BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
TROOP 1347
PARENT INFORMATION BOOK
Updated April 2004
BOY SCOUTS OF
TROOP 1347
PARENT INFORMATION BOOK
I. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 1
II. SCOUTING
ORGANIZATION........................................................................................... 3
III. MEETINGS.............................................................................................................................. 8
IV. UNIFORMS............................................................................................................................. 9
V. JUNIOR
LEADER ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS........................................... 9
VI. EQUIPMENT........................................................................................................................ 11
VII. OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES................................................................................................... 12
VIII. SUMMER
CAMP................................................................................................................. 13
IX. PARTICIPATION
IN SCOUT ACTIVITIES................................................................. 14
X. MEDICAL
PROCEDURES................................................................................................ 15
XI. ADVANCEMENT................................................................................................................. 16
XII. DISCIPLINE......................................................................................................................... 18
XIII. FINANCES............................................................................................................................ 19
XIV. REFERENCES
AND RESOURCES.................................................................................. 20
XV. PARENT’S
ROLE................................................................................................................ 21
BOY SCOUTS OF
TROOP 1347
PARENT INFORMATION BOOK
Dear Parents:
Welcome
to Troop 1347 of the Patriot District, National Capital Area Council of the Boy
Scouts of
This book
will provide you with basic information about Scouting and Troop 1347. It is a guide, not a set of specific rules to
be obeyed to the letter. This book only
becomes a more useful tool when new ideas, procedures, and concepts are added
to it. We encourage your questions,
suggestions, and constructive criticism of our policies, program features, and
operating procedures, for that is the best way to positively influence the
Scouting program offered to the members of the Troop. And, again, we are pleased to have you join
our Troop!
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was
incorporated on
The Boy
Scout program is designed for boys eleven through seventeen to achieve the Aims
of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership, with
the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster and his assistants. Your son can be a Scout if he has completed
the fifth grade, or is at least eleven years old, or has earned the Arrow of
Light as a Cub Scout.
The Aims
of Scouting are clearly stated and they guide all activities of the Troop. The Aims are:
1. To build character
2. To foster citizenship
3. To develop fitness
In
building character, Troop 1347 emphasizes ethical traits, honesty, integrity,
and correct moral principles in our activities and in the example our adult Scouters present to the Scouts. We strive to develop self-reliance,
self-discipline, self-confidence, and self-respect in each Scout, and like in
all life's activities, our progress is observed in the individual actions of
each Scout in the Troop. We do not
replace the core values taught by parents or guardians of our Scouts; rather,
we build on and compliment the foundation each boy has when he joins the troop.
In
fostering citizenship, we focus on the duties, obligations, privileges, and
responsibilities of a citizen through the citizenship merit badge program, by
involvement in service projects to the community and our Chartered
Organization-the
To
develop fitness, we include activities to improve the four basic kinds of
fitness recognized by BSA: physical, mental, emotional, and moral. We conduct Scout outings in the great
outdoors challenging our Scouts to learn new skills, expand their personal
capabilities, and develop courage to overcome obstacles. Scouts learn to evaluate situations, make decisions, and
then supervise the carrying out of actions to implement decisions. We emphasize positive, controlled behavior
through self discipline and absence of abusive language and actions toward
others. And we stress the trait of moral
courage as an essential fundamental of life.
These
high but appropriate Aims of Scouting are achieved in Troop 1347 through a
cooperative effort of Scouters, Parents, and Scouts. And to achieve them, we use the nationally
recognized Methods of Scouting in
developing our Scouting program. The
first and perhaps most important method is establishing and living up to the Ideals of Scouting. These Ideals are the personal behavior guides
and standards to which a boy commits himself when he
becomes a Boy Scout. These Ideals are
stated in the Boy Scout Oath, the Boy Scout Law, the Boy Scout Motto, the Boy
Scout Slogan, the Outdoor Code, and the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. Troop 1347 incorporates at least one of these
Ideals in every meeting and outdoor activity.
We believe in them and we live them in our Program--because this
involvement gets the results we want:
achievement of the Aims of Scouting!
The remainder of this Parent's Guide will outline the remaining
components of the Methods of Scouting and how we incorporate them into our
Troop program.
A final introductory note.
Troop 1347 is a boy-led Boy Scout troop.
That means the success of our Scouting program depends heavily upon what
the Scouts want to accomplish and then what they themselves do. Their initiative, cooperation, and
participation in their Scout program will produce results proportional to their
own efforts. This is a major difference
between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and perhaps between Boy Scouts and other
organizations which are adult led, controlled, and directed. This is not to say that adult counsel,
support, supervision, and oversight is absent in our Troop; rather it is to say
that the adult role is to counsel, support, supervise, and provide oversight to
the activities which will achieve the Aims of Scouting and provide a fun,
challenging, and invigorating program for our sons.
NATIONAL, COUNCIL, AND DISTRICT
ORGANIZATION
The National Headquarters of BSA is in
We are in the Patriot District,
one of 21 Districts in the National Capital Area Council. Our District includes the Burke area of
TROOP ORGANIZATION
The organization of Troop 1347 consists of the Chartered Organization,
The Troop Committee, the Unit Leaders and the Scouts themselves. An overview of this organization is shown on
the next page and explained in the next few paragraphs.
THE CHARTERED ORGANIZATION
Each Scouting unit must be sponsored by a community or civic
organization. This organization, called
the Chartered Organization, registers
with BSA Headquarters and provides recommendations,
facilities, and approval of adult leaders for the Troop's Scouting
program. The Chartered Organization of
Troop 1347 is the Burke United Methodist Church (BUMC)
located at
THE TROOP COMMITTEE
Direct oversight of Troop 1347 and its Scouting program is vested in the
Troop Committee. The committee is formed primarily by parents of Scouts in the troop who volunteer their
time and effort to establish, control, direct, and support the Scouting program
for their sons.
The
standing members of the Troop Committee are the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer,
Advancement, Eagle Advisor, Boards of Review, Membership, Refreshments,
Outdoor/Activities, Equipment and Transportation, Chaplain, and members
at-large. The standing Committee members
are assisted by several other parents who may participate in Committee
activities. The Scoutmaster is not an official member of the Troop Committee
but attends all meetings of the Committee to receive guidance and to report on
Troop activities and plans. The COR serves as the Chaplain if another
parent is not so appointed. Other positions are filled by interested
adults or parents with experience or interest in these positions.
