Parent’s Guide
Boy Scout
This
Parent’s Guide contains information about Scouting and Troop 176, which
will help you understand some of the hows and whys of Scouting. Much
more specific information can be obtained from experienced Troop 176
adult leaders and in materials available from the BSA such as the Boy Scout Handbook, the Scoutmaster’s Handbook, the Troop Committee GSaturday, January 5, 2008publications. Another source of information can be obtained on the Internet at scoutstuff.org. Under Districts then Mission Peak District you can find information on scouting that is happening locally.
Scouting
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provides an organized educational program, which trains youth to become the leaders of tomorrow. The Scout Oath and the Scout Law contain simple tenets for a successful life. The Scout motto "Be prepared” reminds Scouts that they have to be ready for any challenge. The Scout slogan "Do a good turn daily” helps Scouts think of others in their daily routine. The ideals of Scouting that are contained in these simple statements are the basis of a Scout’s character.
Scouting provides leadership training for youth. In fact, most leadership in the troop is provided by the youth. Adults provide guidance, encouragement, training, and the freedom for boys to make mistakes in a safe environment. Boys learn by doing. They are exposed to new skills and knowledge and then test themselves in activities designed to strengthen these skills. Scouting is also fun. An ongoing and adventuresome outdoor program is an important part of Troop activities.
BSA Overview
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is chartered by the U.S. Congress. Since
1910, the BSA has been serving America’s youth by providing an exciting
outdoor-centered educational program to organizations who use the BSA
program for the youth in its service community. The National Council
of BSA develops programs; sets and maintains quality standards in
training, leadership selection, uniforming, registration records,
literature development, and advancement requirements; and publishes Boys’ Life and Scouting magazines. The National Council also maintains national high-adventure bases for use by Scouts in Minnesota, Florida, and New Mexico. It also organizes a national Scout Jamboree every 4 years
It would be nearly impossible to administer the nearly 50,000 troops from a central office. BSA has divided the country into 385 local regional councils such as our San Francisco Bay Area Council (SFBAC). The councils
promote the Scouting program, register units and council personnel, and
provide facilities and leadership for a year-round outdoor program,
including summer camp. SFBAC is headquartered in San Leandro. The
address is 1001 Davis Street, San Leandro, CA 94577-1514, their phone
number is (510) 577-9000, and you can fax tour permits to (510)
567-1269. It hours of operation is 9:00 to 5:00 M-F. One of the Scout Shops (stores) is also located at this address. Its phone number is (510) 663-2005. Its hours of operation is from 9:00 to 5:00 M-F and 8:30 to 4:30 Saturday.
A Council is subdivided into smaller districts such as our Mission Peak District (MP). The districts
provide adult training, Commissioners who help units succeed,
recognition of adults leaders, outdoor activities, and fundraising. The Mission Peak District maintains a Scout House next to Centerville Junior High on Fremont Boulevard in Fremont. On a monthly basis, MP sponsors leader’s Roundtables which are meetings used to disseminate information to unit leaders.
BSA
grants an annual unit charter (license to use the Boy Scout program) to
sponsoring organizations as part of their youth work. A Chartered Organization provides a place for units to meet, support such as equipment and storage facilities, and leadership. The Chartered Organization for Troop 176, Pack 176, and Post 176 is Centerville Presbyterian Church (CPC) which is located at 4360 Central Avenue, Fremont, CA 94536.
Troop 176 Bylaws establish the basic rules under which the Parents' Committee and the Troop operate. A copy of the Troop By-laws is provided to each family.
Troop Organization
Boys joining the Troop are grouped into small Patrols
of three to eight boys each. Patrols help Scouts in the adventure of
Scouting by working together to develop Scout skills, to share
leadership with other boys, to insure advancement through the lower
ranks, and to provide a simple organization for activities and campouts. Each of the patrols elects a Patrol Leader who will lead regular patrol meetings. Patrol Leaders serve as such for no more than six months. An Assistant Patrol Leader is appointed by the Patrol leader to help him run the patrol. The
Patrol Leaders, along with the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and Assistant
Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) constitute the boy leadership of Troop 176
and form the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC).
