troop 118 parent handbookcompleted the 5th grade in order to join a boy scout troop. if a boy is...

Troop 118 Parent Handbook

Rev 2/16 Copyright 2011-2017 Boy Scout Troop 118, Charlotte, NC 1

Boy Scouts of America Troop 118 Parent Handbook

“We must depend upon the Boy Scout movement to produce the men of the future.” -Daniel Carter Beard



The Boy Scout Oath On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my coun-try and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to

keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. The Scout Law

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

The Outdoor Code As an American, I will do my best to -

Be clean in my outdoor manners. Be careful with fire. Be considerate in the outdoors. Be conservation minded



Table of Contents Page Introduction 4 The Successful Troop 4 Troop History 5 Troop Structure 6 The Scouting Year 7 The Troop Meeting 7 Joining Requirements 8 Required Forms 9 Fees 9 Fundraising 10 Advancement 11 - Merit Badges - Mentoring - Rank Requirement Signoffs - Scout Spirit - Scoutmaster Conference - Board of Review - Court of Honor Troop Policies and Rules 14 Monthly Outings 16 Checklist for Camping 17 Troop 118 Eagle Scouts 19 Troop Lingo 20 Notes 21



Introduction Welcome to Troop 118. This handbook is designed to provide an over-view on: our Troop's structure and functions; responsibilities of the Scout and his parent(s); the formation of Troop 118; general Troop poli-cies; the rules that we live by; and how your son will advance his Scout-ing career. Reading and understanding the contents of this handbook will make the Scouting experience much more meaningful for your fu-ture Eagle Scout. You can also visit our website at troop118bsa.org for more information.

The Successful Troop

Scouting is a partnership between the Scout, the Scout-master, and the parent. Each partner plays a role in the Scout’s success and the quality of his Scouting experience. As in any partnership, it is only successful if all partners contribute. One of the ways that you, the parent, can con-tribute is by becoming an active member of the adult lead-ership of the Troop. What better way to show your support of your Scout than by helping the Troop? This handbook is designed to help each partner understand their responsibil-ity in creating a positive Scouting experience for the boys in our Troop. The policies in this handbook are directed towards the following: Ensuring an organized program. Helping the Scout develop leadership skills. Helping each Scout advance in rank. Developing Scout skills while having fun.

Providing a basis for fair treatment of all involved. The aims of the Scouting program are threefold:

1. Growth in moral strength and character. 2. Citizenship awareness and participation. 3. Development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness.

These aims are met through the rank advancement process. Advancement helps the Scout to gain self-confidence through demonstrating his knowledge in the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review. The values of the Boy Scout program are based on those found in the Boy Scout Oath and Law.

"Scouting has always reflected the expectations of the American family.”



Rank advancement from Scout through Eagle occurs at a pace dictated by the Scout and his adult mentor. When the Scout has achieved the requirements for advancing to the next rank, he will request a Scoutmaster Conference with his mentor or another adult. Through this conference, the Scout and mentor will review the requirements for the rank, ensure the Scout has met those re-quirements, do basic review of those skills, and then approve him for his Board of Review. At the Board, he will present himself for the rank, be offi-cially tested to ensure he has met the requirements, is dressed appropriately, and handle himself in a manner appropriate to his rank. These are skills that will be useful when seeking employment later in life. Troop History In December 1969, a charter for Troop 118 was issued to St. Stephen United Methodist Church, our sponsoring organization. Bob Boulden was appointed the first Scoutmaster after a coin toss with Stephen Pace. Stephen was ap-pointed the Assistant Scoutmaster. The first enrollment included eight boys and six adults. The strong relationship between adults and boys remains a strength in our Troop and is one of the primary reasons for its continued suc-cess. When Bob Boulden left Charlotte in 1970, Stephen assumed the role of Scout-master and remained in this position until 1973. Others holding the position of Scoutmaster were: Jim Huckabee 1974-1975 Ernie Wright 1976 Paul Mayville 1977 Frank Simpson 1978-1979 Charles Whaley 1980-1983 Stephen Pace 1984-Present The first Eagle Scout of Troop 118 was Eric L. Parker. He was awarded the Ea-gle Scout badge on September 10, 1973. Chris Walker, one of the original group of eight Scouts, received the second Ea-gle Scout award on November 20, 1973. Since the original charter - and as of the date of this handbook - 171 Scouts have been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.

