About Troop 700

Since 1969, Troop 700’s leadership has been committed to providing a safe, structured, and engaging Scouting program for the youth in Grapevine and its surrounding communities.

Through our active committee, parents, and adult volunteers, we maintain a fun environment that gives our Scouts the opportunity to develop the values and skills they need to become outstanding citizens in our community and the nation.

Troop 700’s committee is dedicated to and supports a separate boy-led troop (700B), and a separate girl-led troop (700G). Each troop has its own youth-elected leadership structure and Scoutmaster.

We are committed to Outdoor Activities, Leadership, Teamwork, and Service.

Outdoor Activities

We are a youth-led troop! Our Scouts conduct an annual meeting to plan their outdoor activities and schedule for the coming year. We like to be in the outdoors, and we have a weekend campout each month. We camp in rain, shine and snow, and have a great time no matter the weather. See 700B for the boy-led troop schedule and 700G for the girl-led troop schedule. In the past, activities have included canoeing, backpacking, biking, wilderness survival, orienteering, pioneering, shooting, rock climbing, fishing, rocketry, and zip lining — just to name a few.

Leadership

The leadership structure in a Scout troop is democracy in action. Its key leaders are elected by their peers, and those elected leaders provide direction through the troop’s small group teams, called Patrols. The two elected positions are Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leader.

The troop is run by its elected key youth leaders. With the guidance of the Scoutmaster, these youth leaders plan the program, conduct troop meetings, and provide leadership among their peers. Non-elected Scouts can develop their leadership skills by being appointed to any of the roles below:

• Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
• Troop Guide
• Quartermaster
• Scribe
• Den Chief
• Chaplain Aide
• Historian
• Instructor
• Librarian
• Webmaster
• Bugler
• Order of the Arrow Representative
• Outdoor Ethics Guide
• Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

Teamwork

As a member of a small group (patrol), youth are given opportunities that are hard to find anywhere else. Unlike a sports team, a Scout patrol carries out a wide range of tasks that require pooling resources and working together to function successfully in all kinds of circumstances.

For most young people, being in a Scout patrol is the first time they have to rely on themselves and other young people to follow the steps needed to meet a goal that requires a wide range of life skills.

Like any team, a patrol functions well only as long as everyone carries out their particular responsibilities. Because of its size, this gives every member a chance to participate — and that produces some real benefits. Contributing to the patrol’s success brings a sense of belonging, of being appreciated, and a feeling of competency that builds self-esteem.

As an example, take preparing a full course dinner on a campout. To pull this off, under the direction of their patrol leader, all members of the patrol plan the menu together. One or two do the grocery shopping, others organize water for cooking and cleaning and get the fire or stoves going, and others cook, lead the blessing, serve the food, and oversee cleanup. Of course, the whole patrol gets to eat the meal. It’s a patrol effort — cooperation, shared responsibility and leadership, and putting skills into action.

Service

The concept of service is foundational to the Scouting way of life. It’s in our Scout Oath, our Scout Law, and most of all, in our Scout Slogan:

Do a Good Turn Daily

For a Scout, this doesn’t mean doing just one good turn during the day and then stopping. It means always looking for opportunities to help others, quietly and without boasting — a good turn is an act of kindness, not something done because it’s good manners. Good turns should be done for family, friends, adults, and children, and especially for those who aren’t able to do the task themselves.

Each year, Troop 700 commits to service projects for our chartered organization, Grapevine Friends of Scouting, our local community, and Scouting America.