The Chartered Organization
Troop 433 has been chartered by the Middle Island Fire Department since we opened our doors in January, 1976. Our current Chartered Organization Representative is Commissioner Kenneth Brewster. The Middle Island Fire Department also sponsors Cub Scout Pack 625.
The Troop Committee
The troop committee is open to all parents. The function of the troop committee is to oversee the operation of the Troop and to provide support of the troop activities. The Troop Committee has several official positions, such as Treasurer and Secretary as well as the general membership. Informally, our troop considers all parents as committee members. The Troop Committee Chairperson is Adam Schor.
Adult Leadership and Participation
The troop meeting and outdoor activities are conducted under the supervision of the adult leadership, consisting of Scoutmaster Frank Bailey (631-732-4529), Trained Assistant Scoutmasters, and participating parents. The troop encourages all adult leaders to be trained through programs offered by the Suffolk County Council. As an incentive, the troop will cover any registration costs associated with being an adult leader.
Adult participation is encouraged at all Troop Committee and Scout activities. All Scout parents and families are strongly encouraged to attend the troop’s Court of Honors which are held 3 times each year, in September, February and June. These are the troop’s special award ceremonies where we recognize the advancements and achievements earned by our scouts.
We always need new leaders, new merit badge counselors, committee members and chairpersons for various committees within our troop. But we don’t always ask, so we have some questions for you…
- Would you like to hear more about becoming a uniformed leader of the troop?
- Would you be able to teach a merit badge?
- Do you have any special interests or hobbies that might be represented in our Merit Badge Program?
- Would you be able to provide transportation on our monthly campouts?
- Would you be able to sit on our Boards of Review?
- If the answer to any of these questions is YES!, then please contact Mr. Bailey, Scoutmaster.
Download a Merit Badge Counselor Application
The Troop Structure
Our troop is run by the Senior Patrol Leader. The SPL is an older Scout who is elected by the Troop. The Senior Patrol Leader conducts Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) meetings monthly to organize activities and run the troop. The SPL is assisted by the other appointed junior leaders, the Leadership Corps, and the individual Patrol Leaders.
The Troop consists of “patrols”. Each patrol is made up of 6 to 12 scouts. Patrol Leaders are elected by each individual patrol. New Patrol Leaders are usually chosen every 6 months in order for each scout to develop his leadership abilities. Patrol Leaders are usually First Class Scouts or higher.
When a New Patrol is formed, the position of Patrol Leader is rotated monthly to give each new scout the opportunity to be “the leader”.
Weekly Meetings
Troop 433 holds its regular meetings on Monday nights and starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Middle Island Fire Department. Scouts may start arriving anytime after 7:00 p.m. to meet with any of the adult leaders. Our meetings end at 9:00 p.m. Scouts are expected to help clean up the room as needed. Parents are expected to pickup the scouts promptly after they are dismissed.
The Scouts are expected to attend the weekly troop meetings and should be dressed in their full Scout uniform – Official Shirt, Neckerchief, Neckerchief Slide, Official Pants, Belt and Scout Socks. You may wear our official Troop hat, if you wish; however, no other types of hats or caps are permitted. Troop 433 has a Uniform Exchange Program. “Experienced” uniform parts are available through our exchange coordinator, Mrs. Strunk.
Each Scout is responsible to pay dues twice a year. The dues are currently $25.00, once in the Fall and once in the Spring, whether you are in attendance or not. The funds collected go directly into the Troop treasury to help defray the costs of camping activities, equipment, merit badges and awards.
Scouts are also expected to bring their Boy Scout Handbook to the regular meetings and campouts. Scouts often delay their own advancement by not bringing the Handbook. They can demonstrate a skill they have learned, but often it can’t be “signed-off” in their book since they forgot to bring it to the meeting.
Regular weekly Troop meetings are generally not held on scheduled school holidays. If one needs to be scheduled for a special reason, ample notice will be given to the scouts.
Short-Term Campouts
Troop 433 is a camping troop. We do our best to have a camping adventure or outing every month from September through June.