“The spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light.”



The 25th anniversary celebration of Troop 118 was held on March 18, 1995. There were 260 guests in attendance at the banquet. 30 of Troop 118’s past Ea-gle Scouts were in attendance. Brian Cooper was awarded the 60th Eagle Scout award that night. On February 20, 2010, the Troop celebrated its 40th anniversary with 340 at-tendees, 40 of which were Troop 118 Eagles. That evening featured the award-ing of seven new Eagle Scouts: Tommy Melching, Zach Brown, Grant Withrow, Peter Bostancic, Ian Johnson, Will Johnson, & Andrew Wilkerson. As of the date of this handbook, Troop 118 has 70 Scouts and 75 adult leaders. The Troop and its leaders have received many awards and recognition for its participation in both district and council activities. Troop 118 is recognized as an outstanding Troop in the Mecklenburg County Council. Troop Structure The Troop organization is divided into five components. The cooperation and/or support of the membership of each component are important to the strength and vitality of the Troop. Boy Scouts is a youth-led, adult-mentored organization and we put youth in as many positions of responsi-bility as possible and rotate them through those positions over time.

1. The Sponsoring Or-ganization: St. Ste-phen United Method-ist Church maintains a charter from the Boy Scouts of Amer-ica to conduct a Scouting program as part of the church’s ministry to the youth of the community. The church provides meeting facilities and assists with other needs that are required to make a successful Troop. The church or-ganization includes a Scouting Coordinator that serves as the liaison between the church and the Troop.

2. The Troop Committee: This committee is composed of adults from the spon-soring unit, the community, and Scout parents who are interested in the Scouting program. The Committee Chairperson will recruit adults to fill com-mittee positions, conduct a monthly meeting and provide other support re-quired by the Scoutmaster. The Troop Committee usually meets at 7:00 pm on the Sunday before the monthly camping weekend.



Parents are encouraged to attend committee meetings to better understand how a Troop functions and offer any ideas or opinions they may have.

3. The Troop Leaders: The adult leadership consists of the Scoutmaster, his As-sistant Scoutmasters and other members of the Troop Committee that take an active part in the weekly Troop meetings and other Troop activities. This group varies depending on the needs of the Troop at any one particular time. All adults are encouraged to find their place in the Troop leadership.

4. The Parents: Parents are vital to the organization. They help support the Troop and the individual needs of each Scout. All parents of Scouts are in-vited and encouraged to join the Troop Committee and to take part in Troop activities. Any indication of interest on your part will enrich your son’s Scout-ing experience.

5. The Scouts: The Troop is divided into patrols. Each patrol has an adult Patrol

Advisor, a Patrol Leader and at least one Assistant Patrol Leader. There is a Senior Patrol Leader who, with the help of his assistants, conducts weekly meetings and assists the Patrol Leaders with their patrol activities.

The patrols are considered the basic unit of the Troop. Troop activities are generally organized by the patrols. The Scouting Year Troop 118 is involved in a number of events throughout the year. Here is an overview and general time frame of those events: - Camping – Typically the third weekend of every month except for Febru-

ary, June, and December - Scouting for Food – February - Court of Honor – February and November - Racefest – Staffing water stations for the marathon – April - Stream Cleanup – June - Summer Camp – June - St. Stephen UMC service project - August - Camporee – October - Salvation Army stockings – December The Troop Meeting The Monday meeting starts at 7:00 PM and ends at 8:30 PM. You are encour-aged to stay for the meeting, see what happens, and lend a hand when asked. Nothing is off limits except for Eagle boards of review. The Scouts sit towards the front of the room, one patrol to a row. Adults congregate in the back of the



