Parents Guide Troop 40 McAllen, Texas Arrowhead District Rio Grande Council Boy Scouts of America -------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? ORGANIZATION Chartered Organization (SPONSOR) Troop Committee Troop 40 Troop Meetings Adult Leadership Scoutmaster Assistant Scoutmasters Patrols and Patrol Leaders TROOP PARENTS ADVANCEMENT Advancement through First Class Advancement from First Class to Eagle Merit Badges Boards of Review Courts of Honor ADMINISTRATIVE Rechartering and Fees Annual Registration Fees Fees for Outings / Activities Fundraising – Friends of Scouting UNIFORM Scout Shops and Scout Supply OUTDOOR PROGRAM Troop 40 Program What to bring Outdoor Activity Rules Troop 40 Parents Guide ------------------------------------------- All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind are convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth. --Aristotle INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Boy Scouts of America! By becoming a parent of a Boy Scout, you are setting your son out on the grand adventure of Scouting. This is a tremendously important and rewarding endeavor that you will be able to share with him. What is it-all about? What will you be expected to do? What does it cost? We have prepared this booklet to answer these questions. The following pages describe the organization of a Troop and the advancement pattern that each boy will follow. Reading this will help you understand how your boy can progress through the ranks with your help. It will help you understand how you can help and what the various adult volunteers are doing to help the Troop. WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? There are three aims to scouting: Aim I -- To build character Aim II -- To foster citizenship Aim III -- To develop fitness These three aims are the bedrock of the American Scouting movement they represent the long term outcomes we want for every boy. It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are based on those found in the Boy Scout Oath and Law. ------------------------------------------ SCOUT LAW A Scout is: Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent ------------------------ SCOUT OATH On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. ------------------------- Scout Motto: Be Prepared ------------------------- Scout Slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily ------------------------- Since 1910, these principles have been taught in an atmosphere of recreation and fun which allows young people to develop self confidence, leadership and moral character. More and more men, trained as Scouts, are taking their places in today's world as responsible adult leaders. Men who earned badges as Scouts, sit on the Supreme Court and in the chambers of Congress. Others hold important offices in our government, business and industry. Most of the members of congress were Scouts, as well as most of the astronauts who have walked on the moon. The long list of famous scouts includes: ---------- President John F. Kennedy - Boy Scout President Gerald Ford - Eagle Scout J. Willard Marriott, Jr. President of Marriott Corporation - Eagle Scout Sam M. Walton Chairman/CEO, Wal-Mart - Eagle Scout Neil A. Armstrong, First person to set foot on the Moon - Eagle Scout William C. Devries, M.D.; Transplanted First Artificial Heart - Eagle Scout Rick Perry Governor of Texas - Eagle Scout -------------------------- The Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth oriented organization in the United States. More than 4 million boys and leaders are currently registered in the Boy Scouts of America. Troop 40 Parents Guide Unlike Cub Scouting, which many of you are familiar with, Boy Scouting is a youth-lead organization. The boys learn how to organize and lead the Troop. After training, and with supervision from the adult leaders, the boys run the show. The boys in the Troop will be working towards their 1 st class and then Eagle ranks. As they travel on their trail to Eagle they will not only learn how to lead a team to a goal, but they will actually lead teams of scouts in a number of situations. Many Eagle Scouts put their accomplishments on their resumes and find they are often considered in obtaining acceptance into college or the work force. Boy Scouting also provides for growth of moral strength and character, teaches citizenship, and enhances the development of physical, mental and emotional fitness. This is all done in the spirit of fun and adventure. Please take a few minutes to read Chapter 1 of your son's Boy Scout Handbook. ORGANIZATION Troop 40 is a participating member of the Arrowhead District of the Rio Grande Council, Boy Scouts of America. The Troop's organization consists of a Chartered Organization, a Troop Committee, the Troop, and the Troop's Parents. Chartered Organization (Sponsor), Every Troop belongs to an organization. The Chartered Organization for Troop 40 is the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The Chartered Organization shares our objectives for the boys and insures that there is adequate, trained leadership. A Chartered Organization Representative acts a liaison between us and the Church. Troop Committee The Troop Committee Functions as an administration and support organization for the Troop. The Troop Committee takes care of the non-program issues surrounding the Troop. For example: newsletters, Troop funds, fund raising activities, membership drives and Pack coordination, activity permits and coordination, advancement records, procurement and maintenance of Troop equipment. The Committee meets