Troop 55 Parent Welcome Guide

Boy Scout Troop 55

United Methodist Church

Sea Pines District

Jersey Shore Council

Boy Scouts of America

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Introduction

First let me welcome and thank you and your Scout for choosing Troop 55 to continue your Scouting adventure. We at Troop 55 are dedicated to delivering a quality program to your Scout based upon Boy Scout of America's mission statement:

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

We as leaders cannot do this alone. Parental involvement is critical to the Troop successfully completing this mission. In order for you to be a supportive parent we as leaders need to provide you the information necessary to be effective in supporting us. That is the purpose of this document.

In the following pages you will learn about troop structure, its operating principles, and the methods we employ to achieve our goal. We hope you find this document informational and that it eases not only your Scout's transition from Cub Scouts but yours as well. This document is by no means a comprehensive guide but rather a starting point to address questions or concerns you may have. If you require further information or clarification please do not hesitate to contact an Adult Leader, if they do not have an answer they will find it for you.

Once again it is my privilege and honor to welcome you to the Troop...

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a hundreds of questions you will ask over the coming years as your son moves through the ranks with our Troop or with any unit in the Boy Scouts of America. This document will help to answer a few of the more basic questions and start to give you an idea of how a Troop works.

Q: What is a Troop? What is a Patrol? Why is my son in one Patrol and not another?

A: A Troop is a singular group, chartered from the national Boy Scouts of America. When your son joins Boy Scouts, he is joining a Troop. Troops serve boys from age 10 until they reach their 18th birthday and are lead by volunteer leaders. A Patrol is a smaller unit, generally 3-8 boys, within a Troop. Patrols are the heart of the Boy Scout program, allowing Scouts to work and learn in tighter units.

Your son is assigned a Patrol when he joins the Troop. During your son's time in our Troop, he may end up belonging to several different Patrols. Being moved from one Patrol to another does happen occasionally to better balance the Patrols.

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Q: How is a Troop organized?

A: The Troop is a hierarchically structured unit (See Diagram Below). The senior Scout in charge is the Senior Patrol Leader who is elected by his fellow Scouts. He then selects an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s) who aides him and serves in his place if he is unable. The patrols then elect a leader from among their group to become the Patrol Leader. Then an Assistant Patrol leader is selected from the group by Patrol Leader to aide and serve in his place if he is unable. There are other leadership positions with the Troop such as Scribe, Historian, Quartermaster, Troop Guide, Web Master and Instructor. These positions are filled by selection of the Senior Patrol Leader with advice from the Scoutmaster.

If the Scout has a question he asks his PL. If he does not know the answer, the Scout and the PL ask the SPL. If he does not have the answer then they all go ask the Scoutmaster. This does 2 things: 1) Reinforces the Troop Structure. 2) Disseminates the information to all levels.

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Q: What is a Charter?

A: A Charter is a formal arrangement that allows an organization to sponsor a unit in Boy Scouts. Our Charter Organization is the United Methodist Church in Somers Point. They supply us with direction and support. A Charter Organization Representative, a member of the Church designated by the Reverend, meets regularly with our Troop Committee.

Q: Who signs off when my son has completed an advancement requirement?

A: Either the Scoutmaster, an Assistant Scoutmaster, or a Scout who holds the rank of Star or higher. A parent of a Scout may NOT sign off on rank requirements.

Q: What is a rank?

A: A rank is the basic measurement of your son's progression within the Boy Scouting program. Ranks are first earned based on skills learned and demonstrated, and for accomplishments. Ranks range from left to right Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.

Q: How does my son advance in rank?

A: All rank requirements are outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook. The Scout will first earn the first rank of Scout by completing all of the prescribed requirements and scheduling and successfully completing a Scoutmaster's conference. The subsequent ranks follow the same procedure with the addition of a scheduling and successfully completing a Board of Review, which is comprised of members of the Troop Committee. The Eagle rank again follows the same procedure with the exception of an Eagle Board of Review, which is comprised of leaders from the surround District.