room and are expected to recite the same oath as the boys and maintain a sense of decorum as the meeting starts. The meeting is called to order by the Senior Patrol Leader by asking all scouts and adults to stand and remove hats and jackets. The flags of the USA and Boy Scouts are presented at the front of the room and the Scout Law or Oath is recited along with the Pledge of Allegiance. The Senior Patrol Leader will make any announcements pertinent to the eve-nings activities, adults have the opportunity to make similar announcements, and the boys will be dismissed for the night’s activities. Adults will be part of some of those activities, helping other boys with rank advancements or mentor conferences as dictated by the Advancement Board. There may be other activities that require adult assistance so feel free to lend a hand when you hear the call for volunteers. At approximately 8:15 PM the boys will return to the room for any closing re-marks, points of business, and rank advancement announcements. The honor guard will be called to the front of the room to retrieve the colors, the oath or law and Scoutmaster’s Benediction are recited. If a bugler is present, Taps is played and the meeting is adjourned. A particular patrol is assigned to service patrol. That means they have to po-lice the room after everyone leaves to ensure it is clean and straight. It only takes a few minutes. Joining Requirements The Boy Scouts of America requires that a boy must be 10 ½ years old or have completed the 5th grade in order to join a Boy Scout Troop. If a boy is inter-ested in joining Troop 118, we suggest that he attend one of the Monday night meetings. At least one parent should at-tend to observe the activities and to meet the Troop leaders.

During the meeting, the Scoutmaster or one of the designated leaders will re-view the fee structure, the required forms, and the material in this hand-book. Upon joining, the Scout must pro-vide a completed Scout application, a completed Troop 118 activity permit, a completed BSA health form, and pay the appropriate fees. A complete Scout uniform and a Boy Scout handbook should be purchased as soon as possible after joining. Uniforms and other



Scouting items can be purchased from the Mecklenburg County Council's Scout Shop on 7th Street near downtown Charlotte. Required Forms There are several forms that need to be completed by the Scout’s parent. They will be handed out at your orientation meeting and are available at the Troop office. Several can be found on-line at http://www.mccscouting.org/re-source_forms.php These forms are:

Boy Scout Application (available online) Scout Medical Form (available online) Scout Personal Data Sheet Troop 118 Activity Permit Adult Volunteer Leader Application (available online) Adult Resource Survey

Please complete these forms and return them, along with your registration fee, to the Scoutmaster or designated adult leader as soon as possible. An adult phone list is on the troop web site. We are confident you and your son will enjoy your experience in Troop 118 and welcome you both onto the road to Eagle that this Troop takes…“One Pace at a Time”. Fees Each March, Troop 118 re-charters with the Boy Scouts of America. Fees, set by the national organization, are shown below. For families with more than one Scout in the Troop, a reduction of $12.00 is allowed for the additional Scout(s). This will limit the number of subscriptions to Boy’s Life magazine to one per family. The Scout fees cover the following items: BSA registration $24.00 Unit insurance $1.00 Boy’s Life subscription $12.00 Troop activity costs $113.00 Total $150.00 Adult fees are $30 per Scouting year.

"Scouting is an enormously important and useful discipline for young people, par-ticularly young boys."



Our Troop also actively supports the Friends of Scouting program; an annual giving campaign that raises funds to assist our council in provid-ing vital Scout and Scouting programs and services. Adult participation is optional but encouraged as you are able. Fundraising The $150.00 re-chartering fee is not sufficient to purchase camping equipment, pay transportation costs for outings, and purchase materials needed to train and support an active Boy Scout Troop. We offer a well-planned program with an emphasis on outdoor activities. The activities consist of trips that can range 50 to 300 miles from home. The expenses for equipment and travel drive a Troop budget of approximately $20,000 annually. To provide additional funds, Troop 118 conducts fundraising to under-write the costs of Troop activities. Each Scout is required to participate in the fertilizer/seed sale. Participation is part of Scout spirit, and ad-vancement cannot occur without the Scout’s participation. Without the funds generated by the fertilizer/seed sale, your family would be required to pay substantially higher fees for activities.

The fertilizer/seed sale also includes Auto Bell car wash coupons, and mums which count towards the bag count. Scout Scrip is another opportunity to raise funds throughout the year. Scrip is a gift card program whereby we can obtain gift cards for many retail vendors and the Troop gets a portion of the value of the card.

