The Scouting Program

	Boy Scouts

Troop Structure	The Troop you join is made up of all the levels of Boy Scouting. Boys will evaluate the strengths of several Troops in their area and choose a Troop to join. There will be a District fee and a Troop fee that helps with the expenses of Scouing. Each Troop will function a bit differently, but the main focus of Scouting will be to develop the knowledge and character of the boy within a challenging and exciting program. Boys will plan and act as Patrols to attend campouts and outings. Each Scout will need to begin developing a small inventory of personal equipment and this will vary by Troop. Upon joining, boys will learn to recite the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan, and the Outdoor Code, and demonstrate the handshake and sign, and will have Patrol yells and flags. Proper uniforming is a requirement as it identifies the Scout as a member of his Troop and the Boy Scouts of America. You will notice a transition from Den Leader-directed participation in Cub Scouts to Scoutmaster-directed participation as the boys advance, but parent support is a must at all levels. Leaders in Scouting are all volunteers and have jobs and families and personal lives too... they need your participation and support.

Troop Leadership	As much a possible, the Troop will be run by the boys. A Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are elected by the boys to lead the Troop, normally for six-month terms. Patrol Leaders are elected by each Patrol and help in the leadership fo the Troop. Other positions of leadership within the Patrols and Troop include Assistant Patrol Leaders, Quartermasters, Each Troop has a Scoutmaster and a few Assistant Scoutmasters. Other leaders like an Advancement Chairman and Quartermaster may be active in Troop meetings and outings. Upon turning eighteen, a Boy Scout may take the role of Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and will function in an adult leadership role and not as as a boy leader. The Pack is led by the Pack Committee made up of the Committee Chairman, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, Advancement Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Outings Coordinator, (other positions), and at times other activity chairmen.

The Symbols of Advancement	Scout - Tenderfoot - Second Class - First Class - Star - Life - Eagle

Advancement Through The Ranks	At each level of Boy Scouts, the Scout will meet certain requirements to demonstrate their knowledge, will complete community service hours, and may have to complete a certain number of Merit Badges. The Boy Scout Handbook clearly outlines the requirments for each level of advancement. The Merit Badge program includes 119 Merit Badges which the boys generally work on independently, although some Troops may include a particular Merit Badge as part of their monthly instructional program. The Merit Badge Handbook provides complete descriptions of the requirements for each Merit Badge; individual Merit Badge books provide specific information to help the boys complete the requirements. Most Troops have libraries of books that may be borrowed and shared. When the requirements for a rank are complete the Scout asks for a Scoutmaster conference where the Scoutmaster will review his progress and evaluate his worthiness to advance. If approved the Scout will then go through a Board of Review where a panel will question him on his knowledge and skills and approve his rank or send him back for more practice. Recognition then occurs at Courts of Honor held three or four times each year (although the rank is official as soon as the Board of Review is passed).

Weekly Troop Meetings	Troops normally meet weekly, year-round, with exceptions only for major holidays. The Troop will usually have some sort of instructional program integrated into the weekly meetings, and the skills are then practiced on the monthly campouts. Meetings usually have an opening, some instructional time, some Patrol time, an activity time, and maybe other segments. The meetings are planned by the Senion Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders in the PLC - the Patrol Leaders' Council. They choose the monthly themes, set the camping program, and outline the meeting plans. They may call on adult or boy members of the Troop or outside guests to help with the instructional time planned into each meeting.

Camping Program	The camping program will vary by Troop, but many Troops camp all twelve months of the year, and campout attendance is generally encouraged as boys will need some camping experience for advancement. In addition, most Troops attend a ten-day Summer Camp where they work intensively on merit Badges and other advancement and skills. The personal equipment inventory that each boy needs will normally include sleeping bags for various temperatures, a duffle and/or backpack, personal clothing for all temperatures, and personal hygiene items. Tents and cooking equipment are often in the Troop inventory and do not need to be purchased by the boys. Parent participation in the camping program varies by Troop. The number of boys attending and the number of the Scoutmaster leadership team will play a part in determining if parent participation in needed. The focus of the program is boys, and sometimes intense parent participation impedes the Scout's progress. Click here to see a sample of the equipment you might need to plan for a campout.

Parent Participation	Parents are generally welcome at meetings but must respect the authority and direction of the Scoutmaster team. If your purpose is to help direct the meetings then you might want to become the Scoutmaster. Often a parent is needed just to sit in on a Patrol meeting as a supervisor to help keep things in check. Providing leadership for committees, event planning, fundraisers, etc, will probably be very welcome if not required in your Troop. Scouting is a volunteer program and adult Leaders have jobs and families too... your boy beenfits form the program and your contribution is needed. Troops may have annual planning meetings that result in sign-up lists for parents to commit to a project our outing during the year. Be sure to contribute some of your time and resources for the good of your Troop. Parent participation is also needed to "encourage" your Scout along in his advancement. Remember, however, that the program is for the boy to demonstrate his maturity and the PARENT is NOT to do the work for the boy. This includes making phone calls to set up meetings with Merit Badge Counselors, filling out forms, etc. It does not hurt to set up reward systems for advancement, but don't put so much stress on the Scout that he burns out. Nationally only 1% of Scouts reach Eagle. With parent support your Scout might make it. With too much pressure he'll drop out for sure. In any event, parents can an do play a vital role in Scouting. Find out how you can become involved and the do your part!