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Q: Can a Scout be denied rank advancement?

A: The simple answer is yes. The reasons could be not presenting himself properly for his Board of Review in full Class A uniform or if he has not completed all of his requirements. These are easily correctable. For the leadership ranks such as Star, Life, and Eagle the Scout may be denied for not completing his leadership position satisfactorily. No matter what the cause, the Scout will always told the reason for denial and the Scout should develop a plan to complete the unsatisfied requirement.

Q: What is the attendance requirement for the Troop?

A: The simple answer is 50% of Troop meeting and events. We as leaders feel that if your Scout does not meet this minimum requirement they will not be able to advance in a timely manner. However we do encourage a greater attendance percentage so that your Scout will get the most out of the program. Attendance for every meeting is taken by the Scribe or his designate.

Q: What is a Class A uniform?

A: According to BSA the Class A uniform is the Uniform Shirt with all patches sewn on properly, the Boy Scout Belt (Green), Olive Drab (OD) Green pants/shorts, and OD Green Socks. Our Troop has elected to wear a Troop Neckerchief as part of our Class A uniform. Class A uniform is always worn to Troop Meetings, Boards of Review, to and from traveling to events, and when directed. If there is any doubt as to whether the Uniform of the Day is Class A err on the side of caution and wear your Class A.

The activity uniform is all of the above items with the uniform shirt replaced by a Scout Tee shirt. We order new shirts every spring for summer camp. If you do not have a Troop 55 shirt you can wear a plain tee shirt or another Scout related tee shirt. Footwear and headwear are up to the Scout but must be functional (no sandals or flip flops) and in good taste.

Q: What paperwork should a Scout have on file?.

A: In addition to filling out the application every Scout and Adult must have a current and complete medical form, parts A,B, and C, on file. The first two parts of the medical form, A and B, can be filled out by the parent/guardian, but part C requires a Doctor's signature after a physical examination is preformed. The most up to date medical form can be found here: https://goo.gl/qUVDCv

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Q: What equipment does my Scout need participate in Camping events.

As far as camping gear at a minimum a Scout needs a decent sleeping bag rated to at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit but a 0 degree bag is recommended. A decent closed cell ground mat, no inflatable mats as they draw heat away from the body. Also rain gear and waterproof shoes or boots and suitable clothing for the expected weather. Furthermore the Scout will need a refillable water bottle and reusable mess kit. Also a personal hygiene kit. If there are any special items required for a particular trip your Scout will be told what he requires.

Q: Does my son have to go on every trip?

A: No. We do strongly encourage Scouts to go on as many trips as possible to increase his odds of advancing at a recommended pace and it strengthens the Troop as a whole. Summer camp is also strongly encouraged especially for the younger Scouts as it provides an excellent opportunity for them to work off requirements towards First Class. It is important to note that early rank advancement require Scouts to attend in a prescribed number of events before being allowed to advance in rank. It is a BSA requirement.

Q: How do I find out about trips/events?

A: Your primary source for information should be your Scout. It is the duty of each Scout to gather and then relay all necessary information to attend a trip/event. The reason for this is to develop the "habits" of organization, communication, and responsibility. These are critical skills for life in general.

As stated before, if your son does not have the necessary information he then can email his Patrol Leader first, failing that then an email to the Senior Patrol Leader would be required. This process is for your Scout to follow to develop the trait of self-reliance, again another valuable life skill to develop.

We understand that your Scout is just developing the heretofore mentioned skills so we also post upcoming trips/events to Scoutbook and Troopkit; for which you will receive an account so you can access. However we would ask that you have him to at least attempt to follow the above procedure first.

Q: How does the Troop handle discipline issues?

A: This can be a sensitive issue. We have guidelines that we must and do follow as set forth in the training we receive. For most minor issues, we have a few words with the Scout- pointing

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out the issue and offering suggestions to correct the behavior. For more difficult situations, parents can be called to pick up a Scout from an event (including Summer Camp). In extreme cases where the safety and good order of the Troop maybe endangered then the possibility of dismissal could be imposed. We will make every attempt to work with the Scout and in difficult cases the Troop Committee may be involved in the discussion.

