BSA Troop 29 Parent Guide
CONTENTS
Overview of Scouting
How to Join
Getting Started
Uniform
Initial Personal Equipment
Needs
Advanced Personal Equipment
Needs
Troop Equipment
The Patrol Method
Camping Policy
Advancement
Order of the Arrow
Scout Spirit – Troop
Attendance Policy
Typical Troop 29 Camping
Agenda
Camp Inspection Form
Cooking Policy
Fundraising
OVERVIEW
The Boy Scout program is
designed to be fun while achieving the ideals set out in the Scout Law.
The
program is centered on a monthly campout, a skills advancement program
and a
weekly troop meeting. Scouting is an
adventure – a terrific way to make new friends, camp at places you might
never
have the chance to without being in scouting, and learn skills the
average kid
would only dream about. It is also a
proven method of building character, citizenship and fitness.
Our troop has been involved
in canoeing, kayaking, mountain climbing, spelunking, snow camping,
small
aircraft and glider flying, shotgun and bow marksmanship, international
travel,
wood carving, and outdoor gourmet cooking competitions. Troop
29 has been a quality unit within
Northwest Suburban Council for the over
20 years and has maintained both an active camping and high adventure
program.
We will do our best to make
scouting an enjoyable experience for your son.
Feel free to speak to the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters
with any
questions, concerns or suggestions. We
encourage parents to join us at all troop meetings and welcome you to
attend
all troop committee meetings and adult leader meetings.
HOW TO JOIN
First visit us at a troop
meeting and consider being a guest at one of our campouts to get to know
us. To
officially join you must submit a completed official Boy Scout of
America Youth
registration form signed by a parent, and registration fees (payable to
Troop
29) to the troop’s Webelos Coordinator or Membership Chairman.
Webelos scouts that plan to
join during a Blue and Gold ceremony or Cub Scout graduation ceremony
should invite
Troop 29’s Scoutmaster to attend the event.
The Scoutmaster will participate in the ceremony and decorate the
new
scout with the troop’s red scarf and epaulets.
Registration fees
periodically change within the troop.
Registration costs help to
offset the cost of the national registration fees, one Boy’s Life
magazine per
family, supplemental accident insurance, advancement awards, court of
honor
supplies, leader training, troop equipment and operating fees, cost of
initial
handbook, scarf, epaulets, slide, patches, beret.
Membership lapses if not
renewed in September of each year.
GETTING STARTED
1. Troop Meetings are held
at St. Anne’s Church in the basement, generally in the school cafeteria evenings from 7-8:30 PM. Scouts should arrive
15
minutes early as the meetings start promptly.
They should wear the official scouting dress uniform
2. Each son will receive
the Boy Scout Handbook from the troop upon registration
and
should bring this book to all troop meetings and campouts.
Please review the section at the beginning How
to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parents Guide. Completing the exercises in the section is
required for your son to achieve his first advancement to the rank of
Scout. A sturdy and waterproof cover for
the handbook is also recommended to prolong its life. The
Handbook is not only your scout’s history
but is an official record from Scout rank to Eagle.
3. Have a designated place
at home for all Boy Scout information, patches, and forms such as a note
book
where rosters, calendars, awards, photos, newsletters, merit badge
cards,
camping permission slips, and rank advancement cards can be filed as
well as a
shelf for the scout handbook, trophies, merit badge work, and beret. Each time your son received a rank
advancement or merit badge, he receives a card, which should be retained
in the
notebook. (Clear baseball card protectors work well). These
cards are documents that verify his
work and at times need to be accessed.
4. After a troop meeting
you have not attended, talk to your son about what happened at the
meeting and
about upcoming events he has heard about.
Ask for any forms he may have received relating to these events
and put
the appropriate dates on your family calendar.
Details of all significant events are also communicated through
email
and are usually included on our web site www.scouttroop29.org. If you attend the troop meetings you will see
how your son functions within the troop, get to know the other parent,
and be
better able to help your son take full advantage of the troop’s program.
UNIFORM
Troop 29 only recognizes
one dress uniform, which is required for all troop meetings, Scoutmaster
Conferences, Boards of Review, Courts of Honor and all District
Camporees. Generally the dress uniform is not
worn on
monthly campouts.
The part of the dress
uniform provided by the scout’s parents consists of scout khaki shirt
with
short sleeves, long green scout pants, scout belt, pocket sized notepad,
and
pen.
The part of the dress
uniform provided by the troop consists of red scarf and epaulets, slide,
29
patches, nametag, and upon attaining the First Class Rank, a beret/hat.
