Welcome to Troop 10
Welcome to Troop 10
This document presents
the policies and procedures for the operation of Troop 10. The
purpose of this document is to provide the adult leaders (Scouters), the
Scouts, and the parents of Troop 10 a reference that explains the policies
of the Troop as well as provide insight into why the policies were
developed. This document is intended to be a supplement to the
policies of the Boy Scouts of America and does not supersede any policies
stated therein. This document will be revised from time to time in
order to accommodate changes in official Scout policy and the needs of the
Troop.
Boy Scout Troop 10 is a
non-denominational, community-based Troop in the Trailhead District, Heart
of America Council of the Boy Scouts of America. We are sponsored by
the Leawood Rotary Club of Leawood,
Troop 10's mission is to
provide an opportunity for advancement and personal growth for every boy
who becomes a member of Troop 10. Our goal is to develop Boys into
Scouts, Scouts into Men. Boys who strive to live by the Scout Oath
and Law grow in character, leadership, and fitness. It is better to
build boys than to mend men. Troop 10 utilizes the eight Methods used to accomplish the Scouting
Aims of Character, Citizenship, & Fitness.
The troop’s mission
statement is implemented through the Troop’s Scouting Program, which
is established by the Troop Committee and managed by the Scoutmaster.
One of the goals of the Boy Scouts of America and Troop 10 is to help
boys develop into honorable men. Scouting’s values can be
incorporated into a boy’s home, school and religious community.
To that end, Troop 10 incorporates activities into its Scouting
program that are directed at three basic objectives; 1) Character
development; 2) citizenship training; and 3) mental and physical fitness.
The centerpiece of Troop
10’s scouting program and the allure for Troop 10’s scouts is
the Outdoor Program. The troop conducts 9 outdoor activities
throughout the school year, attends a BSA Council sponsored long term camp
during the summer and a number of high adventure camping opportunities
through the school year and also during the summer. These activities
provide a terrific focal point for the program’s three objectives.
The Scouts themselves take on leadership roles in order to plan and
manage these activities. Acquiring and refining the skills to not
only survive but to enjoy the challenges offered by outdoor living leads to
the development of both mental and physical fitness and character.
The troop’s program
will have been successful if we have provided the Scouts with a challenging
and fun experience that, as an intended by product, results in the
development of character, citizenship and physical and mental fitness.
The Troop Scoutmaster heads the Troop’s Scouting program. The Scoutmaster is responsible for the image and program of the Troop. He is appointed by the Troop Committee. The Scoutmaster and his Assistant Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts. In general, they train and guide boy leaders, work with other responsible adults to bring Scouting to the boys, and use the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting.
Assistant Scoutmasters
are responsible for duties such as Eagle Scouts coordination, New Scouts
advancement, and Mic-O-Say/Order of the Arrow coordination.
Other positions of
responsibility include (but are not limited to) High Adventure Coordinator,
Health Records Coordinator, Merit Badge Forum Coordinator, Tour Permits,
Highway Cleanup Coordinator, and Fund Raising Coordinator.
The Troop Committee supports
the Troop program as developed by the Scoutmaster and the Scouts. It
is the governing body of the Troop and is responsible for making policy and
providing the resources necessary for the Troop program to happen.
The committee carries out the policies and regulations of the Boy
Scouts of America, provides adequate meeting facilities, is responsible for
Troop finances, is responsible for Troop property, supports the outdoor
program, and supports the Scoutmaster with whatever assistance is needed for
the Troop to function. The Troop Committee shall include, but not
limited to, the following positions:
·
Committee
Chairperson: Organize
the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated, and
completed. Call, preside over, and promote attendance at monthly
Troop committee meetings. Secure parents and other adults to serve in
leadership positions.
·
Chartered
Organization Representative: Serves as liaison between the Troop and the
chartered organization. Secures a Troop Committee Chairperson and
encourages training. Maintains a close liaison with the Troop
Committee Chairperson.
·
Secretary: Works with the Troop Scribe to maintain the
attendance records of the Scouts. Keeps minutes of committee meetings
and any important records. The secretary shall also be responsible
for maintaining correspondence and records of the Troop.
·
Treasurer: Handles
all Troop funds. Pays all bills and maintains the Troop checking and
savings accounts. Responsible for developing the Troop's annual
budget.
·
Advancement
Chairperson: Maintains all Troop advancement records.
Monitors individual advancement and encourages Scouts to advance in
rank. Maintains an in-house merit badge counselor list. Works
with Troop Scribes to maintain attendance records. Prepares for
Courts of Honor.
·
Membership
Chairperson: Maintains all Troop membership records.
Is responsible for registering new Scouts and adults and for the
re-Charter process in March. The Membership Chairperson interacts
with boys and their parents who are interested in joining the Troop.
·
Leadership
Chairperson: Tracks
and maintains all Scout Leadership Positions. Is responsible for
developing the minimum requirements for each leadership position and work with
the Scouts to monitor their achievement of those requirements.