NOTE: If the Scout is sent home early his trip fees are not refundable as the Troop has already spent the money to include him on the trip.

Q: How can I best help my son succeed?

A: For every youth, this answer varies. But some advice that does not change from Scout to Scout is the following:

Your involvement is key. Ask you Scout what he's working on what he needs to be working on. If your Scout seems unclear as to what he needs to do encourage him to speak to his Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader. If you have any questions ask any of the Scout Masters.

Q: Can I go camping with my son?

A: There is no short answer to this so let me explain. In Cub Scouts you were invited to camp with your son. Since they are still largely dependent on their parents Cub Scout events/outings are largely run by the adults/leaders on the event/outing. The Cub Scout mission on outings and events is to introduce your Scout to camping and outdoor activities and nothing more. However the mission of Boy Scout outings/events is something different.

In Boy Scouts the goal of building self reliance, responsibility, and confidence is delivered during outings and events. One of the primary methods to instill these traits is to place responsibility on the Scout. Boy Scouts are given tasks from selecting there tent site and then pitching that tent to preparing meals for themselves and their fellow Scouts. Boy Scouts are also required to prepare themselves for the upcoming event by packing their own bag. Our training as Scout Leaders requires us to step back from these tasks and allow the Scouts to succeed or fail on their own merit.

The best way to answer this question is to look to the founder of the Worldwide Scouting movement thoughts on the matter:

An invaluable step in character training is to put responsibility on the indivual

~Lord Baden-Powell~

So if your wish is to camp with your Scout we welcome your involvement but we ask that you take the time to make application to be a leader; and undergo the training necessary. Training

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teaches adults to allow the Scouts to work things out for themselves by using the Troop leadership structure.

Q: My son takes medication on a daily basis how does the Troop handle that on outings?

A: All medications should be placed in a large ziploc bag with the Scout's name clearly written on the outside. All medications should be in the there original dosing containers with the Scouts name and dosage instructions on the label. The medications will be collected by the Tour Leader prior to the event and placed in a locked box.

The Scout is responsible for presenting themselves to the leader and asking for the medication at the time he is required to take it. The bag will be given to the Scout and the Scout will self administer the medication in the presences of the tour leader. He will then return the medication in it's bag back to the leader where it will be placed under lock and key. The only exception to this rule will be medication that the Scout is required to have on his person such as inhalers or epi-pens. Again this medication is the Scout's responsibility to self administer.

If the Scout fails to present himself at the appropriate time for his medication he will be not permitted to attend the next event. Upon the next infraction the Scout will be suspended for three events. If the behavior continues further steps will be taken.

How a Troop Works

If you look at 10 different Troops, you'll see 10 different ways a Troop can work. But you would see many similarities as well. Let's start by examining the place of a new Scout in a Troop and how the Troop works to support the Scout.

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC): This is a group of Scouts who oversee the direction of the Troop. They are made up of the Senior Patrol Leader, his assistants, the Patrol Leaders and their assistants, the Quartermaster and the Scribe. Other youth positions will often help, but they do not vote on the matters such as where to go or what the meetings for the month will be about. If your son has a concern and is not a member of the PLC, he should first bring it to his Patrol Leader or Assistant Patrol Leader. It is their responsibility to bring issues within a Patrol to light. Your son can also first ask an adult leader, but in most cases will be directed to the Patrol Leader.

PLC's are held on the first Wednesday of every month, to determine a plan for the entire month and to work out details for the upcoming trips.

Meetings: Regular meetings are held the second, third and fourth Wednesday of each month. They should be fun and exciting, working towards a trip or preparing for an event. Skills will be learned and a game will be played. They are lead by the Senior Patrol Leader and his assistants.