The
Committee's regular meeting is on the Monday following the second Tuesday of
each month at
The troop committee is responsible for the following:
-
ensuring meeting and outdoors facilities for the troop are adequate,
-
advising the Scoutmaster on policies relating to BSA
and the chartered organization,
-
carrying out the policies and regulations of BSA,
-
encouraging leaders in carrying out the Scouting program,
-
approving an annual budget for the Troop and reviewing funding and
disbursements in accordance with that budget,
-
obtaining, maintaining, and properly caring for Troop property,
-
providing an adequate camping and outdoor program consisting of a
minimum of 10 days and nights per year,
-
developing the membership program to attract new Scouts to the
Troop, recruiting and providing for training of quality adult leadership for
the Troop.
-
Reviewing and approving Eagle Service Projects.
All
parents of Scouts in Troop 1347 are eligible and encouraged to serve on the
Troop Committee and are welcome at any Committee meeting to discuss any matter
of the Scouting program. It is
recommended that parents desiring to discuss specific issues at the Committee
meeting notify the Committee Chairperson prior to the meeting so that meeting
time may be appropriately scheduled. An
expectation of the Troop 1347 Committee is that all parents or guardians will
perform their fair share of volunteer activities in support of the Scouting
program in which their son participates.
Members of the troop committee will contact the parents or guardians of
all Scouts in the Troop to determine how that parent or guardian can best
support the troop. Part of this procedure
will include the parent or guardian filling out the Troop Resources Survey form, on which the parent may indicate their
personal interests, hobbies, and areas of expertise and also identify how they
would like to support the Troop program.
The success of the Scouting program for our sons depends on
volunteers-and all parents and guardians who wish their son to participate in
Troop 1347 activities share in the obligation to volunteer to support the
program.
The Unit Leaders
The Unit Leaders of Troop 1347 are the Scoutmaster (SM), and a varying
number of Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM), each of whom
is charged with responsibility for a specific functional area of the Troop's
Scouting program. These adult volunteers
are selected by the Troop Committee, approved by the Chartered Organization,
and are registered with the BSA. The Scoutmaster’s primary role is leadership
development. The SM with the approval of
the Troop Committee assigns areas of responsibility to each ASM. The primary role of the ASM’s
is to provide direct counsel and oversight to Scouts, interface with other unit
leaders, and coordinate their efforts with the relevant Troop Committee
member. The following are the current
major areas of functional responsibility which the Scoutmaster has assigned to
the ASM’s:
- Patrol Advisor(s)
-
Outdoor Program/Activities
-
New Scout Program
-
Equipment Coordinator
- Venture Program/High Adventure Activities Coordinator
- Service Program/Order of the Arrow
- Ceremonies/Courts
of Honor
-
Merit Badge Coordinator
-
Summer Camp Coordinator
Depending upon the number and desires of the ASMs,
specific responsibilities and duties may change over time. An ASM may be
permitted to both serve as an ASM and fill a specific
Committee position concurrently. His or
her attendance at the Committee meetings will then be in the role as a
Committee member, not as an ASM.
The
number of Registered Committee members and Unit Leaders allow Troop 1347 to
fully comply with the BSA policy which requires two
registered adult leaders to be present during Troop campouts and other outdoor
programs. While two registered leaders
are not required for single Patrol activities, it is Troop policy that one
registered leader and one other adult shall be present for any Patrol activity
conducted as a BSA activity.
The Scout Organization
The Organization of Scouts in
Troop 1347 is based on the Patrol Method of Scouting. The Troop is composed of the Troop (PLC and
PLC Adjunct) and a varying number of patrols.
The
Troop’s junior leadership consists of the elected and appointed scout junior
leaders who run the troop and direct program activities of the entire
Troop. The senior Scout leader of the
Troop is named the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and is
elected by the Troop members. The SPL is in charge of all Troop operations and works together
closely with the SM to promote training of all junior leaders and completion of
the activities of the Scouting program.
The SPL is assisted by additional Troop
officers in running troop activities and these officers are appointed by the SPL in coordination with the SM, and the immediate past SPL. The additional
Troop officers are the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL),
Instructor(s), Scribe, Historian, Librarian, Quartermaster, and Chaplain's
Aide. The ASPL's
leadership role is in assisting the SPL, presiding
over Troop activities in his absence, and directing the activities of the PLC
Adjunct for the SPL. The Junior Leaders within the
PLC Adjunct complete tasks within their specific area of responsibility. Lastly, the SM appoints a Troop Guide(s) and
Instructors to work directly with the New Scout Patrols.
All
Scouts of the Troop are members of a patrol, a grouping, normally of six to ten
Scouts who work together as a team. The
exact number of Patrols is not set as it varies with the total membership of
the Troop at any given time. Each Patrol
has a Patrol Advisor, who is a registered Unit Leader. Each patrol also has its own junior leadership
cadre headed by its own leader, called the Patrol Leader, who is elected by the
members of his Patrol. The Patrol
Leader, with the counsel of his Patrol Advisor, will appoint an Assistant
Patrol Leader, the Patrol Scribe, the Patrol Quartermaster, and the Patrol Grubmaster. Each of
these patrol officers has specific duties within the patrol, not the least of
which is sharing in the leadership of the Patrol. This is obviously how boys learn the skills
of leadership and why the Patrol Method is a fundamental cornerstone of BSA leadership development.
Advancing
WEBELOS Cub Scouts, or eligible boys in the fifth or sixth grade with no
scouting experience, who join Troop 1347 are placed in a New Scout Patrol for
their first year in the Troop. All the
boys in a new Scout patrol(s) are in their first year of Boy Scouting and
receive a greater amount of adult oversight during this first year to ease
their transition into the Troop.
Additionally, a Troop Guide, one of the older, more experienced Scouts
is assigned as the "big brother" for each new Scout patrol. The ASM-New Scout
Program directs the activities of the New Scouts which are focused on providing
the opportunity for new Scouts to complete requirements necessary to advance to
First Class rank during the new Scout program year. At the end of the new Scout year, the new
Scouts join existing patrols of the Troop which makes room for more new Scout
patrols. New Scouts who join the Troop
after they have entered the seventh grade are placed by the SM into either a
new Scout patrol or a regular patrol depending upon the new Scout's interests
and recommendation of the new Scout’s parents.
The last
organization within Troop 1347 is the Venture crew. Scouts who are at least fourteen years old at
the start of the Scouting program year (September 1st annually) and who
have advanced to First Class rank can participate in the Venture program in
addition to other Troop and Patrol activities.