monthly. The meetings are open and attendance is encouraged by all parents and other interested adults. --------------- TROOP 40 Troop Meetings Troop 40 will hold meetings weekly. Meetings currently are held every Sunday, from 5:30 p.m. to _____ p.m. at a meeting room at Holy Spirit Church. Changes to the meeting schedule will be announced as early as possible to allow for proper planning. Troop 40 does not meet the week following an overnight activity or on national holidays. Adult Leadership Two registered adult leaders, or one adult leader and a Scout parent, both of who must be at least 21 years of age, are required for all Troop 40 meetings, trips or outings. All are required to have completed Youth Protection training. Scoutmaster: The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster and his assistant Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts. The general responsibilities of the Scoutmaster include: - Train and guide boy leaders. - Work with other adult leaders to bring Scouting to boys. - Use the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting. Assistant Scoutmasters: Assistant Scoutmasters are recruited by the Scoutmaster and approved by the troop committee chairman to assist the Scoutmaster in the operation of the troop. Assistant Scoutmasters are assigned program tasks by the Scoutmaster and provide guidance to the boy leadership. They also provide the required two deep leadership ( two adult leaders present at every Boy Scout activity). Patrols and Patrol leaders The Troop is a group made up of several patrols. Each Patrol usually consists of a Patrol Leader and no less than four Scouts and usually no more than eight Scouts. The boys in a patrol elect their patrol leader who in turn appoints the assistant patrol leader. The Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are elected positions. The other elected positions are Scribe and Quartermaster. The Patrol Leaders, with the Senior Patrol Leader as their head, form the Patrol Leaders' Council, which plans the activities and runs the Troop meetings. Troop 40 has a presence on the Internet at http://troop40.intuitwebsites.com/index.html ---------------------- Troop Parents The role of parents within Troop 40 is to be supportive of the Troop's efforts and to provide the atmosphere Scouts need to learn and excel. Parents should try to: 1. Read their Scout's handbook and understand the purpose and methods of Scouting. 2. Actively follow their Scout's progress (or lack thereof) and offer encouragement and a push when needed. 3. Show support to both the individual Scout and the Troop by attending all Troop Courts of Honor. 4. Assist, as requested, in all Troop fund-raisers and other such activities. All such assistance lowers the cost of the program we offer to the Scouts and, therefore, lowers each family's cash outlay for their Scout(s). 5. Be aware of the Troop program and annual calendar. ADVANCEMENT There are many definitions of advancement, but the Scouting definition might well be, simply, "the art of meeting a challenge." For that is exactly what the Boy Scout advancement program asks the boys to do. The Boy Scout advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at his own pace. As he acquires these skills he moves up through a series of ranks, for which he is awarded badges. Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. The higher he climbs the more challenging his tasks -- and the more rewarding. Achievements include: - Learning skills that qualify for Scouting's more rugged and exciting outdoor challenges. - Developing body and mind, growing self-confidence, and helping younger Scouts climb the advancement ladder. - Discovering how it feels to go further -- in so many ways -- than he ever though he could. We don't look at advancement as a goal, but as a natural outcome of a planned, quality Troop program. There are four steps of advancement: The Boy Scout Learns. The Boy Scout is Tested. The Boy Scout is Reviewed. The Boy Scout is Recognized. Advancement Through First Class From the time the Scout enters the Troop through the time he earns advancement to First Class, he is learning basic scouting skills to enable him to camp, hike, swim, cook, tie knots, administer first aid, and perform other tasks in the outdoors and to work as a member of a team. With those first steps the scout begins to build themselves physically, mentally, and morally. He will start to live with the Scout Oath and Law. Soon he will learn the symbolism inherent in the Scout badge; he will learn that there are three points of the trefoil which stand for the three parts of the Scout Oath: Duty to God and country, duty to other people, and duty to yourself. The goal of this Troop, is for the Scout to achieve the rank of First Class within his first year in the Troop. This is a sign that the scout has mastered the fundamentals of scouting and can begin to start the long process of learning to lead others, refining the learned skills and learning additional skills. First Class Rank Badge (symbol) Advancement from First Class to Eagle From the achievement of First Class through Eagle, the Scout will be demonstrating leadership, performing service projects, earning merit badges and using the skills learned while achieving the rank of First Class. The next ranks he will earn are Star and Life. These ranks are harder to obtain than the earlier ranks, but are also more interesting for the older scouts. Upon completion of all the requirements for Star and Life the Scout will be eligible to work for Eagle. The original principals, the Scout Oath and Law now