For weekend campouts, the Troop usually on Friday night or Saturday morning from the Middle Island Fire Department parking lot. The time of departure will vary depending on the destination. Usually, a Trip Information Package is prepared detailing everything that the scouts need to know; what the goals are, what to bring, when we are leaving, etc. Typically, the troop returns to the Middle Island Fire Department on Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. depending on the trip distance.
The cooking duties are usually organized within the scout’s patrol. Each patrol determines the menu and which scout will purchase the food for the weekend. Scouts committing to a campout are responsible to pay for their portion even if they cancel out after all the food has been purchased for the weekend.
The Troop equips the patrols with camp kitchens and cooking equipment as well as tents. Scouts are responsible for their personal gear and sleeping bags.
Where We Go
Here is a short list of outings and activities that Troop 433 has participated in:
National Jamborees at the Summit Bechtel Reserve
Alaskan Range High Adventure
Sea Base, Bahamas
Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico
Northern Tier High Adventure Base, Ely, Minnesota
Camp No-Be-Bosco, New Jersey
Onteora Scout Reservation, New York
Tobay Beach, Nassau County
Mattituck Scout House
Snowtubing at Camelback Mountain
Camp TriMount, Catskills, New York
Fall Harvest Festival, Longwood Estate
Southaven County Park, Yaphank, New York
Camp Mack, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Skiing at Belleayre Mountain
Camp Synder, BSA, Haymarket, Virginia
Camp Tuckahoe, BSA, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Old New York City Trail, New York
Camp Massasoit, BSA, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts
Henderson Scout Reservation, Cooperstown, New York
Camp Delmont, BSA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kennebec River, Maine High Adventure
1801 Marine Corps Barracks, Washington, D.C.
White water Rafting on the Lehigh River, Pennsylvania
Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts
Indian Island County Park campout
Suffolk County Council’s Fall, Winter & Spring Camporees
West Hills County Park campout
Canoeing the Carman’s River
Camp Wauwepex, Wading River, New York
Alpine Scout Camp, Alpine, New Jersey
Cedar Point County Park campout
Bollowa Scout Camp, Bear Mountain, New York
Canoeing the Peconic River
Cathedral Pines County Park campout
Adirondack Mountains High Adventure
Hecksher State Park campout
Harriman State Park Backpacking Trip
Baiting Hollow Scout Campouts
Decorating the grave sites of Calverton National Cemetery
Packing food boxes in holiday season
Christmas caroling and pizza party
Summer Camp
Traditionally, our Troop spends a week at the Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rhode Island every July. This scout camp has been in operation for over 100 years. It offers the scouts a wonderful camping experience and programs covering nearly 30 merit badges. Because the camp adheres to the scout philosophy of “two-deep” leadership, the first three adults attending with the scouts go free. For every twelve scouts attending, another adult can attend free. It is usually a most memorable experience for all the scouts.
Scouts with Disabilities
The basic premises of Scouting for youth with disabilities and special needs is that they want most to participate like other youths – and Scouting gives them that opportunity. Thus, much of the programs for Scouts with disabilities and special needs are directed at
(1) helping unit leaders develop an awareness of disabled people among youth without disabilities and
(2) encouraging the inclusion of Scouts with disabilities and special needs in Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships.
Read our Troop’s entire Policy on this subject by clicking here
Fundraising
Each scout in our Troop is encouraged to start and fund a personal scout account to help pay for his adventures and summer camping. Scouting can be expensive. We try to make Scouting available to everyone. However, with uniforms, equipment, monthly campout fees, dues, summer camp and special trips, expenses can be high. For that reason, Troop 433 has engaged in a series of money making projects that help the boys earn their part of their own expenses. We encourage you to get your son involved in our fundraising projects. The money your son earns will ultimately help you because it lowers the costs.
This year, scouts earned commissions through the sales of the Trail’s End Popcorn Council fundraiser, Christmas wreath items or Hershey candy. These commissions went directly into the scout’s personal account.
The scout account book is kept by the troop’s treasurer and usually available for viewing during the regular meetings. Scouts may also make deposits at any time; however, withdrawals are only allowed for outing and registration expenses, for purchases of personal gear at the Scout Shop, and other special situations. If a boy drops out of the troop, any money remaining in his scout account remains with the troop.