·
Camping
Coordinator: Plans and coordinates Troop camping
activities. Secures camping facilities, arranges for coordinating
Patrols, and is responsible for seeing that the Grub Master has arranged
for meals for adult leaders during Troop activities.
·
Quartermaster: Is
responsible for all physical equipment that the Troop owns. Purchases
new equipment and arranges for repair of old equipment as needed. Is
responsible for the Scout Quartermasters.
·
Grub
Master: Is
responsible for the cooking supplies and equipment needed for the 'Old
Goat’ Patrol. The Grub Master is also responsible for the 'Old
Goat' meal arrangements for campouts (and all Scouts when the Troop feeds
them). (‘Old Goats’ refers to the adults)
·
Facilities
Chairperson: Arranges
for facilities for Troop meetings, merit badge classes, and Courts of
Honor.
·
Chaplain: Provides opportunities for Scouts to grow in
their duty to God and their fellow Scouts. Provides a spiritual tone
for Troop meetings and activities. Gives guidance to the
Chaplain’s Aides.
At the discretion of the
Committee Chairperson, an ad-hoc committee can be formed to investigate or
address a specific issue. The ad-hoc committee is to report to the
full committee with any report or recommendation for the committee's
consideration.
The Troop Committee, the
Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and other Scouters generally meet on
the second Sunday of each month to discuss and plan the upcoming
activities. The meetings are open to any parent of a Scout in Troop
10 and parents are encouraged to attend Committee meetings, to voice
opinions and offer suggestions. Parents are also welcome and
encouraged to become uniformed adult leaders in the Troop. Recent Committee Meeting Minutes
All registered adult
leaders of the Troop are encouraged to complete the Boy Scout Leaders
Training offered by BSA. In addition, some leadership positions
require further training over and above the Fundamental Training. Those
positions include Committee Chair and Scoutmaster. All training is
available through the Trailhead District.
The Troop’s success
is a direct function of the level of involvement of interested adults and
parents. A troop of Troop 10’s size simply cannot succeed
without the assistance and participation of a large number of adults.
Our “safety net” for both the success and failures of our
scouts has many “handles” that must be held. For that
reason, Troop 10 asks that every parent contribute in whatever way they can
to support the Troop and its program. Moreover, the Troop always
needs the time, energy and skills of adults who are willing to serve in a
formal way on the Troop Committee or as Assistant Scoutmasters.
Please contact either the Scoutmaster of the Committee Chairperson
for more information on how you can help out.
Parents are an integral
part of the boy's Scouting experience and the Troop’s Program.
In order for the Troop to function in an efficient manner, all
parents are expected to participate in one way or another.
1.
Parents are
expected to participate in at least one of the following Troop functions:
o
Serve on
Troop Committee or as an Assistant Scoutmaster
o
Serve on a committee,
such as fund raising or Scouting for Food
o
Serve as a
Patrol Advisor
o
Serve as a
Merit Badge Counselor
o
Attend at
least two monthly campouts and attend at least one night at summer
camp
2.
In addition
to the Troop responsibilities, each parent shall take an active role in
assisting their son in achieving the necessary rank advancements as he
progresses through Scouts to ultimately attain the rank of Eagle.
Although the Troop places a great deal of responsibility on the
Scouts for their advancement, it is incumbent on each parent to monitor and
encourage their Scout's progress.
In order for the Scouts
to grow as members of the Troop and as good citizens, it is important that
they learn to take responsibility for their Scouting career.
Therefore, when it is necessary for the Scout to contact a Troop Leader, we
encourage parents to insist that the Scouts make those contacts, not the
parents.
Parents are encouraged to
refer to their son's Boy Scout Handbook as an excellent resource of
information about Scouting.
Membership in Boy
Scouting is open to all boys who have completed the fifth grade, achieved
the Arrow of Light award in Cub Scouts, or are at least 11 years old but
not older than 18 years old. Scouts who are 18 years or older can
become adult leaders in the Troop upon approval of the Troop Committee.
Each Scout must have
completed a registration form (one time only) and pay the annual
registration fee. Each Scout must have the Boy Scout Handbook
and a complete Scout Uniform as discussed herein.
All adult leaders of the
Troop must be registered. The cost of their registration shall be
paid for by the Troop.
Troop 10 maintains a file
of the emergency medical release forms for each Scout and registered adult.
(The forms are available from the Membership Chairperson) These forms
accompany the Troop on all activities. In the event that medical
attention is required, the medical forms are always at hand to aid in
providing prompt medical care. CURRENT CLASS 1 & 2 HEALTH
FORMS ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR SCOUTS TO ATTEND ANY TROOP OUTINGS.
A current Class 3 health form is required of adults over the age of 40 who
attend Troop Outings.
