Boy Scout Troop 90

Parent Guide

The Parent’s Code

(modeled after the BSA Outdoor Code)

As a parent, I will do my best to:

· Support my son in his Scouting Adventure,

· Provide guidance and assistance,

· Encourage advancement,

· Share in his scouting involvement,

· And help him to develop and live by the Scouting ideals.

Sussex District

Patriot’s Path Council

Franklin, New Jersey

Revised 11/8/08

INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
ORGANIZATION

Chartered Organization (Sponsor)

Troop Committee

Troop 90

Adult Leadership

Troop Meetings

Patrols and Patrol Leaders

Troop Parents

ADVANCEMENT

Advancement Through First Class

Advancement from First Class to Eagle

Merit Badges

Boards of review

Courts of Honor

EAGLE PROCESS

ADMINISTRATIVE

Rechartering and Fees

Annual Registration Fees

Fees for Outings / Activities

Fundraising/Scout accounts

UNIFORM

SCOUT SHOPS

CAMPOUT CHECKLIST

SAFETY
AND FINALLY

All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind are convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.

--Aristotle

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Boy Scouts of America! By becoming a parent of a Boy Scout, you are setting your son out on the grand adventure of Scouting. This is a tremendously important and rewarding endeavor that you will be able to share with him.

What is it all about? What will you be expected to do? What does it cost? We have prepared this booklet to answer these questions.

The following pages describe the organization of a Troop and the advancement pattern that each boy will follow. Reading this will help you understand how your boy can progress through the ranks with your help. It will help you understand how you can help and what the various adult volunteers are doing to help the Troop.

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

There are three aims to scouting:

· Aim I -- To build character

· Aim II -- To foster citizenship

· Aim III -- To develop fitness

These three aims are the bedrock of the American Scouting movement. They represent the long term outcomes we want for every boy.

It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential.

The values we strive to instill are based on those found in the Boy Scout Oath and Law.

SCOUT LAW

SCOUT OATH

A Scout is:

Trustworthy

Loyal

Helpful

Friendly

Courteous

Kind

Obedient

Cheerful

Thrifty

Brave

Clean

Reverent

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.

Since 1910, these principles have been taught in an atmosphere of recreation and fun which allows young people to develop self confidence, leadership and moral character. More and more men, trained as Scouts, are taking their places in today's world as responsible adult leaders. Men who earned badges as Scouts, sit on the Supreme Court and in the chambers of Congress. Others hold important offices in our government, business and industry. Most of the members of congress were Scouts, as well as most of the astronauts who have walked on the moon. The long list of famous scouts includes:

President John F. Kennedy	Boy Scout	Neil A. Armstrong, First person to set foot on the Moon	Eagle Scout
President Gerald Ford	Eagle Scout	Steven Spielberg	Eagle Scout
J. Willard Marriott, Jr. President of Marriott Corporation	Eagle Scout	William C. Devries, M.D.; Transplanted First Artificial Heart	Eagle Scout
Sam M. Walton Chairman/CEO, Wal-Mart	Eagle Scout	Barber B. Conable, Jr. President, World Bank	Eagle Scout

The Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth oriented organization in the United States. More than 4 million boys and leaders are currently registered in the Boy Scouts of America.

Unlike Cub Scouting, which many of you are familiar with, Boy Scouting is a youth-lead organization. The boys learn how to organize and lead the Troop. After training, and with supervision from the adult leaders, the boys run the show.

The boys in Troop 90 will be working towards their 1st class and then Eagle ranks. As they travel on their trail to Eagle they will not only learn how to lead a team to a goal, but they will actually lead teams of scouts in a number of situations. Many Eagle Scouts put their accomplishments on their résumés and find they are often considered in obtaining acceptance into college or the work force.

Boy Scouting also provides for growth of moral strength and character, teaches citizenship, and enhances the development of physical, mental and emotional fitness. This is all done in the spirit of fun and adventure.

Please take a few minutes to read Chapter 1 of your son's Boy Scout Handbook.

