SCOUT/PARENT HANDBOOK
2011-2012
Boy Scouts of America Troop 6
Gastonia, North Carolina
"A Top Notch Troop of Adventure and Learning"
Chartered by the First Baptist Church of Gastonia
www.troop6gastonia.org
The Troop Handbook
Recommended reading for all Scouts and parents!
December 2011 (updated)
Introduction
Welcome to Troop 6! As a new member of Troop 6, you are joining a group of boys who share your interests in the outdoors, adventure, and learning. As a Scout, you will get the opportunity to learn, see, and do things that other boys may not. You will get the opportunity to acquire new skills, and you will be recognized and rewarded for what you have accomplished. You will have the opportunity to learn leadership, organizational, and other skills that will help you later in life.
This "Troop 6 Handbook" is intended to act as an introduction to Scouting in Troop 6 and to give Scouts and Parents a better understanding about how Troop 6 works. Please take the time to read over this handbook, and contact the Scoutmaster or one of the other Adult Leaders if you have any questions.
Adult Participation in Troop 6
The adults who give their time, talent, and support to make Troop 6 a success are volunteers. Both mothers and fathers can assist Troop 6 by providing transportation to and from outings, serving as a troop committee member, becoming a merit badge counselor, becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster, or serving in other leadership positions.
If you are a parent or guardian of a boy in Troop 6, please take the time to attend a couple of Troop meetings or Troop Committee meetings. Talk to the Scoutmaster or one of the other Adult Leaders. You may have skills, resources, or contacts that the Troop needs.
Troop 6 Organization
Troop 6 is associated with the Two Rivers District, Piedmont Council, and Boy Scouts of America. A District is the geographic area in which a troop is located. The Two Rivers District covers Gaston County (excluding Cherryville, Mt Holly and Stanley). A Council is a group of one or more Districts. The Piedmont Council includes 8 districts covering Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, Burke, McDowell, Catawba, Iredell, Caldwell, Alexander, Rutherfordton and Cleveland counties. The Piedmont Council has a professional staff and volunteers that help make the individual troops successful.
The Piedmont Council also runs the Scout Store where uniforms, books and other scouting supplies are sold:
1222 East Franklin Boulvard Gastonia, NC 28054-4245 (704) 864-2694
Additionally a National BSA Scout Shop is located at:
2121 Westinghouse Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28273 (704) 583-2627
Troop 6 is proudly chartered by First Baptist Church of Gastonia, NC. Our chartering organization provides a meeting place, guidance, leadership and financial assistance.
Troop 6 has a strong leadership team consisting of a Scoutmaster and several Assistant Scoutmaster with many years of scouting experience. The Troop also has a Troop Committee which is a group of parents/guardians of our Scouts and volunteers, who provide support and guidance to the troop.
Troop Committee positions include:
· Troop Committee Chair - Head of the troop committee.
· Charter Organization Representative - Liaison between the troop and Chartering Organization.
· Secretary - Record keeper and takes/maintains committee meeting notes.
· Treasurer - Takes care of all incoming/outgoing money for the troop, maintains financial records and provides monthly financial status to the troop committee.
· Chaplain – Works with Chaplain’s Aide to provide religious programs for troop outings and events
· Advancement/Merit Badge Coordinator - Administers the troop advancement program (ranks and merit badges), maintains records and prepares advancement reports for the council.
· Fund-raiser Coordinator - Organizes fund raising projects to meet the troop needs.
· Service Project Coordinator – Organizes and reports troop service projects
· Camping/Outdoor Coordinator - Works with the Patrol Leader's Council and the Scoutmaster to plan camping trips and outdoor events. Coordinates transportation needs. Obtains any necessary camping permits/reservations and submits tour permits to the Council (if required).
· Training Coordinator – Maintains adult training records and opportunities
· Quartermaster - Works with the troop and patrol Quartermasters to control and maintain troop and patrol equipment.
Troop Adult Leadership
· Scoutmaster - Oversees the operations of the troop.
· Assistant Scoutmasters - Advisors to assigned Patrols.
