Where can I make a troop website?

[Hubert]

I know there is another topic for this, but I am wondering something different. Does anyone know where I can set one up, for free if at all possible? I would like to get my troop a website, and keep it running, we have have made a few attempts in the past, but all have stopped. I am just wondering if there is a place where I can set one up for very very cheap, or free?

Ideas?

Thanks.

[red759]

Our troop uses SOAR www.soarol.com. There is an annual fee, but it is easy to use and is geared toward scouting.

[pipestone1991]

There is freewebs. It isn't the greatest, but alas, it is a website.

[scoutaholic]

There are systems where you can set your troop (unit) website up on a sub-domain of some group site. These usually come with tools for getting a basic site started. You should be able to find one of these pretty cheap, or maybe even free.

If you want to do your own site, then it can be a bit more complicated. It costs about $10/year to register a .com domain name. I've seen .info domains for as low as $0.99/year. Once you have a domain name, you'll need a server (expensive) or a contract to use a part of someone elses server. There a several hosting companies around. The one I use has plans as low as $1.95/month. These hosting services usually come with all the systems setup so you just have to copy your page designs onto the server and it runs. You will need someone that can create some basic HTML pages. Usually hosting services are also setup to handle more complicated things like mySQL databases on the backend of the website using PHP to dynamically load the site content to the pages. Anyone with basic web design knowledge will know how to use these tools and get your site going. If you need further details of where I find these services at these prices, contact me by email.

[wagionvigil]

Go Daddy has been used by several units here

[scouter01]

If you aren't paying, at least don't use sites that don't let you have total control ( bravehost etc) I tried freehostia and it was ok.

[RWSmith]

Go here: USScouts.Org -- Building Your Own Web Page

I'll say it, again... Go here: USScouts.Org -- Building Your Own Web Page

One more time... Go here: USScouts.Org -- Building Your Own Web Page

============

As so many times before, we owe much thanks to our friends at USScouts.Org!

[PaulSWolf]

Actually that's USSCOUTS.org

[Quailman]

[RWSmith]

Okay... I fixed the typos... sorry.

But, hey! FWIW, at least the links themselves were good before I posted it... I did check that.

[Man, nothing gets past that guy. ]

[AquilaNegra2]

Photos are a big part of most troop sites. I use Photoshop to crop them to size, and then SAVE FOR THE WEB. It's a lot less bandwidth use -- more importantly, however, is that while the quality doesn't look very different to the naked eye, the photos won't be good enough quality for those that steal them for nefarious purposes.

I'm always surprised to see the stat counter with hits from the Netherlands looking for "photos +boy scouts +swimming".

Also, get a signed blanket release from every parent in the troop before you start building the site. You don't want to have to re-do ten pages because one parent doesn't want Johnny's photo up. Better to know beforehand.

ETA: The Scout guidelines referenced above say not to publish youth photos. Judging from the sites I've seen, about 95% of troop sites have pics of the boys. Frankly, ours can't wait to see pics posted after campouts and activities.

[goetzjam]

ScoutData.com has free hosting for unit websites, such as troop18.scoutdata.com, it is also a unit tracking website, which means it can replace troopmaster and other software

[goetzjam]

ScoutData.com has free hosting for unit websites, such as troop18.scoutdata.com, it is also a unit tracking website, which means it can replace troopmaster and other software

[FieldSports]

www.eteamz.com for small and quick web site set up

[scouter01]

If bandwith is a problem, you can upload the images to sites such as imageshack and then just put them in the page. YOu should probably make the page password protected.

[floodphobia777]

Also there is 000webhost which is free.

Link: http://www.000webhost.com/

[lazor]

Coming from someone who has a website, I highly recommend Addictive Hosting. It's only $4 a month with the first month at $2 with the current promotion. It has more than you'll need, and they don't oversell(selling more resources than they have on a server). The servers have been up 100% of the time since I joined in May of 2008, and the support is very quick and helpful. Free hosting is often slow with low bandwidth limits.

So, the website for my host is www.addictivehosting.com

I also recommend using www.mkportal.it for your website if you are going to have a forum, since it has integration with many forums like phpBB or VBulliten. Otherwise use one of the many free content management systems out there.

www.webhostingtalk.com is a great place to discuss Web Hosting, as well.

[GJoy10]

www.scoutlander.com is also a free hosting site for BSA Troops, Cub Packs, Venturing Crews and Girl Scout Troops.
Takes some time to set up. But it is free and it gives differing levels of logins. This is useful for leaders to post and parents and scouts to view.
Good Luck and Happy Computing

[crabab11]

Our troop uses Google Sites to manage our website. Although there are some limits with what you can do, if you know html/scripting you can add a lot more items. It is free and has enough space for all your pages, pictures, and files.

[Cowboy]

Our Troop uses.... Just because my son is the (Assistant) Webmster (SM is Webmster) doesn't mean I know anything about it. Anyway: For my business I use yahoo as my server. $12 a month, and all of the bandwidth I could want.
I have said it time and again: Do not put face pictures of the boys on the web! Some with the backs are okay, but not the faces. You are only asking for a lawsuit when someone decides to photoshop or just plain molest the boy. Sad and disgusting, but still a fact of life in this world.