Troop leadership is provided by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). The
SPL is responsible for running meetings, for helping to set meeting
agendas, leading the youth and adults who set the troop activity
calendar for the year, for participating in campouts and hikes, for
leading the way, for encouraging younger scouts, and for acting as a
role model. An Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) helps the SPL run the Troop in the SPL’s absence. He
also trains and supervises the other appointed junior leader positions,
and is a member of the PLC. The SPL and ASPL are usually older Scouts. In Troop 176, the SPL must be of Star or higher rank.
Other
appointed troop leadership positions include Troop Guide,
Quartermaster, Chaplain’s Aide, Scribe, Librarian, Historian,
Instructor, and Den Chief. Troop Guides are older Scouts who help or guide a new patrol as it grows into a skilled group of Scouts. The Quartermaster maintains troop equipment and supplies. The Chaplain’s Aide helps Scouts learn about and earn religious awards. The Scribe keeps troop records and minutes from PLC meetings. The Librarian maintains the publications library which includes merit badge books. The Historian keeps a photograph record of troop activities. The Instructor does just that -- he instructs other scouts in Scoutcraft skills. A Den Chief helps in a Webelos or Cub Scout Den.
Adult leadership is provided by the Scoutmaster (SM) who is responsible for advising the SPL and is responsible for implementing the BSA program through the boy leadership. Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) assist the Scoutmaster by providing leadership and management in troop operations. The Committee Chair (CC) coordinates the Parents' Committee and chairs the monthly Troop Committee meetings. The CC is responsible for rechartering the Troop. The Chartered Organization Representative (COR)
is the liaison between the troop and the Chartered Organization and is
responsible for recruiting the other adult leaders including the SM and
CC subject to the approval of chartered organization. Note that the COR
need not be a parent of a Scout but is selected by the head of the
Charted Organization. Other adult leaders include the Equipment Coordinator who assists the Troop Quartermaster in caring and monitoring troop equipment, the Outing/Activities Coordinator processes the paperwork for campouts and makes reservations, the Transportation Coordinator insures that sufficient transportation for campouts is available, the Secretary of the Parents' Committee takes minutes of meetings, the troop Treasurer monitors troop income and expenses and writes checks, and the Advancement Chair
is responsible for the Troop’s advancement records. Another important
position is the fund-raising campaign (Friends of Scouting)
coordinator. This individual coordinates the troop’s involvement in the
council’s annual campaign. The funds raised support council activities including summer camps, training, and program.
Parents' Committee
As the name implies, the Parents' Committee (also referred to as Troop Committee) is comprised of the parents or guardians of the Scouts in the troop and the adult leadership of the troop. The
Parents' Committee meets once each month, except for December, at CPC
to discuss monthly activities, to insure that advancement is taking
place, to communicate gripes and praises, to hear reports on troop
equipment, to approve the Treasurer's report, to secure adults for
leadership positions, to assure that campouts are logistically sound
(transportation and reservations are arranged), to discuss
expenditures, and to answer questions. In addition, discussions involving improper Scout behavior and consequent punishments occasionally occur. Meetings are generally held on a Monday night while the scouts hold their meeting.
Parents of Scouts are expected to participate in the Parents' Committee and its activities. For
example, transportation to and from Scouting events as well as
participation in these events is shared among the parents of boys in
the troop. Given the number of activities,
the leadership positions, and the guidelines for a quality program, it
is obvious that parents must be active if our boys are to benefit from
the scouting program. Finance and fundraising are two fundamental responsibilities of this committee. One
or two fund-raisers per year in addition to dues are necessary to keep
Troop 176 solvent and able to provide a quality program.
The Parents' Committee maintains a phone tree usually comprised of three adult volunteers. The
phone tree is responsible for calling adults to remind them of upcoming
activities particularly Parents' Committee meetings and for contacting
Scout families as the need arises.
