and how to interact with others, especially if one is given a leadership role for an event. They learned to delegate responsibilities more, designate their own hierarchy, examine their patience, listen to other's ideas, and experiment with solutions to problems to find their own innovative way ahead.
Last Updated on Wednesday, December 14 2011 01:37
December 9th, 2011, started a tradition for Troop 333 - a combined Court of Honor and Christmas Party! The church where we meet graciously donated their sanctuary for our first ever Court of Honor. Both the Cub pack and Boy scout troop received awards for their achievements.
Dinner was served a little after 6:00pm with an Italian theme. Lasagna, Spaghetti, Rolls and Garlic Bread fed the hungry group. Troop moms decorated the tables with “Charlie Brown” style miniature Christmas tree centerpieces, filled with candies, mini blue light strings and bright blue table covers. Two tall Christmas trees flanked the open stage where washes of red and green lights turned the hall into a festive setting for the night’s event.
The evening was introduced by the troop’s patrol leader and lead off with remarks by our senior district executive Mr. Roger Penny. We are blessed to have a council leader with 45 years experience in scouting. Himself an Eagle scout, Mr. Penny spoke about the rich history of scouting and his own personal background, encouraging the scouts to reach high.
Last Updated on Saturday, March 26 2011 20:04
Is There Any Honor In This World?
There is a reason the Boy Scout Oath begins with the words, “On my honor…”
There is a hierarchy to the code from which everything flows.
The law of the scouts and how every scout is supposed to act, and what all the
children and adults are supposed to adhere to is the key to the entire program.
If a scout or adult has no intention of being honorable and following the oath then the
rest of the program is pointless. It may even be detrimental to have adults as leaders who feel like they can write their own oath, interpret it as they please, or their own law. That is how nations have disobeyed God and vanished.
“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;”
As a scout or adult leader you have a choice to make. You
can either be honorable and strive to follow the remainder of the oath, or you
can ignore the opening and continue along believing you have done your best. Notice
there are no pauses in the oath until you get to the end of the first stanza.
That should make it doubly clear.
A scout incorporates ALL of the honor and duty required in their whole life, not just at meetings, not only on camp-outs. Not even in the uniform on the way to an event. They must be honorable always. They are asked to do their best because any less would not be honorable. To put forth an effort in what is asked and not just muddle through. Whether cooking for their friends, practicing safety measures or earning a merit badge their efforts must be full and complete. They must focus on excellence, not merely avoiding disobeying God or the Scout Law.
Last Updated on Thursday, May 12 2011 20:46
“Unsure About Your School Choice In The Future? Many Today Are...”
Troop 333 was formed so that your family can make the choices it needs.
Once you join 333, a scout will not be removed for discontinuing homeschooling. Troop 333 is officially a homeschool troop, but this troop will encourage families and students to make whatever educational choices that are in the best interest of that family.
Situations change as our children grow and life can throw us a curve ball which necessitates utilizing schools, courses and non-traditional education outside of the home. This troop understands and respects that need.
Troop 333 serves North Mecklenburg, South Iredell and West Cabarrus Counties including the cities of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, Kannapolis, and Charlotte metro.
Whether your scout needs special education services, public or private school for economic reasons,a military deployment or even college prep, Troop 333 will not require you leave our troop. Our by-laws state the opposite so families will know they are protected. We believe the friendships achieved as young men grow are very important. So is the support needed when life forces us to make changes in school choice.
We require that families be supportive of the homeschooling choice. Schooled friends whose families are supportive of homeschooling will also be allowed to join the troop.
Adult supervision of the boys and clear delineation of appropriate behavior, language, and topics will be the responsibility of leadership. We believe that children are to be guided and led so that the experience for everyone is a positive one. If you agree, then we may be the troop for you!
When: Tuesday nights - 6:30-8:30pm first, third and fifth Tuesdays of the month.
Where: Contact us through the email form for the location for troop meetings. We will be having our meetings at a central location for scout families within the Huntersville area. With families from Charlotte to Cornelius, and Huntersville to Rockwell (Cabarrus County).
Last Updated on Saturday, March 26 2011 20:05
“Okay, So What Do Scouts Do Anyway?”Will There Be Anything Fun?
Hold on to your hat, or better yet, your patrol flag. The scouts are in charge! You heard it right. The SCOUTS plan their meetings, their camping trips, their special events, fundraisers, family campouts, merit badge choices and a whole lot more! Most people new to scouting don't realize, but you aren't supposed to see the Scoutmaster leading a meeting. There are adult leaders there for safety and to help guide the scouts to success, but the way the scouts learn to lead is by actually doing it.
If you ever wanted to learn wilderness skills, cook outdoors, go on a canoe trip, track animals, shoot rifles, challenge yourself on rope climbing courses, hike up a mountain, jump off an iceberg (more about this...) or gain a wide range of knowledge in over 100 merit badge courses, then scouting may be for you.
CAMPING LOCATIONS:
Some of the more popular campsites visited -
BELK SCOUT CAMP
CAMP GRIMES
CAMP POWHATAN
CAMP RAVEN KNOB
CAMP BUD SCHIELE