The Venture program is composed of high adventure activities requiring greater
physical strength, more mature decision making, and advanced knowledge of Scout
skills. Eligible Scouts volunteer for
Venture Crew participation in activities planned by the older Scouts.
All
leadership positions for the junior leaders of the Troop are for a 6 month
period, so as to allow each Scout the maximum opportunity for leadership
experiences in a number of different positions.
Elections and appointments of the junior leaders occurs annually at the last
Troop meetings in March and September in conjunction with readjusting the
Patrol structure and membership to accommodate the advancing new scouts into
regular patrols and starting the Scouting program year. By having frequent leadership changes, more
Scouts have a leadership opportunity to assist in their personal development,
advancement in Scout Rank, and lessen conflicts with other school and family
commitments.
Troop 1347 meets at BUMC on Tuesday
evenings. All meetings start at
Patrol meetings may be held at times and locations other than Tuesday
evening at BUMC at the discretion of the Patrol Leader
and Patrol Advisor. Likewise, a special
Troop meeting, such as the Court of Honor, may be held at a different location
and time. If a Troop or Patrol meeting
is to be held at another location, the new location will be announced in
advance or listed as such in the Troop calendar. The Troop calendar will also list a duty
Patrol for each Troop meeting. If your
Scout's patrol is the duty patrol, they have responsibility for the opening and
closing ceremony. All Scouts in the duty
patrol should be at BUMC at least five minutes early for set-up and remain after the meeting
for approximately 10 minutes to restore the meeting place to its previous
condition; members of the duty patrol are released from their after meeting
activities by their Patrol Advisor.
Parents are encouraged to be prompt in arriving to pick up their Scouts
at the end of meetings.
Merit Badge counseling sessions are the last recognized meeting
conducted within Troop 1347. Normally,
these sessions are arranged by the Scouts themselves directly with a Merit
Badge counselor. These meetings are the
only standing exception to the BSA two adult leader
rule- the policy for merit badge counseling sessions becomes the two person
plus counselor rule. The non-waiverable BSA-registered leader
requirement for these meetings is met by the merit badge counselor who is
registered with the BSA as a merit badge
counselor. The two person requirement
can be met by the Scout working on the merit badge and another adult (over age
21), such as a parent, relative, or other adult designated by the Scout's
parents; or, more typically, the second
person requirement is met by a second Scout who is also working on the
merit badge. To facilitate meeting the BSA two-person requirement, the Troop Merit Badge
Coordinator will urge Scouts to form a buddy team of at least two Scouts
working on the same merit badge at the same time.
Any other scouting meeting
must be approved by the Scoutmaster.
Scouts
are expected to bring their Scout handbook, paper (a notebook reserved for
Scouting materials is recommended), and a pencil/pen to each Troop and Patrol
meeting. Junior leaders of the Troop and
Patrols will be issued a leader's notebook for their position by the Troop
Librarian. It is the junior leader's
personal responsibility to bring this notebook to all meetings and to keep it
up to date during his leadership tenure.
At the end of his leadership term, the junior leaders' notebooks are
turned in to the Troop Librarian for transfer to the incoming leader.
Boy Scouts are recognized by their distinctive uniforms. The parts of the uniform are described in the
Boy Scout Handbook. The inside covers of
the Handbook shows where the badges are positioned on the uniform. Unless specifically announced by the
Scoutmaster or published in the Troop calendar, all Scouts should be in the
full BSA uniform or the Troop 1347 modified uniform
for all meetings, in-town events, service projects, activities with other
Scouts, and when traveling to and from activities. This is an important requirement as there may
be occasions when Scouts not in uniform will not be allowed to participate in
an event or meeting.
Troop 1347 modified
uniform is described below.
-
A BSA uniform shirt with all patches and
shoulder loops. The shirt must be
buttoned and tucked-in at the waist;
-
Solid color trousers or shorts with a belt - blue jeans in good
condition are acceptable; soccer shorts, jams, and sweats are not acceptable;
-
Closed toe shoes, appropriate for uniform wear, with socks. Tennis shoes are acceptable, except for outdoors activities where more rugged footwear is called
for or required by weather conditions.
For
Courts of Honor, Boards of Review, or other special events designated by the
Scoutmaster, the Troop neckerchief,
neckerchief slide and merit badge
sash is required parts of the Troop 1347 modified uniform. The Order of the
Arrow sash is worn only at OA functions or during OA related activities.
At certain District or Council functions, the full official BSA (or field) uniform, as defined by the BSA, is required.
This uniform includes the BSA uniform shirt, BSA trousers or shorts, BSA hat, BSA web belt and buckle or BSA
leather belt, merit badge sash, troop neckerchief and slide, and BSA socks if shorts are worn. If a Scout is to participate in these special
events, he must have all required uniform items even though the Troop does not
require them for meetings and outings.
All Scouts are urged to purchase and wear the full official BSA uniform to all meetings.
During
summer vacation meetings or when a high level of physical activity is involved,
the Activity Uniform may be
prescribed. The Troop 1347 activity
uniform consists of any scout Tee shirt (camp, unit, special events) and
pants/shorts and shoes and socks as described above. The Scoutmaster will designate when the
activity uniform is to be worn.
To be eligible for a Troop 1347 leadership position, a scout must have
earned first class rank and make a commitment to devote the time and energy
required to perform the function properly. Troop and Patrol junior leader
elections and appointments will be scheduled every six months, during the last
Troop meeting in the months of March and September. Installation of new junior leaders will be at
the first Troop meeting or campout in April and at the Fall Court of Honor
normally scheduled on the third weekend in September. The Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leader
positions are elected positions with
each Scout in the Troop or Patrol having a vote in the election. Upon election of the SPL,
the incoming SPL in conjunction with the Scoutmaster
and the outgoing SPL will appoint the ASPL and members of the PLC. Each Patrol Leader, in conjunction with their
Patrol Advisor, will appoint the remaining Patrol junior leaders. Troop Guides and Den Chiefs are appointed by
the Scoutmaster.
Note that the Advancement chapter in the Boy Scout Handbook lists the
specific junior leadership positions which meet BSA
requirements for advancement in Scout rank.