ORGANIZATION

Troop 90 is a participating member of the Sussex District of the Patriot’s Path Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Troop's organization consists of a Chartered Organization, a Troop Committee, Adult Leadership, the Troop, and the Troop's Parents.

Chartered Organization (Sponsor)

Every Troop belongs to an organization. The Chartered Organization for Troop 90 is Franklin Recreation. The Chartered Organization shares our objectives for the boys and insures that there is adequate, trained leadership. A Chartered Organization Representative acts a liaison between us and Franklin Recreation.

Troop Committee

The Troop Committee Functions as an administration and support organization for the Troop. The Troop Committee takes care of the non-program issues surrounding the Troop. For example: newsletters, Troop funds, fund raising activities, membership drives and Pack coordination, activity permits and coordination, advancement records, procurement and maintenance of Troop equipment. The Committee meets monthly. The meetings are open and attendance is encouraged by all parents, the Senior Patrol Leader, the Scoutmaster and Asst. Scoutmasters, and all other interested adults.

Adult Leadership

Two registered adult leaders or one adult leader and a Scout parent, both of who must be at least 21 years of age, are required for all Troop 90 meetings, trips or outings.

Scoutmaster

The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster and his or her assistant Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts. The general responsibilities of the Scoutmaster include:

· Train and guide boy leaders including meeting with patrol leaders’ council.

· Attend all Troop meetings, Troop committee meetings and Courts of Honor.

· Work with other adult leaders to bring Scouting to boys.

· Use the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting.

Assistant Scoutmasters

· Assistant Scoutmasters are recruited by the Scoutmaster and approved by the troop committee to assist the Scoutmaster in the operation of the troop. Assistant Scoutmasters are assigned program tasks by the Scoutmaster and provide guidance to the boy leadership. He or she also provides the required two deep leadership ( two adult leaders at least 21 years of age present at every Boy Scout activity).

The Troop

Patrols and Patrol Leaders

The Troop is a group made up of several patrols. Each Patrol usually consists of a Patrol Leader and no less than four Scouts and no more than eight Scouts.

The Patrol Leaders, with the Senior Patrol Leader as their head, form the Patrol Leaders’ Council, which plans the activities and runs the Troop meetings.

Elections for Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders are held usually in September and March of each year.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)

The senior patrol leader holds an elected position. He leads the patrol leaders' council and, in consultation with the Scoutmaster, appoints the Assistant Patrol Leader and assigns specific responsibilites as needed. To run for SPL, you must have a rank of Life.

The assistant senior patrol leader fills in for the SPL in his absence. He is also responsible for training and giving direction to the quartermaster, scribe, historian, librarian and instructors.

Patrol Leaders (PL)

The patrol leaders hold an elected position. After consultation with the Scoutmaster, they appoint their Assistant Patrol Leader and are responsible for giving leadership to the members of their patrols. They are their patrol’s representative to the Patrol Leaders' Council.

Assistant Patrol Leaders (APL)

Assistant patrol leaders help the PL run the patrol and fill in for him in his absence.

Troop 90 Troop Meetings

Troop 90 will hold meetings weekly. Meetings currently are held every Sunday or Monday evenings at the Franklin Senior Center. Please check our Troop website for times. Changes to the meeting schedule will be announced as early as possible to allow for proper planning. Troop 90 does not meet the Sunday night following an overnight or weekend activity. A Scout must attend the 2 meetings prior to the event.

Troop Parents

The role of parents within Troop 90 is to be supportive of the Troop's efforts and to provide the atmosphere Scouts need to learn and excel. Parents should try to:

1. Read their Scout's handbook and understand the purpose and methods of Scouting. Parents should attend an informal Boy Scout Fast Start by the Troop Committee (planning meeting).

2. Actively follow their Scout's progress (or lack thereof) and offer encouragement and a push when needed.

3. Show support to both the individual Scout and the Troop by attending all Troop Courts of Honor.

4. Assist, as requested, in all Troop fund-raisers and other such activities. All such assistance lowers the cost of the program we offer to the Scouts and, therefore, lowers each family's cash outlay for their Scout(s).