Empowering boys to be
leaders is at the core of Scouting. Scouts learn by doing, and what
they do is lead their patrols and the troop. Troop 10 is a small
democracy. The scouts are formed into patrols, the basic unit of the troop
consisting of 8-12 scouts. Troop 10 relies upon Scouts serving in positions
of responsibility to plan and managed the Troop's activities. The
Scouts themselves develop a troop’s program, and then take
responsibility for figuring out how they will achieve their goals.
An important part of the
leadership experience is to deal with adversity with resolve and
persistence. For that reason, it is important that the Troop provide
the Scouts the “opportunity to fail” with the protection of a
safety net. This one of the most challenging aspects of serving as an
adult leader to a Scout troop. There is nothing more difficult than
watching a group of scouts argue over the right direction to go, the proper
way to start a fire or the correct way to prepare dinner, knowing that the
outcome of the discussion will be less than an optimal result. Within
the boundaries of safety, however, it is absolutely essential that the
leaders permit the adverse results to occur and assist the scouts in
learning the lessons that come from such experiences. Thus, it is not
unlikely that your scout may come home from an outdoor activity cold, wet
or hungry on occasion. It is the Troop’s task to be sure that
your Scout is safe and learns a positive lesson from experience rather
abandoning the whole program. It is the sopping wet campout and the
black pancakes of which Boy Scout legends are made. Hopefully, the
scouts will also learn something about preparation, responsibility and
accountability along the way.
Patrols are the building
blocks of a Boy Scout troop. A patrol is a small group of boys who
work together as a team to make the patrol a success. Each patrol has
a name for itself and may develop a patrol yell, patrol flag and other
things that give the patrol its own identity. In Troop 10 the patrols
sit together during meetings and are assigned responsibilities for various
parts of the meeting such as the opening, the closing and pre-meeting set
up. The Scouts also plan their participation in Troop campouts as
patrols. Similarly they tent, cook and eat as patrols. In addition,
troop equipment such as tents and stoves are assigned to each patrol at the
beginning of each school year. The patrol is responsible for making
sure that this equipment is available for its use at the campout.
Failure to meet these responsibilities may well result in a weekend
out under the stars with out the benefit of a tent or cold meals without
the benefit of a stove! As Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the
Scouting Movement once observed, “The object of the patrol method is
not as much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the
boy.”
In Troop 10 we have
decided that each patrol should consist of Scouts of diverse ages. We
believe that this contributes to the “boy run Troop” concept.
This patrol organization creates another opportunity for boys to
teach and mentor other boys. It also presents more opportunities for
leadership and helps to provide continuity in the Troop Program and Scout
skills over time. In addition, it gives the older Scouts a sense of
ownership in their own organization. First year Scouts are assigned
to existing patrols from the Mustang Patrol in the late Spring or early
Fall after they have had a chance to become familiar with the Troop’s
program and the basics of Troop camping through the Mustang Program.
Parental input is solicited to assist the Troop Committee and the
Scoutmaster in assigning the Mustangs to permanent patrols.
Other Patrol functions
(on a rotating basis) include: responsibility for setup and takedown of
chairs for the Troop meetings; performing opening and closing ceremonies of
Troop meetings; responsibility for loading and unloading of the truck used
for the transport of the Troop equipment to a campout, and providing an
adult to drive the truck to the campout.
The members of each
patrol elect one of their own to serve as their Patrol Leader. Troop
10 conducts elections twice a year for the purpose of electing Patrol
Leaders and other junior leaders for the Troop such as Senior Patrol
Leader. Becoming a Patrol Leader is often a Scout’s first
opportunity to develop practical leadership skills. His responsibilities
include taking a leading role in planning and conducting the patrol’s
participation in Troop activities, encouraging other patrol members to
complete advancement requirements; representing the patrol as a member of
the Patrol Leaders’ Council, and being sure that the Patrol arrives
at Troop Campouts with the appropriate equipment and groceries. The
patrol may also elect other leaders such as an Assistant Patrol Leader and
Patrol Quartermaster.
One way in which Troop 10
implements the “boy run Troop” concept is through the Patrol
Leaders’ Council. The Patrol Leaders’ Council consists of
the Patrol Leaders, The Senior Patrol Leader and the Assistant Senior
Patrol Leaders. The Patrol Leaders’ Council plans and runs the
Troop’s Program and activities and gives long-range direction with an
annual program planning meeting that lays out the Troop’s calendar
for the coming year. In Troop 10 the Patrol Leaders’ Council
meets at least once a month, typically the Monday following a Troop
campout. Patrol Leaders and/or the Assistant Patrol Leader, a Scribe,
the Senior Patrol Leader, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, and Junior
Assistant Scout Masters must attend. During these meetings the Patrol
Leaders’ Council reviews and evaluates the Troop’s most recent
activity, plans the next month’s activity and plans the Troop
meetings for the next month.