Expenses
The costs for maintaining a Scout in the Boy Scout program are not trivial. There are costs associated with dues, campouts, equipment, donations such as Scouting the Bay, and transportation.
The troop renews its Charter (license to operate) every year. At this time (usually in October or November) national registration fees, Boys' Life subscriptions, insurance fees, and troop dues are collected. Each boy must be properly registered. Adults who wish to be formally registered must submit a completed application form and registration fees. The CC is responsible for coordinating this process. A troop that meets certain standards specified by the National Council is recognized as a Quality Unit. Troop 176 has been so honored for many consecutive years.
Dues (as of 2000):
First boy
Additional boy
Yearly Troop Dues:
$35.00
$30.00
National Fees per person: $7.00
$7.00
Boys' Life:
$9.00
$ 9.00
Total Yearly dues:
$ 51.00
$ 46.00
Boys joining after the charter will pay dues prorated to the annual charter period (on a monthly basis). See attachment 1 for complete fee schedules.
The costs for outings are not included in the yearly Dues. The troop will establish fees for all the outings (fees typically include costs for food and transportation) and are collected prior to the outing (deadlines will be established by outing leadership). Check with outing leadership for refund guidelines.
Donations to the Council’s annual fund drive (Friends of Scouting) are solicited from every Scouting family each year. These donations are voluntary. Parents are reminded that it costs approximately $120 annually per boy to provide Council and District program funding. Friends of Scouting is the primary source for this funding.
Equipment
The
troop provides a significant amount of equipment for campouts including
tents, tarps, cooking pots and pans, cooking utensils, stoves, and
patrol boxes. The troop also owns several Dutch ovens, backpack stoves, water filters, and flags. It
is the responsibility of the Quartermaster and Equipment Coordinator to
insure that all troop equipment is in good repair and working order.
Each Scout must also have personal equipment in order to participate fully in the outdoor program of the troop. Equipment costs can be high, but can be minimized by smart shopping. Used gear is often sufficient for growing boys. Yard sales and thrift stores often have camping gear at very reasonable prices. Sporting goods stores have frequent sales. Troop leaders have a lot of experience and can be asked for recommendations on purchasing equipment.
Personal equipment includes:
Sleeping bag (rated to 20 or 30 °F)
Sleeping pad
Plastic ground cloth
Backpack
Water bottle or canteen (Nalgene bottle preferred)
Hiking boots
Appropriate clothes (including full uniform and change of clothing)
Rain gear (poncho or rain suit)
Hat with brim
Sleeping hat (preferably wool)
Bandanna
Sunglasses
Warm jacket
Sweats or sweater
Compass
Map of area in which camping is done
Whistle
Mosquito repellent
Sunscreen
Toilet paper
First aid kit (made by scout)
Plastic bowl or mess kit
Sierra cup or drinking cup
Eating utensils (spoon (knife and fork optional))
Flash light
Extra batteries
Matches in waterproof container
BSA Handbook
Pocketknife
Toiletries (tooth brush, tooth paste, comb, soap, towel, lip balm)
Personal food.
Accessory cord (50-feet)
Note pad, pen or pencil
Additional equipment that could be useful includes:
Swimsuit
Gloves
Moon boots for snow
Gaiters
Wool scarf
Gloves
Backpack stove
Fuel bottle.
Activities
The yearly Troop Activity Calendar lists troop activities, District-sponsored events, Council- sponsored events and the dates on which they are scheduled. This calendar is usually formulated in August or early September. Activities
include day hikes, overnight campouts, Spring and Fall Camporees (which
are sponsored by the District), Summer Camps which are sponsored by the
Council, weekly meetings, Scout Sunday, the Scout-O-Rama, food
collection for the needy (Scouting for Food), fund raisers, the Indoor
Rally, and high adventure treks.
