Parents Handbook

This booklet explains the operation of Troop 525. Both parents and boys should read its contents. The information presented within will help the Scout and his family to understand Scouting and effectively involve themselves in the troop. The booklet serves as a handy reference for all.

YOUR SON IN TROOP 525

The first time a new Scout registers and pays his dues, the Scoutmaster will assign him to a patrol. This grouping of boys number eight to twelve and is the basic, working Scout unit. When each member of the patrol carries his share of the workload, then the patrol can function smoothly.

A patrol leader is elected or appointed by the Scoutmaster or the Troop boy leaders ("Greenbar"). The patrol leader leads the patrol in all activities. He is responsible for task assignment, keeping the patrol members informed, helping patrol advancement and leading his patrol in the Scouting patrol method. He represents his patrol at the monthly Greenbar meeting where boy leaders plan activities and formulate troop policy.

SCOUT BEHAVIOR

Each Scout is expected to act according to the promises he makes in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Developing good character, leadership, and positive attitudes are the primary goals in Scouting. While most boys have good behavior habits, occasions may require disciplinary action.

Gross misbehavior by a boy while involved in a troop activity can result in immediate dismissal from the activity. This may require that parents will have to pick up their Scout son from the activity including camp-outs. Severe cases or continued misbehavior can result in expulsion from the troop by the Troop Committee. If necessary, the Scoutmaster and members of the Troop Committee meet with the parents to review the boy's behavior and set up a constructive remedy.

ALWAYS:

· Patrol Leaders have the right to ask anyone who is not a member of his patrol to leave his patrol site.

RULES OF TROOP

· Fireworks, sheath knives, bullwhips, throwing stars, numb chucks, slingshots or any other item that could potentially harm.

· Firearms or bow and arrow unless specifically approved by the committee for such purposes as archery, rifle or shotgun merit badge.

· Candles, unless used as emergency fire starters in inclement weather or as part of an approved device such as a Candle Lantern.

· Liquid fuels. Exceptions include adult supervised use under special camping conditions such as high adventure or low impact camping.

· Playing in and/or with fire. Use fires only for heat, light and cooking. Use of fires for any other activity is playing with fire and is not tolerated.

· Using, borrowing or otherwise disturbing another persons property, for example sitting on someone's cot without permission.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITY

When a boy joins Scouting in Troop 525, his parents also became part of the program. Parents are expected to give their support and help to the troop. This will vary from serving as a Scoutmaster, merit badge counselor, to holding a Troop Committee office, or serving as a chairman or leader of a particular event. There is a place for everyone. Parent participation is the best way to show that they support Scouting for their son. It makes Scouting go and their son grow.

· Be aware of their son's progress in rank advancement and provide encouragement and support to continue advancement.

CAMPING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Scouting was designed to be carried out mainly in the outdoors and in all four seasons. Troop 525 regularly has a camping program that takes the Scouts camping nearly every month. The traditional camping trips usually incorporate other outdoor adventures. This broadens Scouting skills and keeps the fun in Scout outings. In the outdoors, a boy can meet the natural world face to face and begin to develop a keener sensitivity toward our wildlife, forests, rivers, mountains and open space.

Information on these activities is distributed from the troop website at http://www.troop525.org. Voice messages are also sent on a regular basis to remind scouts and parents of upcoming events. E-mail is also used for this purpose. Please help us make sure we have your correct email addresses and phone numbers. Our goal is to provide timely information on the outings to help you plan your activities while maintaining active participation in the troop.

Parents should be aware that outdoor activates entail some degree of risk. These risks are minimized when Scouts are prepared with the right equipment. Every outing requires at least two registered adult leaders to be along. This is Scouting policy and good common sense. We encourage you to accompany us on any of our outdoor activities.

For most camp-outs, the patrol prepares its own menu, buys its food and cooks as a unit. It is recommended that the boys do all of this by themselves because this is how they develop responsibility, self-confidence, outdoor skills and earn advancement. The patrol lives as a group on a camp-out. Usually boys do not tent or eat alone, or with anyone not belonging to their patrol.