5. Be aware of the Troop program and annual calendar.

ADVANCEMENT

There are many definitions of advancement, but the Scouting definition might well be, simply, "the art of meeting a challenge." For that is exactly what the Boy Scout advancement program asks the boys to do. The Boy Scout advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at his own pace. As he acquires these skills he moves up through a series of ranks, for which he is awarded badges. Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. The higher he climbs the more challenging his tasks -- and the more rewarding.

Achievements include:

· Learning skills that qualify for Scouting’s more rugged and exciting outdoor challenges.

· Developing body and mind, growing self-confidence, and helping younger Scouts climb the advancement ladder.

· Discovering how it feels to go further -- in so many ways -- than he ever though he could.

We don’t look at advancement as a goal, but as a natural outcome of a planned, quality Troop program.There are four steps of advancement:

· The Boy Scout Learns.

· The Boy Scout is Tested.

· The Boy Scout is Reviewed.

· The Boy Scout is Recognized.

Advancement Through First Class

From the time the Scout enters the Troop through the time he earns advancement to First Class, he is learning basic scouting skills to enable him to camp, hike, swim, cook, tie knots, administer first aid, and perform other tasks in the outdoors and to work as a member of a team. With those first steps the scout begins to build themselves physically, mentally, and morally. He will start to live by the Scout Oath and Law. Soon he will learn the symbolism inherent in the Scout badge; he will learn that there are three points of the trefoil which stand for the three parts of the Scout Oath: Duty to God and country, duty to other people, and duty to yourself. The goal of this Troop, is for the Scout to achieve the rank of First Class within his first year in the Troop. This is a sign that the scout has mastered the fundamentals of scouting and can begin to start the long process of learning to lead others, refining the learned skills and learning additional skills.

Advancement from First Class to Eagle

From the achievement of First Class through Eagle, the Scout will be demonstrating leadership, performing service projects, earning merit badges and using the skills learned while achieving the rank of First Class. The next ranks he will earn are Star and Life. These ranks are harder to obtain than the earlier ranks, but are also more interesting for the older scouts. Upon completion of all the requirements for Star and Life the Scout will be eligible to work for Eagle. The original principals, the Scout Oath and Law now have fuller meaning for the Scout and their understanding of them is much greater. The final steps towards Eagle are filled with leadership experiences.

Details for advancement are contained in the Boy Scout Handbook, which every Scout should obtain as soon as possible after joining the Troop. Take a look at Chapter 1. This short chapter has an advancement summary through First Class.

Merit Badges

The goal of the merit badge program is to expand a Scout's areas of interest and to encourage the Scout to meet and work with adults in a chosen subject. Merit badges are earned by a Scout working with a registered merit badge counselor with prior approval of the Scoutmaster. The Scout is required to contact the counselor to arrange for times and places to meet with the counselor. When the Scout completes the work on the merit badge the counselor will inform the Scoutmaster that the Scout has completed the requirements for that badge. Merit Badges earned will be presented to the Scout during the Troop's quarterly Court of Honor.

All parents of Troop 90 Scouts are encouraged to become Merit Badge Counselors. Please fill in a Troop Resource Survey and return to it to the Scoutmaster.

Boards of review

When a Scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, he appears before a board of review composed of members of the Troop committee. The purpose of the review is not an examination. Rather it is to determine the Scout's attitude and acceptance of Scouting's ideals; to ensure that the requirements have been met for advancement, to discuss the Scout's experiences in the Troop and the Troop's program, and to encourage him to keep working towards advancement. A Board of Review may also be held to counsel a boy about his lack of progress toward advancement.