Successful completion of the leadership requirement for advancement is
certified by the Scoutmaster. Certification is earned by completing Junior
Leadership Training as prescribed by the Scoutmaster, successfully completing
the tasks of the leadership position, and working cooperatively with the other
junior leaders and scouts. While BSA policy specifies
the actual requirements, the philosophy of Troop 1347 is that the Scoutmaster
shall exercise judgement in recommending scouts to
advance to the rank of Eagle Scout and that that judgement
shall be based, in part, upon the scout having served satisfactorily for at least
one full leadership term of six months preferably as the Senior Patrol Leader,
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, or a Patrol Leader. It is the stated philosophy of the Troop
Committee that the rank of Eagle Scout represents a variety of attributes and
accomplishments, amongst which is the demonstration of leadership in one of
these key troop positions.
Patrol Leader responsibility for the New Scout patrols shall be rotated
monthly during the new scout year so that every new Scout has the opportunity
to be the Patrol leader and attend a PLC meeting. Other new Scout Patrol leadership positions
will also be rotated equitably as determined by the Troop Guide and the ASM-New Scout Program.
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is a BSA service organization.
Scouts are elected into the OA by their fellow Scouts in the Troop. The ASM- Service/OA
provides a list of all eligible candidates to OA and the election is conducted,
normally in February, by representatives of OA.
Results of the election are not announced until the District Spring Camporee when the elected candidates are "tapped
out" at the campfire. The eligible
candidates are not informed of the results of the election, so they must attend
the Camporee to find out if they were elected. Scouts then have to complete their OA Ordeal
Ceremony within one year of election. To
be eligible for OA, a Scout must be First Class rank, have spent at least
fifteen nights camping (of which five nights must be a long term camp) during
the previous two years, and be recommended by the Scoutmaster.
Scouts need equipment to go camping - and there are two kinds of
equipment: Personal equipment and Troop
supplied equipment. Individual Scouts
are responsible for buying and bringing their personal equipment to
outings. Parents are encouraged to
discuss equipment needs with other parents before buying expensive equipment
that the Scout may outgrow in a couple of years. Equipment does not have to be fancy or
expensive; it must only be functional and appropriate for the outing planned.
The individual equipment list for each Scout is presented below.
- Personal eating utensils -
Sleeping bag (20 degree-rated)
-
Drinking cup-hot/cold capable -
Ground cloth for sleeping bag
-
Outdoor shoes/hiking boots -
Backpack/equipment carrying
container
- Sleeping pad - Plates
-
Poncho/rain suit -
Personal first aid kit (2nd Class Rqmt)
-
Flashlight w/extra batteries -
Changes of clothing- 1 per day of
outing
-
Warm clothing per season-gloves, stocking hat, layered clothes, extra
boots
For
cold weather camping, polypropylene or other non-cotton long underwear is
required to keep the body moisture away from the skin. A damp scout is a cold scout.
- Folding
pocket knife with carrier - only after earning and keeping the Totin'
Chip Badge
-
Personal toilet articles including SOAP, hand towel, toothbrush
-
Other personal equipment as desired, i.e. folding camp stool
Note the 20 degree-rated sleeping bag requirement. Lower temperature ratings equate to more
expensive. But lower temperature
capability is required for winter camping.
You can buy a moderately priced 30 degree sleeping bag and make it 10
degree capable by adding a wool blanket inside the bag and a thermal (space)
blanket on top of the bag. That's why we
suggest the parents of new scouts talk with other Scout parents or leaders
before buying equipment. Also we expect
parents to tell their Scout that he will be expected to use his soap, hand
towel, and toothbrush for their intended purposes on every scout outing!
Troop 1347 supplies the
following equipment for outings.
-
Tents with ground cloths -
Dining flies for rain protection
-
Propane cooking stoves, lanterns -
Propane tanks, hoses, stands
-
Cooking utensils/pots/pans -
grills, Dutch ovens, griddles
-
Water carriers -
Camp saws and axes
-
Patrol boxes to carry equipment -
Larger first aid kit
-
Fire shovels/buckets -
Portable picnic tables
Note that
troop equipment must be cleaned, and serviced, including minor repairs, if
necessary, after outings. It is troop equipment policy that all Scouts
participating in outings perform their fair share of caring for troop
equipment. Your scout can expect to take
home at least one piece of troop equipment to clean, dry, inspect, and repair
after each outing. The requirements and procedures for cleaning troop equipment
are printed on the back cover of this booklet.
The Scout then returns the equipment to the Troop at the time scheduled
by the outing leader, which is normally at
the next scheduled troop meeting. The
Troop leadership requests the support of Parents in insuring that Troop
equipment is properly cleaned and dried out and returned on time. The Troop equipment policy also requires that
if a person purposefully or negligently damages, loses, or destroys Troop
equipment, then that person is responsible for the replacement cost of the
equipment.
BSA policy prohibits Scouts and adult leaders from having
certain items on any Scout outing or meeting.
The Prohibited Items
are:
-
Alcoholic beverages ;
-
Illegal drugs, including legal medicines without a valid prescription
or parent's written instructions for
use;
-
Tobacco products of any type, including travel to and from Troop
outings, as well as at Troop outings;
Additionally,
Troop 1347 policy precludes the use on Troop activities of the following:
-
Personal electronic devices--unless approved by the Scoutmaster for the
individual activity; adult leaders only will normally carry cell phones for
emergency notification actions;
-
Any personal knife with a straight, fixed blade. Other than as a component of the chef's kit,
no fixed blade knives are allowed;
-
Folding knives with a blade longer than 4 inches;
-
Butane lighters or other type cigarette lighters.
Note that
Scouts who use these, or authorized items improperly or in a manner dangerous
to themselves or others will have those authorized items confiscated and held
until the next Scout meeting where these items will be returned to the Scout's
parent.
Troop
1347 conducts a variety of outings during the year. These outings are
identified by the Troop Committee and the Troop’s leaders and junior leaders.
The annual program planning cycle is generally completed during the July/August
time frame, with the program year beginning in September. Parents are
encouraged to participate in the development of ideas for, or the planning of,
outings by joining the Troop Committee, or in the outings themselves either by
driving or attending.
Generally,
there will be one major camping outing or a Troop or Patrol day activity each month . During some
months, there are separate first year program outings, Troop outings as well as
Venture outings for the older Scouts.
Our outings may include District Camporees
with other Scouting units in the spring and fall, campouts and hiking weekends
in the mountains, visits to historic sites in the
Each
outing requires a parent permission slip so that outing leaders have the
authority to direct emergency medical care if required. Scouts will not be allowed to participate in
outings without the parent permission slip, regardless of whether or not the
parent will accompany the Troop on the outing-for after all, if both you and
your son are injured, you might not be able to provide consent for emergency
treatment. Due dates for permission
slips and outing fees are established in the Troop calendar. On occasion, if a Scout misses the deadline
for turning in the permission slip and fee, the Scout may not be able to
participate in the outing. Scouts who
are late in arriving at the departure point may be left behind; in this event,
the Scout is then responsible for providing his own transportation to the outing site.
