TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
WHAT IS BOY SCOUTING?
It is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to provide an effective program designed with the Aims to build the qualities of character, morality, participative citizenship, and physical, mental and emotional fitness in boys of Scouting age 11-18.
Boy Scouting uses the following Methods to accomplish the Aims of Scouting:
- IDEALS
- PATROLS
- ADVANCEMENT
- OUTDOOR PROGRAM
- ADULT ASSOCIATION
- PERSONAL GROWTH
- LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
- SCOUT UNIFORM
The Ideals of Scouting are manifested primarily in two things; the Scout Oath “On my honor I will do my best,to do my duty,to God and my country, to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight”. And the Twelve Points of the Scout Law: A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.
A Scouts first duty and the final law, “Duty to God” and “Reverence”, identify Scoutings recognition and responsibility to God.Family and religious leaders teach Scouts to know and love God and the ways in which God can be served . Each scout is expected to do his duty to God by following those teachings in his daily life, and by respecting the rights of others to have their own religious beliefs. Scouts and leaders re-enforce this duty with reverence in prayer at mealtimes and official ceremonies, and by observing and respecting religious Sabbaths and holy days.
The Oath and the Twelve Laws shape all of Scouting and form the foundation of Boy Scouting as an institution.
Scouting is a boy-led program. The very essence of Scouting
is to train boys to be leaders. The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in
group living through participative citizenship. It allows boys to work in small
groups and places certain responsibilities on young shoulders and teaches boys
to accept and handle them. Through the patrols, boys learn to delegate
responsibility and understand the importance of follwership, teamwork and
participative citizenship For troop meetings and other activities, the boys are
divided into patrols —groups of six to eight boys each. Each patrol elects its
own leader, who represents them on the Patrol Leaders Council.Patrols
give the boys a purpose and allow each boy to play an important part in the
troop function. Having a patrol identity helps form a strong bond among patrol
members.
· Tenderfoot
Chapter One in the Boy Scout Handbook describes advancement requirements for the Boy Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks. It is important that your son takes his Handbook with him to every scout meeting so that a unit leader can check his progress. Boy scouts advance in Rank through a four step process:
1.The Boy Learns: “A Scouts progress is a natural outcome of his regular Scouting activities……..Skills training starts at the Troop Meeting level, and relates closely to the program feature planned for the month”The Asst Scoutmaster and Guide for a Patrol will normally handle instruction for the newer scouts group although Senior scouts, adults and MB counselors can be utilized by the Scoutmaster as required.The monthly featured activity isplanned to provide opportunities use these skills. It is the boy’s responsibility to seize these opportunities and learn the required skills. There are many skill and advancement requirements that can be worked on at home by the boy alone or with the parents help. The new BSA Handbook does an excellent job ofillustrating these skills so they can be learned individually. I believemany of the boys have learned their basic skills in this manner.NOTE: “ The troop guide and the assistant Scoutmaster assigned to a new Scout patrol play major roles in helping young Scouts get a solid foundation as they are just starting out.” (Scoutmaster Handbook, 1998 ed, pg 120). You should encourage your son’s progress each week prior to the troop
meetings. Help him to learn the Scout Law, Promise, Oath, Motto, Slogan and the Outdoor Code. These are the basis for everything he does throughout his scouting experience. He will be asked to repeat each of these on various occasions and to understand and live by them as a Scout.
2. The Boy’s Tested: How is a Scout tested? Better to ask how he is NOT tested. Testing in Scouting is not a formal period set aside in which Scouts line up and dutifully take their turns at, say, building a fire while a leader with a clipboard watches. Rather it is a leader who has spent a weekend camping with the troop and observing a boy and saying, “He’s got it!”It has been said before and will be again: Boy Scout advancement is a program in which a Scout progresses as the natural outcome of his regular Scouting activities. When a leader recognizes that a Scout has mastered a given skill and satisfied a given requirement, he will tell the Scout so - and record his achievement.
NOTE: It is expected that a boy going on an outing will point out to the trip’s leader that he would like to be evaluated on a outdoor skill during the outing. The leader will make sure the boy gets a chance to exercise his acquired skill for evaluation purposes.
3.