Troop Structure
Ideally, a Boy Scout Troop is a "Boy Run Troop"; the Scouts do all of the event planning and take care of all Troop operations via the Patrol Leader's Council (PLC). Troop 6 aims to follow this ideal.
The adult leaders of Troop 6 are advisors to the Patrol Leader's Council. The senior adult leader is the Scoutmaster and the others are Assistant Scoutmasters or Troop Committee Members. The Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are the top 2 youth leadership positions within the troop. The Troop is divided into patrols, each with a Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader.
A patrol is a group of 5-7 boys who camp together and participate in troop activities together. In our troop, we like to keep boys of similar age and experience together in a patrol. If the number of boys in a patrol changes due to growth or attrition, the Scoutmaster may form a new patrol or combine existing patrols as needed. A Scout may make a request to change patrols to the Senior Patrol Leader and the Scoutmaster, who will then decide if the change is justified.
Troop Leadership Positions
As a “Boy Led Troop” scouts apply for and are elected or appointed to various leadership positions within the troop. These positions are rotated every 6 months to help ensure that all scouts have an opportunity to serve in positions to help them gain leadership, organizational and other skills. Detailed position descriptions and application are available on the Troop website.
Troop 6 leadership positions include the following:
· Senior Patrol Leader – top youth leader
· Asst. Senior Patrol Leader – 2nd highest youth leader position
· Patrol Leader – elected leader of patrol
· Asst. Patrol Leader – assists patrol leader
· Instructor – teaches scout skills to younger scouts
· Quartermaster – maintains troop equipment
· Troop Guide – provides guidance to new Scout patrols
· Chaplain Aide – provides religious focus for troop
· Historian – keeps historical record of scout activities
· Scribe – tracks attendance and records Patrol Council minutes
· Den Chief – provides knowledge of scout games and skills to Pack
· Librarian – takes care of troop literature
· OA Representative – provide communication link between troop and chapter and lodge
Joining Troop 6
To join BSA Troop 6, you must do the following (as outlined in "The Boy Scout Handbook", Twelfth Edition):
· Meet the age requirements - complete the fifth grade or be 11 years old, or earn the Cub Scout Arrow Of Light Award (must be under 18 years old)
· Complete a Boy Scout Application Form and health history, signed by a parent or guardian
· Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance
· Demonstrate the Scout Sign, Salute, and Handshake
· Demonstrate tying the square knot
· Understand, and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, Motto, and Slogan, and the Outdoor Code
· Describe the Scout Badge
· Complete the "How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide" pamphlet from the front of the "Boy Scout Handbook"
· Participate in a Scoutmaster Conference
Scout Handbook
Each scout is expected to obtain and keep a copy of "The Boy Scout Handbook, Twelfth Edition". This book should be brought to all troop activities and campouts. A spiral bound handbook or a protective cover (available from the scout store) is recommended.
Fees/Dues
Troop 6 collects yearly fees/dues during the rechartering process in December. For 2012 the fee is $35 per scout. These fees/dues are used to renew the " Boys Life " magazine subscription (excellent resource for scouts), for payment to the BSA council for troop insurance and miscellaneous troop expenses. Please make every effort to ensure that these dues are paid in a timely manner.
WEBLOS-II Scouts that cross-over from a Cub Scout Pack and join Troop 6 in the spring will need to pay a $1 transfer fee plus $35 recharter dues the following December.
New scouts yearly fees are payable and pro-rated at time of joining.
Remember - "A Scout is Thrifty". A Scout should understand the fees associated with scouting and he should work to help earn the necessary rechartering and camping fees.
Campouts and other Troop activities will require funds in addition to the rechartering dues. Details will be provided for each activity. Funds collected for activities are non-refundable. No scout will be excluded from campouts or activities due to financial difficulties. Please see Troop Committee Chair for more information.
Troop 6 aims to hold several fund raising events each year. Scouts will have the opportunity to earn money at these to offset camping and equipment fees. The money earned by each Scout will be kept in an "account" maintained by the Troop Treasurer. If a Scout leaves the Troop with a balance in the account, the balance is forfeited and the money is put into the general troop account.
