Troop 40 Welcome
HistoryWelcome to Troop 40 located in St. Joseph, Illinois. We are affiliated with Cub Scout Pack 40 and member of the Prairie lands Boy Scout Council. Troop 40 was first Chartered in 1921 and is currently chartered by the St. Joseph Legion Post. Troop 40 has many Eagle scouts who currently live in St. Joseph and throughout Champaign County. We have a number of Scout leaders who have completed Wood Badge certification for teaching and educating boy scouts and adult volunteers. We also have several Troop 40 scout members who have received one of the highest awards in scouting, “The Silver Beaver Award,” Given to adults with unselfish contributions to scouting. Troop 40 has been a sponsor of Lincoln Trail between Homer Lake and the Pollywogs near Oakwood. We will be renewing that sponsorship to help celebrate Lincolns 200th birthday.
Philosophy
Troop 40 is a boy run troop. We believe in keeping outing in scouting by being active and having fun in outdoor activities. Troop 40 believes in helping the community and scouting thru service projects and helping to maintain Camp Drake. Troop 40 relies on assistant Scoutmasters, (volunteers), to keep two deep adult attendances at all scout activities. While we have had numerous scouts earn there Eagle Scout advancement in Troop 40 it is not a requirement. The only requirement is to have fun.
A boy run troop means Troop 40 uses the patrol method of scouting. Each Patrol has a Patrol leader who is responsible for making sure the patrol is functioning as a team to complete tasks. These tasks could include on a typical campout, planning and purchasing and preparing food for meals, setting up and taking down camp and having fun. Troop 40 also has a Scribe, a Historian, a Chaplin, and a Motor pool. These positions are elected every 6 months and the entire process is run by the current SPL and ASPL with ties being settled by the scoutmaster.
Troop rank and elections include a Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, and Troop Instructor. These are the four highest positions in Troop 40 and are elected once every 12 months. Each candidate must submit a written statement to the Scoutmaster why they wish to apply for a position of responsibility in the troop. The scoutmasters will interview the candidates and make a selection of who they think will make the best leader for each position by the applicants received.
Scout Ranks
Troop 40 works with new scouts to get them to first class by the end there first year. This is very attainable as long as the scout attends summer camp at Camp Drake and the two merit badge seminars in the winter. In addition to these three events troop 40 has local volunteers and Scoutmasters who also teach merit badges.
1. Scout Rank
2. Tenderfoot Rank
3. Second Class
4. First Class
5. Star Rank
6. Life Rank
7. Eagle Rank
Troop 40 activities
Troop 40 has a history of going on one or two high adventure trips each year according to what the boys decide they want to do. High adventure is defined as a challenging experience other than a routine event that requires special preparation and training and is not normally accomplished in man made or stationary structures. Troop 40 requires as a minimum requirement that a scout be have achieved first class rank to attend any high adventure trip. There are also minimum age requirements that may need to be met for National or Council outings. Troop 40 will go to Council sponsored events and Troop 40 events. Some of the activities we continue to attend and plan for are:
1. Boy Scout National Jamboree ( Over 10,000 scouts attended in 2006)
2. Boy Scout Space Camp
3. Boy Scout Boundary waters trips
4. 11 point river canoe trip
5. Whitewater rafting
6. Boy Scout Philmont Scout Ranch
7. Rock Climbing
Troop 40 also goes on an average of one local campout every month to places like, Kickapoo, Walnut Point, Forest Glen, and Turkey Run.
Troop 40 Committee Chair Minute
Success is not recognized by how many Eagle scouts a troop has or how many members it has. Success is having a young scout recognize that by following the scout oath and scout law that scout will have a strong foundation to build on the rest of his life in business and family matters. Troop 40 believes by having strong adult leadership and scouts who meet the challenge of leadership within the scout ranks that we are also building strong foundations for our scouts. If you have any questions please feel free to call Scoutmaster Mike Shaw 469-7281 or Myself, Larry Seefeldt at 896-2138.