Courts of Honor

Troop 90 will conduct a Court of Honor every three months. The Court of Honor recognizes all Scout appointments, elections, awards, and advancements since the last Court of Honor. Adult recognition may be presented prior to the opening of the Troop Court of Honor. It is the responsibility of the Troop's Patrol Leaders’ Council to plan and conduct the Troop Courts of Honor. The Troop Committee will support the Courts of Honor as requested.

The Court of Honor is a public ceremony, and is a chance for the Scouts to be publicly recognized for their achievements. Parents and all other interested individuals are be encouraged to attend.

The Eagle Process

This process is from the Patriots' Path Council Website;

Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook

As a Life Scout

When the Scout attains the Life rank, he can begin the Eagle process.
While working on his final merit badges that are required for Eagle, the Scout can work on his Service Project at the same time.
He must also be sure that he has a leadership position in the Troop while working towards his Eagle rank. (see the Scout handbook)

The 12 Steps From Life to Eagle

The following 12 steps have been outlined to ensure a smooth procedure for the Scout, the unit leadership, the local council, and the volunteers who are to conduct the board of review. Eagle candidates should share these steps with their unit leader so that they can fully understand the procedures that must be followed.

In order to advance to the rank of Eagle, a candidate must complete all requirements of tenure; Scout spirit; merit badges; positions of responsibility; while a Life Scout, plan, develop, and provide leadership to others in a service project; and the Scoutmaster conference.
Using the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, the candidate must select his Eagle service project and have the project concept approved by his unit leader, his unit committee, and the benefactor of the project, and reviewed and approved by the council or district advancement committee. This workbook must be used in meeting this requirement.
It is imperative that all requirements for the Eagle Scout rank except the board of review be completed prior to the candidate’s 18th birthday. When all requirements except the board of review for the rank of Eagle, including the leadership service project, have been completed, the Eagle Scout Rank Application must be completed and sent to the council service center promptly. (Youth members with disabilities should meet with their unit leader regarding time extensions.)
The application should be signed by the unit leader at the proper place. The unit committee reviews and approves the record of the Eagle candidate before the application is submitted to the local council. If a unit leader or unit committee fails to sign or otherwise approve an application, the Eagle candidate may still be granted a board of review. The failure of a unit leader or unit committee to sign an application may be considered by the board of review in determining the qualification of the Eagle candidate.
When the completed application is received at the council service center, its contents will be verified and the references contacted. The council advancement committee or its designee contacts the person listed as a reference on the Eagle Scout Rank Application either by letter, form, or telephone checklist. The council determines the method or methods to be used. The candidate should have contacted those individuals listed as references before including their names on the application. The candidates should not be involved personally in transmitting any correspondence between persons listed as references and the council service center.
The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, properly filled out, must be submitted with the application.
After the contents of an application have been verified and appropriately signed, the application, Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, and references will be returned from the council service center to the chairman of the Eagle board of review so that a board of review may be scheduled. Under no circumstances should a board of review be scheduled until the application is returned to the chairman of the Eagle board of review. Reference checks that are forwarded with the application are confidential, and their contents are not to be disclosed to any person who is not a member of the board of review.
The board of review for an Eagle candidate is composed of at least three but not more than six members. One member serves as chairman. Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives, or guardians may not serve as members of a Scout’s board of review. The board of review members should convene at least 30 minutes before the candidate appears in order to review the application, reference checks, and leadership service project report. At least one district or council advancement representative must be a member of the Eagle board of review if the board of review is conducted on a unit level. A council or district may designate more than one person to serve as a member of Eagle boards of review when requested to do so by the unit. It is not required that these persons be members of the advancement committee; however, they must have an understanding of the importance of the Eagle board of review.
The candidate’s unit leader introduces him to the members of the board of review. The unit leader may remain in the room, but does not participate in the board of review. The unit leader may be called on to clarify a point in question. In no case should a relative or guardian of the candidate attend the review, even as a unit leader. There is no set of questions that an Eagle candidate should be asked. However, the board should be assured of the candidate’s participation in the program. This is the highest award that a Scout may achieve and, consequently, a thorough discussion of his successes and experiences in Scouting should be considered. After the review, the candidate and his unit leader leave the room while the board members discuss the acceptability of the candidate as an Eagle Scout. The decision must be unanimous. If the candidate meets the requirements, he is asked to return and is informed that he will receive the board’s recommendation for the Eagle Scout rank. If the candidate does not meet the requirements, he is asked to return and told the reasons for his failure to qualify. A discussion should be held with him as to how he may meet the requirements within a given period. Should the applicant disagree with the decision, the appeal procedures should be explained to him. A follow-up letter must be sent to the Scout confirming the agreements reached on the action(s) necessary for the advancement. If the Scout chooses to appeal, the board should provide the name and address of the person he is to contact. (See ‘‘Appealing a Decision” in the National BSA Policies and Procedures, No. 33088D.)
Immediately after the board of review and after the application has been appropriately signed, the application, the service project report, references, and a properly completed Advancement Report are returned to the council service center.
When the application arrives at the council service center, the Scout executive signs it to certify that the proper procedure has been followed and that the board of review has recommended the candidate for the Eagle Scout rank. This workbook and references are retained by the council. The workbook may be returned to the Scout after council approval.

