The Troop is, to a significant extent, run by elected boy leaders. They are guided by the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Troop Committee Members. The Scouts are encouraged to grow by seeking to meet expectations placed in front of them and feeling of support behind them.
Safety is of paramount importance. The adult leaders will exercise discipline and provide guidance in accordance with the published regulations of the Boy Scouts of America and Troop 142 policies.
Organizing the Troop and conducting activities by patrols was started by Lord Baden Powell when he first started Scouting. This basic unit provides the leadership opportunities the boys need by conducting business in a workable, democratic group. Patrols plan and prepare the skills, menus, equipment, duty rosters, and other factors needed for each outing. Our experience is that 5 to 7 boys per patrol provide sufficient challenge and enough members to do things even if some are missing.
In addition to leading the patrols, the Scouts lead the Troop (as much as practical, at both levels). The Patrols Leaders Conference (PLC) outlines an annual proposal of activities, later plans how the activities will be run, and plans the weekly meetings. The PLC consists of the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) who presides, the Patrol leaders, Assistant Scoutmasters and the Scoutmaster. The other Troop officers, such as Assistant SPL, Scribe, Quartermaster, Troop Guides, Advancement Aide, Chaplains Aide, Historian, Librarian, and Junior Assistant Scoutmasters are also expected to attend monthly PLC meetings.
New Scout Patrol: New Scouts coming from WEBELOS cross-over or Scouts of Tenderfoot rank or below and less than six months as a Scout will be placed in a New Scout Patrol. Scouts will remain in this patrol until they become a 1st Class Scout. Scouts will be given the opportunity to request a permanent patrol when leaving the New Scout Patrol. The Scoutmaster has the right to exercise his judgement and assign Scouts to patrols at any time.
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TROOP ACTIVITIES AND RELATED POLICIES |
Meetings:
Troop meetings are held Wednesday nights, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Cromer Elementary school. All Scouts are required to wear Class A uniforms.
Campouts:
Campouts are the core of our Scouting program. We try to schedule an event each month. Some of the special campouts might include canoeing, backpacking, pioneering, orienteering, winter campout, bike hike, camporee, gourmet cooking, summer camp, Klondike derby, and family camp.
Permission Slips:
These are required and must be signed by a parent or guardian before a Scout will be allowed to participate in any activity. The Permission slips contain a waiver of liability and authorization for emergency treatment. This not only lets us know that the Scout has your permission to participate, but provides us with information on medical problems, such as allergies, and any medicine he may be taking. It is also extremely important that we know how to contact you in case of an emergency and that the leaders be able to take prompt action in what they perceive to be your Scouts best interests.
Medical Examinations::
BSA medical forms are required of all Scouts to be with the group leaders at all times for any and all Scouting activities.
Adult Coverage:
This is important for the safety of the Scouts and the protection of the adult leaders. BSA requires us to have at least two registered and trained adults, one of whom must be 21 or older, with every group of Scouts at any Troop activity. Remote Troop outings such as canoe trips and backpacking may put us away from immediate help. Our policy is that we need double the coverage (at least four adults) for these activities. This allows us to aid the injured and go for help and still have the required coverage with the boys if an accident divides the group or the adults.
Participation Restrictions:
Age and rank requirements for BSA high adventure events are specified by BSA. All Troop members can attend summer camp and all regular weekend / two day outings, if they are current with their dues and have a current medical form and Permission slip on file.
Activities:
There is a separate list of activities which the Troop has done in the past. Please check that for more information on Troop activities.
Equipment that is required to start Scouting is minimal but we have found that the following is necessary to assure the Scout has a good feeling about his first experiences in the Troop. In addition, there is enough resources between the Troop and Committee Members to provide equipment to any scout who may not have the necessary equipment to attend any campouts or events.
Scout Handbook:
The official Scout Handbook should be brought to every Troop meeting. This is the prime source of information for the Scout and a permanent record of his advancements. The Scout should keep his book in a zip lock bag with a pen. The Troop will begin to provide the first handbook for each new Scout.
The Troop also provides at request, the Boy Scout requirements book that lists all requirements for all ranks and Merit Badges.
Camping Equipment:
As an active camping Troop, we strongly recommend the following as personal equipment, sleeping bag(s) (one good to 20 degrees), ground cloth or sleeping pad, mess kit, flash light, thermal underwear, rain gear, compass, and backpack for older Scouts. The Scout handbook lists items needed for different types of activities. We recommend you talk to an experienced adult who camps with the Troop for ideas on what and when to buy. Getting the best thing for your need is important, buying something you do not use is a waste. Buying quality is important a few dollars more can make a big difference in usefulness and life.
Tents: The Scouts supply their own tents in Troop 142, but not every Scout needs one since we use the buddy system.
Scout Shirt
An official Scout shirt is required and is to be worn to every meeting. It is required that all jackets, sweatshirts, etc. are to be removed during Troop meetings.
Classes of Uniforms:
The Troop recognizes three classes of uniforms, planned for the different types of activities. Class A consists of Scout shirt with all patches and pins, and merit badge sash or Order of the Arrow sash, as appropriate. Class B is the Scout shirt. Class C is the Troop T shirt, or other Scouting T shirt, as agreed to by the Scoutmaster. Class A is required for all Courts of Honor, Boards of Review, parades, and ceremonies. Class B is required when traveling on Troop functions and at Troop meetings. Class C is used for announced specific activities. (Troop Class A is the same as BSA Class A. Troop Class C is the same as BSA class B).
