INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Scouts BSA! By becoming the parent of a Scout, you are setting your child out on the grand adventure of Scouting. This is a tremendously important and rewarding endeavor that you will be able to share with your child.

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 Scout will follow. Reading this will help you understand how your child 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 Scout.

It is the mission of Scouts BSA 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 Scout Oath and Law.

SCOUT LAW SCOUT OATH

A Scout is:

Trustworthy On my honor, I will do my best

Loyal To do my duty to God and my country

Helpful and to obey the Scout Law;

Friendly To help other people at all times;

Courteous To keep myself physically strong,

Kind mentally awake and morally straight.

Obedient

Cheerful

Thrifty

Brave

Clean

Reverent

The Scouts in the Troop will be working towards their 1st 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.

PURPOSE OF SCOUTS BSA

The purpose is to develop citizens who are physically, mentally and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership in society.

Membership

Scouts BSA is available to Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old.

ORGANIZATION

Troop 8038G is a participating member of the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Scouts BSA. The Troop’s organization consists of a Chartered Organization, a Troop Committee, the Troop, and the Troop’s Parents.

hartered Organization (Sponsor)

Every Troop belongs to an organization. The Chartered Organization for Troop 8038G is the Lion’s Club of Troy, Illinois. The Chartered Organization shares our objectives for the Scouts and insures that there is adequate, trained leadership. A Chartered Organization Representative acts as a liaison between us and the Lion’s Club.

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.

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 8038G meetings, trips, or outings.

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 no more than eight Scouts. The Scouts in a patrol elect their patrol leader who in turn appoints the assistant patrol leader.

The Scouts BSA Program encourages using three types of patrols: new scout, regular and venture. New scouts are together with their age group as a patrol from six months to a year. Regular patrols are mixed age group patrols and generally make up a majority of the troop. Venture patrol is for older and experienced scouts. All patrols are expected to attend troop meetings.

The Senior Patrol Leader is an elected position. The Senior Patrol Leader selects their Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leaders, with the Senior Patrol Leader as their head, form the Patrol Leader's Council, which plans the activities and runs the Troop meeting.

Elections for Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader are held twice a year.

Troop Parents

The role of parents within Troop 8038G is to be supportive of the Troop’s efforts and to provide the atmosphere Scouts need to learn and excel. Parents should try to:

· Read their Scout’s handbook and understand the purpose and methods of Scouting.

· Actively follow their Scout’s progress (or lack thereof) and to offer encouragement and a push when needed.

· Show support to both the individual Scout and the Troop by attending all Troop Courts of Honor.

· 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 lowers each family’s cash outlay for their Scout.

· Be aware of the Troop program and annual calendar.

ADVANCEMENT

Advancement is “the art of meeting a challenge”. The Scout advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at their own pace. As the Scout acquires these skills, they will move up through a series of ranks, for which he is awarded badges. Each Scout progresses at the Scout’s own pace. A Scout does not advance based on their age.

There are four steps of advancement:

· The Scout Learns

· The Scout is Tested

· The Scout is Reviewed

· The Scout is Recognized.

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. Nearly all of the merit badges your scout will earn will occur outside of the troop meeting. Scout camp, meetings with designated counselors, merit badge days, specialized campouts are the primary routes to earning merit badges. Merit badges are earned by a Scout working with a registered merit badge counselor The Scout is 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 Court of Honor.

All parents of Troop 8038G Scouts are encouraged to become Merit Badge Counselors. Please fill in the attached Troop Resource Survey and return to a Troop Leader.

Boards of Review

When a Scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, they appear 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 the Scout to keep working towards advancement. A Board of Review may also be held to counsel a Scout about a lack of progress toward advancement.

Courts of Honor

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 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 encouraged to attend.

'Three-Step Rule' - If adults are taking charge of a situation, or are being the 'leader'- we probably need to take 3-steps away from the situation and call for the Senior Patrol Leader or Patrol Leader. As adult leaders and parents, it is our job is to enable the scouts to be self-sufficient. As parents it is difficult, but necessary to provide some physical 'distance' from your scout to allow them to grow.

Greater St. Louis Area Council - Troop 8038G is part of the Cahokia Mounds District of the Greater St. Louis Area Council of SCOUTS BSA.

Troop Meetings - Normally meet every Tuesday except the first Tuesday of the month, 6:30pm- 8:00pm. Parents are encouraged to join us about 7:45 pm when Awards and Rank Advancements are presented, and important reminders are offered. We meet in the Wiesemeyer Center during October thru April and at 2439 Riggin Road, Troy (Ms. Christy’s house) the remainder of the year.

Outings -The troop usually plans one weekend event (campout) each month. Additional partial day events have also been offered by the troop.

Permission Slips - These are available two or three meetings before the event and must be turned in no later than the Tuesday meeting before the event. Some events have required extended notice. Each event will be discussed on a case by case basis. The permission slips are used for meal and organizational planning purposes. Permission slips are not always emailed. Scouts (adults) that do not provide a permission slip by the deadline are encouraged to come for the day and participate with their patrol provided the scout brings a 'late' permission slip and has their own transportation and food. This may seem harsh; however, each patrol is responsible to plan and purchase food with troop money based on the number 'registered'.

Parents at Outings - Parent(s) are welcome; we require written notification on the bottom of permission slips for planning purposes. Scouts are encouraged to sleep in their own tent with a buddy. Any parent attending an outing must be registered with the troop and must complete Youth Protection Training.