While scrip is optional, each Scout is required to sell a minimum of 15 bags of fertilizer or seed (or equivalent) on an annual basis. If this is not accom-plished, the Scout is responsible for paying for the lost profit according to the following schedule:

Bag Count Sold

Amount Owed

0 - 5 $200 5.5 - 10 $100

10.5 - 14.5 $50 It should be noted that this is a minimum. It actually takes more to operate the Troop.

In order to encourage the boys to participate in the fertilizer/grass seed pro-gram, the Troop has adopted an incentive program. The objective is to create interest in fundraising and make it fun for the Scouts.



In summary, the fertilizer/grass seed sale is the life-blood of the Troop’s program. Without the participation of every Scout in the program, the Troop would cease to exist. Your Scout’s participation is a must. Advancement through Ranks Advancement through the ranks of Scouting is taken very seriously by Troop leadership. A Scout’s advancement shows his commitment to the Scouting program and to the spirit of Scout-ing. A Scout progresses through various require-

ments which are designed to provide knowledge or a specific skill to the Scout. These requirements, which include Merit Badges, are placed into groups which collectively make up a rank. Once all requirements of a rank are satisfied, the Scout is eligible for his Scoutmaster Conference and the subse-quent Board of Review. These requirements of rank advancement will be out-lined later in this handbook. Prior to conducting a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review, the Scout’s verification that a requirement is completed is done by obtaining a sign-off for that requirement. Merit Badges Within each rank, a Scout is required to achieve a certain number of merit badges, of which a specified number must be Eagle required. The number of Eagle-required badges varies from rank to rank, but generally increases as the Scout ascends through ranks. A Scout must complete a minimum of 21 badges, 13 of which are Eagle required. Scout camp in the summer is a great opportunity to earn merit badges as in-structors are there and ready to run through all the requirements. There are more complex badges which may require some additional work when the Scout gets home. The Troop runs merit badge classes for 8 weeks starting in February, and some of the other more complex badges throughout the year. A Scout may start on any badge at any time once they get approval from the Merit Badge Counselor. Once completed, the counselor will sign off on the blue card and the Scout will be presented with his badge at the next Court of Honor.

“The most important object in Boy Scout training is to educate, not instruct.”



Mentoring Each Scout in Troop 118 is assigned an adult mentor. This registered adult leader is responsible for seeing that the Scout is progressing in rank, fulfilling his Scout Spirit requirements and, most importantly, having fun. Scouts should get to know their mentor and talk to him or her about any aspect of their Scouting experience. Rank Requirement Signoffs The Scout’s mentor should be the primary person to sign off for requirements of rank. In the mentor’s absence, the Patrol Advisor should be the second choice for sign-offs. If both the Mentor and Patrol Advisor are absent, other mentors within the patrol are eligible to sign-off a requirement.

If none of the above are available, any adult leader could sign a requirement. The Scout’s Patrol Leader can sign off certain requirements. These requirements are defined in the Troop Advancement Guide. Scout Spirit One of the rank requirements that can be the hardest to judge is Scout Spirit. The Troop Committee has adopted the follow-ing guidelines as a measure of whether or not a Scout has shown Scout spirit:

Participation in minimum of 75% of each of the Troop activities: Troop meetings Patrol meetings Camping trips Summer camp Service projects Other special activities

Attend or be actively involved in each of the following: Fundraising activities Scouting for Food Scout Sunday Scout shows and Camporee

A complete uniform (Class A) must be worn when attending all Troop 118 public functions and many camping trips. An alternate uniform (Class B) uti-lizing the Troop t-shirt is allowed for certain functions. The Scoutmaster will designate the appropriate uniform prior to the event.



Scoutmaster Conference When a Scout has completed all requirements for a given rank, he is ready for his Scoutmaster Conference. In Troop 118 the purpose of the conference is:

To review the Scout’s advancement record and make sure that the dates of ad-

vancement and sign-offs in his book and progress records are the same.

To review the dates of merit badges in his book with the dates of merit badges on his progress report.