The following list is equipment that a Scout should have for camping. Review the list and make an effort to outfit according to your own good judgment. You need not buy everything at once. Some items can be makeshift until the next birthday or special occasion. A good sleeping bag and a good pair of hiking boots are a must, however. Check with troop adult leaders for advice on your needs.

CHECKLISTS FOR CAMPOUTS

OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS:

PERSONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPING GEAR:

· Two Man Tent (Optional. Share with a buddy. The troop owns no tents, though we do have large tarps for communal cooking/meeting areas.

WARM WEATHER CLOTHING:

COLD WEATHER, CLOTHING:

PERSONAL (not all required):

BACKPACKING CHECKLIST:

Backpacking trips call for different equipment. The following lists some recommendations. Remember that it is important to keep the backpack LIGHT! Plan for your backpack to be no more than 20% to 25% of your body weight.

· Frame pack (external frame packs are generally preferred due to the hot weather in the south.)

· Food - decide with your buddy what you want to eat, and each of you can carry half. Get rid of the extra packing material you don't need - the box, extra wrappers, etc.

· Stuffable sleeping bag. It is important that it roll up into a small package, and that it be light weight. A sleeping bag rated at 0° is generally adequate for our part of the country.

· Ground pad. This can be as simple as a foam pad, or can be one of the more expensive self-inflating pads.

· Hiking boots (Be sure to wear this a few weeks to break them in before going on a hike!)

TROOP EQUIPMENT

The troop has a towing trailer that is used to store and haul much of the troop equipment. Each patrol has the use of this equipment with the troop Quartermaster checking out the equipment to the patrol. Keeping this equipment clean and in good condition is the patrol's responsibility. The patrol uses a patrol box, cook kits and supplies. The patrol boxes and cook kits are to be cleaned and gear properly stored at the end of each camp-out when checked back in with the Troop Quartermaster.

TENTS

The troop does not own any tents; however, many individual Scouts have tents they share. Before each camp-out, the Patrol Leader assigns tenting partners based on the available tents owned by the members of the patrol. Maintenance of tents is important to their useful life and to the comfort of the Scout. When a Scout returns from a camp-out, he must set it up immediately, outdoors or in the basement or garage. The tent is frequently wet or damp and will need drying. Wash mud from the tent by hand before it dries. Make sure the tent is aired and dried before mildew grows and ruins the fabric. After drying, fold tent and store in cool dry closet or space. If it is borrowed, return it to its owner.

COOK KITS

Each patrol has a large aluminum cook kit with pots and pans. The Scout should rub liquid soap on the outside before using it on a fire. If this advice is forgotten, the utensils will have black carbon deposits on the outside after cooking that will not easily wash off. A "Brillo" pad and hard work will then be required to clean it off. This is the Scout's responsibility in the patrol. The patrol will clean all contents of the cook kit, reassemble and store in the patrol box. All this equipment should be cleaned before leaving the campsite. Otherwise, extra time will be used at camp or on return to get it clean and stored properly.

DUTCH OVENS

The troop owns several large Dutch ovens which can be checked out from the Quartermaster for use on campouts or other occasions. If used carefully at camp-outs, they are easily cleaned. If baking in an oven, use a tinfoil lining. To clean, follow these steps:

FOOD BUYING FOR OUTINGS

Each Scout shares the food costs for camp-outs and other outings. At the troop meeting before the outing, each patrol plans its meals and assigns a Scout to purchase the food. Each Scout going on the campout must signup and bring the camping fee to the troop meeting designated on the Troop calendar as the sign-up deadline (usually 2 weeks prior to the trip). Usually, a small transportation fee is charged and also due at the same time. The Scout who purchases the food is reimbursed a reasonable amount by the troop for the costs after the food is purchased. If the food costs exceed the $15 limit per person, the Scouts in the patrol who attend the outing must pay the additional cost. Once the patrol purchases food, those Scouts who have paid go camping. If a Scout decides not to go, he cannot receive a refund. No boy may attend the camp-out if he has not paid by the deadline.

