To: FCE Scouts and
Parents
Advancement is important to all Scouts. It is the philosophy
of the Boy Scouts that
all boys complete at least the requirements for First Class while in
Scouting. This process is called First Class Emphasis or FCE. Much
attention is directed to this program by Troop 642 with the older
Scouts conducting the training for many parts of the program. There
is a great deal of emphasis on First Aid, camping skills, cooking,
and improving self reliance in the individual Scout.
The requirements
for the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are
included in FCE. Scouts can have requirements for First and Second
Class signed off on while they are working on Tenderfoot. However,
service hours for a rank can only be earned while working on that
one rank
A significant part
of our FCE program occurs during our annual summer camp program at
El Rancho Cima. Attending summer camp
is strongly encouraged as advancement opportunities are
significantly enhanced for the individual scouts attending our
summer camp program. FCE Scouts attending summer camp at El Ranch
Cima will have the opportunity to
complete three merit badges (Pioneering, Basketry and Swimming) and
a significant number of there FCE program requirements.
The dates for summer camp at El
Rancho Cima this year, 2008, are Sunday, June 8th
to Saturday, June 14th.
For those scouts
who are hoping to advance one or even two ranks at summer camp,
please note that areas that have held up advancement for individual
scouts in past are:
-
Completion of
the 30 day exercise program before attending summer camp
(Tenderfoot requirement 10a - 10b)
-
FCE First Aid
skills (Tenderfoot requirements 12a to 12c, Second Class
requirements 6a to 6f and First Class requirements 8b1 to 8d),
-
5 Troop Patrol
Activities (Second Class requirement 2a)
Therefore, we
recommend individual scouts start the Tenderfoot exercise program as
soon as possible. Also please try to attend all troop activities
including Scout Sunday (February 5th) and the monthly
camp outs to ensure you meet the minimum level of 5 activities by
time summer camp comes around. Note that attending summer camp
counts as one activity and that during summer camp you will have
opportunities to attend other troop activities including the Order
of the Arrow (The Scouting honor society) calling out ceremony, etc.
To help with the FCE First Aid requirements we are planning to hold
FCE First Aid classes from
7pm to 8pm at the MDPC
Scouthouse
on the following dates
February
7th, 14th, 21th and 28th
May 8th,
15th and 22nd
The FCE First Aid
classes will cover the various FCE first aid skills needed for
Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class advancement. Various adult
and youth instructors will be available on each of these dates to
work with the boys on individual requirements. Refreshments will be
provided.
The objectives of
the FCE First Aid training sessions are:
-
To allow the
FCE scouts more time for fun activities on our monthly camp
outs.
-
To use more
hands on class room style first aid training supported by audio
visual presentations.
-
To improve the
level of fun and skill retention in learning these key first aid
skills.
-
To prepare our
FCE scouts to succeed at the upcoming Mustang District
Camporee.
-
To complete a
significant portion of the required FCE First Aid requirements
ahead of summer camp.
Attending
at least three of the FCE First Aid sessions is highly
recommended. We recognize many of our scouts have other
commitments or may want to sign up for merit badge classes that have
meetings that conflict with these dates. If you can not attend at
least three of these sessions note that we will continue to cover
First Aid skills and other FCE requirements on our regular monthly
camp outs and at Summer Camp. However, on campouts we generally
focus most on the outdoor and camping FCE requirements.
Yours in Scouting
Bill Carr
Assistant
Scoutmaster, Troop 642
FCE Advancement
Coordinator