To encourage the Scout to continue his advancement toward Eagle.

To review with the Scout any skill area(s) that the Scout feels he is weak in.

To assist the Scout with his preparation for the Board of Review by providing

pointers on what to expect in the board meeting.

To discuss any issues the Scout may be having in the Scouting program to en-sure the program is meeting the needs of the boy.

Board of Review A Board of Review is conducted when all requirements for the given rank and the Scoutmaster’s Conference have been completed. The purpose of the Board in Troop 118 is to provide a final test of the knowledge and skills the Scout should have acquired for the rank that he is seeking. The Board of Review is conducted by three adult members of the Troop Committee.

“The values you learn as a Scout are like a compass. They can help you find your way through difficult and sometimes uncharted terrain.”



Court of Honor When a Scout earns a rank advancement, his rank badge is provided at the Scout meeting for immediate recognition. However, he is also given the recognition of his rank in a Court of Honor. The Court of Honor ceremony is held in November and February. Merit badges and other recognition awards are also presented during the Court of Honor. Parents are ex-pected to attend all Courts of Honor to re-ceive advancement recognition with their sons and show support for all Scouts within the Troop. Moms will be given a green ribbon at their first COH. They should wear it at each COH as they will receive a rank pin from their son as they advance.

Troop Policies & Rules There are a few rules that are considered necessary to ensure the orderly oper-ation of the Troop. These rules are: All Scouts are expected to obey the Scout Law, Oath, Motto, and Slogan. Proper uniforms are to be worn at all official Scout functions. The re-

quired uniform is set by the Scoutmaster, but generally is as follows: o September – June: Class A uniform- official BSA shirt, trousers or

shorts, troop hat, and scout belt. When shorts are worn, BSA socks are required.

o June – August: Class B- a Troop 118 T-shirt with BSA shorts, socks, troop hat, and scout belt.



Each Scout is expected to pay for his share of the food purchased by his patrol for camping trips. Generally, one member of the patrol purchases the food required for the trip as determined the Monday before the out-ing. The Scout’s share of the food costs should be paid when arriving for the trip on Friday afternoon. A late cancellation will not excuse the Scout from his obligation if he indicated his intent to participate in the activity.

Each Scout will conduct

himself properly at all times. If he is repeatedly corrected and repri-manded due to improper behavior, he may be tem-porarily suspended from the Troop or be required to leave the Troop imme-diately.

Late arrival, leaving early, or lack of official uniform due to athletic or school events are acceptable if arrangements are made with the Scout-master before the meeting. Otherwise, late arrivals or leaving early will act as non-attendance at the meeting and affect Scout Spirit.

The Troop furnishes some of the basic camping equipment (stoves,

cookware, tents, dining fly). Prior to each trip, the required gear is re-quested by the Patrol Leader and issued to the patrol by the Quartermas-ter. The patrol and the individual Scouts are responsible for the gear. If any of the Troop gear is lost or damaged as the result of inappropriate use, the patrol and/or the Scout will be responsible for replacement of the damaged gear. Determination of responsibility is a judgment call, but in all cases, the Scoutmaster’s judgment rules.

No Scout will be allowed to leave the church after returning from a

camping trip until all of his patrol’s equipment is cleaned and checked in by the Quartermaster.

All funds owed to the Troop are due by the time specified by the Scout-

master and Troop Committee. Failure to remit these funds will result in either suspension of the Scout’s ability to progress in rank or suspension from the Troop. If financial hardship exists, the Scoutmaster & Troop Committee may extend the time allowed for payment of funds.

“A boy carries out suggestions more wholeheartedly when he understands their aim.”



Monthly Outings

You cannot have Scouting without the outing. Scouts are destined to be out-side and Troop 118 makes sure this happens on a regular basis. We typically camp on the third weekend of the month. If the first of the month is on a Sat-urday or Sunday, that weekend would not count as the first weekend.

