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Welcome!

Welcome to the Woodward Academy Troop 631 United website!  On paper, there is a separate Troop for young men and has been one for young women (we hope to renew sometime in 2023 with 5 new youth members), but the Scouts here have opted to unite as a single operating Troop under one set of leaders.

For an overview of Scouting, watch this video.  Or this one.  For contact information, please see About Us and How to Join on the menu bar on the left side of the page.  Interested in Joining?  You can contact the Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chair.  In Scouts BSA, recognition is gained through leadership in the troop, attending and participating in its activities, living the ideals of Scouting, and proficiency in activities related to outdoor life, useful skills, and career exploration.  The methods of Scouting are Ideals, Patrols, Outdoor Programs, Advancement, Association with Adults, Personal Growth, Leadership Development and the Uniform, and each is important.  See our Troop Handbook for How We Scout in Troop 631.

Once you Login, you can access calendar information among other benefits.  Troop events for the 2023-24 program year will include a Rafting Campout in August (with Horseback Riding, Ziplining and Mountain Bike options), a September Campout at "Project Chimp", October Shooting Sports Campout, November Cycling Day, December Climbing Lock In Overnight, January Trees Atlanta Project for MLK Day of Service, February Caving Campout, March Art Immersion at the Center for Puppetry Arts, April "COPE" Campout (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience ... think ropes course and more), May Community Service, June Trip to Washington DC and July Week at Summer Camp and more.  To the right is a photo of Youth and Adult Leaders from our September 2022 Court of Honor.  Many photos at this photo site.  Also at our Facebook Page.  Follow us at twitter.com/Bsa631Scouts.

Register for Troop Activities!

Posted on Mar 27 2024 - 8:04pm

Selected events upcoming include (click links for more information - if you need a login reminder, email webmaster@atlanta631.mytroop.us) -- as a reminder, we need your RSVP -- Yes, No, or "Maybe" - to confirm whether it is worthwhile to complete the event plan – stated another way, Troop Leaders need to see if enough Scouts want to go and that’s why we have Event Registration (to see if anyone wants to go) and that's why YOU need to Register either Yes, No, or "Maybe".  More in the Troop Program Elements section of the Troop Operating Manual:

To be added soon ... Zip Line Campout in August?  And More ...

Photos of What We Do and Will Do

Posted on Mar 20 2024 - 9:54am

See this Photo Page for Galleries of Troop Members in Action.  Got Pix?  See "Photo Uploads" for a list of Upload Links for quick and easy uploading.  Recent and upcoming galleries that could use Photos include ...

Questions?  Want a new Gallery?  Trying to alter / delete / create Galleries?  Email webmaster@atlanta631.mytroop.us

Troop Organization Information

Posted on Mar 20 2024 - 9:54am

See this page of the Troop Operating Manual for details about Youth Leadership Roles and ways Adults can (pronounced "need to") help.  Got changes, questions, suggestions, comments, or concerns?  Email the Webmaster

Troop Operating Manual ... or How Troop 631 Does Scouting

Posted on Mar 13 2024 - 7:34pm

From the current but not forever Troop Committee Chair for now:  how Troop 631 does Scouting (at least as seen by said Chair who does not see everything) is documented so far in the Troop 631 Operating Manual and the links and resources from those pages.  This includes how said Chair et cetera has handled functions and how they might be handled better into the future with greater involvement by more parents.  More resources can be added and connected for future use by those who will lead Troop 631.  If you have updates or improvements to those pages or other resources here, please email the Webmaster at webmaster@atlanta631.mytroop.us or the Chair at chair@atlanta631.mytroop.us.

Advancement in Troop 631

Posted on Mar 13 2024 - 7:34pm

See this page for how Scouts BSA Troop 631 applies the Advancement Method of the Scouting program.

