Troop 787 Willow Creek Church, PCA Winter Springs, FL Parent Guide Seminole Springs District Central Florida Council Rev 10/2013
INTRODUCTION The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The Scout Law The 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. A Scout is Trustworthy. Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 2
CONTENTS TROOP POLICIES... 4 COMMUNICATION... 4 ORGANIZATION... 4 PATROL METHOD... 7 PATROL LEADER COUNCIL... 7 ANNUAL PLANNING CONFERENCE... 7 PATROL MEETINGS... 8 PROGRAM PATROL... 8 SERVICE PATROL... 8 TROOP MEETINGS... 8 LEADER/ADULT MEETING... 9 COMMITTEE MEETING... 9 UNIFORMS... 9 TRAINING... 9 TROOP CAMPING... 11 CAMPOUT PREP... 12 SUMMER CAMP... 13 ANNUAL SWIM TEST... 13 MEDICAL FORMS... 13 PERMISSION SLIPS... 14 TRANSPORTATION... 14 DUES AND FEES... 14 SCOUT ACCOUNT... 15 REQUIRED EVENTS... 15 MERIT BADGES... 16 RANK ADVANCEMENT... 17 RECOGNITIONS... 18 RECORD KEEPING... 18 INDEX... 20 www.scoutingplanet.com Page 3
TROOP POLICIES The policies governing Troop 787 are available in PDF format from the troop website at www.scoutingplanet.com under the tools menu. COMMUNICATION The primary form of communication utilized in our troop is email. Parents and leaders can subscribe to the troop email list on the troop website under the home menu. ORGANIZATION Troop 787 is part of the Seminole Springs District of Central Florida Council. Central Florida Council, which was founded in 1922, serves Scouts in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia, and Flagler Counties. Troop 787 is chartered through Willow Springs Church, PCA, and was established in July 1987. The chartered organization supports the troop by providing the Scouting program as an integral part of its program for youth and families ensuring that the Scouting program is conducted according to the policies and regulations of the organization and the Boy Scouts of America selecting a chartered organization representative to serve as liaison with the troop, appointing a unit committee providing adequate and safe facilities for unit meetings providing opportunities for boys to recognize responsibility to God, to country, to other people, and to self. The Troop Committee serves the troop by conducting the business of the troop, setting policy, and helping the Scoutmaster and Scouts with the outdoor program and other planned activities. The committee consists of parent volunteers who fulfill various roles on the committee. Troop 787 s Committee consists of a Committee Chair, Finance Chair, Outdoor Chair, Quartermaster, Chaplain, Fund Raising Chair, Advancement Chair, Membership Chair, Chartered Organization Representative, Training Chair and other members who serve on boards of review. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 4
The Scoutmaster (SM) and Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) are the adults responsible for working directly with the Scouts to help them create the program for the troop. The Scoutmaster and ASMs train boy leaders to run the troop by providing direction, coaching, mentoring and support. The scouts are organized into patrols. Each patrol is led by a patrol leader. Older scouts are elected to serve as the Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders. The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and his team are responsible for leading the troop. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 5
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The patrol method is not a way to operate a Boy Scout troop, it is the only way. Unless the patrol method is in operation, you don't really have a Boy Scout troop. Robert S. S. Baden-Powell PATROL METHOD The heart of the Boy Scout Program is the youth leadership. A properly functioning troop is boy-lead. Boys are empowered to become leaders using the Patrol Method. Empowering boys to be leaders is the core of Scouting. Scouts learn by doing, and what they do is lead their patrols and their troop. Patrols are comprised of boys who are in similar in age, who work together as a team, and who share the responsibility of making the patrol a success. Troop 787 has numerous patrols. There are typically two patrols per grade level, sometimes three, depending on the number of new scouts joining each spring. The patrols work together as a small democracy, in the form of a Patrol Leader s Council, led by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). PATROL LEADER COUNCIL (PLC) The Patrol Leader s Council is a comprised of the patrol leaders from each patrol, the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL) and the Troop Guides of the FYE (First Year Emphasis) patrols. The PLC meets monthly, typically on the last Monday, of the month at 6:45 p.m. to plan the troop s programs and activities. ANNUAL PLANNING CONFERENCE In addition to the monthly PLC meetings, the PLC meets in August for the Annual Planning Conference. During the Annual Planning Conference, the PLC plans the www.scoutingplanet.com Page 7