Weekly Troop meetings are held each Monday night starting at 7:00 p.m. at Centerville Presbyterian Church (CPC). Weekly
activities include planning and preparing for campouts and summer camp,
games, earning merit badges, and learning and honing Scout skills. These meetings last for 90 minutes
Spring and Fall Camporees feature Scout skills competition among patrols. The Klondike Derby is a camporee in the snow. Scouts must attend Winter Awareness cold weather camping training prior to a snow camp.
Summer camp, which lasts a week, is usually at Wente Scout Reservation east of Willits, CA. Water activities are quite good at Wente because of its lake. Summer camp is a time to hone Scout skills, to experience Scout camaraderie, and to earn merit badges.
Rim-of-the-Bay hikes are scheduled several times a year. In these hikes, boys and adults hike mountains, which are within a 2-hour drive of Fremont. Sometimes an overnight campout is involved. Special recognition is given for each peak climbed.
The Order of the Arrow
(OA) is a national brotherhood of Scout honor campers that originated
in 1915 to strengthen troops and encourage outdoor experiences. It is based on brotherhood and cheerful service to fellowmen. Troop members are nominated and elected annually to membership by fellow Scouts in the troop. They must meet certain entry qualifications that are established by the Order of the Arrow. Members from Troop 176 are in the Ohlone Village of the Achewan Nimat Lodge.
High Adventure
activities are stimulating outdoor activities including backpacking,
white water rafting, rock climbing, rappelling, and cycling. Because
of the physical and logistical challenges these activities entail,
supplementary training is required for the adults supervising these
events. The council’s High Adventure Team (HAT) conducts periodic training for the different activities. Basic qualification is the Backpack course. Long
distance backpack treks such as ones offered at the Philmont National
Scout Reservation require a great deal of advance planning and
training.
Philmont deserves special mention. Troop 176 has sent crews of Scouts and leaders to Philmont on the average of every other year since 1991. Philmont treks include hikes of up to 80 miles and many exciting program activities along the trail in Northern New Mexico. Older scouts (14 as of January of the trek year) are invited to join the crew. Crew size is limited to 12, including no more than 3 adults. Crews elect a Crew Chief to lead and manage the trek. Crews work together to overcome the many challenges that arise on the trail. A
Philmont trek is probably the pinnacle of a Scout’s outdoor experience,
demanding application of the scout skills, character and motivation
learned in the troop. Troop 176 has used
this memorable experience as an incentive for retaining older scouts in
the troop by underwriting costs for the trek (treasury permitting). Transportation and spending moneys should be raised by the Scouts themselves.
Training
Training of boys begins at the local troop level. Through
the weekly meetings and the periodic campouts, Scouts learn and apply
the skills and knowledge of Scouting and leadership. Troop leadership training is provided by the Troop on an annual basis. The Scoutmaster or assistant will conduct a training session for newly-elected/appointed troop leaders. Other formal leadership training is provided at Brownsea 22 Junior Leader Training to which Scouts in Troop 176 may be nominated. The requirements for Brownsea are minimum First Class rank, age 13 or above, and active participation in the troop. Troop 176 pays for Brownsea and local junior leader training through the troop treasury.
Training for adults is accomplished in Boy Scout Leader Fast Start Training, and Acorn (Scoutmastership Fundamentals). These
courses provide Scouting skills and leadership training for adult
leaders and interested parents. An advanced leadership training called Woodbadge
is offered annually by the council for adult leaders who have completed
Acorn and have served in a leadership position in a troop for at least
two years. Several weekends are involved for both Acorn and Woodbadge. Additional outdoor skills training called High Adventure (HAT)
training is required for leaders of bicycle trips, long hikes, campouts
in the snow, mountain climbing, or canoe, rafting, or kayaking trips. These activities cannot be undertaken by a group of Scouts without the participation of a HAT-trained adult. It
should be fairly obvious that Troop 176 has to have several HAT-trained
adults at any point in time so that we can provide a quality outdoor
program.