Oftentimes it is
difficult for a Scout to transition from being a Webelos Scout to a Boy
Scout. In order to help with that transition, Troop 10 has the
Mustang Patrol. All Webelos who join the Troop become members of the
Mustang Patrol. Adult leaders of the Troop work with the
‘Mustangs’ to insure they have a great start in Boy Scouts.
After the Adult Leaders
feel they are ready, the ‘Mustangs are separated out and assigned to
one of the existing patrols so they can become working members of the
existing patrol structure.
Troop meetings are
typically held on Mondays from September through May. Exceptions
include holidays when the
On Mondays following a
Troop campout, the Patrol Leader's Council meeting will usually be held
(please check the Troop Calendar). The Patrol Leader's Council is
comprised of the boy leadership of the Troop and is the time that the
Troop's activities are planned. Although no regular Troop meetings
are conducted on these days, adult leaders may be available to conduct
Scoutmaster’s Conferences and Boards of Review for advancement.
Special advance arrangements must be made.
A calendar is developed
at the beginning of the Scouting year that identifies Troop meetings,
campouts, and other important dates and events. Changes or additions
are announced at the Troop meetings, via voice mail, the Troop Web Site or
mailings.
The Troop meetings are an
opportunity for the Troop to assemble as a group to reinforce the aims of
Scouting, to plan the Troop’s outdoor activities, and to implement
the Troop’s Program. At the meetings, matters of importance
will be announced, the Scouts can have their Scoutmaster’s conference
or their board of review for advancement, scout skills will be taught and
reinforced, and Patrols will have time to perform planning for activities
as needed. In addition, various activities such as merit badge
classes and skill training could occur.
All Scouts are expected
to attend Troop meetings on a regular basis. Attendance will be taken
by the Patrol Leader and will be referred to when a Scout applies for rank
advancement or is considered for Scout honorary programs such as Mic-O-Say
and/or Order of the Arrow. In order to be considered for an honor
Scouting program, a Scout must attend at least 55% of the
Troop meetings. This requirement is a threshold standard for consideration
against other, more subjective criteria relating to the Scout Oath and Law.
Scouts may be marked absent if not in Class "A" Uniform.
Troop meetings are open to all parents and their attendance is
encouraged.
Meetings begin promptly
at 7:00 p.m. and generally last no more that an hour and a half.
Scouts should bring their Boy Scout Handbook to every meeting,
campout, and to summer camp. No Scoutmaster’s conference or
boards of review will be given if a Scout is not in uniform or does not
have his handbook with him.
Scouts who cause
disruptions during the meetings will be separated from their peers.
If the problem persists, their parents will be called and they will
be asked to leave.
Full, approved Class A
uniform, as discussed herein, is worn by Scouts and Scouters to the
meetings. Scouts that are
not properly uniformed or with their uniform in disarray are asked
to remedy the situation or asked to leave and their presence will not be
counted for attendance. It is incumbent on parents to make sure their
Scout is properly uniformed.
Other items not essential
to the meeting will not be allowed. Such items include homework,
playing cards, baseball caps, sports gear, etc.
Approximately three times
a year, the Troop holds a Court of Honor. This is a special meeting
where the regular Troop meeting agenda is suspended and a ceremony is held
to pay tribute to the achievements of our Scouts. At this meeting,
the Scouts are awarded their rank advancements, merit badges, and other
awards and are recognized by their peers, parents, and adult leaders for
their accomplishments. All family members are invited and encouraged
to attend. These special Troop meetings are a required
activity for all Scouts in the Troop. Rank advancement will only be
presented at Courts of Honor. Excused absences can be granted only
by the Scoutmaster in advance. If the Scout is receiving a rank
advancement, the mother of the Scout is given a symbol of his new rank and
it is to be worn on the Mother's Brag Ribbon (provided by the Troop).
The mothers are encouraged to wear the brag ribbon to all Courts of
Honor.
Approximately 2-3 times a
year, Eagle Courts of Honor are held to award the Eagle Scout rank to those
Scouts who have successfully completed the requirements. The Eagle
rank is the highest rank a Scout may earn. These ceremonies are held
on a Sunday afternoon and are a required activity for all Scouts in
the Troop. All family members are invited and encouraged to attend.
A requirement for advancement to the rank of Star, Life, and Eagle is that a Scout must hold a leadership position in the Troop for a period of 4-6 months depending upon the rank. The Scout may volunteer, be elected, or be appointed by the Scoutmaster to a position. Duration of leadership positions is six months with elections being held in late January and late July (usually at Summer Camp). The following is a list of the leadership positions in the troop that can be held by a Scout:
·
Senior
Patrol Leader: Elected by the Scouts to represent them
as the top junior leader in the troop. He leads the Patrol Leaders' Council
and, in consultation with the Scoutmaster, assigns specific
responsibilities as needed. He leads all Troop meetings and manages
the Troop’s outdoor activities. Must be a Life or Eagle Scout.