UNIFORMS

The Boy Scout uniform is a tool with many edges. Whenever a Scout wears his uniform it reminds the boy that he is a Scout and that people will expect him to act like one. The uniform is an outward sign that he believes in certain values and is willing to stand up for them. His uniform gives him a reason to take pride in the way he looks, and in the badges and awards he displays that testify to his achievements in skills and leadership.

A well-uniformed troop can build a sense of troop identity and spirit. It can attract new members, leaders and parents.

The uniform is versatile: It's equally compatible for going to meetings, greeting the mayor, or climbing a mountain. To the community the uniform presents a welcome image: "Here are some local kids," it says, "who are doing some good things." A thought that could make anyone's day.

You will note that the Scoutmaster and other adult leaders set the example and wear their own uniform.

Troop 525 maintains a uniform bank to provide a resource to recycle "experienced" uniforms. We ask that members donate outgrown uniforms to the uniform bank and obtain "experienced" good condition replacement pieces that are available at a nominal cost. All moneys go to the troop treasury.

Scouts must wear the Class "A" uniform (see below) to all Scouting events. Due to national BSA insurance requirements, Class "A" uniform must also be worn while traveling to/from all Scouting events. Class "A" uniform is mandatory for Scoutmaster Conference, Boards of Review and Courts of Honor. This uniform is to be worn to all troop meetings during the school year while the Class "B" uniform may be worn to troop meetings during the summer months if so designated by the leadership (except for the occasions mentioned above). Insignia and patches are to be worn only in the proper places as shown inside the cover of The Boy Scout Handbook.

· CLASS "A" -- Scout Shirt with Scout shorts or Scout pants, including neckerchief, Scout belt and socks.

· CLASS "B" -- Troop T-shirt with Scout shorts-or Scout pants. The troop has two colors of troop t-shirts. The troop leadership determines on which days the different colors are warn, for example, yellow on odd days, red on even days.

ADVANCEMENT

The Boy Scouts of America has a very specific advancement plan. Leaders encourage Scouts to participate and master a challenging series of skills that prepare them to enjoy the outdoors. It is a progressive series of learning experiences leading to achievement by advancement in ranks and completion merit badges. The plan also provides a specific means of measurement and recognition. This plan is specified in detail in the rank advancement record section of the Boy Scout Handbook.

FOUR STEPS IN BOY SCOUT ADVANCEMENT

3. Participate in a Scoutmaster Conference and appear before the Board of Review.

The Scout practices his Scouting skills by taking an active part in the troop meetings and outdoor programs. Required skills are taught during Troop meetings and camp-outs. The adult and boy leaders supervise presentation of these skills. Summer camp is also a vital part of the Troop's outdoor program. It is the best opportunity for learning Scouting skills and completing merit badges for advancement. Nothing can replace the experiences the Scout receives at summer camp and on monthly camp-outs.

Merit badge work is to be completed under the guidance of a merit badge counselor (an adult who has an understanding of or experience relating to the merit badge material and who has a desire to counsel the Scout and at least one other Scout concurrently or separately). A list of troop merit badge counselors is posted on the troop website. The Scout fills out a "blue card" and gets it authorized for a desired merit badge. He obtains a counselor and the merit badge booklet. This booklet may be borrowed from the troop library or may need to be purchased at a Scout supply store such as the "Scout Shop".

If the Scout is completing a skill requirement, he is tested when his leaders see that he has mastered a given skill and he has satisfied a given requirement. This leader may be his patrol leader, the Senior Patrol Leader, instructor, Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster. They tell the Scout when he has met the standard and they record his achievement in the Scout's Boy Scout Handbook.

If a Scout believes he has completed a rank requirement, it is his responsibility to present himself before the proper person(s) to have that completion recorded. His Boy Scout Handbook is the Scout's official document to record his achievements.

RECOMMENDATION - Make a photocopy of the advancement record portion of your son's scout book several times each year! Scout books have been known to walk off!

The troop also maintains a troop advancement database which also keeps up with his work, however, it may not contain all records of completed work that are in his Handbook. It is worthwhile for a Scout to review his Handbook occasionally with the advancement chairman to see that the data base records are up to date.