troop s calendar for the upcoming year. Patrols for March, April and May should have activities for the incoming FYE s. At the end of the planning conference, each patrol will have been assigned a month that they are responsible for. Month: November Month: January Patrol: Cougars/Blackhawks Patrol: Spartans Theme: Carpentry & Tracking MBs Theme: Archery MB Campout: Fall Camporee Campout: Camp Thunder, GA Month: December Month: February Patrol: Shark Patrol: Scorpions Theme: Thunder Prep Theme: Racing Campout: FYE Hike at Barr Street Campout: Daytona Speedway four months of the annual plan shown above PATROL MEETINGS Patrols are encouraged to hold patrol meetings at least once a month. Patrol meetings can be used for program planning, campout planning, rank or merit badge work. PROGRAM PATROL During the Annual Planning Conference, each patrol is assigned a month they are responsible for. The patrol for the month is called the program patrol. The program patrol works with the SPL and the members of the PLC to plan and implement a month s activities. SERVICE PATROL The service patrol, for the above example in the month of December, would be the Cougar/Blackhawks. They are responsible for putting away tables, cleaning up and vacuuming the meeting area when the Troop meeting is finished. TROOP MEETINGS Troop meetings are every Tuesday, 7:00 pm 8:30 pm year round and meet at Willow Creek Church. Typical Meeting Agenda Presentation of Colors www.scoutingplanet.com Announcements Page 8 Patrol Time Program Time Chaplain s Message
LEADER/ADULT MEETING The ASM s and parents meet once month to discuss the operations and program logistics for the troop. The leader meeting is held on the last Monday of the month, after the PLC ends, typically at 7:30 pm. All adults are encouraged to attend. COMMITTEE MEETING Committee members and parents meet once a month to review troop business, set policies and assist the outdoor program. The committee meeting is held on the first Monday of the month at 7:00pm. UNIFORMS Scouts and leaders are required to wear their full field uniform (see below) to all troop meetings and courts of honor. At times, as designated by the Senior Patrol Leader, activity uniform may be indicated. The activity uniform is recommended, but not required for attendance at PLC meetings. Field Uniform (also called Class A) Scout pants or Scout shorts Scout shirt with appropriate insignia Scout belt Scout socks Troop neckerchief, slide Shoes Activity Uniform (also called Class B) Scout pants or Scout shorts Troop t-shirt Shoes TRAINING Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader Assistant Scoutmasters are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training (online, required every two years) www.scoutingplanet.com Page 9
Boy Scout Leader Fast Start Training (online) This is Scouting (formerly New Leader Essentials, online) Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills Troop Committee Members are considered trained when they have completed Youth Protection Training (online, required before submitting application) Boy Scout Leader Fast Start Training (online) This is Scouting (formerly New Leader Essentials, online) Troop Committee Challenge (online) Troop 787 Camping Policy Our troop policy is that any registered adult who would like to go camping is to have completed Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skill training within one year of joining our troop. Training Records Upon completion of a training course, a completion card or certificate will be issued. A copy is to be turned into to the committee room to be recorded. Online training is accessible through a myscouting account. Register at https: //myscouting.scouting.org www.scoutingplanet.com Page 10
TROOP CAMPING Troop 787 camps every month, typically Friday through mid-day Sunday with locations within a two hour drive. Campouts are planned by the scouts of the program patrol with advisement from the PLC. Scouts camp by patrol using the patrol gear assigned to them as first year patrols. Each patrol is responsible for maintaining their patrol gear in good condition. Depending on the number of new patrols, patrols may be responsible for constructing their own patrol box. Patrol Gear supplied by troop Patrol Box Gear supplied by patrol Personal Gear supplied by scout Propane stove and tank Propane hose and tree Patrol box Dining fly Cooler Water cooler Lantern Dry food box 3 pot wash tubs (3) Pots and pans w/ lids Colander Trash bags Salt/pepper/spices Cooking knives Cooking utensils Cutting board Measuring cups Dish soap Hand soap Hand sanitizer Paper towels Spare lantern mantels Aluminum foil Zip lock bags Sleeping bag Sleeping pad Tent Nalgene type water bottle Clothing Toiletries Mess kit (Tupperware type) Flashlight Rain pants and jacket pillow A permission slip is required to attend a campout and is available during the troop meeting. The program patrol will collect the permission slips and associated camping fee (site rental and activity fees). In addition to the camping fee, patrols will determine their own grub fee (meal cost) based on the menu that they plan. The grub fee is paid directly in cash to the patrol grubmaster. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 11
CAMPOUT PREP The Tuesday prior to a monthly campout is used as campout prep. Patrols utilize part of the meeting time to load their gear into the trailer and finalize their plans. Step 1 Complete Camp-Prep Task List Make list of scouts attending campout Assign positions (patrol leader, grubmaster, quartermaster) Make menu Collect grub money Make duty roster Step 2 Load patrol gear into red scout trailer Patrol box with propane hose inside Patrol box legs Propane stove Stove stand Patrol propane tank Propane tree Propane lantern Water cooler 10x10 dining fly tarp with bungees Step 3 Grubmaster Duties Takes Home: Food cooler Dry goods box (contico) Does grocery shopping www.scoutingplanet.com Page 12
