Guidelines
And
Policies
Chapter 1 -
Welcome to Troop 281 5
1.1 We’re Glad
You’re Here____ 5
Chapter 2 -
Purpose of the Boy Scouts of
America__ 6
Chapter 3 - The
Aims and Methods of the Boy
Scout Program_ 7
Chapter 4 -
Troop Organization______
10
4.2 The
Chartering Institution_______
10
4.3 Troop
Leadership_______
11
4.4 Information
Dissemination_____
11
Chapter 5 -
Registration_______
12
5.1 Scout
Registration______
12
5.2 Adult
Registration______
13
Chapter 6 - The
Scout Uniform_ 14
6.1 The "A" and
"B"
Uniforms 14
6.4 Where to Buy
Scout Uniforms and
Equipment_______
16
7.1 Monthly
Meeting Summary_______
17
7.6 Annual
Planning Meetings 18
Chapter 8 - Rank
Advancement______
19
8.3
Scoutmaster’s Conference_______
20
8.4.1
Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star
and Life____ 21
8.5 Merit Badges
Counselors_______
22
8.7.1 Alternate
Eagle Merit Badges 22
8.8 Merit Badge
Earning Process 22
Chapter 9 -
Offices/Elections/Patrol
Membership_______
24
9.1.1 Troop
Elected Office__ 24
9.1.2 Patrol
Elected Office__ 25
9.2.1 By the
Senior Patrol Leader_ 25
9.2.3 By the
Scoutmaster______
26
9.3 Patrol
Membership______
26
10.4 Individual
Scouts Accounts 27
Chapter 13 -
Equipment_______
32
13.1 Troop
Equipment_______
32
13.1.1 Repair
and Replacement______
32
13.1.3 Equipment
Lending Policy__ 32
13.2 Troop
Supplied Equipment_______
32
13.2.1 Troop
Equipment_______
32
13.2.2 Patrol
Equipment_______
33
13.3 Personal
Equipment_______
33
13.3.1 Personal
Equipment_______
33
13.3.2 Summer
Camp Items_______
33
Chapter 14 -
Miscellaneous Affairs 39
14.2 Parent
Participation______
39
14.3.2
Disciplinary Steps__ 41
14.4.1 Junior
Leader Training 42
Chapter 15 -
Troop Adult Organization______
43
15.1 The Troop
Committee_______
43
15.2 Troop
Committee/Adult Leadership
Positions 44
15.2.1 Troop
Committee Chairman 45
15.2.4
Outdoors/Activities_ 46
15.2.6 Chartered
Organization Representative_____
46
15.2.8
Membership Committee_______
47
15.2.9 Fund
Raising Committee_______
47
15.2.10
Newsletter Editor__ 47
15.2.11 Five
Year Program Planning Committee_______
47
15.2.12
Assistant Scoutmasters_____
48
15.2.14 Webelos
Coordinator_______
48
This
information booklet is provided to help you make a smooth transition
into Troop
281 whether you are coming from a Webelos Den, from another Troop, or
have
never been in Scouting before. This
booklet is designed for you to keep throughout the time of your
membership in
Troop 281.
Boys
join Scouting because Scouts do things that boys enjoy. Any boy can
join Boy
Scouts who is eleven years of age, or has completed the fifth grade, or
has
earned the Arrow of Light Award, has parental consent, and is not yet
18 years
of age.
It
is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to provide for youth an
effective
program designed to build desirable qualities of character, to train in
the
responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop in them
personal
fitness, thus to help in the development of American citizens who:
·
Are physically,
mentally, and emotionally fit.
·
Have a high degree of
self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage,
and
resourcefulness.
·
Have personal and
stable values firmly based on religious concepts.
·
Have the desire and
skills to help others.
·
Understand the
principles of the American social, economic, and governmental system.
·
Are knowledgeable
about and take pride in their American heritage and understand
America’s role
in the world.
·
Have a keen respect
for the basic rights of all people.
·
Are prepared to
fulfill the varied responsibilities of participating in and giving
leadership
to American society and in the forums of the world.
The
Boy Scouts of America accomplishes this purpose by making its program
available
in cooperation with existing groups having compatible goals, including
religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and
governmental
bodies.
The
ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and
Slogan. The Scout measures himself
against these ideals and continually tries to improve.
The goals are high, and as he reaches for
them, he has control over what he becomes.
The
patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and
participating
citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on young
shoulders
and teaches boys how to accept it. The
patrol method allows Scouts to act in small groups where they can
easily relate
to each other. These small groups
determine Troop activities through their elected representatives.
Boy
Scouts is designed to take place outdoors.
It is in the outdoors that Scouts share responsibilities and
learn to
live with each other. It is here that
the skills and activities practiced at Troop meetings come alive with
purpose.
Being
close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for God’s handiwork
and
mankind’s place in it. The outdoors is
the laboratory for Scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of
nature’s resources.
Scouting
provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcome them
through
the advancement method. The Scout plans
his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he overcomes each
challenge. The Scout is rewarded for
each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in
the
advancement system help a boy grow in self-reliance and the ability to
help
others.
Boys
learn from the example set by their adult leaders.
Troop leadership may be male or female, and association with
adults of high character is encouraged at this stage of a young man’s
development.
As
Scouts plan their activity, and progress toward their goals, they
experience
personal growth. The Good Turn concept
is a major part of the personal growth method of Scouting.
Boys grow as they participate in community
service projects and do Good Turns for others.
There probably is no device so successful in developing a basis
for
personal growth as the daily Good Turn.
Boy
Scouts works toward three aims. One is
growth in moral strength and character.
We may define this as what the boy is himself:
his personal qualities, his values, and his outlook.
A
second aim is participating citizenship.
Used broadly, citizenship means the boy’s
relationship to others. He comes to learn of his obligations to other
people,
to the society he lives in, to the government that presides over the
society.
A
third aim of Boy Scouting is development
of physical, mental, and emotional fitness. Fitness
includes the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind
(able to think and solve problems), and the emotions (self-control,
courage,
and self-respect).
The
methods are designed to accomplish these aims.
Thus, it is important that you know and use the methods of Boy
Scouting. Other methods are good, but
they may bring different results - results quite different than we seek.
The
religious emblems program is also a large part of the personal growth
method. Frequent conferences with his
Scoutmaster help each Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting’s
aims.
Boy
Scouts encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Scout has the opportunity to
participate in both shared and total leadership situations.
Understanding the
concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership roles of
others and
guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.
The
uniform makes the Scout Troop visible as a force for good and creates a
positive youth image in the community.
Boy Scouts is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an
action
that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of
Scouting. The
uniform gives a Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who
believe in
the same ideals. The uniform is
practical attire for Scout activities, and provides a way for Scouts to
wear
the badges that show what they have accomplished.
On my honor
I
will do my best
To
do my duty to God and my country and
To
obey the Scout Law;
To
help other people at all times;
To
keep myself physically strong,
Mentally
awake, and morally straight.
A SCOUT IS:
Trustworthy
Obedient
Loyal
Cheerful
Helpful
Thrifty
Friendly
Brave
Courteous
Clean
Kind
Reverent
Be Prepared
Do a Good Turn Daily
·
Twelve will have their
first contact with a church or synagogue.
·
Five will earn their
religious emblem.
·
One will enter the
clergy.
·
Eighteen will develop
hobbies that will last through their adult life.
·
Eight will enter a
career that was learned through the merit badge system.
·