·
Assistant
Senior Patrol Leaders:: Appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader and
approved by The Scoutmaster. . Fills in for the senior patrol leader
in his absence. They are also responsible for training and giving
direction to other junior leaders in the Troop. Must be a Star, Life or Eagle Scout.
·
Junior
Assistant Scoutmaster: Serves in the capacity of an assistant
Scoutmaster. He must be at least 16 and not yet 18. He must be
an Eagle Scout. He is appointed by the Scoutmaster because of his
leadership ability. Scouts interested in the position apply to the
Scoutmaster and serve as he directs.
·
Patrol
Leader: The
elected leader of his patrol. He provides leadership to members of
his patrol and represents them on the patrol leaders' council. Must be a First Class Rank, Star, Life or
Eagle Scout and at least a second year Scout.
·
Assistant
Patrol Leader: Appointed
by the patrol leader and leads the patrol in his absence. This
position DOES NOT count for leadership credit.
·
Instructor: Teaches one or more Scouting skills to troop
members.
·
Scribe: Serves as
troop secretary and maintains the attendance records for troop meetings,
camp outs, and Courts of Honor. He is also responsible for overseeing
the publication of the troop newsletter.
·
Librarian: Maintains a library of all troop-owned
publications. He checks out merit badge books to Scouts on request
and assures their return or replacement.
·
Historian: Keeps a historical record or scrapbook of troop
activities. He collects and maintains troop memorabilia and
information on former troop members.
·
Troop
Guide: Advisor and guide to the new Scout
patrols. He helps the new scouts with rank advancement and keeps
track of their advancement.
·
Den
Chief: Works with Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts,
and den leaders in the Cub Scout pack.
·
Chaplain
Aide: Works with the troop chaplain to meet the
religious needs of Scouts in the troop. He also works to promote the
religious emblem’s program.
·
Bugler: Performs
duties of bugler as directed by the Scoutmaster. Credit only good
towards Star & Life Ranks; Not Eagle Scout Rank.
·
Order
of the Arrow Troop Representative: Serves as a communication
link between the lodge or chapter and the troop. Encourages Arrowmen
in the troop to be active participants in the lodge and/or chapter
activities and to seal their membership in the Order by becoming
Brotherhood members. Helps coordinate Troop OA Elections.
·
Quartermaster: Responsible for troop/patrol equipment and sees
that it is in good working order. He maintains the patrol box and
tents on camp outs, and inspects them on their return. He is also
responsible for loading and unloading to troop truck for camp outs.
A
Scout must complete leadership training while in the position to receive
credit for rank advancement. Their leadership position will not be
credited if leadership training is not completed. In addition, the
Scout's performance in a leadership position will be evaluated by the troop
Leadership Coordinator and Scoutmaster before a rank advancement. It
will be determined whether he performed the duties of the position or just
wore the patch. It is the Scout's responsibility to pursue these
positions. No one will elect or appoint a Scout to the position without
the Scout first taking the initiative and seeking out the position.
Scouts are required to use a "Leadership Card" to document
that they have completed the necessary requirements of their position.
These "Cards" are available from the Troop 10 Leadership
Coordinator and/or the Troop 10 web site: Leadership Position Web Page.
THESE "CARDS" MUST BE RETURNED TO THE
LEADERSHIP COORDINATOR WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER A (6 month) LEADERSHIP PERIOD
ENDS. Credit can and will not be allowed after that.
Boy Scout advancement is a four-step process: The Scout learns; the Scout is tested; the Scout is reviewed; and the Scout is recognized.
All
rank advancements, merit badges, and other achievements are reported to the
Advancement Chairperson for inclusion in the TroopMaster software database.
It is the responsibility of the Scout to notify the Advancement
Chairperson of the achievement earned. If the achievement is not
reported, it cannot be awarded. In Troop 10 it is said, “if it
isn’t in the computer, it hasn’t happened.”
As a
Scout progresses through a rank, he should have a Scout who is First Class
or above sign off the requirements in his Scout handbook as he learns them.
Adults are not allowed to do this. When all of the requirements are
learned and signed off, the Scout should request a Scoutmaster's
conference. He must have the Advancement Chairperson's signature
prior to requesting this conference.
The objective of Troop 10 Scout Spirit attendance
measurements is to have scouts demonstrate current involvement in Troop 10 functions.
The Troop 10 committee has defined current involvement as being in attendance at at
least 55% of Troop activities within the shorter of: the previous 6
months, or the period of time since the last rank advancement.
Scout Spirit is the final rank requirement to be signed off prior to
the Scoutmaster Conference. The Scout should see the Advancement
Chairman to get an attendance report that indicates his current involvement in the Troop. The Scout then presents the report to his Team
Assistant Scoutmaster. The Team Assistant Scoutmaster will
consider the Subjective Scout Spirit criteria along with the
attendance report to determine whether or not the Scout has met the
requirements for Scout Spirit. The Team Assistant Scoutmaster will
then sign off the Scout Spirit requirement and schedule a Scoutmaster
Conference.