The official dress uniform
can be bought by mail order or at the local BSA shop in Mt Prospect (600 N Wheeling Rd). We recommend
buying the shirt and pants 1 to 3 sizes too large to accommodate
adolescent
growth spurts. Do not cut the pant leg
to size, rather tuck it under to make a large hemming it as your son
grows, to
give you the most out of this investment.
If your son does replace his uniform with a larger size, please
consider
donating the old one to our uniform exchange program.
INITIAL PERSONAL EQUIPMENT NEEDS
>> Remember to
label all items with scout’s name, Troop 29 and NWSC
>> Realize that
some things will be lost, broken, or worn out.
>> So don’t start
with the most expensive equipment
1.
Sleeping
bag
rated for 25degrees F
(Polyester shell
and
liner and Polyester (not down) filling for quick drying and heat
retention)
2.
Fleece
liner to
insert into sleeping bag for temperatures below 25 degrees.
(Make or buy at Walmart for
$15)
3.
Ground
pad to use
under sleeping bag
(Closed cell on one side
and open/egg crate on reverse)
4.
Unbreakable
plastic
plate, mug, and flatware
5.
Flashlight
with
batteries
6.
Rain
gear
7.
Second
pair of
shoes
8.
Personal
Dub kit
to include toothbrush, toothpaste.
9.
Personal
first
aid kit – mole skin, band aides, etc
10. Clothing suited to weather forecast, extra
socks, hat
ADVANCED EQUIPMENT NEEDS
This equipment generally
makes for excellent gift items for special occasions throughout the
year. As the scout becomes more comfortable with
camping and his skill level increases, he will desire additional
equipment of
higher quality. Some purchases are best
delayed until the scout reaches a more mature physical size (generally
as a
high school student in the Venture Patrol) when that equipment can last
him a
lifetime.
Book Scouts
Compass – good to have on
the trail
Pocket knife – carry your
Totin Chip as well.
Knife sharpener – a dull blade
is more dangerous than a sharp one
Sunscreen on a carabineer–
needed even on overcast days
Bug Spray – better to use
lotion. Never use spray in or near tents
Whistle – for signaling in
an emergency
Toilet papers – remove cardboard
tube and stash inside zip lock bag to keep small and dry
Day Pack – small back pack
to carry a lunch, water, first aid kit when your patrol hikes
Nalgene type water bottle
(break resistant), canteen or hydration pack
Binoculars – get a closer
look at wildlife
Tripod chair or folding
camp seat – not every campsite has a chair
Bandana – for hot pad when
cooking, bandage, personal hygiene, fashion accent
Scout book – essential if
working on advancement
Camera/journal – take only
photos and leave only footprints
Matches, waterproof case,
hot spark fire starter,
Fishing pole and
accessories
Mosquito Hat
Hiking Boots
Advanced Scouts
(1st Class and above)
Pocketknife
Merit Badge Sash
Down Sleeping Bag
External Frame Back pack
Compression Sacks
Carabineers, rope
Snow shovel
Quick dry towel
Sock Liners, Wool Hiking
socks
High Adventure Scouts
Equipment needs vary
according to destination.
Iodine tablets for water
purification
Water filter
Ultralight camp stove and
pot
Light weight 3 season one person
tent
Winter Gear
The scout will undergo
special training for cold weather camping which requires special
equipment for
camping in freezing temperatures.
TROOP EQUIPMENT
The troop provides a
trailer (circa 2004) stocked with quality tents (circa 2007), ground
cloths,
tarps, dining fly, tables, cooking pots and utensils, cook stoves,
propane,
charcoal, fire buckets, water coolers, first aide kit, firewood, paper
towels,
dish soap, bleach, and digital camera.
The quartermaster (QM) and
quartermaster assistant (QA) maintain the troop’s equipment with the
help of
all scouts. He also determines who may
have access to troop equipment based upon their ability to use the
equipment
safely and return it in good shape.
Scouts are trained on how
to properly use troop equipment to avoid damage or excessive wear and
tear. A check out system is in place for
tents to insure that they are properly maintained. Scouts
who do not follow the troops procedure
may be liable for the cost of replacing the tent if damaged (e.g. by
using bug
spray near tent, setting tent too close to campfire, bending poles by
waving
them, returning tents damp or dirty, putting them through a washing
machine)
ORGANIZATION –THE PATROL METHOD
This is a boy led, adult
guided troop using the patrol method.