Only the Eagle Scout Rank Application is forwarded to the national Eagle Scout Service.

The Eagle Scout Service screens the application to ascertain information such as proper signature, positions of responsibility, tenure between ranks, and age of the candidate. Any item not meeting national standards will cause the application to be returned for more information. If the application is in order, the Scout is then certified as an Eagle Scout by the Eagle Scout Service on behalf of the National Council. Notice of approval is given by sending the Eagle Scout certificate to the local council. The date used on the certificate will be the date of the board of review. The Eagle Award must not be sold or given to any unit until after the certificate is received by the council service center. The Eagle Scout court of honor should not be scheduled until the local council receives the Eagle Scout rank credentials.

Finally, Leadership and attending Troop meetings regularly is also part of the Eagle commitment. Each Eagle candidate is obligated to attend Troop meetings and show their leadership. THIS IS A MUST. We understand that our Scouts are busy outside of Scouting but they need to make the leadership commitment to be a Eagle.

Troop 90 wants to help plan the Eagle Court of Honor. – Congratulations!

Be sure to pick a date about 2 to 3 months after you get your acceptance letter from National. This will give you plenty of notice for any dignitaries that you will be inviting for this special event.
Also, the Troop Committee has guidelines on how they will be helping you financially with this event. This is a list of items that will be supplied by the Troop to be presented at the ceremony:
- The Troop's Eagle gift which will be no more than $50.00. (parents have their choosing here.)
- The Mom and Dad pins to be presented by the Eagle to his parents.
- The Eagle Neckerchief.
- The Eagle medal.
- The Eagle shadowbox to display your certificate and medal after the ceremony.
- See Troop Committee Chairperson for additional information.
See the Troop Web site for the adopted Troop 90 program for the COH plus a Eagle Court Handbook with ceremonies that were used by our Troop before..
You can also send letters out to receive congratulations from special people. See the Troop Web site for a template to use for that with address’ of people you can send to.
Depending on what you would like for your COH depends on what you and your parents want to have. Think about where you want this special event to take place? What kind of reception do you want, if any? How much can you afford to spend? How many people do you want to invite?
Be sure to ask questions if you are not sure. Our Troop has been through it already and you shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel again.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Rechartering and Fees

The process of rechartering is the annual collection of registration fees for the Scouts and Leaders. The Troop also makes a formal visit to the chartering organization to renew their commitment for the coming year. The process of rechartering the Troop must be completed by the end of December of each calendar year.

Annual Registration Fees

How much does Boy Scouting cost? As little as possible, but nothing worthwhile is free. The annual fee for each Scout in Troop 90 is: $25.00 ( $10.00 goes for National BSA membership, $10.00 goes to the Patriots' Path Council, and $5.00 for BSA insurance). For Adult Scouters, the annual cost is $15.00 for renewal. For families that have more than one Scout in the Troop, the price is $35.00 for the second Scout on. Remember, it is important to work with the Troop Treasurer if working on a payment plan. Our charter is due in November of each year.