3. PARTICIPATE IN A SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE AND APPEAR BEFORE A BOARD OF REVIEW

During his completion of requirements for advancement in rank, the Scout meets with the Scoutmaster for a conference. The purpose:

· Have the Scout and his Scoutmaster work together in setting goals for further development.

The Scoutmaster does not determine if the boy should advance in rank during this meeting. It is the responsibility of the Board of Review to make that decision.

As a final step in the completion of a rank advancement, the Scout appears before a Board of Review. He must have completed all requirements for the rank before the review. Then he signs up for a board of review with the Board of Review Chairman. The board is held monthly usually at the same time as the Greenbar meeting. Please consult the troop newsletter for dates.

Three members of the Troop Committee make up the board. The Board of Review has three goals:

· Determine the extent to which the boy has had a positive and effective troop experience.

Their review is not an examination. However, the Board generally does ask the boy to talk about the skills he has learned, and the experiences he has had as a scout. The objective is to determine the Scout’s attitude and his acceptance of the Scouting ideals.

The Board will determine how the Scout meets good performance in all phases of his life. A discussion of the Scout Oath and Scout Law is in keeping with the questioning. This helps the candidate recognize and understand the value of Scouting in his home, school, church and community. Advancement in rank is not automatic. If the Board feels that the Scout is not ready for advancement, members of the Board will give specific and constructive suggestions so he may strengthen areas of weakness and satisfy rank requirements.

Once the Board of Review has certified a Scout, he is awarded his new badge of rank normally at a formal impressive ceremony called a Court of Honor. At this event, all Scouts who have advanced and/or earned merit badges since the last Court of Honor are recognized for their accomplishments before an audience of families, friends, and troop leaders.

Troop 525 normally holds three Courts of Honor per year. One in September, the second during February as part of the Scout Week banquet, and the third in May just before school ends. These are important occasions for the Scout and his family. Please plan to attend.

TROOP FUNDING

There are several financial sources contributing to Scouting. The United Way provides a major portion of the funds to operate the Atlanta Area Council. The Friends of Scouting (F.O.S.) campaign also directly benefits the Council and thus indirectly the troop.

However, Troop 525 must provide its own operating funds. Basically the troop must pay its own way. The annual dues paid in total in September provide the primary funding. The dues amount is set by the troop committee, and is currently $75 for the first scout, and $50 for additional scouts in the same family. These funds cover badge costs, registration and some administrative costs, stamps, printing, etc.

Troop fund raisers may be held from time to time to support troop camping equipment purchases and offset part of long term camping or outing costs. However, in recent years, the troop has elected not to conduct fundraisers because the boys have other conflicting activities.

The troop also has the opportunity to sell Scout Show tickets and popcorn each year as part of a council-wide fund raising.

The troop treasurer accounts for the dues for each Scout, other funds earned by the troop, and all troop expenditures. All troop funds are kept in a bank checking account.

THE TROOP COMMITTEE

The troop committee is a group of adults, usually parents, who register with Scouting and function to:

· Support the Scoutmaster and adult leaders in the implementation of the troop program.

· Supporting the troop program and leaders involves giving final approval to monthly and long-term plans of the Greenbar (patrol leaders planning); informing parents of the troop program; providing support for organizing transportation.

The committee also encourages adult leader training, maintains financial and advancement records, buys and maintains quality troop equipment, and improves troop membership through outreach and recruitment.

The troop committee usually meets prior to a troop camp-out or major outing or special event. This is to assure that all plans are complete and supported. Officers are selected and positions filled at the beginning of the Scouting year in September. Parents are welcome to attend troop committee meetings and may speak specifically to a topic that interests them. The meetings are business-like in form. Please contact the Scoutmaster or other committee member if you wish to join this important group.

Table of Contents

· Introduction

· Your Son in Troop 525

· Scout Behavior

· Rules of the Troop

· Parent Responsibility

· Camping and Outdoor Activities

· Checklists for Campouts

· Troop Equipment

· Food Buying for Outings

· Uniforms

· Advancement

· Troop Funding

· The Troop Committee

INTRODUCTION