The boys are organized
within the troop in patrols. Each patrol
has a Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader. The
other members of the patrol in biannual
elections elect these boys in biannual elections. The
Patrol Leader is responsible for
attending monthly Patrol Leader Council (PLC) meetings, calling boys
with
reminders of due dates, special events and keeping his patrol organized
at
meetings and campouts. Each boy in the
patrol, will have the opportunity to be the patrol leader.
Boys new to the troop generally are formed
into a new boy patrol where they will form close friendships. The new boy patrol works together on advancements,
camping activities and also tent together.
The Assistant Patrol Leader
helps the Patrol Leader perform his duties, fills in at any event and
performs
any required tasks should the Patrol Leader be unavailable.
The Patrol Leaders are
responsible to the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).
The SPL runs the troop meetings, runs the PLC, and disseminates
information to the Patrol Leaders. The
SPL is responsible to the Scoutmaster. He is assisted by the Assistant
Senior
Patrol Leader (ASPL) who helps the SPL perform his duties and is
responsible
for assigning the remaining positions of responsibility within the
troop. These troop leadership positions include
Librarian, Scribe, Quartermaster and QA, Historian, Chaplain’s Aid,
Troop
Guide, OA representative and Den Chief.
The adult leaders provide
overall guidance. Adult leaders are
trained parent volunteers who work directly with scouts in the skills
program
and camping program and are titled Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.
The troop committee is a
group of parent volunteers who support the scouting program through
fundraising,
handling finances, newsletters, advancement records, recruitment, record
keeping, training, merit badge councilors, and transportation.
The Patrol Leader Council
(PLC) meets monthly to plan details of the next month’s events. The PLC is composed of the SPL, ASPL, Patrol
Leaders or Assistant Patrol Leaders, the Scribe as well as all other
positions
of responsibility.
A high adventure program
for senior scouts is organized by these scouts and their elected Venture
Patrol
Leader. During the school year the
Venture patrol runs a parallel camping program.
Requirements to join the High Adventure Patrol include being Star
Rank,
high school enrollment, minimum age of 14, completion of swimming,
camping,
wilderness survival, first aid and life saving merit badges, passing a
personal
equipment gear check of sleeping bag, ground pad, hiking back pack,
first aid
kit, hydration system, appropriate footwear and a fitness assessment
consisting
of a shakedown consisting of hiking one mile with a backpack loaded with
one
week of gear.
CAMPING POLICY
1. A permission slip is
available several weeks before every camping trip at troop meetings and
on the
troop web site. The permission slip is
returned to the Adult Leader in charge of that campout along with the
camping
fee at least one week prior to the event.
The permission slip includes a request for medical information
and
parent contact information
2. Boy Scouts of America requires that at least two adults be present
at all
troop meetings and campouts and that no single adult be alone with a
single
scout. This is what ‘two deep
leadership’ means. Parents are welcome
to join us on all campouts. It is a
great experience! We choose camps we
believe to be safe. We require parents
camping overnight prepare by obtaining Youth Protection Training
available through our troop, council, or national website at http://olc.scouting.org/info/ypt.html This training needs to be renewed
every 3 years.
3. We abide by BSA
regulations related to safety with fires, use of knives, saws, and axes. Alcohol, fireworks and illicit drugs are
prohibited any scouting activity.
Tobacco use is prohibited. These restrictions apply to both
youths and
adults.
4. The troop trailer is
used for most campouts for hauling troop equipment and personal gear. We need and welcome parent volunteers to pull
the trailer and to car-pool our campers to the campsite.
5. Uniforms are not
required at campouts except
for district sponsored Camporees, summer camp or if indicated on the
camping permission
slip.
6. Full or partial refunds
are available for a campout that a scout cannot attend due to unforeseen
circumstances if there is enough time to cancel their camp reservations
and
their food has not been bought by the patrol’s cook.
7.The patrol’s cook is
responsible for advance meal planning and grocery buying with the
assistance of
either the cook’s parent or an adult leader.
The food budget is $3 per scout per meal, with most campouts
comprising
4 meals: Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sunday Breakfast. Junk food, pop and foods that require
refrigeration are discouraged. The cook
submits the grocery receipt to the committee treasurer for reimbursement
at the
next week’s troop meeting. The receipt should be labeled “Please
reimburse name
of cook” and list the names of the patrol members he cooked for.
8. The other patrol
members will have other
duties assigned on a given campout, that they must fulfill in order for
the
camp to be successful. Such duties
include: water crew, clean up crew, campfire building and tending,
campfire
program, and Sunday worship service.
9. Electronic devices are
not permitted at campouts, although may be permitted during travel to
and from
campsites.
