Troop 870 is chartered by University Baptist Church and is in the Bayshore District of the Sam Houston Area Council. Troop Meetings are held at University Baptist Church every Monday night at 7pm. We love visitors!! If you are interested in visiting our troop, please contact Mike Lovelace , 281-216-2493.

New to the scouting program? "What is Boy Scouting" will tell you all about our purpose and activities.

Some Basic Facts

Who:

Troop 870 has been in existence for 30 years since June 1, 1977, and currently has a membership of 40 Scouts, 30 registered adults, and 11 registered Scoutmasters. All 11 Scoutmasters are BSA Trained, and have over 100 years total Scouting experience of which over 70 years is in Scout Leaders' experience.

When:

The Troop meets every Monday evening at 7 PM. Parent/Committee meetings, to which parents are invited, are held on the second Monday of each month at 7 PM. Campouts are typically the third weekend of each month.

Where:

The Troop is chartered by and meets at University Baptist Church, located in the Brookwood subdivision at 16106 Middlebrook Drive, on the corner of Middlebrook and Glenshannon.

What:

Troop 870 is a "boy-led" troop, therefore our activities are based on the Scouts' plans. Once a year a Troop Organization Workshop (TOW) is conducted, at which monthly themes for the upcoming year are decided and camping locations are selected. Recent campouts have included Double Lakes Recreation Area, Brazos Bend, and Enchanted Rock State Park. Monthly themes have included canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, orienteering, rifle and shotgun. The Troop also attends fall camp at Camp Karankawa during Thanksgiving break, and summer camp usually during the last week of June. Summer 2008 we attended Buffalo Trails Scout Ranch in Midland, TX, and next summer we have plans to attend camp at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch off of Lake Bridgeport.

Troop 870's Values

About the values that we stand behind

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth.

Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.

Boy Scouting, one of three membership divisions of the BSA (the others are Cub Scouting and Venturing), is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old, and subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law. The program achieves the BSA's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.

The national Boy Scout program membership* is 1,005,592 Boy Scouts in 52,579 troops.

* As of December 31, 2001. Includes Varsity Scouting.

Aims and Methods of the Scouting Program

The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the "Aims of Scouting." They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.

The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.

Ideals

The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. The Boy Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and, as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes.

Patrols

The patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives.

Outdoor Programs

Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. It is here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for God's handiwork and humankind's place in it. The outdoors is the laboratory for Boy Scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.

Advancement

Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.

Personal Growth

As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is so successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Boy Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting's aims.

Leadership Development

The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership role of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.

Uniform

The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.

Outdoor Activities

Local councils operate and maintain Scout camps. The National Council operates high-adventure programs at Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico; Northern Tier National High Adventure Programs, Minnesota and Canada; and Florida National High Adventure Sea Base.

The BSA conducts a national Scout jamboree every four years and participates in world Scout jamborees (also held at four-year intervals). Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, was the site of the 2001 National Scout Jamboree.

To learn more about Boy Scouting, or to find out how to start, join, or support a troop, contact the BSA council in your area