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Trips: When a Scout wishes to attend a trip, behind the scenes you have adult leaders who have made arrangements for the trip based upon the decisions of the PLC. Your son will be given information about upcoming trips – sometimes months in advance! Cost and special considerations will be covered during regular meetings.

Once on a trip, your son will work within his Patrol. He should have fun! There will be some chores to be completed, but by sharing the workload all jobs can be completed relatively easily. Depending upon the focus of the event, your son may work on completing skills for his current rank or he could be attending and cheering on a professional sports team! With very few exceptions, trips can be almost anywhere and Scouts can do almost anything.

Sometimes your Scout will have to help prepare for the trip by shopping for food or by working on a skit. Whenever a Scout has questions regarding preparation, he should first speak with the youth leaders. Calling Adult Leaders should only be necessary when time is of the essence and the other options have been exhausted.

What's a Blue CardA blue card, formally known as an "Application for Merit Badge" is your son's opportunity to learn and advance. Blue Cards, as they're often referred to,are used to track individual accomplishments on the path to completing Merit Badges. But how do they work?

A Scout interested in completing a particular Merit Badge, for this example we'll use Citizenship in the Community, first informs his Scoutmaster of his desire to work on the Merit Badge. The Scoutmaster then fills out a Blue Card with the Merit Badge name and a signature, showing the Scout has authorization to begin working on that Merit Badge. The Scoutmaster gives the blue card to the Scout, along with (in most cases – exception noted below) a list of potential counselors. The Scout (not the parent) then reaches out to a counselor of the Merit Badge to let them know that they would like to start working on the Merit Badge and asks the counselor to oversee their efforts.

The Scout, over the next days, weeks, and even months, works with the counselor to complete the Merit Badge. In the case of the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge the Scout works to complete 8 different goals. The Merit Badge Counselor oversees the progress of the Scout, advising him as to the best means of completing goals and testing the Scout on his understanding of them. Sometimes, the Merit Badge Counselor will need to meet with the Scout. In these cases, there should ALWAYS be at least one other Scout or adult present – a parent may fill this role. It is VERY important to note that it is the Scout's responsibility, not the parent's, to complete the goals and advise the Merit Badge Counselor as to the progress achieved.

Once the goals are completed to the Merit Badge Counselor's satisfaction, the Counselor signs the Blue Card. The Blue Card, fully completed, is then turned into the Scoutmaster. From there (and somewhat behind the scenes), the Scoutmaster turns the Blue Card in to the Troops Advancement Chair for submission of the completed Merit Badge to Jersey shore Council. At the next Court of Honor, the Scout should then receive the Merit Badge Patch for all of the Merit

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Badges he has completed since the last Court of Honor. Courts of Honor are held three times a year, September, January, and June.

Summer Camp presents a unique opportunity regarding Blue Cards. In the case of Summer Camp, the Scouts are provided with information for the prerequisites they need to complete before Summer Camp begins for the Merit Badges they intend to take. In the time leading up to the start of Summer Camp, the Scout is expected to work on their prerequisites with no guidance from a counselor – questions may instead be directed to the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster. Scouts should obtain proof of completing prerequisites (pictures, signed notes from leaders, essays, etc) before camp begins and be prepared to share their work with the Summer Camp Merit Badge Counselor. Blue Cards will be given to the Scouts at the start of camp. The Scout meets with the Merit Badge Counselor during the week, completing requirements as given. The Scout should also offer their proof of prerequisite completion at this time. At the end of Summer Camp, completed and partial Blue Cards are returned to the Troop. Merit Badges are then presented at the next Court of Honor.

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Camping EquipmentSeeing an equipment list for the first time can make most parents feel one of two fears. Fear for their savings account or fear that if their son doesn't have the best, they won't be on the same footing as other boys in the Troop. That isn't the case though, and there are some things every parent needs to know.

First, if the Troop trailer is going (and it goes on nearly every trip), there are some supplies that are given to Scouts to use. All Scouts get their tents via the trailer, food preparation equipment (not mess kits), and lanterns. Once you cross those items off your list, you'll realize with very few exceptions, you have most of the items already in your house or already purchased for him as a Webelo.