10.The scout may bring a
scout knife (defined as a pocket knife with a blade 2 and ½ inches or
smaller)
and fire making equipment to any campout but are not allowed to use them
without adult supervision until they take specific skills training and
have
passed the corresponding tests proving they know the safety skills
required. Once they pass these tests the
scout will receive a license called a Totin’ Chip and Fireman’s Chit
which
permits them to use these things. These
licenses should be carried with them during these types of activities. Scouts who do not abide by the safety rules
will lose this privilege for a time until they retake and pass the
skills
training.
11. Items that are not
troop equipment are someone’s personal equipment. Personal
equipment may not be borrowed at
will – you must ask and obtain permission
from the owner to use it.
12. Costs for campouts are
determined by the cost of site reservation, food costs, and trailer
supplies
with most costing around $25 per 2 night campout.
13
Parents (excluding trained
leaders) who join the troop on a campout are required to pay the same
scout
camping fee, must show proof of taking Youth Protection Training, and
may use
troop camping gear including tents if available.
14 Any
scout on a trip who does
not live up to the behavior standards required of all the participants,
may be
sent home at parents expense after contact is made with a
parent/guardian. Final authority needed for a
scout to be sent
home from an event will be the adult in charge of that event.
15 A
scout who becomes ill, incapacitated
and unable to complete a trip may be sent home.
Parents will be responsible for all costs over and above those
covered
by insurance.
ADVANCEMENT
1.The initial ranks of
scouting ( Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class) are
progressively
difficult accomplishments that are the basis of the Scout Handbook. Personal fitness, first aid, camping, outdoor
skills, and team spirit are the basic abilities Scouts learn in
completion of
these ranks. Scouts who regularly attend
troop meetings and campouts will usually obtain First Class rank in one
year. These scouts are sometimes
referred to as Book Scouts.
2.There are 125+ Merit
Badges covering different subjects. It
is through the completion of Merit Badges and Troop leadership that
Scouts
progress through the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle. To
begin work on a Merit Badge, the Scout
first speaks with a scoutmaster and obtains a signed Merit Badge card. He then reads the Merit Badge booklet and
discusses the requirements with an approved Merit Badge Councilor. He may then work on the Merit Badge
requirements alone, or with others in the troop, reporting to the
Councilor at
agreed upon intervals until completion of the requirements. The Scout must have his work approved and
card signed by the Councilor. The
Scout gives the card to the Advancement
Chairman who documents the work and arranges for the award at the next
Court of
Honor. The Scout will also discuss his
merit badge work with the scoutmaster at his Scoutmaster conference
prior to
the Court of Honor. Troop 29
traditionally helps scouts with several merit badges during troop
meetings and
campouts such as First Aid, Camping, Hiking and Cooking.
The advancement chairmen keep a current
listing of available merit badge counselors.
The troop librarian can loan any merit badge book to the scout,
or they
can be purchased at the local scout shop.
3. When the Scout has
completed all requirements for a rank he requests a Scoutmaster
Conference and
reviews the material with his Scoutmaster.
This can be done during most troop meetings through a sign up
sheet.
4. The Scout then asks for
a Board of Review. The Board is
composed of an advancement chairman, 2 to 5 committee members or
volunteers. The Scout, in uniform and
with his Scout Handbook, is presented by the Scoutmaster to the Board to
determine if the Scout is qualified to advance and to inquire about his
experiences in scouting. Scouts who are
not advancing should also come before the board on a periodic basis. Scoutmasters, the scout’s parents and
Assistant Scoutmasters do not participate in the Board of Review. The Board of Review can be done at most troop
meetings through a sign up sheet. The
advancement committee will refuse to do a Board of Review for First
Class rank
and higher if the scout is without full dress uniform and handbook.
4. The scout is immediately
recognized at the scout meeting for attaining a new rank.
He is recognized again in a public ceremony
called the Court of Honor, held four times each year. Parents
and family are invited to the event.
ORDER OF THE ARROW
OA is a national honorary
scouting society committed to service and camping. Each
year several youth and adults from our
troop have a formal induction into the OA at the Spring Camporee each
April.
Requirements for joining are
1) Be elected by your
fellow scouts in Troop 29
2) Have the rank of
Star
3) Be an active participant
at troop meetings and campouts
4) Have the Camping Merit
Badge.
SCOUT SPIRIT- TROOP ATTENDANCE POLICY
Having Scout Spirit is included
as an important element at each level of scouting advancement.
We discuss scout spirit
with advancement candidates at each Scoutmaster Conference and Board of
Review.