The Scout is Reviewed:
a. Scoutmaster Conference: When a Scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, he appears before the Scoutmaster where he his advancement is discussed and his Scouting experience is reviewed. This is a chance for the Scoutmaster to discuss any problems the boy may be having and to insure the Scouts training and acceptance of Scouting ideals has prepared him for the next rank. After the conference, the Scoutmaster will recommend your son to a Board of Review.
b. Board Of Review: A Board of Review is composed of members of the troop committee( the actual makeup is defined in the Troop ByLaws). Their purpose is not to retest the Scout but to make sure through his records that he has met all the requirements for the rank, and to chat with him to learn how he feel’s he’s doing with the Troop.( NOTE: it is appropriate for boys to be questioned about their Scouting experience and accomplishments). Each review will include a discussion of how the Scout is living by the Scout Oath and Law in his everyday life. As a boy increases in Rank the areas of leadership and service to others become more important.
Examples
of the kinds of questions at a Board of Review are:
•What do you like most in
troop outdoor activities?
•What new things did you
do/learn on your latest campout or activity?
•What did you learn/feel in
giving service to others?
•Why is being a Boy Scout
important to you?
•What are your goals in Scouting
4.
The Boy is Recognized:
a. Immediate Recognition: As soon as possible after a Boy completes his review he should be awarded the rank. In our troop a boy is recognized at the next regular meeting by being presented with his badge of rank. A more formal recognition will still occur at the next Court of Honor.
b. Court Of Honor: A Court of Honor is a formal ceremony where a scout receives recognition for his achievements for the previous three months. This is a formal and impressive ceremony at which all Scouts who have advanced since the last court will be honored by a gathering of leaders, families, friends and chartered organization reps. It is usually held in the SEAS Church Gymnasium and lasts from one to two hours and is followed by a refreshments social.The troop normally holds a Court of Honor every 4-6 months. The Senior Patrol Leader with the assistance of the Scoutmaster and Advancements Chairman presides over the CofH. The greatest possible parent attendance and participation is encouraged.
Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. Scouting promises boys adventure in the great outdoors. Boys are attracted to Scouting by the fun and adventure it offers. Both are centered in the outdoor program, which focuses on exciting outdoor activities like camping, experiencing nature and watching wildlife. Scouts learn to Leave No Trace principles and to care for their environment, they master new skills so they can safely experience significant personal growth while exploring the outdoors. The outdoor program allows Scouts to grow closer to nature while providing an opportunity to better understand their own spirituality and develop a deep appreciation for our great country.Outdoor activities for Scouts can include high-adventure challenges like rafting, backpacking and climbing in a national park or just sleeping under the stars in their own backyard.To be successful in its aims Scouting is dependant on a vigorous outdoor program. Our troop goals include a camping or ou tdoor adventure each month
The outdoors are where the ideals, values and skills of Scouting learned at troop meetings are put into actual practice. Scouts grow in character through physical activity, leadership opportunities and shared responsibility and teamwork. All of which are fundamental parts of the outdoor experience.
Boys learn from the example set by their adult leaders. By interacting with adult leaders and counselors of high character, boys receive exposure to positive role models who share their interests and knowledge of varied backgrounds, experience. In addition to interaction with the Scoutmasters another prime vehicle for adult association is the Merit Badge program. Through Merit Badges, registered adult volunteers mentor boys in learning one of the many specialized badges covering everything from Camping to Pet Care. By working with a MB Counselor in a specific area a boy can learn from an individual who has personal or professional experience with that field that may result in the Scout developing a lifelong interest, hobby or even a career goal.
As Scouts plan their activities, accept responsibilities, interact with others and overcome the challenges to progress towards their goals they experience personal growth.The Good Turn concept is another major part of the personal growth method of Scouting.Boys grow as they participate in community and service projects and do selfless good turns to help others.
The religious emblems program is another method of personal growth along with frequent Scoutmaster conferences to help each scout set his own personal goals in Scouting.
Boy Scouting encourages boys to learn and practice leadership.Through the patrol method and outdoor program boys have many formal and informal opportunities to practice leadership and ,just as important, followership.Understanding the concepts of leadership and followership by being on both sides of the equation in different situations helps a boy accept the authority of others to develop good citizenship and learn leadership skills that will be with him for life.
The uniform makes the 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 proudly and correctly shows each scouts commitment to the ideals of Scouting. The uniform gives Scouts identity in a worldwide brotherhood of youth who share the same ideals. The uniform provides a way for Scouts to wear badges of rank and accomplishment. The Troop 129 uniform includes a “Class A” and a “Class B” described below. It is Troop policy to have at least one Class-A uniform inspection at a regular meeting each month to recognize and encourage proper and complete wear of the uniform.