Scouts
must have a current health history and medical evaluation to participate in any
Troop activity.
The
majority of the word "Scouting" is outing - that means outdoors, in
nature, away from the city, without TV, video games, nor parents to do
everything for a young man. Our Scouting
program emphasizes outings because that is what Scouting is about. Of course we will visit museums, historic
sites, zoos, and other "civilized areas" -- but we are not the indoor
school activity club and no one should have false expectations of what our
program offers.
Troop 1347's policy on summer camp is that we will try to attend a different
camp annually to offer the Scouts the maximum exposure to outdoor
opportunities. Certainly, we may attend
our Council's camp at
During
the week long camp, the Scouts work on advancement
and merit badges while having a great Scouting outdoor experience. Venture Scouts have additional unique
opportunities for camping experiences at several national high adventure camps,
including Lenhok'sin Trail at Goshen, Maine Canoe
Base, Florida Sea Base, and Philmont in New Mexico.
Sign-up for summer camp is in the January-to-March time frame each year and requires a non-refundable
deposit that is sent to the camp. New
Scouts are strongly encouraged to go the summer camp in their first
Scouting year to participate in the special program for new Scouts. New Scouts are added to the summer camp
roster when they bridge over to the Troop in March.
The cost of
summer camp varies with the camping program selected, the transportation
required, and the Council's cost at the camp.
The total cost of camp also includes the camping fee for adult leaders
who volunteer their time and effort to supervise Scouts while at camp. In the recent past, the total cost has been
in the range of $150-200. High adventure
camps are normally more expensive due to the specialized capabilities offered
and transportation required.
If a scout cannot attend Summer Camp due to a financial hardship within
the family, a parent should discuss the situation privately with the Committee
Chairman. Troop 1347 can provide some
financial support, if warranted, and NCAC has
“camperships” available.
The expectation of the Troop Committee is that Scouts will participate
in Scouting meetings, outings, camps, and service projects. Of course, participation may conflict with
the busy lives and other activities of our families and these conflicts often
cause the Scout and his parents to make hard choices. The Troop policy does not require the Scout
to participate in all program activities; rather, it is designed to emphasize
that the Troop has regular meetings, schedules a certain type of activities in
the outdoors, stresses physical challenge, and depends upon patrol
teamwork. A boy who is never or rarely
there on outings not only misses an opportunity for himself, but hinders his
patrol and perhaps detracts from the experience of others who did attend the
outing
If a
Scout is participating in an activity that prohibits him from attending
meetings or outings for several weeks, please inform the Patrol Advisor or
Scoutmaster. Repeated absences are a
concern due to the affect they have on others in the Patrol or Troop, and often
lead to a loss of interest in Scouting - which is a scenario in which all
lose. As a general rule, the more a
Scout participates, the faster he learns skills and advances to greater
challenges and rank within Scouting.
It is
also Troop policy concerning high adventure camps and activities that a Scout
must be an active participant in the Scouting program in order to be
eligible. Attendance at all of the high
adventure camps and activities is limited and normally more Scouts wish to attend
than there are quotas for. The Scoutmaster and Troop Committee strive to be
absolutely fair in filling these limited quotas when over-subscription
exists. Parents need to understand that
the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee support attendance at specialized
opportunities by those Scouts who are active participants in our local Scouting
program and give back to the Troop their efforts, service, and commitment. The Troop policy then, in the difficult
situation of deciding which Scouts receive a limited quota to a high adventure
camp or activity, is to allocate those quotas to the Scouts who are
participating actively in the Troop program.
The Troop leadership will attempt to find other available quotas from
other Troops in the Area, District, or Council for these events, but in the
past, these attempts have been futile due to the high levels of interest in the
high adventure activities.
An
important area of participation is Service.
All Scouts are expected to participate in Troop Service projects. These projects include workdays and Martha's
Table for BUMC; Council and District service
activities such as Scouting for Food in November; Eagle Scout projects and
other projects designed to benefit the community; and other specific projects
selected and scheduled by the PLC.
BSA requires that the Troop have on file (to be carried
by adult leaders during troop outings) a Personal Health and Medical History (PH&MH) for each Scout registered with the Troop. The level of medical information and
supporting medical examination required is dependent upon the activity.
-
All Troop activities require a current class 1 PH&MH
on file and a permission slip which includes an update of current medical
information, and authorizes
the Unit Leaders to direct emergency care.
The class 1 PH & MH is a current health history signed by the parent
and updated annually.
-
Activities such as backpacking, cold weather camping, high adventure outings,
and any outing over 72 hours in duration requires a
Class 2 PH&MH.
This is a current health history signed by the parent (updated annually)
supported by a medical evaluation completed within the last 36 months.
-
High adventure camps and all adults over age 40 attending any long term camp
require a class 3 PH&MH. This is a current health history signed by
the parent/adult (updated annually) supported by a medical evaluation completed
within the last 12 months.
BSA policy states, “The taking of prescription
medications is the responsibility of the individual taking the medication and
that individual’s parent or guardian. A scout leader, after obtaining all the
necessary information, can agree to accept the responsibility.” BSA policy neither mandates nor encourages the leaders to
do so.
The Troop 1347 policy is that the dispensation of medication
(prescription and non-prescription) is the responsibility of the scout and his
parents or guardians. A unit leader may agree to dispense the medication to the
scout but must first be given written permission by the parents or guardians
and instructions for administering the medication to a Scout during a Scouting
activity. Those instructions shall be given by the parent/guardian to the
Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster in charge of the activity prior to departure
for the activity. If the unit leaders do not agree to the dispensation of the
medication, the parents or guardians must decide whether they will participate
in the outing in order to dispense the medication, or whether the scout is
capable of doing so himself.
The Troop first aid kits contain bandaids,
gauze, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin (Polymyxin B
Sulfate-Bacitracin Zinc Neomycin Sulfate-Pramoxine Hydrochloride), Tylenol, After Bite itch eraser
containing Ammonium Hydroxide, Bacitracin Zinc
ointment, Isopropyl Alcohol pads, and antiseptic/germicide towelettes
containing Benzalkonium Chloride, moleskin, Zephiran/Povidone-iodine, and
latex gloves, calamine lotion, Ivarest (for poison
ivy), Visine, Solarcaine (for sunburn), Pepto Bismol tablets, Benadryl
(for reactions to bites), insect
repellant, and Cepacol throat lozenges.