Scouts usually mention
obeying the Scout Oath and Law, helping the members of their patrol and
troop,
and working hard at scout skills, when they are asked about Scout
Spirit.
The troop committee feels
that participation in troop activities and programs is an important
aspect of
Scout Spirit. We consider the
participation standard when scouts are evaluated for advancement in all
ranks. This standard for participation
takes into account the demands on a Scout’s time by school and other
activities
while requiring active involvement with the troop is maintained.
Troop 29’s standard
requires that during the period spanning from the Troop’s prior Board of
Review
to the one at which he appears for advancement, a scout shall attend 60%
of
troop activity days (troop meetings,
troop service projects, fund raising, campouts and special
events). The scoutmaster has been requested to
evaluate the quality of that participation.
A positive attitude and eager involvement as a scout is expected.
Attendance at meetings and
events is documented by the Senior Patrol Leader, ASPL and Scribe. Attendance records are maintained by the
Advancement Chairman and are made a part of the scout’s advancement
record.
If a scout fails to meet
the participation element of Scout Spirit, he will be considered
ineligible for
advancement in rank, participation in high adventure activities and
summer
camp.
TYPICAL TROOP 29 CAMPING
AGENDA
Friday 7-9pm Check in
and camp set-up
Saturday7:30 am
Reveille
8-9am Breakfast
9-9:15am breakfast
cleanup
9:30-noon Flag
raising ceremony + activities
noon-1pm Lunch
+ cleanup
1-3pm activities
3-5pm free time
5-6:30 supper
+ cleanup
6:45-7pm retire the
colors
7-9:30pm free time
9:30-10:15pm campfire program
10:30 taps
Sunday 7:30am reveille
8-9am breakfast
+ cleanup
9-9:15 flag
raising ceremony
9:15-9:30 religious
ceremony
9:30-10:30 Break camp
CAMP INSPECTION FORM
Point system:
4 points – excellent
3 points – very good
2 points – good
1 point – fair
0 point – unacceptable
Safety:
1.
Tents
pitched
properly in a safe location, 5 feet apart
2.
Tents
each with a
fire bucket
3.
Tents 5
feet away
from fire scar area
4.
Cooking
area
defined and away from tents
5.
Fire
buckets for
cooking area if stoves are present
6.
Cooking
utensils
stored safely
7.
No
evidence of
liquid fuels being used by scouts
8.
Fire
buckets available
for fire scar area
9.
No
open fire left
unattended
10. No flames in tents.
11. Tools safely stored
Health
1.
First
aid kit
available and in sight
2.
Drinking
water
supply clean and covered
3.
Cooking
area
clean
4.
Washing
facilities
for dishes and utensils available
5.
Food
properly
stored or refrigerated
6.
Tents
have ground
cloths
7.
Hand
washing
station with soap set up
Identity
1.
Tour
permit
available
2.
Agenda
Posted
Attitude
1.
Courtesy and respect for judges
COOKING POLICY
—Cooking for campouts is done
by the patrol method. The Patrol Cook
will prepare the menu after conferring with his patrol, then create the
shopping list, buy the patrol’s food with the assistance of a parent or
adult,
and then prepare the food on the campout.
He may designate an assistant cook.
He may do some of the prep work at home.
His parent should help advise regarding frugality and nutritional
aspects of food choices.
-—He will know ahead of
time the number of scouts in his patrol he will cook for.
He should have his shopping list approved by
the Adult leader prior to buying the food to ensure a balanced, healthy
menu
without undo waste of food.
- Samples of outdoor recipes
are available on the troops website, listed according to difficulty.
—The food budget is $3 per
meal per Scout. 4 meals are planned for
most campouts- Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast.
—The Patrol cook should
have his receipts initialed by the Adult Leader and turn it in to the
Troop
Treasurer for reimbursement at the following troop meeting.
-Soda, candy and junk food
is not reimbursed.
—Troop 29 provides training
on proper menu and cooking methods and expects safe handling of food and
of
fire. We discourage bringing food to
campouts that require coolers or refrigeration especially whole milk and
raw
meat especially chicken. Powdered milk
and canned meats should be substituted.
Parents will need to assist their scout with the grocery shopping
and
budget requirements.
—Adult campers function
under the same guidelines.
FUNDRAISING
The profits from the
October Wreath fundraiser benefit the participating scouts. They may use the money for any scout related
activity. A portion is retained by the troop for equipment needs. The scouts in the High Adventure program may
participate in additional fundraising to offset the cost of their trips.