As a minimum the Class A uniform consists of the official scout shirt ( the BDAC Hq. sells all the necessary uniform items and can tell you how to wear them), Troop neckerchief, neckerchief slide and a troop hat. The troop neckerchief is presented to each boy as he crosses over into our Troop from his Webelos Den. The troop “boonie” hat is issued when the boy achieves the rank of “Scout”. These are one-time issues. Additional neckerchiefs and hats may be purchased from the troop at our cost. Official scout pants, belt, sock are optional but highly recommended. A Merit Badge sash is a required part of the uniform for Star, Life and Eagle Scouts. The Class-A uniform is mandatory forScoutmaster's Conferences,Boards of Review and Courts of Honor. The Class A uniform is often required to be worn when participating in special scouting events such as fundraisers, camporees, expos and summer camp.
The Class B uniform consists of the troop issued T-shirt and boonie hat. The Class B uniform is used when the troop travels and informal troop functions as prescribed by the Troop leaders. The troop neckerchief is optional with the Class-B uniform but may be a requirement for some occasions and semi-formal activities.
.
(Duty to God, Duty
to Country, Duty to Self, Duty to the Troop)
Yes. The importance of having a Boy Scout
Handbook cannot be stressed enough.
It is the Scout's reference and logbook for
his achievements. It should be brought to every meeting along with pen
and paper to be signed off, and on scouting events for reference purposes. The
Handbook has a wealth of information for new and old Scouts and parents. If the
answers to your questions cannot be found in the Handbook, then ask one of the
leaders or a parent of an older Scout.
Part of being a Boy
Scout is wearing the uniform. It is a troop requirement that
Class A uniform be
worn at the first meeting of each month. There are no
exceptions to that
but the Class B will be worn in some cases. The Class B uniform will be worn at
all troop meetings during the summer. Your son's Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol
Leader will announce when Class B uniforms are to be worn at troop meetings.
Equipment
What does my son
need for camping/hiking
The best source for
answering questions on what equipment to get for
Scout camping is
covered the
Gear Recommendations.htm (found in the Knowledge section of this Website). It
has an example packing list and advice on purchasing the most critical and
costly of the outdoor gear, known as the BIG-4: Boots, Pack, Sleeping Bag, and
Rain Gear). There is no need to rush out and buy everything on the list and
definitely read the gear guide before purchasing any big ticket items. Start
slowly: a sturdy pair of hiking boots, a quality backpacking type sleeping bag,
a foam pad and a heavy duty poncho is about all you need to start. The troop
has several loaner packs that boys can use and most other items can be found or
borrowed without any extra expense.Tents and cooking gear are troop provided so don’t worry about those
items.Questions on the Gear Guide and
packing list can be answered by any of the Scoutmasters.
If your son has any
special needs or requirements such as diet or medications, you
need to make them
known to the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster immediately.
All efforts will be
made by the adult leaders to meet those needs during scouting events.
However, the major
responsibility lies with you and your son to make sure the leaders are
aware of any
problems. The nature of some outings may prevent participation of scouts
limiting medical or physical conditions if the condition is deemed to be unsafe
for the scout or the group. The determination will be at the discretion of the
trip leader.
If you have a
concern about the behavior of a particular Scout or Adult Leader, we
ask that you not
bring up this single issue directly in the Committee meeting. Rather, let
Scoutmaster or
Chairman know. After investigating the situation, the Chairperson and
Scoutmaster will
take appropriate action thru either the parent, committee or Council as
appropriate.Scouts and adults in Troop
129 are expected to adhere to the Scout Oath and Law to provide a clean, kind
and friendly environment where boys can feel they belong and are safe.Any inappropriate, cruel, immoral or
irreverent actions will be dealt with promptly.
The Merit Badge program is part of the
advancement plan of the Boy Scouts of America.
They
are a major part of the requirements for senior scout ranks Star through Eagle. The merit badge program is one of Scouting's
basic character-developing tools. Earning merit badges gives boys the kind of
self-confidence that comes only from overcoming difficult obstacles to achieve
a goal. It is through the merit badge program that boys get exposure to skills
that may help them choose their lifework or interests. Working with a merit
badge counselor gives a Scout contact with an adult with whom they may not be
acquainted. This is a valuable experience where a Scout learns about skills
through association with adults of high moral standards and character.