Subjective Criteria of Scout Spirit:
Troop 10 has set
the following guidelines for measuring this criteria, for both past and
present. Scouts are taught that they are Scouts 24 hours a day: the
values of Scouting are not something to be turned off at the end of the
Scout meetings. Because of this, Scouts will be evaluated based on:
·
Living
the Scout Oath and Law.
·
Contributing
to the Troop
·
Contributing
to the Community
·
Helping younger Scouts grow and learn
·
Showing maturity and respect for others
Scoutmaster's Conferences are the step in advancement that a trained leader thoroughly "tests" the Scout on Scout Skills for that rank and "re-tests" on Scout Skills for all previous ranks. There will not be any further "testing" at the Board of Review level. Therefore, a Scout must be able to convince the leader that he has mastered the requirements and is ready for his Board of Review. If he is not fully prepared, the leader should ask him to look over the material again and return at a later date to complete the Scoutmaster's Conference.
After
the Scout successfully completes his Scoutmaster's conference, the Scout
should request a Board of Review. A Board of Review is made up of
three adults, one of which must be a registered adult leader of the Troop.
Boards of Review are to be
performed by a group of at least 3 Adults. One of these Adults must
be a registered leader with Troop 10. Parents who have no formal role with the Troop are often
requested and always encouraged to participate in this process. This Board
will not be for the purpose of testing Scouts on Scout Skills. This
is the opportunity for the Scout to review his advancement and progress in
the Troop as well as the community and for him to review the performance of
the Troop and its leaders.
For
Scouts who are seeking the Star or Life Scout rank, only the Team Assistant
Scoutmaster the Scoutmaster can conduct the Scoutmaster’s Conference.
.
Troop
10 does not allow a Scoutmasters Conference and the Board of Review to be
held at the same Troop Meeting. The Scouts should plan to have their
Scoutmaster’s Conference at one Troop Meeting and then have their
Board of Review at the next Troop meeting. Scouts are strongly
encouraged to schedule the Scoutmaster’s Conferences and Boards of
Review in advance of the evening upon which they wish the Conference or
Board to occur. Scoutmaster’s
Conferences & Boards of Review may be done at Campouts.
The
ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle require that a Scout earn a certain number
of merit badges. Merit badges are awarded to Scouts for fulfilling
requirements in specific fields of interest. A Scout works closely
with a council-approved merit badge counselor to complete the requirements
for the merit badge. When a Scout feels that he is ready to earn a
merit badge, he is to obtain a blue merit badge card from the Scoutmaster
or Advancement Chairperson. The Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairperson
signs the card giving his approval for the Scout to work on the badge.
A Scout can earn a merit badge at summer camp, at the District Merit
Badge Forum (held in January and/or February), at a Troop-conducted merit
badge class, or on his own by contacting an approved merit badge counselor.
If a
Scout has special needs in order for them to advance and grow in Scouting,
those needs will be addressed on an individual basis. If you feel
your son has special needs, please discuss them with the Scoutmaster and
Advancement Chairperson.
In addition to the items
discussed below, each Scout must have a Boy Scout Handbook with
their name boldly marked on the side. Also, the Scout's name is to
the placed on everything taken on a campout.
Uniforms
Troop 10 is a uniformed
unit. Each Scout and registered Adult Leader adheres to the
following:
·
Each Scout
and registered Adult Leader shall wear the appropriate uniform, as
described in the Boy Scout Handbook, to all Troop and Patrol
meetings and other official gatherings of the Troop, unless advised
otherwise by the Scoutmaster. This will include the Troop 10
neckerchief, camping beads, and coups awarded by honor organizations such
as Mic-O-Say and Order of the Arrow, etc. Sashes are only required at
Court of Honors or as directed by the Scoutmaster.
·
The Troop 10
neckerchief is available from the Secretary.
·
Blue jeans,
non-Scouting hats, and other non-Scouting apparel are not allowed.
·
On Troop
campouts and other special events, Scouts are permitted, at the direction
of the Scoutmaster; to wear the Scout activity uniform (we call Class B)
red knit shirt, khaki shorts/pants, and Scout socks.
If it determined by the
adult leadership of the Troop that a Scout in not wearing the proper
uniform, the Scout will be asked to remedy the situation or not be allowed
to participate in the activity.
Camping Equipment
The following is a list
of the items (at minimum) each Scout needs for a campout:
·
Sleeping
Bags - bring two or and extra blanket if cold weather is predicted
·
Ground Mat -
closed cell foam is the best
·
Two sets of
clothes
·
Two pairs of
appropriate shoes/boots
·
Rain Gear
·
Toiletries
·
Eating
Utensils - plate, fork, knife, spoon, & mug
·
Flash light
- with extra batteries
·
Pocket knife
- no sheath knifes are allowed
·
Scout
Handbook
Monthly Camping
Troop 10 is an active
participant in the Scout Camping program. Troop 10 plans at least
nine campouts or other activities, once every month from September to May.