Secondly, if you can work it out, some equipment can be purchased second hand or borrowed. One of the best secret sources for Scout equipment are Amazon and eBay on the internet. Other resources could included parents of older Scouts or former Scouts who have items in good condition that are no longer used or have been replaced with an upgrade.

Last, but certainly not least, there is something to be said for quality. You should expect some equipment to last for a very long time. If you elect to spend a little more money on certain items I would recommend investing that into a decent sleeping bag, winter bags rated for 0 degrees, and a closed cell ground mat. I would and have exercised economy on the smaller items because of their tendency to get misplaced or lost. Another strategy to limit the financial burden of camping is to have your Scout ask for these items for Holidays or birthdays.

I have taken the liberty of including a generic camping list at the end of this packet. Please note only the sleeping bag, ground mat, and mess kit are absolutely required.

FundraisingNearly every unit in the greater Boy Scout organization relies on some form of fundraising to supplement and support the overall program. Troop 55 is no different in this regard.

There are two types of fundraising that we conduct. The first is fundraising for the Troop. The Troop buys all of the rank badges, badges of office, and merit badges for the Scouts. Furthermore in order to maintain and purchase Troop equipment such as trailer maintenance, tents, camp stoves, patrol box equipment etc, we host an annual Spaghetti Dinner and participate in Ocean City's Easter Egg hunt on the beach. The Scouts receive no proceeds from this but are instead given service hours for the time worked. Service hours in each rank are a necessary requirement for advancement.

The second is fundraising for the Scout. We participate in the annual Popcorn Sale during the autumn and Camp Card Sales during the spring. Your Scout receives 100% of these proceeds that are placed into a Scout Account for his use in defraying the cost of trips and events. If your Scout is motivated enough during these fundraising opportunities it is likely they could fund 100% of their Scouting activities.

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CommunicationThere is a topic of training that all adult leaders must understand and abide by that we wish parents to understand as well.

In Boy Scouting, there is a rule known as of two-deep leadership. This means that there should be no situations where an adult is one-on-one with a Scout. There should always be another Scout or adult within sight. This also, in a very important way, extends to digital communication.

Email, texting, phone calls... should always have a third person involved. When Scout send email they should copy another leader, a Patrol Leader, or the Senior Patrol Leader. With texting, Scouts should copy more than one person your message – this can get confusing, but try to do this. When Scouts places a phone call, he should make sure Mom, Dad, or another adult is in the room with them. They're not there to be a coach; but rather to make sure that all necessary rules are being followed.

We understand that digital communications can be somewhat anonymous in nature. But we ask that you as parents help us to maintain this rule. And if you wish to reach out to a Scout regarding a Scout matter, the same rules apply. Copy another leader in Troop or make sure another person is in the room with you when you place a call.

This way, we can all be safe.

Scouting OpportunitiesScouting offers tremendous leadership and growth opportunities to anyone willing to work for it. It may seem obvious to parents who have guided their boys through the program to this point, but the primary goal of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts is to install values in today's youth that will help them with tomorrow's challenges. While that all sounds well and good... there are some programs that will exist 'outside' the boundaries of the Troop that your son will have a chance to explore. Here are a few of them:

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) - NYLT is a two weekend outdoor leadership experience offered by Councils across the country. Your son is given a chance to both learn how to become a better leader and how to bring those lessons back to his Troop. NYLT is only available to your son after he reaches a minimum rank and age and requires a Scoutmaster's recommendation to participate. We at Troop 55 place a high value on this training program, and expect Scouts interested in eventually becoming SP or ASPL to give consideration in attending.