A typical trip has the Scouts meeting at the church by 4:30 PM for a 5:00 PM departure. Please be on time, fully packed, and ready to go. Don’t forget your food money. Returns are on Sunday afternoons. An email is sent when the actual ETA is known. The patrols decide on the trip menu, list out the ingredi-ents necessary, and assign a patrol member to purchase the food. If that is your son, ensure all necessary food is purchased and that he collects the money from the other patrol members on Friday prior to the trip. While an adult Patrol Advisor is present during meal planning, the boys

ultimately decide what to eat. In cold weather, a warm breakfast is essential. Encourage your son to be an active participant in meal planning.



Checklist for Camping The following is a list of basic gear and clothing that each boy should use when he is planning and packing for a typical camping trip. Of course, the season will determine the weight of clothing. The clothing that is listed is typi-cal for cold-weather camping. The troop will offer equipment suggestions for your Scout. Some of the most critical items are the backpack, sleeping bag, rain gear, and sleeping pad. The Troop makes available backpacks, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads which it acquires for reduced prices. We encourage you to take advantage of purchas-ing these items from the Troop as they are proven gear for your Scout. Gear that the boys have outgrown can be sold to others in the troop, either email through the group address or display at the Monday meetings. Basic Equipment Checklist

Sleeping Bag Sleeping Pad Backpack & Pack Cover Water Bottle Small Flashlight or headlamp & Extra

Batteries Eating Utensils, Cup & Plate Personal Care Kit First Aid Kit

Clothing Checklist

Long sleeve shirts (2) Pants (2) Underwear (2) Sweater or Sweatshirt Toboggan or hat Thick Hiking Socks (2 pr. not

cotton) Wick-dry sock liners- (2 pr.) Hiking Boots Warm Gloves Warm Jacket Rain Poncho

Visit our website at Troop118bsa.org for additional suggestions.



Troop 118 Eagle Scouts As of this writing, our troop has pinned 171 Eagle Scout Awards on the chests of our Scouts. The names of our Eagle Scouts are listed on plaques in the Scout room.

“The values you learn as a Scout are like a compass. They can help you find your way through difficult and sometimes unchartered terrain.” Bill Bradley Former US Senator

"I've never forgotten my days as an Eagle Scout. I didn't know it at the time, but what really came out of my Scouting experience was learning how to lead and serve the commu-nity.” Lloyd Bentsen Former Secretary of Treasury

“I have never met anyone with de-voted Scouting experience who was not a solid citizen, a loyal friend, and a patriot. We need more of them."

Wallace G. Wilkinson Former Governor of Kentucky

"Becoming an Eagle was the first

time in my life that I believed I could

lead others. My Scouting experience

gave me the confidence to believe I

could be a leader, and incidentally,

it also gave me the tools to do so."

Robert Gates Former Secretary of Defense



Troop Lingo You will hear many new words and phrases regarding the Troop, here is a list of what you may hear and what it means.

Nosebag – a meal eaten when away from camp or other standard eat-ing areas. Typically necessary on Friday night on the bus to the event and Saturday on the trail. Sandwiches or other portable food is best, nothing that would require refrigeration or special preparation. Mini-mize packaging to reduce trash as well.

Class A uniform – Scout shirt, belt, socks, pants, Troop hat. Used whenever we are in a public setting representing Boy Scouts and trav-eling on the bus.

Class B uniform – Troop t-shirt, scout pants, belt, and socks. Used for summertime and more casual or service type projects.

Advancement Board – On the wall in the Scout room is a whiteboard used when the Scout is ready for some portion of the rank advancement process. He puts his name plaque in the section and rank he needs help with and the Advancement Coordinator then assigns his mentor or an-other adult.

Blue Card – Issued when the Scout begins working on a merit badge. Must be signed by the Merit Badge Counselor to certify the Scout has met all the requrements.

SPL – Senior Patrol Leader – Typically a Life or Eagle Scout who, along with two assistants, lead the weekly meetings and work with the adult leadership to ensure the proper leadership to the Patrol Leaders.

Quartermaster – Adult and youth assistants responsible for the care, maintenance, and dissemination of Troop gear used on camping trips.



Notes:

troop 118 parent handbookcompleted the 5th grade in order to join a boy scout troop. if a boy is...

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