If your
son is allergic, or if you have any objection, to any of these items, you must
identify the medical restrictions on your son's medical information form.
As Scouts acquire new skills, they receive recognition through
advancement. The Scout Handbook lists the advancement
requirements for each rank. The members
of the new Scout patrol work together on basic Scouting skills and advancement
requirements with the overall goal to achieve the rank of First Class in
approximately one year from joining the Troop.
Experienced Scouts are encouraged to work on Merit Badges and to advance
in rank at their own pace commensurate with other activities, school, and
family requirements.
All Scouts in Troop 1347 are expected to advance at
their own pace. The expectation
for advancement for new Scouts is at least through Second Class rank in their
first year of membership with a goal of obtaining First Class rank. All Scouts are expected to advance to First
Class rank within two years of membership.
Advancement in rank above First Class is encouraged, but not required of
any Scout. What is expected of
experienced First Class Scouts is their continued learning of and growth in
personal skills and interests.
Specifically, this continued learning and growth is available through
the Merit Badge program. All Scouts of
First Class rank and above are encouraged to complete a minimum of four (4)
merit badges of their choosing each Scouting year. This minimal level of accomplishment is
established to retain focus on the Aims of Scouting and emphasize the need for
continued participation in the Scouting program. Scouts unwilling to meet the minimum level of
expectation will be counseled by the Scoutmaster to determine if they really wish to remain a Scout. Scouts who are unable to meet the minimum
level of expectation will be counseled by the Scoutmaster to determine how an
alternative type of accomplishment program can be structured to respond to the
Scout's specific needs. Meeting or
failing to meet the minimum levels of expectations in Scouting is a personal
decision. So is remaining a Scout. And when a young man loses interest in the
type of activities contained in the Scouting program, or can no longer support
the Ideals of Scouting, or does not wish to support his Troop, then that Scout
will be urged to find alternative activities which can fill his developmental
needs rather than continuing as a liability to the other Scouts who actively
want to support the Scouting program.
When a
Scout has completed his personal requirements for rank advancement, there are
two steps to be completed before his advancement is recognized.
-
Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
This 5-10 minute conference enables questions to be asked, goals to be
reviewed, suggestions to be received, problems to be noted for resolution, and
reinforcement from the Scoutmaster given for the good work accomplished in
qualifying for rank advancement. It is
the responsibility of the Scout to contact the Scoutmaster to arrange this
conference. Conferences can be held at
any time convenient to both the Scoutmaster and the Scout, including during
Troop meetings and outings, as time permits.
The conference is between the Scout and Scoutmaster-parents may be
briefed if requested after the conference is completed. This conference should be completed at least
a week before the scheduled Troop Board of Review, which is normally held at
the Troop meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. This time period allows the Scoutmaster to
coordinate with the Advancement Chairman to schedule an appropriate number of
parents to compose the Board(s).
- In complete Scout Uniform (Troop 1347 modified uniform) with
neckerchief and slide as a minimum and merit badge sash if earned, go before
the Board of Review to respond to questions, offer suggestions, and discuss
Scouting goals with members of the Board.
Upon successful completion of the Board, the Chairman of the Board of
Review will complete the final entry in the Scouts Advancement record for the
rank advancement and notify the Advancement Chairman.
- Then, the Scout is recognized
at the Troop meeting for the advancement and is formally recognized with his
parents at the next Court of Honor.
If a
Scout is not recommended for advancement as a result of the Scoutmaster
Conference or Board of Review, he will be told why by the Scoutmaster and what
he must do before trying again for the rank advancement. Rank advancement is personal and must be
accomplished by the Scout himself. The
goal of this process is improvement, not discouragement of the Scout. If parents have questions concerning the
results of the Scoutmaster conference or Board of
Review, they should contact the Scoutmaster, and if necessary, the Troop
Committee Chairman.
EAGLE Scout boards and other special boards may be called by the
Scoutmaster to respond to specific situations or advancement to Scouting's
highest rank.
Parents are urged to keep the following Troop guidance and
policy in mind:
-
Scouts are expected to advance, but advancement is not automatic. Advancement must be earned by the Scout.
-
A Scout focused only on his personal advancement at the expense of the Troop or
his fellow Scouts will normally be unsuccessful in that advancement.
- Minimum requirements for advancement are listed in The Scout Handbook. The
completion of the "show Scout Spirit" requirement is certified by the
Scoutmaster, normally simultaneously with completing the Scoutmaster
conference. It is unrealistic for anyone
to expect the Scoutmaster to certify that a Scout has shown Scout spirit if
that Scout has not continually participated in meetings, outings, and projects
of the Troop. It is also unrealistic to
expect a Scout to be advanced to a Scout rank for which the Scout is
emotionally, mentally, or in terms of maturation, unsuited. This situation normally occurs when a Scout
or that Scout's parents are focused on meeting only minimum requirements
including the minimum time requirements for advancement without regard for the
Scout's overall development and maturation.
- A Scout who has met minimum requirements for advancement and does not continue to support Scouting
activities has probably not shown Scouting spirit. In this instance, specific procedures to gain
certification for advancement should be addressed directly to the Scoutmaster.
-
Leadership requirements for the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle must be
satisfactorily completed and certified by the Scoutmaster. Simply being elected or appointed to a
leadership position does not fulfill the leadership requirement; the Scout
junior leader, elected or appointed, is expected to complete Junior Leader
Training and to show initiative in performing the tasks of his position, to the
satisfaction of the Scoutmaster. This
requires active participation and coordination with the other junior leaders
and the SM/ASM with oversight responsibility for that
part of Troop or Patrol operations. Note the Troop 1347 philosophy that a Scout
who desires advancement to the Rank of Eagle Scout shall have successfully
served his Troop or Patrol as the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol
Leader, or Patrol Leader for a complete leadership term. Leadership requires first-hand
experience. Therefore, before
recommending a Scout be considered by an Eagle Scout
Board of Review, that Scout shall have demonstrated his leadership abilities
through successfully completing the opportunity to directly lead a unit of his
peers.
The advancement process is not perfect.
Frequent involvement by parents and their scout in this process will
prevent misunderstandings and disappointments.
