Q1. When and where does your troop meet? A. Troop 27 meets at the Hillsdale United Methodist Church, 36th and Hacienda in San Mateo (one block south of Hillsdale Avenue), on Tuesday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (see map)

Q2. How often has your Troop achieved Quality Unit status in the last 5 years? A. Troop 27 has achieved Quality Unit status every year for the past 5 years.

Q3. How old is your troop? A. Troop 27 celebrated its 50th anniversary in September 2001. (see the troop history)

Q4. How are new Scouts handled? Are they mixed in with existing patrols or put into a new scout patrol? A. We put them in a new scout patrol with an older scout as their Troop Guide.

Q5. How do new Scouts learn what to do as Boy Scouts (camping skills, patrol activities, advancement, etc.)? Will they have an experienced adult leader working with them? A. The new scouts will learn from the older boys, their Troop Guide, the leaders, and by reading the scout handbook. Many requirements are covered in group instruction at troop meetings and on camping trips. They are mentored by an assigned Assistant Scoutmaster.

Q6. How many registered leaders are there? What is their attendance history at regular meetings and on outings? A. Troop 27 has over 30 active leaders. Typically we have 9-10 attend regular meetings and 5 or more on outings. At Summer Camp 2007 we had 23 adult volunteers and 45 scouts for the week.

Q7. What is the boy/leader ratio at meetings and on outings? A. Usually 4 boys to each leader.

Q8. Do you have an active outdoor program? How often do you camp? A. Troop 27 has outings 11 months of the year: generally 2 snow trips, 2 canoeing trips, 3 regular camping trips, Treasure Hunt, Camp-o-Ree, a bike trip and a week-long summer camp. On two of these the boy's family is invited.

Q9. Where? A. We have camped at national, state or county parks, Boy Scout camps or KOA’s.

Q10. What are the plans for summer camp? A. Each year we pick a wilderness area in the Sierra for summer camp. The camp is built from scratch by the older scouts. Each day there is swimming, games, crafts, hikes, rank and merit badge work, and a campfire program each night. We camp on a lake and make good use of our canoe fleet.

Q11. What is a typical Troop meeting like? Do you work on merit badges? Do you play a lot of games? A. The first 15 minutes is gathering and sometimes a game. Patrols are assembled and then we have the opening flag ceremony. Next comes announcements and awards (rank and merit badge) followed by a presentation or work on a merit badge, skill building or rank advancement. The last 15 minutes is often a game, then we have the closing ceremony.

Q12. What is your philosophy on uniforms? A. On the first meeting of the month the boys must wear their class A uniforms. Class A is also required for flag ceremonies at summer camp and other outings, Courts of Honor, Scout Sunday and Memorial Day Grave decoration. For other scout events any scout shirt (including Troop 27 T-shirts) may be worn.

Ql3. What is your philosophy regarding advancement (at what pace are the ranks earned)? A. Troop 27 encourages each new scout to earn his First Class rank by the end of his first or second year. After that the boys work at their own pace and usually earn their Eagle between the ages of 15 and 18.

Q14. Are your Scouts able to balance Boy Scouts with other activities such as sports, band, church, etc.? A. Yes. Many of our boys have other activities and we understand they are not able to attend all of our scout functions. But they still can progress as scouts in Troop 27.

Q15. What kind of program do you have for the older scouts? Are there any high adventure activities? A. The older scouts serve as instructors at our summer camp and may join Venturing Crew 27 (a co-ed BSA program for youth aged 15 to 21). They only come to two meetings a month and go on trips geared toward older youth like whitewater rafting, mountain/rock climbing, and snow camping. They also help our newer scouts learn new skills at meetings and outings.

Q16. Is your Troop “boy-run” or “adult-run?” A. About half and half, but our goal is to be more “boy-run”.

Q17. Are Troop meetings and activities planned: a) by the boys? b) for a full year? c) at a patrol leaders meeting?
A. Planning is by boys and adults for a full year and events are listed in our on-line T27 calendar. Camp outs and other activities are planned in detail at monthly patrol leader meetings.

Q18. Does your Troop have a limitation on size? A. No.

Q19. What equipment do you have? Is it in good shape? Do you have enough if several boys join your Troop?
A. Troop 27 has tents, tarps, stoves, cookware, canoes, life vests (PFDs), a CPR dummy, first aid kits and a merit badge booklet library. We plan for new scouts so we always have enough gear in good shape.

Q20. What kind of fundraising do you have? A. Troop 27 encourages, but does not require, the boys to participate in popcorn and Christmas wreath sales. We also have a paper an aluminum can drive once a month, and we offer scrip. We occasionally have other fundraising activities.

Q21. What are the financial obligations for each Scout for dues, outings and summer camp? A. Dues are $20 each quarter. Camp outs vary from $15 for a simple overnight to $50 for a ski trip. The week-long summer camp costs around $250. Part of the money from fundraisers goes into each participating boy’s impound account and can be used to pay for dues or outings. We have a limited amount of money for “camperships”. We also have some “experienced” uniforms that can be borrowed by new scouts.

Q22. Do you pay for or subsidize training for the boys (National Youth Leadership Training, Den Chief training, etc.)? A. Yes, if requested.

Q23. How active is your Troop at District and Council events? A. Troop 27 supports the District and Council by participating in the Klondike Derby, Camp-o-Ree, Scout-o-Rama, Scouting for Food, Webelos-to-Scout open house events, and Merit Badge Midways. Some of our adult leaders have positions in the District and we always have one or two attending the District Roundtable meetings.

Q24. How many current leaders are trained in: Youth Protection? Scoutmaster Fundamentals? Woodbadge? A. All T27 leaders are trained in Youth Protection. The Scoutmaster and most ASM's have taken Basic Scout Leader Training and some have Advanced Outdoor Training. Several leaders have their Woodbadge and a few more are working on it. Many leaders also have Red Cross CPR/First Aid certificates and Safe Swim/Safe Boating training.

Q25. What are the expectations/requirements of new adults/parents to this Troop as assistant leaders, committee members, special event chairpersons, event workers, or merit badge counselors? A. Troop 27 does not have parent requirements, but as we operate on volunteer labor we encourage all adults who are able to fill any of the above positions to do so. Once a month we have a meeting to keep parents informed about current and planned troop activities. Also, we like each parent to go on at least one camp out a year.

Q26. Does the Troop pay for any/all adult leader registration and training? A. Adult leaders pay the $10 registration, but the troop pays for the training if requested.

Q27. How often do you have “Courts of Honor”? A. Troop 27 has two Courts of Honor each year, usually in late March and late September. These are potluck dinners for the whole family where we celebrate the achievements of the last 6 months. Eagle Courts of Honor are separately scheduled.

Q28. How do you communicate with scouts and families? A. We issue a monthly newsletter (by mail or email), supplemented by brief email messages as needed. Patrol Leaders call or email their patrols with reminders each week. We publish a calendar on our web site. Parents attend a committee meeting on the first Tuesday of each month, and are welcome at the monthly ASM (Assistant Scoutmaster) meetings. Our Troop Web Site also contains useful information.

Q29. How do you orient new families to scouting? A. We have a troop handbook that is updated periodically. We review it with parents at an orientation meeting shortly after the scout joins Troop 27.

Q30. How do you feel about a Scout (and parent) visiting a meeting unannounced? A. That's fine, but if we have a real busy schedule that evening don't be disappointed if we can't spend as much time with you as we'd like.

Q31. Who can I contact for more information? A. Please contact T27’s Scoutmaster - click here.