A special meeting of the boy leaders of the Troop is held in August
to plan the year's camping activities. Adult supervision is a
requirement at all Scout functions, especially camping. Adults are
required to participate in at least two campouts per year.
An information sheet
about each campout will be mailed or posted to the Troop web site prior to
the outing. This sheet will give the adults and the Scouts all the
information they need to know about the outing. It will also indicate
the cost of the campout or other activity. Scouts and their parents
are encouraged to pay for the campout or activity in advance of its
occurrence.
At the campouts, the
Patrols are required to perform as a Patrol. This includes tenting
together, cooking together, and generally working together on the planned
activities.
Scouts who have attained
the rank of Eagle Scout have earned special privileges because of their
rank. One of these privileges include that they may bring their own lawn
chairs. Other scouts may use tripod type stools.
Adults are encouraged to
bring their own lawn chairs as well.
It is the Troop's policy
that the Scouts are to use only Troop-owned tents. The Troop does
not want to be responsible for any damage to a family tent when we have an
adequate number of Troop-owned tents available. The other exception
to this rule is when we run out of tents at the more heavily attended
campouts. Any exceptions to this rule shall be at the Scoutmaster's
discretion.
Patrols will be issued
Troop Tents at the beginning of the school year. It is the
responsibility of every member of that Patrol to care for and account for
these tents. The cost of tents not returned, or returned in poor
condition at the end of the school year will charged to the accounts of
every member of that patrol.
The effort it takes to
carry out a successful campout is great. It takes every Scout and
adult who attends to do his part to insure its success. All those
attending a Troop campout should participate in the setup and breakdown of
the campsite. Exceptions are inevitable but in general, the Troop
equipment should be packed and the site policed before anyone leaves for
home. Any exceptions to this rule shall be at the discretion of the
Scoutmaster. It is the Troop's
policy that Scouts must inform the Scoutmaster, in advance, if they plan to
arrive late to a campout, leave during the campout, or go home early from
the campout if they expect to get attendance credit.
Scouts are not permitted
to leave the designated campsite, even with a parent, without the
Scoutmaster's approval.
Transportation to and
from campouts is the responsibility of the adults. The Troop does not
provide any other means of transportation. All Scouts who are
transported to and from a campout by an adult must occupy a seat
belt. Adults who drive Scouts must have proper insurance and be at least 21
years old. The patrols must pre-arrange rides to and from the campout
prior to arriving at the assembly point to leave.
Scouts Driving Policy
Older scouts are encouraged to continue participation in the troop, and the
troop recognizes that due to the many demands on a high school student's
schedule, travel with the troop is not always possible. Scouts are
discouraged from driving personal cars to/from troop activities. However,
licensed scouts may drive to outings with parental permission provided that
the following criteria are met:
·
The scout
must advise the Scoutmaster of his intention to drive and expected arrival
time before the outing is scheduled to occur.
·
The scout
must use his vehicle solely for the purpose of transportation to and from
the scheduled activity.
·
He may not
use the vehicle during the outing without the express permission of the
Scoutmaster. This includes "hanging out" in the vehicle.
·
Other than
siblings, no scout may transport another scout.
Under
these circumstances, scouts and their parents need to be aware that they
are not officially participating in a BSA-sanctioned event until their
arrival at the activity location, and may not be covered under BSA
insurance.
Troop 10 annually attends
a 10-day summer camp program at the H. Roe Bartle Boy Scout Reservation
near
High Adventure
Scouts who have met the
age and rank requirements may participate in the Troop's High Adventure
Trek. The Troop currently attends Philmont Boy Scout Reservation,
Packard High Adventure Base, and the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. In
addition to these two adventures, the Troop may plan other high adventures
for the Scouts to experience.
The Tribe of Mic-O-Say is
an H. Roe Bartle Reservation honor scouting program, based on the
intensification of the principles and ideals of Scouting. Its purpose
is to provide recognition for boys who have demonstrated and proven their
devotion to Scouting even beyond the extra mile. It is a boys'
program guided and inspired by adults.
The Order of the Arrow is
a national honor scouting program founded in 1915 and is run by the Scouts.
The purpose of the order is to recognize those Scouts and Scouter
who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and by such
recognition causes other scouts to conduct themselves in such a manner as
to warrant recognition.
These Honor Scouting
Programs have their own unique criteria for initial membership and future
advancement or elevation. They include, among other things:
1.