Other fees:

· $5.00 Troop Class B T-shirt

· $11.25 for new subscribers to Boys Life magazine / $9.00 for renewals (optional, but really enjoyable, and gives the Scouts ideas for activities and outings. A good buy)

Fees for Outings / Activities

Individual activities may have fees associated with them. If so, the parents will be notified.

Fundraising

Additional funds are raised by the boys through various fundraising activities. The Troop plans to do two to three major fundraising projects a year. Our fund-raisers will be designed so that once the Troops budget is met, additional funds raised by your son will be put into his individual account to defray scouting costs. Details on this year's fund-raisers will be available at future Troop meetings.

Scout Savings Account

In 1999, we started a Scout Savings Account Program. As noted earlier, we hold fundraisers to help offset the cost of our programs. Some of the profits (example, the Popcorn Sale) go to support our Troop while other fundraisers go to the Scout Account (example, The Spring Mineral Show). The intent of the Scout Savings Account is to allow ALL of our Scouts the ability to equally participate in the Troop’s Programs.

Any monies earned for the Scout Account are to be used for uniforms, help offset the cost of a Scout Activity, or help offset the cost of summer camp. This money will be managed by the Troop Treasurer for the Scout and will be paid by a Troop Check. If a Scout either drops out or leaves Troop 90 (example: The family moves.), and is no longer carried on the Troop’s Charter, the Scout’s Savings account will not be paid out to that Scout but will go directly into the Troop’s General Funds. Any disagreement of this policy should be brought up to the Troop Committee.

UNIFORM

The Scout uniform helps to achieve the objectives of Scouting. The uniform by itself can not make a good Scout or a good Troop, but its use has been proven to improve both the Scout and the Troop because it is a visible symbol of Scouting and unity. Each scout is required to have and wear, within a reasonable amount of time after joining the Troop, the following uniform items:

Field or “Class A” Uniform

· Tan scout shirt with appropriate insignia and patches (Patriot’s Path Council strip, red shoulder loops, and patrol emblem)

· Troop number patch (1st one free - all others are 50 cents obtained from Troop)

· Troop 90 neckerchief - (1st one free when crossing over to our Troop- rest obtained from Troop)

· Neckerchief slide (can be purchased or made by Scout)

· Olive Scout pants or shorts (may use olive dickies)

· Boy Scout Socks, for wearing with shorts (optional)

· Boy Scout Hat ($15.00 per hat - obtained from Troop)

· Scout web belt and buckle

· Tennis shoes or hiking boots

Activity or “Class B” Uniform (worn, as instructed by Troop leadership, when activities may cause damage to the field uniform).

· Troop 90 T-Shirt (obtain from Troop 90 at registration)

· Sneakers and hiking boots

· Scout pants or shorts

· Boy Scout Socks, for wearing with shorts (optional)

Uniforms and insignia are worn a certain way. The Troop Leaders and staff at the Scout Shops will be able to answer any questions you might have on where to put what badge. Inside the cover of the Handbook there are guides for badge placement.

SCOUT SHOPS

There are two Scout Shops in the Sussex County area where you can purchase scout uniforms and supplies:

Patriot’s Path Council Scout Shop

Columbia Turnpike

Florham Park, NJ

Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation

Waterloo Road

Byram Twp, NJ

What to bring on a campout

à Sleeping bag à Mess Kit à Sewing Kit Do Not Bring

à Foam Pad à Cup à Flashlight · Radios

à Sweater à Soap à Scout Knife · Snack Food

The Parent’s Code

Troop Committee

Adult Leadership

Scoutmaster

Assistant Scoutmasters

The Troop

Patrols and Patrol Leaders

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)

Patrol Leaders (PL)

Assistant Patrol Leaders (APL)

Troop 90 Troop Meetings

AND FINALLY