Troop Meetings
Troop 6 meets every Monday evening in the Family Life Center at the First Baptist Church. As a general rule, there are no Troop meetings on Monday nights when there is no public school (follow Gaston County School calendar). Troop 6 meets year round – we do not take the summer off.
A typical meeting format includes:
6:50 – 7:00 p.m. Pre-opening (set up flag pole)
7:00 - 7:05 p.m. Opening Ceremony.
7:05 – 7:30 p.m. Skills Instruction
7:30 - 7:50 p.m. Patrol Meeting
7:50 - 8:20 p.m. Inter-patrol activity
8:20 - 8:30 p.m. Closing Ceremony
Patrol Leader Council meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at 6:30 in the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church. All scouts holding positions are required to attend.
Troop Committee meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 in the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church. All Leaders and interested Parents are encouraged to attend.
District Round Table meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. One or more adult leaders of the Troop will attend this meeting.
All Scouts are expected to attend every Troop meeting. Many of our Scouts are involved in school activities and sports, which may make attendance a problem. This is understood by the Troop, and events are planned around the Gaston County school calendar and sports schedule whenever possible. Please contact the Scoutmaster if you have a schedule conflict that will cause you to miss or be late to several meetings in a row. Scouts who miss a Troop meeting are expected to contact other members of their patrol to get information presented at the Troop meeting.
Rank advancement to the higher ranks require a Scout to be active in his Troop and Patrol for a specified period of time as the previous rank - four months for Star, six months for Life, and six Months for Eagle. An active scout is one who attends a majority (75%) of troop meetings, campouts, community service projects, etc. A Scout will fail a Board of Review for his rank advancement if activity in troop events is not demonstrated.
Troop Uniform
The Boy Scouts of America is a uniformed organization. Wearing the Boy Scout uniform shows a sense of belonging and pride in the Scouting movement. All members of Troop 6 are strongly encouraged to wear the approved uniform and insignia to all troop meetings and activities, as this displays scout spirit, which is a requirement for advancement. Adult leaders should set an example and wear the proper adult uniform. Other sport uniforms or hats should not be worn at troop meetings.
Troop 6 will supply any merit badges, rank insignia, patrol insignia, and patches earned by a troop member. Any duplicate badges/patches (lost or duplicates for additional uniforms) will be paid for by the Scout.
Official BSA uniforms are expensive and scouts grow quickly during their scouting years. Used uniforms may be donated to the Troop for other scouts in need to borrow for a period of time. Scouts in need of assistance with uniforms should contact the Scoutmaster or Committee Chairperson to discuss options.
Troop 6 has approved the following three uniforms:
· Field Uniform - to be worn to all Troop Meetings, Service Projects and for travel to/from all Troop campouts/activities. The Field Uniform consists of the following:
o Official BSA Khaki long or short sleeved shirt (with appropriate Troop 6, Piedmont Council, World Crest, patrol emblem, shoulder loops, and rank insignia. See the inside cover of the BSA Handbook for details.)
o BSA olive pants or shorts belt. Olive green pants or shorts are acceptable until official pants can be obtained
o Official BSA belt
o Official BSA scout socks.
o Any official BSA scouting hat is optional.
· Class "A" Uniform - to be worn to all Troop Courts of Honor, Boards of Review, and for Scout Sunday. The Class "A" Uniform consists of the following:
o Official BSA Khaki long or short sleeved shirt (with appropriate Troop 6, Piedmont Council, World Crest, patrol emblem, shoulder loops, and rank insignia. See the inside cover of the BSA Handbook for details.)
o Troop 6 black/red kerchief and slide.
o BSA olive pants or shorts belt. Olive green pants or shorts are acceptable until official pants can be obtained
o Official BSA belt
o Official BSA scout socks.
o Any official BSA scouting hat is optional.
o Merit badge sash is required for Courts of Honor and other special events.
o Order of the Arrow (OA) sashes may be worn at Court of Honor ceremonies only, otherwise these are for OA functions only.
· Class "B" Uniform - to be worn while on campouts after arrival and for other designated Troop activities. During summer months (when school isn’t in session), Class “B” uniforms are worn for Troop Meetings.