have fuller meaning for the Scout and their understanding of them is much greater. The final steps towards Eagle are filled with leadership experiences. Eagle Rank Badge (symbol) Details for advancement are contained in the Boy Scout Handbook, which every Scout should obtain as soon as possible after joining the Troop. Take a look at Chapter 1. This short chapter has an advancement summary through First Class. Merit Badges The goal of the merit badge program is to expand a Scout's areas of interest and to encourage the Scout to meet and work with adults in a chosen subject. Merit badges are earned by twp ormore Scouts working with a registered merit badge counselor or at Summer or Winter Camps. The Scouts are required to contact the counselor to arrange for times and places to meet with the counselor. When the Scout completes the work on the merit badge the counselor will inform the Scoutmaster that the Scout has completed the requirements for that badge. Merit Badges earned will be presented to the Scout during the Troop's quarterly Court of Honor. All parents of Troop 40 Scouts are encouraged to become Merit Badge Counselors. Please fill in the attached Troop Resource Survey and return to a Troop leader. You will also need to fill out an adult membership form and a Merit Badge Counselor form. Boards of review When a Scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, he appears before a board of review composed of members of the Troop committee. The purpose of the review is not an examination. Rather it is to determine the Scout's attitude and acceptance of Scouting's ideals; to ensure that the requirements have been met for advancement, to discuss the Scout's experiences in the Troop and the Troop's program, and to encourage him to keep working towards advancement. A Board of Review may also be held to counsel a boy about his lack of progress toward advancement. Courts of Honor Troop 40 will conduct a Court of Honor at least once a quarter. The Court of Honor recognizes all Scout appointments, elections, awards, and advancements since the last Court of Honor. Adult recognition may be presented prior to the opening of the Troop Court of Honor. The Troop Committee will support the Courts of Honor as requested. The Court of Honor is a public ceremony. and is a chance for the Scouts to be publicly recognized for their achievements. Parents and all other interested individuals are be encouraged to attend. ADMINISTRATIVE Rechartering and Fees The process of rechartering is the annual collection of registration fees and dues for the Scouts and leaders. The Troop also makes a formal visit to the chartering organization to renew their commitment for the coming year. The process of rechartering the Troop must be completed by the end of January of each calendar year. Annual Registration Fees How much does Boy Scouting cost? As little as possible, but nothing worthwhile is free. The annual fee for each Scout in Troop 40 is: $___ $11.00 for national BSA membership $___ for Troop membership dues (Pays for badges, awards, and other expenses incurred by the Troop as a whole.) $___ for Boys Life magazine (optional, but really enjoyable, and gives the Scouts ideas for activities and outings. A good buy) Fees for Outings / Activities The Troop camps out at least once a month. Scouts are asked to bring $7.00 at least one week before the campout to pay for the meals. If a campout includes two nights, the fee will be $10.00. Other activities may have fees associated with them. If so, the parents will be notified. Fundraising Additional funds are raised by the boys through various fundraising activities. The annual Troop BBO is the main fundraising project for the year. This event provides an oppurtunity for parents to help but with various aspects of the project. Other minor fundraising events during the year include the council's popcorn sales and Holy Spirit Parish Halloween Festival. Details on this year's fund-raisers will be available at future Troop meetings. Friends of Scouting Each year, the Council operates its Friends of Scouting (F.O.S.) campaign to raise money for the Council operations. The Council is responsible for maintaining the Council Camps, the Council Scout-O-Rama, the Council Camporees, as well as other Council activities, Local BSA administration and local advertising. Contributions are voluntary, but the Troop has a good record of support for this activity. As years go by, F.O.S. is becoming a critical source of BSA funding. UNIFORM The Scout uniform helps to achieve the objectives of Scouting. The uniform by itself can not make a good Scout or a good Troop, but its use has been proven to improve both the Scout and the Troop because it is a visible symbol of Scouting and unity. Each scout is required to have and wear, within a reasonable amount of time after joining the Troop, the following uniform items: Field or "Class A" Uniform - Tan scout shirt with appropriate insignia and patches (Rio Grande Council strip, green shoulder loops, and patrol emblem.) - Troop number - Standard BSA Neckerchief - Neckerchief slide (can be purchased or made by Scout). - Olive Scout pants or shorts. - Boy Scout Socks, for wearing with shorts. - Boy Scout Hat or Cap. - Scout web belt and buckle. - Tennis shoes or hiking boots. Socks are required. Activity or "Class B" Uniform (worn, as instructed by Troop leadership, when activities are appropriate). - Troop 40 T-Shirt (obtain from Troop ). - Tennis shoes or hiking boots. Socks are required. - Scout pants or shorts. - Boy Scout Socks, for wearing with shorts. Uniforms and insignia are worn a