Key Topics are Listed below -- click on the link to jump to that Section:

Here is the content of this Section of the Troop 631 Operating Handbook:

Advancement Overview.  Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them – skills to learn and master – through the advancement method.  Scouts plan their own advancement and progress at their own pace as they meet each challenge.  Scouts are recognized and rewarded for each achievement, which helps them gain self-confidence.  The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.  The Scouts BSA advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at the Scout’s own pace.  A Scout is assisted by and supported by the Troop in acquiring these skills and moving up through a series of ranks for which badges are awarded.  Upon joining the Troop, one may work not only on the Scout rank, but also Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class because there are similar skill elements at each level; after First Class, a Scout works in sequence towards Star, Life, and, eventually, Eagle.  The higher the Scout climbs, the more challenging the tasks, and the more rewarding it becomes.  All advancement must be completed before the Scout’s eighteenth birthday. 

The Advancement method includes:

  • Learning skills that enable the Scout to experience Scouting’s more exciting outdoor challenges.
  • Developing body and mind, growing self-confidence, and helping younger Scouts climb the advancement ladder.
  • Discovering how it feels to go further than you ever thought you could.
  • Becoming a true leader. 

Advancement is a natural outcome of a planned, quality Troop program.  And Advancement is but one method of Scouting, no more important than the Ideals, the Patrol method, Leadership Development, and the Outdoor Program, all of which help meet the aims of Scouting.  

There are four steps of advancement:

1)    The Scout learns

  • The Scout learns by doing, and as they learn, they grow in the ability to do their part as a member of the Patrol and Troop.  
  • As they develop knowledge and skill, they are asked to teach others, and by this the Scout learns about developing leadership.

2)    The Scout is tested

  • The Scout approaches a qualified adult to sign-off on specific requirements.  
  • Unit leaders such as the Scoutmaster and trained Assistant Scoutmasters test and pass the Scout on rank requirements.  
  • Merit Badge Counselors teach and test them on requirements for Merit Badges.  

3)    The Scout is reviewed

  • After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, the Scout meets with the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference.  
  • Once this is completed, the Scout requests a Board of Review with the Advancement Team – the Scout may sign up for a Board of Review (often, on the Troop Website).  

4)    The Scout is recognized

  • When a Scout’s advancement has been approved by a Board of Review, the Scout deserves recognition as soon as possible.  This is typically done at the next Troop meeting or event.  
  • The certificate for their new rank will be presented later, during a formal Troop Court of Honor.   

More on advancement is found in the Advancement Files and Advancement Links on the Troop Website, and in this BSA National page on Advancement and Awards

Update on Washington DC Trip

Posted on Feb 14 2024 - 6:28pm

From Cubmaster Steve Rodgers: "We had a productive meeting on Tuesday 2/13 with representatives from Pack 631 and Troop 631.  Much of the meeting was spent discussing lodging options.  The group confirmed the recommendation of the Holiday Inn National Mall for the walking distance lodging option.  Information on how to book your individual room will be shared once the contract is reviewed and the block of rooms are held.  The nightly rate will be approximately $233 + 15.95% tax.  We are still working to secure a second/ lower cost option near a Metro station.  

Travel – could be in small groups or individual families. 

  • Travel by train with a small group will cost approximately $55/ person one way. 
  • We have the option to reserve blocks of 9 or more seats on Delta for $300-350 per person round trip. 
  • As of 2/13, American Airlines had direct roundtrip options as low as $200 on multiple booking sites.

Schedule

  • The core portion of the trip will be June 5-8.  Some will likely arrive early and/ or stay longer.  If you are booking travel now, allow for activities on both the 5th and 8th.  The Holiday Inn will hold bags prior to check in and after check out. 
  • We will finalize our Capitol Tour day and time in early March with Nikema and her team.  A potential White House tour may take longer to confirm. 
  • Most of the other tours and sites we will see are more flexible and only limited by time and energy.  A few options that have been discussed with various families:
    • Arlington National Cemetery including The Changing of the Guard.
    • West end of the Mall area including MLK and Lincoln Memorials
    • Some portions of the Smithsonian
    • Library of Congress
    • A possible tour and meeting with team members from the Department of the Interior.
  • National Air and Space Museum – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.  This is near Dulles International Airport.  Consider flying into Dulles and visiting on Wednesday morning/ mid-day June 5th. 

Fundraising

    • If anyone has fundraising experience and would like to help establish an effort for 631, please contact Scoutmaster Renee Bottie-Wheeler at digitalrenee@gmail.com

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