Boys who participate in the Scouting program are normally energetic,
enthusiastic, active, and excited. As
part of the scouting program, Scouts are expected to follow instructions and,
over time, develop greater self-awareness of their behavioral
responsibilities. While behavioral
problems are infrequently encountered, it is important to know what behaviors
are expected and the consequences of not behaving properly. Boys will be boys, but that statement does
not give any Scout the justification to be physically aggressive, to ignore
proper directions from any adult leader, to be disrespectful in language or
deed, or to take any action that will physically or mentally hurt another
Scout. The guiding principal in Troop
1347 is that we expect a higher standard of demonstrated behavior when a boy puts on a Scout uniform than at other
times. Parents are requested to support
this expectation and discuss it with your Scouts.
Specifically, fighting, insensitive behavior
toward others, and failure to abide by the Scout Oath and Law will not be
tolerated. If a Scout becomes a behavior
problem during a meeting or outing and the behavior problem can
not be resolved or is of a serious nature, the Scout's parents will be
called by the adult leader in charge and requested to come and get their Scout.
Follow-up contact will be made with the Scout’s parents to cooperate in the
correction of the identified behavior.
Depending upon the seriousness of the incident, the Scout may be barred
from future activities, may only be allowed to participate in meetings or activities if accompanied by a
parent, or may be dropped from the roles of the Troop. The final review of specific actions taken
will be made by the Troop Committee. The
recommendation of the Scoutmaster will be considered in making this
determination, and this Scoutmaster's recommendation shall be developed through
a meeting with the Scout and his parents.
In resolution of all behavioral problems, the Scout's parents shall be informed and
involved and their cooperation in helping to correct the unacceptable behavior
is expected.
Troop leaders are proactive in teaching Scouts to learn how to resolve
a problem with any aspect of the Scouting program. Within the Scouting leadership chain, there
are junior and adult leaders who should be contacted in sequence for problem
resolution. This sequencing is referred
to as using the correct lines of communication and this procedure should be
understood and used by all Scouts. The
direct lines of communication are Scout to Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader to
Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader to Scoutmaster, and finally,
Scoutmaster to Troop Committee Chairman.
In practice, the Patrol Leader normally informs his Patrol Advisor and
gets adult advice and counsel before contacting the SPL. For a boy level problem solved by the SPL, the SPL will inform the
Scoutmaster of action completed and the Scoutmaster will back brief the Patrol
Advisor about the resolution. Parents
should encourage their Scouts to use the proper lines of communication.
If the parents have concerns, they are encouraged to contact the Patrol
Advisor, then the Scoutmaster, and then the Committee Chairman, if necessary.
Troop 1347 is not a fund raising troop.
As such, the Troop depends upon the financial support of its
participants. This support includes two
mandatory Scouting fees, outing fees, and voluntary contributions to the
Council level Scouting Fund Raising Program, called The Friends of Scouting.
The first
fee assessed is the annual Troop
Operations Fee. This fee is
collected in September at the start of the Scouting program year and is in lieu
of weekly or monthly dues. The Troop operations
fee, for the period September to August, is used for the following purposes:
-
purchase awards Scouts earn throughout the year, such as merit badges,
rank badges, and scout spirit awards;
-
purchase and maintain Troop camping, cooking, and ceremonial equipment;
-
pay for some Troop functions such as the Troop Picnic and Courts of
Honor;
-
pay for Troop operations, such as forms, postage, manuals, books,
junior leader training above Troop level, Committee Member registration fees;
-
pay for adult leader training necessary to support the Scouting
program, such as New Leader Orientation, specialty training (NRA
certification/First Aid);
-
pay for some of the participation cost of adult volunteers who support
the Scouting program, such as summer camp fee for adult leaders and volunteers;
-
other specific costs as approved by the Troop Committee.
The Troop operations fee is determined annually by
the Troop Committee and is prorated when a new Scout joins the Troop. The annual Troop operations fee is $65.00 for
the 2001-2002 Scouting year; if a family has two Scouts in the Troop, the fee
for the second Scout is reduced to $55.00.
For WEBELOS Cub Scouts bridging into the Troop in the March timeframe,
the prorated Troop operations fee for the remainder of the Scouting year is 50%
of the annual fee.
The second fee assessed is the annual Registration Fee. This fee
is set by BSA and is for the period January through
December. The Troop collects the fee in October-November
for forwarding to BSA with the Troop recharter application.
The total fee includes the annual BSA
registration fee, an accident insurance fee for the BSA
second level insurance coverage that
covers the Scouts and adults during all approved Scout activities, and the
annual subscription to Boys' Life
magazine, the official publication of the BSA (one
subscription per family only, unless the family wants multiple copies). The Troop policy supports a national
recommendation that all Scouts subscribe to Boys'
Life as it contains quality reading and the articles relate the Troop's
monthly program - it simply is a part of a boy's growth in Scouting. The
current (2001-2002) registration fee total is $17.60 and includes the $7.00 BSA registration fee, $1.60 for accident insurance, and
$7.80 for the subscription to Boys' Life.
The Troop charges an Outing Fee
for each campout or outing conducted that is
not supported by the troop operations fee. This fee is paid only by the participants in
the outing and pays the direct costs of the outing. These direct costs would include any camping
or entrance fees, cost of food for the outing, and troop expense such as for
propane fuel. The normal range of outing
costs varies widely; a
weekend campout on public lands with no camping fee could cost $10 for food for
the weekend and $2 for troop expense; a skiing weekend could easily top $110; a
canoe trip could cost $35. The best
budgeting advice the Troop Committee can offer is to review the annual Scouting
program and plan ahead for meeting the cost of those outings in which your son
will participate. Establish a budget and
save ahead for the costs, or better still, involve your son in this selection
and budget process involving his allowance or other funds which are
available. If your son is a no-show for
an outing or is a late cancellation, the outing fee already paid may not be
able to be refunded. Each situation is
different, but parents must be aware that if money has already been spent for
perishable food or prepaid to a commercial organization or park which does not
refund prepaid fees, the Troop will not refund those direct cost amounts.
The last area of financial support is the annual fund raising drive to
support the National Capital Area Council.