certain way. The Troop leaders and staff at the Scout Shops will be able to answer any questions you might have on where to put what badge. Inside the cover of the Handbook there are guides for badge placement. SCOUT SHOPS There is one Scout Shop in the Rio Grande Valley area where you can purchase scout uniforms and supplies: Rio Grande Council Office 6912 W. Expressway 83 Harlingen, TX, 78551-2424 North side of Expressway 83 just west of Stuart Place Road Rio Grande Council phone (956) 423-0250 You can also order uniform items online http://www.scoutstuff.org/ or by phone at 1-800-323-0736 AND FINALLY Outdoor Program Just in case you were wondering if we had forgotten the fun stuff. The place where Scouting works best is also the pla.ce that boys want the most. The outdoors. There are a number of good reasons why the outdoor program is so special, here are the four that are especially good: 1. The outdoors is the best place for learning outdoor skills. A Scout who tried to boil a potato on the gymnasium floor would be in hot water for sure - not to mention the boy who tried learning to swim by reading a book. 2. The outdoors is a great place for learning something about living with others. When Scouts walk on the same trail, cook and eat together, and share triumphs and troubles together, they are going to find out some important things about patience, respect for other points of view, doing their full share, making a friend more easily, and saying no without losing one. Skills like these are among the "personal growth" skills we want from every Scout. The outdoors is where they grow up best. 3. On the trail or in camp, the boy's leadership skills will be challenged by the real thing - getting their patrols fed and sheltered, keeping them warm and safe, solving the problems they can solve, and knowing how to get help for those they can't. It's a time when leadership skills can deepen, patrols grow closer, and the troop grows stronger. 4. The outdoors is also a place where a Scout can get closer to the natural world around him - the land, the forests and their wildlife, the lakes and rivers, the mountains and the seas. Here, in the outdoors, he will learn of the "Outdoor Code" - the understanding and respect for the environment we all share, and he will develop an active concern for it's health and a willingness to work to keep it healthy. Troop 40 and the outdoor program Troop 40 has a very active outdoor program nad all boys are encouraged to participate. Our program includes monthly weekend campouts, annual long term summer and winter camps (1 week), day hikes and other outdoor activities. What to bring on a campout: - Sleeping bag - Foam Pad - Sweater - Rain gear - Clothes, including a hat - Canteen - Silverware - Mess Kit - Cup - Soap - Toothbrush - Toothpaste - Comb - Washcloth - Towel - Sewing Kit - Flashlight - Scout Knife - Watch - Personal ID. - Notebook - Pen / Pencil - Boy Scout Handbook ---- Do Not Bring . Radios . Snack Food . Electronic Games . Firearms . Sling Shots ---- Rules for Outdoor Activities Camping permission slips and campout money shall be collected by the Scoutmaster and Patrol Leader for that event and turned in to the appropriate adult leader one week prior to the activity. Parents shall be responsible for ensuring the transportation of their sons to campouts and other Troop activities. Carpools will be coordinated wherever possible, however the ultimate responsibility will lie with the parents. All drivers that transport Scouts must carry liability insurance of at least $50,000 (each person), $100,000 (each accident) and $50,000 (property damage). All riders must wear seat belts while traveling as required by Texas law. Parents and adult leaders must provide updated information about their vehicle(s) and associated insurance to the Troop annually. The Scoutmaster shall have the authority and discretion to suspend any boy who refuses to carry out the instructions of the Scoutmaster or his designated representative. In the event such a suspension occurs, the parents/guardians of the boy will be contacted immediately and will be required to make arrangements to take custody of the boy. Any boy who has been suspended may be reinstated at the discretion of the Scoutmaster, but only after the boy and his parents have discussed the situation in detail with the Scoutmaster and are prepared to recommend a course of action to ensure that the behavior will not be repeated. The parents are responsible for picking up their sons after a Troop activity or, at least, to be home when the Scout is dropped off by the Troop. The Troop will not leave a Scout at home after a Troop activity unless a responsible adult is present. If a boy is to be dropped off somewhere other than his residence address or to be picked up by someone other than a family member. or the parent of another Scout in the Troop, the adult leader must be informed by the parent in writing prior to the Troop activity (e.g., a note on the permission slip for that activity). You are joining a great organization that includes tens of thousands of adult leaders, interested parents, and the BSA professional staff. Scouting is much more than enjoying the outdoors. The Troop teaches leadership skills and community skills. Scouting also shows the boys how they can keep themselves strong and healthy and make the most of school. With hard work and dedication, your son will be able to serve as a leader in the Troop and advance in rank along the trail to Eagle. Above and beyond anything else said in this package, the boys and us "big kids" are in Scouts to have fun!