SUMMER CAMP Our troop attends two summer camps each year, Camp La-No-Che, and an out of state camp. In recent years, we have gone to Camp Ottari or Camp Daniel Boone. Summer camp is an important part of scouting, and offers a great opportunity to earn merit badges and build scouting relationships. All scouts are encouraged to attend at least one summer camp each summer. Our experience has been that scouts who attend summer camp during their first summer of scouting are more likely to stay in scouting. ANNUAL SWIM TEST Scouts and adults who plan to participate in water activities sponsored by the troop are required to have a BSA swim test on file. The swim test must be updated each year and are usually administered in the spring. The Boy Scout Handbook describes what the test entails. Participants at summer camps will be required to repeat the BSA swim test for the camp s records. MEDICAL FORMS A current, completed BSA Health and Medical Form, is required for any scout or adult to attend a BSA summer camp. The form, which can be downloaded from the BSA website, www.scouting.org/scoutsource/media/forms.aspx, must be updated annually. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 13
PERMISSION SLIPS Permissions slips are required for any activity outside the regular troop meeting and are generally produced by the program patrol. TRANSPORTATION Registered adult leaders provide transportation to and from monthly campouts. Drivers are required to provide their vehicle and insurance information to the troop prior to being a designated driver. The adult leaders from the program patrol will assign scouts to drivers for a campout based on the number of seats available in a car. A driver must have a completed permission slip for each scout riding in his/her car. DUES AND FEES Dues for scouts are $7 per month and can be paid in the committee room. Dues must be kept current for scouts to participate in outdoor programs. Each year, the troop re-charters active scouts and leaders with BSA. Scouts and Adult leaders are required to pay their own annual fee by November 1 st which is currently $24 and set by BSA National. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 14
Each campout has a cost associated with it that will include the camping and activity fees. In addition each patrol will determine their own grub fee for food for their patrol. SCOUT ACCOUNT Each scout will be assigned a scout account upon joining. Money earned during fund raising activities will be assigned to a scout s account based on their level of involvement with the particular fund raising activity. The troop retains a percentage, and a percentage is credited to the scout s account. Money from the scout account can be used to fund summer camps and troop camping. Adults who participate in fund-raising are also eligible to have a scout account. REQUIRED EVENTS There are a few events throughout the year in which scouts are required to participate. These events may be fund-raising related or events that support the troop. Currently, these events include Great Day in the Country (fund-raising), Scouting for Food (FYE patrols), Webelos Open House and the Scout Show. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 15
MERIT BADGES Step 1 Find a Merit Badge Counselor Merit Badge Counselors are listed on troop website Blank blue cards are available in the committee room. Step 2 Get Merit Badge Applicaton "blue card" signed by Scoutmaster Step 3 Meet with Merit Badge Counselor Be sure to have a copy of the merit badge book. Copies are available to borrow from the troop library. Step 4 Work on and complete requirements Step 5 Meet with Merit Badge Counselor to show completion, and get signed off Step 6 Get blue card signed off by Scoutmaster Step 7 Turn in blue card in committee room Turn into advancement chair www.scoutingplanet.com Page 16
RANK ADVANCEMENT Step 1 A scout learns. Learns on his own, or taught by a troop guide or instructor Step 2 A scout is tested. The scout demonstrates the requirement to a troop guide Step 4 A scout is reviewed When all requirements for a rank are signed off, scout requests a scoutmaster conference Scout must be in full uniform for a Scoutmaster Conference. Scoutmaster conferences must be scheduled in advance. Step 5 Participate in a Scoutmaster Conference Step 6 Schedule a Board of Review Scout s dues must be current to schedule a Board of Review. Boards of Review are scheduled through the Advancement Chair Step 5 Participate in a Board of Review Scout must be in full uniform for a Board of Review www.scoutingplanet.com Page 17
RECOGNITIONS A scout will receive his merit badge or rank badge at the end of the troop meeting on the evening he turned in his blue card (merit badge) or completed his board of review (rank). A scout will receive the official record, the white card, at the next scheduled Troop Court of Honor (held twice a year, once in spring, and in the fall). It is critical that the scout keeps track of his white cards, as these are the official records to indicate earning rank and merit badges. RECORD KEEPING A committee member, typically the Advancement Chair, maintains scout and adult records in Troop Master. A scout may request a copy of his Individual History Report to review. Scouts are responsible for reporting their position of responsibility and service hours to the Advancement Chair. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 18
Upon completion of rank or a merit badge, the scout will receive his merit badge patch or rank badge. The scout will receive his official record of achievement (rank and merit badge), the white card, at the Troop Court of Honor. It is critical that the scout keeps the white card as his official record of achievement. www.scoutingplanet.com Page 19
INDEX Activity Uniform... 9 Annual Planning Conference... 8 Campout Prep... 12 chartered organization... 4 committee meeting... 9 Field Uniform... 9 Grub Fee... 11 Individual History Report... 18 Leader Meeting... 9 Patrol... 7 Patrol Gear... 11 Patrol Leader s Council... 7 Patrol Method... 7 Permissions Slip... 14 Program Patrol... 8 Scout Account... 15 Scoutmaster... 5 Senior Patrol Leader... 7 service patrol... 8 Swim Test... 13 Troop Committee... 4 Troop Meeting... 9 White Card... 19 www.scoutingplanet.com Page 20