A Scout earns a merit badge by working with a
council approved and registered BSA adult counselor, an expert in the subject
who is on a list provided by his troop. A Merit Badge counselor is responsible for coaching the boy in
developing the badge skills and sitting down with him and going over the
requirements to ensure that they have been met to his/her satisfaction. Our
troop primarily uses parents for merit badge counselors, but for some
specialized badges counselors from outside the troop are used.A
current list of counselors can be obtained from the Advancement Chairman or a
Scoutmaster.A Scoutmaster will assign the Merit Badge
counselor that a scout will work with.TheYouth Protection
requirements of Scouting apply for Merit Badge counseling and requires that
scouts have another scout (buddy system) or a parent with them when meeting
with their Counselor.
.
The Scout Handbook tells your son about merit
badges.It provides a list and brief
description of each merit badge that can be earned. For detailed descriptions
and requirements, a specific merit badge should be checked out from the Troop Librarian.
It is the scout's responsibility to ensure that the book is the most current,
up to date edition. Boy Scout requirements for achieving Rank and Merit badges
required can be found in the Scout Handbook. For the specific requirements of a
Merit Badge you should check out the pamphlet from the Troop Librarian.
To sign up to begin a Merit Badge the Scout must:
a. Make an appointment with the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster and get approval and receive a merit badge “blue” card.The Scoutmaster must sign the card to record the date the badge was begun, and will recommend a merit badge counselor**.
b. The scout contacts the merit badge counselor and meets with him to go over the badge requirements and expectations. The counselor will meet with the scout periodically as needed until the requirements of the badge are complete.The counselor will then sign the council record portion of the “blue card” keeping the counselorsportion for his records.
c. Upon completion, the scout returns the signed merit badge card to the Scoutmaster.The scout keeps the “Applicants Record”portion of the blue card for his records (its important not to lose these!).
d. The Scoutmaster then gives the completed “Record for Council” blue card to the Advancement Chairman who records the data in the troop data base and forwards the card to council for entry into the formal council record.
e. The scout will be awarded the cloth badge at the earliest opportunity and recognized at the next court of honor.
**NOTE: Generally a Scout should not begin Merit Badges until he has completed the 2nd Class rank and should not have more than three badges in work at any one time without the permission of the Scoutmaster.
The Merit Badge counselor will work informally with each boy and help coach him in learning the skills required to complete the merit badge.It is up tothe scout to contact the counselor to go over what he has done or what he needs help with. It is up to the individual counselor how this coaching is done as long as it meets BSA policy for youth protection and adheres to the policy of “no more and no less” for evaluating the badge requirements. Ultimately it is the boys responsibility to complete the requirements of the badge by satisfying the counselor that he has met the requirement(s).
In accordance with BSA policy, Merit Badges are not taught
during meetings for the purpose of awarding the badge.
On rare occasions, where limited resources or
specialized counseling is involved; merit badge instruction may be offered to a
group. Group Merit Badge instruction is given to maximize the availability of a
scarce counseling resource.Special
group instruction will be announced well in advance by one of the adult or boy
leaders and your son is responsible for signing himself up, getting the
information and attending all the meetings. Even though instruction in a Merit
Badge may be given to the group the scout must still meet with his counselor
personally to demonstrate his ability to fulfill all the requirements. This
cannot be accomplished during the group setting.
To be a Merit Badge counselor you should have some unique recreational or professional interest and background in a badge. The BSA“Guide to Merit Badge Counseling” can be found on this website for further information (LINK HERE to Guide to MB Counseling).Contact the Scoutmaster, Advancement Chairman or Committee Chairman if you are interested in being a counselor.
The troop schedules
outing(s) approximately once a month. An announcement of the troops planned
outing(s) will be made at the first meeting of the month with signup sheets
available by the second meeting of the month. Participation in outings with
limited space is offered on the basis of the signup list precedence; the first
boys to sign up get priority. Often there will be a main event, a day event and
a patrol event so that there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to have an
outing. Permission slips and release forms for the outing are sent via email
the night the signup sheets are offered. A parental permission or release form
must be provided to the Scoutmaster or trip leader before. Detailed
instructions for the outing are sent during the week before the outing. It is
expected that Scouts going on the outing read these instructions and prepare
accordingly.Boys, who in the trip
leaders determination, are not adequately prepared will not be allowed to
participate
Each boy must pay
any fees (i.e. dues, rechartering fee and meal costs) no later than the last
scout meeting before the event. Non-payment will be grounds for preventing
participation of the scout in the event. To be eligible to attend troop
functions and outings, each scout must also have attended at least half of
those months’ meetings unless excused at the Scoutmaster's discretion.