Jamboree/Camporees - From the local level Camporees to the National and World Jamboree, these events prove to be wonderful opportunities. Demonstrations, performances, and activities keep Scouts busy from the time they wake up to lights out. Jamborees are typically ten days in length and take place every 4 years. The National Jamboree is held at The Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve in West Virginia. The World Jamboree is a chance for Scouts from over a hundred countries to descend upon a host country/site ever four years as well. For

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those of you that haven't heard, in 2019, we will be the host nation for this event and it will be again at the Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reservation.

Order of the Arrow (OA) - OA is Scouting's "National Camping Honor Society". Started in 1915 at Treasure Island, the OA is a service organization that helps with the maintenance of local and national Scout properties. It's much more than a chance to clean up campsites though. Members of the OA get to participate in additional programming throughout the year, from a Fall Fellowship to an annual banquet. Becoming a member of the OA requires that your son's fellow Scouts recognize him as a good camper, helper, and friend to all Scouts during an election process that takes place in the beginning of the calendar year. Once elected, your son will have to undergo an 'Ordeal' in the spring to complete the process. Troop 55 places great value on the program offered by the OA and supports its work and program.

High Adventure Camps – The National organization of the BSA owns and operates four high adventure camps in the United States. Scouts that attend one of these camps come away with new friends and experiences that can't be measured. Philmont, Sea Base, and others each offer unique adventures. Jersey Shore Council regularly sponsors trips to these camps. Scouts who are interested must achieve First Class before attending and meet stringent conditions (including weight, height and general overall fitness).

How can you help?Parents can get involved in their Scout's experience at a number of levels. From being a supportive parent to actually signing on to be an adult leader, Scouts need parents to be an important part of their success.

First off though, it's important to note a BIG difference between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. In Cub Scouts, your role was a very direct one. You often worked very closely with your Cub Scout on completing requirements. Boy Scouts are expected to take initiative. If they would like to work on a requirement, they should meet with an older Scout, Assistant Scoutmaster, or the Scoutmaster.

Troop Committee

As a parent, one way you can help is to become a member of the Troop Committee. Troop Committee meets at least once a month, and is responsible for the financial and managerial aspects of the Troop. Members conduct Boards of Review (a final step in rank advancement), develop fundraising opportunities, oversees achievements, and help to guide the Scoutmaster and Troop in a direction that reflects Scouting's values.

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Scoutmaster

Another direct role you can take is to be an Assistant Scoutmaster or Scoutmaster. Assistant Scoutmasters and Scoutmaster are the leaders directly responsible for taking your Scout on trips and overseeing weekly meetings. It is their responsibility to provide your son with opportunities that Scouting affords. To be an Assistant Scoutmaster you must take a few online courses to start. When you're ready, you'll also have to take ITOLS; and exciting and rewarding weekend training experience offered twice a year.

Merit Badge Counselor

If Troop Committee or being a Scoutmaster is not to your liking there is another leadership role vital to the Troop. The Merit Badge advancement process allows the Scout to research multiple areas of interest, from Animal Study to Welding, for the Scout while earning badges toward rank. All of us have areas of expertise that may correspond to a Merit Badge offered. Being a Merit Badge Counselor provides you the opportunity to share your knowledge with a Scout and gives the Scout the opportunity to advance in rank. Merit Badge Counselors are expected to attend Merit Badge Counselor Training to become familiar with the process.

All adult leaders whether Troop Committee, Merit Badge Counselor, or Scoutmaster must become a registered leader within the Troop and take Youth Protection Training.

Without active Parental Involvement, Troops cannot succeed. We welcome positive and bright parents who wish to make a difference in not just their Scout's lives, but also every other Scout who is a part of the overall program.

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Last WordI hope you have found the information in this Parent's Guide useful. The idea behind it is to help bridge the gap for parents between Webelos and Boy Scouts. Please know that every leader and parent in this Troop, including myself, was once in your shoes. But through the kindness of others and training available we have built, in my humble opinion, a Unit well prepared to deliver a quality program to Scouts who are members of it.

Thank you for using this guide to better acquaint yourself with Scouting in general but Troop 55 in particular... a well informed parent is our greatest asset.

Craig Barnabei

SM, Troop 55

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