Participation
Criteria: Troop 10 has set the
following guidelines for measuring this criteria:
o
You must
attend 55% of scheduled Troop Meetings. You must be in full Scout
uniform at Troop Meetings, or your attendance may not be counted.
o
You must
attend at least 5 of the 9 regularly scheduled monthly Troop campouts held
during the school year. If you are an older Scout, 3 of the 5
required campouts must be regular Troop campouts and the other 2 campouts
may be school year Troop Venture camping activities or school year Troop
High Adventure camping activities. Order of the Arrow or Mic-O-Say,
organized overnight camping activities may be counted towards 1 of these 2
other campouts. (This does not include Ordeal and Brotherhood
Candidates going through ceremony) This should be cleared by the
Scoutmaster in advance. Bartle Summer Camp and Summer High Adventure
activities are not counted towards these attendance criteria.
o
You must
attend all Troop Courts of Honor and all Eagle Scout Courts of Honor.
If you cannot attend a specific Court of Honor, you must have an
excused absence from the Scoutmaster in advance of that Court of
Honor.
2.
Subjective
Criteria of Scout Spirit:
Troop 10 has set the following guidelines for measuring this
criteria, for both past and present. Scouts are taught that they are
Scouts 24 hours a day: the values of Scouting are not something to be
turned off and the end of the Scout meetings. Because of this, Scouts
will be evaluated based on:
o
Living the
Scout Oath and Law.
o
Contributing
to the Troop
o
Contributing
to the Community
o
Helping
younger Scouts grow and learn
o
Showing maturity
and respect for others
3.
There are
other criteria that are confidential and are not publically discussed.
As with any organization,
Troop 10 requires funds to operate. Some of the operating
expenditures include: operation and maintenance of the Troop truck;
insurance premiums; and equipment storage facility costs. In
addition, the Troop provides all of the advancement and merit badge awards
earned.
The following summarizes
the Troop's financial policy:
1.
The annual
operating costs of the Troop shall be funded by the annual registration fee
charged for each Scout to be registered by the Troop. The
registration fee is for the period January 1 through December 31. No
prorating of fee will apply to boys joining the Troop mid-year.
These costs could include equipment insurance, Troop truck and equipment
maintenance, and training costs.
2.
The Troop's
cost for campouts shall be covered by the fee charged to each Scout or
Adult who attends. It is our intent to break-even on the costs of
campouts. The costs to the Troop could include supplies, truck
rental, entrance fees, propane gas, Troop provided food, and any other cost
associated with the planned event. Scouts and Adults may still be charged
if they register to attend and then not attend. This covers fees paid and
food bought for them.
3.
The Troop's
cost for Bartle summer camp shall be covered by the fee charged to each
Scout who attends. It is again our intent to break-even on the costs
of summer camp. The Troop's costs could include the Bartle Camp fee,
the fees for the
4.
The monies
received from any fund raisers shall be placed in a separate account and
used for capital improvements and unanticipated costs. The capital
improvements could include new tents, cooking supplies, and any other new
equipment that may be needed to operate the Troop and its planned events.
The funds will be kept in a liquid account. It is our intent to
maintain only a minimum dollar amount that is determined by the committee
based on known and anticipated needs. This minimum amount will be
evaluated annually and adjusted as needed. If the account exceeds
that determined amount, we will take measures to lower its balance, such as
lower registration fees in future years.
If a parent or adult
leader requires a reimbursement for expenditure on behalf of the Troop, a
receipt is required before the Treasurer can distribute a check. If
possible, approval from the Treasurer should be obtained in advance of the
purchase.
The Troop uses various
methods to communicate with the parents and the Scouts. They include
mailings,
The Troop now has a web
page that should be checked on a regular basis. this site should have all
important information on events & activities. bsatroop10.org
Troop 10 complies with
the guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America. These guidelines are set
forth in the insert to The Boy Scout Handbook entitled “How to
Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parents Guide.” All
parents are encouraged to review this resource and to discuss Section 2
with their sons. All trained adult leaders are certified as to
having completed training in Youth Protection Guidelines. Some, but
not all of the guidelines are as follows:
Two Deep
Leadership: At no time shall
a Scouter be alone with a Scout. At least two adults must be present
with the youth at all times.
Buddy System: At any activity, least two Scouts must participate
and stay together.
Tent Sleeping: On Troop camping activities, Scouts are only
allowed to sleep in tents with other Scouts.
Showers Adults and Scouts are not allowed to shower in
the same facilities at the same time.
There may be
circumstances where a Scout or a parent have a special need. Please
contact the Scoutmaster to discuss any issue in complete confidence.
Issues could include: financial assistance, academic or special
needs, medical matters, behavior or personality matters, and domestic
matters that may affect the Scout.
Under no circumstances
will Troop 10 tolerate the use of Alcohol or Illegal Drugs by any Scout or
Adult prior to or during Troop activities.
We feel that the Scouting
program in general, and Troop 10 specifically, have a very positive effect
on the development of our young men. Boys who strive to live by the
Scout Oath and Law grow in character, leadership, and fitness. If you
look at the background of many or our local, state, and national
industrial, political, and military leaders, you'll find Scouting was
there. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for boys. Troop 10
intends to be the best it can be. With the cooperation of every
Scout, the help of all parents, and the continued leadership, Troop 10 will
provide the maximum benefit that Scouting has to offer.