Getting the word IN is equally important. Tell the Scoutmaster of anything that can affect the Troop or any of its Scouts. Talk to the Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman any time you have a concern about any aspect of the Troop and its activities. Your ideas are always welcome. If you or your son have a problem with the Troop or another Scout in the Troop please contact Troop leadership so we may address these concerns as soon as possible. If you talk to someone and the problem is not resolved talk to someone else. Please do not let issues grow.
Each Scout should also learn to promptly notify others when he is going to miss a meeting or outing or not be able to do an assigned task. He should tell his next up Scout leader and his next down or substitute Scout. When a Scout has questions about troop activities or schedules, his first contact should be his Patrol Leader or next up Scout Leader. Parents can help with this please.
These are important events in the lives of our Scouts and in the life of the Troop. All families should attend every Court of Honor to emphasize this importance and honor the advancements of their sons and all the Troops Scouts.
Scouts are presented with the cards and pins for every advancement and Merit Badge earned since the last court. Corresponding uniform patches are also given if there was no opportunity to do so at a Troop meeting right after officially earned. Numerous other honors are also announced. For absent Scouts, Merit Badge cards will be awarded at the next Troop meeting but, advancement awards will be held until the next court.
Troop 142 will conduct two regular courts each year. To coordinate a pot luck dinner or refreshments there will be a meeting the Wednesday before the court.
Eagle Court of Honor may be held separately, for individuals or groups of Eagles, or in conjunction with a regular court. The format of this ceremony in optional. These choices belong to each Eagle Scout and his family, within the limits of Troop Capabilities.
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SCOUT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS |
Besides rank advancement and Scout spirit , a Scout must develop and demonstrate leadership skills and maturity matching the rank he seeks, up to and including the rank of Eagle Scout. To aid the Scout in leadership development , the following Troop Advancement guidelines are used:
1st Year Patrol Member, Patrol QM, Patrol Scribe, APL
2nd Year Patrol Leader, Chaplains Aide, Historian, Librarian, Den Chief, Bugler
3rd 4th Year Patrol leader, Troop Guide, and Troop leadership assignments
(ASPL, Advancement Aide, Scribe, QM)
5th 6th Year Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Instructor or Guide, or Troop leadership jobs
7th Year Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Instructor,or Troop Leadership assignment.
Patrol service:
The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and Patrol leaders (PL) will be elected twice a year and take office the following month respectively. The SPL chooses his Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) and Troop leadership staff after concurrence with the Scoutmaster. The Patrol Leaders assign Patrol positions.
The Scoutmaster appoints worthy Scouts to the positions (normal requirements) of Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (Life and 16 ), Troop Instructor (Star and 15), Troop Guide (First Class and 13 with 14 preferred), and Den Chief (First Class and 13).
Merit Badges are the keys to skills and knowledge in specific topics and increasing numbers are required for each rank above Tenderfoot. These counselors help the Scouts work through the merit badge book and complete the requirements and sign off on the merit badge card when completed. Every Council, District, and Troop has a constant need for counselors for all the many badges so that the Scouts get the needed opportunities. Merit Badge Counselors must be registered with the Council.
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FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES |
Dues: $10.00 is paid to the Troop during the Patrol corners of the first Troop meeting of every month. The Troop encourages monthly payment by each Scout and collection by patrol and Troop scribes as a method of boys learning responsibility and business techniques. This is overseen by the adult Troop Treasurer.
The Scout accounts hold the money the Scouts make from the Troops money making projects. All of the profit from these projects is allocated to the participating Scouts and placed in their Scouting accounts to be used for Summer Camp. When a Scout leaves Scouting or fails to re-register, all funds remaining in his account will be transferred to the Troop.
Hardship cases will be reviewed and approved only by the Troop Committee Members.
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SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION |
We hope the presentation of Troop 142 polices and procedures has helped you understand what we do, how and why we do it, and what is expected from the Scouts and the parents. Running a Scout Troop is complex and is possible only through dedication of our local Scout family. We invite your questions and solicit your support.
The BSA requirements for adult coverage at Troop events, our Troop polices for safe coverage, and the need for Administrative Leaders all mean we must have strong parental participation to conduct our Scouting program.
One of the citizenship lessons you can help teach your son by example is committing your personal support and participation to Troop activities. If you show him his program is important enough for you to be involved, he is likely the stay active.
Yours in Scouting
Troop 142 Committee and the Scoutmaster of Troop 142
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Troop 142 scout dues are $10.00 per scout, per month as decided by the Troop commitee members and parents. Dues are used to buy advancement and merit badges, troop camping supplies, and postage as well as other troop expenses.
Troop 142's recharter IS December 31. All recharter fees are due at this time. Recharter fees are $35.00 per Scout.
Scout's individual account financial statements will be available at the first Troop meeting of each month. Please keep your scout accounts current.
Contact Stacey Konecny for information concerning your scout account and to verify that your scout's account is up-to-date with his dues.