Depending on the
type of campout it is, your son may be required to shop and buy food for the
patrol. The Patrol will make a duty roster, plan their menu and make a grocery
list at a meeting prior to the campout. They will designate Scouts to buy the
food with each member of the patrol contributing an equal amount of money for
food. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOUR SON DOES NOT CALL TO CANCEL OUT ON A CAMPOUT
PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE FOOD, HE IS STILL REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE FOOD
PURCHASED FOR HIM. There have been too many occasions where the person buying
the food or the troop had to cover the cost for absent boys. This also applies
to any transportation, lodging and other accrued costs.
The troop usually
leaves on Friday afternoons or early Saturday morning from Bunker Community Park at the corner of Alexander
and Tenaya or from the SEAS parking lot.
Friday or Saturday
is usually spent in transit, either driving or hiking to an overnight camping
destination.The boys hike, bike
,canoe, etc, make camp, cook, clean and spend the night outdoors. Some free
time is always planned after boys complete their camp work. Boys learn that
there is a time to work and time to play and relax, but in the outdoors the
time for work always comes before play. Sunday is normally spent cooking
breakfast, cleaning up, having a non-denominational church service, then
breaking camp for the trip out and return home.
The group will
usually return to the same location on Sunday afternoon. If the time or
location of departure is different, it will be announced at the troop meetings.
Actual return times vary and are approximate at best. Parents will usually be
called by cell phone from the vehicles en route when the exact return time is
better known. Parents should be flexible and available to pick up their Scouts
as much as two hours before and up to two hours after the scheduled return
time.
Remember, boys
learn by experience and often they do not plan correctly at
first.Outings don’t always smoothly as an adult
might have managed but remember, this is all a normal part of Boy Scouting.
Parents are invited
to attend any troop campout but must make arrangements in advance with the
trips adult leader. BSA’s low impact camping policy limits backcountry group
size to not more than twelve people.At
least one, and if available two adults on the trip will be experienced and
trained outdoor leaders, so parents participation may be limited by the size of
the total group after requisite leaders and scouts are counted. Any minimum
requirements for equipment, conditioning and/or experience may apply to adults
the same as Scouts at the discretion of the trip leader. If a parent wants to
regularly go on campouts with the troop, we request that you register as an
Assistant Scoutmaster in order for us to provide you with the necessary
insurance and training.
Summer camp is a yearly troop activity. It is
an opportunity for your son to work on
several outdoor merit badges that he might
not work on throughout the year or go on the outdoor adventure of a lifetime.
Our troop has attended summer camps at Mt.Potosi NV., Camp Whitsett CA., Camp
Chiwanakee CA., Philmont Scout Ranch,NM, Dell Webb UT, just to name a few. It
is our policy to try a new camp or adventure trek whenever possible to take
full advantage of different camp's diversity of activities, location and
programs offered. The camp week is usually scheduled for June or early
July.Costs range from $200 to $300 for
summer camp. Registration begins early in the calendar year with a cash deposit
needed with the balance usually due within two months of the camp date.
Arrangements can be made with the Committee Treasurer to make installment
payments for summer camp. Detailed information concerning summer camp is
provided in the early spring. Prior to going to summer camp, a parent meeting
night is dedicated to answer any questions and to get any forms that need to be
completed. A physical examination by a doctor is required to attend summer
camp.A physical must be current within
the last three years for a resident summer camp and within a year for high
adventure camps and treks.
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is a brotherhood
of honor campers made up of
scouts and adult leaders who best exemplify
the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives
and by such recognition causes other campers
to conduct themselves in such manner as to
warrant recognition. Members of their own
troop elect the scouts to the OA. Every
spring, the troop holds elections and the
boys can potentially elect all of the boys eligible
within the troop. To be eligible, scouts and
adults must be registered, have approval of the Scoutmaster, be active in the troop,
attain the rank of First Class and completed 15
nights of camping
to include at least one summer camp within the last two years.OA members are identified by a distinctive
patch and sash. The OA provides scouts and adult leaders an even greater
opportunity to participate in scouting activities and practice cheerful
service. There are separate annual dues for the OA and they're paid directly to
the local OA Lodge.