Consent to Medical Treatment Form; Permission Slips- must be complete and on file with the troop to participate in activities. The Scout’s form consists of Sections A and B for events up to 72 hours and include Section C for any event over 72 hours. The troop expects that A, B and C will be made available.

Grub- Hustler- On a rotating basis, each scout is expected to volunteer to obtain food and supplies for the scout’s patrol. The troop provides a cooler and tote and the scout is responsible to return it clean after the event. We understand that the scout requires parental help, please be patient and use the opportunity to help your scout learn about food choices, shopping on a budget, and have your scout read the list (she was there when it was written). We suggest a 'two pass' strategy while shopping: 1st pass - get the important items and check out; 2nd pass - buy snacks, flavored drinks, etc. while watching the budget. Unused money can be returned for a future event. After the event, the Grub-hustler may take home food items that should not be stored for future use. The scout’s activity is completed for rank and should be performed by the scout with an adult as a guide, not performed by the adult.

Handbook - Troop provides a Scout Handbook to each new first time scout.

Uniform- Required items: class 'A' dress shirt, class 'B' troop tee shirt, and red neckerchief, once earned, and any slide. Class 'A' shirt and other items can be purchased at the Scout Shop in Swansea/Fairview Heights. We recommend a short sleeve dress shirt that is too large (large enough to fit comfortably over a long sleeve winter shirt, fit loosely in the hot summer, and will give several years of service as the scout grows). Other items are optional, we do like to have pants other than blue jeans of a general green color; they can be purchased anywhere. Class 'B' tee shirt is any troop tee shirt. The troop periodically screen prints a Troop 8038 design on t-shirts that scouts provide.

Required Items- Sleeping bag (summer, winter), rain gear, water bottle, appropriate footwear, day pack, hat with bill, plate, cup, bowl and eating utensils (known as a dunk bag or mess kit)

Pocketknife- Scouts may carry a pocketknife when they earn a 'tote-n-chip' card, which certifies that they understand the responsibilities of using a knife and have demonstrated proper behavior. The card may be revoked at any time. We suggest a simple 1 or 2 blade, folding knife with locking blades not longer than 2 inches. Non-folding sheath knifes are not permitted.

Electronic Devices -Discouraged; may be used with quiet discretion. They will be removed for the duration of the event when they become a distraction or nuisance.

Dues- $30 per quarter ($120 per year). Dues must be fully paid each calendar year to be re-registered and complete rank related Scoutmaster Conferences.

Finances, Fundraisers - The troop is currently set to do several fundraisers each year.

1. Council Popcorn sales Sept/Oct: approximately 1/3 of sales amount goes into their Scout account. The troop gets no support from the Scout’s fundraiser it is only for the benefit of the individual scout.

2. Pizza sale in February

3. Yard Sale

4. Bingo concession stand @ St. Jacob Bingo

The troop provides rank advancement and leadership patches and subsidizes campout costs. The troop registers each active scout annually at a cost of about $75 per scout. Troop campouts cost around $10 per scout; council events typically cost $20 per scout; the troop subsidizes outings from the dues and fund raiser proceeds.

Scout Account- The troop maintains a 'scout account' for each scout that can be used for any scouting expenses such as: troop activities, summer camp, or other scouting expenses with a receipt. Scouts usually have opportunities to earn funds by selling popcorn, pizza and bingo.

Summer Camp- The Scouts have helped pick where the Troop will attend summer camp. After confirmation by the Committee, the troop is notified of the week of Camp. Scouts are responsible for the entire cost of camp.

First Class Neckerchief- Troop presents each scout with an embroidered troop neckerchief when they are awarded the rank of First Class at a troop 8038G Court of Honor. Scouts that transfer into the troop that are already First Class or higher may purchase the Scout’s embroidered neckerchief at cost of $15 (neckerchief not required).

Expected Participation-Each Scout and family have a vested interest in the success of the troop. Appropriate participation is expected, including:

· Attendance, timeliness

· Dues, fees

· Meetings, events, fundraising

· Appropriate conduct and respect for others

Unacceptable Behavior- The following actions will not be permitted and may result in dismissal from the Troop: disrespect for leaders (adult or youth), profanity, smoking, stealing, fighting, use of drugs or alcohol, hazing, fireworks, vandalism, arrest, disruption of Troop events, destruction of Troop or private property (Scout will be liable for damages).

Only adult leaders (not girl leaders) are involved in discipline issues.

· 1st offense Verbal warning to Scout

· 2nd offense Parent/ Guardian notified

· 3rd offense Meet with parent(s)/ Guardian, Scoutmaster and committee member(s); possible dismissal.

In addition, parent/ guardian attendance is required for at least the next three meetings and will be required until it is agreed by the scoutmaster that it is no longer needed. Disruptive or disrespectful scouts may be denied access to any activity based on scoutmaster assessment of behavior and safety concerns. It is not the troop's responsibility to provide counseling to youth in need; the troop will make reasonable effort to work with parent(s) / guardian to create a successful outcome.

AND FINALLY

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 youth how they can keep themselves strong and healthy and make the most of school. With hard work and dedication, your Scout 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 Scouts

and us “big kids” are in Scouts to have fun!!

Bobbi Burg (Scoutmaster) Christy Carter (Committee Chair)

618.581.4870 618.409.1884

Email: Fishnmama@aol.com email: Late2Class@aol.com