Advancement
The Scouting program provides many opportunities for Scouts to learn skills and take part in terrific adventures. It also recognizes these achievements by awarding badges of rank. The first three are Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. Next come Star and Life. The highest rank is that of Eagle Scout. Each rank is more challenging than the one before it. Advancement
accommodates the three aims of scouting: participating citizenship,
growth in moral strength and character, and mental and physical
development. The advancement program is designed to provide the Boy Scout with a chance to achieve the aims of Scouting. As a Scout advances he is measured and grows in confidence and self-reliance.
When all requirements for a rank have been completed, the Scout will meet with the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster’s Conference. The purpose of the conference is to ensure that the Scout is ready for his board of review. The
conference is also an opportunity for the Scoutmaster to review the
Scout’s personal growth and set goals for further advancement. After the conference a Board of Review
is scheduled to ensure that all requirements have been met, to see how
good an experience a Scout is having in the troop, and to encourage a
Scout to progress further.
When a badge and certificate are awarded to a Boy Scout to recognize that he has achieved a rank, they represent that a boy has:
- Been an active member in his troop and patrol.
- Demonstrated living the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life.
- Met the other requirements and/or earned the merit badges for the rank.
- Participated in a Scoutmaster conference.
- Satisfactorily appeared before a board of review.
Star, Life and Eagle ranks also represent that a boy has:
- Served in a position of responsibility in the troop.
- Performed service to others.
The ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class can be worked on simultaneously but must be awarded consecutively. A goal is to have every Scout advance to First Class within a year of joining the Troop. The
higher ranks of Star, Life and Eagle require Scouts to provide
leadership and service along with earning merit badges in specific
fields of interest. Troop 176 is quite proud of its Eagle Scouts. For every 10 boys who register in the troop, 3 have earned Eagle. The national average is 1%. If a boy remains in Scouting in Troop 176 for 2 or more years, he has a better than 60% chance of earning Eagle. As of 1999, Troop 176 has produced over 77 Eagle Scouts.
BSA requires a strict account of each boy's progress. The Advancement Chair maintains advancement and other Scout records which are carefully maintained and continuously updated.
Many other awards can be earned. See the Boy Scout Requirements book for additional information.
Recognition
One of the strong points of Scouting is recognition for achievements. This recognition occurs at Scout meetings, Courts of Honor, and District and Council Dinners.
A Troop Court of Honor is held every three months. At these courts, Scouts are recognized for advancing in rank and earning merit badges. Patches for participating in activities such as Rim-of-the-Bay hikes are presented. The Courts are boy-led with adult participation. Parental
attendance at Courts of Honor should not be underestimated; a Scout's
self-image and advancement could depend on such involvement. Encouragement is important.
An Eagle Court of Honor is a very special recognition ceremony for Scouting’s highest rank. The Eagle Court is much more formal than a Troop Court. An Eagle candidate is recognized by members of his community and pledges to continue leadership. Having two to four youths honored at a single court is not unusual. Many dignitaries are invited including the President of the United States, State and Local leaders. The Court is usually followed by a reception where family and friends can celebrate the Eagle’s achievements. The parents' of the Eagle Scout pay the expenses for the Court. Eagle Scouts are also presented to the Fremont City Council.
Adult recognition from the Troop takes place at the Christmas Court of Honor. The District and Council recognize adult service at annual dinners. The District awards certificates, plaques, and the District Award of Merit for adult service. Those completing Woodbadge may also be honored. The highest council award for Scouters (adults in Scouting) is the Silver Beaver award presented at the Council dinner. Many years of faithful service are required to be selected for this honor.
A Final Thought
This
guide is intended to be a brief introduction to Scouting and in
particular to Boy Scout Troop 176. Your son's success in Scouting is
partially up to you. Your participation in
troop activities and support of Scouting are one of the best predictors
of how far your son will advance in Scouting. If you think the Scouting program so unimportant that you do not participate, your son will probably do the same. Many other activities such as sports and dating can conflict with a boy's participation in Scouting. However, the lifetime benefits of Scouting argue for a continued commitment regardless of other activities. Be informed and be involved. Our boys are our future.