This once-a-year drive is called the Friends
of Scouting. Each family is
contacted by the Troop adult volunteer in charge of this drive and asked for a
contribution (tax deductible). Funds
contributed pay for the salaries of the full-time NCAC
professional and support staff, administrative support for council awards and
events, monthly council newsletters, the liability insurance for registered
leaders, and the NCAC Scout Camps at
There are numerous resources your son has for Scouting
information. The basic guide is The Boy Scout Handbook. In addition, there is the BSA
Fieldbook
and specific pamphlets prepared for each of the Merit Badges. Leadership skills are discussed in the Junior Leader Handbook and the Den Chief Handbook, both of which are
loaned by the Troop to junior leaders during their tour of responsibility. Lastly, the Boy Scout Requirements book lists the specific requirements for
rank advancement, special awards, and merit badges.
The Boy Scout Handbook is the Scout's most
important item of equipment. He should
bring this book to every meeting and every camping event. It contains all the basic information on
wearing the uniform, camping, advancement in rank, as well as background
discussions on the BSA program and the purposes of
Scouting. In addition, for new Scouts,
one of the joining requirements is for the Scout and his parents or guardian to
complete the exercises in the 28 page parent's guide titled How to Protect Your Children from Child
Abuse and Drug Abuse which is found at the front of the Handbook. Some Scouts want two handbooks - one for
advancement records which will be their permanent keepsake and one for every
day use-recognizing that the handbook will become very dog-eared through
several years of routine use. We
encourage you to review the entire Handbook with your son for it contains a
wealth of information.
By the
end of the new Scout year, we recommend you should buy a personal copy of the Boy Scouts Requirements book. This book contains the requirements for
advancement; all merit badges, and all other BSA
awards. This book is dated and reissued
every two years, so make sure that you have a current copy. The Fieldbook is an excellent source of information on camping
and outdoor life and provides much needed information for older Scouts who want
to participate in high adventure activities.
Normal
wear and tear on Scouting books is pretty severe. We recommend that you buy a plastic cover for
the The Boy Scout Handbook and for the BSA Fieldbook . All books may be purchased at the Sunnys Surplus at the
Scouting is a family program.
The Unit Leaders and members of the Troop Committee support the Scouting
program because they believe in its value to our sons. Therefore, one of the most important purposes
of this booklet is to explain how you can help your son in Scouting and what are the expectations of the Troop Committee for your support
of the Scouting program.
For
parents, your primary point of contact should be the patrol Advisor. The Advisor will contact parents if there is
information that must go directly to the parents. For information relating to specific activities,
the point of contact will be listed on the information sheet that will be
handed out to the Scouts, or that listed in the Troop newsletter for that
activity. If your Scout misses a
meeting, he may not receive information about upcoming activities and thus miss
registration or fee-payment deadlines.
It is the Scout’s responsibility to contact his Patrol Leader to find
out what he missed. Parents will be
notified on a quarterly basis about upcoming activities through the Troop
newsletter. Please review the newsletter
and calendar with your scout.
-
Encourage your son in his efforts and assist him where necessary. Please note that assistance does not include
doing things for him. BSA experience shows that a boy learns by doing things for
himself and by experiencing his own successes and failures. Assistance and monitoring of your son's
responsibilities is especially important for the parents of Troop junior
leaders - be familiar with what he has to do and ensure he accomplished his
assigned duties. Come inside to pick him
up after meetings; take a moment to talk with the Scoutmaster or other unit
leader about what your son is doing and how well he is doing it; let your son
see you at his meeting giving honors to our Flag during an opening or closing
ceremony; and talk with him about what he wants to accomplish in the Scouting
program.
- Be an
active volunteer in support of the Scouting program. Help with committee activities,
transportation, merit badge counseling, and attending Scouting events.
- Plan to
attend some outings to see what the Scouts actually do. If you are not a camper, hiker, biker,
climber, white water rafter or other outdoors type, then attend by driving
us-or riding in the front passenger seat to the outing site and remain a few
moments as we set up camp or start our activities. No more than 8 years from now, you will not
be able to accompany your son on a regular Scouting outing -- because each boy
only has 8 years of possible membership in the regular scouting program. Don't lose the opportunity to share Scouting
experiences with your son.
- Pay all fees and dues by the announced due dates.
- Review,
complete, sign, and submit all outing permission forms by the due date
including the required fee.
- Ensure
your Scout is punctual to all activities.
Late Scouts are responsible for their own transportation if they cannot
meet scheduled departure times. In some
instances, Scouts will not be allowed to participate if they miss a departure
time.
- Attend
all Courts of Honor (there are only 3 in a year) to see your son recognized for
his accomplishments, and talk with him about his recognition or why he was not
recognized that time and what recognition he would like to earn at future
Courts of Honor.
- Keep track of your son's Scouting records. When he advances in rank, copy the
advancement record pages so if his Handbook gets lost or destroyed, you have a
record of the advancement. Also, after
Courts of Honor where your son is presented rank cards for advancement, merit
badge blue and white cards, certificates of leadership positions completed, or
other special awards, safeguard these documents as they will be needed along
the Trail to Eagle or for memories in the future. Most parents keep a notebook with all these
documents inside document protectors-a baseball card document protector with
individual slots for baseball cards works very well for rank cards and merit
badge cards.
- Keep
your son's medical information and forms up to date. This is absolutely essential if you expect adult
leaders to administer any medication to your son during a Scouting activity, or
if those leaders are to be prepared to respond immediately to a medical
situation which requires special treatment due to your son's specific health
considerations.
- Keep the Troop Committee and Scoutmaster informed of any special
considerations for your Scout - health, financial, problems in school, etc., so
that we may support your efforts and avoid inappropriate actions or comments.
- Make
sure your Scout has the proper equipment and licenses for planned activities.
-
Encourage your Scout to participate, accomplish, and advance.
Your son
will grow up whether you like it or not.
You can't change that, but you can positively influence the type of
adult he becomes. The Scouting program's
greatest benefit is to help your son learn the value of his own worth.
Your son will set his own goals in Scouting and work hard to accomplish
them. The most
important thing that you as a parent can do for your Scout is to encourage and
support him in all his Scouting activities. Occasionally, he may even need a little
encouragement in the right direction. It
is truly astonishing how these young men develop while they are in the Scouting
program. As a parent, you will not want
to miss these important and formative years-so join us on outings, meetings,
and other activities.
The
leadership of Troop 1347 looks forward to working with you and your Scout. Together we can help our sons make a
significant contribution to our community and the nation's society. Please contact us with any questions or
concerns you have.
Yours in Scouting,
Chairman Scoutmaster
(703)
830-7974 (703)
978-9112
Date of Approval by the
Troop 1347 Committee:
Date Last Updated:
______________________________________________________________________________
